Old Art Building hosts Switchback – A Celtic Christmas Concert

Come and experience the magic of the holidays at the Old Art Building in Leland on Friday, Nov. 22, with Switchback – A Celtic Christmas Concert. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the concert running from 7-9 pm. The show will feature musicians Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack performing some Christmas standards, Irish melodies, and some originals. Voted the top duo for Irish music in Europe and North America by the Irish Music Association, they have shared the stage with luminaries from the Chieftains to Leon Russell to the Moody Blues.

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Friends of Glen Lake Library hold children’s holiday book drive

A Special Holiday Tradition continues on Nov. 15 as the Friends of the Glen Lake Library kick off their annual call for children’s books. The Friends are once again collecting donations of new children’s books for those 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. The list is compiled from Glen Lake Elementary School, Parenting Communities, The Benodjenh Child Center, Leelanau Children’s Center and Family Daycare Homes and is available at the Glen Lake Library in Empire and at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor.

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Empire, Glen Arbor host seasonal holiday markets

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With the holiday season comes the panoply of seasonal markets, where artists and artisans, bakers and makers alike showcase their wares. For many, the season starts with the holiday shows in Glen Arbor and Empire that take place the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace kicks off Friday night, Nov. 29, at 6:15 p.m. with the lighting of the Christmas tree and caroling. The town hall opens for shopping at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m., then welcomes shoppers again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “It’s been going on a long time. I put it together with a ton of other people,” says organizer Cre Woodard. “It’s like a machine.” The vendors line the walls at the town hall, the center of the room and the stage as well. Throngs of shoppers fill the room, perusing the displays of jewelry, mittens, art, holiday décor and more. Woodard has no problem signing up vendors, and when she runs out of room, she knows where to send them – just down the road to Empire. If there’s room there. “I filled up very fast,” says Linda Payment of this year’s Empire Artisan Marketplace, held in the Empire Town Hall. Payment has coordinated the daylong event for the last several years, which takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Nov. 30. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Cherries in black and white: Nik Burkhart captures changing landscape and industry

Artists in northern Michigan are known for landscape paintings: Green hills plunging into blue water, sunsets over Lake Michigan. But Nik Burkhart’s landscapes are a little different than most. His black and white paintings depict ripped out, cut down cherry orchards and ask questions about the region’s changing landscape. This story was adapted from a radio piece last month by Interlochen Public Radio.

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Glen Lake Association casts net for first executive director to lead watershed protection

The Glen Lake Association (GLA), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting the water quality and natural resources in the Glen Lake and Crystal River Watershed, has announced its search for an executive director. Since 1945, GLA has aimed to be the recognized leader in evidence-based strategies for protecting the watershed while advancing environmental education, sustainable policies, and quality of life. This brand-new position reflects the organization’s commitment to building upon its strong foundation to ensure future growth and success. “This is an exciting time for the Glen Lake Association,” said Stan Kryder, GLA Board President. “The new executive director will play a vital role in shaping the future of the GLA and preserving the long-term health of the watershed.”

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Crystal River Outfitters hosts Strolling Lights Festival

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The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District is excited to kick off the holiday season in Glen Arbor with another fun, family-friendly Strolling Lights Festival. This event is a great way for families, friends, teams, businesses and organizations to express their festivity, all while supporting a great cause. Whether highlighting your favorite thing to do in Michigan, representing a family tradition, or supporting a cause, each Strolling Lights tree is a blank slate ready to be decorated.

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Democracy in Leelanau: what unites us in politically divided times

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In the run-up to the heated and divisive Nov. 5 presidential election, we decided to produce a series of short video profiles which featured Leelanau County residents of different generations, different genders, and different political persuasions. The goal was to explore what unites us—what traits we have in common—in these politically divided times. We asked 10 residents the following questions: “What do you like about living in Leelanau County?”; “What are your favorite autumn traditions?”; “What are you eating these days?” and “What does living in a democracy mean to you?” The message in these video profiles is to show that—while your neighbor or your family member might display a different political yard sign and vote differently than you—we have more in common than we think, and we should remember and embrace what binds us together despite the caustic atmosphere around the election campaigns.

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From super majority to narrow minority

To use a football metaphor, the breakout 60-yard gain was called back for a penalty, killing the team’s momentum and resulting in negative yards. Leelanau Democrats are disappointed after the 6-1 super majority on the County Commission they thought they had—following unofficial, and incomplete, election results posted to the County website in the wee hours of Nov. 6­—changed to just three seats. They’ll be in the political minority once again through the four-year term. Democrats thought they were riding a blue wave on the County Commission, too, until County Clerk Michelle Crocker suddenly alerted candidates, and the media, on Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, that more than 3,000 in-person early votes had not been counted in the unofficial results. They were uploaded to the ElectionSource software on election night, but didn’t save correctly. A hand count of the paper backup ballots revealed the discrepancy. Lois Bahle, who now trails her Republican opponent Will Bunek by seven votes, plans to request a recount once results are certified late this week. “I owe it to my constituents and to myself with only a seven-vote difference,” said Bahle. “The recount process is also a way to show that the system works. We can have faith in it.”

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Sleeping Bear applies brakes on controversial Heritage Trail extension along Little Traverse Lake

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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is putting the brakes on its planned 4.5-mile extension of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, which was to run near Little Traverse Lake and conclude at Good Harbor Trail. National Lakeshore superintendent Scott Tucker announced the news today during a press conference at Park headquarters in Empire. (Click here to watch a livestream of the news conference.) The National Lakeshore is pausing the design of Segment 9 following months of conversations with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which opposes the route of the extension and which sent a letter of concern on Aug. 26 to Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland and U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow.

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League of Women Voters examine Affordable Housing in Leelanau County

The League of Women Voters of Leelanau County for its November Forum is presenting “Affordable Housing in Leelanau County: What is it Exactly?”, featuring Larry Mawby, president of Peninsular Housing. Mawby will provide an informative overview of what affordable housing means to those who live in Leelanau County. Time for Q & A will be given at the end of the presentation. This free event is open to the public. It will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 2:30 pm at the Leelanau County Government Center.

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