Partying in Chicago

Though the Glen Arbor Sun is not typically a “political” paper—what with a story on a presidential candidate running only once every four years, or once out of every 40 issues we print—we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate the election of America’s first African-American president, Barack Obama. Not to mention the fact that he’s from Chicago, the Nov. 4 victory celebration took place in downtown Grant Park, and our Leelanau County is sometimes mistaken for a bedroom community for the Windy City. In other words, Barack is a local boy.

You followed the political news coverage on Nov. 4 (and for months before that), we’re sure, and so you’re familiar with the narrative of what unfolded on election day. But here’s a little tidbit you may not have known. Shortly before the Obamas took the stage at Grant Park at 10:58 p.m. Central Standard Time, a sound guy approached the mic and announced … “check, check, final sound check for the next President of the United States …” and that was when Grant Park went berserk. It was probably the biggest moment of that guy’s life. Or who knows, maybe he’ll get a job in the White House …

—Jacob Wheeler