The sudden death of Dave Taghon on Jan. 3 struck family and friends from far and wide. Despite the fact he spent most of his life in Empire, Taghon’s influence spread far beyond the little village. He was a ready source of information about the area’s history, but more importantly, a vital part of its present and presence through his work on the village council, at his church, with the local Lions Club, and at his family’s gas station for nearly 40 years.
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the New Community Vision (NCV) nonprofit have reacquired land historically known as “Mashkiigaki” (formerly called Timber Shores)—which totals more than 200 acres along West Grand Traverse Bay between Suttons Bay and Northport. The Band gets more than 188 acres, including 1,800 feet of pristine shoreline; NCV gets 24 acres along M-22. The transfer deed was recorded on Dec. 26. New Community Vision has worked for two years to acquire and preserve the former Timber Shores property, which developers unsuccessfully tried to turn into an RV park until they were stopped by a ballot referendum in 2022. NCV is collaborating with Peninsula Housing to develop attainable housing on its portion of the land. Mashkiigaki is one of the largest undeveloped coastal properties in the Grand Traverse region.
Award-winning radio broadcasting icon Paul Harvey delivered the impactful words of this speech, “So God made a Farmer,” to the Future Farmers of America convention in Kansas City, Missouri in 1978. This extraordinary speech made the listener pause while underscoring the collective importance of nurturing and embracing our farming communities across America. While it served as a gentle reminder during the Carter-Era to appreciate our “caretaking” farmers, in 2024 this can no longer be just a temperate reminder; the need to protect and prevent the extinction of the American Farmer is paramount—including here in Leelanau County.
Scott Stone, a woodworker and retired metallurgist from Ferndale, Michigan, was at Cavanaugh’s grocery at The Homestead resort in August waiting for his pizza when he picked up a copy of our Aug. 22 edition of the Glen Arbor Sun, flipped to page 2, and read a story about the iconic bicentennial barn property at the corner of M-22 and Bohemian Road being for sale again. The 1890s farmhouse and barn on a 4-acre property in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was purchased in February 2021 by Greg and Heather (Nachazel) Ford. “I know this place,” from biking by it on the Sleeping Heritage Trail, Scott told himself. Fast forward to Oct. 17, when Scott and his wife Tamara bought the bicentennial farm from the Fords, who are moving out of state. The Stones have vacationed in the Glen Arbor area for 23 summers, they love the National Park, the vibe here, the sense of community, and proximity to Lake Michigan. For the past year they’ve been casually looking for a place to buy.
For almost 50 years, one of the few locations where patrons could visit a history museum of Suttons Bay was Eddie’s Village Inn restaurant. Owned and managed by two generations of the Rothgarber Family from 1956 until 2004, this beloved eatery served as the central hub for local news, gossip, family and friend gatherings, and tourists looking for a delicious, home-cooked meal while enjoying Suttons Bay history laid out on the walls throughout the restaurant and behind the bar.
The Leelanau Outdoor Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Founded in 1994 and situated on picturesque Pyramid Point in Maple City, LOC educates groups of school students with its unique program that combines “experiential and ecological learning in the natural environment that promotes the discovery and development of leadership and character.” Adventure elements of the program include navigating the high ropes course, climbing wall, and zip line while the ecological components encompass Pond Study and Dune School. “At LOC we work hard to earn the students’ trust and provide them a safe space to try something new and maybe make mistakes. We want them to know that it’s ok to not get it right the first time, and it is important to work hard and be persistent. In team building, we specifically address communication skills that may be difficult to foster in a school setting, as well as the idea that it’s ok to ask for help and trust others,” said LOC director Katie Duntley. To commemorate their 30th anniversary, LOC is hosting a Fall Festival on Oct. 5 from 1–5 p.m. For $15 a person, attendees can climb the rock wall, take off on the zip line, hitch a seat on the hayride, shoot a bow and arrow, carve pumpkins, and other fun activities. More details on the festival can be found at LOCprograms.org/events.
Hayward Draper, the author of The Colony: The history, families, society, architecture, and economics of a 1908 traditional American Cottage Row will give a presentation at Fountain Point Resort on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 4 pm. This presentation is hosted by the Leelanau Historical Society in collaboration with Fountain Point Resort. Copies of Draper’s book will be available at the event.
Leland native Paige Cook will be a junior at the University of Michigan when classes resume in early September. She currently works on the podcast team of What the F, a feminist magazine on campus, and has participated in Central Student Government. Cook and other student leaders at U of M have protested and stood up for the rights and dignity of Palestinians since Israel’s war in Gaza began nearly 11 months ago. The brutal conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians and caused the spread of disease and famine in the occupied enclave—following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the killing of 1,200 Israelis and seizure of hundreds of hostages. The Glen Arbor Sun spoke with Cook about her Leland upbringing, her experiences in Ann Arbor, and how it has felt to attend college in a town that’s once again a hotbed of student activism.
The Old Art Building (OAB) just scored a major win for the Leelanau community with purchase of a 1.14-acre property parcel on the Leland River, kitty-corner from the cultural center’s established location in Leland. The purchase, finalized on July 31, secured 280 feet of additional Leland riverfront property for the community and almost tripled the nonprofit’s footprint. Campaign chair, Cindy Meeker, said, “The purchase of the property at 204 Cedar Street allows the Old Art Building to enhance its programming to meet the demands of this community for today and for many future generations to come. Additionally, it allows us to preserve this treasured property in the heart of Leland as we honor our past and build our future.” With just 2 ½ months to raise the money, a grant from Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation and generous donations from community members secured the $3.2 million needed to finalize the purchase, while also quietly kicking off a three-year capital campaign aimed at raising enough funds to achieve community-voiced goals on both the new and existing properties.
The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay will show Saving the Barn, a locally produced short film on the history, preservation, and future of the Leelanau County Poor Farm/County Infirmary. The screening is free and open to the public on Sunday, August 4 at 1 pm. The documentary is a multi-year project of the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society (LCHPS) and was broadcast by WCMU Public Television in March. Following the 26-minute film, Norm Wheeler musician/storyteller and (narrator of the documentary) will moderate a panel discussion.