The next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund concert will be held on Sunday, Nov. 30 from 4-6 p.m. at Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire. This month’s performance will feature Peter Bergin — an exceptionally talented musician both energetic and dynamic, a true artist.
Join the staff of Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate to celebrate the company’s 10th birthday in Empire, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Founder Mimi Wheeler will make a special appearance from 10 a.m. until noon to serve complimentary chocolate birthday cake while it lasts. Grocer’s Daughter will launch a brand new chocolate bar and will preview a soon-to-be-released Michigan-made wholesale packaging.
The Glen Lake Library in Empire will host a presentation for senior citizens on basic iPad and iPhone operation on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. Andrew Clements, a local website designer, will demonstrate key functions of these popular mobile devices, and address questions from users. There is no charge for this program, which be held in the library meeting room. Attendees should bring their fully charged iPad and iPhones. For more questions, contact the library at 326-5361, or visit Glenlakelibrary.net.
Megan Schous, whose family owns Tiffany’s cafe and the Empire Lakeshore Inn, reports that Tiffany’s will offer free ice cream today, Oct. 13, from noon until 2 p.m. and at random hours throughout the week.
Quaint and creative Empire already hosts the Asparagus Festival in mid-May and the revived Hill Climb racecar event in September. Next up is the village’s inaugural Hops Festival, which organizers hope will also become an annual event.
The Empire Village Council voted yesterday to implement and enforce paid parking at Empire Beach next summer, following what members perceive as a successful trial run in 2014. The parking meter near the picnic area, which charged visitors $1 per hour, generated more than $23,000 between July 3 and September 10, despite summer weather marred by rain and cold temperatures. Empire’s popular beach, which has 87 parking spots, sits in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The Empire Hill Climb, which ran from 1964 until 1980 — once in the spring and once in the fall — returns to action on Sept. 20. Approximately 20 drivers have signed up, and they’ll take turns racing the curvy, half-mile route up Wilco Rd. (toward the Empire Bluffs trail parking lot) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. A racecar expose from 9-9:45 a.m. on Front Street will precede the main event.
Come to the Sleeping Bear Gallery in Empire, Sept. 12-13, to watch Albert Young (Michigan Hot Glass), who will be joined by David Helm, Stephen Szymanski, Tim Southward, and Heather Caverly work with Hot Molten Glass to create delicate wine glasses and fun colorful vessels. You can enjoy the magic of this fascinating craft while pondering a piece of Art within our Gallery & Extra Special Silent Auction.
The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will begin another season of Stories & More, a weekly preschool program, on Thursday morning, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. These engaging hour-long sessions are led by Joanne “Yogi” Beare, a retired daycare provider and early childhood educator. Each weekly gathering features stories, songs, crafts and play, and also introduces kids and their caregivers to the many resources available at the library.
The next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Concert will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31, from 4-6 p.m. at the Manor on Glen Lake with a featured performance by the “Reggie Show” with John Rutherford. Come hungry and thirsty there will be an open cash bar and a special menu available.