Entries by editor

, ,

Reclaiming the remarkable stories of Black pioneers on Little Glen

In September 2022, two Black women from Philadelphia opened a life-changing Facebook message from a White man in Grand Rapids. Kevin Brooks reached out to cousins Carmen Hopson and Coleen Burton with his discovery that their families were inextricably linked more than 100 years ago in Empire Township. The relationship was not born of freed slaves still economically dependent on their former owners, nor were they hired live-in employees. Rather, the respective families of Joseph Payment and Anna and Levi Johnson were neighboring farm owners and pioneering homesteaders along Little Glen Lake who forged a friendship born of necessity and steeped in mutual respect. What transpired from that visit and a subsequent one evolved into the documentary The Search for Anna and Levi. Subtitled “A Lost History of Black Homesteaders in Leelanau County” it was written and directed by Joe VanderMeulen, a local science journalist and documentary filmmaker. In honor of Black History Month, a special preview screening of the film The Search for Anna and Levi will take place on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 pm at The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay. 

/by

Long shuttered Empire school ready for rebirth

The Empire schoolhouse may have a second life if owner Joe Van Esley has his way — and gets enough others to buy into his vision. Van Esley and consultant Bruce Johnston hosted a presentation on their plans for the landmark building at a community meeting on Feb. 4, followed by a shorter presentation that evening to the Empire Planning Commission. They mapped out an ambitious plan to restore the long-empty schoolhouse to provide opportunities for various retail, office, restaurant and/or community space. “We’re looking for input,” said Johnston. His firm, Revitalize Inc., is working on the ambitious plans with Van Esley to modernize the building without changing its basic configuration in what they call a historic revitalization project.

/by
,

The Homestead hosts Ullr Festival

The Homestead’s Ullr Festival will continue every weekend through February and potentially into March as well, depending on the weather. Named for the Norse God of snow and winter, the Ullr Festival offers residents and visitors fun on the slopes and additional activities above and beyond slicing through the snow. “We came up with the idea of an Ullr Festival as a way to help non-skiers enjoy their time. It’s also a great way for those who do want to hit the slopes to further enjoy the area and our resort,” said Robert Kuras, owner and CEO of The Homestead.

/by

Stripped of safe haven status, local schools face immigration enforcement threat

Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Borkovich will face tough questions from commissioners, and comments from citizens, at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 11 — following his recent statements that, if asked, he would cooperate with federal agents arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants. However, Borkovich considered immigration raids at Leelanau County schools “unlikely”. During a Jan. 10 meeting with the superintendents of the county’s four public schools, he said he didn’t think it would be “necessary” for federal agents to visit local schools. Days after Trump’s inauguration, a handful of Leelanau farmers met with Borkovich in an effort to convey to the sheriff the importance of immigrant and migrant farmworkers to the region’s agricultural economy. The Hispanic community is crucial to Leelanau’s agricultural workforce. Out of 22,000 county residents — according to the latest Census — as many as 1,000 identify as Hispanic or Latino. Many have an undocumented parent or family member living here in northern Michigan, now as rooted here as the pine trees, though they may have crossed illegally into the United States years ago.

/by
, ,

Foreign assistance is as American as apple pie

As young international development workers in Africa in the 1980s-1990s, we wondered why people often displayed a photo of President John F. Kennedy in their homes. Here’s why. In 1961, President Kennedy proposed the establishment of USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) the same year he called for the creation of the Peace Corps. USAID is not partisan, write Phyllis & Dan Craun-Selka, residents of Lake Ann, Michigan, who worked with USAID for some 35 years in 30 countries. Our foreign policy depends on the 3 Ds- Defense, Diplomacy, and Development working together to keep America safe. Department of Defense leaders will tell you that USAID prevents wars. President Reagan increased the USAID budget linked to a national policy to promote democracy and business around the world. President George W. Bush’s PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief), authorized by Congress, became the most successful aid program ever, so far, saving more than 26 million people. PEPFAR has made America safer and more secure with the AIDS pandemic under better control.

/by
,

Leland Gliders ski Vasa race

The Leland Gliders club—coached by Karen Kirt—will participate in the North American Vasa cross-country ski race near Traverse City this weekend. The Gliders will join for the seventh year in a row. They are the only Leelanau County ski club racing in the Vasa, the region’s preeminent cross-country ski race. Kirt’s group includes two seventh graders, a sixth grader and a fourth grader, all of whom will ski the Junior Vasa on Saturday afternoon.

/by

Glen Arbor businesses celebrate “Galentine’s Night”

Gather your friends and embark on a fun-filled Galentine’s Night in Glen Arbor on Friday, Feb. 7, from 4–7 pm. Enjoy a night of shopping, recreation, and special activities at participating businesses—whether you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day or simply looking for a fun night out.

/by
,

Cleveland Township Board stops proposed Maple City Dollar General with zoning, building moratorium

At a special meeting tonight, the Cleveland Township Board unanimously passed a moratorium on any applications for zoning or building in the Business 1 and Business 2 zoning districts until Aug. 4, with the option to extend for another six months. The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5, has been cancelled. That moratorium stops, for now, a proposed Dollar General development at the corner of Maple City Road and Cemetery Road in Cleveland Township.

/by

Boughs that won’t break: Sleeping Bear Dunes employees should stand strong against Trump’s attempt to humiliate federal workforce

Sleeping Bear Dunes and other federal employees opened their work emails last week to find threatening form letters from our own government. From a new regime hell-bent on shrinking and neutering our United States government and the crucial services it provides to our citizens and people around the world. Addressed to nearly every public servant, the generic letters question their worth, belittle their service, and encourage all to resign. A simple one word reply to the email is all that’s needed to end a lifetime of service. It is wrong to treat people as replaceable and unwanted tools, but that is the clear sentiment behind the current flurry of messages. Seasonal worker programs like the one that shaped my life are at stake. The federal workforce deserves to know they are appreciated and assured that their work is important.  

/by

Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love” features northern Michigan

For 25 years, Samantha Brown has crossed the world hosting a popular travel television program. This year, her “Places to Love” will feature Traverse City and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Traverse City Tourism will host a free premiere of Brown’s Places to Love (PBS) on Tuesday, Feb 18, at 5:30 pm at the City Opera House. The event is free, and a cash bar featuring local beer and wine will be available.

/by