Entries by editor

Tales from the 1950s Empire Fire Department

Back in the late 1950’s the Empire Volunteer Fire Department was called to fight a fire at the township hall on Front Street. The fire station at that time was located kitty-corner across the street. A siren mounted at the fire station blared loudly. A loosely defined group of volunteer firefighters assembled quickly. Two ancient (circa 1917-1919) Seagrave fire trucks were driven out into the street. The old trucks had wooden wheels with rubber tires that were chain-driven. The trucks had been purchased from Saginaw Township, complete with old, worn-out cotton fire hoses.

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Traveling to the border; the border travels home

The concept of “the border” is often thought of in regard to the southwestern United States’ southern border with Mexico. When people speak of “the border,” prominent news sources and politicians have made it quite easy to picture the Arizona desert, Rio Grande River, or La Bestia (“The Beast”) train traveling through Mexico with caravans of people. While these are all dangerous realities for people seeking entry into the United States, the border we often don’t think about is the ever-present border which pervades everyday lives even after crossing the physical border. The U.S.-Mexico border may be a significant Port of Entry for many migrants entering the United States, but “the border” often does not end there.

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Dollar stores squeeze rural grocery stores

Among the biggest stories of 2019 has been attempts by dollar stores to gain a foothold in Leelanau County. Zoning regulations and citizen opposition in Kasson Township stopped a bid in Maple City this spring; then Empire instituted a 6-month moratorium on new commercial development on July 17 to prevent a contractor that works with Dollar General from purchasing land in the village.

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Leelanau Wine trail holds Harvest Stompede, Sept. 7-8

This annual weekend features a spectacular race through Leelanau’s vineyards followed by a self-guided wine tour along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail featuring world class wines and culinary delights that reflect the season’s bounty.

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Water wranglers balance water levels, river flows in Glen Lake watershed

Meet Bill Meserve and Cal Killen, two of the people responsible for managing water levels in the Glen Lakes as well as the Crystal River. Under the auspices of the Glen Lake Association (GLA), these volunteers serve on the Water Level Committee appointed to balance the needs and demands of both lake shore and river’s edge owners, as well as the businesses that depend on these stunningly beautiful and fragile water resources.

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Leelanau’s housing shortage—a symptom of low wages and larger societal problems

The ever-widening gap between the wealthy and the working class is probably the greatest cause of Leelanau County’s affordable housing crisis, says Timothy Young. We are never going to solve the housing crisis until we solve the labor pay scale.

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Amanda “Cheeks” Popa returns after last summer’s hike

Amanda Popa walked 2,652 miles last summer, the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail. “It took me 5 months and 5 days,” she remembers, “from April 21 to September 26, 2018.” Starting in Campo, a small town on the United States-Mexico border, the trail goes through California, Oregon, and Washington before reaching its northern terminus at the United States-Canada border in Manning Park, British Columbia.

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Riverside Inn survives fire, pours smoky cocktails

The inspiration to make smoky cocktails was irresistible. Leland’s cherished Riverside Inn finally reopened on Aug. 20 to cheers, hugs and words of “welcome back” from faithful local customers. Ten months and one day after smoke from a fire destroyed much of the Inn, and after months of negotiating with insurance companies, bartenders gleefully poured drinks named “Ignition”, “Combustion”, “Inferno”, “Rescue”, “Fixer”, and best of “The Adjuster”. Welcome back, Riverside!

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Growing home, healing flowers

Alissa Thomson’s company IndieGrow Flowers has bloomed like a field of wildflowers this summer, just three years after she and her husband Jackson left the stifling corporate culture of Washington, D.C., and returned to their native northern Michigan with their daughter Arianna. (She and Jackson met at the former Woody’s Bar in Northport, where she worked summers.

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Leland, Glen Arbor hold Labor Day Bridge Walks

Labor Day bridge walks will be held Monday, Sept. 2, both in Leland and in Glen Arbor at high noon.

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