Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host a book signing with Anna Egan Smucker, author of the children’s book To Keep the South Manitou Light, at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The public is invited to a special presentation about the Great Lakes on Sunday, June 29, at 1 p.m. at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire. Please join Cameron Davis in the epicenter of all Great Lakes legends and stories, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, to hear about current efforts to save the Great Lakes and share some of your own stories … after all, our own personal stories are part of what strengthen our connection to our beloved Great Lakes.
Lake Leelanau’s Fountain Point Resort is pleased to announce an upcoming concert featuring the legendary Josh White, Jr. This performance by White is set for Friday evening, June 27, at 8 p.m. on the porch of Fountain Point’s Lodge overlooking Lake Leelanau.
Chicago artist Liz Wall conducts a painting demonstration on July 1 at 1 p.m. as part of her exhibition “Leelanau Lake Effect” at Center Gallery, 6023 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor. Wall works in both oil and pastel paint. She’ll demonstrate her technique and talk about process and painting in Leelanau County. For more information call 231-334-3179.
The 2014 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival presents a new and improved event for its sixth year. This year’s festival, to be held at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons on Saturday, June 21, celebrates regional wine, food and culture of northern Michigan. More than 5,000 people will join the festivities, which includes several new additions such as a VIP party and lounge, a wine education tent, a second music stage and a juried art show with best of show and peoples choice awards.
Grupo Ayé is the perfect choice to headline “Rock the River”, The Leelanau School’s annual benefit concert on Saturday, June 21, at 7 p.m., at the boarding school one mile north of Glen Arbor. Much more than a Cuban salsa band, the group has crafted its own cultural identity by incorporating various genres including Latin jazz, merengue and mambo, among others. The band also takes pride in their showmanship; making shows a complete experience for their audiences.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host its annual barn restoration workshop June 19-21 at the Schmidt Farm located on Norconk Road, three miles south of Empire, and one mile west of M-22. This year marks the 18th anniversary of a partnership between the Michigan Barn Preservation Network and the National Lakeshore in developing this series of “hands-on” workshops. The park and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network are providing the skilled labor to put on this workshop.
Genuine Leelanau, a nonprofit charitable organization serving children and families of Leelanau County for over 30 years, hosts their annual “Laundry Party” gala on Wednesday, June 18, at the Empire home of Bill and Cherrie Stege. The recipient of this annual fundraiser, The Laundry Project, provides funds and laundry supplies for families in need. As a result of this fundraising party, financially stressed local families may use the facilities at the Suttons Bay Laundromat at Hansen’s Plaza for free.
The Glen Lake Library will host a presentation by Sleeping Bear Dunes park ranger Jim Del Sasso, a 40-year veteran of the Park Service, on Thursday, June 19 at 7 p.m. “Ranger Jim” has worked in parks ranging from Denali to the Everglades, spending the last 20 years patrolling our local lakeshore. He will share stories, insights and pictures from his long career just weeks before his scheduled retirement in July. The presentation will take place at the Empire Township Hall.
The biological control of the widespread zebra and quagga mussel infestation in inland lakes will be the focus of a four-part seminar, “Water Issues For All of Us” to be held on Thursday, June 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Leelanau County Government Center, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, in Suttons Bay.