Northern Express - May 22, 2023

We Deserve Better

I was reminded by Isiah Smith’s and Stephen Tuttle’s recent columns about certain things that are lacking in many of our country’s elected and appointed officials.

First, an ethical standard, and second, knowledge and a true interpretation of our Constitution and laws. These officials appear to base their actions and decisions entirely on partisan views, social media, self-benefit, or ungrounded conspiracy theories.

I was selected to participate in a debate in my 9th grade civics class. At the time, I thought the position I was to defend was wrong, but after reading and researching, I found the side the teacher had assigned me was correct. Thus, I learned at an early age that what you do should be grounded in fact, not baseless opinion, no matter how much you believe it.

Also, having worked for the government for over 30 years, I always thought about what I was going to do and was guided by a moral compass. I hold our elected and appointed government employees to the same high standard I set for myself. Is it asking too much to think this way? No!

The only thing I can attribute this to is that they are all vampires. They cannot see themselves when looking in a mirror, and thus it’s easier to act as they do. Our country needs and deserves better.

Editor: Jillian Manning Finance Manager: Libby Shutler

Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer

ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948

Creative Director: Kyra Cross Poehlman

Distribution: Joe Evancho, Sarah Rodery Roger Racine, Gary Twardowski Charlie Brookfield, Randy Sills Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Contributors: Ren Brabenec, Alexandra Dailey, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsberg, Craig Manning, Stephen Tuttle

top ten this week’s

Races Around the North

There are a lot of big races happening over Memorial Day weekend, from the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City to the Top of Michigan Festival of Races in Petoskey to the Rotary Stride for S.T.R.I.V.E. 5K in Cadillac. But the competition that caught our eye is the World’s Largest Gathering of Blow Up Costumes in a 1K Footrace. Truly, is there anything more joyful than watching folks in inflatable T-rex costumes run around a track? (The answer, in the very professional opinion of this writer, is no.) If you need a little joy in your life this weekend, head to downtown Alanson on Saturday, May 27, at 9am to spectate or participate in this magnificent feat of athleticism. Race sign-ups are $20 per person for $40 for a family. Proceeds from the race go toward helping Alanson Public School fifth graders attend Camp Dagget and take a trip to Lansing. Learn more at petoskeyarea.com/events.

Most folks know Iron Fish Distillery for their award-winning spirits, but have you heard about their wood-fired pizzas? We’re hooked on their Sassage pie ($21), which is a Michigan meat lovers’ dream. Aged hard salami, pecan wood-smoked bacon, and buffalo and pork sausage are the core ingredients at play. (Want to know how the sausage gets made? According to Iron Fish’s website, it uses “bison from Myer Farm in Copemish, MI. The bison feed on the nutrient dense spent grains left over from Iron Fish spirits.”) Add in some classic red sauce, parmesan, mozzarella, and microgreens, and you have a solid pizza. Throw in some Mr. Bing Chili Crisp—a spicy, chili-oil based topping—and you have a great pizza. Enjoy your slice with one of the distillery’s flagship cocktails and then finish the night out with their delicious Turkish Diplomat baklava. Find all that and more in the tasting room at 14234 Dzuibanek Road in Thompsonville. (231) 378-3474, ironfishdistillery.com

Eerie Erie

The Garden Theater in Frankfort will host a screening of The Erie Situation on Monday, May 22, at 7pm, followed by a Q&A with director David J. Ruck. When a bloom of highly toxic algae entered the drinking water plant in Toledo from Lake Erie in 2014, citizens had to go without running water for three days, and the documentary explores a mix of big agriculture, politics, and water security rights. Tickets, $10. gardentheater.org/upcoming-events

Hey, Read It! Hello Beautiful 4

As it's one of spring’s buzziest book releases— and Oprah’s 100th Book Club pick—we just couldn’t pass up bestselling author Ann Napolitano’s newest book, Hello Beautiful. (Spoilers: It didn’t disappoint!)

Inspired by the author’s own journey through grief, the novel opens on William Waters, a basketball prodigy whose athletic scholarship plucks him from his dysfunctional home and into the path of the dazzling Julia Padavano. Julia is a package deal, and it’s within the tight-knit bubble she and her three younger sisters share that William finally experiences the love and support his own family couldn’t provide. But when his past demons resurface, they not only threaten the couple’s future but also tear the sisters apart at the seams. How far will one family go before they discover what matters most? You’ll have to read on to find out! (Psst: Better grab this one before it hits your TV; rumor has it that plans for an on-screen adaptation are already in the works!)

The secret is out!

We didn’t try very hard to keep this secret and why would we? It’s too good not to share. Find your escape with this award winning tropical delight. Flavors of peach, pear, passion fruit, and pineapple with a hint of coconut. Creamy guava, white grapefruit, white rose petal, and bright acidity. Perfect for a day at your secret paradise.

Secret Beach is available at

6 Poppin’ Corks at the Casino

Michigan Wine Month—the time of year where we have an extra excuse to indulge in a glass of NoMi’s finest—is still cruising along in Leelanau County, and the cherry on top of the May festivities has to be the Leelanau Vintners Celebration. This special wine pairing event is held at Leelanau Sands Casino on Saturday, May 27, and offers food and drink duos from Good Harbor Vineyards, Aurora Cellars, Verterra Winery, French Valley Vineyard, Bel Lago Vineyard Winery, Amoritas Vineyards, 45 North Vineyard & Winery, and Boathouse Restaurant. Singer/songwriter Elizabeth Landry will be on hand to entertain. Tickets are $30 per person and give you access to five food and wine pairings. You can also purchase additional tickets for wine by the glass ($4 each) and a souvenir wine glass ($7) for your collection. For more details and tickets, head to leelanausandscasino.com or call (231) 534-8207.

Stuff We Love: Official Summer Merch

Over 30 million people visit Michigan State Parks each year, and in 2023, you might start seeing a lot more folks rocking Traverse City-made gear. Great Lakes Proud—the company that brought you the iconic Great Lakes car decal—has teamed up with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a series of official state park merchandise. We’re talking tees, hoodies, cozies, hats, and—of course—stickers and decals. In the collection, you’ll find a Michigan mitten in the shape of a morel mushroom, s’more, and tree ring; a bubbly “Root Beer Falls” design nod to Tahquamenon; and the “Campfire Connoisseur” slogan and accompanying blaze that immediately gives off summer-at-the-park vibes. The partnership is an extension of the “These Goods Are Good for Michigan” program that raises “awareness and support through revenue sharing for state parks, trails, waterways and other outdoor spaces.” Learn more about the program and shop Great Lakes Proud plus other local brands at Goods4MI.com.

It has been almost four months since the last movie played at Elk Rapids Cinema. The theater’s owner, Joe Yuchasz, passed away in January after operating the cinema for nearly 50 years, and for a while, it seemed the single-screen movie house would remain dark. But the cinema announced the curtain will rise again Memorial Day weekend with screenings of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In a press release, Yuchasz’s niece, Mary Vasquez, said, “Our Uncle Joe loved Elk Rapids, and bringing culture and entertainment to the village was important to him. The best way our family can honor his legacy is by keeping the theater open.” (Pro tip: Tickets are $7 for kids 11 and under and $9 for everyone else, but note that their website says credit and debit cards are not accepted.) Elk Rapids Cinema is located at 205 River St. in Elk Rapids. For more information about the reopening, visit elkrapidscinema.com or call (231) 264-8601.

Let’s Dance

Friday, May 26 | 9:30pm

Saturday, May 27 | 9pm

School 80s Flashback Featuring: Genius Brain | DJ Franck

The newly-released spring cocktail menu at Furnace Street Distillery in Elberta is all about riffing on classic flavors, and The Trick Dog, well, does the trick! Named for the distillery’s past as an art gallery and cafe, this beverage is equal parts familiar and funky. It starts with smallbatch Furnace Street vodka, which is filtered through charcoal for a citrusy-clean finish. From there, bartenders add flat-leaf parsley, strawberry puree, and house-pressed lemon before (literally) shaking things up with just a splash of simple syrup. Finished with rhubarb bitters and a parsley sprig, this drink is your summer refresh in a glass. Pair it with a wood-fired pizza from on-site food truck Hearth & Hops (the Arugula and Prosciutto is our favorite!), and take in the view of Betsie Bay while you sip. Find The Trick Dog ($14) at Furnace Street Distillery (1121 Furnace St., Elberta). (231) 352-9044, furnacestreetdistillery.com

Grand Opening Event

NO MORE BATTLEFIELD FLOWERS

spectator

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row…

John McCrae, a Canadian soldier and doctor, wrote those words during World War I (WWI) from the perspective of young men recently killed in battle. It became a memorial for all fallen soldiers in every war, and poppies became a symbol of remembrance for those soldiers.

(Flanders Fields, incidentally, is a real place, now a cemetery located in Belgium, one of eight such cemeteries located in Europe dedicated to those who fought and died in WWI. Similar cemeteries around the world

world history standards—we’ve experienced almost non-stop warfare of some sort. The French and Indian War was part of the Seven Year War before we were even a country. Then there was our Revolutionary War and the endless American Indian Wars that started in 1810 with Tecumseh’s War and lasted until 1915 with the Bluff War in Utah and Colorado, all part of our efforts to totally eradicate those people who were already here when we arrived from Europe. Then there was the War of 1812, which actually lasted until 1815, MexicanAmerican War (1846 – 1848), Bleeding

Seeds uprooted by war provided flowers to honor those killed in the battles with bloodstained beauty. A Memorial Day with no new battlefields on which flowers grow would truly be worth celebrating.

honor many countries’ dead from all wars.) This poem comes to mind as we celebrate Memorial Day, which began as Decoration Day in 1890, created by Union states as a way to remember and honor Civil War dead. An act of Congress turned it into Memorial Day in 1971 to honor all fallen U.S. troops. Unfortunately, there have been far too many fallen troops from our country and elsewhere. After more than 6,000 years of what we call civilization, we’re still resolving disputes by killing each other. The war death totals just keep growing.

The first recorded war occurred in Mesopotamia in about 2700 BCE. (Historical Mesopotamia includes parts of what we now know as Kuwait, Turkey, and Syria.) The first that was reliably reported and included a body count took place in Megiddo, located in what is now northern Israel, in 1457 BCE. (Also known as Armageddon, Megiddo will be the site of the final battle of good versus evil, according to the Bible.)

If we use one common definition of war as organized, armed combat between identifiable adversaries resulting in at least 1,000 deaths and add up the various wartime body counts, the 20th century alone saw more than 100 million dead. Add the wars before that, and the death toll estimates range from 150 million to 1 billion according to “What Every Person Should Know About War” published in The New York Times.

They say that in the last 4,000 years, there have been only 268 years without significant wars. Reduce the death toll from 1,000 to 100 and, according to Quora, there has not been even a single year without war deaths in those same 4,000 years. The three-volume Encyclopedia of Wars by Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod catalogs 1,763 separate wars in that time, but they’ve omitted some of the “smaller” conflicts.

In the U.S. alone—and we are young by

Kansas War, Second Opium War (18561858), U.S. Civil War, Garza War (Texas and Mexico, 1891 – 1893), and another dozen wars and skirmishes before WWI, which was called the war to end all wars but did not. Skipping ahead, and touching on only major conflicts, there was World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and on and on and on.

All of which ignores the history of various wars in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

Wars to settle foolish border disputes, wars of conquest, wars to colonize, wars to force religious beliefs on non-believers or different believers, the always popular civil wars and wars of expansion. Bad leadership, weak leadership, megalomaniacal leadership… history is overflowing with leaders of all sorts only too willing to send their citizens off to die for a cause those actually fighting might not even understand. In four millennia, instead of learning how to prevent or stop wars, we’ve only learned more efficient and effective ways of killing.

Even now, the barbarity of war is in evidence across the globe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will provide new statistics on the destruction and depravity of war. And there are currently what pass for civil wars in Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Mali, Somalia, and Syria, plus the never-ending wars in the Middle East.

Poppies, and other flowers, really did bloom and blow at Flanders and other WWI sites. Why? Because the shelling, horse traffic, and other equipment moving through previously undisturbed ground upturned the earth and released buried seeds.

Seeds uprooted by war provided flowers to honor those killed in the battles with bloodstained beauty. A Memorial Day with no new battlefields on which flowers grow would truly be worth celebrating.

SPONSORED

HIGH POINTS CANNABIS

Saturday May 27, 2023

10:00am Commissioners Stone Skipping Contest

10:00-4:00pm Enjoy Kid’s Activities by the Kid’s Trout Fishing Pond

10:30am 17th Annual Petoskey Stone Hunt

11-1:00pm U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Demonstration

CAMPING SEASON STARTS NOW!

Over here at Dunegrass, Memorial Day weekend in the Upper Peninsula is the start of the summer camping season. We believe getting up close and personal with nature will get you in the right state of mind for the rest of the summer.

Home to swaths of forestland and countless rivers, lakes, and waterfalls, the U.P. offers varied terrains for hiking, fishing, and paddling during your camping trip. Whether your adventures are extreme or chill and require water or land, you’ll find the perfect spot above the bridge.

The peninsula’s seemingly boundless landscape also allows for some of the most sought-after campsites in the Midwest. When it comes to where to stay, here are a few spots guaranteed to offer fresh, Great Lakes air and a tranquil nighttime rest.

Tourist Park is a campground right on the north edge downtown Marquette within walking distance (2.3 miles) of our Dunegrass shop. Electricity and running water are available at most sites, and for those glampers out there, tents and RVs are welcome. Hot showers are also a perk of the site, giving you that little extra bit of comfort during your stay.

Rippling River Resort, about three miles from Marquette, offers a variety of options from rustic tent sites to luxury cabin rentals, and RV sites offer electricity with optional water hookups. A pool, laundry room, Wi-Fi, general store, and an on-site bar are just a few of the amenities at this resort.

Perkins Park & Campground carries accommodations for rustic tent sites all the way through full RV hookups. You can even rent a yurt for your stay. Walk down to the beach, do some fishing or boating on Independence Lake, or just enjoy exploring the Big Bay area (27 miles north of Marquette).

As lifetime residents of northern Michigan, we have a home-grown perspective on the Up-North experience. Camping in the U.P. is one of our top suggestions for folks who enjoy a getaway in the great outdoors.

Dunegrass strives to be your cannabis outfitter, delivering a higher latitude for whatever northern Michigan adventure awaits you. Looking for more suggestions? We’ve got you covered! Check out our website or scan the QR below.

11:00 Enjoy our Great Vendors

11:00am-2pm Balloon Magic

12:00-3pm Tommy Tropic Juggling

1:30pm Antrim County K-9 Unit Demonstration

3:00pm 16th Annual Betty Dinger Memorial Award

Scan

www.dunegrass.co

Interlochen location coming soon!

IRONIC

GET U.P. AND GET OUT

opinion

“We’re located in the Upper Peninsula. Do you know where that is?” the man asked over the phone.

“Yes,” I responded, thinking Duh , but learning later that a lot of southeast Michigan residents have only the vaguest awareness of that vast expanse north of the mitten and shaped like the hand turned sideways with the thumb up.

“We’re in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Do you know where that is?”

“Yes.”

“We’re in Hancock. Do you know where that is?”

Not really, but I was about to find out. The man on the other end of the phone line was the HR rep for a company located in Hancock and, following a little more discussion, offered to fly me up for an interview. Recently divorced and underemployed, I thought living in a small town surrounded by wilderness might be just the kind of adventure I needed. I already enjoyed cross-country skiing, hiking, and camping, so what better place for me? Thus began three years of living there and a lifelong love affair with the U.P.

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge in my VW filled with books and clothes, I felt I was entering not just a different part of Michigan but a different country. Canada, maybe. The landscape immediately changed to dense cedar swamp on both sides of the road, and there was a feeling of wildness more intense than any place in the Lower Peninsula.

I rented an old house built during the heyday of mining in Houghton, just across the portage from Hancock. From my kitchen window, I could see the lift bridge between the two cities go up and down and watch the red sea plane take off and land between the mainland and Isle Royale. In winter, there were plenty of days I could see nothing but white out the window. An average snowfall of 200-plus inches per year provided great conditions for cross-country skiing.

Camping and hiking opportunities were endless. I took up backpacking and hiked the incredible Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks, and Sylvania Tract. Of course, no account of the U.P. is accurate if it leaves out the bugs. I recall one trip where my companion, walking in front of me, his pack covered with deer flies (which have a nasty bite and seem to consider insect repellent an aphrodisiac), threw down his pack and began swearing. On another occasion, we wore head nets and smoked cigars to keep the mosquitos away.

One year, at the start of a camping trip in the Sylvania Tract, the notoriously fickle weather turned on us. It was Memorial Weekend, and a friend and I were to meet two others at a specific campsite. We pushed our canoe out into the water just as it began to snow. Despite the wetness, we were able to start a fire, and a few hours after sunset I heard my name being called across the lake. Our friends were never so happy to see a campfire.

Wilderness involves challenge. I’ve never been on a camping trip that didn’t have its unpleasant, uncomfortable, or downright dangerous moments. But the thrill of sticking your head out of a tent in the early morning, surrounded by nothing but trees and perhaps a lakeshore or a riverbank, is incomparable.

While camping isn’t for everyone, there are plenty of accessible day hikes and canoeing or kayaking experiences, and not just in the U.P. Since moving to northwest Michigan, I’ve discovered wonderful places to be outside. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is maybe the most obvious, with its many trails, inland lakes, and miles of lakeshore. Our local conservancies have preserved wonderful places, like the Leelanau Conservancy’s Palmer Woods or Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Arcadia Dunes. Chances are good that, if you live in northwest Michigan, you’re very close to a preserve, park, stream, lake, dune, or bike trail.

It’s a no-brainer that outdoor activity contributes to physical conditioning. But there are plenty of other health benefits to being in nature.

According to an article by the U.S. Forest Service, “There are many mental wellness benefits associated with being outside in green spaces, such as lower risk of depression and faster psychological stress recovery. Studies have shown that being in nature can restore and strengthen our mental capacities, increasing focus and attention… Studies also show that being outside in nature is relaxing, reducing our stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension and heart rates – all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.” (“The Wellness Benefits of Being Outdoors,” U.S. Forest Service, March 24, 2021)

It’s Memorial Weekend. At the same time as we honor the dead, we northerners feel more alive than ever. Does anyone in a temperate climate feel the almost uncontainable joy we do when we finally get warm, sunny days? When the hillsides are filled with blooming trees and the forest floor is carpeted with wildflowers? GET OUT!

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.

PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT

Several decades ago (mid 1990s), Traverse City convened area businesses and citizens to talk about “blight” in downtown. They formed the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) TIF Advisory Committee, whose mission was to come up with a plan to do something about it.

A tax incentive program called tax increment financing, more commonly known as TIF, was gaining traction across the nation and helping communities with the redevelopment of urban blight in deficient downtowns. The idea of TIF 97 was born but had to be sold to the community for it to work.

funds would be taken from the nonprofits’ budgets, which ultimately would run short. So the city would then have to ask the citizens to fill those gaps with additional millage to cover budget shortfalls for the nonprofits. Ever look at your tax bill to see all the millage you pay? It’s not just the nonprofits subsidizing the downtown TIF— it’s you subsidizing the downtown to help the nonprofits become whole after the DDA robbed them of their monies.

It’s a vicious cycle and one the DDA wants to hide so they can continue the gravy train that feeds their DDA budget with TIF monies. It’s kind of like the man behind the

The plan was intended to be a temporary tool with a defined beginning and end date, or that’s what they told us to promote this new tax incentive program on the citizens. It was never meant to be a permanent tax. The DDA needed the buy-in from the community, so they told us it would be a temporary loan of sorts. It was marketed as a way to use the future increase in taxable value downtown on new development as an upfront loan to help developers redevelop the downtown and help the city fund infrastructure projects in the district. This would end the blight and generate more taxable revenue for the city in the long run.

It was promised as a 30-year loan program. When finished, the money (the increased taxable value) would be given back to the city’s general fund to be used across the entire city, and we’d celebrate a job well done. The increase in taxable value could then be used to grow citywide infrastructure needs by fixing and replacing things like roads, sewer lines, and making sure our fresh drinking water was clean and lead free.

How TIF 97 would do this was to allow the city to take funds from our local nonprofits like the Traverse Area District Library, Commission on Aging, our veterans, BATA, Northwestern Michigan College, and more because that was free money and wouldn’t come out of the taxpayers pockets. The DDA said it was a way for the “region” to support the redevelopment of downtown without it placing further burden on the citizens.

But what they didn’t tell you is that TIF was actually robbing Peter to pay Paul. The

curtain controlling the slot machine that flows the winnings into the DDA’s pocket without you knowing anything about it. It’s a smoke and mirrors show and why so many people know so little about TIF after all these years.

The TIF is set to end in 2027, but the DDA does not want that to happen. They now want to add the latest issue, “housing,” to the plan, which makes them feel good and gives the impression they are doing something about it. But in reality, those might just be words to give the DDA relevancy. What they really are trying to do is extend the TIF 97 plan on the backs of hot-button issues to keep the tax incentives flowing into the DDA budget.

TIF 97 was never supposed to be forever. Over the past 30 years, we have combated our blight, redeveloped our downtown, and have become a very popular, top-rated international destination. We just about hit every “top 10” list you can get on telling us how great we are. TIF 97 has done what the program set out to do, so it’s time to honor the promise made by the DDA and return the tax capture to the city general fund and celebrate a job well done.

As they say, promises made, promises kept. We should keep the promise made to our citizens as intended so many years ago and stop feeding the beast with our tax dollars so the city can help grow all of the city, especially outside our downtown district.

Jim Carruthers served as the mayor of Traverse City for six years, a city commissioner for eight years, and a Parks & Recreation commissioner for eight years prior to that.

TIF 97 has done what the program set out to do, so it’s time to honor the promise made by the DDA and return the tax capture to the city general fund and celebrate a job well done.

OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND VISION FOR THE FUTURE

I view Traverse City as our regional hub for economic and social activity. We raise families, build businesses, and find community and a sense of belonging here. I call TC home, even though I live in a neighboring township. My kids are TCAPS students, and my business has a Front Street mailing address. Downtown TC is special; drawing people like me and my family from around the region and around the world.

However, downtown needs our collective attention now more than ever. We have a shared responsibility to plan for, fund, and implement projects that advance our collective vision for the future. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has and is leading this charge, and I am asking that the community join us in this effort.

The downtown I love did not appear by accident, but rather by design. Since the 1970s, plans like TIF 97 were made, implemented, amended and changed, and re-implemented, and today we are benefiting from those decisions. Made up of volunteers like me, the DDA has championed the creation of spaces that have garnered our thriving downtown national recognition as the place: the place to do business, vacation, raise a family, and, in short, drive our regional economy.

However, the continued viability of our community hinges on our ability to attract and retain year-round, workingage residents with families. These are the tax-payers, voters, and citizens who fill our schools and patronize our businesses. They’re drawn to quality places like riverfronts, parks, and farmers markets. This kind of placemaking is what the DDA does, and this work will be the key driver of our region’s future success.

This is our shared responsibility. Our vision for the future. While the city maintains basic functions of community living, infrastructure, and public safety, these functions alone do not ensure that our community is vibrant, thriving, and attractive for year-round residents or young people like my kids.

This is where the DDA steps in. The DDA, a close and stable partner for the city, can leverage financing tools, like Tax Increment Financing (TIF), to make the types of investments that would not be possible on the dime of city taxpayers alone. With TIF, public infrastructure is funded by property owners solely within the city designated TIF district with no extra cost to any other taxpayer. In the last 30 years, the DDA has used TIF 97 to improve the Open Space, build bridges, heat sidewalks, add parking, and expand trails and river walks.

So where do we go in the next 30 years? Well, the residents have spoken, and the

DDA is on it! Thanks to our community’s input, the DDA now has a new strategic plan, Moving Downtown Forward.

The plan lays out a shared vision for our future:

• Protect and enhance the lower Boardman/ Ottaway riverfront

• Stack (vs. sprawl) downtown parking spaces

• Make Rotary Square the center of our community

• Make climate resilient infrastructure

• Champion the development of attainable housing

• Support job growth and varied career opportunities, especially local independent business

• Create a built environment that is accessible to people of all abilities through heated sidewalks and more mobility options

To fully implement this shared vision, it will take a shared responsibility. These projects will not be able to advance if the DDA does not have reliable and sustainable funding. Our community— city residents and neighboring communities—need to support the DDA in creating amenities that we all want and need, amenities that will attract yearround residents.

I am reminded about the importance of implementing this collective vision for the future every time my 13-yearold daughter and 11-year-old son ask me to go downtown after school. For my kids, downtown TC is the place to be. It’s Clinch Park, where they meet friends to swim and hang out. It’s Rotary Square, where they go to watch the big game. It’s the placemaking, streetscape improvements, and wayfinding signs that encourage them to walk the 14 blocks from school to Petoskey Pretzel on a weekday afternoon.

We must ensure that our young people, potential new residents, and future generations continue to have an inclusive, growing, and vibrant region, anchored by downtown Traverse City. These are the investments that the DDA has made over the last 30 years, thanks to our creative use of tools like TIF.

Our work is not done. Now is the time to rally around the DDA and keep TIF and keep hope that kids like mine may someday also choose Traverse City to build their business and raise their families. This is our shared responsibility.

Gabe Schneider is the chair of the Traverse City DDA and founder of Northern Strategies 360, a government affairs consulting firm. As a downtown business owner, dad, mountain biker, fly fisher, and skier, he is passionate about our environment, community, and city core.

1 > I’m guessing this time of year there’s a lot brewing at Cherry Capital Airport…

Oh, yes. Lots of things going on. Traffic has been really good.

2 > Oh? Tell us more about why and where.

For starters, Sun Country, which will start serving us June 16, was supposed to go through Labor Day, but has decided to extend their schedule through mid-October. Extending this prior to even starting is awesome. I think it’s bookings that really drove that. When I ask, they say, “Traverse City is punching above its weight.” If I’m on cloud 9 about anything, it’s that!

3 > And how has the first quarter looked so far overall?

Looks like we’ll be up 15-18 percent over 2022, which is really great.

4 > What about the big upcoming summer season?

This summer, from a traffic perspective, we will continue to maintain the cities we serve, and are also seeing a lot of larger aircraft replacing the smaller ones, which is fantastic news for Traverse City. On the Dallas flights we will see the Airbus 320 with 150 seats six days a week; last year we had 75 seats, so that’s double the capacity. On Saturdays it will be the Airbus 321 with 192 seats that will last into August. Delta’s Atlanta is back and that starts July 1 and runs through Labor Day. Denver will see larger aircraft and Chicago will, too. Allegiant will do Phoenix this summer and Tampa this summer. It’s all good.

5 > And how’s the labor situation at the airport these days?

At this moment it’s stable. From an airport perspective we’ve got a couple positions open for maintenance and for operations supervisor, and it looks like a good pool of candidates, which is good news. The airlines are doing well with their winter staff but still looking for some

AIR TIME

Cherry Capital Airport’s Kevin Klein

Looks Toward A Massive Summer Season

summertime seasonal staff, which is common this time of year. The car rental companies are still struggling. But overall I’m hoping we’re on the upward swing overall. I’m hoping this year is a big improvement over last year’s troubles.

6 > Good. And parking? How crazy was it during spring break with everyone leaving their cars behind?

Our parking has held up very well so far. Spring break we had about 100 spots open every day out of a total of 1,235. We increased by 440 spots last year, which has served us well.

7 > And I know another headache during the pandemic and into last year was the lack of rental cars. Any news on that front?

We actually just met with them today! I’m positive there will be cars. The change in that industry is you used to get a relatively new rental car with maybe a couple thousand miles on it. Today you might likely get one with 40-50 thousand miles on them. The companies are buying leases that are ending to backfill their fleets.

8 > And the Uber situation? Are we still hunting and hoping for more drivers?

The Uber and shuttle situation is a tad better, but not much. We have taxis and BATA has some solutions. COVID drove a lot of the Uber drivers to DoorDash and we just haven’t seen them convert back. But it’s become very easy and lucrative here. You just sign up and start driving!

9 > What’s the latest on the big expansion? I know it’s starting in phases.

Yes, we’ve kicked off our terminal ramp expansion, going 130 feet east and west. It just started and is going very well. We look to get the west side set by Memorial Day and hopefully finishing the east side by mid-summer. It’s going to help with current capacity challenges and it’s really needed.

10 > I think people are curious about the general aviation side of the airport. So much goes on beyond the airlines we all see or experience.

Yes, general aviation includes any aircraft from the smallest single engine to corporate aviation jets, and includes training, charters, the air ambulance, sightseeing tours and also freight operators like UPS and FedEx. Out of about 100,000 flight operations here at the airport, the airlines only represent about 11,000. So it’s very important to us.

11 > I also just read about United really investing in the future of electric aircraft. Is that real or coming anytime soon?

It’s honestly right around the corner. I really do believe that. It will start with single engines like the college operates. It will change the environmental impact, the noise, pollution, everything. You’ll see very high demand eventually, but we will need to adapt for infrastructure and charging first. One thing they’re looking at starting with would be, for example, using them to pick people up in Gaylord and bringing them to Traverse City for their flight from here.

12 > What else?

We’ll be visiting Allegiant soon to discuss everything, including their purchase of 737 Max aircraft and when those will go online, any new cities in their network, and also marketing. They do a lot of advertising around national parks, and we want to make sure Sleeping Bear Dunes is right up there in their marketing.

13 > Any chance we could ever get a Las Vegas flight via Allegiant?

I hope so! Everybody here wants Vegas, and we’d also love to get Fort Lauderdale, which is close for the horse shows population in Florida.

i sl a nd l ife

Three U.P. islands to explore this summer (plus an update on Mackinac for 2023)

Where do northern Michiganders go to get away? The true Up North, that’s where! Stay cool and skip the tropics—you can create that laid-back island life feeling without leaving the state. These three Upper Peninsula islands are brimming with wildlife, eclectic eateries, and enough fresh Lake Michigan air to lull any traveler straight into vacation mode.

Drummond Island

When British troops were booted out of Mackinac Island’s Fort Mackinac in 1815, they made the watery 45-mile trek to what’s now known as Drummond Island (which took its name from one of those British commanders) and set up the short-lived Fort Drummond. The fort is long gone, but the artifacts and rare remains of it can be viewed alongside history of the Strait’s local tribes at Drummond Island Historical Museum.

Take in the views along 150 miles of breathtaking shoreline on a stand-up paddle board trek (Drummond Island Yacht Haven and The Islander Shoppe offer daily rentals) or embark on a sunny sailing adventure with Drummond Island Tall Ship Co. Afterward, power up at Drummond Island Fudge and Confectionary. The one-stop shop includes a delicatessen, homemade popcorn boutique, bait and tackle supplies, and even a bar! Don’t forget to grab some Puddingstone Fudge—chock-full of cherries and walnuts to give each slice the look of the treasured U.P. stone—and a Stormy Kromer cap to bring home.

How to Get There: Visitors can hop a direct flight to Drummond Island Airport from either Pellston Regional Airport in the L.P. or Chippewa County International Airport in the U.P. and rent a car once they land. For those who want a quicker cross, or to bring their own vehicle, the Drummond Island Ferry, located in De Tour Village, operates year-round, while boaters can dock at one of the island’s two full-service marinas.

Where to Stay: For all-inclusive amenities, Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center is a family-friendly spot to eat, play, and stay. For a more rustic vacation, camping abounds on Drummond Island and so do cottage rentals. Grab your poles and tackle and head on down to Lake View Resort’s 300-foot dock and pier which is just beyond their quaint, white-painted cabins. Rentals include access to their fish shack (for cleaning the day’s bounty) and a s’more ready community fire pit.

What to Eat: Esther’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine’s colorful outpost is a local favorite serving up fish tacos and all-day breakfast burritos. Save room for churros and grab a pint of fresh-made salsa and a bag of tortilla chips for your mid-afternoon snack.

For year-round fare, The Northwood Restaurant and Bar is a mainstay. While their broasted chicken baskets and fried walleye are faves of their regulars, no trip to the U.P. is complete without a pasty, served with a side of beef gravy. (They probably have ketchup too, if that’s your thing.)

Carved out long ago by glaciers, a chain of 36 small islands with names like Birch, Bear, and Eagle make up the U.P.’s serene Les Cheneaux Islands. Rich in nautical history and nestled in the wild waters of Lake Huron, they’re just a hop, skip, and jump away from the small towns of Hessel and Cedarville in Mackinac County. The Les Cheneaux Antique and Wooden Boat Show and Festival of Arts, held in August of each year, is a late-summer favorite and is one of the few touristy events of the season, which makes this corner of the U.P. a tranquil getaway for those looking to unplug.

How to Get There: By boat! Two of the islands are accessible by vehicle—Hill Island and Island No. 8 (Skunk Island, if you’re local)—while the other 34 require some marine travel.

Where to Stay: While there’s lodging along the main strip through Hessel and Cedarville, to truly stay on the Les Cheneaux Islands, book at one of Hill Island’s two dockside resorts or cozy up at Dancing Waters Bed and Breakfast at the southernmost end of Hill Island, where the hosts are known to spoil guests with baked goods and roomside views of wildlife in action. Looking to really, really get away? Federally owned Government Island is completely uninhabited and offers gorgeous trails and leave-no-trace camping for the experienced camper.

What to Eat: Power up to play on the water with a hearty breakfast from Ang-Gio’s in Cedarville, whose menu features a homemade Italian sausage special. Come afternoon, snag a table at one of Les Cheneaux Distiller’s two Cedarville locations and grab a “Boot Bloody” made with their own Straits Vodka and stacked with enough meat, cheese, and pickled goodness to count as a light lunch. Or grab a couple of their BBQ Apple Pizzas to eat straight from the box while bopping around Cedarville Lake.

For an elevated evening, book a reservation at Les Cheneaux Culinary School from midJune through September where fresh, locally sourced ingredients and from-scratch desserts (like last year’s blueberry galette served with coconut cream and salted caramel) are served up by the school’s culinary students.

Grand Island

Want to escape the hustle and bustle of long gift shop lines, noisy hotel pools, and crowded beaches? Less than a mile from the mainland of Munising, Grand Island is one of four incorporated islands in the massive Hiawatha National Forest. At the turn of the 20th century, the island was privately owned by Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., whose founder hoped to retain the island’s wild nature while introducing some of his own (elk, antelope, and willow grouse to name a few) for hunting. Nowadays, when it’s not hunting season, visitors love to hit the trails with their bikes and binoculars or kayak over for a weekend of primitive camping and fishing.

For visitors just looking for a day trip, bus tours of the rugged island are available Tuesday through Saturday during the summer and fall months via Grand Island Ferry Service. The tour takes guests on a four-hour guided excursion with several stops at must-see historical and scenic sites.

Trekking on the island isn’t the only way to explore though. Munising’s Riptide Ride offers a 90-minute boat excursion around Grand Island’s famed sandstone cliffs near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is a splashy Lake Superior adventure, so ponchos or raincoats are a must!

How to Get There: Visitors to the island will hop aboard the Grand Island Ferry Service for a short ride from the mainland. Because the island is so undeveloped, all other boats and jet skis must anchor offshore.

Where to Stay: Staying on Grand Island means tent camping or booking one of the park’s few cabins as a home base. For a less rustic overnight experience, neighboring Munising has plenty of motels, hotels, and B&Bs located near the ferry dock, including the U.P. Iron Skillet Bed & Breakfast Lodge where guests will feast on baked goods and eggs straight from the host’s farm.

What to Eat: When the Upper Peninsula views are just too glorious to waste time indoors, put in an order to-go at Toby’s Dog House where the gourmet hot dogs (featuring Michiganmade Koegel franks) and crunchy-on-the-outside fries are perfect for munching on-the-go.

If it’s a little blustery, check out Munising’s Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore. Just a short jaunt down from the shoreline, the quaint eatery is known and loved for its live music and ice cream. Their breakfast and lunch menu includes a hearty bagel smeared with cream cheese and topped with slow roasted tomatoes and locally caught whitefish. There’s even a few Airbnbs upstairs for visitors who can’t get enough of the comfy local hangout.

What’s New on Mackinac Island

In need of no introduction, the U.P.’s beloved island will soon celebrate its second most fragrant feature (horses and the island’s world-famous fudge are tied for first place) with their 75th annual Lilac Festival. The 10-day festival, themed “Mackinac in Bloom,” will run from June 9 through June 18 and feature a free daily walking tour guided by lilac docent Anne Borowicz. Guests should bring sunscreen and plenty of water for the two-hour tour through Marquette Park.

Meanwhile, Chippewa Hotel’s famed Pink Pony is also celebrating their 75th anniversary. The restaurant, which will be serving up summertime favorites like wedge salads, homemade hummus, and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, is marking the occasion with their version of a French 75—appropriately rebranded as the Pink Pony 75—best enjoyed on the restaurant’s outdoor patio overlooking The Straits.

Diners might even peep a view of Mackinac Island State Harbor, which is making some major upgrades for the 2023 summer/fall season, including a new amenities building, which is expected to be open in late July and will include a laundry facility, bathrooms, and showers for sun-soaked harbor guests.

And speaking of important milestones, it’s been 125 years since motorized vehicles were banned on the island and 125 years since the opening of the Wawashkamo Golf Club, one of the oldest courses in the state.

Ferry services started up last month, so it’s full steam ahead for a Mackinac summer!

HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE HIGH SEASON

Local leaders highlight summer challenges and opportunities around northern Michigan

We’re approaching the most wonderful time of the year in northern Michigan. Summer can be downright magical, with quiet morning hikes, afternoons at the beach, and endless entertainment opportunities for a night on the town. But all that fun in the sun also means increased traffic, long hours for hospitality staff, and pressure on our infrastructure and environment.

Northern Express connected with six leaders in northern Michigan, folks who represent everything from nonprofits to national parklands, to talk about the return of the high season Up North. Here’s what they had to say about the highs and lows of summertime.

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

Our summers are busier than ever, and with schoolaged kid programming offered by local nonprofits oversubscribed and facing limited staffing, we anticipate that families will make difficult choices between employment and childcare. Also, while we all wait patiently to enjoy these precious months, there are many who are working hard and laborious hours so that the season can be successful. Let’s make sure to appreciate the hospitality and service workers who keep our community running!

What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

I think we all have an opportunity to take active appreciation for our beautiful surroundings and help keep our environments beautiful and clean. Make a commitment to volunteer at a local nonprofit—whether it is trail clearing, a beach clean-up, or, if time isn’t available, a donation to the organization that is helping to provide access to preserves and natural areas. Taking a view that this land is something that we are part of, and not just for us to use, opens our minds to a new perspective of deeper appreciation.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

Our summer calendars get filled quickly, but with all great things. I’m excited about the Traverse Symphony Orchesta’s outdoor concert series at Rotary Square in downtown TC; my first swim in the big lake; and of course all the fresh produce and wonderful farmers I’ve missed all season at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market.

TREVOR TKACH President/CEO of Traverse City Tourism

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

Staffing continues to be a real issue for businesses, in particular because consumers have actually increased their expectations for customer service. We see the labor shortage challenges happening throughout the travel experience, from air traffic control limitations to the more DIY experience that’s trickling into a greater number of

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

Ticks, ticks, ticks are one of the biggest challenges facing northern Michigan. Ticks are a natural part of many landscapes, but climate changes are causing ticks to spread to more areas. Reducing exposure to ticks and removing ticks promptly can protect you and your family from tick-borne diseases. A few tips are to stay on trails, keep your dog on a leash, and do a tick check after every visit to the Lakeshore.

What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

Outdoor opportunities for physical and mental wellness are abundant here. If the recent years have taught us anything, it’s that nature has positive effects on our health when you soak in the environment using all your senses (okay, not always taste). Visiting public land is a great way to spend time with friends and family—or even meet new people—and it makes us happier and more satisfied with life.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

If all goes as planned and our contractor remains on schedule, by mid-July, the South Manitou Lighthouse complex restoration project will be completed. This project, funded by park entrance fees, will open the Keepers Quarters to the public for the first time, install exhibits in the Fog Whistle building, restore the historic cultural landscape surrounding the Lighthouse, and create an accessible trail from the village dock to the Lighthouse complex.

restaurants. In our market, the labor constrictions could mean longer wait times at a favorite venue or a harder time getting a cab or transportation service to bring you around the area.

What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

Our air service keeps getting better and better, with new carriers taking a look at TVC and a steady stream of nonstop flights throughout the summer and early fall. We are one of the few airports that’s growing service, and our numbers show Cherry Capital is one of

the top ranked airports in the country. It’s a real point of pride for our region.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

Turtle Creek Stadium is going to be awesome this year. It’s a great spot to spend a few hours on a summer evening watching the Pit Spitters, and they’ve partnered with a lot of local businesses, so it really does feel like a spot that showcases and welcomes our whole community. Bringing in the All-Star Game and comedy show only adds to the fun.

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

In many ways, northern Michigan is defined by what can be seen and done here—beautiful beaches, lovely water, and a fun social scene. Our biggest challenge is to resist limiting our identity by the way we recreate. We are also the values that define how we connect and care for people in our community. We share this beautiful place; let’s also share community with each other. What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

We all know that we have an opportunity to create more attainable housing in our region so that we can be a more successful community. We are seeing more housing units being built, and we’re having larger community conversations about what we value and how those values show up in our housing policies and practices. By mobilizing to have housing at a full range of price points, we’re creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and socioeconomically diverse community.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

At Goodwill Northern Michigan, we have embraced the need to support the development of attainable housing for people who are very low income and experiencing homelessness in our community. We are excited to have several partnership projects brewing and hope to be able to announce good news later this summer.

SARA HARDING

VP of Community and Climate Impact at Cherry Republic

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

From my perspective, it seems that many businesses are struggling to meet the expectations of their customers due to a lack of staff. This can make it challenging to deliver exceptional service and maintain customer satisfaction. The labor and housing shortages are also affecting the area’s talent attraction and retention efforts.

What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

Rather than pushing back against the influx of visitors to our area, embracing the opportunity and planning for sustainable growth would be wise. By making northern Michigan a special place for both visitors and residents, we can create strategic opportunities for continued success. It will take a collective effort to ensure that our area remains a beautiful place for future generations.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

We’re eagerly anticipating the opening of all five of our stores and welcoming visitors to come enjoy the many delights of northern Michigan.

SIMINO Forest Supervisor for Huron-Manistee National Forests

What are the biggest challenges for northern Michigan this summer season?

We are fortunate to be upgrading many of our visitors’ favorite sites. While the maintenance and construction projects occurring now are intended to enhance the experience of people visiting the Huron-Manistee National Forests, they may mean disruptions to normal services at recreation sites. Projects vary, but new vault toilets, boardwalks, and boat launches, improved water systems, and freshly paved roads and parking lots are just a few of the projects planned for 2023. Impacts now will yield safer and more enjoyable sites later.

What are our biggest opportunities for growth, change, or success as a community?

Across National Forests there is an increase in new and less-experienced users and an increase in the diversity of forest users. Additionally, there is increasing demand and expectation from visitors for technological amenities and virtual programming. Change is coming in the form of who our audience is, how they choose to experience the forest, and what is relevant to them. Our success hinges on making the Huron-Manistee National Forests a public land that is relevant to the entire American people, now and in the future.

What are you most looking forward to for summer 2023?

From the spring trout opener to the fall colors, and everything in between, we can’t wait to see all of the great ways our forest visitors choose to enjoy their National Forests this summer.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer Up North. This weekend, all our favorite restaurants and shops will have opened for the season. The farmers markets will be showing off their spring bounty. And the water temperatures have warmed just enough that we’ll stick our feet in (but not much else).

Whether you want to celebrate the return of summer by busting out your white linen shorts, attending a parade, or exploring a beloved festival, we’ve got you covered. Check out these 12 events happening from Thompsonville to Houghton this weekend.

1. Cherry Capital Comic Con

May 26-28

Ready to get your geek on?

(In the coolest possible way?)

During the holiday weekend, take the opportunity to connect with over 100 exhibitors, artists, and creators at northern Michigan’s largest comic book and pop entertainment expo, which takes place at the scenic Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. 2023 marks the 15th annual event and includes great deals on comics and collectible merchandise, plus a costume contest for adults and children. Tickets are $40/person and can be ordered online at cherrycapitalcomiccon.com.

2. Elk Rapids Arts & Crafts Show

Saturday, May 27, 10am-4pm

An event for all ages, the 29th annual Arts & Crafts Show is set to take place in the heart of downtown Elk Rapids on River Street, featuring over 70 different artisans and creators who will be selling their work and showcasing demonstrations of their craft.

Your Up North Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary

3. Houghton from the Ground Festival

Saturday, May 27, 12-6pm

Get ready to enjoy 40 local food and art vendors and live music from local musicians during this Saturday afternoon event in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Musical performances feature Adam Meckler and Jana Nyberg, Kevin Blackstone, Hannah Rundman, Bruce Rundman, Bling Crosby, and Ani & Kora. The Houghton from the Ground Festival takes place in conjunction with Ride the Keweenaw, an all-day mountain biking event that includes a group ride on the Michigan Tech Trails, a family endurance race, and bike checkups afterward.

4. St. Ignace’s Annual Native American Festival at the Museum of Ojibwa Culture

Saturday, May 27, 10am-6pm

This festival recognizes and celebrates the culture and contributions of the Anishinaabe people from the surrounding area. Festival activities are free and open to the public and include drumming, dances, workshop presenters, and a taste of centuriesold food traditions. Cultural artistry featuring birch bark, porcupine quills, and other natural materials will also be on display. Guided museum and grounds tours with a cultural interpreter will be offered, as well as a guided historic walking tour with a local historian.

“Everyone is welcome to come and experience the rich traditions and culture of the Anishinaabe people. It is an honor and a privilege to host this annual event that spotlights an important part of our history through the eyes of the First People who inhabited this area,” says Shirley Sorrels, Museum of Ojibwa Culture director.

5. Michigan Beer & Brat Festival at Crystal Mountain Saturday, May 27, 4-8pm

With over 20 vendors participating, the 16th annual celebration of Michigan-made food and craft beverages offers the chance to sample microbrews, meads, hard ciders, wines, liquors; dine on gourmet brats; and listen to live entertainment put on by Barefoot and Jedi Mind Trip. VIP admission opens at 3pm, with general admission open from 4-8pm. Tickets may be purchased online at crystalmountain.com; kids ages 3 and under are free.

6. Leland Air Plein Air Exhibition

Saturday, May 27

During Leland’s plein air exhibition and sale, art collectors will have the opportunity to purchase fresh works of art created earlier in the day by artists who painted and drew scenes featuring the beautiful Leelanau County landscape.

“We’re so excited to host the 11th annual Leland Air this Memorial Day weekend,” says Sarah Mills, executive director of the Old Art Building. “Close to 40 artists will be en plein air painting all of the natural beauty in Leland and beyond.”

The newly created plein air pieces will be on display during the ticketed opening reception on May 27, but then open to the public for viewing and purchase from May 28-31 at the Old Art Building. Tickets for the opening night reception are available at oldartbuilding.com.

7. Northport Cars in the Park Saturday, May 27, 10am

Come check out Leelanau County’s longest-running auto show on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend in the village of Northport at Haserot Park. Since

1998, car enthusiasts have been showcasing their beautifully maintained and unique vehicles. Admission is free for all ages, and awards will be announced at 3pm.

8. Made in Cheboygan Craft Show

Saturday, May 27, 9am-5pm and Sunday, May 28, 10am-3pm

In its fourth year of programming, Made in Cheboygan is set to host a craft show over the holiday weekend to support local crafters and provide shoppers with a fun and unique experience in Cheboygan’s Washington Park. Crafters and artisans will showcase various items for sale, including jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, customprinted shirts, mugs, and more!

9. The Midtown Men

Sunday, May 28, 8pm

Join Great Lakes Center for the Arts for a lively performance by The Midtown Men during their Tenth Anniversary Tour.

“We are excited to introduce northern Michigan to The Midtown Men, the perfect performance to kick off the summer and fall season at the Center,” says Matthew Kacergis, Great Lakes Center for the Arts executive director. “Complete with four Broadway veterans from the original cast of Jersey Boys performing your favorite hits of the ’60s and a killer live band, audience members are in for a festive and memorable holiday weekend. This show reaches far beyond your typical tribute.”

This performance will feature songs by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Elvis, The Temptations, and more. Tickets are available at greatlakescfa.org.

10. Pit Spitters Season Opener

Monday, May 29, 7:05pm

Catch the Pit Spitters’ seasonopener against the Rockford Rivets of Rockford, Illinois, at Turtle Creek Stadium on Memorial Day in Traverse City. Grab a drink and a hot dog, and settle into your seat for an evening at the ballpark to kickoff the summer season. For a complete 2023 schedule, visit northwoodsleague. com/traverse-city-pit-spitters.

11. Petoskey Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 29, 10am

To honor those who have served our country, Petoskey residents line East Mitchell Street in the downtown Gaslight District for the annual Memorial Day Parade. Ceremonies at Greenwood Cemetery and the downtown war monuments will occur prior to the parade, with a memorial service at Pennsylvania Park Gazebo taking place afterward complete with wreath placement, music, a salute, and taps. After the service, a luncheon is set to take place at the American Legion Post 194 (455 Bay St., Petoskey).

12.

Fort Mackinac Memorial Day Observance & Fort Michilimackinac Reenactment

Monday, May 29, 8:30-9am / 2:30-4pm

Starting off Memorial Day at Fort Mackinac is an observance tribute, brief ceremony, and salute to the soldiers who served at the fort. Later that afternoon, the Fort Michilimackinac Reenactment takes place and presents a recreation of events that occurred on June 2, 1763, between the French, British, and Native tribes. The reenactment is presented by a Mackinaw City community group, and admission to the reenactment is free. (Note: Access to Colonial Michilimackinac requires an admission ticket.) Find more details at mackinacparks. com/event.

Bottoms U.P.

Exploring the wines and spirits of the Upper Peninsula

In the spring of 2020, Northern Express planned the perfect Upper Peninsula vacation for a craft beer enthusiast, plotting a 10-stop itinerary highlighting breweries all over the U.P., from Cedarville to Ironwood. Three years later, we started thinking: Why not bring back the concept of a U.P. sip-and-savor tour, but turn our focus this time toward wineries and distilleries?

This side of Yooper drinking culture was considerably more of a mystery to us Lower Peninsula trolls than their craft beer is. At least five breweries featured on our beer tour list—Blackrocks, Ore Dock, Barrel + Beam, Keweenaw, and Upper Hand— are easy to find on the shelves of your nearest bottle shop. The same can’t be said for Yooper wine or spirits, which arguably makes an on-the-ground tour that much more fascinating.

So, without further ado, let’s pull out our maps, gas up the car, and hit the road for a journey through seven U.P. establishments and the outstanding libations they make.

Stop 1: Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery

7

452 Main Street, Mackinac Island

The establishment: Since Mackinac Island is the middle ground between the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, we thought it would be a perfect place to kick off our tour. Not only does Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery offer terrific beer and spirits, it also has a Traverse City connection. According to their website, the “unique infrastructure of Mackinac Island” makes it impossible for the business to brew its own beer on-site. Instead, the beer at Great Turtle comes courtesy of a partnership of TC’s own Right Brain Brewery.

The drinks: On the spirits end, Great Turtle makes four—a vodka, a gin, a whiskey, and a spiced rum—as well as a signature cocktail featuring each spirit. Vodka fans, check out the Off the Dock, which mixes the Great Turtle Vodka with simple syrup and strawberry lemonade. Shell Time pairs the distillery’s rum with melon liqueur, lime, and pineapple juice, while Somewhere in Time is gin, orange juice, prickly pear syrup, and lime juice. Our favorite? Lost on Mackinac, featuring Great Turtle Whiskey, blue curacao liqueur, sour mix, and a splash of lemonade. Be careful, though: If you have too many, you’ll be lost on Mackinac, too…

Stop 2: Les Cheneaux Distillers

172 South Meridian Street, Cedarville

The establishment: If the name looks familiar, it could be because we also featured this Cedarville distillery in our U.P. brewski tour. The Les Cheneaux serves a nice array of different beers, from signatures like the Buoy Tipper Blonde pilsner to seasonals like the delectable Maple Bourbon Stout. But this time around, we’re focused on their spirits.

The drinks: Les Cheneaux makes vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey under the Straits brand name and has an ever-changing menu of over 30 handcrafted cocktails to spotlight the spirits. We’re fond of the Angry Ass, and we promise it’s not just because of the name. The cocktail is a whiskey mule, and if you’ve never tried a Moscow mule with whiskey instead of vodka, we can assure you that you’re missing out. We’re also fond of the Laid Back, which pairs gin and vodka with pineapple juice, grape juice, and a splash of tonic, and which—we kid you not—is labeled on the menu as “Inspired by Snoop Dog!” Time to start singing along: “Sippin’ on gin and juice, laid back/With my mind on my money/And my money on my mind…”

Stop 3: End of the Road Winery

6917 Burns Road, Germfask

The establishment: This seasonal winery just reopened for spring and summer on May 13, which means now is the perfect time to plan a visit. Established in 2015, End of the Road Winery grows all its own fruit—including grapes, raspberries, and apples—and makes a wide variety of reds, whites, and fruit wines.

The drinks: One thing to note at the outset of a U.P. wine tour is that most wineries you’ll visit aren’t going to have the vintages you’re used to drinking. Despite the thriving wine scene here in northwest Lower Michigan, our wineries are pushing the climate limits for the grapes they grow. Yooper wineries have fewer options, which not only means they rely on cold weather grapes to make their reds and whites, but also results in the U.P. having a much bigger fruit wine scene than we do. (As the Schitt’s Creek fans out there know, Canada is in the same boat.)

The wine list at End of the Road Winery spotlights both wines made from cold-hardy grapes—like the Niagara grape on the white side or the concord and petite pearl varieties for red—and wines made from harvest fruits. Try the Tahqua Rush, a wine made mostly from fresh rhubarb from local family farms, or Son of a Peach, crafted from Michigan peaches. It’s not just fruit, either: End of the Road also makes “Happy Sap,” a sublime maple wine made from locally processed pure maple syrup.

Stop 4: The Honorable Distillery

136 West Washington Street, Marquette

The establishment: The Honorable Distillery gets our vote for coolest history of any place on this list. Though the distillery itself just opened just last summer, its building in downtown Marquette has a long and fascinating story. Once known as “the Peter White Building,” the historic structure was converted in 1936 to a single-screen movie house called The Nordic Theater, with a design by Michael Hare—a New York City architect who had a hand in designing both Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. The theater operated for nearly 60 years before closing its doors in 1994. When new owners Anne White and Scott Anderson bought the building, they converted the old auditorium space into a distilling operation and turned the lobby into a tasting room. They also commissioned a replica of the Nordic’s original marquee, so from the street, the distillery still looks like an old-fashioned movie theater.

The drinks: The Honorable Distillery makes four flagship spirits: a rye whiskey, a straight bourbon-style whiskey, a gin, and a vodka. Currently, the distillery also has a special spirits line—called The Cinema Series—that pays tribute to the building’s history. The Red Salute Vodka is named after the 1935 comedy that was the first movie ever shown at The Nordic. Anatomy of a Murder Gin celebrates the famous 1959 film of the same name, in which Jimmy Stewart plays a small-town lawyer from the Upper Peninsula; the film was shot in part in Marquette, and had its world premiere at the Nordic on June 29, 1959. Finally, Black Beauty Rye Whiskey is named for the 1994 adaptation of Anna Sewell’s novel, the final film ever played at the Nordic. Those spirits are only available at The Honorable Distillery and are in limited supply, with each beautifully-labeled bottle numbered 1 through 1,000.

Stop 5: Northern Sun Winery and Vineyards

983

10th Road, Bark River

The establishment: What a lovely place to spend an afternoon. Northern Sun Winery is open year-round, but it’s especially popular in the summer, both as a wedding venue and as a place to take in a concert. If you happen to be in Bark River on a live music day, take a blanket and a picnic basket, pair it with a bottle of Northern Sun wine, and enjoy.

The drinks: All wines at Northern Sun Winery are 100 percent estate grown and are handpicked with help from the local community. We’re particularly fond of the Leon Millet, a red wine described as “a hybrid between old world French vines and hardy American stock” with “smooth, smoky” well-rounded character and “velvety subtle notes of raspberry, cherry, and a touch of chocolate.” If you prefer whites, try the LaCrescent, a crisp and refreshing wine that has netted Northern Sun Winery numerous gold medals at wine competitions.

Stop 6: Leigh’s Garden Winery

90

4 Ludington Street, Escanaba

The establishment: This quaint spot in downtown Escanaba has a lot of history.

According to the Leigh’s Garden website, the winery’s tasting room at 904 Ludington Street was built in 1884 and “has been home to appliance repair companies, electricians, grocers, cigar merchants, furniture and appliance repair and retailers, clothiers, pubs, bars, [and] nightclubs.” Whether you’re stopping in for a quiet wine tasting or enjoying an evening of live music, Leigh’s has a cozy small-town atmosphere we just love.

The drinks: Leigh’s Garden Winery offers a dynamic selection of white, rosé, and red, with selections ranging from dry to sweet in each category. We’re especially taken with the Some Guy (a dry rosé made with Frontenac gris grapes), the Ludington Street Red (a dry red made with Maréchal Foch grapes), and the Strawberry Moon (a sweet dessert wine made with local strawberries).

Stop 7: Threefold Vine Winery & Meadery S232 Menominee Street, Stephenson

The establishment: Situated in the building that used to house the Bank of Stephenson, Threefold Vine Winery & Meadery crafts wine and mead exclusively from ingredients grown on a nearby 160-acre farm. At the farm, the Threefold Vine team grows grapes, makes its own honey, and even keeps its own animals—including a majestic llama dubbed “The Dalai Llama.” (No llama sightings at the tasting room yet, but we’re holding out hope.)

The drinks: Like most U.P. wineries, Threefold Vine Winery offers a selection of red, white, rosé, and fruit wine. While you’re here, though, we’d recommend something we haven’t gotten much of during other parts of this tour: mead! This fermented honey beverage is still harder to come by in Michigan than most other alcoholic libations, and Threefold Vine makes some darn good versions of the form. Which meads are available will depend on seasonality, but keep an eye out for popular favorites like rhubarb mead or cranberry mead.

Awesome!

Even with declining occurrences of tornadic storms, Kansas is famous for its twisters (thanks, Dorothy). Some cause extensive destruction, but on May 9, one tornado took precise aim on an unexpected target: a coconut cream pie. KSNT-TV reported that a baker in Clay Center, Nancy Kimbrough, filed an emergency report with the details: Her son was delivering baked goods to the Clay Center Country Club when the storm boiled up. The wind was so strong that it ripped the meringue right off the pie and splattered it across the parking lot. The club repaired the pie with Cool Whip and served it to guests anyway, and Kimbrough got a good laugh out of the incident. "It'll probably never happen again," she said, therefore inviting another pie-eating storm.

Suspicions Confirmed

A tourist identified as Mr. Zhang checked into a hotel in Lhasa, Tibet, on April 20, only to discover a foul smell in his room, CNN reported. He stuck it out for half a day, thinking it might be his own feet or the restaurant downstairs, but finally he asked to be moved. Two days later, he was informed about the source of the bad odor: a dead body under the bed. Police officers questioned Mr. Zhang but said he was not a suspect because the body had been there before he checked in. He cooperated with police and then took his leave of Tibet, saying he was suffering from the shock of the incident. "I stay up until 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. every morning, and the slightest movement would wake me up," he said. "It left me in a bad mental state." So yes, Billy, there really IS something scary under the bed.

The Fetishists

David Neal, 52, is the night manager at the 4th Avenue South Hilton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- or he was, until a bizarre incident on March 30. WKRN-TV reported that around 5 a.m. that day, Neal allegedly made a key card to enter an occupied room and suck on the toes of the sleeping guest. When officers arrived at the hotel, Neal admitted entering the room but said he had done so because he smelled smoke and wanted to check on the occupant. He was arrested on May 5 at his home and charged with aggravated burglary and assault.

A cyclist and a hunter came to the rescue of a 51-year-old man who had been tied to a tree near the German town of Bueckburg on May 3, KRQE-TV reported. The situation was the unfortunate outcome of a sex game he had been playing with a woman; he told police that after she tied him up, she got a phone call and suddenly fled. He was fully dressed and had pantyhose over his head when he was found, but the box cutter he had brought "for such situations" was unreachable. The man was unharmed and refused to identify the woman for authorities.

Questionable Judgment

Chloe Stein, 23, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, stopped attending classes at Penn State more than a year and a half ago, but her family was expecting her to graduate this month. So she did what any enterprising college student would do: She faked her own kidnapping. The New York Post reported that Stein left her job at Sonic on May 1 and texted her boyfriend that she'd been pulled over by police on a

quiet road -- then she disappeared. When authorities caught up with her about 20 hours later, she was at the home of an acquaintance a few miles from the Sonic, where she had walked after abandoning her car and phone. She at first told police she had been bound and "semi-assaulted," but then admitted the whole thing was a hoax to cover for the fact that she wouldn't be graduating from college. State trooper Steve Limani said the search for Stein had cost the state "tens of thousands of dollars" in manpower and equipment. She is facing a number of charges in the case.

Don't Hear That Often

Beth Bogar of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, was just finishing up a trip with her husband to Bali when things took a turn. WMUR-TV reported that the couple ended their tour at Mason Elephant Park & Lodge, where she got to swim with and ride an elephant. But when she posed with the pachyderm for a photo, her arm got "pushed" into the animal's mouth. "I couldn't get my arm out. I could just hear cracking and I just started to panic," she said. Bogar was rushed to a hospital an hour away, where the surgeon was able to reassemble her arm with plates and screws. "It's gonna be a long road," Bogar said. She noted that she knew the risks going in and doesn't blame the elephant.

The Neighbors

Ninety-two-year-old Colette Ferry of Frontenex, France, was surprised to answer her door recently and find two police officers, The Guardian reported. The officers informed Ferry that they would have to remove three large frogs who lived in her garden pond and had been croaking loudly enough to keep Ferry's neighbor awake. Ferry said the frogs didn't belong to her but were squatters. "They're in and out of the water playing with my fish," she explained. "There's always someone ready to complain about someone else." She's looking forward to watching officials try to catch the frogs. "That'll be fun ... They jump."

In the Burns Beach community of Perth, Australia, a dispute has arisen between a woman named Sarah and her neighbor, Perth Now reported. "Could you please shut your side window when cooking please," Sarah wrote on behalf of her family. "My family are vegan and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset." On the front of the envelope, she wrote, "PLEASE TAKE SERIOUSLY." But no such luck: The letter was posted to Facebook on May 5, where commenters were merciless: "I'm offended by the smell of the kale she always cooks," one said, while another said they'd be "firing up the bbq and inviting the entire street."

Animal Antics

On May 8 in Enid, Oklahoma, officers were called to a farm where someone had reported hearing shouts of "Help!" Officers David Sneed and Neil Storey arrived at the scene and also heard the cries for help: "I think it's a person," Sneed says on bodycam video. When they discovered the source of the hollering, it wasn't a person at all, but a goat. A person working at the farm then approached the officers and explained that the loud goat was "a little upset because I separated him from his friends," People reported.

Building a Legacy with Patrick Doud’s Irish Pub

Mackinac Island’s newest restaurant—with deep historical roots—debuts this spring

Fourth-generation Mackinac native Andrew Doud and his wife, Nicole, have always embraced their island heritage. Together, they operate the historic Doud’s Market—aka “America’s Oldest Grocery Store”—which they took over in 2007. They’re also the brains behind The Doghouse (an al fresco hotdog stand) and the Little Luxuries gift shop, which has just entered its fourteenth season.

So, when the two were presented with the opportunity to purchase a restaurant, they decided to add another name to their Mackinac portfolio. Scheduled to open this May, their latest venture—Patrick Doud’s Irish Pub—will offer tasty bar-style eats served up with a side of the history that makes Mackinac Island a destination. “There’s so much identity [here],” Andrew says. “That’s what we’re trying to focus on.”

Authentically Irish

The eatery, which the pair have undertaken with operations partner Dave Pantano, is named after local icon and Edwardian architect Patrick Doud, whose carpentry chops left a permanent mark on the modern landscape of Mackinac Island.

He’s also a great-grand uncle of Andrew’s,

so when the time came to name the business, an homage to Patrick felt like a no-brainer. “He was a real man who did some pretty neat things,” Andrew explains. “[It] was a name we thought people might recognize.”

The pub occupies a two-story space that Patrick himself flipped in the 1920s; the first floor will house the kitchen and bar, while the upstairs space will comprise three apartments reserved for seasonal employee housing. In the 80-seat dining room, guests can choose from one of five booths or a selection of freestanding tables. There’s also a community high top, as well as limited bar rail seating for easy access to the pub’s eight taps.

Since renovations began last fall, the Douds have taken the building “down to the studs,” with an all-new kitchen and flooring. “It was pretty old, so we did it all,” Andrew notes. Design-wise, they’ve gone for a brooding Euro-pub feel, with dark wood accents and cloistered crannies, offset by snippets of Mackinac’s history.

Highlights include a wall emblazoned with original Governor’s Mansion blueprints (circa 1904), as well as an “authentically Irish” corner, where insignia and sections of text give diners a taste of the island’s past. “I think it’s really easy to put Guinness or Redbreast [merchandise] on a pub wall. We’re trying to stay away

from that, because we want to portray our history,” Andrew notes.

An Amazing Legacy

That history all goes back to the mid1800s, when waves of Irish immigrants arrived on the island while fleeing the Great Potato Famine. One of those migrants was Stephen O’Doud (later shortened to Doud, according to records), whose caravan landed on Mackinac while en route from Galway to Wisconsin. That group never left. “That’s how my family got here,” says Andrew. “They stayed because [the island] reminded them of home.”

Like many other settlers on Mackinac, the Doud family first made their living by training as coopers (barrel-makers) to support the island’s fishing trade. In fact, the Doud clan still on the island are all descended from Stephen’s 11 grandchildren. (Stephen’s great-great-granddaughter, Margaret, has served as mayor for nearly five decades!)

Stephen’s sons, Patrick and James, co-founded the historic Doud’s Market, originally Douds Bros. Grocery Store, which dates to 1884 and is the oldest grocery store in the country. Patrick later branched into other fields, working both as a contractor and a realtor, and even serving a mayoral term.

Patrick’s carpentry skills were instrumental

to the construction of some of the island’s most important buildings, including The Grand Hotel (1887), which he actually helped fund for a few seasons; the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence (1902); and The Inn at Stonecliffe (1904), as well as countless cottages and private properties.

“He created an amazing legacy. [Now it’s up to] each of us to make our own course,” Andrew says.

Wonderful Simplicity

For the Douds, that legacy means approaching business through a preservative lens.

“Generations that were around 100 years ago were very involved in the processes that made Mackinac so unique,” Andrew explains. In order to maintain those processes, Andrew emphasizes the need for past generations to intersect ours. “It’s all

about good Mackinac history,” he says…and some excellent whiskey to wash it down.

Though the final menu was still in the works when we spoke, Andrew tells Northern Express that the space will offer pub-style fare with a homemade twist. “There’s a wonderful simplicity to [that kind of cuisine],” he explains. “That’s what we’re going for.”

Helmed by executive chef John Armstrong, the kitchen will crank out tavern favorites (think hearty hand-helds and aleinfused stews), alongside several signature dishes that touch on traditional Irish flavors.

Of these, the Oysters Galway is a clear

standout. “Not many pubs have oysters,” says Andrew, “so that’s a twist we’re excited about.” The recipe is inspired by one from his family’s ancestral Irish city and involves oven-baking a half-dozen oysters until they bubble with butter and garlic.

Other menu highlights include a Celtic seafood chowder, which they’ve packed with mussels, salmon, and clams, as well as a fish and chips preparation that features crunchy beer-battered cod. Andrew also hints at a series of scratch-made sauces as menu staples.

Behind the bar, Guinness will reign supreme, along with four other Irish

beers and a selection of popular Michigan brews, including the pub’s signature Patrick Doud’s Ale, which will be crafted by Les Cheneaux Distillers of Cedarville. By itself, the beer is malty with subtle hops, but drinkers can also layer it with Guinness for a Michigan-style Black and Tan. For those with a taste for something stronger, 21 whiskies are on the docket, as well as the classic Irish Coffee.

BREAKING BARRIERS: eight ways drug policy & prevalent myths obstruct use of treatment protocols with the highest success rates, and three actionable steps to reduce addiction and overdose rates while saving taxpayer money.

“Imagine the difference if parents and their children could come out of the shadows, ask for individualized medical care, and receive it without concern about police, arrest, prosecution, or potential time behind bars. How many parents’ retirement funds would remain intact, or if used, would be applied to medical care instead of legal fees, fines, and subsidies, to children who have been shut out of housing and career options? How many parents wouldn’t be grieving the loss of their children?” Excerpt on addiction from War

Pontiac @ The Crofoot Cafe 6:30PM

Lansing @ The Fledge 7PM

“Jonesin” Crosswords

ACROSS

1. Burger essential

6. Nadal's nickname

10. Limerick, e.g.

14. Get along

15. Responsibility

16. U2's guitarist, with "The"

17. Add "minus" to your math skills?

20. Like all leap years

21. Former "Bake Off" host Fielding

22. Amounts on Monopoly cards

23. Po's color

24. Is apt

25. Exuberant feeling

26. Fighting

28. Question of possibility

29. Maple syrup base

32. Part of 12-Down

34. Face boldly

37. Manuscript about the Milky Way, maybe?

39. Some of them are famous

40. Cancelled

41. Check follower?

42. Drink suffix

43. Comedian Crowder known as "The Liberal Redneck"

44. "Harper Valley ___"

45. "Frozen" role

47. Wiz Khalifa's genre

50. Sandy site

53. Totally get, slangily

54. Taj Mahal site

55. Undermining scheme by a blanket hog?

58. Numbered piece

59. "I Am Not My Hair" singer India.___ 60. Damages

61. Directors Robbins and Burton

62. Planters products 63. Dental restoration

DOWN

1. "Table's ready" signaler

2. It's used to make tequila

3. Worked in court, perhaps

4. Al Gore's state, for short

5. "OK"

6. "Futurama" character, maybe

7. Some poker bets

8. Fold up, like a flag

9. Harvard botanist Gray

10. "The Little Rascals" dog

11. "Thor" role for Anthony Hopkins

12. Four-award feat

13. ___ Wearhouse (suit retailer)

18. Single part

19. Get carried away at a concert?

24. Moonshine, by another name

25. "Big Yellow Taxi" singer Mitchell

27. Social wisdom

28. Overactors

29. "Mayday" Parker's alter ego

30. "Bonne fete ___" ("Happy Birthday" line, in Canada)

31. Polliwog's place

32. Site of the Kon-Tiki Museum

33. Bridge length

34. "OK"

35. Up in the air, briefly

36. Annapolis inst.

38. Bartender's mixer

43. "___ On Me" (A-ha song)

44. News coverage

45. Planetary path

46. Really enjoys

48. Tacoma ___ (local slang for a nearby industrial emanation)

49. Violet family flower

50. "Nae" sayer?

51. Arizona language

52. Cell in a Fallopian tube

53. All-knowing advisor

54. ___ alternative

56. ___ Rafael, Calif.

57. Letter after pi

"Sandwiched Between" some deep cuts here. by Matt Jones

A brief history of isle Royale

Isle Royale is the least-visited but most re-visited national park in the lower 48. How is it that a spot that receives as many visitors in a year as Yellowstone gets in a day is the most popular park to return to out of the hundreds in the country?

As with any park, visitors to Isle Royale are asked to leave no trace. But when they step off the boat or seaplane, they’re also told the park will absolutely leave its mark on them. Or, as the National Park Service says in its introduction to the island, “Become a part of this island, and let it become a part of you.”

A Good Place

Perhaps the rich human history entombed within the soil and rock of the island plays a role in the song it sings into the hearts and minds of those who travel to it. According to Liz Valencia, manager of interpretation and cultural resources for the park, humans have been coming to the island for at least 5,000 years.

“Isle Royale and the waters around it are a part of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s (Ojibwe) ancestral lands,” says Valencia. “To us, it’s Isle Royale. But to them, it’s Minong or ‘A Good Place.’”

Prior to contact with Europeans in the 1600s, indigenous peoples excavated copper from Minong to fashion tools. They left behind copper pits that, where pointed out by NPS signage, can be viewed by modernday visitors. Indigenous peoples also fished on and around the island, a tradition observed today.

Following the first contact of French fur traders with Ojibwe peoples near Isle Royale, it didn’t take long for the island to attract mining and lumbering interests. “The 1840s, 1860s, and 1890s were the major copper booms on the island,” says Valencia. “During that time, swaths of the island were also timbered, and the waters around the island attracted commercial and small-time fishing vessels.”

Becoming a National Park

When commercial activity entered a new stage of development in the early 20th century, people who enjoyed the island for its natural beauty became concerned about its future.

“To be honest, people were afraid,” Valencia tells us. “Private interests, particularly logging and mining companies, owned much of the island. There was a concern that the island would be clear cut. And even if that didn’t occur, people were worried the island would become overdeveloped, that it would lose its wild nature.”

So those who loved the island demanded wilderness protections for it.

“Local Michiganders and people from across the country pressured Congress to make it a national park,” says Valencia. “Folks like Albert Stoll, Jr., a reporter at the Detroit News, came to the island in the 1920s to write stories about it. Archeologists and naturalists came to study the island. They left with troves of information and compelling evidence for why the island should be a national park. Some even phoned the White House demanding it.

In the end, Congress and President Hoover authorized the creation of Isle Royale National Park in 1931, and President Roosevelt officially established the park on April 3, 1940.

Caring for the Island Now and Forever

Now, more than 80 years later, the park remains mostly undeveloped, and Isle Royale’s 24,000 to 28,000 annual visitors seems like a small figure compared to visitation in other national parks.

But all of those visitors arrive between April and October, and they’re visiting an island just 206 square miles in size. That’s why park rangers say their No. 1 challenge is providing a pleasant visitor experience that does not hamper the island’s wild characteristics.

“More campers are having to share campsites,” Valencia tells us.

But it’s not just the humans Isle Royale

experts are monitoring. Once upon a time, the northern winters were cold enough to create an ice bridge between Isle Royale and mainland Canada, some 15 miles north.

“The ice bridge [was] critical to the biodiversity of the island,” says Erin Parker, former national park ranger and biological sciences technician. The ice bridge Parker refers to allowed species to travel to the island, where they adapted and created what Parker calls “a living laboratory” in their new home.

Those peculiar ecosystems have made the island unique and rife with opportunities for scientific study. The long-term wolf and moose study that began in 1958 is perhaps the most well-known, but it’s certainly not the only ecosystem of interest. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the waters around Isle Royale contain the most productive native fishery and genetically diverse trout populations in Lake Superior.

Now, that fishery may be in danger. “And as the climate warms, habitats and species are changing,” says Valencia. “Certain types of fish can’t survive in inland lakes anymore, which affects the island’s biodiversity. Algae blooms are also occurring in those lakes,

which make it tricky for campers who are relying on the lakes for a water source. Thankfully, we’ve launched numerous research projects to understand our changing island, and we’re implementing new programs to help improve the visitor experience.”

Not Your Average Camping Trip

Another part of the visitor experience?

“Expect the unexpected.” It’s a rule of thumb for those adventuring into any wilderness area, but such words ring with far greater resonance in the case of Isle Royale.

“The unpredictability of Lake Superior dictates everything that happens out there,” Valencia cautions. “Schedules may change, and there’s nothing you can do about it. When you’re there, you’re at the mercy of the lake and the island.”

Valencia refers us to the National Park Service website for Isle Royale, which advises visitors to bring extra food, pack for cold weather and rain no matter the season, and arrange schedules so that if you’re stuck on the island an extra day or two, folks back home won’t start to worry.

According to Isle Royale’s park rangers, “plan ahead” and “be ready for change”

Once you’ve been there, you never quite leave

are the two most important rules when traveling to the island. Every visitor receives a face-to-face orientation from an NPS ranger who coaches them on how to enjoy the island safely and ethically. Park rangers even compiled a First Timer’s Guide to Isle Royale, available on the NPS website.

So what is there to do on the island?

“If you asked 12 people what their favorite places were on the island, you’d get 12 different responses,” says Valencia. “There is no single, iconic ‘Aha!’ spot in the park

that everyone talks about. It’s more of an immersive experience.”

Valencia says hiking is the most common activity, referencing Lookout Louise, Lane Cove, Scoville Point, the Rock Island Lighthouse, the Greenstone Ridge, Siskiwit Lake, Suzy’s Cave, the Feldtmann Ridge Lookout Tower, and the Minong Mine as popular attractions. Paddling is another draw, as Isle Royale is technically an archipelago with over 400 islands throughout the park.

But perhaps the biggest perk is simply

leaving technology, internet, cell service, city lights, traffic, electricity, and television behind for a few days and just letting yourself fall into a more natural state of being. And as you fall, the island catches you, inviting you to make the forests, fields, and waterways feel more like home than any four walls ever could.

An unimposing sign placed carefully on the Stoll Trail on the island’s southeastern side perhaps best describes Isle Royale. The sign has a quote from Albert Stoll, Jr., an excerpt from the journalism that compelled

the federal government to designate the island as a National Park. “Isle Royale is a part of an entirely different world than the one in which we labor daily,” wrote Stoll. “It knows nothing and cares less of the triumphs of modern civilization.”

What can we say? It’s a royal island in a superior lake. Of course it’s going to be legendary.

To learn more about Isle Royale and plan your visit, head to nps.gov/isro.

saturday

33RD ZOO-DE-MACK: A weekend of huge parties with great bands, a super scenic bicycle ride, views of the Mackinac Bridge, parties on Mackinac Island & more. Today’s schedule includes: Registration in the lobby below The Zoo Bar at The Highlands at Harbor Springs from 7:30-10:30am; the bicycle ride (51 miles along Lake Michigan) starting between 7:30-10:30am at The Highlands in the Ski Area Parking Lot; lunch at Legs Inn, Cross Village between 10:30am-2pm; Post Ride Party - noon-5pm at The Crossings, Mackinaw City. Tonight there will be parties on Mackinac Island. zoo-de-mack.com

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63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL

MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes a Community Breakfast, the 63rd Annual National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt, Painting in the Park with Dan, Taste of Morels, Great Morel Giveaway, 63rd Motherload Bash w/ The Family Tradition Band, & more. bcmorelfestival. com/schedule-of-events.html

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ALPEN-CAR SHOW: 8am-3pm, Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord. A fundraiser for Alpenfest. Awards, food trucks, music & fun.

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FREE PANCAKES FOR TORNADO SURVIVORS: 8am, Otsego County Fire Department, Gaylord. Survivors of the 05.20.2022 tornado are invited to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Survivors must fill out a registration verifying survivor info & pick up their tickets at the Emergency Preparedness Expo on May 18 from 3:30-5:30pm at Otsego Resort. otsegofoundation.org/longterm-recovery-group

FREE WRITING WORKSHOP WITH AUTHOR HEATHER SHUMAKER: 9-10:30am, Interlochen Public Library. Learn more about the world of children’s books, from writing to publishing. Bring your ideas, writing supplies, questions & enthusiasm. 231-276-6767.

SPRING STEWARDSHIP DAY: 9am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Trail grooming, garden weeding, window shining & more. Please bring a pair of gloves. Register: stewardship@grassriver.org. grassriver.org

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SWEETWATER EVENING GARDEN CLUB

PLANT SALE & GARDEN CRAFTS: 9am1pm, Bayside Park, Acme. Shop for perennial flowers, herbs, ferns, veggie plants, & garden crafts. 938-9611.

TVC5K - RUN THE RUNWAY: 9am, Cherry Capital Airport, TC. Benefits the Wings of Mercy West Michigan & The Grand Traverse YMCA. $38. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TVC5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ 4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

2023 TRAVERSE CITY STROLL FOR EPILEPSY™: 10am, Clinch Park, TC. An event that unites the epilepsy community across the state to fight the challenges of living with epilepsy including stigma, SUDEP, misdiagnosis, treatment gaps, loss of employment, discrimination, & isolation. There is also a Virtual Stroll option. Pre-registration fees: Adults (ages 12+): $25. Children (ages 2 -11): $15. Infants (ages 1 & under): free. epilepsymichigan.org/stroll

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ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE: 10amnoon, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Featuring over 70 species of Michigan native flowers, ferns, & grasses. natureiscalling.org/native-plant-sale

FREE TENNIS: 10am-11:30am, Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord. Celebrate National Tennis Month by playing for free at Otsego County Sportsplex. Register. 989619-4148.

GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S WATER SAFETY DAY: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, outside, TC. See a real Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter up close, learn about different types of lifejackets & how to wear them, run sinking boat drills, attend a beach safety class with America’s Boating Club, take the PFD Quiz to get a free lifejacket donated by Long Lake Marina, learn about swim safety & CPR with the Red Cross, & much more. Free; does not Include Museum admission. greatlakeskids.org/joinus-for-water-safety-day

OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR MCLA LAMB

SHOW: 10am, Otsego County Fairgrounds, Gaylord. otsegocountyfair.com/2023-mclalamb-show

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OUTDOOR CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10am-3pm, The Village at GT Commons, Historic Front Lawn, TC. Browse Michigan vendors offering art, jewelry, crafts, food & more. This is a free event & great for all ages. thevillagetc.com

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SPRING BAYFRONT ART & CRAFT

SHOW: 10am-5pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey.

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SPRING BIRDING: 10am-noon, Greenwood Foundation - Windswept Entrance, Wolverine. Join LTC volunteer & birder extraordinaire Mary Trout in exploring the varying trails & habitats of the Greenwood Foundation. Must pre-register. Free. landtrust. org/events

SPANISH MEETUP: 10:30am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Practice Spanish. RSVP: lstarsoneck47@gmail.com.

FORGING FOR PEACE PROJECT: 11am3pm. The Forging For Peace Project blacksmiths return to the Glen Arbor Arts Center Forge. These northern Michigan artists & craftsmen use the ancient art of blacksmithing as part of a world-wide project to raise funds for non-profits focused on peacemaking. Free. glenarborart.org/events-page/ events-all

GAYLORD COLOR FOR A CURE 5K: 11am. Starts & ends at the Pavilion on Court, Gaylord. Proceeds support the T.A.C.K.L.E. fund of the Otsego Community Foundation that provides assistance to those with cancer. $35 + $3.10 sign-up fee. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/Gaylord/GaylordColoredForACure?aflt_ token=vkmwDmweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vC O8buOw

TSO AT THE LIBRARY: SUZUKI STUDENT PERFORMANCE: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy a performance by Suzuki students. Families welcome & encouraged. Free. tadl. org/events

SWING INTO SPRING: 5:30pm, Nub’s Nob Resort, Harbor Springs. Featuring the Harbor Springs HS Jazz Band, dinner, games, a silent auction & more. Tickets: 231-5264869. $25.

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FREE COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT: 6:30pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Featuring “Sing.” Popcorn & drinks provided. Feel free to wear your PJs. bethlehemtc.org/ community-movie-night

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: 7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Presented

by Little Traverse Civic Theater. $20 adults; $10 students 18 & under. app.arts-people. com/index.php?actions=4&p=3

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. In the 1590s, brothers Nick & Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” $28 adults; $15 youth under 18, plus fees. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/something-rotten.html

sunday

SPRING BAYFRONT ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 20)

10TH ANNUAL SPRING PUMPKIN PEDAL: Organized group ride through Old Mission Peninsula, hosted by Jolly Pumpkin, to benefit TART Trails & Northern Michigan E3. Registration starts at 11:30am. Please sign a waiver in the Peninsula Room (adjacent left to Jolly Pumpkin restaurant) before meeting in the Jolly Pumpkin parking lot for the ride that begins at noon. Choose from the 40-mile full Peninsula ride; 20-mile Lighthouse ride; or 7.5mile family friendly ride. Free; suggested $10 donation. traversetrails.org/event/springpumpkin-pedal/?mc_cid=d87e0459fb&mc_ eid=df24b9efb4 ----------------------

63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes Paint & Sip with Duncan Studios, Arts & Crafts Show, & more. bcmorelf-

estival.com/schedule-of-events.html

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20, except today’s time is 2pm.) ----------------------

BARN RED MOVIE AT THE BAY THEATRE: 4pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Michigan Made Film Acclaimed filmmaker Richard Brauer’s story of a farmer (portrayed by Ernest Borgnine) who protects his cherished farm from developers through land conservation. Following the film, Grand Traverse Regional Conservancy Director Glen Chown & Leelanau Conservancy Director Tom Nelson will outline how land stewardship protects irreplaceable parcels that are critical to the character of the region, preserving them for future generations. Producer/director Brauer will also introduce the film & answer questions. $15 per person or $10 per member. thebaytheatre.com/special-events ----------------------

JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND’S SPRING CONCERT: 4pm, East Jordan Middle/High School, Community Auditorium. Music from the 60’s is the theme.

THE GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE HUMMEL TRIO W/ MAESTRO LIBOR ONDRAS: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs. The Hummel Trio is an ensemble-in-residence at Grand Rapids Community College department of music. Free. glcorchestra.org

FACULTY & GUEST ARTIST RECITAL: 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Music Center 1010. With Ara Sarkissian, Mike Ouzounian, & Evelyn Elsing. The concert will feature a diverse selection of works by J.S.

Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, & Jean Françaix. Free. interlochen.org/events/facultyand-guest-artist-recital-ara-sarkissian-mikeouzounian-and-evelyn-els-2023-05-21

monday

PRESCHOOL ADVENTURES IN ART: 9:3010:15am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Classroom, TC. Young artists can engage in themed activities while exploring various art methods. Early registration encouraged. $5. crookedtree.org/class/ ctac-traverse-city/preschool-adventures-artmay-22

KID’S CRAFT LAB: BUTTERFLY

BOARDS: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Paint & stick 3D butterflies all over an artsy board. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

VOICES OF MOBILE: 6pm, New Hope Community Church, Williamsburg. Voices of Mobile, Alabama School of the Arts, is a highly versatile, auditioned vocal ensemble which presents over 200 concerts every year through regional & international tours. They have performed on stage at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, & The Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Free will offering. newhope.cc

tuesday

CLAY CLIFFS GARLIC

MUSTARD WORKBEE: 10am, Clay Cliffs Natural Area, Leland. Join ISN & the Leelanau Conservancy for an opportunity to foster habitat improvements by controlling highly invasive garlic mustard. Please bring a water bottle & gloves. Free. habitatmatters.org/garlic-mustard-workbees.html

PEEPERS PROGRAM: MIGRATION TIME: 10-11am, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Learn about the many animals who migrate back to Michigan for their summer stay. Held outdoors. For ages 3-5 & their adult. Stories, crafts, music, & discovery activities. Register. $5/child. natureiscalling.org/ preschool-peepers-program ----------------------

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Stories, songs & active fun. Free. sbbdl.org

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!” by Mo Willems. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------

CWIB LUNCHEON: Stafford’s Bay View Inn, Petoskey. “Control Your Destiny - Six Powerful Steps” with Life Coach Patti Bayne Tomczak. Registration & networking run from 11:30am-noon, with the program starting at noon. Register. $35 CWIB members; $40 all others. petoskeychamber.com/events/details/cwib-luncheon-may-23-2023-29522

CHAIR YOGA: Noon, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Join Janet Weaver from Traverse Bay Yoga Therapy for chair yoga. All yoga postures will be done seated or standing with a chair available for support & balance. Free. tadl.org/events

REMOTE WORKERS MEETUP: 5-7pm, Community Demonstration Garden, Gay-

lord. Meet by the amphitheater. Bring your own food, drinks & chair. If the weather isn’t good, meet at Alpine Tavern. 715-897-3409. meetup.com/nmiremote/events/lfhrbtyfchbfc

wednesday

MAGOON CREEK GARLIC MUSTARD WORKBEE: 10am, Magoon Creek Natural Area, Manistee. Join ISN & the Manistee Conservation District for an opportunity to foster habitat improvements by controlling highly invasive garlic mustard. Please bring a water bottle & gloves. habitatmatters.org/garlicmustard-workbees.html

HARM REDUCTION MI PRESENTS AUTHOR & ATTORNEY COLLEEN COWLES, J.D.: 12-2pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Colleen is the author of “War On Us”: How the War on Drugs & Myths About Addiction Have Created a War on All of Us. harmreductionmi.org

MICHIGAN’S 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS

HOSTS FREE DROP-IN INFORMATIONAL

SESSION: 3-7pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Hosted by the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Section 529 college savings plans. The session is held in celebration of National 529 Day & Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proclamation of May 22-29 as 529 Awareness Week.

REGIONAL BUSINESS AFTER HOURS:

5-7pm, The Back Lot Charlevoix. Featuring Charlevoix Area, East Jordan Area, & Boyne Area Chambers of Commerce. Three food trucks & networking. $10 Chamber members; $15 not-yet members. ----------------------

TAHRA INTERN NETWORKING EVENT:

5:30pm, Bayside Park, Acme. The Traverse Area Human Resource Association will host this event for students interning at local organizations. Food & non-alcoholic drinks will be provided. Employers & interns are invited to attend & find out what’s in store for the rest of the summer. Reserve your spot. tahratc. org/meet-reg1.php?id=66

RESURRECTING THE GLEN ARBOR

TOWNSHIP CEMETERY: 7pm, Glen Lake Library, Program Room, Empire. Learn about the history of the Glen Arbor Township Cemetery, which served the Glen Lake area from 1880-1927, & the renewed effort to reclaim this long-neglected resting place. Linda Alice Dewey, chair of the G.A. Township Cemetery Advisory Board, will describe the discoveries gleaned from this ongoing journey & the latest developments, including the use of ground penetrating radar to locate 40+ unmarked graves. glenlakelibrary.net

SLABTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SPRING GENERAL MEETING: 7pm, Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, TC. All residents are invited to attend to learn more about the city’s proposed zoning changes & upcoming community activities.

EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION ON THE ECOSYSTEM W/ NOMAC: 8:30pm, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Mackinaw City. mackinawchamber.com/event/ effects-of-light-pollution-on-the-ecosystemw-nomac

thursday

37TH ANNUAL PARKINSON’S SUMMER FORUM: Hagerty Center, NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, TC.

Registration & exhibits open at 8:45am, with program running from 10am-2:15pm. Featured Speaker Dr. Susan Maixner, University of MI Geriatric Psychology Division, will discuss: “Mind & Mood in PD: Feeling & Living Better.” Register. $25; lunch included. ParkinsonsNetworkNorth.org

KID’S CRAFT LAB: BUTTERFLY BOARDS: (See Mon., May 22)

ALI ON THE RUN WITH GUEST EMMA BATES: 3:30pm, City Opera House, TC. The Traverse City Track Club, in conjunction with the Bayshore Marathon, presented by Munson Healthcare, presents a live podcast recording with Ali Feller of “Ali on The Run.” Ali’s special guest will be World Championship Team member, Emma Bates. $25. runsignup.com/bayshore

COMMUNITY AUTISM AWARENESS PRESENTATION: 4:30pm, Interlochen Public Library. By Northwest Education Services. NorthEd will describe practical tools & strategies to help participants be proactive & confident in supporting individuals with autism in various settings. 231-276-6767.

LEARN HOW TO CONSTRUCT & MAINTAIN BACKCOUNTRY NATURE TRAILS: 5-6:30pm, Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve, Cheboygan. Join trail builder Dave McVicker & a LTC staff member at the new Barbara C. Hoffius Nature Preserve trail for a hike on the new trail & an explanation on how to construct & maintain backcountry trails so that they fit into the surroundings & provide an undisturbed nature experience. Must pre-register. Free. landtrust.org/events

MEET THE ARTIST: 5-8pm, Seven Elements Art Gallery, Mackinaw City. Featuring Jackie House, a painter & sculptor from Mackinaw City, & Jess Miller, a photographer from Indian River. sevenelementsartgallery.com

AN ARTIST TALK WITH ELGIN CLECKLEY: 5:30pm, Charlevoix Circle of Arts. A gallery talk with Good Hart Artist Resident Elgin Cleckley. Elgin will outline his journey to developing Brookes (Revisited), an installation/exhibition that humanizes the iconic drawing Stowage of the British Slave Ship Brookes under the Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788 through models, drawings, & interactives. Free. charlevoixcircle.org/events

MAY SWIRL: 5:30-7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Galleries, Petoskey. Enjoy this artsy cocktail hour with wine, heavy appetizers from NOMI Kitchen, live music with Chris Koury, & touring current art exhibitions. $25 member; $30 non-member. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/may-swirl-0 ----------------------

HARM REDUCTION MI PRESENTS AUTHOR & ATTORNEY COLLEEN COWLES, J.D.: 6pm, West Shore Community College, Room A & B, Manistee. Colleen is the author of “War On Us”: How the War on Drugs & Myths About Addiction Have Created a War on All of Us. harmreductionmi.org

TITANIC: SURVIVORS, VICTIMS, & LEGACIES; THE REST OF THE STORY: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. This presentation explores what became of some of the survivors of the Titanic & the legacies left by some of the victims of the tragedy. The efforts to provide relief benefits to families affected by the tragedy are discussed. Retired teacher David Kaplan shares Titanic facts as well as the importance of this date the event occurs in history. Free. tadl.org/titanic

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20)

friday

BIRD WALK AT WHITING PARKING: 9-11am, Whiting Park, Boyne City. Join the Whiting Park Centennial Committee & the Petoskey Regional Audubon Society for 1-2 miles. Bring binoculars if you have them.

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MORE TO EXPLORE: WONDERFUL

WHEELS: 9:30am, noon & 2:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Wheels are rolling! Children will manipulate cars & trucks on a small roadway & downhill track. greatlakeskids.org

BAYSHORE SHAKEOUT RUN: 10am, GT County Civic Center, TC. Run with worldclass marathoner Emma Bates. Meet on the south side of the Civic Center Park. Registration required. Free. bayshoremarathon.org

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PRESENTATION: Noon, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Marquette artist JoAnn Deuel Shelby will use her Glen Arbor Arts Center residency to document Leelanau County plant biomes & their biological communities & then contrast them with those native to the Upper Peninsula. Shelby’s investigations will be used to create eco-printed papers & fabrics that allow her to interpret & illustrate changes in climate. Free. glenarborart.org/events-page/events-all

INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS: Noon, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. This workshop with Personal Transformation Coach Samantha Gutowski will teach you about the benefits of mindfulness. Learn more about meditation, breathwork, journaling, somatics, & many more techniques for developing a mindfulness practice. Free. tadl.org/mindfulness

WILDFLOWER RESCUE SALE: 9am-4pm, Village Green, Leland. Come early for best selection. The sale of these native flowers & plants are saved from construction sites in Leelanau & may be limited in variety & size. All proceeds benefit the stewardship of Leelanau Conservancy Natural Areas. leelanauconservancy.org/events/wildflowerrescue-sale/

ARTIST MARKET: 3-7pm, Walloon Lake Winery, Petoskey. See what local artists in NoMi have to offer. They will be set up in the pavilion. walloonlakewinery.com/events

SUMMER READING PROGRAM REGISTRATION: 3:30pm, Bellaire Public Library. Enjoy an ice cream party & register for the Summer Reading Program - “All Together Now.” Free.

NORTHPORT PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION: 6-8pm, Northport Arts Association, Northport. At least 30 photographers will have over 150 photographs on display & more available as prints. Give your vote for the People Choice award. Free. northportartsassociation.org ----------------------

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20)

saturday

BAYSHORE MARATHON, HALF MARATHON (SOLD OUT!) & 10K (SOLD OUT!): 1150 Milliken Dr., TC. The Marathon begins at 7:15am. Cost is $140. The Half Marathon begins at 7:30am. Cost is $135. The 10K begins at

7:30am. Cost is $80. The Bayshore Kids Marathon (1.2 miles) begins at 1:30pm. Cost is $10. bayshoremarathon.org

STAFFORD’S TOP OF MICHIGAN FESTIVAL OF RACES: HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K: Bayfront Park, Petoskey. 7:30am: Half Marathon - $80. 8am: 10K - $55. 8:15am: 5K - $40. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Petoskey/ TopofMichiganFestivalofRaces

BIRDING BY EAR: 8am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. The birds are singing but may be difficult to see this time of year as the trees leaf out. Learn to ID birds by their songs & go for a birding walk. Register. $5. grassriver.org

BOOK SALE: 9am-2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Sponsored by Friends of the Alden District Library. 231331-4318.

FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY PLANT & FLOWER SALE: 9am2pm, Interlochen Corners parking lot, across from Tom’s Food Markets, Interlochen. All proceeds benefit programming at Interlochen Public Library. 231-276-6767. ----------------------

LAKE ANN CAMP - FAMILY FUN DAY: 9am, 18400 Maple St., Lake Ann. Tour the grounds, meet staff, & preview the various activities planned for the summer. Free. lakeanncamp.com/retreats/family-fun-day

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 9am-5pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 10am, River St., Downtown Elk Rapids. More than 60 artisans & crafters displaying & selling their work. Pet-friendly, family-friendly. elkrapidschamber.org/arts-crafts-show

WET PAINT ART SHOW: 10am-5pm, Village Green Park, Walloon Lake.

“LAYING OF THE LILACS” COMMUNITY

CEREMONY: 11am, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. This ceremony is held to honor the area’s Civil War veterans at the mushroom-shaped monument made by the E.P. Case Grand Army of the Republic Post 372 veterans in the late 1880s. William Case & his family will be honored this year with a program presented by Benzie Area Historical Society Curator & historian Jane Purkis. Senator Case was the author of “The Tragedy of Crystal Lake,” his account of the lowering of Crystal Lake 150 years ago this summer. A headstone cleaning workshop will follow the ceremony at noon. benziemuseum.org

ARBOR FEST: 11am-2pm, Kiwanis Park, Harbor Springs. Celebrate Arbor Day with a scavenger hunt activity, tree pruning demonstration, Tree Walk & Talk, nature art demonstration & activity, birdfeeder craft & much more. cityofharborsprings.com/arbor-festsaturday-may-27-from-11am-to-2pm

WILDFLOWER RESCUE SALE: (See Fri., May 26, except today’s time is 9am-1pm, or until sold out.)

COFFEE W/ THE AUTHORS: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Traverse City RecordEagle journalist, essayist, & author Mardi Jo Link is in conversation about memoir writing with Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager. Link’s career took off after she pub-

lished the first of three, true crime books in 2008. Link will share some of the backstory behind the writing of these personal stories, & the art & craft of memoir. Free. glenarborart.org/events-page/events-all

LEELANAU COUNTY POOR FARM BARN

CELEBRATION: 11am, Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn, County Road 616 in Myles Kimmerly Recreation Area. Hosted by the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society. Featuring guided barn tours to honor contractors, volunteers, donors, & partners. Other family friendly activities will be available. Free.

NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH: BOYNE

MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL WEEKEND FREE

CLINICS: 11am-1pm, Boyne Mountain Resort Tennis Courts, Boyne Falls. Open to Advanced Beginners & above. Check-in at 10:30am. Register. petoskeyarea.com/ events/national-tennis-month-boyne-mountain-memorial-weekend-free-clinics

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BLESSING OF THE BOATS: 1pm, Walloon Lake’s marina. The Village of Walloon Lake will hold Blessings of the Boats with deacon Paul from St. Francis Xavier Parish performing the blessing on the docks of Walloon Lake’s marina for a safe boating season.

MACKINAW CITY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: 1pm, Downtown Mackinaw City. Enjoy music by the Scottville Clown Band before the parade at 11am.

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FORT MICHILIMACKINAC REENACTMENT: 3:30pm, Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City. The events will bring to life the 1763 Fort Michilimackinac battle & explore the relationships between the French, British, & Anishinaabe.

MICHIGAN BEER AND BRAT FESTIVAL: 4pm, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. The 16th annual celebration of Michigan made food & craft beverages. Enjoy live entertainment while sampling an enormous selection of Michigan’s finest microbrews, meads, hard ciders, wine, liquor & gourmet brats from northwest Michigan markets. VIP Admission begins at 3pm; GA from 4-8pm. Ages 3 & under are free. Price varies. crystalmountain.com/beerfest

LELAND AIR 2023: Old Art Building, Leland. During the day artists will paint & draw scenes around Leelanau County ‘en plein air.’ The finished “fresh off the easel” pieces will return to the OAB for the Leland Air Exhibit. The Leland Air Exhibit Opening Night reception will be held at 6:30pm. Price of tickets includes wine & appetizers. This exhibit features 40 artists from Leelanau County & across Michigan. The exhibit runs May 28 - June 1. $30 non-members; $25 OAB members. oldartbuilding.com/events/lelandair-2023

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20)

JANICE CARISSA: 7:30pm, Cheboygan Opera House. A Gilmore Young Artist, Janice Carissa has had great acclaims at renowned concert halls, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, United Nations, Kennedy Center, Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Louis Vuitton Foundation, & Saratoga Performing Arts Center. $30; $25 veterans; free for students. ci.ovationtix. com/36618/production/1151535

RHUBARBARY HOUSE CONCERT SERIES: 7:30pm, The Rhubarbary, 3550 Five Mile Creek Rd., Harbor Springs. Featuring the Charlie Millard Trio, who has played festivals & venues across the Midwest & Canada. 231-499-8038. $20 donation requested.

sunday MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 10am-3pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/ madeincheboygan ----------------------

WET PAINT ART SHOW: (See Sat., May 27)

NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH: BOYNE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL WEEKEND FREE CLINICS: (See Sat., May 27)

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20, except today’s time is 2pm.) ----------------------

FORT MICHILIMACKINAC REENACTMENT: (See Sat., May 27, except today’s time is 2:30pm.)

THE MIDTOWN MEN: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Midtown Men Tenth Anniversary Tour reunites stars from the Original Broadway Cast of the smash hit musical “Jersey Boys.” They bring to life the sound story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Tickets range from $52 - $112. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ midtown-men

ongoing

KALKASKA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ART SILENT AUCTION: Kalkaska County Library, May 19-26. Items include paintings, carvings, glass work, baskets, prints, jewel ry, photographs & more that have been do nated by local artisans. View during library hours to bid in person or virtually on the FOL Facebook page @FriendsoftheKCL. fb.me/ e/2GgHnMgKX

BLOOMS & BIRDS: WILDFLOWER WALK: Tuesdays, 10am through Sept., Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Go for a relaxing stroll on the trails with GRNA docents to find & identify the unique wildflowers at Grass River Natural Area. Along the way look & lis ten for the birds who call Grass River home. grassriver.org ----------------------

Old Town Parking Deck during the National Cherry Festival. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market

PRESENTS

art

“GARDEN OF GLASS, THE ART OF CRAIG MITCHELL SMITH”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. This exhibition combines larger-than-life floral forms with retrospective works & fresh new pieces made in Craig’s Charlevoix studio. Runs through May 20. Hours are 11am-4pm, Mon. through Fri., & 11am-3pm, Sat. charlevoixcircle.org

“YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA”: Raven Hill Discovery Center, East Jordan. Community-based youth design projects by local students. Runs through Oct. 7. miravenhill.org

NANOK & KOWALESKI: A DUO ART EXHIBITION: The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. Runs through June 17. An Artist’s Reception will be held on Sat., May 20 from 5-7pm at the Hardy Hall Gallery to view the brilliant colors from the works of Nancy Davis Nanok & Ann Kowaleski. Gallery hours are Weds. through Sun., noon3pm. ramsdelltheatre.org/art

DISPLAY OF TURNED WOOD CREATIONS BY TOM CLARK: Alden District Library. Runs May 2-30. 231-331-4318.

KRISTEN EGAN: ON A FAR SHORE: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring a collection of new masks. Runs til June 3. Open Tues. through Sat., 11am-5pm. higherartgallery. com/exhibitcalendar

NEW ARTWORK BY GEORGE KLEIBER: Ledbetter Gallery/Vada Color, TC. George is a prolific storyteller & poet & incorporates this into his artwork. George’s art celebrates nature, earth, & spirit. The show will run through May 31. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-4pm. Closed Sat. & Sun. ledbettergal-

231-334-2758

6675 W. Western Ave., Glen Arbor

PANORAMIC VIEWS!

BELLAIRE FARMERS MARKET: 8am-noon, ASI Community Center & Park, Bellaire.

BOYNE CITY OUTDOOR FARMERS MAR KET:

through Oct. 14. Veterans Park, Boyne City. Shop local produce, artwork & artisan foods at over 50 vendors. There will also be live music & kids activities. boynecityfarmers market.org ----------------------

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 8:30am-1pm, May 26 - Sept. 29. Howard St., between Mitchell & Michigan streets, Petoskey. ----------------------

HARBOR SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 9am-1pm, May 27 - Oct. 14. Corner of State & Main streets, Harbor Springs.

SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 7:30am-noon through Oct. Parking lot “B” at southwest corner of Cass & Grandview Parkway, TC. The Weds. market begins the first Weds. in June. It will take place on the ground floor of the

Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Teresa Dunn’s solo exhibition is a collection of her recent narrative painting series that brings voice to stories that people of color, individuals with complex cultural identities, & immigrants shared with her about their daily experience in America. Runs through May 28. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. ----------------------

Runs through May at City Opera House, TC. Lisa brings a solo show of her jazz & classical

: Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy an exhibit of artwork by local veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The show

WORDLESS EXPRESSIONS EXHIBIT: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Art exhibit by Rebecca Casement, Cherie Correll, & Susan Thompson. On display through June 9. Open Mon. - Sat., 10am-4pm; Sunday, noon-4pm. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org/gallery-gift-shop/ exhibition-calendar

Perched above the heart of Traverse City, this lovely 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of paradise from a private cul-de-sac. Enjoy stunning panoramic views of the cityscape, night lights, partial Bay view, watch the Blue Angels and fireworks from the comfort of your own home. Step inside and be captivated by the bright contemporary atmosphere. The open-concept living area boasts large windows that fill the space with abundant natural light. A natural gas fireplace creates a welcoming home, perfect for relaxing or entertaining guests. $652,500 MLS# 1910626

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETO-

SKEY:

Anne Rollo - Gil/Betsy Webb - Rob Serbin - Ron Raymond - TJ Shimek - Nick Vanden Belt serbinrealestate.com

- ANIMAL - VEGETABLE - MINERAL: PAINTINGS BY NANCY ADAMS NASH: Held in Bonfield Gallery. Enjoy new paintings from Nash, as well as select works from the past. Runs May 25 - Sept. 2. CTAC hours are Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.

THANK YOU!

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR IRS TAX VOLUNTEERS FOR A SUCCESSFUL TAX SEASON. YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY!

OUR TAX PROGRAM IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND. IF YOU NEED TO FILE YOUR TAXES, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE. 231-947-3780

nmcaa.net/tax preparati

getyourrefund org/ nmcaa

LAKE ANN CAMP - FAMILY FUN DAY: 9am, 18400 Maple St., Lake Ann. Tour the grounds, meet staff, & preview the various activities planned for the summer. Free. lakeanncamp.com/retreats/family-fun-day

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW:

9am-5pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW:

10am, River St., Downtown Elk Rapids. More than 60 artisans & crafters displaying & selling their work. Pet-friendly, family-friendly. elkrapidschamber.org/arts-crafts-show

WET PAINT ART SHOW: 10am-5pm, Village Green Park, Walloon Lake.

“LAYING OF THE LILACS” COMMUNITY

CEREMONY: 11am, The Mills Community House, Benzonia. This ceremony is held to honor the area’s Civil War veterans at the mushroom-shaped monument made by the E.P. Case Grand Army of the Republic ager. Link’s career took off after she pub-

Lake’s marina for a safe boating season.

MACKINAW CITY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: 1pm, Downtown Mackinaw City. Enjoy music by the Scottville Clown Band before the parade at 11am. ----------------------

FORT MICHILIMACKINAC REENACTMENT: 3:30pm, Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City. The events will bring to life the 1763 Fort Michilimackinac battle & explore the relationships between the French, British, & Anishinaabe. ----------------------

MICHIGAN BEER AND BRAT FESTIVAL: 4pm, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. The 16th annual celebration of Michigan made food & craft beverages. Enjoy live entertainment while sampling an enormous selection of Michigan’s finest microbrews, meads, hard ciders, wine, liquor & gourmet brats from northwest Michigan markets. VIP Admission begins at 3pm; GA from 4-8pm. Ages 3 & under are free. Price varies. crystalmountain.com/beerfest

LELAND AIR 2023: Old Art Building, Leland. During the day artists will paint & draw scenes around Leelanau County ‘en plein air.’ The finished “fresh off the easel” pieces will return to the OAB for the Leland Air Exhibit. The Leland Air Exhibit Opening Night reception will be held at 6:30pm. Price of

ty & across Michigan. The exhibit runs May 28 - June 1. $30 non-members; $25 OAB members. oldartbuilding.com/events/leland-

(See Sat., May 7:30pm, Cheboygan Opera House. A Gilmore Young Artist, Janice Carissa has had great acclaims at renowned concert halls, including the Sydney Opera

lennium Park, Louis Vuitton Foundation, & Saratoga Performing Arts Center. $30; $25 veterans; free for students. ci.ovationtix.

sunday MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 10am-3pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/ madeincheboygan

WET PAINT ART SHOW: (See Sat., May

NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH: BOYNE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL WEEKEND FREE CLINICS: (See Sat., May 27)

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 20, except today’s time is 2pm.)

FORT MICHILIMACKINAC REENACTMENT: (See Sat., May 27, except today’s time is 2:30pm.)

THE MIDTOWN MEN: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. The Midtown Men Tenth Anniversary Tour reunites stars from the Original Broadway Cast of the smash hit musical “Jersey Boys.” They bring to life the sound story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Tickets range from $52 - $112. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ midtown-men

ongoing

KALKASKA FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ART SILENT AUCTION: Kalkaska County Library, May 19-26. Items include paintings, carvings, glass work, baskets, prints, jewelry, photographs & more that have been donated by local artisans. View during library hours to bid in person or virtually on the FOL Facebook page @FriendsoftheKCL. fb.me/ e/2GgHnMgKX

----------------------

BLOOMS & BIRDS: WILDFLOWER WALK: Tuesdays, 10am through Sept., Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Go for a relaxing stroll on the trails with GRNA docents to find & identify the unique wildflowers at Grass River Natural Area. Along the way look & listen for the birds who call Grass River home. grassriver.org

BELLAIRE FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 8am-noon, ASI Community Center & Park, Bellaire.

BOYNE CITY OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Wednesdays & Saturdays, 8am-noon through Oct. 14. Veterans Park, Boyne City. Shop local produce, artwork & artisan foods at over 50 vendors. There will also be live music & kids activities. boynecityfarmersmarket.org

----------------------

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 8:30am-1pm, May 26 - Sept. 29. Howard St., between Mitchell & Michigan streets, Petoskey.

HARBOR SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 9am-1pm, May 27 - Oct. 14. Corner of State & Main streets, Harbor Springs.

Old Town Parking Deck during the National Cherry Festival. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market

art

“GARDEN OF GLASS, THE ART OF CRAIG MITCHELL SMITH”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. This exhibition combines larger-than-life floral forms with retrospective works & fresh new pieces made in Craig’s Charlevoix studio. Runs through May 20. Hours are 11am-4pm, Mon. through Fri., & 11am-3pm, Sat. charlevoixcircle.org

“YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA”: Raven Hill Discovery Center, East Jordan. Community-based youth design projects by local students. Runs through Oct. 7. miravenhill.org

NANOK & KOWALESKI: A DUO ART EXHIBITION: The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee. Runs through June 17. An Artist’s Reception will be held on Sat., May 20 from 5-7pm at the Hardy Hall Gallery to view the brilliant colors from the works of Nancy Davis Nanok & Ann Kowaleski. Gallery hours are Weds. through Sun., noon3pm. ramsdelltheatre.org/art ----------------------

DISPLAY OF TURNED WOOD CREATIONS BY TOM CLARK: Alden District Library. Runs May 2-30. 231-331-4318.

KRISTEN EGAN: ON A FAR SHORE: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring a collection of new masks. Runs til June 3. Open Tues. through Sat., 11am-5pm. higherartgallery. com/exhibitcalendar

NEW ARTWORK BY GEORGE KLEIBER: Ledbetter Gallery/Vada Color, TC. George is a prolific storyteller & poet & incorporates this into his artwork. George’s art celebrates nature, earth, & spirit. The show will run through May 31. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-4pm. Closed Sat. & Sun. ledbettergallery.com

“US”: Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Teresa Dunn’s solo exhibition is a collection of her recent narrative painting series that brings voice to stories that people of color, individuals with complex cultural identities, & immigrants shared with her about their daily experience in America. Runs through May 28. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

NEW ARTWORK BY LISA FLAHIVE: Runs through May at City Opera House, TC. Lisa brings a solo show of her jazz & classical paintings. LisaFlahive.com ----------------------

VETERANS ART SHOW: Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy an exhibit of artwork by local veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The show will run May 11-31. tadl.org/events

WORDLESS EXPRESSIONS EXHIBIT: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Art exhibit by Rebecca Casement, Cherie Correll, & Susan Thompson. On display through June 9. Open Mon. - Sat., 10am-4pm; Sunday, noon-4pm. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org/gallery-gift-shop/ exhibition-calendar ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

7:30pm, The Rhubarbary, 3550 Five Mile Creek Rd., Harbor Springs. Featuringda. 231-499-8038. $20 donation requested.

SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 7:30am-noon through Oct. Parking lot “B” at southwest corner of Cass & Grandview Parkway, TC. The Weds. market begins the first Weds. in June. It will take place on the ground floor of the

- ANIMAL - VEGETABLE - MINERAL: PAINTINGS BY NANCY ADAMS NASH: Held in Bonfield Gallery. Enjoy new paintings from Nash, as well as select works from the past. Runs May 25 - Sept. 2. CTAC hours are Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.

org/event/ctac-petoskey/animal-vegetable-mineral-paintings-nancy-adams-nashopens-may-25

- BLACK CANVAS 2: HIGH SCHOOL

PORTFOLIO PROGRAM EXHIBITION: Held in Atrium Gallery. Work from CTAC’s new High School Portfolio Program. Runs through June 3. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/blank-canvas-2-high-school-portfolio-program-exhibition

- TRISHA WITTY: PILGRIMAGES IN PAINT, A RETROSPECTIVE 1988 TO PRESENT: Runs May 25 - Sept. 2 in Gilbert Gallery. Retrospective exhibition highlighting Trish Witty’s paintings from the past 35 years. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ trisha-witty-pilgrimages-paint-retrospective1988-present-opens-may-25 ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:

- INSIDE CROOKED TREE: FACULTY & STAFF EXHIBITION: Held in Carnegie West Gallery through June 3. Those who teach & those who work at Crooked Tree Arts Center Traverse City share artwork they created in this exhibit. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/inside-crooked-tree-faculty-staffexhibition-opens-april-28

- THIS IS 6:47: Held in Carnegie East Gallery through June 3. Featuring artwork from the latest Crooked Tree Arts Center High School Portfolio Students. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-traverse-city/647-featuring-ctac-highschool-portfolio-students

- THURSDAY PAINTING: BRENDA J. CLARK’S GROUP OF SEVEN-ISH: Held in Cornwell Gallery through June 3. See the work of seven (or more) artists who meet online every Thurs. for two hours to explore a problem-solving agenda put forth by artist Brenda J. Clark. Throughout the session, participants share their artwork, seek inspiration, & encourage one another in creativity under the guidance of Clark. See some of these paintings created by this group. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ thursday-painting-brenda-j-clarks-group-seven-ish-opens-april-28

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: -

“SWIMMING”: Featuring exhibitors Margo Burian, Barbara Bushey, Nancy Crisp, Royce Deans, Sheila Stafford, Melonie Steffes, Kimberly Stoney, Michelle Tock York, & many others. Runs through June 1. glenarborart. org/events/exhibit-swimming

- “THE BIRDS ARE WATCHING”: Runs through Aug. 25 in the Lobby Gallery. Mixed media constructions by Jessica Kovan. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-the-birdsare-watching

NORTHPORT ARTS ASSOCIATION:

- NORTHPORT PHOTO EXHIBIT: May 27 – June 11. Northport Arts Association celebrates its 6th annual photo exhibit featuring creative works of professional & emerging photographers. Award categories for 2023: Best of Show, People’s Choice, Color Creative, Color General, B&W/Monochrome, Nature, Mobile Photography and Automotive. northportartsassociation.org

- PLEIN AIR PHOTO SHOOT: Held May 27, 7am - May 28, 7am. This 24 hour Plein Air Photo Shoot allows many opportunities for photographers of all skill levels to capture activities in Northport such as Cars in the Park, nature in the specified area of the map, sunset, night sky & sunrise. See the Plein Air Photos in the gallery, June 5 - 11. northportartsassociation.org

- SPRING MEMBERS ART EXHIBIT: Runs through May 21. Open Tues. - Sat., 12-4pm. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.

NEW LISTING! Unique Northern Michigan lakefront home.

Woodsy setting with a beautiful view of Duck Lake & the westerly sunsets. Shared Duck Lake frontage within a very short walking distance at the end of the road. Large wrap-around multi-level decks in the spacious yard that backs up to a creek. Open floor plan. Master with cozy reading area, 2 closets, slider out to deck. Maple crown molding in kitchen & hall. Hickory & bamboo flooring in main level bedrooms. Built in armoire & dresser in 2nd bedroom. 6 panel doors. Finished family room in walk-out lower level. MLS#1798048 $220,000.

120 feet of private frontage on all sports Spider Lake. Largest part of Spider Lake, sunshine on the beach all day, sandy bottom. Quality construction, perfectly maintained. Open floor plan w/ soaring vaulted pine ceiling w/ a wall of windows looking out to the lake. Floor-to-ceiling, natural Michigan stone, wood burning fireplace w/ Heatilator vents. Built in bookcases in separate area of living room for cozy reading center. Finished family room w/ woodstove. Detached garage has complete studio, kitchen, workshop, 1 ½ baths & its own deck. 2 docks, large deck on main house, patio, lakeside deck, bon-fire pit & multiple sets of stairs. Extensively landscaped w/ plants & flowers conducive to all the wildlife that surrounds the area. (1791482) $570,000.

Marsha

Grand Traverse Commons, a highly desirable 1 bedroom end unit in the majestic historic main building. The dramatic open living/kitchen/dining room is made impressively larger by the 13’ ceiling heights & beautiful 8’ windows. Abundant natural light from both east & west exposures in a warm & inviting interior. Original wood floor in kitchen, dining & bedroom. Overlooking famed front lawn. Conveniently located by the elevator & stairway. Common laundry on every floor. Shared balconies for resident’s use. Live among restaurants, winery, brew pub, shops & services. 380 acres of parkland & trails surround the commons. Pets welcome. Short term rentals allowed. Beaches, downtown TC 1 mile away. (MLS# 1911132) $375,000. Count

Making What Was Old New Again

Making What Was

Thinking

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

BONOBO WINERY, TC

5/26 -- Kevin Reeves, 6-8

ENCORE 201, TC

5/20 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 8; DJ Ricky T, 10

5/26 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

5/27 -- The Heat Above, 8; DJ Ricky

T, 10

5/28 -- The Smokin' Dobroleles, 8

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC

5/21 -- Matthew Orlandi, 7-10

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC / 9:30:

5/20 -- The Timebombs

5/26-27 – E Quality

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:

5/22 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM:

5/26 -- Randy Reszka, 5-7

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 8-10

Weds. – Open Mic Night w/ Aldrich, 9-11

Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

5/26 -- Loren & Shelby, 6-9

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

5/26 – Luke Woltanski, 5-8

SORELLINA'S, TC

SLATE RESTAURANT:

Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano,

5-8

Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

THE ALLUVION, TC

5/20 -- Balance, 7-9

5/26 -- Full Cord, 8-10

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

5/28 -- Summer Launch Party: The Go Rounds, SoSoHiFi, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, & Breathe Owl Breathe,

3-10

THE PARLOR, TC

5/20 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine, 8-11

5/26 – Jazz Cabbage, 8-11

5/27 – Brett Mitchell, 6-9; Empire Highway, 9-12

5/28 – Rebekah Jon, 6-9; Levi Britton, 8-11

Emmet & Cheboygan

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY

ROOT CELLAR:

5/27 -- John Piatek, 6

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

2-6:

5/20 & 5/26 -- Chris Calleja

5/27-28 -- Michelle Chenard

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

5/26 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

5/27 -- Old School 80's Flashback

w/ Genius Brain, 9-10:30; then DJ Franck, 11-2

GYPSY DISTILLERY, BAY HARBOR

5/28 -- Cabana Boys, 3-6

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY / VICTORIES:

5/20 -- Queens, 8; then DJ

5/26 -- Herb the Artist, 9

RUDBECKIA WINERY/BURNT

MARSHMALLOW BREWSTILLERY, PETOSKEY

5/26 -- John Piatek, 6-8

5/27 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 5-7

5/28 -- Terry Coveyou, 2-4

SUN OUTDOORS, PETOSKEY

5/25 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6-8

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

5/20 -- Ryan Cassidy, 4:30-6; Chris Michels, 8-11

5/25 -- Open Mic, 6-8

THE PUB, TC

5/20 -- Empire Highway, 8-11

5/21 – Rob Coonrod, 5-8

5/26 – Mallory Brooke & Michael Hunter, 8-11

5/27 – Skylea, 1-4; Slim Pickins, 4:30-7:30; Soul Patch Duo, 8-11

5/28 – Nick Vasquez, 1-4; Blake Elliott, 4:30-7:30; Jimmy Olson, 8-11

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

5/20 – Stonefolk, 8

5/23 – Open Mic & Musical Talent Showcase, 7

5/24 – Jazz Show & Jam, 6

5/26 – Tai Drury, 8

5/27 – Mountain Gloom & Mountain Glory, 8

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO, 6:30-9:30:

5/20 -- J Hawkins Band

5/26 -- Protea

5/27 -- The Truetones

UNION STREET STATION, TC

5/20 -- Parker Marshall, 10

5/23 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Karaoke

5/24 -- DJ Jr, 10

5/25 -- DJ PRIM, 10

5/26 -- Happy Hour w/ Chris Sterr; then 1000 Watt Trio

5/27 -- Rolling Dirty, 10

5/28 -- Soul Patch - Here Comes

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

5/21 -- Dolce, 2-4:30

5/25 -- Rhett & John, 5-7:30

5/28 -- Loose Change, 2-4:30

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

5/25 -- Bob Roberts, 4-7

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

5/20 – Alex Teller, 6-8

Leelanau & Benzie

5/21 – Keith Scott, 3-5

5/26 – Matt Gabriel, 6-8

5/27 – Jason Locke, 6-8

5/28 – Ethan Bott, 6-8

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

5/20 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Chris Skellenger & Paul Koss, 3-6; then Drew Hale, 7-10

5/23 -- Levi Britton, 6:30-9:30

5/26 -- Happy Hour w/ Chelsea Marsh, 3-6; then New Third Hip,

7-10

5/27 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Tim Jones & The Honkeytonk Hippies, 3-6; then The Dune Brothers, 7-10

Antrim & Charlevoix

5/28 -- Jim Crockett Band, 3-6; 1000 Watt Prophets, 7-10

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

5/20 -- Barefoot, 5-8

5/25 -- Open Mic Night w/ Jeff Louwsma, 5:30-8:30

5/26 -- Alex Teller, 5-7

5/27 -- Blair Miller, 5-8

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

5/26 -- Friday Night LIVE with Swingbone, 5:30-8:30

5/26 -- Dale Rieger & Friends, 8-11

5/27 -- Here Comes the Sun Party w/ Live Music, 4-7; Smokin' Dobroleles, 8-11

THE DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

5/19-20 & 5/26-27 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 8-11

THE NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

5/19-20 -- Sunny Bleau, 7-10

NORTHLAND BREWERY, INDIAN RIVER

5/26 — The Smoking Dobroleles, 7

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

Thu -- Sean Bielby & Adam Engelman, 6-9

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

6:30-9:30:

5/20 -- Darrell Boger

5/26 -- Nick Vasquez

5/27 -- Rick Woods

JUNCTION EVENT CENTER, WALLOON LAKE / 7:

5/20 -- Jelly Rolls Blues Band

5/27 -- Yankee Station

PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY

5/20 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6-8

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE

5/20 -- The Birthday Suits, 8-10:30

BEER GARDEN, 7-9:30:

5/26 -- Mark Lavengood

5/27 -- Nick Veine

STIGGS BREWERY, BOYNE CITY

5/26 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 7-10

THE WHI-SKI INN, BOYNE FALLS

7-10:

5/20 -- Bill Oeming

5/26 -- Rod Loper

5/27 -- Spencer Oppermann

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

COYOTE CROSSING RESORT, CADILLAC

5/27 -- Myron Elkins wsg North 44 Band, 7:30

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 5/20 & 5/27 -- Zeke, 6

-- Lou Thumser,

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD

6-9:

5/20 -- Todd Aldrich

5/26 -- Nelson Olstrom 5/27 -- Bill Oeming

RAY'S BBQ, BREWS & BLUES, GRAYLING

5/28 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 4-7

lOGY

MAY 22 - MAY 28

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your meandering trek through the Unpromised Land wasn't as demoralizing as you feared. The skirmish with the metaphorical dragon was a bit disruptive, but hey, you are still breathing and walking around—and even seem to have been energized by the weird thrill of the adventure. The only other possible downside was the new dent in your sweet dream. But I suspect that in the long run, that imperfection will inspire you to work even harder on behalf of your sweet dream—and this will be a blessing. Here's another perk: The ordeal you endured effectively cleaned out stale old karma, freeing up space for a slew of fresh help and resources.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): have five points for your consideration. 1. You are alive in your mysterious, endlessly interesting life, and you are imbued with the fantastically potent power of awareness. How could you not feel thrilled?

2. You’re on a planet that’s always surprising, and you're in an era when so many things are changing that you can't help being fascinated. How could you not feel thrilled?

3. You have some intriguing project to look forward to, or some challenging but engaging work you're doing, or some mind-bending riddle you're trying to solve. How could you not feel thrilled? 4. You're playing the most enigmatic game in the universe, also known as your destiny on Earth, and you love ruminating on questions about what it all means. How could you not feel thrilled? 5. You never know what's going to happen next. You’re like a hero in an epic movie that is endlessly entertaining. How could you not feel thrilled?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn," advises Scorpio author Neil Gaiman. Let's make that one of your mantras for the coming weeks. In my astrological understanding, you are due to cash in on favors you have bestowed on others. The generosity you have expressed should be streaming back your way in abundance. Be bold about welcoming the bounty. In fact, I hope you will nudge and prompt people, if necessary, to reward you for your past support and blessings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): So many of us are starved to be listened to with full attention. So many of us yearn to be seen and heard and felt by people who are skilled at receptive empathy. How many of us? I’d say the figure is about 99.9 percent. That’s the bad news, Sagittarius. The good news is that in the coming weeks, you will have an exceptional ability to win the attention of good listeners. To boost the potential healing effects of this opportunity, here’s what I recommend: Refine and deepen your own listening skills. Express them with panache.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Because you’re a Capricorn, earthiness is probably one of your strengths. It’s your birthright to be practical and sensible and well-grounded. Now and then, however, your earthiness devolves into muddiness. You get too sober and earnest. You’re bogged down in excess pragmatism. I suspect you may be susceptible to such a state these days. What to do? It may help if you add elements of air and fire to your constitution, just to balance things out. Give yourself a secret nickname with a fiery feel, like Blaze, or a crispy briskness, like Breezy. What else could you do to rouse fresh, glowing vigor, Breezy Blaze—even a touch of wildness?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): love to use metaphors in my writing, but I hate to mix unrelated metaphors. I thrive on referring to poetry, sometimes even surrealistic poetry, but try to avoid sounding like a lunatic. However, at this juncture in your hero's journey, Aquarius, I frankly feel that the most effective way to communicate with you is to offer you mixed metaphors and surrealist poetry that border on sounding lunatic. Why? Because you seem primed to wander around on the edges of reality. I'm guessing you'll respond best to a message that's aligned with your unruly mood. So here goes: Get ready to surf the spiritual undertow all the way to the teeming wilderness on the other side of the cracked mirror. Ignore the provocative wasteland on your left and the intriguing chaos on your right. Stay focused on the stars in your eyes and devote yourself to wild joy.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): "The gift of patience opens when our body, heart, and mind slow enough to move in unison." So says Piscean poet Mark Nepo. I feel confident you are about to glide into such a grand harmony, dear Pisces. Through a blend of grace and your relaxed efforts to be true to your deepest desires, your body, heart, and mind will synchronize and synergize. Patience will be just one of the gifts you will receive. Others include: a clear vision of your most beautiful future; a lucid understanding of what will be most meaningful to you in the next three years; and a profound sense of feeling at home in the world wherever you go.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): My reading of the astrological omens inspires me to make a series of paradoxical predictions for you. Here are five scenarios I foresee as being quite possible in the coming weeks.

1. An epic journey to a sanctuary close to home.

2. A boundary that doesn’t keep people apart but brings them closer. 3. A rambunctious intervention that calms you down and helps you feel more at peace. 4. A complex process that leads to simple clarity. 5. A visit to the past that empowers you to redesign the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do you want a seed to fulfill its destiny? You must bury it in the ground. There, if it’s able to draw on water and the proper nutrients, it will break open and sprout. Its life as a seed will be over. The plant it eventually grows into will look nothing like its source. We take this process for granted, but it's always a miracle. Now let’s invoke this story as a metaphor for what you are hopefully on the verge of, Taurus. I invite you to do all that’s helpful and necessary to ensure your seed germinates!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Testing time is ahead, but don't get your nerves in an uproar with fantasy-spawned stress. For the most part, your challenges and trials will be interesting, not unsettling. There will be few if any trick questions. There will be straightforward prods to stretch your capacities and expand your understanding. Bonus! I bet you'll get the brilliant impulse to shed the ball and chain you've been absent-mindedly carrying around with you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Biologist Edward O. Wilson said that the most social animals are ants, termites, and honeybees. He used the following criteria to define that description: “altruism, instincts devoted to social life, and the tightness of the bonds that turn colonies into virtual superorganisms.” I’m going to advocate that you regard ants, termites, and honeybees as teachers and role models for you. The coming weeks will be a great time to boost your skill at socializing and networking. You will be wise to ruminate about how you could improve your life by enhancing your ability to cooperate with others. And remember to boost your altruism!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Jack Sarfatti is an authentic but maverick physicist born under the sign of Virgo. He suggests that if we make ourselves receptive and alert, we may get help from our future selves. They are trying to communicate good ideas to us back through time. Alas, most of us don’t believe such a thing is feasible, so we aren’t attuned to the potential help. I will encourage you to transcend any natural skepticism you might have about Sarfatti’s theory. As a fun experiment, imagine that the Future You has an important transmission for you—maybe several transmissions. For best results, formulate three specific questions to pose to the Future You.

Whether you’re renting for the weekend our opening the family co age, we have all the staples to prep your pantry & stock your summer spot!

POSITION AVAILABLE: Dish Team (14 yrs or +, 2-3 days/wk, 8:30am-3:30pm) Flexibility with days necessary. Competitive wages, day shifts only. Email info@redspirebrunchhouse. com , apply online at redspirebrunchhouse. com, or in person. Red Spire Brunch House

LOOKING FOR A KEYBOARD PLAYER: The band ReBooted with Judy Harrison is starting a new project and looking for a keyboard player. Are you interested? Contact judy@highimpactnow.com or call 231.620.6246

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LATIN DANCE: Latin Dance Classes @ 6p Wed at VFW Post 2780. Come alone or as a pair! $12 per Sewing: Sewing, Alterations, Mending & Repairs. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248

BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK and FISH SPEARING DECOYS: BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK and FISH SPEARING DECOYS, call text 248 877-0210

PAID PART-TIME WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS 55+: PAID PART-TIME WORK TRAINING POSITIONS AVAILABLE for Seniors 55 and Over. Positions are waiting to be filled! Applicants must be 55 and over, unemployed and seeking work and meet the program eligibility. Call today-phone screening can quickly determine eligibility. To find out if you qualify, contact AARP Foundation SCSEP Program at 231-252-4544.

PAINTING SERVICES: Full service painting available call Jeff 231-633-5519 Exterior & Interior.

HIRING LEAD PRESCHOOL TEACHEr - Will train the right candidate! Looking for a meaningful career? Hiring full-time preschool teachers. Salary, great benefits, free preK tuition and signing bonus. Make a difference in your community! info@ leelanauchildrenscenter.org

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE IS HIRING Seeking a Residence Hall Manager to provide academic support to housing students & assist in the management of residence halls. Two or more years of residence life leadership (previous Resident Assistant or Hall Council) is required. LiveIn, $41,020.00/ yr. Housing provided. NMC is EOE nmc.edu/non-discrimination

THRIFT SHOP MANAGER The Women's Resource Center Thrift Shop is hiring two managers. Salary is $50-$55,000/year. Primary duties include: overseeing and coordinating all areas of the retail operations including supervising and training staff and volunteers, and maintaining a profitable store. Contact: Carol Rose at 231-946-4180/ crose@wrcgt.com for more information.

THE MUSIC HOUSE MUSEUM is seeking a Docent to join their team We are seeking an enthusiastic, detail-oriented team player to act as Docent up to three days a week. The successful candidate must be friendly, speak confidently in front of large groups, be comfortable with retail Point-of-Sale, merchandising and customer service. The position is hourly with a minimum of 25 hours per week (during the high season). This may include Saturdays. Knowledge of music or automated instruments a plus, advanced education not required but desired. Email for more details and to apply. executivedirector@ musichouse.org