News from the north: weekly roundup
From staff reports
The Glen Arbor Sun is catching its breath this week as the summer season turns toward autumn (we’ll publish our fall color edition on Sept. 16). Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of news happening in these northern woods. Here’s a rundown of stories that have caught our eyes:
• Glen Arbor resident and longtime political columnist George Weeks contextualizes now retired Michigan Supreme Court Judge Betty Weaver’s bold move last week. Weaver, also a Glen Arborite, stepped down from the high court after years of infighting with Republican colleagues who had grown more extreme. She ceded her throne following a promise that Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm would appoint another northern Michigander to the seat. This tipped the balance to the Democrats — at least until November — but it also revealed that, perhaps Weaver’s allegiance lies not along party lines but along regional lines. Weaver’s move has drawn the wrath of some Republicans, but the Traverse City Record-Eagle sang nothing but praise for her willingness to act as an independent voice.
• Our friends at Circle of Blue published this sobering report about the Kalamazoo River oil spill: “Sleepless Nights and Black Goo”. And Todd Heywood of the Michigan Messenger ran this even more horrifying piece which blew the whistle on an oil spill cleanup contractor from Texas that had been busing in hundreds of undocumented workers to Battle Creek, Mich., to work on the cleanup of the Calhoun County oil spill — and having them work nearly 100 hours a week in unsafe conditions.
• Closer to home, Kerry Kelly came upon this sailboat from Milwaukee which marooned on the beach near North Bar Lake late last week. This was certainly a nicer gift from our Wisconsin friends than the industrial trash that has been washing up on our shores late this summer.
• And to end this all on a positive note, last weekend’s production of Martha Graham’s “American Document” at the Mills Community House in Benzonia was a smashing success, writes Sun co-editor Norm Wheeler. Adapted and directed by former Glen Arbor resident Gretchen Eichberger, American Document “was brilliant, intense, and moving, reminding us that there is art that we just consume, and then pure, original art that really moves us.”
• Last but not least, don’t miss the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk, at noon on Monday.
The walk leaves from north end of the Narrows Bridge, which divides Big and Little Glen Lakes, and proceeds to Melba Ann’s for a “goodbye to summer” party.