Zack Ripley took first place at the Running Bear Run in Glen Arbor on July 23 with a 5K time of 15:37. The previous course record was 16:06. The Grand Rapids native ran with his wife Andi, who placed first in her age category. Ripley is a high school English and Social Studies teacher. “I usually run 10K races but we thought this would be a fun race to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary”, he said.

The Friends of the Glen Lake Community Library will hold their annual Used Book Sale August 7-9 at the Glen Arbor Township Hall. This three-day fundraising event offers gently used and new books, games, puzzles and recordings. Here is the schedule.

Thoughtful public input on the first draft of a Transportation Plan for the Village of Empire is enthusiastically requested of all Empire area residents, visitors and village, township and regional stake-holders this Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Township Hall in the Village of Empire.

Gallery owners in Glen Arbor’s Lake Street Arts District have declared Saturday, Aug. 3, to be Beautiful Coffee Mug Awareness Day. While many coffee drinkers devote energy toward finding the best tasting, Fair Trade coffee, fewer put the same energy into thinking about what they drink it from. On Aug. 3, come to the Lake Street Arts District and try drinking coffee from a beautiful coffee mug.

The next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Concert will be held on Sunday, July 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Empire Township Hall. This event will pay tribute to the “Wanderer” the late hobo poet Clive W. Haswell, and will feature a performance by the Beach Bards with musical guests Norm Wheeler, Chris Skellenger, Patrick Niemisto and friends.

The second annual Dune Dash to benefit the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. The 4-mile run/walk starts and finishes at the base of the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb and follows the flat, paved segment of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail to Glen Haven and back.

From a northern Michigan village, best-selling author Priscilla Cogan launches her latest novel, Clinging To The Moon and engages in a whirlwind book tour from Maine to Minnesota and states in between. The novel tells an unexpected love story and centers on the theme “that accidents can happen to anyone,” says Cogan. “Clinging To The Moon is a book about there being no guarantees in life, which is why my motto is to live intensely, love fiercely, and to always have two Shelties.”

Northern Michigan’s rural landscape — and its iconic, historic farm buildings — are the focus of Frankfort painter Ellie Harold’s exhibition at Center Gallery. “Barn Love,” a show of plein air and studio oil paintings opens July 5, at the gallery, 6023 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.

The Glen Lake Library in Empire has kicked off its summer reading program on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. Programs on the schedule include nature presentations, puppet and ventriloquist shows, and a special concert by local folk music favorites Song of the Lakes. Details are available on the library’s website at GlenLakeLibrary.net. Upcoming presentations include Journey to the Center of the Earth with Pippin Puppets on June 27, and take flight and learn about raptors with Wings of Wonder on July 11.

Get into the July Fourth spirit with the popular Northport Concert Band under the direction of Don Wilcox, the first concert of the 2013 Manitou Music Festival. This program of patriotic music takes place on the lawn of the Glen Arbor Athletic Club, M-22, Glen Arbor, Wednesday, July 3, 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs, friends and family to catch the spirit of our Independence Day music. Rain location: Glen Arbor Town Hall. For more information please call the Glen Arbor Art Association, (231) 334-6112. This concert is free.