The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 2 race in Elmwood Township features two would-be newcomers to County government: Democrat Don Gallagher, a cherry farmer and union electrician, and Republican James O’Rourke, a court deputy bailiff and township trustee. The seat was previously held by Republican Debra Rushton.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners District 1 race features incumbent Rick Robbins (Republican) vs challenger Jamie Kramer (Democrat). Robbins won his previous election in 2020 by a razor-thin margin of 2 votes. He offered the swing vote on the Commission, proposing an 11th hour compromise to continue funding early childhood education in the County, even after Robbins’ fellow Republicans sought to defund the measure, which voters passed in 2019.
On a crisp morning close to the fall equinox, I joined a small group of family and friends for a private, guided walk at Houdek Dunes Natural Area north of Leland. What started out as a social gathering and light-hearted exploration of a local program called Mindfulness in Nature LLC (MIN) became a transformative experience peppered with ah-ha moments of our connection to the natural world and ourselves. MIN founder and director Gloria Garrett guided our group on the journey, introducing us to the practice of meditative walking.
Now is the time to cozy up by the fire and read a good book. Here’s our roundup of local books, or books written by local authors, that were published in late 2021 and 2022. Please find them at Leelanau County’s locally-owned, independent bookstores
Artist and photographer Katelyn Wollet was a finalist for the Design & Drive Art Contest with her painting, “Dune Bears,” showcasing the story of Sleeping Bear on each panel of a 2022 Honda Accord at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids this fall. The Muskegon-based local was inspired by a love of animals and deep care for the water and ecosystems of Michigan, especially the lakeshore and northern Michigan.
Chicagoans Robert and Sue Rife plan to revive the historic Manor on Glen Lake, whose restaurant overlooking Little Glen Lake closed after Sue’s sister Nancy Wright passed away in 2020. Nancy had managed the fine dining establishment since 2004. The Rifes aspire to revive the kitchen space, renovate three cottages in the back of the property, and eventually restore the inn’s upstairs, whose rooms they will rent out. Caitlin Olmsted-Phillips, a descendant of D.H. Day and an adaptive reuse planner and preservationist in Ann Arbor, is helping guide this project.
Over the past couple years the real estate industry has seen unprecedented ups and downs: Ups as prices have steadily increased, and downs in terms of the number of homes available for sale. That’s been particularly true in Leelanau County, writes Ross Boissoneau in our October edition.
The Glen Lake Chamber has launched its third annual “SHOPtober,” a spend local campaign. All are invited to spend their dollars locally during the month of October for a chance to win Glen Arbor bucks.
Control of the 110-seat Michigan State House of Representatives could be up for grabs this election, and the new 103rd District, which includes Leelanau County, might prove pivotal in that race. Facing off are Republican incumbent Jack O’Malley and Democrat Betsy Coffia, who has attacked O’Malley over his record on abortion and his casting doubt on the 2020 election results. According to AdImpact Politics, more money has been spent to win the 103rd than any other State House seat.
The Leland Township Library, the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library and the Friendship Community Center have teamed up to bring Here:Say Storytelling to Leelanau County. On Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 pm, six storytellers will take the stage at the Friendship Community Center in Suttons Bay to tell true stories from their lives. The theme for the evening is “Beyond Expectations” and will be interpreted differently by each storyteller.