As darkness falls on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the glorious night sky becomes visible. You can enjoy special night sky experiences at the National Lakeshore this year through a series of monthly astronomy programs from now through October. Join Park Rangers and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) for guided explorations of the night sky and even a few daytime events as well. The next Star Party is Friday, May 9, 9-11 p.m., at Platte River Point.
The Bee-nefit is an event to promote awareness of bees, their importance in the world, and the threats they face with Colony Collapse Disorder. It is a part of the Senior Glen Lake School Envirothon team’s community outreach project and Molly Flerlage’s senior project.
The Glen Lake Community Library will host local writer Mardi Link, author of Bootstrapper: from broke to badass on a northern Michigan farm on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Link’s memoir details the challenges of raising three sons as a newly single mother, while also managing the immense workload of her centennial farm home. Whether battling the elements, wrangling chickens and hogs, or chopping wood, all while coping with a looming divorce, her humor and optimism shine through. Bootstrapper has received rave reviews, and was selected as a 2014 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce is organizing its first annual Glen Lake Restaurant Week, May 2-10. Click on the Chamber’s event page for more information, and “like” it on Facebook too. Participating establishments will offer their own three-course prix-fixe menus for $25. Some may offer $15 lunch specials as well. Simply show up to each restaurant on the list to experience a unique and mouthwatering time. Restaurant week is a great opportunity to discover new cuisine at a great price, and dine at your usuals too.
The Leelanau Conservancy hosts a free speaker series event at the Suttons Bay School Auditorium on Saturday, May 3 from 3-5 p.m. titled “The Future of Our Forested Landscape” — part three of the Conservancy’s Leelanau: Looking Ahead Speaker Series.
The next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Concert will be held on Sunday, April 27, from 4-6 p.m. at Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor. The featured performers include the legendary “Jim Crockett and the Beach Bards” . Come out and celebrate the second anniversary of the Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Program.
Artwork by longtime Glen Lake School teacher Peggy McNew will be featured at the Main (Woodmere) Branch of The Traverse Area District Library through the month of May.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host its annual pruning workshop on May 2 in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. The workshop will be held at the Thoreson Farmstead, which is located on Thoreson Road, four miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22. Just follow the signs.
The League of Women Voters Leelanau County (LWVLC) will host a presentation titled “A Great Start for All Children” featuring Mary Manner at noon on Wednesday, May 7, in the Leelanau County Government Center. Manner will discuss the Great Start Collaborative’s work on the 5 to ONE project, a rural model for an early childhood system of resources across a five-county service area that includes Leelanau County.
As darkness falls on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the glorious night sky becomes visible. A four-hour lunar eclipse is the feature for the National Lakeshore’s first Star Party of the year. This unique program will take place during the early morning of Tuesday, April 15, from 1:30-5:30 a.m., at the Dune Climb. Participants are asked to park in the row furthest from the dunes facing M-109. This Star Party could be cancelled during inclement weather; the decision is usually made a few hours in advance. Please call Park Rangers at 231-326-4700, ext. 5005, for a voicemail message with the decision.