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Honoring migrant farmworker graduates and their families

High school graduations typically celebrate the students. But a special ceremony held by Northwest Education Services (NES) at Creekside School in the Grand Traverse Commons on June 21 honored not just local migrant farmworker graduates but also their hardworking families. A page on the foldout printed program declared ¡Sí se pudo! “Yes they could” with a silhouette of graduates in caps and gowns tossing their tassels overlaying a scene of an apple orchard. Ellos creyeron que podían, así que lo hicieron. “They believed they could, and they did it.” “The motivation for holding a separate celebration was to celebrate the parents as well,” said NES bilingual parent liaison Beatriz Moreno. “Parents go through great struggles and sacrifices to help lead their children to graduation. Many of our parents did not get an education or had limited schooling. This is a thank you to our parents for helping get to graduation.” This was the first year the migrant graduation ceremony was held since 1997, when Moreno, herself, graduated from Leland.

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A Summer Romance: Michigan State University finds Leland

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The Old Art Building in Leland will present a retrospective exhibit showcasing the artwork of former students and instructors who took part in a 50-year summer program established in 1939 Leland by Michigan State University (MSU). “A Summer Romance: MSU Finds Leland,” will open May 12-18.

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Unregulated septic systems, a public health threat lurking underground

Are you hearing a gurgling sound from the toilet? Is the tub or sink surprisingly slow to drain? Or, even worse, is there a patch of constantly wet and stinky grass in your yard? Those are all signs that something might be wrong with your home or cottage septic system.

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A tale of two lives

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Perhaps you were listening to Michigan Public Radio’s “Stateside” last winter, when an expert from Michigan State University (MSU) weighed in on the day’s topic — music education. That voice may have sounded familiar, especially to Empire residents. It belonged to Cynthia Taggart, Ph.D., who is world-renowned on the subject. Taggart also owns the Secret Garden gift shop, a place to find one-of-a-kind artisan items in Empire.

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Park holds apple and pear tree pruning workshop

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host its annual pruning workshop on Friday, May 3, in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. The workshop will be held at the Dechow farmstead in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, four miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22 across from Port Oneida Road. Directional signs will be placed to help participants to the location.

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Tourism booming in Michigan

According to a study released at last week’s Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Michigan hosted a record 3.2 million out-of-state visitors who spent $1 billion here last year. The state expects a 6 percent increase in tourism this year and is reaching out to farther-flung visitors.

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Astronomy forum to address science, the night sky and star stories

Scientific discoveries in nuclear science, practical tips in astronomy, and the importance of Dark Sky Parks and outdoor lighting will be discussed during the Traverse Astronomy, Philosophy and Energy (TAPE) forum at 7 p.m., June 7, at Northwestern Michigan College’s Milliken Auditorium.

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Longtime journalist Don Weeks passes on

Donald Jay Weeks, 51, of Elk Rapids, died May 2, 2011, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City after a short illness. 
Born June 11, 1959 in Lansing, he was a graduate of Glen Lake Community Schools in Leelanau County and Michigan State University.

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Ray Franz favors cutting “Pure Michigan” funding

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State representative-elect Ray Franz favors cutting “Pure Michigan” funding by as much as 80 percent, the soon-to-be legislator from the 101st District told the Leelanau Enterprise last week. Franz said he would reduce funding from $25 to $30 million down to $5 to $6 million, while comparing Michigan’s tourism economy to keeping the books at the Onekema grocery store he owns.

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