Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is teaming up with the Clean Energy Coalition to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet by 15 percent and to share information about alternative fuels and fuel-efficient driving habits with the 1.3 million visitors who visit the National Lakeshore each year.
Bill Janis, CEO of Traverse City-based Century Inc., won the Chevy Volt raffle on Saturday at Cherry Republic. The raffle was held in support of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a multi-use and bike trail which connects the Dune Climb with Glen Arbor and will one day stretch 27 miles, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line to Good Harbor. 1,200 tickets were sold, each costing $100, which generated $120,000 for the next portion of the Heritage Trail — the Dune Climb to Empire leg — which advocates hope will be complete by next summer.
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail fundraising committee is conducting a raffle of a lovely Crystal Red Chevy Volt that can be seen at various ticket vendors around Glen Arbor. Ticket sales are limited to 1,200 of the $100 tickets, and should net $100,000. This, in turn, will be used to help pay a $400,000 fee due in September. With the fee paid, the Heritage Trail will be able to commence with the next segment of construction, a path leading south from the Dune Climb along M-109, which will connect Empire to the Dunes. The Heritage Trail will one day stretch 27 miles, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line, north to Good Harbor.
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail supporters, car enthusiasts and renewable energy advocates will have an opportunity to test drive a GM Chevy Volt on Tuesday, July 31, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. General Motors, a strong supporter of the Heritage Trail, will make the trip to Glen Arbor with three Chevy Volts to test drive.
TART Trails and Cherry Republic have partnered to sponsor the “Charge Up the Dunes” raffle to raise money for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail campaign. The bearer of the winning ticket will drive away in a brand new Chevy Volt. The raffle has been limited to 1,200 tickets being sold at $100 each or three for $250. The Volt was purchased from General Motors at a significant discount, and it’s a chance to win a $45,000 car for $100.
Phase One of the Heritage Trail, a paved, 10-foot-wide multi-use trail, which runs from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor, is the first leg of what supporters envision will one day be a 27-mile trail from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line running north to Good Harbor Bay. Though it has been operational for over a month, the Heritage Trail’s official grand opening is scheduled for June 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb.