When Sleeping Bear Surf opened its doors in Empire in 2004, it was billed as the state’s first surf shop. Today it still stakes its claim as the state’s only full-service surf shop, serving as a hub for Great Lakes surfing and general water merriment, with sales, rentals and classes. And with a 20-plus year history, manager Ella Skrocki decided it was time for a reset. “As I choose the state of evolution, it felt like I needed some new energy,” she says.
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.
“What do you like about living in Leelanau County?” “What are your favorite autumn traditions?” “What are you eating these days?” “What does living in a democracy mean to you?” These are the questions we’re asking a few County residents as we explore what unifies us in these politically divided times with the Nov. 5 presidential election looming just days away. The message in these short 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. Our first video features musician Luke Woltanski, who lives in Maple City.
On a recent warm summer evening, I met Ella and Annabel Skrocki at the public beach in Empire—their natural habitat. They rolled up in their mom’s vintage mint-green Chevrolet, pulled a paddleboard from the bed of the truck, and together we set off for a sunset paddle on Lake Michigan. The sky was hazy as the sun dipped lower, the effect of wildfires out west on display here in northern Michigan. We made our way south across calm rolling waves to sit at the base of the Empire Bluff while the sun completed its descent. While we sat, we talked, and these two sisters gave me a glimpse into their friendship, water stewardship, and the mindset that fuels it all.
Empire resident Ella Skrocki returned from Nepal just weeks before the tragic earthquake struck. She wrote the story “Nepal in our hearts and minds” for GlenArborSun.com. Skrocki is an organizer of a fundraiser on May 14 at The Remedy cafe in Traverse City, from 4-7 p.m. The event will benefit Nepali earthquake victims. Guests will be treated to Nepali cuisine, live music by local artists, a slideshow of Skrocki’s experiences, and before and after images of impacted areas.
Empire native Ella Skrocki recently returned from Nepal. She writes these words following the terrible earthquake on Saturday that has claimed the lives of thousands. “After the network in Nepal came back this morning, I finally was able to get through to Angnima, the mentor I lived with for two months while studying in Nepal’s rural villages. Angnima was hit by falling rock while fleeing Langtang as the trees and land caved in around him. He and the rest of “our” family is alive.”