Entries by editor

COVID surges in Benzie-Leelanau before holiday — 7 hospitalized, woman in her 30s dies

COVID-19 statistics reported by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department are staggering. There are 65 new cases between Saturday, Nov. 21, and Monday, Nov. 23. Nearly 98% of those cases are symptomatic. Seven new COVID patients were hospitalized over the weekend, and the Health Department reported two deaths from the coronavirus. One was a Leelanau woman in her 30s who had no “significant co-morbidities” prior to contracting COVID-19.

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Empire’s Friendly Tavern purchases Deering’s Market, envisions open-air mercato for 2021

Frank Lerchen has big ideas for the space he now owns next to Joe’s Friendly Tavern, his popular restaurant in downtown Empire. Lerchen purchased the building that used to house Deering’s Market late last month from Sue and Phil Deering. Lerchen is installing a septic system and drain field and hopes to build a covered, but open-air Mercato featuring food, cocktails and a permanent farmers market. He hopes to open next May.

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Sleeping Bear 50th anniversary logo merchandise available for Holiday Sale

From staff reports For visitors looking for holiday gifts for friends and family, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s partner, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB), has recently launched merchandise bearing the Park’s 50th anniversary logo. The Lakeshore generously granted use of their 50th logo to the non-profit partner for fundraising purposes. PHSB has been looking […]

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Glen Arbor Arts Center unveils community tree

The Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC) will light up its neck of the woods and you are invited to participate. On Saturday, December 5, the GAAC will light the path from Lake Street to the Arts Center and present a community tree. The tree will remain lit for the season, though New Year’s Day. The GAAC will invite the community to stroll by throughout the holiday season to take a look, snap photos, and spread the cheer.

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Glen Lake Library holds annual children’s holiday book drive

A special holiday tradition continues this season as the Friends of the Glen Lake Library hold their 22nd annual call for children’s books. In cooperation with the Leelanau Health Department, Glen Lake School, Parenting Communities and Head Start, the book drive once again collects donations of new children’s books for children whose families need assistance this holiday season.

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Benzie-Leelanau Health Department reports daily record 34 COVID cases

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department has reported a daily record 34 new cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday, Nov. 18. Active COVID-19 cases (142 in Leelanau County; 125 in Benzie County) now top the number of recovered cases (134 in Leelanau; 99 in Benzie) — a sign of the pandemic’s rapid community spread.

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Thursday nights at home with Joshua Davis: Live music in the time of Coronavirus

Comfy chairs, soft lighting, and the tuning of a left-handed guitar set the scene. As fans log on to watch Joshua Davis play, he welcomes them individually with a smile. It hasn’t been easy on performers since the Coronavirus pandemic took deep hold in March, and Davis is no exception. Never mind the fact that he is semi-famous, having been a finalist on the NBC show “The Voice” in 2015—life has been hard. “It was a Wednesday and I had all my gigs canceled on me,” he told me during an interview over Zoom. “My booking agent called me up and they were like, ‘Everybody’s canceling.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, not only is that all my income, but it’s also my creative outlet and it’s my joy.’ So I’ve gotta figure something else out.”

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Free COVID tests offered Wednesday at Sleeping Bear Dune Climb

In a unified effort to make COVID-19 testing more accessible to our region, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, Honu Labs, Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore and Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are joining forces to offer no-cost, drive-thru COVID-19 testing to the public on Wednesday at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb.

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Becky Hemmings, Suttons Bay’s grocery store sommelier

Kathy Garthe, along with many serious wine lovers in Leelanau County, is on a first name basis with Becky Hemmings, the person behind Hansen’s more than 1,200 wine labels — spanning all price ranges — in the center back area of the Suttons Bay grocery store devoted to her libation choices. “Becky is a local treasure.” Kathy tells me, “We feel like she is our own personal sommelier [a certification Becky earned 12 years ago]. I tell her what I’m cooking and she comes up with great recommendations. And she has introduced us to wines we now love but wouldn’t have tried without her encouragement.”

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Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace goes virtual

From staff reports This year, the popular Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace will go virtual. Like many events this year being canceled due to COVID-19, the Glen Lake Chamber decided to find a way to host this shopping event — online.  “We’ve made something really exciting out of a very difficult circumstance,” said event coordinator Patricia […]

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