The newest section of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT) from Fisher Road to Port Oneida Road opened today, Friday May 22 at 3 p.m., ahead of schedule and just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The news came in the form of a press release from TART Trails outreach and program director Brian Beauchamp.

Travel photographer Eric Hatch talks about his artist’s residency with the Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) on May 28, 7:30 p.m. at the GAAA, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.

Find Your Park with a visit to a historic Great Lakes village and U.S. Life-Saving Station (USLSS) during Glen Haven Days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Join Park Rangers and volunteers on Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Glen Haven and the USLSS for hands-on activities that will bring Michigan’s maritime history of the early 1900s to life.

The sky is the limit at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Join Park Rangers and astronomers from the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) on Saturday, May 23 at the Dune Climb. On this day, two events offer opportunities to view the sky.

Visit the Cottage Book Shop on Saturday, May 23, from 1-3 p.m. to help this Glen Arbor mainstay celebrate 30 years in the community. Owner Sue Boucher and her team have a fun afternoon planned with six local authors signing their books.

The Center Gallery opens its 2015 season on May 22 with new works of Up North icons by Traverse City painter Charles Murphy. A public reception for the artist is 6 p.m. at the gallery, 6023 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.

When Trish Vanderploeg and her husband, Wayne, moved to Glen Arbor four years ago, nobody knew her. Now, an entire community is pulling together to support her. With that support may come the gift of life.

The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) is holding an exhibition of 35 of its members’ paintings and photographs. There will be an opening reception 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 15, and the exhibit viewing will be open weekdays until June 15. The show will be judged and prizes will be announced at the opening reception. Some of the member artists that will be displaying their art include Joan Richmond, Carol Spaulding, L.C. Chittenden Lim, Lily Lafollette and Cherie Correll. Most artwork will be for sale and many of the artists will be on hand to meet the public at the reception.

Empire resident Ella Skrocki returned from Nepal just weeks before the tragic earthquake struck. She wrote the story “Nepal in our hearts and minds” for GlenArborSun.com. Skrocki is an organizer of a fundraiser on May 14 at The Remedy cafe in Traverse City, from 4-7 p.m. The event will benefit Nepali earthquake victims. Guests will be treated to Nepali cuisine, live music by local artists, a slideshow of Skrocki’s experiences, and before and after images of impacted areas.

The Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA) has a full lineup of fresh youth classes (ages 6-15) for 2015 and inspiring teachers to stimulate creative development. In addition to drawing, painting, pottery, and many others, there are new learning opportunities this year such as drama classes and metalsmithing.