The Old Art Building in Leland will commemorate its 100th birthday with a Roaring 20’s themed party on Saturday, Dec. 10. The celebration is a ticketed event featuring the Gatsby Gang Jazz Band, known around the Midwest for their roaring 20’s/30’s jazz sound. Guests will enjoy dancing to the live music, heavy appetizers by Island Thyme Catering, and a cash bar featuring Champagne coupes and Prohibition cocktails.

Recently, writer Tim Mulherin met Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ veteran Rich Stowe, 57, a former Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office deputy. While researching a book on the impact of the pandemic, climate change, and tourism on northwest lower Michigan, Mulherin had the opportunity to ride along with Officer Stowe in late September. “It’s always a great day to be a game warden,” Stowe told him.

This summer, Petoskey-based writer Alexandra Dailey attended a national Road to Healing event in Pellston—part of a year-long tour by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (a Michigan native) to provide a platform for survivors of the federal Indian boarding schools to share their experiences and grievances. On Thanksgiving today, as she and her white family members gather and express thanks for their homes, shelters, and jobs, she plans to recognize her privilege of not having familial trauma associated with the Indian boarding school system. She writes in the Glen Arbor Sun that she will be grateful for the healing that is occurring within the tribal communities—grateful that she was able to witness the beginnings of the healing that is yet to come for our Native neighbors.

The 10th annual Lake Leelanau Provemont Holiday Arts and Crafts Show will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 am to 3 pm. This year’s art fair, sponsored by the Lake Leelanau Community Association, will be held at St. Mary’s school. Beautiful artwork and crafts from over 50 artisans from around the state.

A new gift shop opened in Empire last month. Field Trip, offering home goods and apparel, is located on M-22 on the north end of Empire, across the street from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate. The store carries products from local artisans as well as artisans from around the world. What the items have in common is that they are modern, fun, and unique pieces to add a pop of color and joy to any space. The owners, Trey and Lauren Springer, are a young couple in their early-30s who moved to the area unexpectedly at the beginning of the pandemic.

Visit the Empire Artisan Marketplace on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. where you’ll find truly unique, quality, handcrafted items—created and sold by local items. The marketplace will feature a great array of items to help kick-start your holiday shopping.

For 43% of Leelanau County’s 22,000 residents, Thanksgiving does not necessarily feel like a time of abundance and cheer. It is like most other days of the year when the stress of food insecurity is a nagging reality. Bill and Michelle White, residents of Leland and founders of 5Loaves2FishNMI, would like people to know is that it is okay to ask for help. According to Bill, “There is a stigma behind being food insecure, and pride stops people from asking.” 5L2F is an outreach group that promotes social justice by providing nourishing meals, infused with love, to those experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. The Whites founded the nonprofit to serve people in need around Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.

Sarah Mills has been selected to lead the Old Art Building (OAB) as its next Executive Director. Mills has worked for the OAB since 2020 and began volunteering there in 2015. She currently serves as the Program Director.

The annual Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace returns on Thanksgiving weekend with the “preview party” on Friday, Nov. 25, from 6:30-8 p.m. and the Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The market is known for showcasing a variety of quality, artisan-made goods. It is a popular annual event for year-round and seasonal residents, tourists, and vendors. The Holiday Marketplace nearly went on hiatus this year, but local resident and business owner Dotti Thompson stepped forward to take over as event coordinator.

A special holiday tradition continues on Nov. 19 with an annual call for children’s books. The Friends of the Glen Lake Library are once again collecting donations of new children’s books for children whose families are in need of assistance this holiday season. Any family can find themselves in hard times and the goal is to make sure the children still have some holiday joy in the form of a special book.