Burdickville historian Tom Van Zoeren reports that Dottie Lanham passed away on December 30 — five days after her 90th birthday. She was born on Christmas Day in 1924. Van Zoeren penned the book Dottie Lanham of Burdickville: Images, Recollections, and Observations of a Northern Michigan Woman and Her Community.
The most popular Glen Arbor Sun story of 2014 was an investigative article in February that featured a proposed canopy air walk in Kasson Township, near Burdickville, that never materialized. Local opposition to Mark Evan’s “air walk” was nearly unanimous, and passionate. Our story attracted thousands of views, and 55 comments.
Members of the Glen Lake Garden Club attached roping and bows onto the Carl Oleson, Jr. Memorial Bridge at the Glen Lake Narrows the weekend before Thanksgiving. The garden club has decorated the bridge at the Narrows each year, except during bridge construction, for over 15 years. The approximately 80 club members fund the project, make the bows, customize the roping, and hang the greens in time to welcome everyone to the Glen Lake area for Thanksgiving.
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.
One year ago, on warm August night along the south shore of Big Glen Lake, there passed a man that many in our community loved, however, few of the countless lives he touched will know his name. Bob Russell died last August 23 at the age of 62. He was many things to many people, from Eagle Scout, Internet guru, opponent, gather, activist, organizer and more. I recently had a chance to reflect on Bob’s life with his widow, Sally Van Vleck, on that very deck on Glen Lake where I last spent time with him.
The future of Burdickville is now. The engagement of Max Miller to Heather LaBerge is another indicator that the next generation of Burdickville-ians is poised to take over from their parents. Max’s mother Pat Miller lives in the house she built in 1988 on MacFarlane Road opposite the foot of Bow Road inside the corner that used to be an apple orchard, but she has been coming here since 1954. Along with sisters Nancy and Jan and brother Don, Pat now owns and operates the Miller Cabins that their parents bought in 1961. So all of the Millers virtually grew up in Burdickville.
Burdickville, the hamlet on the southeast edge of Big Glen Lake, is full of history and characters. And if this area is the most beautiful in America, Burdickville may be the local enclave with the most charm.
As nearly 50 sailboats competed in a National race last week, spectators and participants enjoyed the beautiful sights and fast pace of races in the center of Glen Lake. The Butterfly Nationals were hosted by the Glen Lake Yacht Club, and featured the Butterfly, a 12-foot, two-crew, one-design scow that many Great Lakes sailors first skipper as they learn the skills of sailing. Held annually, this is the third time that the GLYC has hosted the event.
SEEDS Youth Corps program will hold a dedication at Old Settlers’ Park on Big Glen Lake on July 16 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. to celebrate and bless the observation deck constructed by the SEEDS Youth Corps crew to overlook the endangered monkey flower, which is currently in bloom. The wood used to construct the deck is made from black locust (an invasive species)—milled and harvested less than 20 miles to the site. This project was made possible through the generosity of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Jody Marquis, Michael & Lori Lyman and Steve & Kathy McShane.
The Foothills Café and Motel in Burdickville have been under “new” ownership for five years. Thus far, we’ve made only minimal changes to both the café and motel, in order to ease into the community and to honor 50 years of tradition. But this year, our team introduced some new twists on age-old ideas, and launched the Foothills “Pay It Forward” project.