News

Leelanau Conservancy announces $75 million “Leelanau, Protected” campaign to preserve peninsula’s land and water

The Leelanau Conservancy today announced the public phase of its most ambitious campaign in the organization’s history—a $75 million effort to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife that define life in Leelanau County. With $9 million left to raise, the Conservancy invites the broader community to help complete this transformative initiative. The campaign—titled Leelanau, Protected: A Campaign for Today and Tomorrow—focuses on three top priorities: protecting natural lands and working farmland; restoring ecological health and resilience across conserved habitats; and expanding meaningful access to nature for all people.

Read more
/by

Port Oneida Fair sees decline in visitors; final fair scheduled for early August

For more than two decades, the Port Oneida Fair during the first weekend in August has stood out as a memorable part of the Leelanau summer experience. However, the Sun reported in late June that this year’s event, Aug. 7-8, will be the final Port Oneida Fair. Public attendance at the Port Oneida Fair peaked at 4,392 visitors in 2012, according to the National Lakeshore’s count. Only once since then has the number topped 4,000 (4,140 showed in 2017). In fact, the tally dipped below 3,000 after 2019 and never rebounded. According to Park metrics, only 2,000 attended last year’s fair—less than half of the 2012 peak.

Read more
/by

Affordable bunkhouses debut at Indigo Bluffs

,

As the month of June came to a close, four new family bunkhouses were added to Indigo Bluffs RV Park & Resort in Empire. With a queen bed and four bunks, the new 320 square foot accommodations sleep six, a number that campground owner Gary Becker described as “magic” in hospitality. “The three generation vacation,” he said. “Grandparents, parents, children. Figure two plus two plus two.”  Beyond providing an enjoyable place to stay, the campground is concerned with “preserving and defending the opportunity for families to come here,” said Becker. Which is precisely why, at the height of the tourist season in July, the bunkhouses are under $130 a night.

Read more
/by

French Valley Vineyard announces partnership with Leelanau Conservancy to benefit Sugar Loaf

,

French Valley Vineyard, part of the Harmony Estate Wineries of Leelanau portfolio, announced the release of two new wines: Sugar Loaf Red and Sugar Loaf White. Created in partnership with the Leelanau Conservancy, the wines support the long-term stewardship of Sugar Loaf, the iconic Leelanau County landmark recently protected from development for generations to come. French Valley Vineyard invites the community to celebrate the launch with a release party on Friday, July 31, from 7-9 pm at French Valley.

Read more
/by

Flow Water Advocates launch Great Lakes Passport

Flow Water Advocates, based in Traverse City, is proud to announce the release of the Great Lakes Passport, a free educational guide that invites Michiganders and visitors alike to explore the Great Lakes while learning about the rights, history, and legal protections that safeguard these shared waters. Designed for families, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and all friends of the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Passport combines travel inspiration with practical knowledge about public access to one of the region’s most important natural resources.

Read more
/by

Leelanau residents, workers encouraged to take housing survey

The Leelanau County Housing Collaborative, an effort of the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation, and its partner organizations are inviting residents, workers, employers, and community members to participate in the Leelanau County Attainable Housing Survey. The survey is designed to gather public input on housing needs and community priorities to help inform future housing solutions across the county.

Read more
/by

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to conduct high-visibility traffic safety enforcement

The National Park Service will conduct a series of high-visibility traffic enforcement operations throughout the summer at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to promote safe driving behaviors and reduce serious traffic crashes. These operations will be conducted in coordination with local and state law enforcement partners.

Read more
/by

Smoked out: Friday events canceled in Leelanau

The catastrophic wildfires in Minnesota and Canada, and resulting poor air quality over Michigan, has prompted local businesses and organizations to cancel the following events in Leelanau County today. Those cancelations include: Tour de Tart, Empire Anchor Day’s Friday night movie, Beach Bards bonfire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ranger programs, Lake Street Studios today, Glen Arbor Arts Center at Thoreson Farm Studio, and Leelanau Conservancy outdoor events. We’ll update this list throughout the day and the weekend.

Read more
/by

Public Health Alert: wildfire smoke affects air quality in Benzie and Leelanau. Some events canceled

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is urging residents to take precautions as wildfire smoke continues to impact air quality across northern Michigan. Some local events have been canceled, and businesses closed, due to the wildfire smoke and air quality. The Glen Arbor Arts Center has closed its Thoreson Farm studio in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District today, July 16. However, the Arts Center’s air-conditioned classroom in Glen Arbor is open this afternoon from 1:30-3 pm. The Leelanau Historical Society has canceled its showing of the Frontier to Freedom documentary tonight at the Leelanau School auditorium. Last night’s benefit concert at the Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn near Maple City was also postponed. Tonight’s Music in the Air concert at the Leland Old Art Building is moving indoors (to an air-conditioned space). Stay tuned for further updates. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued an air quality alert for Thursday, July 16. Air quality levels in Benzie and Leelanau counties have reached the Unhealthy for Everyone category due to elevated fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) from ongoing Canadian and Minnesota wildfires.

Read more
/by

Air quality alerts issued for northern Michigan as wildfire smoke blankets region

Northern Michigan is enveloped in a thick blanket of brown smoke from wildfires in Minnesota and Canada. Among the outdoor events canceled due to the smoke are tonight’s fundraiser concert at the Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn near Maple City. The story is the same throughout the region. “We currently can’t see across (Lake Charelvoix),” said Jenny Clasman, executive director of the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, which canceled an outdoor concert set for Wednesday night. “I can see across the street, but it’s definitely foggy, cloudy. There is ash on our cars right now and it smells like burning tires.” Clasman, who has asthma, said she was having a hard time breathing and was wearing an N-95 mask outdoors.

Read more
/by