Glen Arbor Sun’s most read stories of 2021
From staff reports
Happy New Year! Onward to 2022. But first, let’s take a look back at our top 10 most read online stories in the Glen Arbor Sun in 2021. The highlights were fires and good samaritans who sounded the alarm, preserving the Crystal River and an iconic Leelanau County barn, profiles on Leelanau daughter Martha Teichner and the Reay family who lost their son to mental illness, a lament for Oxford, Michigan, and our coverage of the Grist Mill on the Crystal River and the referendum on its zoning. Thanks for reading.
1. Crystal River Outfitters closed after car crash ignites fire, August 8, 2021.
A driver speeding through Glen Arbor early yesterday morning, Saturday, Aug. 7, allegedly crashed into Crystal River Outfitters on M-22 just east of downtown, setting the building on fire. The identity and condition of the driver has not been officially announced. On its Facebook page yesterday, Crystal River Outfitters referred to the crash as a “tragic event and fire.”
2. Crystal River preserved: Glen Arbor business owners buy marina parcels, prevent major housing development, February 9, 2021.
Three prominent Glen Arbor business owners have purchased separate parcels next to the Crystal Harbor Marina, where Fisher Lake (at the north end of Big Glen Lake) feeds into the Crystal River. In doing so, they’ll make sure the fragile ecosystem isn’t turned into a major housing development or resort.
3. Leelanau County’s iconic Bicentennial Barn gets enthusiastic new owners with local roots, February 19, 2021.
When Greg and Heather Ford remodel their 1890s farmhouse and “Bicentennial” Barn on M-22 and Bohemian Road, about 7.5 miles east of Glen Arbor, they’ll pay homage to her family roots. The Nachazels, her forefathers, immigrated in the 1850s from Bohemia to the Good Harbor Bay region of Leelanau County—by way of New York and Chicago—and together with other settlers established a village they called North Unity, to reflect goodwill between Bohemian and German immigrants.
4. A Leelanau daughter shaped by chance encounters, heartbreak, and healing, January 25, 2021.
Chance encounters have shaped “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Martha Teichner’s life in profound ways. There was the chance encounter at Union Square Farmer’s Market in lower Manhattan that connected Martha and her Bull Terrier, Minnie, with Harry, a dog of the same breed, and Harry’s owner, Carol, who was dying of cancer from radiation exposure after 9/11. Girl dog met boy dog, and a deep and meaningful friendship blossomed between the two women.
5. Reflections from Oxford, “a sleepy American town”, December 19, 2021.
There were three things I grew up knowing about my sleepy little town of Oxford, Michigan. It was home of Brace Beemer, the radio Lone Ranger. It was once the gravel pit capital of the world, and home to Sea Ray boat manufacturing. My mother’s family had a long history in Oxford. My grandmother graduated from Oxford in 1918. My grand-uncle owned the barber shop in town, complete with the red and blue signature light pole outside the door. My grandfather owned a general store and gas station after serving in WWII and then went on to deliver mail in Oxford for 25 years. This is where I would grow up alongside my siblings and lifelong friends.
6. A grieving Glen Lake family shines a light on teen depression, September 12, 2021.
It wasn’t until an Aug. 29 memorial service for their son, Tommy, that Holly and Tom Reay learned how much the 17-year-old had helped other northern Michigan teenagers who also suffered from anxiety and depression. After Tommy succumbed to his battle with mental illness on July 10, Holly looked through his phone and saw that he was talking about depression with students not just from Glen Lake—where he would be a high school senior this fall—but also from Kingsley, from Frankfort, from Leland, from Traverse City. “One girl came to the memorial service from Kingsley, all by herself, without knowing anyone there,” said Holly. “It was hard, it was touching.”
7. Grist mill zoning spat confounds Glen Arbor Township, March 20, 2021.
Glen Arbor was described in 2011 by the Good Morning America TV show as “The Most Beautiful Place in America.” Today Glen Arbor Township, which has experienced unprecedented growth pressure as a resort destination, faces a community reckoning. It involves a new resident with ambitious development plans, deep pockets, and close partnership with regional heavy hitters; longtime neighbors; zoning irregularities; and old wounds from a 40-year-old environmental controversy.
8. Nobody hurt in LeBear Resort fire; restaurant Blu closed indefinitely, May 16, 2021
A fire broke out early Saturday morning, before 4 a.m., in a unit on the east side of LeBear Resort. Nobody was hurt, but the resort located at the north end of Lake Street in Glen Arbor suffered substantial damage. Blu, the restaurant attached to LeBear, was not affected by fire or water damage, but co-owner and chef Randy Chamberlain announced on Facebook yesterday that he will be closed indefinitely until utilities are restored. “This comes obviously at the worst possible time,” wrote Chamberlain.
9. “Save the Mill” vote wins zoning referendum, August 3, 2021
“Yes” votes to approve Glen Arbor Township’s rezoning of the Brammer parcel next to the historic grist mill on the Crystal River as “recreational” won a special zoning referendum today, August 3, with 342 votes in favor and 229 opposed. Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker emphasized that the results are unofficial until they are officially certified on Thursday. A total of 574 voters turned up today (3 votes didn’t register in the zoning referendum) — a 63.57% turnout. Turner Booth, the mill’s new owner, enjoyed the support of many in the Glen Arbor business community, including Cherry Republic owner Bob Sutherland.
10. A historic journey through Leland’s Fishtown, July 16, 2021
Leland was established on the site of one of the oldest and largest Ottawa villages. These peoples migrated to the Great Lakes region around 1200 CE. Today, this charming town is a top tourist destination and has been for many years. Leland is located on the west side of the Leelanau peninsula, and is bordered to the west by wondrous Lake Michigan, and to the east by North Lake Leelanau. The Leland (aka Carp) River runs through the center of the village, connecting both North and South Lake Leelanau, draining the Lake Leelanau watershed into Lake Michigan. The river flows through the heart of historic Fishtown, and it is barely 4,000 feet in length.
