Glen Lake Community Library

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Glen Lake Library unveils late August programs

The Glen Lake Library in Empire will host wildlife veterinarian Dr. Carl Palazzolo on Thursday, Aug. 20. Dr. Palazzolo will discuss his new book “The Comeback of our National Symbol in Michigan.” Local author Gretchen Rose will present her two newly-published children’s book at the Glen Lake Library on Saturday, Aug. 22. She’ll read from “The Jingu Magical Garden” and “Dune Dragons and the Fairies of the Lake.” Both are middle-grade fantasy stories, inspired by nature, friendship and the resilience of the human heart.

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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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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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Glen Lake Library highlights democracy symposium, North Manitou stories

The Glen Lake Community Library in downtown Empire will several community events in the weeks to come. On Saturday, June 13, the Library will participate in the live TED Democracy symposium, featuring brand-new TED Talks focused on the evolution and future of democracy. Streaming live from Philadelphia leading up to the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, this national event brings together bold thinkers and change-makers to share ideas designed to inform and inspire.

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Empire holds Winterfest on Saturday, February 21

As northern Michigan continues to experience a very snowy and cold winter, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC) plans to embrace the elements with the annual Empire Winterfest. Events will be hosted throughout the village of Empire on Saturday, Feb. 21, including the long-standing tradition of a polar plunge in South Bar Lake.

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Copying and Reexploring the Constitution, Word for Word

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On Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10 am, the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire invites the public to explore the U.S. Constitution, the foundational document of our democracy. In partnership with Michigan Writers, author and Empire Township resident Anne-Marie Oomen will lead this hands-on workshop, with participants copying the entire Constitution, section by section, then reading aloud and discussing their compiled work. This exercise will help refresh and refine our understanding of this core framework of democracy. Contact the library to register in advance. The Sun interviewed Oomen about her inspiration for initiating this event.

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Glen Lake Library holds Kids’ Holiday Book Drive

A special holiday tradition continues on Nov. 14 as the Friends of the Glen Lake Community Library kick off their annual call for children’s books. The Friends are once again collecting donations of new children’s books for children whose families are in need of assistance this holiday season. Donors are asked to purchase a book for a child on this list and deliver it gift-wrapped to the library by Dec. 13. The Cottage Book Shop will provide a 20% discount on any books purchased for the drive. They will even gift wrap and deliver the books for you.

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Glen Lake Library welcomes author Bonnie Jo Campbell

The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will celebrate and host Michigan Notable Book Award winner and national best-selling author Bonnie Jo Campbell on Saturday, May 24 from 2-3 pm. Campbell will read from, discuss, and sign copies of her highly acclaimed 2024 novel, The Waters. Fellow Notable Author and Empire resident Anne-Marie Oomen will lead the discussion. Books sales are courtesy of Glen Arbor’s Cottage Book Shop.

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Glen Lake Library celebrates National Library Week with “Free for All” film

The Glen Lake Community Library will host a special community screening of Free for All: The Public Library on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 pm—as part of its National Library Week celebration. The film tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all. Director Dawn Logsdon travels the United States, discovering historic and modern-day figures, especially women, who contributed to the library’s integral position within democracy.

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Winterfest, polar plunge, returns to Empire

As Leelanau County embraces a snowy winter, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC) plans to revive a favorite winter tradition — the Empire Winterfest. Events will be hosted throughout the village on Saturday, Feb. 22. Winterfest was last held in Empire in 2018, but had been celebrated for decades before. The most well-known event — a polar plunge in South Bar Lake — will return this year, along with a number of other activities including public saunas, a neighbor coffee hour, potluck, and live music. 

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