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Meet Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes’ new director Laura Ann Johnson

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes — a nonprofit partner organization to the National Lakeshore, which helps maintain the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail — invites the public to meet and welcome the organization’s new executive director, Laura Ann Johnson, at an event on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 4-6 pm at the Cherry Republic Public House. Help celebrate new horizons for Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes and enjoy some fellowship in the middle of this great winter. Light food and beverages will be provided by Cherry Republic.

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Sleeping Bear manhunt, Empire sugar bear, Pop-tart man Bill Post, Twin Flames wedding: Glen Arbor Sun’s top-viewed stories of 2024

Our coverage in 2024 featured crimes, celebrities, cool new businesses, and an homage to the now removed Crystal River culverts. Our top 10 most-read stories included: a manhunt in the National Lakeshore; the search for a black bear that broke into Grocers Daughter Chocolate and devoured a 50-pound bag of sugar; Jerry Seinfeld’s movie “Unfrosted” about Pop-Tart man Bill Post, and the Twin Flames Universe cult’s secretive wedding in Traverse City. Thanks for your readership. We look forward to sharing more stories of Leelanau County events, characters, businesses, and the arts in 2025. Here’s the list of our Top 10 stories by online views in 2024.

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True Gretch cherry salsa

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held up her book True Gretch and a jar of Cherry Republic’s “True Gretch Cherry Salsa” at the Traverse City Opera House on July 31 after Cherry Republic founder Bob Sutherland interviewed her for the National Writers Series.

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Cherry Republic’s Bob Sutherland takes stage with “True Gretch”

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer will visit the Traverse City Opera House on Wednesday, July 31, to promote her new book, “True Gretch,” as part of the National Writers Series. Michigan’s popular second-term governor has a national profile and co-chairs Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House—a role she also held for President’s Biden’s campaign before he exited the race earlier this month. Cherry Republic founder and president, and Glen Arbor native, Bob Sutherland will guest host the event and interview Whitmer on stage. The Sun chatted with Sutherland about Whitmer—whom he has hosted at Cherry Public House—about his support for progressive candidates and environmental causes, and about the need for businesses to get involved in important issues. “Businesses are one of the few institutions that people still trust,” said Sutherland. In-person tickets to the July 31 are sold out. Click here to purchase a virtual ticket.

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Running Bear Run returns July 23

Join the Glen Arbor Women’s Club for a fun filled day at the Running Bear 5K Run/Walk & ½ Mile Kids’ Run on Tuesday, July 23. Come out and take the challenge as the run takes off for its 17th year. This is the second year with chip timing for the Run. What makes a beautiful summer day even better? Spending it with family and friends who take the challenge. You can run or walk the 5K. As a chip timed event, we have added 6 age categories for males and females for a total of 16 categories from 10 & under to 80+. Winners will receive medals and prizes from Cherry Republic and Crystal River Outfitters and The Cyclery.

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Staying cool in Cherry Republic’s Fourth of July Parade bear suit

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Connor Ciolek considers it an honor to wear Cherry Republic’s “Boomer” bear costume in the Glen Arbor Fourth of July parade, which gathers in Glen Haven in the morning and departs for downtown around noon. The company’s mascot has been a mainstay in his life; he has a vivid memory of Boomer showing up at his older brother Jackson’s fifth birthday. This is the second year in a row Connor has volunteered to dress as Boomer for the parade. The job has its trials, though. “It’s very hot. The black costume soaks up all the sun,” said Connor, who has worked at Cherry Republic for eight years. “I wear an ice pack vest on my chest, especially when the parade (temperature) is in the mid-80s like it was last year.”

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Leland’s Old Art Building hosts inaugural Community Tweed Ride

The Old Art Building in Leland will host its inaugural Community Tweed Ride on Saturday, May 4, from 2-4 pm. The free event is sponsored by Suttons Bay Bikes, Dam Candy Store, Cherry Republic and the Leland Lodge. A Tweed Ride is a leisurely, non-competitive bicycle ride where participants don vintage-inspired clothing, often featuring tweed fabrics, plus fours, bowties, and other attire reminiscent of the early 20th century.

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Op-ed: Heritage Trail extension offers positive recreational opportunity

The following op-eds by Bob Sutherland and Julie Zapoli—both Little Traverse Lake residents and Glen Arbor business owners—were written in response to the Sun’s coverage of Little Traverse Lake Association opposition to an expansion of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a portion of which would run near the north shore of the lake. Sutherland writes, “It is unfortunate that we are going to lose more trees in the development of this trail, but in the big picture, this four-mile extension completes an infinitely positive recreational trail and a key transportation alternative for residents and vacationers in Leelanau County. The recent study that opposition used to stir up doubt in this final section should not take away from the decade of environmentally sensitive planning the National Park Service, Michigan Department of Transportation, Leelanau County Road Commission, and Army Corp of Engineers executed to meet all the federal wetlands, dune and endangered species regulations.”

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Cherry Republic supports local farmers during National Cherry Month

In a significant move to bolster the agricultural community, Cherry Republic announced that during National Cherry Month in February, 2 percent of all sales from its six stores and online will be donated to the Farm Stress Program, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Michigan farmers. “This February, every purchase at Cherry Republic is not just a tribute to the iconic Michigan cherry, but also a direct support to the heart and soul of our agricultural community — our farmers,” said Sara Harding, vice president of Marketing and Impact at Cherry Republic. The donation to the Farm Stress Program is a cornerstone of Cherry Republic’s campaign to spotlight the importance of mental health among farmers. The program, with MSU Extension, provides free resources including teletherapy, educational presentations, farm financial analysis, and business management strategies, among others.

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Luke Woltanski headlines Live Music Friday at Cherry Public House

Luke Woltanski kicks off Live Music Fridays this month at Cherry Public House with a performance tonight from 5-8 pm. The Glen Arbor Sun featured Woltanski in an August 2016 story, which you can read here. Subsequent performances include Woltanski and John Piatek on Feb. 9, Patrick Niemisto and Chris Skellenger on Feb 16, and Skellenger and Paul Koss on Feb  23. Cherry Public House also hosts a trivia night on Sunday evenings from 5-7 pm.

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