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Fishing Day an annual treat
Upcoming EventFor hundreds of youngsters around Leelanau County—and even more so those no longer quite so young—the annual Kids Fishing Day at Veronica Valley is a special event. Since 2004, volunteers have stocked fish, welcomed kids, helped them bait their hooks, and watched bobbers disappear beneath the water, then reappear with a wriggling bluegill on the end of the line.
Suttons Bay hosts artisan & wine walk
Upcoming EventThe Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce invites the public to sip, shop, and stroll during the much-anticipated Artisan & Wine Walk: A Toast to Suttons Bay, happening Friday, June 20, from 5-8 pm in beautiful downtown Suttons Bay.
American flags, strawberry rhubarb crisp, but No Kings
Local Personality, NewsOn Friday, June 13—the day before thousands of “No Kings” rallies attracted millions of demonstrators in cities and towns across the United States to oppose the Trump administration—a downstate woman sent a flurry of emails to the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department as well as federal authorities including the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to alert them about alleged “domestic terrorism” in Leelanau County and a host of outlandish claims. Out of concern about “some bad actors and their weird crazy rhetoric about me,” Nancy Janulis, a Glen Arbor summer resident who organized a No Kings rally at the Glen Lake Narrows, contacted the Leelanau Sheriffs Department to provide event details. The mood that morning was upbeat, patriotic, and collaborative. As bikers raced along the south shores of the Glen Lakes toward the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb to complete the M22 Challenge, approximately 200 citizens stood on the sides of M-22 at the bridge holding flags and banners. Organizers Janulis and Linda Dewey had asked participants to “please stand in solidarity and join us on this nationwide day of peaceful affirmation of our right to due process, free speech and equal protection.” Leelanau Sheriff Mike Borkovich “had friendly conversations with the protesters, and he was upbeat and friendly with me,” said Janulis. “We visited about fishing and the cold lake temperatures this year. I’m happy he attended. We had no incidents at the rally.”
Sleeping Bear Surf hosts second annual Beryl Days
Business Feature, Upcoming EventSleeping Bear Surf is proud to announce the return of Beryl Days, a heart-forward grassroots celebration honoring the spirit of freshwater, community, and joy at the doorstep of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This unique event, held from Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22, in the village of Empire, invites locals and visitors alike to gather for three days of connection, education, and fun. Beryl Days (pronounced “barrel”—yes, like a barreling wave!) honors the legacy of Beryl Skrocki, founder of Sleeping Bear Surf and beloved mother, trailblazer, activist, and community leader. Beryl Days is more than an event; it’s a vibrant reminder of the power of community and our shared responsibility to protect and cherish the Great Lakes environment that fuels so much of our joy and culture.
Fountain Point Resort’s history
Business Feature, Historical Feature“To come once is to linger, and the next year to come again,” said Albert Meafoy, Fountain Point’s second owner. As someone who used to beg my parents to go to the Alpine Slide on a daily basis to feed my inner-speed demon, writes Rebecca Carlson, part-owner and co-general manager of Fountain Point Resort, Theo Early, mentioned having a water slide at the resort on the same idea as the toboggan run at The Alpine Slide. The Fountain Point Resort water slide operated from the 1930s until the 1990s. Built on the shores of Lake Leelanau, it was a combination toboggan run that slides into the water—genius! I would have asked my parents to move in permanently to Fountain Point Resort. As Theo and I walked the property, he pointed to where the water slide was located. Sadly, insurance liability issues ended those days of reckless fun. Insurance companies are party poopers. I vote to re-instate the “Water-Chute” of Fountain Point.
A Laker Shake-up
Business Feature, Local PersonalityThe name conjures up a certain image for generations, both summertime vacationers and long-term residents. Ice cream and shakes of course, but also coffee, sandwiches, souvenirs and all the other items Laker Shakes is known for. The ice cream-and-more shop on the south end of Glen Lake, a five-minute walk from Old Settlers Park, has been a fixture for decades. Kate Alger is making sure that continues. “I always had a dream of being part of the community, serving the community,” Alger says. A longtime summer visitor and resident, Alger purchased Laker Shakes from owner Ellen O’Neill earlier this year. She and her husband Brad have been visiting the area since 2011. “We’re excited.”
Singer/Songwriter Jon Muq visits Leland’s Old Art Building
Upcoming EventThe Old Art Building in Leland is thrilled to welcome rising singer/songwriter Jon Muq to the its main stage on Wednesday, June 18, from 7-9 p.m. Born in Uganda and now living in Austin, Texas, Muq draws from African as well as western musical trends and traditions. Featured on the PBS News Hour, Muq has opened for Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett and other headliners. He describes his songs as small gifts, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience.
“The Bohemian Cooks of St Wenceslaus”
Historical FeatureOne of the events Leelanau County locals make sure to mark on their calendars each summer are for the Catholic Church Chicken Dinners. Not only were the dinners a source of entertainment with plays, music, dancing, singing, and games, the dinners served as a communal festival to celebrate the summer season, engaging the congregations of the peninsula and the broader community. At one time, there were five different locations throughout the Leelanau Peninsula for the Chicken Dinners hosted by the local Catholic parishes. Sadly, in 2025, there are only two remaining Chicken Dinner events: St. Wenceslaus in Gills Pier on June 22 and Holy Rosary in Cedar on July 27.
Glen Lake Woman’s Club awards $21K in college scholarships
NewsThe Glen Lake Woman’s Club awarded seven college scholarships to graduating Glen Lake seniors at Awards Night on May 22. Five of these students will attend Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), one will attend Alpena Community College, and one will attend Muskegon Community College. Awards will also be given to six second-year students and one adult Glen Lake graduate beginning at NMC. “We are honored to award these scholarships to help such promising graduates on their future career paths,” said Virginia Woessner, chair of the Glen Lake Woman’s Club Scholarship Committee.
Glen Lake Library hosts Kids Summer Camp
Upcoming EventThe Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will host a kids summer camp for ages 8-9, June 23-27 from 10 am- 1 pm. Activities will include: creative writing, arts and crafts, nature-based activities and games. The camp is free of charge and presented by the Yingst Family in honor of Bonnie Yingst. Spaces are available for the first 15 children registered. “The Library Camp is a new venture for us, and an expansion of our summer youth programming,” said director David Diller. “It’s motivated by our long-term goal of forging a stronger connection with area students. Our library strives to be a welcoming destination for kids and families.