Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes present Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear book
From staff reports
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will present Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear: The Rest of the Story at the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire on December 15 at 7 pm. Modeled after Paul Harvey’s famous radio program: And Now You Know the Rest of the Story, there is so much more to tell than what fit into the pages of our best-selling book. After a short introduction of the book, the following featured speakers will share funny and informative insight into our area history. We invite attendees to bring their own stories and photos to share. Photographs can be set out on tables or shared through a jump drive on a computer screen.
Mike Bolton is a fourth generation resident and Large Animal Veterinarian. He will share “The County Line (and a River) Runs Through It! A Brief History of the Centennial Manning Farm.” Bolton will include a quick six-generation history of the Manning farm and how the National Park Service affected its trajectory. Come to find out why the doors in the house enter and exit in two different counties.
Dave Taghon has resided in Empire all his life. He graduated from Glen Lake High School and spent four years in Florida in the USAF. Taghon has been a Village council member for 26 years, 14 as village president. Taghon has been involved with the Empire Area Museum since 1976, now 46 years and counting. He will talk about Empire history, what’s preserved in the museum, and the museum’s 50th anniversary.
Have you been here long enough to remember the Dune Stand at the Dune Climb? Amy Ellison will share stories of what it was like being a “clerkette” for her grandmother, Elsie Warnes. Warnes taught her young employees by sprinkling life’s lessons with lots of laughter. Ellison can tell you the secret to creating a perfect soft-serve cone and share stories of her grandfather, Gilbert, a.k.a. “Mr. Fixit’s” exploits. Ellison currently owns Amy’s Therapeutic Massage in Empire.
Dale DeVries is a retired Michigan school teacher, who has spent his retirement years photographing landscapes and wildlife. He has been an avid photographer since his first Brownie camera. DeVries is currently a member of the Traverse Area Camera Club. He has a cabin on the Rapid River in Kalkaska County and offers his photography at several Traverse City and surrounding area locations. DeVries will be displaying some of his popular scenic photos of the Sleeping Bear Dunes and offering tips to creating your own special photographic memories.
Kerry Kelly grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, graduated with a BS in Chemistry from UW-Madison. He worked for Dow Chemical in Midland for 30 years. He’s been a member of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes since 2004. Kelly is currently the Chairman of the Board, manages the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, blacksmiths at Glen Haven, and volunteers for a variety of other projects in the park. He will round out this informative program with park and Friends updates about where we are and exciting plans for the future. You will find out what the newest timeline is for Sleeping Bear Inn and the Friends storage facility at the Dune Climb.
Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear, the popular park Hiking Trail Maps, Wildflower Guide and Sleeping Bear Dunes sticker will be available at the event for $29.95-an $8 savings! Can’t attend? The book can be purchased at local bookstores or ordered at lifeofthesleepingbear.com.
