Entries by editor

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Bear Man VanSteenhouse sues Leland Township in federal court over youth ministry dispute

Legal supporters of Youth for Christ in Leland and Bear man Jim VanSteenhouse announced in a press release today that they filed suit against Leland Township yesterday afternoon in the federal district court for the Western District of Michigan as part of their bid for a youth ministry in a building VanSteenhouse owns in the heart of Leland’s business district. The Leland Planning Commission this spring rejected Apollos Properties’ bid for a special use permit following months of deliberation, legal analysis, and passionate public debate.

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Homestead Resort, Oliver Art Center partner on new gallery

The Homestead near Glen Arbor is adding to its many attractions by creating an art gallery in the resort’s Welcome Center lobby in partnership with Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts of Frankfort. The Homestead’s gallery will display works depicting the region, from the dunes and Lake Michigan to Leland Fishtown, the lighthouse at Point Betsie and more. Oliver Art Center will showcase its members with a rotating exhibit. The two will also collaborate on a plein air event to take place on the grounds of The Homestead this fall.

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Upcoming fundraiser helps 5Loaves2Fish continue feeding community

Throughout the week, 5Loaves2Fish travels around the area, serving meals in Traverse City, Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Northport and Leland. “We meet people where they’re at,” said co-founder Michelle White. And it’s Josh Miller, the executive chef of the operation, who is tasked with cooking the meals. “He’s for sure a chef,” said Bill. “Executive is a bit fancy.” Sometimes, Bill continued, cooking at 5Loaves2Fish can be a “wild card. Fifty people will show up to Veteran’s Park one day, and the next 70 will come.” “So, we set up for 80,” said Miller. “We bring the extra food back or send it somewhere else.”

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Michigan Notable Book author Susan Wasserman speaks at Leelanau Historical Society

The Leelanau Historical Society invites the community to an evening with Susan Wasserman, author of the 2026 Michigan Notable Book Stepping Off the Boat: Stories from North Manitou Island, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 pm in the Munnecke Community Room, 203 E. Cedar St., Leland.

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Community unites to create NoMi‘s first annual yoga festival

Leelanau-based yoga teacher and holistic wellness coach Shelley Smith has organized the community’s first annual yoga festival, Aug. 15 at Twin Lakes Park outside of Traverse City. It’s a one-day, all-day, collaborative event called Northern Resonance Yoga Festival, featuring over 30 of Leelanau and Grand Traverse County’s leading yoga teachers and holistic wellness facilitators.

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Old Art Building hosts renowned New Yorker cover artist Gayle Kabaker

The Old Art Building in Leland is thrilled to announce a rare and captivating summer feature: Finding Beauty & Light: A Gayle Kabaker Exhibit, running daily from Saturday, Aug. 8 until Sunday, Aug. 16. The highly anticipated event kicks off with an Opening Reception on Friday, Aug. 7, from 6-8 pm, giving the public a first look at the collection alongside the internationally acclaimed artist. Kabaker is an award-winning painter, writer, and visual storyteller celebrated for her work through a distinctly feminine lens. Best known for her iconic New Yorker covers—including her debut 2012 cover “June Brides” celebrating marriage equality, and nine subsequent covers since—Kabaker’s career highlights also include painting 100 portraits for the book and Kennedy Center exhibition Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower, as well as authoring The Washington Post column, Sketching My Way Through Crisis.

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Lively Acres host Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ festival

Lively Acres is excited to announce the first annual Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ this August 7-8 at their Backyard event space. Located in the shadow of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, on M-72 a few miles east of Empire, Lively Acres is a beautiful setting for world-class blues music, down-home BBQ and satisfying brews. Tickets are on sale now for the event, headlined by Detroit-based and nationally acclaimed Thornetta Davis, along with other Michigan talent. Lively Acres will serve a home-cooked barbeque meal from local meats and produce, served with northern Michigan beer and wine. The venue has RV and tent camping onsite, a working farm, and a full-service farm market.

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Leelanau backs Abdul, Bergman, Barr, Benson, James, and approves millages

In the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 4, the 46 percent of eligible Leelanau County voters who cast ballots sided with the winners of those races. Leelanau voters also approved all the township millages put before them. Leelanau voted for the following primary winners: Abdul El-Sayed for Senate, Jack Bergman and Callie Barr for the Congressional race, and Jocelyn Benson and John James for the governor’s race.

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Missing the Manitous

A visit to the Manitou Islands requires focus and strategy to navigate abundant poison ivy, black flies, mosquitos, and ticks. Although many fall in love at first sight with this pair of remote islands in northern Lake Michigan, part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, some may wonder what the draw is, as they disembark onto either of these windswept, buggy, and vegetation-dense islands, writes Abby Chatfield. With the Manitou Islands all but closed to visitors this year (unless you have a private boat)—as the National Lakeshore rebuilds the docks, we are reflecting on the Manitous with an ongoing series about experiences we’ve had on the islands.

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Jabo Bihlman next up at Music On The Mountain

For Jabo Bihlman, music is a calling. The Traverse City guitarist, singer and songwriter performs at clubs, wineries, and on Aug. 5 at Music On The Mountain at The Homestead. But he also works with television networks and streaming services. He’s a producer and engineer at his home-based recording studio. And he tours nationally and internationally. Not bad for a kid who hated guitar. “I had a couple lessons when I was 10 or 12 and hated it. I was a jock—in high school I played football and pole vaulted.”

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