Leelanau Enterprise

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Glen Arbor Township is preparing to invest in public safety and strengthen its finances following decisions made at its ...
09/27/2025

Glen Arbor Township is preparing to invest in public safety and strengthen its finances following decisions made at its September board meeting.

Trustees approved the installation of security cameras at the township boat launch, reviewed the fire department’s proposed budget, and set millage rates for the upcoming winter tax cycle.

The most talked about issue of the meeting was a plan to install three security cameras at the boat launch on Lake Street.

“We’ve been looking at this for a while,” said Supervisor Tom Laureto, noting that the cameras, which will feature infrared night vision, will serve several purposes.

“One will face the lake, which will help the fire department know the conditions, eliminating the need to drive over to see if it is safe to launch…then there’s going to be a camera that will face the pay station, and there’s a third camera that’s going to go down Lake Drive, and that will be useful for any vehicle incidents or other things that happen that way.”

The LeBear Resort has agreed to provide electrical access for the project.

“The cameras draw about as much power as a light bulb,” Clerk Pam Laureto explained. “We’re really grateful to have that partnership.” The Road Commission has also expressed interest in attaching a weather station to the installation, which could help with snow removal and storm response.

The board agreed to not exceed paying $10,811 for the cameras, and Clerk Laureto said that she expects the cost to be much less. The township has applied for a grant of $2,500 from the Michigan Township Participating Plan and will know by November if funds have been granted.

In the meantime, board voted unanimously to move forward with the project.

Leelanau News

Lots of deer. Good bucks.Early indications are that Leelanau County hunters, many of whom will participate in the archer...
09/27/2025

Lots of deer. Good bucks.

Early indications are that Leelanau County hunters, many of whom will participate in the archery season starting next Wednesday, Oct. 1, will find plenty of targets this fall. Youth and disabled hunters have already faired well, and anecdotal evidence is piling up that county deer numbers may be up a tad.

“From what I’ve seen in the field and heard, I think the deer herd is pretty darn healthy,” offered Steve Griffith, a veteran MDNR wildlife biologist stationed at the Traverse City field office. “Talking to hunters, there is a wonderful hard mast crop (mostly acorns) and bears are coming in with a lot of fat, so I’m sure the deer are the same.”

The deer kill for the youth and liberty hunt, held Sept. 13-14, nearly mimicked 2024 results, according to the MDNR website. Some. 29 bucks and 9 does — 38 total deer — were reported killed through the state’s mandatory check-in system. In 2024, the reported kill was 28 bucks and 10 does for again a total take of 38.

The harvests are a pittance compared to a complete season of hunting, which throughout the state extends into January. Nearly 300,000 deer were shot by Michigan hunters in 2024, with 1,611 harvested in Leelanau County, the MDNR reports.

Few deer hunters scout more thoroughly than Mike Burda of Leland Township, and he’s optimistic after watching several trail cameras for weeks.

“From my perspective, I think there are a lot of nice bucks out there. I think there are going to be many 120-inch and better eight-points taken. It was the most consistent spring and summer I can recall for moisture, and that usually means a good year for antler growth,” said Burda, a business partner at Carlson’s Fisheries in Fishtown.

Leelanau News

Glen Arbor Township has approved its 2026-27 fire budget, which saw a 10.5% increase in expenses.The board voted unanimo...
09/26/2025

Glen Arbor Township has approved its 2026-27 fire budget, which saw a 10.5% increase in expenses.

The board voted unanimously Sept. 16 to adopt a $3 million budget, up from $2.7 million this year.

Fire Chief Bryan Ferguson provided a short review of the updated department budget noting that increases are primarily in personnel costs.

According to the budget, 70% of the budget is attributed to personnel costs with benefits totaling $2.3 million, a $247,000 jump from last year.

Spending in three other categories are down: fire operations were down 5.85% in fire operations to $193,000; EMS operations, 3.17% totaling $91,500; and building operations, $148,000, down 1.33%.

While the contributions to the capital account have not increased since 2008, Ferguson proposed increasing the yearly contributions to $130,000 in order to make the budget more predictable from year to year. Both the Emergency Services Advisory Commission and the Township Board approved the budget.

Ferguson also gave an update of a particularly active summer.

“We had 73 calls in August alone, which puts us close to 500 calls for the year,” Ferguson reported.

He highlighted an unusual surge in helicopter medical evacuations.

“In early August, we requested six helicopters in 10 days…four patients were flown out,” the fire chief said, adding that helicopter evacuations have been used only a handful of times in the last 15 years.

Leelanau News

End of harvest cherry reportBy Brian Freiberger brian@leelanaunews.comLocal cherry farmers gathered last week for a Mich...
09/26/2025

End of harvest cherry report
By Brian Freiberger
[email protected]

Local cherry farmers gathered last week for a Michigan Cherry Growers Alliance end-of-harvest event at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Center, which recapped the tough growing season while laying out priorities for the upcoming year.

“It’s important that the growers are in the room and having a voice,” Cherry Alliance founder Leisa Eckerle said. “It was very clear having that opportunity to be able to sit at the table and have discussions is really important, especially right now, when there’s so much going on in the industry from how our crops look the last couple of years to pricing to what’s happening with the federal marketing order.”

Eckerle is a local farmer and owner of Benjamin Twiggs in Traverse City, and founded the Cherry Alliance in 2024.

At the meeting, farmers discussed the federal marketing order from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), which will be up for a vote in the spring, regarding whether to keep it or not, in relation to the strategic planning of marketing local cherries.

The CIAB has been the administrative arm of the Federal Marketing Order for tart cherries since 1997.

“Whether any particular tool is working or not. A lot of discussion will take place over the next four months addressing all of those issues.” Eckerle said.

The silver lining of this year is that the import crops were also short, which helped stabilize local markets and raised prices. But now farmers turn to what may happen next year.

“The hope is that we have a full crop and that we can meet our markets. This year, we’re not able to meet all our markets because of the short crop,” Eckerle said.

There’s no question that 2025 was tricky, with an average of farmers only completing a third of their respective harvests. The target for next year is to harvest 90 million pounds of cherries, aiming to make up for the dismal 30-35 million pounds produced this year.

Leelanau News

Fish Rap: 🦌Youth and Liberty hunters find success.  🗻Recreation front and center at SugarLoaf.  🍒End of harvest cherry r...
09/26/2025

Fish Rap: 🦌Youth and Liberty hunters find success. 🗻Recreation front and center at SugarLoaf. 🍒End of harvest cherry report. 🐟78 veterans attend -

Jonathan Tushman, left, downed a 10-point on the first night he hunted. Also shown is recreational therapist Jessica Stark and Centerville Township resident Bill Walters, who gave permission to hold the hunt in his cherry orchard. Tushman fired a rifle using adaptive equipment provided by The Passin...

Elizabeth Haber has been named to the newly created role of stewardship coordinator at the Lake Leelanau Lake Associatio...
09/26/2025

Elizabeth Haber has been named to the newly created role of stewardship coordinator at the Lake Leelanau Lake Association.

Haber joins LLLA after working as the Aquatic Invasive Species Field Technician and Data Manager this past summer, helping the field crew monitor and control Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM). She holds a Master’s of Science in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan and has performed field work and research widely throughout the Midwest as well as the Caribbean, Netherlands, and Madagascar for nearly two decades.

Although Haber’s research and work has taken her to some spectacular places around the world, including documenting plant species in Madagascar and researching impacts of invasive plants on two tiny Caribbean islands, the Great Lakes region has always been her anchor. She spent three years with the Wisconsin DNR working with aquatic and wetland plants and policy and 2 1/2years with Michigan State University Extension as a botanist for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

In recent months, LLLA’s board and staff have spent a significant amount of time researching and consulting with experts on ways in which the association can better protect Lake Leelanau. This process has identified the need for an additional full-time, yearround staff member to support an expansion of its stewardship programs. LLLA looks forward to utilizing Haber’s expertise to support new programs, such as an Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection Program and the State of Michigan’s Cooperative Lakes Management and Volunteer Stream Monitoring Programs.

Leelanau News

For one day a year, Northport transforms from a small town to the host of the busy Leelanau UnCaged festival.“I’ve alway...
09/26/2025

For one day a year, Northport transforms from a small town to the host of the busy Leelanau UnCaged festival.

“I’ve always thought we needed a fall festival, maybe something like an Oktoberfest,” Andy Thomas, founder and vice-president of the festival, said. “We have some nice weather in the fall, and it’s a great time to get out and do something outdoors.”

This year is the 11th annual Leelanau Uncaged festival, which took a one-year break because of COVID-19 in 2020, will take place Saturday.

Thomas was inspired for the festival when he attended John Cage’s Musicircus event at Macalester College in Minnesota.

“All of the music was going on at the same time, but you could lean in and hear any particular group,” Thomas said. “I thought back on the event and thought, if I was going to do something, I’d want to do something kind of like John Cage.”

Thomas wanted to have the festival grow, but knew after the first couple that it would only get more popular. Last year Thomas estimated up to 7,000 people attended the one day festival.

Thomas said that the festival is designed to have something for everyone to do, even the kids at the Kids’ Uncaged part of the festival.

This year, the festival will have 34 acts across seven different stages with one dedicated to dance or theater, which is planned out by the festival board president and music committee chair, Jonah Powell.

“It’s a lot of word of mouth,” Powell said. “We had several performers this year who we were completely unaware of until they had applied on the website, and we’re very glad they did because I think they’re going to add a lot to the festival.”

Leelanau News

After spending so long in exile, it was inevitable that SugarLoaf mountain would evolve into little more than geography....
09/26/2025

After spending so long in exile, it was inevitable that SugarLoaf mountain would evolve into little more than geography.

A place driven by unnoticed with little thought to its history of harboring the economic engine that kept Leelanau County afloat every winter from 1947 until 2000.

After the Leelanau Conservancy raises another $500,000 or so to complete the purchase and bank funds for recreational redevelopment of the mountain, SugarLoaf will no longer be ignored.

“Recreationally, it’s going to help out immensely,” said Wayne (Soni) Aylsworth, owner of the Empire Outdoors retail store and former Empire Village president. “We’ll be able to draw from other counties, and even other states.”

The Leelanau Conservancy in mid-July announced that it had formed a partnership with an anonymous landowner to purchase the 285-acre property, which had been the source of speculation, rumors and investigations for decades.

So it’s easy to forget the damage done to the county economy when the resort closed. And it’s difficult to grasp the positive impact SugarLoaf will have as a viable, four-season outdoor recreation mecca.

When growing up in Leelanau County Aylsworth spent most winter nights on the slopes of SugarLoaf, as did a couple generations of county kids. While the Conservancy has no plans to return downhill skiing to SugarLoaf mountain — Aylsworth is practically begging for a ski tow bar, and the Conservancy heard similar pleas during a summer of input gathering — the place is certain to compete for attention in a county renown for its outside recreation opportunities.

“If they build a mountain bike trail, that will be huge in the mountain bike world — especially if they bring in a world-renown trail designer. If they built what they could on the steep part, with wood transfers and stable grounds, I feel it could be extremely valuable to the county. We could host professional races. That would be excellent,” Aylsworth said.

Leelanau News

Short term rentals (STR) were back as a large topic of discussion during Cleveland Township’s September regular meeting ...
09/25/2025

Short term rentals (STR) were back as a large topic of discussion during Cleveland Township’s September regular meeting along with the emergency services budget.

While all 36 STR permits available have already been granted, zoning administrator Scott Sheehan reported that 16 additional STR properties have been caught violating the town ordinance on short term rentals by not being registered. While these violators will be fined, the property owners are allowed to finish out the rental season.

To address the issue, Supervisor Tim Stein proposed raising the township’s rental cap from 33% (36 units) to 4% (45 units). Stein cited that other tourist destination townships such as South Haven give STR permits to one in four households, equaling a 20% cap. The board seemed in favor of the idea and will revisit the proposal at its November meeting.

A major discussion centered on the Fire and Emergency Services budget. Rising insurance premiums — up 14% this year — are straining the department’s finances. Current agreements cap annual budget increases at 10%, but board members agreed the cap no longer reflects real costs. Trustees authorized the representative to support a plan for establishing a new budget baseline.

“Lets set a realistic budget that can actually provide us with the type of coverage that we’re expecting out in the applicable townships, which is still, in my opinion, a relative bargain for fire and emergency services,” Stein said.

Leelanau News

With the deadline to approve the state 2026 budget fast approaching on Oct. 1, lawmakers are hoping to come to a consens...
09/25/2025

With the deadline to approve the state 2026 budget fast approaching on Oct. 1, lawmakers are hoping to come to a consensus within the next week before a potential government shutdown.

The Oct. 1 date comes after the Michigan legislature missed the statutorily required deadline of July 1 to pass its annual budget, creating uncertainty for government entities/agencies that receive federal funding.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2026 budget proposal in February, which included all state and referral revenue, totaled $83.5 billion. Within that proposal, the state’s total general fund budget is $15.3 billion, and the school aid budget is $21.2 billion.

Michigan’s Republican-majority House of Representatives approved its own general fund budget in August totaling $78.5 billion, which is $6 billion less than the senate’s version of the budget. The House budget total is also $5 billion less than the governor’s budget proposal from February, and includes shifts in priorities and significant cuts to several departments and various programs. According to the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, while some reductions are related to the implementation of the federal government’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that was approved in July, other savings are found “through a 10% reduction associated with operational fees.”

Leelanau News

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) held its 21st Natural Resources Fair & Feast on Saturday at...
09/25/2025

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) held its 21st Natural Resources Fair & Feast on Saturday at Arthur Duhamel Marina.

Passing rain showers in the morning didn’t stop community members from gathering at the marina for the many activities lined up for the day to honor the tribe’s traditions and treaty rights. The fair’s theme revolves around the responsible use, management, and preservation of natural resources for future generations.

Treaty Fishing Co. owners’ Ed and Cindi John of Northport, were also presented with the 2025 Michigan Heritage Award by Micah Ling, associate director of the Michigan Traditional Arts Program at Michigan State University. The Michigan Heritage Awards honor individuals “who continue their family and community folk traditions with excellence through practice and teaching, or individuals who are recognized as outstanding community leaders in the maintenance, documentation, or presentation of traditional arts.” The program, first established in 1985, was created to call attention to the state’s “exceptional tradition bearers and supporters of traditional culture” whose contributions to Michigan’s heritage had not been recognized previously. Award winners receive an award plaque, special legislative tribute from the State of Michigan, and a $1,000 stipend.

Ed and Cindi’s daughter, Ruby, nominated her parents and their tribal family-owned and operated commercial fishery for the award. She read her nomination letter at the event, highlighting the impact of her family’s work in the community since they began tribal commercial fishing in 1980.

“They first got started when my dad worked for Art Duhamel gill netting. Later together they started their own business, Treaty Fish Co., where they did gill netting and for a while, trap netting,” Ruby said. “I as their daughter have been able to have a life-long front seat view of seeing them in their craft. As I truly believe what they have worked so hard doing is a craft, from mending and building nets, to knowing many places in Grand Traverse Bay like the back of their hands knowing how the bottom of the lake is shaped and how they need to set their nets. To lifting them (taking them out of the water), down to how they handle the fish when they get it on the boat. How they process it, to packing them with labels of my moms own design. In many ways what they do, to me, is truly a Traditional Art.”

Leelanau News

Steve Stanton was a giver.Now good things are being given in his name with the Stephen S. Stanton memorial endowment.Sta...
09/25/2025

Steve Stanton was a giver.

Now good things are being given in his name with the Stephen S. Stanton memorial endowment.

Stanton died in Traverse City on Aug. 20 after an abrupt illness. He was 82.

The Suttons Bay Congregational Church (SBCC) was overflowing Sept. 11 for celebration of his life. This may be because of Stanton’s involvement in the community; a community that has stepped up to ensure his legacy is not forgotten. In the wake of his passing, the Stanton family announced establishment of the Stephen S. Stanton endowment fund with Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN) which, as of earlier this week had raised $29,000 through 123 separate donations. Stanton’s wife, Mary, is the executive director of LCN.

“We haven’t quite nailed down how it will be used,” said Charlie Bumb, LCN president. “But we do know it will go to people Steve cared about … he helped a lot of people.”

From early morning meetings of Business Networking International (BNI) in Suttons Bay to volunteering at LCN, Stanton had his hands in everything.

BNI is a global networking organization that facilitates business growth through referrals and structured networking.

Paul Bardenhagen, 31, first met Stanton through BNI and later through their membership in the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club.

“Steve was passionate about thoughtful and creative presentations,” Bardenhagen said. “He was always open to new ideas and topics.”

Stanton was a member of the church council at SBCC and had just been sworn in as president of the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club.

John Collier knew Stanton through his church involvement and Rotary.

“Steve was a true servant leader in our community, who understood the value of serving others before himself,” Collier said. “Steve’s leadership and compassion to help others will be dearly missed.”

Leelanau News

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