Invisible in our midst: Hispanics and migrant workers in northern Michigan

By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor They live amongst us. They drive on the same country roads. They enjoy the same sunsets. And they still play an integral role in harvesting the crops that we not merely eat, but identify with spring, summer and fall in northern Michigan. The Hispanic and Latino workers indispensable to our […]

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What makes Empire unique?

By Helen Westie Sun contributor What makes Empire a unique and interesting community? When confronted with this question, the town’s residents have always been vociferous in expressing their ideas. The two unique summer celebrations come to mind immediately: the Asparagus Festival the weekend before Memorial Day in May and the Anchor Day the third weekend […]

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Letter to the Editor

The feelings of puzzlement and disgust I felt as a result of reading Mr. Arens’ letter to the August 11 edition of the Glen Arbor Sun, are so similar to the feelings I have towards much that’s current in American “culture”, I have decided to answer it that I might personally find a way to […]

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County residents avoid tossing tons of E-waste into landfill

By Dianne Navarro Sun contributor “This monitor still works. We’re just updating our computer and we can’t even give this thing away. No one wants it” was a common theme voiced at Leelanau County’s Electronic Recycling Collection event, which took place on August 20 at Glen Lake High School. Thanks to Leelanau County and the […]

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Revisiting the mystery of the W.H. Gilcher

By Jed Jaworski Sun contributor The infamous loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald shocked the entire Great Lakes community. How could one of the largest vessels, using modern technology, simply vanish with all on board? Leelanau County experienced its own version of the Edmund Fitzgerald story in the 1890s, when the largest and most technologically advanced […]

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Diamond wreck brings Good Will out of caring townsfolk

By Jed Jaworski Sun contributor “If only those weathered old timbers could talk,” people often remark as they explore the ancient forests, gracefully aging barns and bleached shipwreck timbers along the shores of Benzie and Leelanau counties. Herein is the tale of an aged boat sinking into the muddy headwaters of Betsie Bay, a fishing […]

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Trail dangers: What to watch out for in the Sleeping Bear Dunes

By Jane Greiner Sun nature correspondent With recent press coverage of the cougars in our area, many people worry about the dangers of hiking the trails in the National Park, particularly if they have small children. When people asked me about it, I responded that I am much more afraid of getting lost or injured […]

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Acquisition of Empire schoolhouse sets changes in motion

By Thomas Benn Sun contributor Empire’s century-old schoolhouse is in the process of being acquired by a realtor from Plymouth, Michigan, who plans to make it into “a memorabilia mall like you’ve never seen before.” The prospective new owner, Joe Van Esley, is a highly successful real estate broker who has been collecting Americana for […]

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In Traverse City, Bush faces “largest demonstration in history”

By Eartha Melzer Sun contributor TRAVERSE CITY, Monday August 16 — Despite northern Michigan’s reputation as a Republican stronghold, more than a thousand protestors took to the streets to crash George W. Bush’s party at the Traverse City Civic Center earlier this month. The acting commander-in-chief flew into Cherry Capitol Airport on Air Force One […]

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“Not in my backyard” — Homestead sewage issue seeps to the surface

By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor Preceding the creation of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 1979, and long before tumultuous conflicts over golf courses and land swaps divided the local community, The Homestead was given sewage easements on two parcels of land totaling 12.9 acres just north and east of the sprawling resort.

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