The Nov. 5 election will determine which party controls the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners (BOC), and which policies and initiatives they pursue next year. The Commission is currently deadlocked between three Democrats and three Republicans, with one seat vacant. In District 1, which serves Elmwood Township in Leelanau’s southeastern corner, Republican Tim McCalley faces Rick Robbins, who is running as a Democrat after previously serving on the BOC as a Republican from 2020-2022. In his previous term, Robbins was the deciding swing vote—often siding with Democrats—on contentious issues including septic regulations and funding voter-approved early childhood services. The Glen Arbor Sun reached out to all 14 candidates for the BOC and asked about their positions on issues or initiatives that are key to Leelanau County citizens: namely, affordable housing, renewable energy, broadband access and services for both seniors and families with young children. Our questions, and their responses are below. Today we’re featuring McCalley and Robbins, who are vying for the open District 1 seat.

There are many reasons women choose not to have children, and there are situations where it is not even a matter of choice but a physical impossibility. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance asked in a 2021 interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, “How does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?” A group Vance targeted with this question is one he defines as “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.” Not long after, while speaking at a recent Trump rally, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Governor and former White House Press Secretary for Donald Trump, claimed that her children are “a permanent reminder of what’s important,” following with a comment about Vice President Kamala Harris’ lack of anything to keep her humble. What Vance and Sanders are alluding to is their belief that women without biological children are inherently selfish and see no direct stake in the future of our nation. At a time when politicians are taking to the national stage to chastise women without biological children, Abby Chatfield spoke to 10 Leelanau women without kids of their own who collectively believe that we all have a stake in the future, regardless of whether or not we bear children. These locals show their dedication to Leelanau County’s future by investing in its youth, improving services for senior citizens, and fighting for the environment.

The Instagram personality FreckledCarrot took this photo on June 26 of her dogs posing in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore overlooking the Glen Lakes.

Coreopsis. Cardinal flower. Spring beauty. Goldenrod. Buttercup. As I biked the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, I repeated these names to myself over and over so I could write them down in my biking journal later. Each new bench I passed was emblazoned with a different flower name in capital letters, and they began to feel like mile markers, a mental record of my journey on this uniquely beautiful trail. I had started my ride from the Glen Arbor trailhead at 6 p.m., hoping to finish before dark. It was cloudy and colder than I had expected, and as time went on, I found myself yearning to pass other people, nervously pedaling faster up and down the steep hills in silence. The more I listened to the insects chirping and felt the rushing wind around me, repeating the flowers to myself like a mantra, I began to feel connected to nature, far more so than the cars rushing by me. It’s a sentiment shared by many of the bikers I interviewed in Traverse City and Leelanau County. In this region, biking is inherently connected to the natural beauty to be found.

As expected, the 20-year anniversary celebration of Maple City’s Pegtown Station was nothing short of a resounding affirmation of owners Mary and Dave MacDonald’s tireless work and dedication over the past two decades. There was a palpable sense of joy in the air that evening. The MacDonalds’ recent celebratory event was an open house, fittingly held right on the premises. It was a most festive evening, complete with refreshments and live music by Elizabeth Landry, the legendary Leelanau County songwriter-musician. The gathering was the MacDonalds’ heartfelt way of expressing gratitude to the folks of the Leelanau County area, as well as to the many summer residents and tourists who have supported them over the years. “Being able to celebrate 20 years with this wonderful community of ours is something that Dave and I appreciate greatly. It means the world to us to know how loyal our customers have been throughout the years,” Mary shared.

They pick our cherries in the summer and our apples in the fall. They care for our vineyards and clean our rental houses. They raise children here, enroll them in public schools and celebrate quinceañeras in local parks. Many have lived in Leelanau County for decades. Out of 22,000 residents—according to the latest Census—as many as 1,000 of our neighbors identify as Hispanic or Latino. Many have an undocumented parent or family member living here in northern Michigan, now as rooted here as the pine trees, though they crossed illegally into the United States years ago. The local Latino community is acutely aware that the subject of immigration is tossed around like a political football during this presidential election season. They hear Republican candidate Donald Trump’s threats to carry out the “largest deportation in American history” and his maligning of non-white immigrant communities—and it frustrates and concerns them. Some worry about being racially profiled; some have grown more cautious about sharing their legal status with fellow community members; some worry about an environment of anxiety surrounding their kids, most of whom were born here and have U.S. citizenship.

The four public libraries of Leelanau County are excited to announce the launch of this fall’s “Tech Tuesdays,” a collaboration aimed at promoting digital literacy and providing general tech support to community members. This series will rotate between the libraries during the months of September, October, and November, offering both a presentation on a specific topic and personalized tech assistance. Attendees are encouraged to bring general tech questions and their devices.

It’s for family and more. The Accidentals’ annual FAMgrove party takes place at French Valley Vineyards on Oct. 12. “It’s become one of our favorite events,” says Katie Larson, who co-founded the group with fellow string player and songwriter Savannah Madigan when both were still in high school. Now all these years later–12 to be precise–the band gathers members of its fan club and hometown fans for an end-of-season bash with a number of special guests. This year that list includes the Rebel Eves, Luke Woltanski, One Hot Robot, Low Phase and A to Z. Derived from the song “Mangrove” off the band’s ​Bittersweet​ album, The Accidentals’ FAMgrove community began in 2012 as a Facebook group. Now it is an interactive, personalized fan club on Patreon, and the FAMgrove party is the band’s way of giving back. FAMgrove members are admitted free of charge, while those who are not (yet) members can purchase tickets.

Celebrate the Leelanau Peninsula’s rich farm heritage with the Ruby Ellen Farm Conservancy’s annual Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 6, from noon to 4 pm. Fun, free, child-friendly activities, museums highlighting farm life/families in Bingham and the Leelanau community; craft demonstrations including cider pressing, basket weaving, spinning, and wood turning; hiking trails and gardens; gift shop. Farm-style pig roast, 1:30 pm, $25/adults, $10/kids, followed by its renowned baked goods auction.

The Leelanau Outdoor Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Founded in 1994 and situated on picturesque Pyramid Point in Maple City, LOC educates groups of school students with its unique program that combines “experiential and ecological learning in the natural environment that promotes the discovery and development of leadership and character.” Adventure elements of the program include navigating the high ropes course, climbing wall, and zip line while the ecological components encompass Pond Study and Dune School. “At LOC we work hard to earn the students’ trust and provide them a safe space to try something new and maybe make mistakes. We want them to know that it’s ok to not get it right the first time, and it is important to work hard and be persistent. In team building, we specifically address communication skills that may be difficult to foster in a school setting, as well as the idea that it’s ok to ask for help and trust others,” said LOC director Katie Duntley. To commemorate their 30th anniversary, LOC is hosting a Fall Festival on Oct. 5 from 1–5 p.m. For $15 a person, attendees can climb the rock wall, take off on the zip line, hitch a seat on the hayride, shoot a bow and arrow, carve pumpkins, and other fun activities. More details on the festival can be found at LOCprograms.org/events.