Empire’s yoga instructor stretches body and mind

By Pat Stinson Sun contributor The one question Jessica Sharry hears more often than any other is, “What is the purpose of yoga?” The Empire Community Center yoga instructor has had plenty of practice answering. “It’s a method to work out all of the kinks, to stretch and strengthen,” Jessica says. “It’s a great physical […]

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The path of Laughing Waters

By Ian Vertel Sun contributor Carol Laughing Waters: “[that’s] a name I received in a waterfall in Yellow Stone National Park.” During a trip of camping and traveling, Carol of Maple City says, “it was very clear that that was my name. It was my first real experience of connecting with the Earth.” At first, […]

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Puppets airborne, and hands in the soil, at Little Artshram summer camp

By Corin Blust Sun contributor The first thing that strikes me about the Community Garden in Traverse City is the creative ways that people have outfitted their respective garden plots. There are trellises made out of hula hoop-like wire structures, a lovely bean support made out of poles scavenged from the forest and an impressive […]

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Music: Balm for the Mind

By Codi Yeager Sun contributor Only around 20 people sat in the small, flag-decorated hall at The Leelanau School on June 8. The doors, open to the summer afternoon, ushered in only a tiny breeze, but the small audience focused not on the heat. Their attention was on the young pianists whose muscle-memory fingers whizzed […]

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Looking East for the answers to addiction

By Ian Vertel Sun contributor Buddhism is a philosophical theory about the mind. It is a “precise science of the mind,” says David Hendricks — a science of nature, and of consciousness. With this understanding of the nature of the mind, locals Sharon and David Hendricks have applied their Buddhist teachings and philosophy toward healing […]

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Chef Mario brings gusto Italiano to Homestead resort

By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor Mario Deruda has a food motto: “keep it fresh, keep it simple.” That blends well with the cuisine at America’s Freshwater Resort, where Chef Mario arrived in mid-May after The Homestead resort hired the native of the Italian island of Sardinia as its executive chef. “I’ll be making traditional central […]

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Center Gallery opens with clay-based art

from staff reports Pottery has returned to the Lake Street Studios after a hiatus of half a decade. And for the first time, ever, it is on display at the Center Gallery in Glen Arbor. Thirty-two-year-old Matthew McGovern, a native of Vermont who has also lived in Maine, California, Wisconsin and South Africa, and just […]

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A Rose by any other name

By Helen Westie Sun contributor Kay and Tom Rose are two extraordinary Empire citizens … well, as all know … they are an integral part of the town’s activities. Both Kay and Tom are devoted, indefatigable workers for their favorite organizations: Tom for the Empire Lions Club and Kay for the Leelanau County Democratic Party. […]

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Park volunteers lend a hand

By Jane Greiner Sun contributor Eleanor Comings, a retired teacher from Frankfort, is approaching her ten thousandth hour of volunteer work at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (the local branch of the National Park Service), a fact that she didn’t readily share. She was more comfortable talking about her work. “I started because I […]

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Profile Ann Oberschulte: A fashionista returns to her roots

By Nadine Gilmer Sun contributor From her Italian brown leather boots to her equally hip jacket, Ann Oberschulte looks every bit the part of the local boutique owner: fashion savvy and comfortably trendy. She walks around The Cottonseed apparel like the fond owner of a small paradise. The racks of earthy garments and displays of […]

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