Empire Michigan

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State Savings Bank celebrates 130 years

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This year, State Savings Bank is celebrating its 130-year anniversary. This milestone marks more than a century of helping northern Michigan families and businesses reach their financial goals, while remaining a locally owned, independent community bank. The anniversary also comes with an unexpected twist. For many years, State Savings Bank was thought to have been founded in 1901. However, recently uncovered historical documents showed that the bank first opened its doors in Frankfort in 1896, making this year its 130th anniversary. The bank’s original name was Benzie County State Bank.

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Lively Acres host Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ festival

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Lively Acres is excited to announce the first annual Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ this August 7-8 at their Backyard event space. Located in the shadow of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, on M-72 a few miles east of Empire, Lively Acres is a beautiful setting for world-class blues music, down-home BBQ and satisfying brews. Tickets are on sale now for the event, headlined by Detroit-based and nationally acclaimed Thornetta Davis, along with other Michigan talent. Lively Acres will serve a home-cooked barbeque meal from local meats and produce, served with northern Michigan beer and wine. The venue has RV and tent camping onsite, a working farm, and a full-service farm market.

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Glen Lake Community Library pursues millage renewal

In the upcoming Aug. 4 election, voters in Empire, Glen Arbor and Kasson Townships will consider a funding proposal to support the ongoing operations of the Glen Lake Community Library. The Library is seeking a renewal of the current millage of 0.2861 mills, to be assessed for six years beginning in December of this year. Income from the millage comprises almost 90% of the library’s operating income, and a renewal would generate approximately $380,000 in the first year. Property taxes, collected via a dedicated millage, are a common funding mechanism for public libraries. In Michigan alone, over 390 libraries benefit from such local funding, with a state-wide average assessment of 0.9287 mills.

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Affordable bunkhouses debut at Indigo Bluffs

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As the month of June came to a close, four new family bunkhouses were added to Indigo Bluffs RV Park & Resort in Empire. With a queen bed and four bunks, the new 320 square foot accommodations sleep six, a number that campground owner Gary Becker described as “magic” in hospitality. “The three generation vacation,” he said. “Grandparents, parents, children. Figure two plus two plus two.”  Beyond providing an enjoyable place to stay, the campground is concerned with “preserving and defending the opportunity for families to come here,” said Becker. Which is precisely why, at the height of the tourist season in July, the bunkhouses are under $130 a night.

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What’s in a name? Truths and mistruths behind Leelanau’s names

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So said Juliet in the Bard’s most famous work. But would Leelanau really be such a land of delight if that’s not what its name really meant? Spoiler alert: The name Leelanau doesn’t come from any Native American source. That’s despite the stories that have sprung up around it, some of which were spread by the person who came up with the name. Many of the county’s locations have stories surrounding their names. Start with Sleeping Bear Dunes, the story of which is well-known. Mama bear and her cubs swam across Lake Michigan to escape a forest fire. When Mama reached shore, she looked back, waiting for her cubs. She eventually became the sand dunes, while the cubs became the Manitou Islands.

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Sleeping Bear Surf updates look, holds same dedication to the water

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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.

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Empire Anchor Day Festival returns Saturday—but movie canceled Friday

Empire will holds its annual Anchor Day Festival this weekend, but with a shortened schedule of events, given the shoddy air quality due to the wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota. Tonight’s movie at the Township Hall is canceled since the building has no air conditioning and air quality over Leelanau County might not improve until tomorrow. The parade, chicken dinner, and an evening street dance scheduled for Saturday, July 18, are still on. Stay tuned for updates, and click here for a lineup of events.

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Video spotlight: Reading the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July

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Every year on the Fourth of July at 10 am, groups gather to read the Declaration of Independence at each Post Office in Leelanau County. These videos feature readings of the Declaration at Post Offices in Glen Arbor and Empire on July 4, 2026—the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth.

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Empire Asparagus crowns poetry, recipe winners

Each year the Empire Asparagus Festival crowns winners of its poetry and recipe contests. This year’s poetry winner is Joseph Povolo for his poem “High on Asparagus.” The recipe contest staff published a booklet (click here to view it) which contains recipes submitted by participants in this year’s contest. Together they reflect the creativity of our community—from classic appetizers and salads to unexpected uses for one of Michigan’s favorite spring vegetables.

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Paul Skinner helps drive Empire along

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“Come on in,” says Paul Skinner as he opens the door at the Miser’s Hoard. “Don’t mind them. Hush,” he says to Brandi and Gizmo, the Shih Tzu security team. The tall, ungainly building on Front Street in Empire is home to the two tiny guard dogs, Paul and Shelly Skinner, and the Miser’s Hoard, their catch-all store which sells an eclectic mix of gifts, jewelry, furnishings, accessories and antiques—which celebrates 25 years of operation in Empire this year. And more than that, if you want to know the truth. It’s also the headquarters for the Empire Asparagus Festival and the Empire Hill Climb, both of which Paul oversees. That’s quite a bit for one place in the diminutive village in the southwestern corner of Leelanau County. But the Skinners make it work.

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