January 17, 2008
Lights …. Camera …. Action, for local cinema connoisseurs
By Pat Stinson
Sun contributor
For many, films are an important way to survive the long, cold winter. Northern Michigan is now considered a movie mecca, as folks from all over the world migrate here in the summer to attend the Traverse City Film Festival. In case you haven’t heard, Michael Moore and the TC Film Festival recently purchased and remodeled the historic State Theatre in downtown Traverse City, where they are showing great movies, both new and old, 12 months a year. Don’t forget about the Bay Theatre in nearby Suttons Bay, which airs a “Beyond the Bay” film series once a year, and your local video store (T-N-T Video in Glen Arbor) and the Glen Lake Library in Empire, both of which rent quality flicks. For many, watching movies at home, with popcorn as buttery or salty as you like it, is still the way to go.
A handful of area residents were informally surveyed by phone recently about their movie-watching habits. We thought we would share those results with our readers, some of whom may have an insatiable appetite for all things “movie,” or an indelicate curiosity about their neighbors, or perhaps they just want to hear honest-to-goodness reviews by their peers instead of paid media types.
We asked them the following questions:
Do they watch movies? If their answer was no, we hung up. (No, but the conversation always ended quickly.) If they answered affirmatively, we proceeded with the following questions, not necessarily asked or answered in this order:
The last movie they watched and their impression?
Where they watched it?
How frequently they watch movies?
What types of movies they prefer?
What they think about the newly-renovated State Theatre in Traverse City?
If they have seen a movie at the State Theatre and, if so, what their impression was?
If they have attended movies at the Traverse City (TC) Film Festival?
If they volunteer for the State or TC Film Festival?
If they have attended movies at the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay?
Kim Mann, Empire
I saw Sweeney Todd; it was very good. I don’t rent movies. I try to go to movies when I can. In winter, I go once a month. If I didn’t live in Empire, I’d go once a week. Sometimes, if it’s an independent or rare movie, I might watch two movies in an afternoon, because it might be two to three months before I get to town. In summer, I go on Saturday afternoons. I volunteer during the TC Film Festival. I think it’s a great idea and I wanted to support it and the community; it’s great to see lots of foreign or art movies in this area. I think it’s (the State Theatre) a great idea; it’s wonderful how it was done and the amount of support that came from the community. My last outing to the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay was to see “Avenue Montaigne,” a French comedy. I’ve never seen a bad movie there. I know people who carpool from Traverse City for a 3 p.m. show on a Sunday. I like that in this area we can see these independent films that are just wonderful.
Nancy Peacock, Glen Arbor
I watched “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” I didn’t rent it; I own it. I don’t rent movies often. I go to the theatre every Tuesday because it’s 50 cents for a bucket (of popcorn). I think that deal is [offered] at both Horizon and Grand Traverse Cinemas. My sister and I go together. We like action-packed adventure movies and drama. I like scary — not any blood and gore. I haven’t been to the State Theatre, but I’m very curious to see what it’s like. My manager is there this afternoon; she got a gift certificate. I haven’t been to the Suttons Bay film series (“Beyond The Bay Film Series” at the Bay Theatre) or the Traverse City Film Festival. That’s during our busy season; it’s hard to get away.
Mary Turak, owner, The Yarn Shop, Glen Arbor
I fish out old movies on channel 50 and 51, AMC and Turner Classic. I have a lot of old movies I enjoy, like “The African Queen” with Bogart and Hepburn. I love “The Apartment” with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and “Born Yesterday,” (a 1950 George Cukor film), with William Holden and Judy Holliday — it’s just marvelous. Every line works. I don’t generally go and (rent) movies. I go every so often to the theatre in Suttons Bay. I saw “La Vie En Rose,” a fantastic movie about the French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, an icon. I’m really picky about movies. If I like the sound of it, I’ll go. I read reviews, I talk to people whom I trust. (About the film festival): It’s very hard for me to go … (her friend who used to watch movies with her moved away) … I think it’s absolutely remarkable we have this in Traverse City. (About the State Theatre): I’ve heard fabulous things about it.
Marie Smith, co-owner, The Sportsman Shop, Glen Arbor
I rented “Holiday,” about two girls who just broke up with their boyfriends. It was very, very cute. I recently watched “Miracle on 34th Street,” the new version. It was a (DVD) gift from my sons for Christmas. I saw “A Christmas Story” on TV Christmas Eve. If there’s something on TV, I’ll watch while doing laundry or cleaning. We probably watch one (paid) movie a week at home from Charter or rent from Jean’s (T-N-T Video) on a Friday or Saturday. (About the Film Festival): That time of year, we’re too busy, always working. (About the State Theatre): We’ll make a date soon.
Julianne Rose, Glen Arbor
I watch tons of DVDs. My last movie was “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”; I took my niece and nephew to a “B” movie at the Grand Traverse Mall. I like comedies. I haven’t been to the Bay Theatre or the State Theatre, not since they reopened. I lived here as a teenager and just moved back to the area in October to be near family. (About the State Theatre): I do hope to get out there and check out some of their shows. I absolutely love thrillers … pretty much any movie that puts you in a situation you wouldn’t ordinarily be in.
Dick Cooper, Honor
We rent DVDs, probably watch one a day, six or seven days a week. It’s an hour to Suttons Bay and 45 minutes to the State Theatre. We’ve bought movies over the years (DVDs and VHS). We have a collection of 150 to 200 old classics: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, a lot of film noir movies, Philip Marlowe — the private detective guy. Old movies seem so much better. Movie today are too loud, start off with chase scenes, there’s not much plot. (With) old movies, the pace was really good, the casting was perfect. I just enjoy watching them over and over again; I probably watch “Key Largo” and “Casablanca” five or six times a year. Jan (wife) can watch them once and she’s ready for something else. I think the State Theatre is going to be the reason we go to town. I think it’s great. I don’t think it would’ve gotten finished if anyone else had taken it on. I think the last movie (seen in a theatre) was at The Bay Theatre a couple of years ago. I like the movies they have up there. I like the Bahles (owners of The Bay Theatre), too. They’re a family that works together. I like what Bob has done with the theatre and the type of movies they show.
Jan Tennant, Honor (Dick Cooper’s wife and real estate agent with Sleeping Bear Realty, Empire)
We resisted Netflix for a long, long time. We actually, for several years, bought quite a few and put them in our rental cottage with a VCR player; there’s no TV reception there. That’s how we built a library of stuff people with kids could watch. Netflix was like a whole new world opening up. We first rented classics that weren’t available anymore or movies we wanted to watch, not own. We rented a few new movies and thought, “Oh, this is why we don’t go to the movies.” A month ago, a light bulb went on over my head: full concerts are available on DVD, like Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd. We watch documentaries. It’s fun to read a movie review, write it (the title) down and go online to get more info. (About the State Theatre): We’ve heard it’s quite the happening place. (About the Traverse City Film Festival): That time of year (in Traverse City) is not our cup of tea. When we travel, in the city of Boise (Idaho) there’s an art house called “The Flix” that shows foreign films, art films, and they serve dinner there with beer and wine. I think if I were closer to Traverse City and the State Theatre we would go; it’s just the logistics.
Dave Taghon, Empire
The last movie I watched was at the State Theatre: “Mr. Art Critic.” I’ve seen every one of (local filmmaker) Richard Brauer’s productions, starting with “Sawtooth Island” at The Garden Theatre in Frankfort. I really like what Richard does. I watch about two movies a week, mostly videos my daughter has seen or Fred (his son) recommends. I watched “Christmas Shoes” by Michael Landon’s son and want to see “The Ultimate Gift.” They’re good-feeling shows. I bought “A Christmas Story” and watch it and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Jim Carrey’s version, every year. I like to watch the classics of the ‘40s and ‘50s — Gene Kelly, John Ford movies with John Wayne, Will Rogers, nothing but the best actors and actresses in movies like “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Young Mr. Lincoln,” “Stagecoach,” “Tobacco Road.” I check them out from the (Glen Lake Library). I like nice, quiet movies after closing the (Empire) museum. I particularly liked “Barn Red” (another Brauer production,). It was so nicely done, the photography, the scenery. It takes quite a lot (for Taghon to see a movie at the theatre). (About the State Theatre): Fantastic, beautiful, wonderful, tremendous option. Comfy seats, good sound, big screen, concession lobby’s small, but what a great addition to the community. I watched “Juno” (at the State); what a wonderful little actress that gal that played Juno. What he (Michael Moore) has done, and his people there have done, showing the State Championship for St. Francis (beamed via satellite from Detroit), with the downtown all lively and all the little shops being open, I think it’s great. I’ve not been to the Film Festival, except I took my granddaughter to that big, outdoor screen to watch … “Jurassic Park” … a huge storm with lightning moved in; it was rained out. My son, Fred, takes a week off work and watches 10 to 15 movies. The first time we were exposed to a film festival was in Santa Barbara, Calif. The actors and producers were there. (Dave hasn’t been to the TC Film Festival.) It seems like it’s always the busiest time of year but small production movies are great. (Dave said he hasn’t been to the Bay Theatre in a couple of years — the last time was to see one of Brauer’s movies there.
Posted by editor at 02:28 AM | Comments (0)
Community bids adieu to a deserted downtown at dusk
By Pat Stinson
Sun contributor
Much has been written in the last two months about the astounding six-week, $850,000 renovation and grand reopening of the 540-seat State Theatre in downtown Traverse City.
Benzie County journalist Keith Schneider wrote a piece for the New York Times in December regarding the restoration of historic movie houses and performing arts theaters across the country — and included the 90-year-old State as an example.
The same month, the Detroit News reported the reactions of local business types to the reopening of the State Theatre and to new Traverse City businesses that cater to “upscale tastes,” (think the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the renovated Opera House, Red Ginger restaurant and Café Habana).
Ron Jolly, WTCM radio host and Traverse City Business News columnist, wrote a January piece about the inspiring spirit of nonprofit event organizers with the vision, leadership, persistence and fearlessness to pull off feats like attracting visitors and their pocketbooks to the area — using scores, even armies, of volunteers. Glen Arbor’s hometown “boy,” Matt Sutherland, co-founder of the Epicurean Classic, was mentioned, as were Michael Moore, Doug Stanton and John Robert Williams, Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) founders, and Michael Moore again in connection with the State Theatre.
To the leaders and hundreds of volunteers of the State, add the many community sponsors, growing list of theatre members and audiences at sold-out and record showings, and the net effect on the energy and sidewalks of downtown is staggering. In fact, the State Theatre board just secured a promise from the City to offer free parking after 5 p.m., seven days a week, in the Hardy Parking Deck, to safely accommodate movie-goers.
When interviewed about the State, people most frequently used the word “community” — whether describing their participation as volunteers and movie-goers or their idea of what the State means to downtown.
As Deb Lake, executive director of the TCFF, charged with assisting Michael Moore with all aspects of theatre operations, said, “Coming down and seeing movies with a group of people who laugh when you laugh and cry when you cry — there’s a real sense of community.”
Or, as Glen Arbor Sun founding editor Jacob Wheeler shared, “I saw Juno there after Christmas and loved both the movie and the State … made me proud to be a part-time, near-Traverse City resident!”
Posted by editor at 02:25 AM | Comments (0)
Glen Lake deemed among top 1,000 schools in America
By Nadine Gilmer
Sun contributor
It isn’t well known that Glen Lake Community Schools, nestled in the hills east of the Glen Lakes, made the list of the top 1,000 schools in the country. Even the secondary principal, Kevin Kelly says, “I didn’t even know about it until I was driving to work one day and I heard it on the radio.” Students, as well, were surprised to hear from their teachers that their collective efforts had been recognized. They hadn’t recalled being inspected or entering a contest. That’s because the schools were ranked by U.S. News & World Report, using freely available information about schools nationwide. Even more surprising is that nearby Frankfort and Leland both made it onto the list of top schools as well, which, Kelly calls, “amazing.”
All three schools were awarded bronze medals. Only the top 505 schools in the country received gold or silver medals — 3 percent of the original 18,790 schools analyzed. The top 6 percent (1,086 schools) were awarded bronze medals, including Glen Lake, Frankfort and Leland. Just think of that, three schools in our area placed among the top 6 percent of schools in the country. Although Glen Lake, Frankfort, and Leland are all public schools, some private schools were also thrown into the mix. Almost all schools except those with religious affiliations were ranked by “a very complicated formula they use to determine scores for all the schools in the country,” says Kelly.
U.S. News & World Report creates a score for each school it analyzes, based on statistics from the school, which are then plugged into an equation to spit out a “magic number” that determines if the school meets certain criteria. Included are the student body’s American College Testing (ACT), Michigan Educational Assessment Plan (MEAP), Michigan Merit Examination (MME) and PLAN test scores, the graduation rate, the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and the amount of money spent per student per year. All the statistics included were from the previous school year.
What has Glen Lake done to merit this award? “Our lower class sizes are probably the number one contributor,” believes Kelly. “It can be very rewarding for the teachers to have enough time with each student. Also, Glen Lake’s average ACT scores have been going up consistently each year, which is one of the categories looked at by U.S. News & World Report.” But one specific change that Kelly introduced to the secondary school may have a big impact on the student body’s performance.
Last year, Academic Service Centers (ASCs) were introduced to the school day. The ASC is a half-hour block in the middle of the school day that students are given to catch up on homework and ask questions of their teachers. They sign up the week beforehand for which teacher’s room they want to visit and go there for help. Also, the teachers in each room alternate so that they get a break every other day for curriculum planning and catching up on their own work. And when the teachers are not available, several student tutors from Glen Lake’s chapter of the National Honor Society are there to help. The ASCs give students time to do their homework in school and receive the help they need.
But credit should be attributed where credit is due, says Kelly, who feels that the school’s success results from “the dedication of the teaching staff and how they never seem to be satisfied. No matter how good we do, they always want to get better.” Their hard work and relentless ambition has finally paid off in the form of nationwide recognition.
Nadine Gilmer is a junior at Glen Lake School and a frequent contributor to the Glen Arbor Sun.
Posted by editor at 02:10 AM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2007
Not your typical townies
The ghouls, goblins and cross dressers were out on the town in Glen Arbor during the Sunday prior to Halloween. Sue Nichols (left) took a tumble in the leaves, and Tim Barr (right, in the flowery dress) and Bonnie Nescott directed traffic outside of Art's ... Tim's makeover slowed traffic to a crawl.
Photos by Joanne Rettke
Posted by editor at 06:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2007
Chatter au lait … and Coffee, too
By Joanne Bender
Sun contributor
They meet daily at the Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company in Glen Arbor, winter, spring, summer and fall. Outside or inside, depending on weather conditions. “They” includes the “regulars” and most are “locals.” Why? To talk, to laugh, to chide one another and to have a cup of java.
The group has been meeting every day for a number of years … whenever they’re in town. On this particular Wednesday in mid-August, Mike, Morrie, Ken, Gretchen, Tom, Dick, Dan, Eunice and Jim were sipping and slipping into their day.
Camaraderie abounds!
Early morning arrivals choose the table, pull up chairs and someone begins talking. Others chime in and newcomers arrive, the circle widens and the new arrivals pull up chairs without any introduction. They are welcome.
Picking up fragments of many conversations is confusing at first. But soon one picks up a thread of interesting verbal exchange and joins in. Everyone is very comfortable with everyone else.
Ears buzz as chatter swings from talk of bikes, to books, then back to bikes, then on to golf and best courses, then back to bikes. In between one hears a punch line for a joke.
Someone has dubbed this gathering “a support group for those who don’t work.” They may not work anymore (though some still do) but most have enjoyed interesting and varied careers … from being a physician, an artist, a psychologist, a resort owner, an investment banker to a federal judge and many other occupations in between.
A varied and very interesting bunch they are.
Stuart, a retired federal judge, rides a recumbent bike, a “Tadpole” with two wheels in front and one in back, and has spread his love of riding this particular model to Dan and Mike. And Mike is looking for one to purchase. Mike now rides a tour bike, but is ready to move on. Someone chimed in with the fact that recumbent bikes can cost $2,000 each.
Quickly the conversation shifts to discussion of the Crystal Lake Golf course and what terrific shape it’s in. It’s also a good deal, according to Dick. He reports that it’s only $25 to play 18 holes Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and “$20 on Tuesday and Thursday, “though it’s crowded on those days,” he reports. He also mentions having hit the roof of a house with a golf ball recently after hitting an apparent errant shot.
Mike tells a story about scales and Dan compares it to a tale about a semi truck full of canaries that weigh less when flying around inside than when stationary, so the driver regularly bangs on the side of the truck to keep them air born. (This reporter misses a point somewhere … still, everyone nods heads and chuckles).
Back to bike banter … Dan has an Imron (which he bought from Stuart four weeks ago) and Mike is looking at Optimas (made in Holland), Green Speed (Australian) or Wiz Wheelz (manufactured in Grand Rapids).
Someone says recumbent biking is “an infectious disease” spread by The Judge, Stuart, who is also dubbed the group’s “resident liberal.”
The talk shifts to books. Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, and his newest novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns are recommended. Mike doesn’t think these are men’s books … he prefers Ludlum or Baldacci. Tom disagrees, saying he enjoyed The Kite Runner. Tom also recommends reading Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction book about a radical Mormon movement. Gretchen suggests reading Three Cups of Tea.
Then Dan’s mother, Eunice, visiting from the Chicago area, speaks about Glen Arbor being a wonderful place in which to raise children. Dan and his wife Jan owned and operated a local resort for 20 years.
Eunice is in town to attend a conference at the Interlochen Arts Academy.
She plays the cello and will join musicians from all over the world this week to play in various chamber music groups.
Eunice mentioned having played her cello in the former Czechoslovakia in 1990 during a chamber music concert with the only other two English-speaking musicians in attendance and what a rewarding experience that was.
Tom, a retired physician, and his wife, Gretchen, will spend three months next winter in St. Martens with friends, where Tom will be teaching a couple of days each week.
Someone says something negative about presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, and another defends him and his health plan for Massachusetts when he was governor. Another speaks negatively about Hilary Clinton and then she is praised.
That’s it. Time for everyone to leave. And without any fanfare and few salutations, that’s what they do: all smiling, still good friends, already planning their next venture for the day.
Parting good-byes are not necessary. They know they will rendezvous again tomorrow. Same time (from around 8-10:30 a.m.), same place, but perhaps not the same conversation. And maybe Peter, Lois, Don, Marcia and Paul, regulars absent today, will join them, too.
Posted by editor at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)
Kids’ Camp popular at Township Park
By Joanne Bender
Sun contributor
Mahrle Siddall (4), Sophie Ramont (7) Marcaira Midgley (4) and Audrey Ramont (4) were hard at work creating sand paintings, with a few googly eyes and colored puffballs added for astonishing effects. They were just a few of the happy kids busy at the art table at Glen Arbor Township Park on a Tuesday this summer.
This is just one activity supervised by Kelly Woodward and Leah Hilton, staff members, every Tuesday and Thursday for nine weeks all summer long. The group of campers at Kids’ Camp, sponsored by the Township, spent happy hours creating, running, jumping, climbing, laughing, giggling and lunching.
Camp was open to children ages three to six, but a few two and a half year olds and a couple of seven year olds were warmly welcomed, too. Some days saw 20 to 25 kiddies attending. The ninth week was a “bonus”, an additional two sessions requested by happy parents of the children.
Special activities were planned for each meeting of the enthusiastic campers.
They were seen beading, making bracelets and necklaces. They constructed rainmakers from tubes filled with rice, they hiked up Alligator Hill and they toured the Glen Arbor Fire Station. On that day, rain fell following their trip so they dined on their sack lunches inside Cherry Republic.
Other activities included planting lavender, poppies and sunflowers in containers that took root at Kelly’s house and then were taken home by each camper. They enjoyed filling Cherry Republic jam jars with Petoskey and Mancala stones, a colorful gift for their moms.
The children enjoyed making foam visors with different foam shapes adorning each one. And they loved the day when playing with a parachute stretched by each child and bounced balls in the middle. “And we hid underneath it, too,” added Gray Raymond, age five.
Gray’s fifth birthday was celebrated at camp on August 14 when he brought cup cakes for everyone.
Kelly is a senior at the University of Michigan, majoring in political science. She plans to work for “Teach for America” for a couple of years after she graduates next spring. Leah is a junior at Albion College, majoring in physical education on the elementary school level. Leah would like to be a “nanny” for a family in a large city following graduation in 2009, prior to beginning a teaching career.
Staff for the camp, which was the idea of (a few years ago) and is still organized by Glen Arborite Becky Sutherland, also included Sara Stratz, Chelsea Klumpp and Will Thomas.
Posted by editor at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2007
First Running Bear Run Huge Success
From staff reports
Given the large attendance at the first Running Bear Run on July 31, it appears the event will quickly become an annual tradition for vacationing families and local residents. Over 380 people participated in the 5K run/walk run sponsored by the Glen Arbor Women’s Club.
Marianne Sherman, a participant in the 5k race from Dallas, agreed the race was a big success. “Stupendous race! Participation was great and the weather was perfect.” Caroline Nugent, age 12 from Okemos exclaimed, “It was really fun! I ran with my grandpa and three brothers.”
The “Running Bear” mascot was busy cheering both the serious runners and the not-always-serious walkers and was in high demand to have its picture taken with the children. The wild Cherry Republic bear was also spotted in the woods along the race route peeking at the runners.
The Women’s Club would like to congratulate all the people who participated in the event. The Best Overall Male time was 16:29 minutes by Ron Zywicki and the Best Overall Female time was 19:35 by Andrea Blake. The two overall winners and the first and second place winners in each age/gender category received gift items from Cherry Republic.
A number of runners and walkers competed for the “Most Entertaining Running Attire“ category. The winners were Diane Lundwall for her “Flamingo Fancy” costume and a group called “The Runaway Wedding” (pun on run.) The group consisted of our own Glen Arbor merchants, Becky and Cookie Thatcher of Becky Thatcher Designs and Bay Lavender Trading Co. Becky was the Mother-of-the-bride and Cookie was a Bridesmaid.
The Bride and Groom were Morgan and Greg Purcell and the other Bridesmaids were Brooke Matson, Alisa Siebrasse, Jen Kraus and Maisie Ogata. They received gift certificates from Barb’s Bakery.
Cookie said, “I ran fast to get to work on time!!” Becky said, “She almost made it”. Becky also said, “I enjoyed all the cheers from the bystanders, it spurred me on!”
Following the awards ceremony, a raffle drawing was held to award 33 prizes donated by community sponsors. Prizes included weekends at The Homestead, dining gift certificates and local merchandize. “The response of local merchants to this event was overwhelming“, said Linda Gretzema, Woman’s Club President. “Their generous donations played a major role in making this such a fun community event.” Proceeds from the race will be used to provide college scholarships and fund other community projects.
The Women’s Club would like to especially thank Cherry Republic for use of its wonderful facility to stage the event, for its financial support, and for the many prizes it donated. Special thanks also to The Homestead and Leelanau Vacation Rentals for their financial support and prize donations. The following merchants also provided generous donations for the drawing: Art’s Tavern, Anderson’s IGA, Barb‘s Bakery, Bay Lavender Trading Co., Becky Thatcher, Bench Warmers Sports Bar and Restaurant, Black Swan, Brownwood Farms, Cottage Book Shop, Dickinson Gallery, Dune Wear, Glen Arbor Athletic Club, Glen Craft Marina, Good Harbor Grill, La Becasse, Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company, The Glen Lake Manor, Peace Pole Makers USA, Petoskey Pete‘s, The Pine Cone, Riverfront Pizza, Ruth Conklin Gallery, Ski Walking Fitness Poles, Sleeping Bear Sweets, Thyme Out, Tiny Treasures, Trattoria Funistrada, Wildflowers, and Windows Le Bear.
“The number of participants at this first race significantly exceeded our expectations,” added Linda Gretzema. “We look forward to everyone returning next year and bringing a friend!”
Posted by editor at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2007
WuzthataWintererWudnit?
By Norm Wheeler
Sun editor
“Light snow is falling in Ely, Minnesota today, May 20, 2007,” says DJ Ray Nargis. (Remember Ray Nargis? He used to live on Echo Valley Road, teach at The Leelanau School, and recite poetry at the Beach Bards Bonfire on summer Friday nights. Stream his Sunday morning (10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST) radio show on WELY.com End of the Road Radio — kind of a cross between Northern Exposure and the Stone Circle. Great stuff!)
Snow in late May in the upper Midwest? What’s going on? Is it ironic evidence of global warming? What about the fickle winter we just escaped here in Leelanau County? Ask a local and the recent surprise, dismay and chuckles flow right out of their short-term memories. A warm Thanksgiving (record high 54 degrees on Nov. 24) was followed in December by a week of heavy snow. Then the roller coaster climbed into a week of 40s with rain, and that good base was all gone. Here we go again, everyone sighed, another winter that can’t make up its mind. Another record high of 50 degrees followed on the Winter Solstice! Ugh, a brown Christmas!! Then a record 48-degree New Year’s Day, (the only predictable part of that day was Michigan’s loss to USC in the Rose Bowl!), and it stayed 48 all week! Chris Skellenger played golf at The Dunes on Jan. 4, and he had to call for a tee time!
Finally snow returned by mid month, the lifts were cranked up on Prospect Hill at The Homestead, and a semblance of normalcy returned. By early February the deep cold dug in, ice mounds formed 50 yards out from the beach on Sleeping Bear Bay, and that same lone coyote loped from somewhere below Alligator Hill past the Observatory to the mouth of the Crystal River along that ice shortcut as it does once every year. February 26 was everybody’s Snow Day after a heavy foot fell. The lion of March roared 50 mph winds (see Rob Karner’s photo) and then bit down with brutal cold. Skellenger left 90-degree Belize on Feb. 4. When he got off the plane in Traverse City it was zero, and nobody felt sorry for him.
But it was 55 degrees by the March 21 vernal equinox, and the thermometer gasped with “the bends” from coming up too fast. It hit the 70s a few days later, and no one could have guessed how April would make us pay for that apparently early spring! (Thanks to Andy McFarlane’s Leelanau Almanac @ Leelanau.com for weather details!)
“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March."
(Robert Frost, from Two Tramps in Mud Time)
On April 1, Louan Lechler drove past a church marquee on Cherry Bend Road that said “The Rest of the Christmas Story” and then it began to snow! The April Fool dumped two snowstorms, one just before Easter and one just after. The Leelanau Enterprise reported that it was the first April since 1966 to deliver over 15 inches of snow.
On April 5 I drove up from Chicago, returning from Spring Break in warm places like so many others. There was a dusting at the Indiana border, several inches in Holland, and by the time the freeway turned into a two-lane it was a grim almost foot of snow. The saddest creatures were the robins, hunched forlorn and scowling along the thawed shoulders of the roads like Republican congresspersons after the last election, or more accurately (since the robins had done nothing wrong) like Bears fans at the Superbowl. The poor birds would fly up in front of the passing cars, apparently committing suicide. Sue Skellenger of North Coast Nursery shoveled off the grass, then collected and chopped worms to save the robins!
Joe Spaulding had closed down his rental house on Bow Road during the March hot spell and headed off for spring break. He didn’t bother to drain the pipes. It took him several days to fix all the leaks in April. Tim Barr reports that April was the worst business-wise ever for Arts Tavern. “Bad weather and bad attitudes,” he recalls. “Those who usually don’t go south suddenly went!”
Now the fruit trees are in full bloom, the trilliums nod in the new-green woods, the grass grows to alarming heights as your mower that won’t start sits in the repair shop, and May is just the way it’s supposed to be. The summer cars return, the businesses sweep off and air out, and we all stretch toward summer, ready to forget the slings and arrows of outrageous winter fortune we just survived. It’s time for the Pickin’ Party. Who’s gonna be in the Fourth of July parade?
Posted by editor at 06:42 AM | Comments (0)
Hummingbird love, and Spring, are in the air
By Jane Greiner
Sun contributor
What a pleasure it is to have the hummingbirds back.
Yesterday I looked up from my book to see a female hummingbird sitting on the feeder. A second one, presumably male, approached the feeder and flew back and forth in front of her in a short horizontal “shuttle pattern.” Back and forth he went, straight left for two feet, straight right two feet, back and forth, back and forth, always facing her. After about 20 zips left and right, he landed on the feeder not far from her. As he did so I thought I saw a flash of ruby red color buried in his chest feathers.
Through all this the female did not budge.
He puffed himself up, ruffled his head feathers, and looked left and right, left and right, snapping his head and long beak back and forth repeatedly.
She just rested there and occasionally took a sip from the feeder.
He sat and puffed and shook his head and scratched himself with his feet and looked at her and puffed himself up and preened himself a bit and scratched under his wing again with his foot.
She still seemed unimpressed.
He stayed puffed up, continued wagging his head and from time to time stopped and looked at her. The puffing, wagging and looking went on for so long there was plenty of time for me to get the camera and take a bunch of pictures.
After they were gone, I thought about what it all meant. The puffed-up bird could have been a juvenile hummingbird or one fresh from the bird bath. But really, with all the puffing up, scratching, and posturing, I had to think that what I had seen was a hummingbird mating ritual. Yes, Spring is in the air!
Posted by editor at 01:08 AM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2007
Winterfests warm the blood during the coldest months
Like father, like son: John and Charlie Velis (left) jump into frigid South Bar Lake during Empire's Winterfest Polar Dip last weekend (photo Ryan Romeike); Skiers from downstate, Dave and Brian Johnson (right) warm up with hearty chili at Glen Arbor's Winterfest this past weekend (photo Mike Buhler).
By H. Michael Buhler
Sun editor
Mitchell Roman of Empire summed it up best: “it’s lots of fun!” The Hillsdale College-bound Glen Lake High School senior was taking a break from the eighth annual President’s Weekend Winterfest Chili Cookoff in Glen Arbor, which followed Empire’s own Winterfest by a week. (Empire’s bash is known best for its crazed “Polar Dip” through a hole in the ice on South Bar Lake.)
Warming himself inside Boone Docks restaurant in downtown Glen Arbor this past weekend, Mitchell celebrated his 18th birthday with 18 samples of chili. Among his favorites were offerings from Leelanau Coffee Roasting and Bear Paw Pizza.
Outside on the Boone Docks deck, father and son Dave and Brian Johnson of Eaton Rapids huddled around a wood fire, halfway through their sampling. This was their third year, and the first time the weather had broken single digits for them (it was 26 degrees this year, compared to 5 degrees the previous two). “We ski, eat chili, and go back to The Homestead for more skiing,” said Dave. “It’s the coolest thing.”
This year’s Chili Cookoff, sponsored by the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, not only drew a record number of entries, but also well over 300 tasters. To award more prizes and streamline the judging, two categories were created: traditional and non-traditional chilis. Winning on the traditional side was Dave Moffat of Peace Pole Makers, and claiming second were Bob and Laurie Hug of Grand Rapids. Bob Ewing of Bear Paw Pizza took first in the non-traditional division with his Surf ‘n Turf chili of beef and seafood, served complete with a crab claw. Second place was awarded to Guillaume Hazael-Massieux of La Bécasse Restaurant with his innovative Lamb chili. Is it any coincidence that three of the four winners — Guillaume, Bob and Dave — are professionally trained chefs? Perhaps we’ll delve into this more next year.
The other big element of the Glen Arbor Winterfest is the famed Perch Fishing Contest, hosted by the Sportsman Shop. The Fosmores (who have won many a derby) swept the first three places, with dad Ken in first, netting a 13-7/8” perch, followed by sons Brad and Brian. They split the cash purse. Receiving a $50 gift certificate from Art’s Tavern was Joe Crowther, who finished fourth.
More of staff photographer Ryan Romeike's Empire Polar Dip photos
Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce website
Posted by editor at 02:26 PM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2006
New website gives ridesharing a lift
From staff reports
Whether you are looking for a ride to work or looking to share your ride with others, a new website makes ridesharing safe and easy for commuters in northwest Michigan. www.NMRide.net was recently launched as the official website connecting commuters for ride sharing to work, activities and more throughout the Traverse Bay region. The general public is invited to learn how to use the site, as well as local businesses interested in helping their employees get to work.
NMRide.net is an initiative of the Northwest Michigan Transportation Alliance (NMTA), a collaboration of more than 20 human service agencies, non-profits and local businesses which seek to expand transportation options in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie counties. Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG), a partner in NMTA, developed and will maintain the site.
The new ride share program is among the most comprehensive in the country, according to Michelle Goetz Grahl, who helped coordinate the launch of NMRide.net. “There are many people in our area who don’t own a vehicle and struggle with finding transportation to work, school or other places. NMRide.net gives them another option.”
How NMRide.net Works
Everyone can browse the offered rides and ride requests at www.NMRide.net. However, in order to contact a driver or rider, or post a ride offer or request, users need to register for a free account on the site.
Those needing a ride can use the ride search tool or browse the ride list to see if anyone has offered a ride in the direction they are heading. If a match is found, the user sends the driver an e-mail message. The driver will then have that person’s e-mail address and can respond. They can then exchange contact information, ride schedules and other information to help determine a good match.
For those with a ride to offer, the process works the same way. Ride providers can use the ride search tool or browse the ride list to see if anyone needs a ride in the direction they are heading. The steps are then the same for connecting to the person needing a ride.
NMRide.net enables users to enter criteria such as route, work schedule, smoking preference and sharing of expenses to help find the carpool partner that best matches their profile. A mapping tool allows riders and drivers to view destinations and routes, and carpool safety tips are also featured. There is no cost for registration or use of the site. Riders may be asked to share expenses with drivers, but that is left to the discretion of each driver.
To accommodate those without ready access to a computer, NMTA is in the process of creating a public access system, beginning with public libraries and local businesses. Public access sites will be marked with a window decal and listed on the website. The group is distributing posters and brochures throughout the region promoting NMRide.com.
Additional Benefits
Janie McNabb, Communications Coordinator for NMCOG, pointed out that besides helping individuals with transportation challenges, the site offers benefits to employers and the environment. “It helps workers find a reliable way to get to work, and to get there on time. That makes them a more dependable employee,” noted McNabb.
McNabb also noted that ride sharing should not be limited to people facing transportation barriers. “We hope this effort fosters an understanding that ride sharing helps reduce traffic and negative environmental impacts,” she said. “Our region is facing growing land use and transportation challenges, and sharing a ride is a simple way to reduce the number of cars on the road.”
Funding for the ride share program comes from United Way of Northwest Michigan and state, federal and local sources. For more information about the Northwest Michigan Transportation Alliance, and ride sharing, visit www.NMRide.net.
Posted by editor at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2000
Editors Notebook (or The Talk Downtown)
The Pig, the Winter, and Ladybugs
by Norm Wheeler
Sun editor
It’s November 4, almost Election Day, sunny, windless, in the 60’s again. On November 1, 2000, John Arens and Michael Buhler played 18 holes of golf in t-shirts. They hit no low flying grouse nor woodcock and raised no blisters. They played, in fact, their best rounds of the year as they were not distracted from the task at hand by either the fudgies, the snowbirds, nor any other trunk bangers. All of the leaves are down but for some brown oaks and a few tenacious yellow poplars, and the slanting light bounces up from the orange maple-floored woods to butterscotch the amazingly mild air. It was so balmy on November 1 that I jogged the beach north from the Observatory, waded the mouth of the Crystal (where the slow black coho with their rotting white fins shouldered into the river for one last push against the current before they die), on up past a flotilla of 37 mute swans, and passed the Thorson Road turnaround to where the rocks stopped me. And then I jogged back, breaking a sweat in the astonishing heat, to a quick swim, by far the latest swim of the year ever in Lake Michigan. The water wasn’t even that cold!
I’m not the only one who has been taking advantage of this mildest year ever. Rob Karner runs the same stretch of beach almost daily, but on crutches, his golden dog loping alongside. His parallel pockmarks punctuate the beach-edge like the pacings of some modern day Ahab waiting for a glimpse of Moby Dick. The whole month of October has been warm. In fact, while talking with some of my homies around town, I am reminded that it has been mild since February. The spring seemed to last forever, the summer never got hot, and now the autumn has been lovely, endless, the colors coming late and staying. It was “tangerine trees and marmalade skies,” as the Beatles sang, for a month.
What can this strange mild weather of 2000 portend? Is the global warming really kicking in? Should I be planting lemon and orange trees in Echo Valley to be on the front edge of the future Leelanau County citrus crop? Are we in for a serious, determined, Al Gore kind of winter, or another lightweight without enough snowflakes to even bury a Bush? I interview everyone in town to find out.
On Saturday, November 3, at noon, smoke billowed up from a big pig roaster in the west bound lane of Lake Street in front of Art’s. At the same moment Jerry Decker’s honey wagon could be heard whining over the rooftops from another part of town, and the two aromas sort of scrapped and tangled on the breeze, providing something different for each nostril. (Garbage in, garbage out!)
Though the orange traffic cones and yellow police ribbon marked the big smoking pig-roaster as a place of tragedy, (indeed, the pig turning inside was dead), the activity around it revealed a celebration. Tim Barr was getting ready to give the town a gift, a first annual pig roast, and the day crew of Marsha and Sean and Bonnie stood around the source of heat like poets at a bonfire. “The pig dressed out at 220 pounds,” Tim reported proudly. “It was marinated in garlic all night, and inside it are 6 full-sized American chickens, 60 oz. of garlic, along with apples, oranges, onions, and plenty of whole mushrooms. It’ll all cook down to about 175 pounds finished. We’ll start serving at 5 o’clock.” Tim and the Art’s crew prepared for a big bash. The free food included baked beans, potato salad, sauerkraut, apple sauce, and Sam Barr’s garlic cheese biscuits. Everything was homemade and delectable.
Though Glen Lake had lost the district football trophy to Kingsley the night before in the last two minutes, the town was upbeat about the pig roast and the mild day. Sean Barr replied to queries about a mild winter with “Flip a coin! The warm lake the last few years didn’t translate into lots snow the way they predicted. Who knows? Twice as bad as last year would still be mild.”
Marsha said, “It will be harder than the last three.”
Dave Mofat said, “Another garbage winter.”
Tim Sutherland: “An easy winter for the mobile single people.”
Said Bill Miltz: “It’ll be a hard winter - we’re due after 3 mild ones. The Homestead will be open for skiing 6 days a week, snow will be great for Glen Arbor, the town will be hoppin’!””
At Dobson’s Amoco I questioned Noel and Bill Thompson. Bill summarized the year: “It’s been spring since February! The bad weather and price of gas kept people away. Oh sure, people came to their cottages, but the day trippers stayed away. We finally got caught up in August. Now we need snow ‘cause we need water! The lakes and the river are too low. So I hope we have a real hard winter. Noel has a thick beard, maybe that means the winter’ll be heavy.” Noel Dobson is hoping for a serious winter to resuscitate his plowing business which has been slower than an 80’s modem for three years. He brought out a graph made several years ago by Don Wilson of Absolutely Accurate Predictions, Inc. of Glen Arbor. Based on data fed into Don’s computer since 1955 it shows the “valley” of the past few winters, and it predicts a nice spike for the winter of 2000 with about 200 inches of snow. (See attached). Noel scratched his thick beard with crossed fingers.
But honestly, it wasn’t the football game nor the coming winter nor the election the town talked about the first Saturday in November. The Subarus of a few vegetarians could be seen heading for Traverse as the downtown area grew more redolent with the aroma of roasting pig, but on the mostly vacant streets people talked about ladybugs. The warm October and now November weather has hatched them by the thousands. “I heard those Asian beetles were released to attack the gypsy moths,” said Bill Miltz. “Last week my house was blanketed. I had to have an exterminator spray it down, ladybugs were crawling in everywhere.” Bill Thompson was even more perplexed. “They crawl in around closed windows. Then they cluster in the corners in big clumps and have orgies. It’s disgusting! How can people still call them “ladies”?”
So close those windows, folks! Prepare to cluster in warm corners and keep each other warm! We're fortified with pork and warmed by long autumn. When the winds howl off the big lake and the snowflakes fly like shards of ripped bedsheets, remember these brown, balmy days at the end of the mildest year ever.
Posted by editor at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)