The Glen Arbor Arts Center takes a short look back, and a long look forward, at contemporary fiber and textile arts on Sunday, October 6, at 2 pm. This visual survey is part of the GAAC’s exhibition Fiber Without Borders, and is presented without charge. Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager and studio fiber artist, will facilitate the program.

Following news that the popular Cheese Shanty lunch joint in Leland’s historic Fishtown is closing early this year due to high water levels, Fishtown Preservation executive director Amanda Holmes issued wanted the public to know that Fishtown remains open. She wrote the following letter on Wednesday, Oct. 2:

The first weekend of October marks the sixth annual Hops & Harvest Festival in Empire. Each fall the Empire Chamber of Commerce hosts the festival to celebrate the harvest season with local food, beer, and music on Front Street. Tickets to the event are $25 for adults, which includes a commemorative Hops & Harvest Festival glass and drink ticket. Children 16 and under are free.

A powerful opportunity awaits Leelanau voters on Nov. 5. The Leelanau County Commission, in a bi-partisan vote, is offering voters the opportunity to make a significant difference for families raising young children and to entice young families to move to the County. Because, healthy resilient families are the backbone of a thriving community.

The Leelanau Women Artists will host a members’ show of basketry, fused glass, jewelry and painting, Oct. 4-5 at the Leland Old Art Building. An opening reception with the artists will be Friday, Oct. 4 from 5-7 p.m.

Holland, Mich. resident Jon Ornée swam from Pyramid Point to North Manitou Island on Friday, Sept. 20. The 7.4-mile swim took him 2 hours and 50 minutes. He believes he is the first person to accomplish the feat.

On Wednesday, September 25 at 2 pm, the Leelanau Historical Society & Museum and Leland Township Library will host award-winning author and oral historian Martha Bloomfield for a talk titled “Michigan Immigrants: Romanies, Hmong, and Many More” in the Munnecke Room at the Library.

In a world where florists purvey orchid corsages and online orchid vendors are legion, it’s enlightening to learn that glimpsing native wild orchids will only be on nature’s schedule. Late last year, to see some very carefully attended Showy Lady’s Slippers in full bloom, I broached the possibility of a visit to one of the Leelanau Conservancy’s northerly natural areas with Conservancy land steward Emily Douglas and volunteer Chuck Dickerson who, with his wife Janet, has been doing much to foster the orchid population there. Late this June, the “Showies” were flowering and we converged at the preserve, access to whose sensitive habitats is restricted.

Leelanau UnCaged unfolds on Saturday, Sept. 28, filling the village streets with song, dance, food and art — plus fun directed specifically at kids. Entrance is free.

Before big box retailers and the omnipresence of factory-manufactured clothing, people made clothes by hand. Two local artisans have taken up the mantle of slow fashion, and are creating garments and hats one piece at a time. They’ll talk about their studio work and show their wares at the September 29 Talk About Art interview at 2 pm at the Glen Arbor Arts Center, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor.