Dunegrass Festival springs from one unique family

By Nadine Gilmer Sun contributor Empire is home to many colorful and interesting families, and a walk down Front Street reveals as much. But the Vanderberg family, the founders of the Dunegrass Festival, just might take the cake. Nestled between the town’s eclectic shops and popular library, their front yard has featured eye-popping sites through […]

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Brazilian Capoeira dances into Leelanau County

By Corin Blust Sun contributor The word Capoeira (pronounced KAP-oooo-ERA) can be defined as two separate things in Portuguese. It can refer to a small, remote clearing in a field of grass or sugarcane, or it can mean a style of ritualistic, playful dance that emerged in Brazilian culture during slavery. These two things are […]

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Tom Fordyce rocks

By Pat Stinson Sun contributor Call it cabin fever or, as Tom Fordyce recalls, “I wanted something to do to keep myself busy and thought it was really cool.” After building his last contracted home through Thomas Fordyce Construction a couple of years ago, he discovered he had some idle hours beyond the 40 to […]

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A Day in the Life of a family at Le Bear Resort

By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor For Marty and Judy Ulrich, Le Bear Resort seemed too good to be true. How else could the couple from downstate Grand Blanc, with three busy daughters between the ages of eight and 13, buy a luxurious second home in the Glen Arbor area and enjoy vacations “up north” without […]

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Sylvan Inn on cutting edge of reducing ecological footprint

By Ian Vertel Sun contributor Several businesses in Glen Arbor are making efforts to reduce their impact on the environment, thereby contributing to the evolution of commerce that is concerned with effect on the planet as well as profit and customer service. For instance, Great Lakes Tea and Spice Company does not use air conditioning; […]

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Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Visits Peshawbestown

By Pat Stinson Sun contributor Three members of the Grand Traverse Band who died during the Vietnam War were honored recently when a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall made a July 13-15 visit to nearby Peshawbestown. The Grand Traverse Band sponsored the memorial known as the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT). Local organizations […]

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Glen Arbor’s crowned prince tickles the ivories

This story, about the late Andy Anderson, who passed away earlier this month, originally ran in the Glen Arbor Sun on June 19, 1998 Here in Glen Arbor Andy Anderson’s suave demeanor makes him the local icon. This is the man who owns not one, but five cars that most locals consider luxurious. And he […]

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A Dogcart, a Flag, and the Slippery Jims

By Jacqueline Tompkins-Weede Sun contributor The Old Settlers Picnic My cousin Jack Sundling sent me a faded picture of two little girls in a dog cart — a picture of his mother Edna and her younger sister Nan. I took the faded picture to Blue Photo on Eight Street in Traverse City. “Yes,” the clerk […]

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Change your mind on Global Warming?

By James Coleman Sun contributor A “mind set” is a short circuit of a powerful human capacity. When I hear someone talk about “tree huggers,” I don’t expect to have a meaningful conversation about whether there is global warming or not. My information is useless to this person whose mind is, as we say, “made […]

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Manitou Music Festival presents Northwinds Trio and Whit Hill and the Postcards

Press release The Manitou Music Festival is excited to present a performance by the classical ensemble, The Northwinds Trio comprised of oboe, clarinet and bassoon performers. This combination of instruments offers a rich, yet homogeneous sound. The members of the ensemble: Gretchen Morse, Stephanie Wernli and Melissa Kritzer bring a wealth of experience and training […]

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