More than 200 patriotic Americans, local townspeople and students from two high schools attended an emotionally stirring September 11 Memorial Service at the Glen Lake Fire Department this morning — an annual event in Glen Arbor to remember the fallen, to honor those that serve in uniform and risk their lives for our communities and our nation, and as a reminder that evil still exists today in a dangerous world.
The Empire Area Museum invites you to check out its new exhibits this year, including Ted Pelky’s model school bus collection, Russell Van Houzen’s woodcarvings and Helen Witt’s decorated eggs. Pelky started drawing buses at age 5 and building them at age 10. He works off school bus brochures and photographs.
Jim Dorsey is the living grandson of 1850s pioneer John Dorsey. He and his wife Velma, and daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Duane Shugart, still live on the old home place on the south shore of Little Glen Lake. Where the farm and its sheep and cows used to be, is now a well-kept summer trailer park with a view of the dunes in the distance. Jim Dorsey says the Indians helped his grandfather locate this place, pervaded even now by an unusual peace and beauty.
On Aug. 9, the Beach Bards bonfire rounds out its 25th season of by-heart storytelling, poetry and music. The festival is held every Friday night from mid-June until early August at The Leelanau School beach one mile north of Glen Arbor. Children’s hour begins at 8 p.m. with slapstick, sing-along performer James “ Fuzz” Foster and the occasional appearance by Cherry Republic president Bob Sutherland.
History comes alive at six historic sites during the annual Port Oneida Fair at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Port Oneida Fair will be held Aug. 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the many popular demonstrations, animals and exhibits, the fair will be a zero-waste event, will feature a chicken dinner on Friday, and will end with an astronomy party on Saturday night.
Thirty-six years ago this month, Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker discovered an anchor in 18 feet of water while canoeing off the coast of Empire. Ever since then, the village has celebrated Anchor Days on the third Saturday of July. The quirky impetus for the party fits this unique town. After all, Empire is best known for dressing up and honoring the asparagus stalk in May.
Off a two-track road south of Empire lies the historic Boekeloo Cabin/Boekelodge, one of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s most popular sites, built as a homestead cabin in the late 1800s. Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB) has been working to restore this beautiful building and site since 2005. Last summer PHSB’s contractor did a beautiful job of restoring the logs of the cabin. This summer Preserve will be working from July 18-20 on the windows, chimney, gables and interior, as well as repairing the gate, boardwalk and privy. Volunteers are needed for the nonprofit work group’s project for each of those days, starting at 9 a.m. Volunteers with good carpentry and window glazing skills are preferred, but general “unskilled” volunteers are needed as well.
Best known locally as the co-owner with Bob Hesse of Leelanau County’s new Bella Fortuna Restaurant in the center of Lake Leelanau, Jane Fortune, a long-time Leland summer resident, has been working quietly for years to rescue the works of female artists languishing in storage in the more than 40 museums in Florence.
Three generations of descendants of four different Lighthouse Keepers will assemble at the South Manitou Island Lighthouse on July 10. The families of Keepers Aaron Sheridan, Julia Sheridan, James Putnam Burdick and Ron Rosie will be working to restore the historic Fog Whistle Building below the lighthouse in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade, which next Thursday will celebrate half a century of annual patriotic celebrations, has come a long way since fire trucks were wrapped in primitive, spray-painted bedsheets. This year’s parade leaves Glen Haven at noon and typically arrives in Glen Arbor around 12:30. Spectators are encouraged to stake out a spot by mid-morning, as this event attracts hordes of people.