News

St. Wenceslaus Parish concludes weekend masses

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Whether directly or indirectly connected to the Gill’s Pier Catholic Church, the termination of full-service masses at “the church in the orchard,” St. Wenceslaus, and moving to limited use, is a historic and cultural loss, a communal and civic loss, and ultimately a loss of vital Leelanau County history. Honored as a Michigan Historical Site both for the church and cemetery, St. Wenceslaus has witnessed almost 136 years of Leelanau County History. It stands as a testament to the births, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, deaths, and many celebrations of this interwoven farming community. By changing to “limited use,” this means a loss of social services, a loss of spiritual education, and ultimately loss of a place of prayer.

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Glen Lake Association seeks help catching giant invasive koi

If you ask any fishing enthusiast what they hope to catch in Glen Lake, most will likely tell you they are seeking perch or bass or perhaps even a pike. However, this summer may be prime time to instead aim for bright orange koi fish, as the invasive species presence is confirmed in the lake for the third summer in a row. Koi, an invasive species known for their bright coloring, are a domesticated form of carp native to eastern Asia. They resemble oversized goldfish, and hold distinct and striking color patterns of orange, black, white and yellow. Their beautiful appearance makes them extremely popular as pets and in ornamental ponds worldwide. It is believed that the koi likely started off as pets, and made their way into the lake through being purposefully released. A single female can lay up to 400,000 eggs per breeding cycle, allowing for the population of koi to easily proliferate. 

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Congressional candidate Callie Barr wins Pete Buttigieg endorsement

Callie Barr, a Democrat running to represent Northern Michigan in Congress, picked up a coveted endorsement today from Pete Buttigieg, a fellow Traverse City resident and former Transportation Secretary during the Biden administration. Barr, who lost during a previous run for Congress in 2024 to incumbent Republican Jack Bergman, faces a primary challenge this year from Upper Peninsula resident Kyle Blomquist. Michiganders will vote in the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

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Sleeping Bear Forever: new name reflects expanding mission

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A weathered red barn leans gently into the wind at Port Oneida. Rows of apple trees still mark orchards planted generations ago. White farmhouses sit beneath towering maples, their porches looking out across fields first cultivated more than a century ago. In Glen Haven, restored maritime buildings recall an era when steamships connected isolated shoreline communities and commerce shaped life along the lakeshore. These places don’t command the same attention as the dunes. Yet, together they reveal the history, culture and character that give Sleeping Bear its soul. Helping people discover that story has become the defining mission of the nonprofit formerly known as Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Now approaching its 30th year, it is entering a new chapter with a new name: Sleeping Bear Forever.

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Sound Garden saxophone surprise in Sleeping Bear Dunes

One might expect to hear the sounds of a saxophone in a sophisticated concert hall, a wedding, or an otherwise lavish, exclusive event. Fewer may expect to hear such sounds in places such as local boutique Cottonseed, or outside Rinco Bros Coffee. This surprise and accessibility is the prime objective of the Sound Garden Project, an initiative by Interlochen Public Radio to “plant classical music in unexpected places”. The Cerus Quartet, an award-winning saxophone quartet, visited Glen Arbor as part of this initiative from June 9-21. The Quartet performed in locations such as Leelanau Coffee Roasters, Cherry Republic, and even the post office before hosting a culminating concert at the Glen Arbor Township Hall.

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Woman’s Club holds annual Fourth of July flag raising at Old Settlers

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Join community members of all ages in celebrating the founding of our nation in a joyous and patriotic ceremony at 10 am on Saturday, July 4, at Old Settlers Picnic Grounds along the eastern shore of Big Glen Lake. The traditional raising of the flag by the Glen Lake Fire Department will be followed by a singalong of well-loved and familiar patriotic songs. The event is sponsored by the Glen Lake Woman’s Club. Air Force veteran Ed Peplinski will be this year’s featured speaker with an Independence Day speech titled, “Pulling Together as Americans through Gratitude.”

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Stick it to Leland

Viva the Stick! The Leland Stick hung on through blizzards and windstorms. For more than two years, a humble stick came to symbolize the spirit of Leland. Once hanging from a powerline crossing M-22 just south of Leland, the Leland Stick is no more. Around 3 p.m. on May 12, a tree crew clearing limbs removed the branch and almost certainly reduced it to undifferentiated chips. For many, it was the unofficial Welcome to Leland sign.

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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore announces final Port Oneida Fair

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The annual Port Oneida Fair will be held for the last time on August 7-8 in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Port Oneida Rural Historic District. For more than two decades, the Fair has been celebrating the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the late 1800s and early 1900s of the area. This summer, as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, the fair will be “Celebrating the Threads of a Nation” in a theme that will give visitors the opportunity to reflect on the places and people of our shared history.

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Empire Asparagus crowns poetry, recipe winners

Each year the Empire Asparagus Festival crowns winners of its poetry and recipe contests. This year’s poetry winner is Joseph Povolo for his poem “High on Asparagus.” The recipe contest staff published a booklet (click here to view it) which contains recipes submitted by participants in this year’s contest. Together they reflect the creativity of our community—from classic appetizers and salads to unexpected uses for one of Michigan’s favorite spring vegetables.

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“Angel bike” helps athlete finish M22 Challenge

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Ryan DeCook owns the M22 Challenge. The 45-year-old won the Leelanau County running, biking and paddling triathlon for the sixth time overall. But that wasn’t the headline of the 18th annual M22 Challenge. Races like this one are competitive, but they also inspire acts of kindness. Brook Tyrrell, a 26-year-old Traverse City resident, discovered her bike had a flat tire within the first mile. She pulled off M-109 and looked for help. “Hi, I have a flat. Do you have a pump?” she asked spectator, Katie Butera, who was standing next to her own bike. Thanks to Butera’s “angel bike,” Tyrrell placed third in her age group.

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