Entries by editor

View Lunar Eclipse at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

As darkness falls on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the glorious night sky becomes visible. A four-hour lunar eclipse is the feature for the National Lakeshore’s first Star Party of the year. This unique program will take place during the early morning of Tuesday, April 15, from 1:30-5:30 a.m., at the Dune Climb. Participants are asked to park in the row furthest from the dunes facing M-109. This Star Party could be cancelled during inclement weather; the decision is usually made a few hours in advance. Please call Park Rangers at 231-326-4700, ext. 5005, for a voicemail message with the decision.

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April Fools Day: Liko Smith acquires Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival

Eneliko “Liko” Smith, the enigmatic Samoan-born boxer turned hotelier who has made two ill-fated bouts for Sugar Loaf, has shifted gears and will instead acquire the Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival — the popular classical and folk music concert series that takes place in the summertime at area churches, at the backyard studio stage at Lake Street Studios, and at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb. Ann Arbor teacher and performer Harry Fried had run the Festival until stepping down last year. The Manitou Music Festival was founded about 20 years ago by world-renowned cellist Crispin Campbell, who has since gone on to found symphony orchestras in the Columbian jungle in land formerly occupied by leftist FARC-rebels.

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Leelanau Conservancy screens “Green Fire” about conservationist Aldo Leopold

Visit the Old Art Building in Leland on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. for the Leelanau Conservancy’s screening of Green Fire, the first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy. Green Fire shares highlights from his extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates how Leopold’s vision of community continues to inform and inspire people across the country and around the world, highlighting modern projects that put Leopold’s land ethic in action.

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Glen Arbor Art Association “Talk About Art” series hosts Scott Craig

Leland resident Scott Craig tells the story of his life and the backstory of his public radio program “The Story Next Door” at the next “Talk About Art” interview, April 24, 7:30 p.m., at the Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA), 6031 S. Lake St.

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Glen Lake Library hosts Village of South Manitou Island exhibit

The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will host a special exhibit called “Footprints in the Sand – Tracing the Path that Led to the Birth of the Village of South Manitou Island” from April 4 through May 17. The exhibit tells the story of the Village using historical photographs, maps, drawings and narrative. The display opens with a reception on Friday, April 4 from 6 t0 8 p.m. Refreshments will also be served. It then can be viewed during regular library hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

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Glen Arbor Art Association announces 2014 artists in residence

The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program offers two-week residencies for practicing artists who would like the opportunity for focused, creative exploration. Residencies are considered in writing, photography, sculpture, fiber, ceramics, music, painting, philosophy and creative research. Public presentations are an opportunity for the artist-residents to talk about their experience in Leelanau County, and share insights into their residency.

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League of Women Voters discusses risks of oil and gas development

Next Wednesday, April 2, the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County will host a public forum at noon at the Leelanau County Government Center to discuss the risks of oil and gas development in Michigan and potential solutions. Dr. Christopher Grobbel of Grobbel Environmental and Planning Associates will address the following topics.

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Marriage equality in Michigan: Court case could grant gay couples equal rights

At the moment these words were put to paper, somewhere around 280,000 people in Michigan were barred from marriage. About 44,000 of these people have created a life together anyway. Some of them share in the task of raising children. We’re talking, of course, about gay people. At the time this article was printed, Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban, passed by voters in 2004, was still in effect. But will the law change as the ink dries? Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman heard arguments in the case of DeBoer v. Snyder, and in the coming weeks, he’ll announce his ruling on whether the state’s ban is legal under the U.S. Constitution.

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Op-Ed: Wastewater in the Air in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Ten local, state and national organizations have joined together in endorsing a statement calling on The Homestead Resort and the Michigan Department of Enviromental Quality to work together to correct the problem of partially-treated wastewater spray blowing into a portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, rendering it unavailable for public use.

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Can You Spell ‘J-O-U-R-N-A-L-I-S-M?’

Come on over to Frankfort’s Stormcloud Brewing Company on Friday, April 11, from 8-10 p.m. for a spelling bee and kickoff party for the Betsie Current, a full-color newspaper that will re-launch on April 17. Enjoy a few locally made craft brews while you’re at it. The top teams will win prizes from the Stormcloud Brewery, Frankfort Community Federal Credit Union, The Garden Theater, Kilwins of Frankfort, and the Oliver Art Center. You’ll also get the inside scoop on the Betsie Current’s re-launch and be given the opportunity to suggest story ideas for this summer’s editions.

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