Glen Arbor Sun’s top 10 stories of 2022

From staff reports

For Leelanau County, 2022 was a year of new businesses growing in our communities, a year of celebrating historic legacies, and a year of grieving the loss of community pillars who left us.

The Glen Arbor Sun‘s top 10 most-read online stories of the year included homages to Beryl Skrocki, whose family business Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak helped popularize standup paddle boarding in Empire and along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, longtime Cherry Republic general manager Kathy Baarstad, and storied Glen Arbor realtor and Sugar Loaf ski coach John Peppler. It was also a year marred by war in Europe. Our Ukraine coverage included features on Liubov Shchegelska, who arrived in April as a refugee to join her daughter and son-in-law, former Lake Leelanau Rowing Club coach Viktor Grebbenykov.

Business stories in our yearly top 10 list included news that Vacasa, the largest rental company in North America, purchased Leelanau Vacation Rentals in Glen Arbor, a profile on the team of Spaniards who built the new giant clay oven at 9 Bean Rows bakery in Lake Leelanau, and L’Chayim Delicatessen bagels feeding hungry mouths in Glen Arbor.

Stories in our list that celebrated historic legacies and local characters included a reflection on Leland Fishtown’s past, present, and the woman guiding its future, a profile on Glen Arborite and Chicago political connector Katie Dunn, and Clay Carlson, a fifth generation son of Fishtown who captures Leland’s legacy in his paintings.

Rounding out our top 10 list was news from a County Commission recall election in May that handed power to Democrats for the first time in Leelanau history. The Democrats held their 4-3 majority in the November midterm election.

Thanks for your readership and support of community journalism in 2022. Our top list is below:

 

1) Reflecting on the Joyous Life of Beryl Skrocki, Jim Lively, Oct. 25

2) Leland Fishtown’s past, present, and the woman guiding its future, Abby Chatfield, May 20

3) Bahle beats Bunek in recall election. Democrats take control of Leelanau County Commission for first time, staff reports, May 3

4) Cherry Republic, Glen Lake Chamber mourn passing of Kathy Baarstad, staff reports, Nov. 8

5) Vacasa acquires Leelanau Vacation Rentals, staff reports, Aug. 26

6) Katie Dunn is Local-ISH!, Norm Wheeler, June 10

7) Fifth generation son of Fishtown captures Leland legacy in paintings, staff reports, Feb. 17

8) Four Spaniards, 9 Bean Rows, and one giant clay oven, Jacob Wheeler, Aug. 1

9) L’Chayim Delicatessen bagels arrive in Glen Arbor, Jacob Wheeler, July 1

10) Remembering John Peppler, storied Glen Arbor realtor, Sugar Loaf skier, Vietnam veteran, staff reports, Aug. 15

This story was sponsored by the Cottage Book Shop.