Leelanau Enterprise

01/13/2026

'Average' bird numbers in Christmas count
By Brian Freiberger
[email protected]

The Audubon Society’s annual Lake Leelanau Christmas count saw an average number of bird species, compared to a record-breaking year in 2024.

The Lake Leelanau bird count was compiled by volunteers’ data to see what birds are hanging out in Leelanau County throughout the winter, according to Northwestern Michigan College biology professors Kirk Waterstripe and Nate Crane.

Leelanau News

01/13/2026

Suttons Bay Public Schools is celebrating the retirement of one of its most devoted and beloved employees, Ulain Weber, whose more than 36 years of service have left a lasting mark on the school district and the greater Suttons Bay community. Her retirement was effective December 31, 2025.

A graduate of Suttons Bay Schools herself, Weber represents the very best of what it means to be part of a lifelong school community. Both of her children are also Suttons Bay graduates, making her service not just a career, but a continuation of a deep family connection to the district. Suttons Bay Public Schools takes great pride in welcoming graduates back to work alongside the next generation, and her career is a powerful example of how those connections strengthen the fabric of the school community.

Leelanau News

01/12/2026

FREE newsletter: Leelanau Enterprise 1-12-26:
📰 Enterprise staffer mourned.

🔔 No decision on Youth for Christ club center.

🔴 Weber retires after 36 years at SB.

🏀 Lakers stifle panthers. https://mailchi.mp/f3aaad2f17fa/news-update-10342499

01/12/2026

Daniel Short was sworn-in as chief assistant Leelanau County Prosecutor in Circuit Court Monday. Short has worked in the prosecu- tor's office for several years. He replaces former chief assistant Tristan Chamberlain, who went on to pursue other business. Mason County attorney Lauren Kreinbrink has been hired to fill the third prosecutor's seat.

Pictured, from left, during the cer- emony was the Hon. Kevin Elsenheimer, Short, Kreinbrink and Prosecuting Attorney, Joseph T.

Leelanau News

01/11/2026

Enterprise staffer mourned
By Amy Hubbell
[email protected]

She was one of ours.

Teddy Paige, 81, longtime production staffer at the Enterprise, passed away Jan. 1. It wasn’t unexpected, but it still hurts.

Teddy grew up in Centerville Township, the eldest of three siblings in Schlueter family. After time at Northwestern Michigan College, where she met her husband Larry and moved to Wisconsin.

In their retirement years, the Paiges spent time at Lake Havasu and at the family farm on French Road.

“At some point, it just got to be too much for them and they made a home here,” Debra Lawrence, her sister, said. “They still kept in touch with some of the friends they met at Lake Havasu.”

After her husband died, Teddy kept very busy working at Plantmasters in Suttons Bay, but stopped when the physical labor got to be too much for her.

But she still enjoyed gardening at home. Her gardens, near the intersection of French and Gauthier roads, are filled with daffodils and lilies, among others.

Teddy responded to an advertisement for help in production at the Enterprise where she carved out a niche in the print operation, inserting papers, as well a collecting recycled materials.

Every Wednesday, around our news deadline, Teddy would enter the creative department and say, “How are my boys today?”

https://www.leelanaunews.com/article/6811,enterprise-staffer-mourned

01/11/2026

Enterprise staffer mourned
By Amy Hubbell
[email protected]

She was one of ours.

Teddy Paige, 81, longtime production staffer at the Enterprise, passed away Jan. 1. It wasn’t unexpected, but it still hurts.

Teddy grew up in Centerville Township, the eldest of three siblings in Schlueter family. After time at Northwestern Michigan College, where she met her husband Larry and moved to Wisconsin.

In their retirement years, the Paiges spent time at Lake Havasu and at the family farm on French Road.

“At some point, it just got to be too much for them and they made a home here,” Debra Lawrence, her sister, said. “They still kept in touch with some of the friends they met at Lake Havasu.”

After her husband died, Teddy kept very busy working at Plantmasters in Suttons Bay, but stopped when the physical labor got to be too much for her.

But she still enjoyed gardening at home. Her gardens, near the intersection of French and Gauthier roads, are filled with daffodils and lilies, among others.

Teddy responded to an advertisement for help in production at the Enterprise where she carved out a niche in the print operation, inserting papers, as well a collecting recycled materials.

Every Wednesday, around our news deadline, Teddy would enter the creative department and say, “How are my boys today?”

Leelanau News

01/10/2026

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day of Service with the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library & A Million Thanks.

Volunteers of all ages will gather at the library, Monday, Jan. 19 from 10:30 to noon in writing letters of thanks to veterans and service members.

All writing materials will be provided. Letters will be distributed by A Million Thanks, a nonprofit that distributes millions of handwritten messages of gratitude to active-duty service members and veterans across the globe.

Leelanau News

01/10/2026

The Bay Community Theatre has announced a new season of Live at the Bay in downtown Suttons Bay this winter and spring featuring a lineup of acclaimed musical and live performance artists in diverse genres.

The Winter/Spring series kicks off Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. with Canadian folk singer Garnet Rogers. Described as a “brilliant songwriter” and “one of the major talents of our time” by the Boston Globe. Rogers is a powerful physical presence — close to 6 1/2-feet tall — with a voice to match.

“Canada’s favorite troubadour” has been the featured performer on numerous television and radio programs including Much Music, Mountain Stage, and All Things Considered. She has been a headline at concert venues and festivals such as Wolf Trap, Lincoln Center, and Art Park, sharing the stage with performers such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Bragg, Bill Monroe, Ferron, Greg Brown, and Guy Clark.

The Bay Community Theatre has announced a new season of Live at the Bay in downtown Suttons Bay this winter and spring featuring a lineup of acclaimed musical and live performance artists in diverse genres.

01/10/2026

The Leland Township board reviewed and discussed further details about the Leland Cultural Overlay District at a workshop held Monday.

No action was taken as the township board will come to a vote on the zoning ordinance amendment request for the overlay district at its next regular meeting on Jan. 12.

The proposed amendment would create a new district overlay for three parcels of land within the Leland village area to allow for the continued use of and expansion of the existing nonprofit organizations with community-based missions that own or lease portions of the subject parcels.

Last fall, the Leland Township and Leelanau County planning commissions gave its approval of the proposed zoning amendment application submitted by the three applicant organizations: the Old Art Building (OAB), Leland Township Public Library, and the Leelanau Historical Society (LHS).

Leelanau News

01/10/2026

SBGC looks to Empire for needed housing
By Brian Freiberger
[email protected]

Attainable housing in Empire will be in the crosshairs as Sleeping Bear Gateway Community (SBGC), a nonprofit working to address housing growth attemps to get the ball rolling.

“We know we are going to start meeting in the new year,” said Mike Rivard, an SBGC board member. “It’s positive, and there’s a long way to go. But we have to start somewhere to develop a cluster housing concept.”

Leelanau News

01/10/2026

Calhoun proud of living in Northport
By Brian Freiberger
[email protected]

Jim Calhoun has never lived outside of Northport. And if it’s his way, he wouldn’t care to ever leave.

“I’ve always lived here, and people will say, Where would you like to go for a vacation? And I said, The best place for me for vacation is here, but you can’t have one ‘cause when I go out, everybody’s asking you questions,” Calhoun said jokingly. “But one older gentleman, one time, told me ‘you could do everything you want within 100 miles of Northport.’

You can hunt, you can go to the Upper Peninsula. We have some of the best fishing in the world.

And if you like the water and lakes, there’s no better place.”

Besides the four years he was in the Navy from 1967 to 1971 during the Vietnam War, Calhoun has always been in Northport.

Right after high school, Calhoun went into the Navy from 1967 to 1971 and served during the Vietnam War.

Leelanau News

01/09/2026

Northern Explorer 1/9/26: 🎣Vet fishing event Jan. 24. 🏡Calhoun proud of living in Northport. 🎿Lakers take first LMSC ski -

“I’ve always lived here, and people will say, Where would you like to go for a vacation? And I said, The best place for me for vacation is here, but you can’t have one ‘cause when I go out, everybody’s asking you questions,” Calhoun said jokingly. “But one older gentleman, one time, to...