use bike trail that will run the length of the National Lakeshore, from the Leelanau-Benzie County Line to Good Harbor Bay. The first phase of the trail, expected to be complete by July, is a 4.3-mile section along M-109, from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor. Check out Sun editor Mike Buhler’s photos of the trail here.
The accolades and attention continue to bless Leelanau County — and our summer season is still over seven weeks away. A University of Wisconsin study published today named ours as the third healthiest county in the United States — behind Los Alamos County, N.M., and Colorado’s Douglas County. That means we’re the fittest Americans east of the Mississippi River!
Leelanau County is the third healthiest country in the nation, according to a new University of Wisconsin study, so chances are, you and your neighbors are fairly active people. But are you as active as these guys? Did you surf, skateboard and snowboard all on the same day — in late March? Doubtful.
Google insights show an increased interest about Michigan restaurants, wineries and local foods. Several researchers from Michigan State University including Dr. Dan McCole predict that this will lead to a rise in culinary tourism for 2012. This is exciting news for agriculture and culinary destinations such as Black Star Farms that regularly host culinary tourism-based events at their inn and winery tasting rooms.
Much of Leelanau County is still without electricity following Friday night’s massive late-winter snowstorm that snapped trees and left roads impassible all over northern Michigan. Expect a story later this week about how Leelanau County residents fared during this 2012 “Snowpocalypse” — one of the worst storms to hit the region in decades.
The Bay Area Transit Authority, which serves Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties, is launching a huge makeover and backing away from its traditional, often slow, door-to-door dial-a-ride service in favor of many more direct, “fixed” routes that operate on tightly defined schedules.
When I spoke on the phone recently with Derek Bailey, current chair of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and now Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, he was crossing the Mackinac Bridge and returning home to Traverse City. The tires on his 2005 Saturn VUE hummed loudly as he passed over the rumble strips on the majestic arch that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
A special holiday tradition continues as the Glen Lake Community Library kicks off its annual call for children’s books. The Friends of the Library, in cooperation with Glen Lake School’s “Parenting Communities” program, are once again collecting donations of new children’s books for children whose families are in need of assistance this holiday season.
Next Tuesday is Election Day, albeit an “off-year” election. Nevertheless, Leelanau County voters can continue to support Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) public transit by voting in favor of a millage that would begin in 2013 and continue through 2017.
Are you bored with your mid week dinner routine? Spice it up and come out to Black Star Farms for a gourmet five-course meal prepared from locally grown ingredients. The next Autumn Harvest dinner is scheduled for Oct. 12 and is for anyone who loves fresh garden tomatoes. Dinners begin at 6:30 p.m. and are $45 per person. Take a look at the menu below and be sure to call 231.944.1251 to make your reservation.