Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.
The aroma of apples and fresh-cut wood. The taste of homemade maple candy and ice cream. The sounds of old-time music and old-fashioned hard work. Free activities, demonstrations and exhibits celebrating the area’s lifestyle of 100 years ago will fill the senses when Leelanau County’s southernmost museum hosts its 39th annual Heritage Day on Oct. 8.
The Glen Arbor Art Association announces a special fall workshop to by led by Sterling Edwards September 26-29, at The Homestead resort in Glen Arbor. This four-day program, “Exploring Watercolors from A to Z,” will focus on creative and expressive ways to paint a watercolor that is the artist’s personal interpretation.
Bob Moler of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) and host of Interlochen Public Radio’s Ephemeris program since 1975 has joined with Black Star Farms for an educational presentation of the summer skies over Leelanau County. Bob will bring a big telescope for viewing and invites you to bring your own.
Frankfort, Michigan artist Ellie Harold is the current Artist-in-Residence at the Glen Arbor Art Association. Her presentation for the public will be held on Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to hear the artist discuss her work and to enjoy light refreshments.
According to Stefanie Kulpe of Michigan Travels, based in Ann Arbor, 700 German tourists will visit Glen Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 17, and Monday, Sept. 19. The German cruise liner MS Columbus will harbor in Traverse City this weekend, and over 330 passengers will visit Glen Arbor each day. They will come in in a total of nine buses, at staggered times, and stay in Glen Arbor for about 45 minutes.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will host a presentation on Lyme disease and ticks on Thursday, September 15, from noon to 1 p.m., in the auditorium of the National Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire. Visitors are encouraged to come and learn about tick identification, their life cycles, the diseases they transmit, and the measures used for prevention.
Six women from the Leelanau Independent Women for Democratic Action (LIWDA) attended the Democracy Convention in Madison from Aug. 24-27. They included Barb Schneider, Betty Bushey, Jenny Olson, BJ Christensen, Betsy Johnson and Elsie Peterson.
This Sunday, Sept. 11, the water access nonprofit 11 Oaks will hold its sixth annual Music Fest and Fundraiser, at Boonedocks in Glen Arbor. Featured bands beginning at 2 p.m. include Song of the Lakes, New Third Coast, Andre Villoch and Doug Zernow/Zack Light. According to 11 Oaks’ Chris Skellenger, technologies in extreme urban gardening and gravity fed drip irrigation will be on display for all to see.
Glen Arbor will hold its annual Labor Day Bridge Walk over the Glen Lake Narrows Bridge on Monday, Sept. 5. Participants will begin at noon on the north side of the bridge (in front of On The Narrows Marina) and proceed to the south side, where an inexpensive lunch and after-party will unfold at McCahills Crossing (formerly the Dairy Bar).