To mark its 25th anniversary, the Leelanau Conservancy will hold a speaker series over the next two years that features national environmental and conservation leaders. The series is part of an effort to engage members and the public on topics important to Leelanau County.

There is trash on our beaches, the climate is changing, and Glen Lake High School’s Students for World Awareness (SWA) want our community to do something about it. With Earth Day approaching, the students of the club have planned an event to increase environmental consciousness within their Leelanau County community.

The Benzie County Water Festival is a unique event designed to engage the public in the stewardship of the Great Lakes, the response to the global freshwater crisis, and the cultivation of a vibrant and sustainable local culture. This year’s theme is: “Under The Surface.”

The Glen Lake Library in Empire will host a presentation by Loreen Niewenhuis, author of the newly published book A 1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk, on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. Niewenhuis’ account of her epic hike along the shores of all five Great Lakes offers unique insights into the people, history, culture and environment of our unique region. The presentation will be held at the Empire Township Hall, across the street from the library. Copies of her new book will be available for sale.

The Empire Area Community Fund’s next monthly concert is scheduled for Easter Sunday, March 31, from 4-6 p.m. at Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor. The Original members of Third Coast will perform. To learn about this dynamic new community project to help those in need, read here. Last month’s concert raised $55. To learn more […]

The Glen Arbor Art Association Reader’s Theater presents two plays April 12-14. “The Circus Train,” from the Ellery Queen series, is an interactive detective tale featuring a giant, a midget, a fortuneteller and murder. Rounding out the evening is a sci-fi thriller from The Mysterious Traveler series, “The Ugliest Woman Alive,” where things are never as they seem.

Suttons Bay sewist, Donna Popke makes curtains, slipcovers and a range of odd, kinetic ottomans and footstools. Now she wants to add “reality show contestant” to her resume. Popke talks about her multidimensional sewing life at the April 18 “Talk About Art” interview, 7:30 p.m., at the Glen Arbor Art Association (GAAA), 6031 S. Lake Street.

Fans of Glen Arbor Art Association’s Readers’ Theater are familiar with classic who-done-its from past Sherlock Holmes shows. Put that genre in the hands of director, Mason Query, and things get a little … twisted. “Frankly, says Ms. 1940’s Classics Get A Comic Twist April 12, 13 & 14, “While rehearsing for our previous productions, I could hardly keep a straight face and was a constant disruption. They finally just gave up and are letting me run with it!”

Online registration for the fifth annual M-22 Challenge begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 1, and will likely sell out within hours. This year’s Challenge will be held on Saturday, June 8. This dynamic spring alternative triathlon has quickly become one of Leelanau County’s most popular annual events. Don’t miss your small window of opportunity to take part!

Trail enthusiasts are invited to a Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Open House on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m.-noon along the trail in Glen Haven. Please stop by while you are out skiing or snowshoeing to enjoy complimentary homemade cookies and sample hot chocolate from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate.