At last year’s annual meeting of the Glen Lake Association (GLA), watershed biologist Rob Karner gave a sneak preview of how the dredging of Hatlem Pond was being targeted as one of its major water quality projects for 2012.
Cedar and birch trees lean out toward the light at the edge of the forest as the beach path leads you to Lake Michigan. Along the way, you pass wood lilies and false solomon seal with bright, striped berries. Moisture from the lake bathes the ferns and mosses, and releases the sweet earthy scent of crushed cedar needles covering the sandy path. Turquoise water beckons as you leave the cool forest and walk out into the blazing sun. Swim out into the cool water, float on your back and scan the blue sky for eagles and terns. Now this is living!
Phil Stead, a 30-year-old runner from Ann Arbor won the inaugural Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon on Saturday, June 16, with a time of just under 1 hour 20 minutes. Krista Scott, 34, from Lake Ann, was the top female marathoner with a time of just under 1 hour 40 minutes.
Yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m., Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz and the National Park’s Midwest Regional Director Mike Reynolds cut the ribbon to officially open the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, which currently stretches 5 miles between the Dune Climb and Glen Arbor. Organizers and supporters hope that the Trail will one day stretch 27 miles, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line to Good Harbor Bay.
Manitou Music Festival poster design winner, David Westerfield, will be Artist-in-Residence at the Glen Arbor Art Association for two weeks. His presentation to the public will be on Thursday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. Westerfield lives in Glenview, Ill., where he has a graphic art business. He is a frequent visitor to Leelanau where he is captivated by the “visual beauty of the shore, dunes, and the many historic locations.”
The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) kicks off its 2012 array of art classes for adults and children on June 23. The programs this summer will again provide instruction for beginning to advanced levels in acrylic, oils, watercolors, pastels, and drawing. Many classes will focus on landscape art, reflecting the unique beauty of Leelanau County.
Managing Shoreline: Natural landscaping for lake health, erosion control, and nutrient absorption- a workshop for property owners will be held on Wednesday, June 27, from 7-9 p.m. at the Leelanau Government and Community Center, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay. Registration is $5 until June 20. After the 20 and at the door registration is $10. To register call (231) 256-9812. Topics will include healthy lake ecosystems, design of natural landscapes on shorelines, problems with high impact landscape methods, use of native plants and State rules and permits. This workshop is hosted by Leelanau Clean Water in cooperation with the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership. Leaders will be Buzz Long from the Leelanau Conservation District, Sarah U’Ren from the Watershed Center, and Rob Karner, field biologist from The Leelanau School.
The Glen Lake Chamber is requesting volunteers to be parade marshals for the big Glen Arbor 4th of July parade. We need volunteers to bring brooms to the parade to sweep back the candy from the street to the kids along the parade route as well as assisting along the route from Glen Haven into town. We need approximately 50+ people. Please contact Tim Barr from Art’s Tavern directly at (231) 499-2787 for more information, to sign up to volunteer, and to get a parade marshal shirt.
The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) will exhibit recent works donated by artists who have participated in the GAAA’s Artist in Residence program during the past two years at the Glen Lake Community Library at 10115 East Front Street in Empire. The paintings are on view in the library’s community room through September during library hours.
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes have been selected to receive a 2012 Active Trails Grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. Now in its fourth cycle, the National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program promotes national parks as venues for community engagement, and encourages healthy living through various forms of recreation and volunteer service on land and water trails. The $18,000 grant will enable the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes to purchase signage for the first segment of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT), and to develop a “Trail Ambassador” volunteer program to assist in patrols and maintenance of the SBHT. The SBHT will be officially opened on June 20 at a 1:30 p.m. ribbon cutting event.