2011 was the year of the revolution, the occupier and the people’s movement. Here in Michigan, it was the year that our Detroit Tigers made a magical and gallant run into the postseason, and it was the year that our Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore finally got the national credit it deserved.
“You forgot how righteously screwed Wisconsin was out of the Toledo War. As part of the deal we in Michigan got the Upper Peninsula … which at the time wasn’t a big deal, until we realized it was just one big hunk of Iron and other valuable things.”
Legislation by Sen. Carl Levin to permanently protect more than 32,000 acres of Michigan lakeshore won approval Thursday from a key Senate committee. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act (S.140,) a bill authored by Levin, D-Mich., and cosponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
Here’s an open letter from Rick Desrochers of the newly formed Sugar Loaf Mountain Club, thanking the local community for helping clean up the ski hill in advance of the long-shuttered mountain potentially opening up to cross-country skiing and ice climbing this winter.
TV 7&4 News featured this video of the Glen Lake Fire Department’s new fire boat yesterday. The entire $265,000 cost of the 28-foot fire boat was raised by community members in three months. The Fire Chief for the Department says the boat adds new capability for fighting fires on boats, wildfires near the water, as well as homes along the waterfront. Nearly 75% of the homes in the Glen Lake area are within 1000 feet of a body of water.
Empire Chamber of Commerce chair Paul Skinner reported that approximately 30 Empire Village and Township residents planted almost 12,000 daffodil bulbs on Front Street last weekend.
Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.
The Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee, Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore), Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails, Inc., and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes are proud to announce that the Federal Highway Administration has awarded two grants towards construction of 3.7 miles of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT).
“Good Morning America” produced evidence this morning that proved to everyone what most people in northern Michigan already knew — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the most beautiful place in America! The ABC morning news program conducted a poll on their website last week asking people to vote for one of 10 places nominated for the honor by their viewers.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a paved, multi-use bike trail that will span 27 miles through Leelanau County and the National Lakeshore, U.S. Senator Carl Levin applauded the project, calling it federal money well spent. Yesterday at the base of the Dune Climb, Senator Levin spoke along with National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz, Cherry Republic President and CEO Bob Sutherland, and others.