Our top Glen Arbor Sun stories of 2017

From staff reports

It’s no surprise to us that 3 of the top 10 most-read stories on the Glen Arbor Sun‘s website in 2017 were about Sugar Loaf — the long shuttered ski resort in the heart of Leelanau County. Stories about Sugar Loaf usually attract the most readers. This year those included an historical piece about what Sugar Loaf’s former employees and characters are up to these days, a report that previous owner Remo Polselli still holds the mortgage, and a breaking news update that new owner Jeff Katofsky would visit Leelanau County in October and hold a public meeting.

Rounding out our list of most-read pieces of 2017 were: three stories about new businesses in the region (Shipwreck Cafe in Empire, Coastal in Glen Arbor, and Compass Rose Bakery on the Glen Lake Narrows); two reports about forward-thinking steps businesses are taking to address the seasonal worker shortage (Anderson’s Market and Cherry Republic), and stories about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore increasing entrance fees in 2018, and the prospect of more cougars, bobcats and bears in our National Park.

Thanks for your readership!

10. Shipwreck Café finds safe harbor in Empire, Aug. 16
“With any business, you have [worry and doubt],” said Steve Nowicki about opening his Shipwreck Café in Empire late this spring. “We had all of our eggs in one basket. We put everything into this and if it didn’t work out we didn’t know what we were going to do.” The Nowickis did indeed put everything into one basket. Shipwreck Café is a passionate and ambitious undertaking. The Nowickis raise their own chickens, make their own bread, rolls, muffins and cookies, and the ingredients in their soup, salad and sandwiches are fresh and of a high quality. Customers rave online about the homemade pretzel bread and the “three brothers sandwich.”

9. Jamaican, Romanian foreign students fill employee void at Anderson’s Market, Aug. 25
Meet Jorene Williams, Dejie-ann Smith, and Joycelyn Mclean, college students from Jamaica who are summering near the Sleeping Bear Dunes while they work the checkout registers at Anderson’s Market and Compass Rose Bakery. All graduated from Shortwood Teacher’s College in Kingston in May with four-year Bachelor of Education degrees in Modern Languages. “We wanted to stick together after graduation,” said Jorene. “Coming to Glen Arbor was our only opportunity to do that.”

8. Going Coastal, Cherry Republic brew, Hoard expansion, road construction, May 20
Glen Arbor pedestrians and shopping tourists have one more reason to walk west on M-109 this spring. Just past the Good Harbor Grill and the Pine Cone ice cream shop, Katy and Matt Wiesen have opened the clothing apparel store Coastal in the space formerly occupied by Great Lakes Tea & Spice. The tea & spice shop hopscotched west to the other side of Ruth Conklin Gallery, and now shares a space with Arabella Concepts jewelry store.

7. Sleeping Bear Dunes to increase entrance, camping fees, Dec. 17
After careful consideration, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will increase entrance and camping fees beginning Jan. 1. In order to judge public support for a fee increase, the National Lakeshore concluded civic engagement and public outreach from June 27 to July 31, 2017. Analyzing the information received, the park found the responses ran almost 2 to 1 in support of a fee increase.

6. Sugar Loaf’s characters: where are they now?, Jan. 23
Rusty and paint chipped chairlifts rest, suspended on their slack cables, creaking occasionally in the cool breeze. Pools remain drained, sprinkled with shattered glass and other detritus. Large holes dot the windows and broken glass coats the cracked concrete like glittering stars. The slopes remain overgrown and unruly with bushes and trails left behind by adventurous teenagers and structures are tattooed with bright graffiti.

5. Compass Rose bakery opens at Narrows, July 1
The destination just south of the Glen Lake Narrows follows a meandering history, having transitioned through the names The Dairy Bar, the Narrows Deli, Little Bear and most recently McCahill’s Crossing Dairy Bar. Although each brought a unique flavor to the Glen Lakes, owners and names have come and gone with the changing seasons. Janice and Paul Richards are the new proprietors of Compass Rose Bakery, which opened on June 23 on the corner of M-22 and CR-677 (Benzonia Trail). They are confident that their gluten free baked goods — a product in high demand these days — will make a lasting impression in the community.

4. Overcrowding, lack of workers, forces Cherry Republic expansion, Aug. 28
On July 3, 4,000 customers passed through the doors of Glen Arbor’s Cherry Republic; 1,000 of those visited within an hour and 20 minutes. Outside on Lake Street, parking was a nightmare. Inside, the 1,400 square foot “Great Hall” was filled to capacity, its septic system pushed to its maximum, the hired help stretched to their limits.

3. Sugar Loaf control still clouded in mystery?, Feb. 17
Katofsky owns resort; Polselli associate holds the mortgage. Jeff Katofsky, the California real estate attorney and developer, is the undisputed owner of Sugar Loaf resort: that is clear. Sweet Bread L.L.C—which Katofsky told the Glen Arbor Sun is owned 100 percent by him and his wife—acquired the long-shuttered ski resort on Nov. 14, 2016, from 4500 Investments, L.L.C, which is controlled by Remo Polselli. But the identity of who controls the mortgage to the Leelanau County destination has remained a mystery. Until now.

2. Bobcats and cougars and bears in Glen Arbor? Oh my!, Oct. 1
It’s the last in a row of private properties along M-109. To the immediate east lies the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Behind looms Alligator Hill. The Fourth of July had come and gone, and things were relatively quiet; the doors to the house were left open to allow the breeze to pass through. An old retriever lay sound asleep in the front of the house. Near him, a pet bunny was safely caged in another room.

1. Sugar Loaf owner to meet Leelanau public, Oct. 3
Long-shuttered resort now in on-deck circle for Katofsky’s projects. Jeff Katofsky, who purchased Sugar Loaf resort last November, will return to Leelanau County on Friday, Oct. 20, and meet with the public at 11 a.m. at the Leelanau County Government Center where he will field questions about the path forward for the long-shuttered ski resort.