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Celebrating songs of Leelanau: Seth Bernard’s instrumental ode to the Manitou Islands

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Our story series celebrating songs inspired by Leelanau County and the Sleeping Bear Dunes continues with Seth Bernard’s “Manitou,” an instrumental that he wrote in June 2019 during a residency sponsored by the Old Art Building in Leland. “I wrote this simple piece on acoustic guitar looking out over the islands near Van’s Beach around sundown,” said Bernard. “It’s a little magic carpet ride to that peaceful, serene, early summer Leelanau sunset vibe. Bernard returns to the Old Art Building on April 24 at 7 pm for an Earth Week-themed concert.

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Park seeks concession contract for boat tours to Manitou Islands

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has issued a prospectus soliciting proposals for the award of a concession contract to provide ferry/tourboat services to the Manitou Islands. The new concession contract will be for a term of 10 years, beginning on its effective date, which is estimated to be Jan. 1, 2019.

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Remembering Archie Miller

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Archie Miller, a cantankerous Mack truck of a man who would walk calmly past the “No Indians” sign in the Hotel Northern, spent decades of his life in the Manitou Straits. He was a caretaker of the lighthouse, a lumberjack and one of the most sought-after hunting and fishing guides.

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Federal sequestration wrecking ball hits Sleeping Bear

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National Park week, which begins April 20, is typically an opportunity for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to strut its stuff and demonstrate its value to the local community a month before the summer tourism season opens with Memorial Day weekend. During this year’s National Park week, the Lakeshore will hold a water testing demonstration on Esch Road Beach, a swearing-in ceremony for junior rangers, a showing of the film Chasing Ice at the Empire Visitor Center and a star gazing party on Platte Point Beach.

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