Sally Neal: Rage Against the Machine

By Corin Blust Sun contributor Leelanau County activist Sally Neal’s paintings are full of strikingly vibrant colors and candid messages. They emit a raw, emotional feeling that speaks of traditional Mexican art, Willem DeKooning’s Woman paintings, and the later works of Pablo Picasso. Her acrylic canvasses are not classically beautiful in the sense that the […]

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Sea Lampreys invade the Crystal River

By Chuck Olson Sun contributor Invasive sea lampreys are in the Crystal River. More than 50 were seen entering the river from Lake Michigan in late May and early June. Spawning pairs were found in the river on June 3 and June 25. Sea lampreys are aggressive, attach to their prey with a suction-cup-like mouth, […]

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Big wheels roll into Empire: New film documents restoration

By Pat Stinson Sun contributor On June 2, the Empire Area Museum’s newest permanent exhibit came to rest on the front lawn after two years of planning and hours of restoration work by Empire museum members and other supporters. “Most of the work was completed in the last month,” says Dave Taghon, the museum’s president. […]

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North Centennial Inn features Vietnamese cuisine

Press release On the evening of Sunday, July 27, owners Nick and Livia Vandenbelt and Chef Greg Murphy of the North Centennial Inn will host a special dinner featuring Vietnamese cuisine. Last fall long-time friend Tim Leahy proposed preparing a Vietnamese dinner at North this summer. Tim is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Southeast […]

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Changing the world one free gift at a time

By Jody Arendale Sun contributor Pssst … how’d you like to pick up a perfectly good, slightly used 40-gallon water heater, on the cheap? Or maybe a gas furnace for your drafty old pole barn? Ever dream of having a vintage cast iron claw foot bathtub but couldn’t afford to buy one? What about old […]

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Empire Art Encounter

Press release Explore 10 different galleries and professional artist studios during the “Empire Art Encounter,” Thursday evening July 17, from 5-9 p.m. Wander through the quaint village of Empire and see a wide variety of fine art, including painting, various works on paper, photography, furniture-making, weaving and jewelry. Some studios and galleries will be offering […]

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Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Hosts Historic Preservation Projects

Press release Join the nonprofit organization, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, in a volunteer project to preserve some of the historic buildings in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. The group is hosting a preservation project on two buildings at the Ole Oleson farm. The event will take place from Friday, July 18-Sunday, July 20 from […]

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Glen Arbor’s Fourth of July Schedule

10 a.m. Flag Raising at Old Settler’s Park 10:30 a.m. Bike Decorating, Glen Arbor Art Association 11 a.m. Parade line up in Glen Haven, departs at noon 12:30-ish. Parade arrives in Downtown Glen Arbor. Kazoo Korps, line up at Christian Science Church parking lot around noon. 4 p.m. Glen Lake Boat Parade: lineup at Glen […]

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Licking the competition: Ice Cream Shops from Cedar to Empire

By Pat Stinson Sun contributor News that Moomers of Traverse City won “America’s Best Scoops” in a national ice cream poll conducted in May by ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” caused great celebration among the ice cream shop’s many fans, who cast thousands of votes for the local company online. Indeed, Moomers’ sweet and creamy homemade […]

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For “SonBern,” Polka is Life

By Bill Dungjen Sun contributor Even before formally meeting Sonny and Bernie Czerniak, I couldn’t imagine a couple more steeped in the polka. At the annual Cedar Polka Festival (held this year over Fourth of July weekend) it’s impossible not to notice the Czerniaks. At first they appear as a red and white blur on […]

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