Governor Whitmer

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Five years after lockdown, remembering Michigan’s COVID experience

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the date the COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic officially arrived in Michigan, prompting a business and social shutdown, political upheaval, and many months of confusion, anxiety and pain. On March 10, 2020, the state’s first two COVID cases were confirmed in metro Detroit, prompting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Michigan. Our COVID coverage in the Glen Arbor Sun between March 2020 and Spring-2021 included stories about: essential workers who kept us safe; victims (and survivors) of COVID; businesses and the National Park closing facilities; how public health workers, schools and emergency medical personnel adjusted; our collective reconnection with nature during the lockdown; artistic reactions to the pandemic; how musicians adapted; the pandemic exacerbating educational divides, and frequent updates on vaccination and infection statistics in Leelanau County. Click here to read those stories.

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True Gretch cherry salsa

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held up her book True Gretch and a jar of Cherry Republic’s “True Gretch Cherry Salsa” at the Traverse City Opera House on July 31 after Cherry Republic founder Bob Sutherland interviewed her for the National Writers Series.

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Cherry Republic’s Bob Sutherland takes stage with “True Gretch”

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer will visit the Traverse City Opera House on Wednesday, July 31, to promote her new book, “True Gretch,” as part of the National Writers Series. Michigan’s popular second-term governor has a national profile and co-chairs Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House—a role she also held for President’s Biden’s campaign before he exited the race earlier this month. Cherry Republic founder and president, and Glen Arbor native, Bob Sutherland will guest host the event and interview Whitmer on stage. The Sun chatted with Sutherland about Whitmer—whom he has hosted at Cherry Public House—about his support for progressive candidates and environmental causes, and about the need for businesses to get involved in important issues. “Businesses are one of the few institutions that people still trust,” said Sutherland. In-person tickets to the July 31 are sold out. Click here to purchase a virtual ticket.

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Paddling for change, from Mackinac Bridge to Lansing

Update: Chris Yahanda and William Wright’s film Troubled Water, about their 36-day, 425-mile standup paddleboard journey from Mackinac Island to Lansing, will premier on Friday, Feb. 15, at the City Opera House in Traverse City. Click here for tickets and information. From staff reports Childhood friends William Wright and Chris Yahanda wanted to do their […]

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Salons, gyms, movie theaters may reopen in Northern Michigan June 10

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today that—as documented COVID-19 cases flatten—Regions 6 and 8 of Northern Michigan (which includes Leelanau County) are now in Phase 5 of the state’s plan to reopen. As such, hair salons, gyms and movie theaters may reopen, starting Wednesday, June 10.

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Ready, set, reopen during a pandemic?: Leelanau businesses both embrace and brace for tourists

The bustle of late-May and the annual race toward Memorial Day weekend are obvious at businesses in Glen Arbor. Of course, there is NOTHING normal about this holiday weekend—the typical start to the tourism season in Leelanau County. The state, the nation, and the world remain on virtual lockdown—and yet, restaurants and bars in Northern Michigan were suddenly given the exclusive green light by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Monday to reopen today. No one knows how busy—or not—this Memorial Day weekend will be.

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Governor Whitmer graces Glen Arbor, touts Great Lakes agenda

“I was impressed with how personable the Governor was,” said Cherry Republic president Bob Sutherland after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spent Thursday afternoon, August 8, on Lake Street—first at Cherry Republic, then at the Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC), then on Lake Street Studio Stage where she spoke to the public about Great Lakes issues.

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