Five years ago, when the North Manitou Light Keepers won the bid to acquire the North Manitou Shoal Lighthouse— commonly referred to as “the crib”—they set an ambitious goal to restore the lighthouse and begin to offer tours by July 4 of this year. The group accomplished their goal with two weeks to spare.
The North Manitou Light Keepers announced today that they have been awarded a Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to help restore the North Manitou Shoal Light Station between the Manitou Islands and mainland Leelanau County—otherwise known as the “Crib”.
It was the year of high water, as Lake Michigan water levels nearly eclipsed their all-time record—just six years after setting their all-time low. That made beach walking difficult; it exacerbated conflicts over beach-walking rights along riparian-owned property; it made the reality of Climate Change even more dire, and it contributed to flooding in Leland’s historic Fishtown.
Holland, Mich. resident Jon Ornée swam from Pyramid Point to North Manitou Island on Friday, Sept. 20. The 7.4-mile swim took him 2 hours and 50 minutes. He believes he is the first person to accomplish the feat.
North Manitou Light Keepers (NMLK), a Michigan nonprofit organization, announces that its acquisition of the North Manitou Shoal Light (also known in its local area as “The Crib”) is complete and its restoration of the lighthouse starts now. NMLK plans to fully restore the lighthouse and make it available to the public for tours and appreciation by July 4, 2021. The organization also invites fellow enthusiasts to become members of the NMLK team and help restore the lighthouse by contributing to the “Campaign for the Crib!”
Bob Sutherland has had quite the year. On March 6, the Cherry Republic CEO hiked from Pyramid Point across frozen Lake Michigan to North Manitou Island (16 miles round trip). This month, Sutherland’s company Cherry Republic—Glen Arbor’s largest employer and a poster child of the Northern Michigan tourism industry—celebrates its 25th anniversary with a party in Glen Arbor on July 25-26.
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB) was founded in 1998 in an attempt to halt the demolition of several buildings owned by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Some 15 years later, the organization continues a partnership with the National Park Service in which its volunteers maintain and restore those buildings.
Summer visitors miss the early flowers that bloom as the trees unfurl their leaves, so here is an illustration to give you a taste of that beauty. Leelanau County in May is a glorious experience. Wildflowers spring up on the hardwood forest floor, spreading a carpet of green and white over dead leaves of winter.
As the Annual Port Oneida Fair draws near on August 12-13, showcasing the fine cultural and physical preservation efforts in the picturesque Rural Historic District of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the dedicated volunteers of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (PHSB) are preparing for another annual ritual. On August 19-28, they will launch a third year of restoration and stabilization projects at North Manitou Island’s historic “Cottage Row,” a group of early 20th century dwellings that were built for and occupied by long-ago summer residents and visitors.
Blu proprietors Randy and Mari Chamberlain like to emphasize local sources of everything for the quality that brings to the experience of dining. Randy takes no short cuts here — the presentation of each dish, the rich and creative combinations of flavors — everything bespeaks his heightened sensitivity to the artistic crafting of each meal.