Northern Express - October 03, 2022

When will peak fall color arrive?

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for the whole family

Bravo for BATA

Let’s hear it for our local transit agency, BATA! Over the last decade, our transit authority has continually improved. Here are only a few of the advancements:

- Launched Link on-demand, which provides affordable and timely transportation from our front doors

- Created the Bayline, providing service every 15 minutes without a fee

- Partnered with Traverse City’s Downtown Development Authority to offer free commuter passes for workers

- Secured state and federal funding for a new transfer station that’s also part of the region’s first transit-oriented housing project

- They also installed several heated bus stops!

So, as fall and winter progress, there’s no better time to park the car and try BATA. You’re going to enjoy the ride!

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The View from Above

The leaves are finally turning, and there’s a truly unique way to see them in northern Michigan: from high atop a chairlift. Though we still have a few months before ski season starts, chairlifts at NoMi resorts are up and running to give you panoramic views of all the reds, oranges, and gold of autumn on the slopes. It’s a great way to get the family involved in appreciating the changing seasons, and you won’t even have to break a sweat to see some of the prettiest scenery of the North. Crystal Mountain offers rides ($15/person for ages 6+) on Saturdays and Sundays (plus Friday Oct. 21 and 28); Boyne Mountain runs daily through October ($14/ticket for ages 6+); and Shanty Creek runs on Oct. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 11am to 4pm ($25 per chair, which fits up to four people). Tickets and more information are available on the resorts’ respective websites.

Tillie’s Tafel’s Cinnamon Rolls

For Jeff and Patti Dewes’ family, the communal table (“tafel” in German) has always featured cinnamon rolls, thanks to Grandma Tillie Dewes’ famous gourmet recipe. Opened in December 2020, Tillie’s Tafel in Petoskey—named for Grandma Tillie herself—is the ultimate in breakfast indulgence, headlined by its homemade cinnamon rolls. Featuring a raw yeast script (which took Jeff two years to perfect), Grandma Tillie’s titular bake hinges on a three-rise process, which gives each roll its signature softness. To finish, these five-byfive-inch treats are spread with scratch-made cinnamon filling (complete with Indonesian cinnamon and a secret Dewes family ingredient), before the whole shebang is topped with a schmear of tangy cream cheese frosting. Arrive early for a still-warm pastry paired with a mug of Sumatran coffee—you can thank us later. Score a Gourmet Cinnamon Roll for $5 or a four-pack for $20 at Tillie’s Tafel, 437 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey, (231) 753-2044, or order online at tilliestafel.com.

MoMITT, Mo’ Fun

Celebrate cycling (and running!) and more, Oct. 7-9 at MoMITT Bike Fest! Choose from six racing options at Mt. Holiday in Traverse City and enjoy an expo with a large beer garden, multiple food options, global bike brands, live music, and lots of family fun. Races include: The Black Chili XC, Dirty Des X, Shorty’s Blitz, Belgian Waffle Ride, Green Chili Super Junior, and Orange Pepper Push-Biker. For more info and to register, visit: momittbikefest.com.

4Hey, read It! The Last White Man

In a distinctly Kafkaesque twist, readers first encounter protagonist Anders on the morning his life changes forever. Though Anders remains blessedly bereft of insect shells and extra legs (Gregor Samsa who?), he awakes to find that his once-white skin is so dark as to be unrecognizable. Anders isn’t alone. Throughout his future-dystopian city, people continue to wake up with bafflingly brown complexions, much to the unease of their yet-pale neighbors. As Anders struggles to make sense of his new appearance, which comes with a side of judgmental stares, his community hangs in chaotic balance; until the day the last white man (Anders’ father, no less) perishes. Inspired by his own experiences in the aftermath of 9/11, bestselling author Mohsin Hamid’s The Last White Man conjures a not-too-distant world in which color constructs are suddenly gone. Through signature propulsive prose— and a sprinkling of satire noir—his novel cordially invites us to join him in joyous destruction of racial barriers. Happy smashing!

Friends, this is the weekend to be in Frankfort. First up is Frankfort Beer Week, which runs from Oct. 3 through Oct. 8. Events include a Pints for Polio fundraiser (Oct. 3); a screening of the Michigan Brewers Guild Great Beer State documentary at the Garden Theater (Oct. 5); a chocolate and beer pairing workshop (Oct 4.) and brews and brushes workshop (Oct. 6) at Parkview Taproom; and the Stormtoberfest Party at Stormcloud Brewing (Oct. 8). But wait—there’s more! Also on Oct. 8 is the Fall Festival in Frankfort, which begins with the Giant Pumpkins parade at 11am. (A “mutt march” dog parade happens concurrently for our canine friends!) At the end of the Parade, you’ll find kids’ activities, live music, a cornhole tournament, and a beer tent with drinks from local beverage creators Stormcloud, St. Ambrose, and Iron Fish Distillery. Get details for both events at frankfort-elberta.com.

Congratulations are in order for Traverse City legend Eugene Jenneman, who was recently announced as one of the four recipients for this year’s University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni Association awards. Jenneman is best known in northern Michigan as the founding executive director and longtime leader of the Dennos Museum Center. Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) hired Jenneman in 1988 to pilot the museum’s early years, and he worked closely with architect Bob Holdeman to design the Dennos Museum Center and oversee its construction. When the museum opened in 1991, Jenneman stayed on as executive director, ultimately leading the Dennos until he retired in 2019. Current Dennos Executive Director Craig Hadley is just the second executive director in museum history. A 1971 alumnus of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in physical sciences, Jenneman also started a scholarship at the university intended to “provide financial support for a student pursuing an international educational experience.”

If chairlifts aren’t your style for fall color viewing, perhaps the soon-to-be unveiled SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain Resort will do the trick. What is being heralded as the world’s largest timber-towered suspension bridge is nearly complete here in our backyard, and you can’t get much closer to the trees than walking among them. SkyBridge sits at the top of the Hemlock Scenic Chairlift (with a ride included to start your journey), and offers a 1,200-footlong stretch soaring 118 feet above the ground. Those who are acrophobia free (that is, no fear of heights) can be first in line when the attraction opens at 10am on Saturday, Oct. 15. The bridge will be open year-round, snow or shine. An all-day access ticket is $25 for ages 12-69, $20 for 70+, $15 for ages 3-11, and free for kids under 2. Tickets can be found at boynemountain.com/skybridge-michigan.

This Suttons Bay cidery has just announced its fall release of new ciders, and we were thrilled to see Macoun on the canned list. (That means we can bring more of it home!) While Macoun isn’t new to Two K, it’s not always in cans, and we are firm believers that just one glass at the tasting room isn’t enough. Made from the Macoun apple—called the “East Coast Honeycrisp” and popular in New York—the cider offers a juicy bite, like chomping into an apple fresh off the tree. The 2021 edition is said to have “tropical, honey, and spice undertones,” and it falls in the middle of sweet and dry, appealing to lots of palettes and pairing beautifully with just about any fall dish you’re cooking up. Enjoy a glass, fill a growler, or grab a six pack ($15.99) at 3872 SW Bay Shore Dr. in Suttons Bay. twokfarms.com

EXPERIMENTS IN THE CITY

spectator By Stephen Tuttle

Lawsuits involving Traverse City’s experimental fish pass project and restrictions on building heights have made their way to the state appeals court. Both involve appeals to decisions made by 13th Circuit Court judge Thomas Power. Power ruled the fish pass amounted to giving away city parkland, which would require a public vote. He also ruled that Proposition 3, which amended the city charter to restrict building heights to no more than 60 feet without a public vote, was valid and not in conflict with state laws regarding zoning. Lawsuits opposed both decisions.

(In the interest of full disclosure, Judge Power is a former classmate and current friend of this writer.)

A new voice in the fish pass debate was recently heard when Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed an amicus brief agreeing with the city’s position. She even managed to find and support a brand-

species would naturally swim upstream and into Boardman Lake if there was no dam or other impediments at all.

In other city news, there is a new “affordable housing” proposal on East Front Street with 53 units and 22 parking spots, plus 12 additional spots for bicycles. If you’re wondering how that math works out, we were told the project is only 115 feet from a bus stop.

We have apparently decided those who qualify for affordable housing aren’t exactly like the rest of us. Most don’t have cars, don’t have visitors or family who have cars, likely have no children, never want to go anyplace not dependent on a bus schedule, and never want to, or can afford to, go anyplace outside of walking distance.

There’s nothing intentionally aimed at lower-income renters here; the obsession

The fish pass is a true experiment, the tall building debate a kind of social engineering experiment. Both might work out splendidly. But the trouble with experiments is they might not work out at all.

new argument for the project. In addition to the usual rhetoric about protecting the river from invasive species and the positive economic impact and the widespread support, she added flood control.

This is what happens when politicians, or their staff, don’t do quite enough homework before trying to bolster their reasons for supporting something. The next time Attorney General Nessel and/or whoever wrote her statement are in Traverse City, they should take a long look at the lower Boardman River.

While replacing the Union Street dam is part of the fish pass project, and it’s true enough dams can serve the function of flood control, that hardly seems likely in this case. The upper Boardman River, on which dams have been removed, can flood under some extreme circumstances. But as such an event moved downstream, it would run into a pretty effective and natural flood control—Boardman Lake. To overrun the quite steep banks of the lower Boardman would require a flood cataclysm of biblical proportions.

It’s not likely germane to the lawsuit, but we still don’t even know exactly what the fish pass will do. Despite the involvement of a host of supporting organizations, tribal nations, and government entities that have had months and months to figure it out, we still do not know which fish species will be allowed to pass, which will be stopped, and exactly how that will be accomplished. In fact, we haven’t even been told which

with limiting parking now being evidenced by city decision makers will apply to any new multi-family residential development. But it’s true enough the folks in the downtown high-cost condos can more easily afford life without owning a car.

It’s a safe bet that most or all of those officials who believe 53 residential units with 22 parking spots is a swell idea have cars themselves. It’s an even safer bet they aren’t standing at a bus stop in mid-January waiting for a lift to a grocery store because walking is untenable.

New urbanism is mostly a theory imposed on others, an experiment not unlike the fish pass. The clarion call is density with tall residential buildings and limited parking downtown. The fantasy is a critical mass of residents/tenants, businesses, and attractions in a relatively confined downtown space that becomes selfsufficient and self-sustaining with only a minimal need for personal vehicles. So far, the vision has not been shared by the majority of Traverse City voters.

Another test of that will take place at the polls this November when local residents will get a third opportunity to decide if they want a structure downtown to exceed 60 feet.

The fish pass is a true experiment, the tall building debate a kind of social engineering experiment. Both might work out splendidly. But the trouble with experiments is they might not work out at all.

Harvest season in the cannabis industry means Croptober has arrived! Michigan’s cannabis growers take the entire summer season growing and maintaining various strains to bring forth an abundance come fall.

During Croptober, local growers anticipate walking through those tall columns of trees to enjoy the fragrant terpenes during the flowering cycle just before cutting them to cure for your enjoyment. All those potent flowers have soaked up the summer sun to energize their trichomes that will give us all the elevation we will need throughout the winter months (and the holiday season).

After a few more weeks of critical curing and trimming, those high volumes of quality bud will hit the shelves of your nearest cannabis retailer.

So go ahead—plan those bonfires and get-togethers! Dunegrass will help you take them to the next level. Utilize delivery, curbside, or drive-thru options with some of our locations. Otherwise, join us in-store, where we can show you the freshly-harvested selections provided by our growing partners.

With the increase in inventory, typically Croptober also means a large variety of products to choose from. It’s a great time to connect with one of our budtenders to learn about something new, or to try out this year’s version of an old favorite.

Beyond that, we hope that this season you harvest gratitude, sharing, and camaraderie in your circle. We recommend you take some time to travel around our great state to explore the scenic fall views, trek the trails before snow falls, and try the wide array of botanicals that are being offered from the talented growers in the region.

Not sure where to start? Find locally grown cannabis, harvested at peak perfection, at your nearest Dunegrass Outfitter, and we can help you plan the trip.

THE WORLD IS KNOCKING AT OUR DOOR

guest opinion by Cathye Williams

Going into the final stretch of 2022, I’d like to take stock of how we are doing environmentally. So, how are we doing?

Well, the U.S. has seen 52,669 wildfires destroy almost 7 million acres in 10 states since the beginning of 2022 (National Interagency Fire Center). California remains in a megadrought with no end in sight. As water wells and reserves dry up, residents swelter and businesses suffer. Oppressive heat waves struck multiple regions, stretching for days, endangering health, and straining relief and power resources. Torrential rains put much of Kentucky in peril this year, killing dozens and causing hundreds of millions in damage. Some even predict that the costs reach $1 billion (NPR).

was Sept. 14, at which time much land remained under water and help for hunger and sickness was only slowly making its way in.

One might wonder why I’m discussing these far-flung calamities in our small community paper. We’re fine! Don’t I have any local topics to tackle? Perhaps because I love NoMi people and places, I believe that these stories are our stories as well.

Atoms pay no mind to the lines humans draw on maps. There is no wall that will keep the pollution from the air or water that’s making its way around the world. We each have played a part and benefitted from the problem, and we each hold the hope for a solution.

The U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico, still rebuilding from last year’s hurricanes, once again took a hit, causing widespread flooding, wind damage, and power outages. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose state is often described as “ground zero” for climate change, faces a tropical storm that is gaining strength and appears on course for his state’s west coast, where it is expected to wreak havoc across the Southeast. Interestingly, the governor, who has declared a state of emergency and who no doubt will accept all federal aid sent his way, also intends to prohibit Florida’s financial managers from considering climate change as a factor when making investment decisions with state funds, thus easing the path for investment in the fossil fuels whose use is threatening Floridians (Orlando Weekly).

Make no mistake, these U.S. woes are just a drop in the bucket of the world’s environmental troubles. Our allies in Europe haven’t had the best year either and are no stranger to heatwaves, fires, and floods. They too are facing the rise of climate deniers and fossil fuel enablers in the ranks of government.

However, it’s the least developed and usually poorer nations, as well as marginalized and oppressed communities in wealthier nations, who continue to bear a disproportionate burden from climate change impacts. For example, deadly flooding in Pakistan in late August has killed at least 1,500 people and displaced and/or left destitute 33 million. As with each disaster, the forgetting has begun. The New York Times’ last story on the subject

Experts tell us that even if we stopped all carbon emissions today, the impacts we are seeing are already “baked in” based on the warming that has already occurred. Whether the impacts of a warming planet are physical, economic, or emotional, they will reach us. Billions in human and material resources are already deployed to disaster relief. Markets are affected, as is food security. Millions of people will continue to migrate from the most deeply affected places to find safety and resources.

Climate change is and always will be a local issue, both because it affects us locally and because so many local people care. Who among us doesn’t know a soul who lives in or travels to Florida, Kentucky, or any of the places where climate impacts are more obvious? When we see the images of burning trees, homes and belongings washed away by floods, or survivors picking through rubble looking for some piece of their life, who wouldn’t think, “What if that was me?” Who wouldn’t understand that it could be?

People, I think especially people here in northern Michigan, have the capacity to think and care both about and beyond their present place and circumstance. There has never been a more important time to do so. Hike your trail, tend your garden, cast your reel in one of NoMi’s rivers. Then learn about what you can do to protect them.

Cathye Williams serves as volunteer and media liaison for the Grand Traverse and Manistee chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby. She writes from the northern corner of Manistee County.

Swing Into Spring

on sunday, may 8th at 3pm

DR. TIMOTHY TOPOLEWSKI, ENCORE DIRECTOR

SPECIAL GUEST ENSEMBLE “SUN RADIUS BIG BAND”

tickets available at mynorthtickets.com or at the door Come tap your toes and help us kick out winter in a swinging style!

Adults: $15.00

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM 1150 MILLIKEN DR. - TRAVERSE CITY

Did You Hear? Encore is back and will present a re-opening concert on October 16th at 3 pm at The First Congregational Church. This year's concert theme is "A Musical Mosaic." Our first concert will include works by Holst, Lo Presti, Ticheli, Bach and Shostakovich. Please put these concert dates on your calendar and support Encore's Concert Series. Oct. 16 Dec. 10th March 12th May 14th Encore is happy to be back making music. Let's make some "great" musical memories.

Seniors: $ 10.00 Students: $5.00 Kids 12 & under: Freewww.encorewinds.org

Nature and Science for creative and curious minds of all ages

SPORTING BINOCULARS

CELESTRON KOWA NIKON OPRICRON SWAROVSKI VORTEX and MORE1

HOURS 10-5:30 Mon to Sat 11:00 to 4:00 Sun

223 St Joseph St. (M22) Suttons Bay / 231-271-6033 / Enerdynet.com

9-15-22

Northern Express Weekly • oct 03, 2022 • 9 THURSDAY OCTOBER 6TH – 7:00 PM SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE & REGISTER www.enerdynet.comSuttons Bay 231-271-6033

FREE SCREENING

Hike your trail, tend your garden, cast your reel in one of NoMi’s rivers. Then learn about what you can do to protect them.

The Perfect Pairing

Wining and dining on the wine trail

By Geri Dietze

It all starts with the soil and the crops, and whether the result is a collection of awardwinning vineyards or a dedicated cohort of sustainable farms and artisanal purveyors, the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula wine trails are a particularly fitting venue for fine dining. This is where terroir meets table, to sublime effect. The wineries featured below take food seriously, both as an accompaniment to their vintages and as a nod to local and regional culinary arts.

Black Star Farms: A Dining Destination

Black Star Farms of Suttons Bay (with a satellite location on Old Mission Peninsula) is no stranger to good food with a local touch. For casual visits, their Hearth & Vine Café, open through October, offers a farm-to-table menu of shareable apps, substantial salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Choose from house-smoked Whitefish Pate, Beef Tenderloin salad, or a savory Turkey Club with smoked bacon and raclette.

And while we love a visit to the café, the bounty of the Suttons Bay vineyards and farm harvest is best represented through the Arcturos Dining Series, now in its second decade.

The series menus are created to reflect the seasons, or “whatever the harvest looks like,” says Sheri Campbell Fenton, managing owner at Black Star Farms, with ingredients sourced on-site as well as from local and regional farms. The evening includes a welcome reception followed by seating—limited to 50—at the communal table. “People really like that, and diners who start out as strangers become friends,” Fenton adds.

Chef Oumar Sy will present the evening’s menu at the Fall Harvest Dinner on Oct. 29, which features morel mushroom bisque alongside 2017 Blanc de Blanc; pistachio-crusted fried goat cheese with 2021 Arcturos Pinot Noir Rosé; bouillabaisse with mussel, scallop, shrimp, and sea bass accompanied by 2021 Sur Lie Chardonnay; rack of elk with butternut squash and prosciutto paired with 2019 Arcturos Cabernet Franc; and poached pear with five-spice caramel and vanilla ice cream with Delighted Sparkling Wine.

If that doesn’t make you hit the RSVP button, we don’t know what will. Reservations fill up fast, so don’t wait. You can also welcome in the new year on December 31 at the Arcturos elevated dinner, the final in the series for 2022. (Black tie is optional, but why not?) Menu and details will be coming soon.

For information on the Arcturos Dining Series, winery tours, carriage rides, private events, or elevated wine tastings, call (231) 944-1270 or visit blackstarfarms.com.

Chateau Chantal: Elegance, with Lake Effect

Nothing is quite as beautiful as the sight of Chateau Chantal across a terraced vineyard, with views of both Grand Traverse Bays as you cross from one side of the winery to the other. Thankfully, you don’t need a passport to savor this French-inspired venue with its full roster of wine dinners and events, curated by Chef Chris Mushall.

Wine dinners in the chateau are scheduled for Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout October. Menus and wine pairings will vary, but last week’s 2022 Harvest Wine Dinner is a good example of what to expect: braised boulette of beef with Amour Rosé; redskin potato boursin cheese potage alongside their Semi-dry Riesling; a Naughty Apple Hard Cider sorbet; pan-seared rainbow trout with—for a twist—the Naughty Red; heritage pork ribeye and Gewurztraminer; and, as an appropriate finish, house-made s’mores with their cherry port dessert wine, Cerise.

But wait, there’s more! Celebrate the holidays with the Naughty and Nice Wine Dinner, scheduled for Dec. 3, 10, and 17. The menu pairings include several Chateau Chantal vintages, with a focus on the popular Naughty and Nice reds and whites. (Pro tip: These wines make excellent holiday gifts for everything from Christmas to Valentine’s Day.)

Going forward, 2023 will be busy with two seatings for the sixth annual Fire and Ice dinner—which celebrates Chateau Chantal’s incomparable ice wine tradition—two Valentine’s Day dinners, plus a Cabin Fever event.

You can also get hands-on experience for groups of 1 to 12 with a full roster of cooking classes. (Sample all of the dishes, complete with wine pairings.) Chateau Chantal partners with Taste the Local Difference to make all wine dinners a Certified Local Food Event, sourcing at least 54 percent of its ingredients and products from Michigan farms and businesses.

Call (231) 223-4110 or visit chateauchantal.com.

Brengman Brothers at Crain Hill Vineyards: Hospitality Runs in the Family

Detroiters and east side suburbanites of a certain age will remember the Brengmans for their stewardship of the very popular Captain restaurants, but in our region, the Brengman name is synonymous with fine wine, created with the old-world technique of dry farming and inspired by a reverence for the land.

Their approach to food is much the same: Chef Logan Call is the creative energy behind the new and expanding culinary program, which will include wine dinners and themed events—what he calls “dinner experiences”—linking the region’s farms with the fine wines produced by Brengman Brothers.

Explains Chef Logan, “Our culinary program [will create] a food ethos that will highlight the deep relevance” of locally sourced foodstuffs. “It will truly be a snapshot of the area.”

Typically, wine dinners will be six-course affairs, limited to 40 guests, with presentations about the dishes and the accompanying wines. “We are passionate about storytelling,” Chef Logan adds. Menus are a work in progress, but know that each dish will be an expression of the region’s abundance and the culinary skill of Chef Logan and Sous Chef John Weber.

If you haven’t seen the winetasting room with its soaring Douglas fir-timbered ceiling and two-story fireplace, just know that the ambience is seriously stunning. What better setting for an evening of fine wines and gorgeously crafted food?

Just stopping in for a glass of wine or a tasting flight? The casual visitor can choose from the northern-style tapas menu, available daily (light snack menu on Tuesdays) from 2pm to closing, featuring a satisfying range of items from savories to sweets, based on the seasonal bounty of the region.

Look for individual pizzas, salad, and generous smorgasbords—for the committed carnivore, the cheese aficionado, and the veggie fan—featuring house-made relishes, jellies, butters, and artisanal crackers and breads. The pull-apart cheesy bread made with locally sourced raclette, topped with a rustic tomato and olive salad, is worth the trip alone.

Call (231) 421-5611 or visit brengmanbrothers.com.

THE ANATOMY OF AN ELECTION

guest opinion by Marie E. McKenna-Wicks, MPA

What’s the anatomy of an election? For many folks, you register to vote, then you either vote from home, vote in person before Election Day, or vote in person on Election Day, and that’s it.

I have spent the majority of my career working in elections. I served as clerk for the city of East Lansing for seven years, was part of the Joint Evaluation Committee that helped evaluate and approve election equipment vendors for the state of Michigan, and, beginning in 2018, I traveled across the state training local and county officials in election administration.

Our elections are only as secure as the systems in place to run them, and I am extremely confident about the state of them for this upcoming election. Here’s why:

their time to help citizens perform their civic duty, and they should be celebrated for what they do.

With the Nov. 8 election coming up, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get the word out to our friends and neighbors about the importance of voting and how to cast your ballot. First, make sure you are registered to vote. Head to mi.gov/vote where you can confirm that you are registered at your current address. If you are unsure about these details, call your city or township clerk to double-check.

You have until polls close at 8pm local time on Election Day to register to vote at your city or township clerk’s office, but please, don’t wait until the last minute! More information can be found at michiganvoting.org. Until

Michigan is one of eight states to have a decentralized voting system, which means that our elections are managed by local officials. There are hundreds of people across the state working to ensure that voters have the correct information to cast their ballots successfully and that our elections are secure. This system makes it extremely difficult to cheat because of the various checks along the way before delivering statewide results. For example, there is a technology that we use to ensure that voters cannot vote twice or register to vote twice, which updates in real time.

Local election officials work hard to make sure that all voters have the tools and resources they need to vote. Along with training election inspectors, printing ballots, mailing ballots, and setting up polling locations, we handle a variety of tasks that are integral to our elections. When I was serving as the clerk in East Lansing, I worked with student organizations on Michigan State University’s campus to register young people to vote and made it a priority to educate them about our elections. Additionally, many of us, including myself, are officials whose role is to serve all voters in a nonpartisan fashion.

Clerks are the heroes of our elections. Our statewide elections are conducted locally by our neighbors, people we see at the grocery store, with whom we send our kids to school, and might even see at our house of worship. That’s why some of the lies and misinformation that have stemmed from the 2020 election are undermining the hard work of people who are just doing the jobs they were trained to do. Election inspectors are your friends, family, and people in your community who devote

Oct. 24, you can register to vote online, by mail, at a Secretary of State office (or other state office that provides public assistance), or your clerk’s office. Starting Oct. 25 through 8pm on Election Day, there’s one way to register to vote and that’s by visiting your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency (such as a driver’s license or utility bill).

All Michigan registered voters can vote from home with an absentee ballot. Once you’ve registered, follow the instructions at michiganvoting.org/vote-before-electionday to request an absentee ballot. If you send your ballot by mail, do so by October 25. Beginning October 26, drop your absentee ballot off at your city or township clerk’s office or in their secure drop box. Additionally, you can vote in-person at your clerk’s office.

Also, make sure that you check which voting district you are registered in. You can call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-6878683) if you have any more questions about how to vote or need to report a problem.

Finally, please join me and Center for Change: Northern Michigan Advocacy for our “Anatomy of an Election Roadshow” event series. I’ll be making several stops across northern Michigan the week of Oct. 4 to present nonpartisan, objective information about our elections. Everyone is welcome and is encouraged to bring questions! Find out more information at c4cmi.org.

Marie McKenna-Wicks has spent over 20 years in the public/nonprofit sectors. She is former East Lansing city clerk and current elections assistant and precinct chair for the city of East Lansing.

Our elections are only as secure as the systems in place to run them, and I am extremely confident about the state of them for this upcoming election.

Fall on the Farm

What local farmers are harvesting and growing this season

By Rachel Pasche

Summer may be the peak tourism season, but for farmers, autumn brings long days toiling in the soil harvesting, preparing, packing, and even planting crops. Two local farms—9 Bean Rows and Lakeview Hill—provided us with some insight into what the autumnal harvest looks like, what their days consist of, and which produce to seek out at farmers markets this October.

9 Bean Rows

Operated by Nic and Jen Welty, 9 Bean Rows sits off of Horn Road in Lake Leelanau. The farm/store/deli/bakery storefront is always a bustling scene where you can pick up a fresh loaf of bread, a bag of microgreens, a fresh pizza or sandwich, or a bag of farm-grown produce. Their farm is chemical- and pesticide-free, and they grow a huge variety of crops year-round thanks to their farm, hoop houses, and greenhouses.

What’s Happening: Nic laughs when we ask him what time the day starts. “It depends on who you ask,” he says. “Some staff start their day between midnight and 2am, but the farm staff usually arrives around 5am.”

Upon arrival, farmers begin harvesting, aiming to have the day’s produce picked before the sun comes up. After that, they prepare and pack the veggies for their next stage, which could be headed to a farmers market, their CSA, the storefront, or local restaurants. Once fall fully descends, harvest of the autumn veggies (such as squash and pumpkins) can take place in the evenings.

Those pumpkins are somewhat legendary. “Growing giant pumpkins is my hobby,” Nic says. “I’m hoping to enter a competition this year with one of them.” He also likes to dabble in unique-to-NoMi crops, testing out things like artichokes, okra, and even wheat to see what takes.

What’s Ready: Currently, 9 Bean Rows is harvesting salad mix, lettuce greens, microgreens, spinach, kale, chard, and even sweet corn. Once they get a bit of frost, root vegetables such as rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, beets, radishes, and the “best-looking crop of brussels sprouts [we’ve] ever grown” will be ready for harvesting.

“Right now is peak planting time for the winter greens,” Nic tells Northern Express. “We have to prepare the hoop houses and clear out the old crops, get the soil ready with compost, and plant the new ones. It’s tough because you have to get the timing for planting just right. If you plant something even a few days late, your harvest can be delayed by a month.”

Losing staff members is an additional hurdle the farmers have to face during the fall rush, with many workers returning to school once September arrives.

What’s New: 9 Bean Rows has built a giant Llopis masonry oven to perfect their breadbaking process. (Though we think it was already pretty perfect.) This giant brick oven features a rotating hearth, and Nic expects it to be a game-changer for their bakery.

In addition to the new oven, 9 Bean Rows is launching fermented crops in 2023, with offerings such as tangy kimchi, salty and sour sauerkraut, and crunchy pickles. They also hope to test out more kitchen items with their produce, such as salsas and Bloody Mary mixes.

Find them at 9beanrows.com.

Lakeview Hill Farm

Lakeview Hill Farm is an organic farm located between South Lake Leelanau and West Grand Traverse Bay, off Lakeview Hills Road. Co-owners Bailey Samp and John Dindia pride themselves on providing people with organic produce and using sustainable energy sources. The farm itself is 100 percent solar powered, and the hoop houses and greenhouses use a high-efficiency gasification wood boiler system with wood collected from the farm.

What’s Happening: The farm team starts their day around 7am and gets straight to work harvesting veggies, packing them up, and preparing for their winter crops. The day usually ends around 3 or 4pm for the staff and closer to 5 or 6pm for John and Bailey.

“This time of year can be especially hectic,” John says, “because we’re harvesting our late summer and fall crops while simultaneously preparing and planting our winter crops.”

Some of these winter crops—like baby leaf greens, bunching greens, and microgreens— are available nearly all year round on restaurant menus and in stores. (If you’ve never had the chance to try a salad made with fresh, locally grown greens, we strongly recommend it! The taste and crisp texture of these fresh greens is enough to put any salad in the spotlight.)

What’s Ready: When asked what was currently being harvested, John gave us an extensive list: Vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, celery, sweet peppers, and shishito peppers are all ripe and ready to be sold and enjoyed. “A huge variety of greens grown in our greenhouses are also being harvested, such as arugula, baby spinach, collard greens, baby kale, rainbow chard, pea shoots, and multiple different types of microgreens,” John adds.

The produce, according to John, goes to a plethora of different places. “We have a farm store that’s open Monday through Saturday, where we sell some of our produce. We also sell to a few local restaurants, have booths at farmers markets, and are an owner of the MI Farm Co-Op, which is a multi-farm CSA that aims to provide people with fresh food from a variety of local farms,” he tells us.

What’s New: After a successful growing season, John and Bailey are setting their sights on their goals for 2023. They plan on introducing a transplant sale to the public, where people can purchase vegetable, fruit, herb, and natural grass plants that are grown by professional farmers and at the right stage of growth to be transplanted.

“This allows people to bring the farm into their own garden and ensure they’re getting a plant that’s been grown properly and is certified organic,” John says, explaining that most other garden stores aren’t offering certified organic plants, and some of their stock isn’t always at the right stage to be transplanted.

In addition to the plants, they’ll offer gardening supplies such as compost and other tools to help nurture the plants’ growth. Learn more at lakeviewhillfarm.com.

Two Are Better Than One

By Anna Faller

Local restaurateurs Nick and Natalie Crawford never sit still very long. As industry veterans and co-owners of two successful eateries, this pair is always looking for ways to push the edible envelope.

“We’re trying to figure out the next best thing, and how we can get [others] involved in something that benefits everybody,” says Natalie.

In their case, that “something,” is culinary innovation (and a healthy sprinkle of fresh, quality ingredients). It’s a concept they’ve fostered in Birch & Maple, their first Frankfort kitchen, since 2018. Now, the two are at it again, with neighboring taqueria Dos Arboles…and this time, they’ve brought extra spice.

Searching for the Perfect Space

Their story begins in Colorado, where Natalie—fresh from Traverse City’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute program—met nowhusband Nick at the Stanley Hotel. From there, they helped found a handful of restaurants before deciding to open a space of their own. To do that, they moved to Frankfort, Michigan, Natalie’s childhood summer spot. “We would vacation out here from Colorado, and we saw an opportunity,” says Nick.

After a few years of diligent searching, the couple purchased the space that now houses Birch & Maple, a local go-to for scratch-made goodies. Its limited seating capacity, however (which accommodates 85 diners), proved an unexpected challenge.

“We were turning away more people than we could serve, because we just didn’t have the space,” Nick explains. So, when the adjacent antique shop opened up, the couple seized the chance to expand.

Opened in May, Dos Arboles (Spanish for two trees) features taqueria-inspired cuisine, while still maintaining the farm-fresh approach that defines the Crawfords as restaurateurs.

“We’d always wanted to do a Mexican concept,” says Nick, which is the pair’s goto travel food. But even more importantly, they wanted the space to offer the top-notch service that attracts them as diners and longtime foodies. He says, “When we helped concept restaurants out West, we were always asking [ourselves], ‘Is this a place that I would want to go?’”

In the case of their new venture, the answer is a resounding yes. Awash in fiestaworthy trappings of turquoise flecked with yellows and reds, Dos Arboles is purposefully designed to bring Mexico’s warmth to northern Michigan. In the dining room, guests can choose from an array of tables and clamshell-style booths, all of which lead to the wood-paneled bar and its spectacular assemblage of bottled spirits.

The outdoor seating is just as, if not more, inviting. Flanked by two garage-style doors, the dining room literally expands in the summer—a purposeful design element, Nick informs us. Open, the doors lead to a ground-level patio, complete with working fire pits; in chilly weather, they close to encompass an extra 14 seats inside.

The icing on the horchata chocolate cake, however (more on the menu to come!), is the 20-seater rooftop deck, which, in addition to its own cocktail bar, offers an unobstructed view of Betsie Bay’s pristine panorama.

Serving Authentic Creations

In the kitchen, the couple also aimed to cultivate true Mexican flavors. “More Americanized [offerings]—wet burritos, fajitas, and things like that—are great…but we saw the opportunity to do something a little bit more elevated,” says Nick. As such, the finished menu is packed with dishes from the Yucatan to Baja and back.

That tour, of course, begins with tequila or its smoky cousin, mezcal. In addition to all of the usual suspects (including vodka, whiskey, and gin, some of which are Mexican brands), Dos Arboles’s 12-seater bar offers more than 200 agave-based spirits, a collection that certified sommelier Nick is still in the process of cultivating.

“My goal is to ultimately get to 500,” he says. Some of his hand-picked selections include the sweetly-vegetal Tequila Ocho; Del Maguey’s “Single Village” mezcal for sipping individually (a practice Dos Arboles happily enables via 1and 2-ounce pours); or Siete Leguas Blanco tequila for a superior margarita.

Whatever drink you choose, you know it will go well with tacos. Short of pressing their own tortillas, Dos Arboles operates a from-scratch kitchen, a distinction which, as chef Natalie notes, sets it apart from similar spots. As such, its extensive taco selection, specifically the carnitas and tinga varieties,

showcase time-intensive proteins that are prepared authentically on-site. “There’s so much love that goes into them, and I think that shows in the end product,” she says.

In addition to several modernized classics, including churros and plenty of salsa, Dos Arboles has also peppered its menu with a few unexpected preparations. Of these, the Mexican Double Fried Chicken Thighs are by far the most likely to blow your mind. A substantial entrée intended for two, this creative take on the classic fajita begins with 24-hour brined chicken fried twice in a Mexican-style tempu ra (a light-as-air recipe that includes both Mexican beer and tequila) that’s tossed in crunchy barbeque sauce and served with black beans, peppers, and pickled jalapenos. Nick maintains it’s an absolute must; in fact, it’s the best fried chicken he’s ever had.

Other menu standouts include the deliciously-shareable Mole Verde, a traditional Mexican sauce containing house-braised pork carnitas, poblano peppers, masa harina, and more than a dozen herbs and spices; the quesocovered Nacho Gigante; and the sweet-meetssavory perfection of the raspberry-chipotle glazed Pepe Cristo. “It’s definitely a different flavor profile than you would get at a basic Mexican restaurant,” says Natalie.

Sourcing Local Flavors

The couple’s singular approach to cuisine also applies to the products and produce they use. Much like its sister eatery, Dos Arboles partners with Cold Creek Farm

(Benzonia) for as many ingredients as it can get. This includes plenty of sustainablygrown produce, as well as a few made-justfor-them items; most notably, a series of house-branded hot sauces.

Unlike standard production, however, Cold Creek Farm uses permaculture, a system of holistic farming wherein the land integrates both animals and plants. In the kitchen at Dos Arboles, this translates to optimized crossutilization and minimal waste.

The whole system starts with a few pigs, whose feed is comprised of kitchen scraps. In turn, the pigs fertilize and de-root land, upon which greenhouses are then constructed.

“Having that full-circle concept is great,” says Natalie. “Not only does it save us on trash”—in fact, both restaurants share one dumpster—“but recycling food and plastic is super important.”

The farm then provides Dos Arboles with a rotating array of vegetables, including tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini, as well as aromatic herbs and a litany of spicy peppers, for which Natalie is tasked with dreaming up dishes.

That urgency of using fresh food for great meals just feeds the fire. “That’s the best thing about the restaurant industry,” she says. “It’s always new, and we’re always evolving.”

Dos Arboles is open from 5-10pm Wednesday-Friday, 3-10pm on Saturdays, and 3-9pm on Sundays. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Find them at 735 Main St. in Frankfort, (231) 399-0770. dosarbolesfrankfort.com

The creators of Frankfort’s Birch & Maple present Dos Arboles

Dos Arboles' nachos.

Nick's No. 1 fried chicken.

The mole verde, complete with tortillas.

Donuts, Pumpkin Patches, and Corn Mazes,

fall treats and activities for the whole family

By Brighid Driscoll

The bittersweet transition from fall to summer has been made a little easier. The Farmers' Almanac has predicted a warmer-than-usual autumn for us northern Michiganders, and with a host of fun fall activities and our beautiful northern Michigan home as a backdrop, we’re excited to spend some time with loved ones outside. Dream up your Jack-O-Lantern designs, prepare your taste buds, and grab your scarf; we have some fall fun coming your way.

Donuts, Donuts, Donuts

It’s not fall without donuts, and Mitten Licken Donut Co. is bringing them to you by the truckload. Husband and wife duo Dylan and Ariel Johnson are the proud owners and donut-makers behind the confectionary caravan.

“Our most popular sellers are our Maple Bacon [and] Peanutbutter Oreo. We have a puppychow one, a s’mores. We like to play around with new flavors every month too, so we have quite a lot of flavors.” As for the Johnsons’ favorite donut? “Classic cinnamon sugar.”

Though the fall festival season is winding down, Mitten Licken will still be available to hire for private parties and events

throughout the winter. Contact and keep up with them by liking their Facebook page.

For the classics, Cops and Doughnuts locations can be found throughout northern Michigan. With Long Johns, fritters, and bismarks galore, there’s a flavor for everyone. The donut emporium is lovingly owned by nine active and retired cops who also serve other delicious pastries like giant cookies, various breads, and paczki on Fat Tuesday. Find them at their Jay’s Precinct location in Gaylord, locations in Bay City and Mt. Pleasant, at their bakery in Clare, and scattered throughout NoMi convenience stores.

Last but not least, get a bite-sized fix at Peace, Love and Little Donuts in downtown Traverse City. If variety is what you crave but you can’t help but feel full after only one, little donuts may be the answer. Due to their poppable size, you can explore more than a few. We like the Raspberry Lemonade and a classic Chocolate Sprinkle.

Family Fun

Embrace half a dozen fall activities at the popular Poplar Pines Farm in Mesick. The farm has been in Jessica Pangborn’s family since 1987.

“Three or four years ago, we decided to take our hobby farm and turn it into something a little more public,” Pangborn

says. A farm open to the public in a neighboring community had closed after destruction caused by a large storm, and there was a need in the community for a family-friendly farm that people could visit, especially in the fall. “We decided to open and offer hayrides, pumpkins, games, and that sort of thing,” she explains.

A favorite fall event is the Pumpkin Hunt. “Kids take a hayride out to the woods on the back of our property. We hide a bunch of pumpkins through the woods, and the kids go and hunt for whatever pumpkin they want. The community received it really well, and the kids absolutely love it.” This year’s event will be Saturday, October 15. Tickets are $15 a person and must be reserved in advance at poplarpinesfarm.com under the Events tab.

While you’re at Poplar Pines, make sure to stop by the petting farm. Mini goats, ponies, and horses are sure to delight your littles, along with adorable rabbits, ducks, and chickens. If you want to make a night out of it or are traveling, check out the farm’s camping information, also available on their website.

Jacob’s Farm, a historic site on the Leelanau side of Traverse City, is also well worth the stop or detour on an autumn afternoon. Their first corn maze was created in 2008 and has only grown in popularity. This year’s theme is Alice in Wonderland

and has 10 acres dedicated to the labyrinth. (Adult tickets are $15, and kids are $10 for the two-hour maze.) Refuel after wandering through wonderland with pizza, wraps, salads, and simple kids menu items. Jacob’s Farm Signature Pizza with jalapeño, beef, black beans, and corn is as delicious as it is inventive, and their cocktail offerings extend into craft territory and are thoughtfully made and locally sourced. Every Wednesday through Sunday, you can catch live music from 6-8:30pm. With sprawling acreage, playscapes, food, drinks, and music, this truly is a destination fit for the entire family.

Pahl’s Pumpkin Patch and Country Store in Buckley is another classic fall tradition. Every year David and Holly Pahl grow pumpkins on 15 acres. The varieties vary, so if you’re looking for something more unique in color or texture, Pahl’s is your place. They just opened for their season on September 19 and have all the other autumn accouterments you could want at their store, including fresh cider and donuts. They also have a corn maze, apple cannon, and slide for the kids. Entrance to Pahl’s is $5 and includes hay mazes. Pumpkins are priced according to their size, with little ones at 50 cents and larger ones up to $20. Visit before the end of October; Halloween is their last day open for the fall season!

THE LIGHTNING THIEF -TYA EDITION

OCT 29, 2022 - 11AM & 1:30PM General Admission $10

“The Lightning Thief is an action-packed musical with heroic battles and mythical beasties.”

- Elizabeth Vincentelli, New York Post

INTERLOCHEN

JAZZ COMBO

NOV 11, 2022 - 8PM

Experience Interlochen Arts Academy’s finest jazz musicians in an intimate performance at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City. Enjoy a diverse program of jazz standards and contemporary charts composed or arranged for small ensembles.

Theeventwillfeature MarieE.McKennaWicks,MPA, aformerEastLansingCity ClerkandElectionsAssistantandPrecinct ChairforthecityofEastLansing.Ms.Wicks hasextensiveexperienceatallelection levels.Ofnote,in2015sheservedonthe JointEvaluationCommitteeattheMichigan BureauofElections.Thiscommitteehadthe responsibilityofvettingthethreeelection equipmentvendorsthatareusedinthe StateofMichigan.

Mariewillreviewcurrentelectionlaw.There aresomuchchecksandbalancesinour votingsystems,YOUWILLBEAMAZEDat howsecureYOURVOTEisintheStateof Michigan.ItwillbeFUNandINSIGHTFULto hearherpresentherexperiences.Besureto bringyourquestionsastherewillbea vigorousopendiscussionperiod.Wewill havecardsforyourqueriesandFOODfor yourbellies.

Cheboygan,10:00AM-1:00PM

Sat.,Oct8th Bellaire,6:00-9:00PM ShortsBrewingCo.,121NBridgeSt.

Northern Express

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issue-two 1/4

1/9 issue, due 1/3-TIFTT

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Ticker

Crushing It

How collaboration drives Left Foot Charley… and northern Michigan’s entire wine industry

By Craig Manning

No local winery is an island.

That’s the philosophy Left Foot Charley founders Bryan and Jen Ulbrich have taken with their winemaking operation since day one. And while it’s an idea that runs contrary to what many people think they know about wineries, Bryan Ulbrich says it’s actually the concept that has allowed northern Michigan to develop the robust wine industry it has today.

The Custom Crush Crash Course

While most wine enthusiasts picture all wineries as self-sufficient, self-contained systems—operations that run their own vineyards, production facilities, tasting rooms, and bottling operations—the truth is that winemaking is often a more collaborative process.

That collaborative capability is on display in a concept called “custom crush.” While many wineries do grow their own grapes and make their own wine, some wineries don’t have their own vineyards, while others don’t have their own winemaking operations. Often, these wine businesses will ally with one another to provide the capabilities that the other lacks.

In a custom crush situation, a grower cultivates and grows wine grapes, but then contracts with a third-party producer to turn those ingredients into wine.

According to Ulbrich, Left Foot Charley actually got its foot in the wine industry door by working in custom crush. Nearly two decades later, the business remains one of the area’s preeminent operators in that space—and the not-so-secret partner behind wines at four other local wineries.

“Jen and I realized that the only way we were going to get a winery established was if we could get some of these relationships [with other wineries] and keep those relationships alive,” Ulbrich says. “Because then that would help with the whole

financial picture in terms of overhead and things like that. And it would allow us, then, to have the crew and the equipment that we felt we really needed for the quality of wine we wanted to produce.”

A Spirit of Collaboration

Even beyond custom crush, Left Foot Charley has always been an openly collaborative winery. Rather than owning and farming its own vineyards, for instance, Left Foot makes wine from grapes sourced through a variety of independent growing partners from across the region.

“Throughout Northern Michigan, there are numerous small vineyards owned and farmed by individuals who do not have wineries,” reads a section on the Left Foot Charley website. “The grapes were often sent to giant blends. Many of these viticulturists are excellent farmers and deserve to see their work turned into wine. Left Foot Charley has teamed up with Northern Michigan’s best 18 growers to produce wines that display the range of aroma and flavor found among the glacially tilled hills of our appellations.”

The Left Foot team does do some vineyard management for its growers, particularly for those who are “aging out of the actual work of the vineyard.” Still, even 18 years after its inception, Left Foot Charley remains one of the few northern Michigan wineries that doesn’t own any vineyards.

Instead, Ulbrich and his team have specialized mostly in the process of pressing grapes and turning them into wine. That expertise—not to mention the equipment necessary to drive the process—has made Left Foot a go-to collaborator not just for independent local growers looking to do something with their grapes, but also for well-known area wineries whose specialties fall more on the growing side of the spectrum.

When asked why a winery would go the custom crush route rather than building their own production facility, Ulbrich says

it’s all about “scales of efficiency.”

“We’re a really small wine region in general, and we’re trying to compete against these historic or really big economic engines of places like New Zealand or California,” he explains. “Those regions are coming into the market with huge economies of scale. So, one way that we can try to keep our wines at levels that are at least approachable in terms of price is by working together. Not every winery needs a press and a crew and a bottling line. If we can kind of co-op together, then we can pass [those resources] on to the custom clients so that they’re able to take advantage of a larger production facility without owning it or maintaining it.”

Does one winery making the wines for a variety of different brands risk sacrificing some of the uniqueness of each wine? According to Ulbrich, not at all.

“The way we function—and I can’t speak for anybody else—our clients are always growing their own grapes,” he explains. “They’re putting their energy into the

vineyard and focusing on what is really the most important part of any wine, which is the fruit. We are just the midwives who take the fruit and get it into the bottle. And as long as you’re keeping the grapes separate and not blending them, it’s relatively easy to keep the wines distinct.”

Taboo or Not Taboo, That Is the Question

While the collaborative benefits of custom crush are clear, it’s also easy to wonder whether the concept carries any sort of taboo in the wine world. As in, do the wineries that contract with Left Foot Charley or other custom crush operators prefer to stay tight-lipped about the fact that they aren’t necessarily the ones turning their grapes into wines?

“For our clients, it’s open and talked about,” Ulbrich says of the custom crush arrangement.

Most local wineries, he notes, like to tell the stories of how their wines came to be, and in some cases, partnerships and

collaborations just happen to be part of those narratives. “I think—and our clients think this too—that [our role] is an important part of the story. But at the same time, the actual winemaking itself sometimes gets a little too much credit. The winegrowing is where the flavor really comes from. If we’re effective winemakers, we’re not really manipulating flavor; we’re more carrying flavor through. So, the story is really about their farming, and we kind of just facilitate that story through the winemaking.”

Left Foot Charley’s four custom crush partners are Bowers Harbor Vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula, Big Little Wines in Suttons Bay, WaterFire Vineyards in Kewadin, and Royal Farms in Ellsworth. Each client, Ulbrich says, is “very actively involved in the winemaking process,” working closely with Left Foot’s winemakers on style, direction, tasting, and more.

Additionally, each client brings a different ask to the table. Bowers Harbor Vineyards, for instance—which Ulbrich says has been a partner now for more than 20 years—collaborates with Left Foot for just “a portion of their production,” including their “estate-grown fruit and some of their singlevineyard wines.”

The partnership with Big Little, meanwhile, springs from Big Little’s status as the still wine offshoot of Leelanau County’s renowned MAWBY Vineyards, which itself focuses exclusively on sparkling wines. MAWBY makes all its own sparkling wines, but the Big Little still wine program utilizes Left Foot’s custom crush services.

“They’re a sparkling wine facility, and we have all the still wine equipment,” Ulbrich explains. “So, instead of them doubling up on equipment, it makes sense for us to work together.”

Striking the Right Balance

If there’s a challenge to custom crush, it isn’t keeping the wines distinct or navigating industry taboos. Instead, Ulbrich says the biggest difficulty is balancing the needs of third-party clients with in-house winemaking aspirations.

Of Left Foot’s four custom crush

accounts, Ulbrich says the smallest requires 300-400 cases of wine per year while the largest demands 3,000 cases a year. Add them all up and those four accounts equate to about 50 percent of Left Foot’s total annual production.

In addition, Ulbrich notes that Left Foot Charley is a bit “hemmed in” by its Grand Traverse Commons facility, which means the winery doesn’t have much space to expand production. “So, the balancing act we’ve drawn is that we are not taking new custom clients at this point,” he says. “We’re just focusing on these long-term relationships that we’ve had and trying to keep doing the best we can for them.”

Letting custom crush go would give Left Foot Charley more capacity to focus on its own wines, but Ulbrich is steadfast about retaining the numerous advantages that custom crush brings to the table. The most valuable of those, he says, isn’t the extra source of revenue, but the opportunity to exchange ideas and innovations with other local winegrowers. By keeping a foot planted firmly in the collaborative realm, Ulbrich thinks Left Foot has been able to grow and advance faster than it ever could have on its own.

“There’s something interesting about wine where, if you share the information, it’s not like sharing ingredients and process,” Ulbrich says. “If you’re making a cake or even a beer, it might be highly protected because it could be replicated by somebody else. Wine isn’t that way. If I talked to a neighboring winemaker about how we press grapes, or what fermentation temperatures or protocols we use, they can take that same information and it still won’t replicate our wines, because our wine grapes are from where they’re from.

“So there really isn't a fear of trade secrets, and that has allowed us all to learn at a faster pace and to push the industry further,” he continues. “We have so many points of contact and information sharing, and the result is that, instead of having one great winery up here, we’ve got 30. And that just shows that northern Michigan is a real wine region that has something to add to the conversation.”

The 2017 Gewürztraminer Late Harvest from Bowers Harbor Vineyards.

The 2016 Langley from Bowers Harbor Vineyards.

2022 Fall Color Forecast

Looking ahead to fall (and winter too)

By Ross Boissoneau

With summer in the rearview mirror, it’s time to trade the shimmering blue of the lakes for the reds and golds of autumn leaves. But when will the colors peak? And what lies beyond, when the soft white flakes fill the sky and coat the ground?

We’re not the only ones wondering. Each year, weather forecasters and staff at various visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, and other outlets are peppered with similar questions by those who want to get out and take in all the region has to offer in the later, cooler seasons. Thing is, no one can accurately predict exactly what’s going to happen, exactly when the colors will be at their boldest, or how much snow we will get and when. (At least not this far in advance.)

But we asked the experts anyway.

Leaf Peeping

“We have not started getting phone calls yet regarding fall color—I think everyone is savoring this wonderful summer—but they will come,” Jamie Jewell, executive director of the Leelanau Chamber of Commerce, tells us when we talk in September.

She says the fall color season typically peaks in Leelanau in mid-October. “It’s always a guess how the summer temperatures and rainfall affect the muchanticipated color season, but it always seems to hit between the second and third weeks of October, later near the shoreline.”

“Typically it’s cooler a little sooner inland, lower overnight lows, including Gaylord,” agrees Faith Fredrickson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord. “By the lake [Lake Michigan], it’s warmer.”

Fredrickson says that inland cooling causes the trees to turn sooner in the north central areas, such as Otsego and Wexford Counties, as opposed to lakeshore areas such as Benzie

and Leelanau Counties or the tip of the mitt.

“We’ll start to see [leaves change] in Gaylord in mid- to late September, with the peak the first or second week in October,” Fredrickson says. (For those keeping track, that’s right about now!) But if September is warmer than average—and this one had its share of sunny, 80-degree days—the colors tend to appear later.

Fredrickson adds that the leaves turn sooner and often don’t last as long in the Upper Peninsula, while they are both later and slower along the lakeshore. “[The leaves] might be done in Gaylord, but you can still go to the Tunnel of Trees,” she says, referring to the iconic stretch of M-119 between Cross Village and Harbor Springs where the trees create a canopy over the road. It’s rightfully considered one of the state’s most appealing places to take in the fall colors.

Tree color isn’t the only thing people call about. The fauna as well as the flora beckon visitors. Fall birding is a big draw to the area, and of course hunting season brings folks north from across the state. Paul Beachnau, the executive director at the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, recalls one of the more…colorful calls he’s gotten regarding the fall season. “One time I got a call asking if the elk go south for the winter,” he says.

Any migrating elk notwithstanding, he agrees with Jewell that the warmer weather through September pushed colors to the back of most people’s minds. “[The season has] been really strong for golf,” he says. “The first weekend after Labor Day is always one of the busiest. It’s good weather and the kids are in school,” he says, making golf more attractive for young couples and especially for younger retirees. “It’s a more relaxed season in terms of visitors.”

Whenever those perfect leaves do appear in your neck of the woods, hopefully the weather cooperates. Because even if the colors have yet to peak, high winds and/

or rainstorms can bring the season to a crashing halt. “The duration depends on the weather. Fall storms and winds can take the leaves off the trees,” Fredrickson says.

Watch the Forecast

Find 2022 fall color maps for northern Michigan online at spots like mlive. com (predicting peak from Oct. 7-14), travel-mi.com (predicting peak on Oct. 10), mymichiganbeach.com (predicting peak from Oct. 15-29). For an outside perspective, smokymountains.com—which puts together a comprehensive U.S. map for fall color—says NoMi will be at its most vibrant around Oct. 10.

Winter Weather

After the fall colors have subsided, there’s a season (hopefully brief) of brown before winter blows in. And when will that happen?

Well, we don’t love this, but the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a long, cold, snowy winter. (“Unreasonably cold, snowy” are the exact words.) We don’t mind a nice coating of powder, but we aren’t looking for frostbite, thank you very much.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is also calling for some extra snow, mainly for the southern part of the starte, though they think temperatures will be their usual level of cool. (Note: This is coming off the U.S.’s third hottest summer on record.)

In what we’re considering to be good news, Fredrickson shares there are no obvious signs of an especially bad winter at this point. She notes the various models for weather prediction utilize the same information, and their equations simply process that information slightly differently. “It’s kind of like Plinko,” she says. “It’s the same starting point. If two (models) land in the same spot, there’s a high probability” that what they suggest will turn out to be the case.

She says the current models aren’t

showing anything to indicate large derivations from the mean in terms of winter weather. In other words, at this point she says to expect average temperatures, though early indications are for aboveaverage precipitation. “It could be a little above normal precipitation,” Fredrickson says. “Whether it’s cold or warm will [dictate] snow or rain.”

Beachnau doesn’t need any specifics to suggest the best course of action. As far as he’s concerned, the more snow, the better. “We love winter in Gaylord,” he says enthusiastically.

Located in one of the biggest snow belts in the lower peninsula, the area boasts two highly-regarded downhill ski resorts and much more. “Otsego and Treetops also have extreme tubing. Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Winter rafting on the Sturgeon River,” Beachnau says, ticking off the list.

That’s just the Gaylord area. Add to that the other ski hills scattered throughout the region, the trails perfect for fat bikes, snowshoeing or cross-country, and all the other amenities the region is known for.

So for those wondering when the best time is to head north, the answer is: now, later, and again after that. (So long as you don’t mind the snow when it arrives.)

“You can’t go wrong coming to enjoy Leelanau at any time,” Jewell says.

Though she specifies her home area, her sentiments resonate throughout the region for anyone who loves exploring Up North.

Watch the Forecast

The Farmers’ Almanac is a classic for a reason, and you can find their predictions at farmersalmanac.com (or pick up the 2023 print edition). NOAA (noaa.gov) and the associated Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service (cpc.ncep. noaa.gov) offer long-term looks into the future as well.

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

saturday

SLEEPING BEAR MARA THON, HALF MARATHON & 5K: Empire Beach. Mara thon, 7:30am; Half Marathon, 8am; 5K Run/Walk, 8:20am. The out-and-back marathon course will take runners by the “Dune Climb,” past Little Glen Lake, & through the village of Glen Arbor with breathtaking views of the Manitou Islands & Sleeping Bear Dunes along the way. The half marathon & 5K will follow the same course as the marathon, with the half marathon turning around at the 6.5 mile mark, & the 5K turning around at 1.5 miles. runsign up.com/Race/MI/Empire/SleepingBear

ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 8am, Aloha State Park, Cheboygan. For registered camp ers & their guests only. Decorate your camp site & enjoy a pumpkin decorating contest, cos tume contest, & kids crafts. 231-625-2522.

FAMILY FUN FAIR: 9am-noon, Big Beauti ful Life Chiropractic & Wellness, TC. Food, petting animals & a bounce house. A morn ing of fun, connection & education about lo cal family health & wellness resources. Free. BBLFamilyFunDay.eventbrite.com

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LEIF ERIKSSON DAY ROW & RUN: 9AM, Depot Beach, Charlevoix. The event con sists of a one-mile boat race & 5K foot race & celebrates the life of Leif Eriksson. Begin ning at Depot Beach, the one-mile boat race leads participants to Ferry Beach. The 5K will traverse along a road course in the city of Charlevoix. All proceeds will benefit the Ray der Den, a food pantry project for Charlevoix Middle & High School students experiencing food insecurity. From 9/16 to 9/28 the registra tion price is $40. Sign up the day of the event is $45. rowandrun.org

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S: The Open Space, TC. Registration opens at 9am & walk begins at 10am. Among the festivities will be cosplay groups from Star Wars, Ghost busters & Star Trek. For more info & to start your own team visit alz.org/walk act.alz.org/ site/TR/Walk2022/MI-GreaterMichigan?fr_ id=15646&pg=entry

13TH ANNUAL BREEZEWAY FALL COL OR CRUISES: From 10am-noon at Royal Farms in Atwood, pick up your goodie bags filled with coupons, business swag, “Trip Tips” sheet of attractions, events, etc. & then “tour” 26 miles of C-48 The Breezeway at your own pace. ejchamber.org

3RD ANNUAL COLORS BY THE LAKE: 10am-5pm, Village Park Green, Walloon Lake. Enjoy the fabulous local nature colors & the colorful art for sale.

ART BEAT: 10am, Elk Rapids. Visit all three galleries in Elk Rapids to see art, art demon strations, meet the artists, & get entered to win gift certificates. They include: Mullaly’s 128 Gallery, Blue Heron Gallery, & Twisted Fish Gallery.

BEULAH FALL FESTIVAL: 10am-5pm, Downtown Beulah. Enjoy pumpkin decorat ing, a visit from the Lord of the Gourd, side walk chalk art, face painting, mask & trick-ortreat bag painting, a classic car & motorcycle show, horse-drawn wagon rides & more. Free. clcba.org/event/fall-festival

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COOKING CLASSES WITH BEN BEEDEN: 10am, Bellaire Public Library. An hour-long workshop featuring hands-on prep work each week as participants create a soup, chili, or stew meal to be taken home, & frozen or cooked for your dinner. Held on Saturdays: Sept. 10, 17 & 24, & Oct. 1. Any participants who attend at least 3 sessions will receive a crock pot, instant pot, OR air fryer (your choice) after the classes have concluded. Registration required. Class size limited. Free. bellairelibrary.org

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW: 10am-5pm, Washington Park, Che boygan. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in for free arts & crafts ac tivities for the whole family. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/open-studio-october-1

VINTAGE SHOP HOP TOUR: 10am-5pm. Tour the shops! The Flying Pig, downtown Bel laire; The Pear Tree, downtown Alden; Grace of Alden; Stonehedge Gardens, East Jordan; Whimsical Wit, Boyne City; Vintage Mercan tile, Walloon Lake. Receive a passport at any of the shops, fill your passport & enter to win a grand prize.

WRITING THE ARTS: OBJECT + WORDS = EKPHRASIS: 10-11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center Gallery. Using the GAAC Vessels exhibit as foundation, Michigan Writers will lead four, one-hour Sat. morning sessions. Ekphrasis is the time-honored tradition of us ing the visual arts for literary inspiration. Writ ers of all skill levels welcome. Free, but must pre-register. glenarborart.org/events/writingthe-arts-object-words-ekphrasis/2022-09-10

FAMILY FUN WITH S.T.E.A.M. (SCI ENCE/TECHNOLOGY/ENGINEERING/ ART/MATH): Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Featuring several family friend ly hands-on activities. Drop by between 10:30am-noon. Free. sbbdl.org

ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL: 11am-2pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs. Pumpkin

painting, straw mountain, live music, donut eating contest, & more. harborspringscham ber.com/events/details/annual-fall-festivalharbor-springs-marina-park-10985

HIGHLANDS HARVEST FESTIVAL: 11am4pm, The Highlands at Harbor Springs. Take a scenic chairlift ride to Upper Camelot, where you can take in the beautiful fall colors & views. At the top, there will be activities for everyone; a $5 activity wristband will allow access to all of the events. These include face painting, cookie decorating, toy in a hay stack, burlap sack racing, pumpkin ring toss, & more. highlandsharborsprings.com/ events/highlands-harvest-event

13TH ANNUAL SKITOBERFEST: Noon, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls. Keg bowling, stein hoisting, Kids’ Zone fun, pond pedaling & more. Craft brews, food, live music, & the Pray for Snow Bonfire. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/13th-annual-skitoberfest

22ND ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL: 124pm, Chateau Chantal, TC. 1pm: Public Cel

lar Tour. Learn the basics of winemaking from vine to glass as you stroll through the work ing cellar. 2pm: Grape Stompin’. Get in line for your chance to crush grapes the old-fashioned way; with your feet! Additional offerings includ ed. See web site. shop.chateauchantal.com/ res-401192/Flight-Or-Glass-Reservations.html

BOOK SIGNING: 12-2pm, Dog Ears Books, Northport. Leelanau County author & New bery prize winner Lynne Rae Perkins will sign copies of her new children’s book, “Vio let & Jobie in the Wild” for bookstore custom ers. This is a middle-grade chapter book with illustrations by the author. Free. facebook. com/Dog-Ears-Books-1349509478475800

BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. With Sarah Shoemaker, author of “Children of Catastrophe.” horizonbooks.com/event/ book-signing-sarah-shoemaker-children-ca tastrophe

CADILLAC FOOTLITERS PRESENTS “THE 39 STEPS”: 2pm & 7pm, 421 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac. A comic conspiracy ca

Labor Day.

coupon during time of purchase.

Cannabis Co.

during time of purchase.

valid through Labor Day. Present this coupon during time of purchase.

Fall is definitely in the air in Frankfort, with their Fall Festival on Sat., Oct. 8, along with the 9th Annual Frank fort Beer Week, Oct. 3-8, and Frankfort Film Festival, Oct. 20-23. The Giant Pumpkins Parade is part of the Fall Festival, along with giant pumpkin carving demos and kids guessing the weight of giant pumpkins. For more info call 231-352-7251.

filled with unexpected twists & turns. $11.

DANCE: FALL PERFORMANCE: 2pm, In terlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Audito rium. The Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Division will perform a variety of classical & contemporary dance works. Full, $15; student, $12. interlochen.org/concerts-andevents/all-events?search=

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON DAY: Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Solar Observation at the Museum, 2-4pm; Lunar Observation at the NMC Observa tory, 8pm. Free. dennosmuseum.org/events/ community-programs.html

4TH ANNUAL ANDREW BOYER SCHOLARSHIP BREWFEST: 4-8pm, Valley View Farm, East Jordan. Enjoy food, locally brewed beer, music by Two Beats, yard games, & a Fun Run on a 1.5 mile rugged trail. $10-$40; see web site. valleyviewbrew fest.com/get-your-tickets

UP NORTH PRIDE WEEK EVENTS: TC. 4-5pm: Visibility Rally & March: The larg est participant-driven 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride March in Michigan beginning at F&M Park & walking through downtown to The Open Space. Featuring keynote speakers & Grand Marshalls. Following will be Drag Night at The Open Space. Hosted by local drag king Ben Eaton. 10pm-midnight: Silent Disco at The Open Space. Hosted by 2Bays Produc tions. upnorthpride.com/events

ADULT PROM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: 6pm, Right Brain Brewery, TC. Hosted by Illuminate My Life Counseling. Silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, music by 231 Entertain ment, on-site photographer. $50.

“ASPECTS OF AMERICA” CONCERT: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Karlie Thomas, 15 years old, from Charlevoix, will be featured in this saxo phone concerto with the Great Lakes Cham ber Orchestra. A pre-concert talk by Libor Ondras, orchestra conductor & music direc tor, starts at 6pm in the Community Engage ment Room. $35-$65. glcorchestra.org

MAX LOCKWOOD & ERIC O’DALY HOUSE CONCERT: 7-9pm. Presented by Gopher wood Concerts at the home of Paul & Nancy Brown: 4320 E 46 Rd., Cadillac. Songwriter, vocalist & poet Max Lockwood channels the flair of Tom Petty, & brings elements of rock & roll, folk & pop. Eric O’Daly transforms him self to fit the wide-ranging styles of music he performs. His songs are rich & evocative. $7$15. mynorthtickets.com/events/max-lock wood-eric-odaly-10-1-2022

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Just af ter midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks, & by morning it is one passenger fewer. Dame Agatha Christie’s famous story was adapted into this comedymystery for the stage by playwright Ken Lud wig. Adults, $28; youth under 18, $15 (plus fees). tickets.oldtownplayhouse.com/The atreManager/1/login&event=406

UNIFLORA: 7:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. A concert & exhibition by 2022 Ann Hall Visit ing Artist Dana Falconberry. Enjoy a full set of Dana’s original music while taking in an exhibit of her visual art. $25. oldartbuilding.com

LARRY MCCRAY: 8pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. This singer/songwriter, legendary blues man’s latest 12-track release, “Blues Without You,” was recorded on famed blues rock guitarist

Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive nonprofit label with producer Josh Smith, a partnership that has also created a video & a documentary. $25, $30, $35. dennosmuse um.org/events/milliken/index.html

sunday

ANNUAL HARVEST FES TIVAL: (See Sat., Oct. 1)

3RD ANNUAL COLORS BY THE LAKE: (See Sat., Oct. 1)

BIG GAY BRUNCH & PICNIC: 11am-2pm, The Open Space, TC. Local food & bever ages can be purchased with opportunities to interact with local nonprofit booths. Featur ing live local music stylings & family-friendly activities. upnorthpride.com/events

15TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVUS: 6pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. A German-themed, fun-for-all-ages event. Left Foot Charley will offer wine & cider by the glass, winemakers in lederhosen, live music by Ben Traverse and company from 1-3pm, food trucks from 12-6pm, fresh cider, & wine tasting. thevillagetc.com

BUILD A SCARECROW FAMILY FUN DAY: 12-4pm, The Botanic Garden at His toric Barns Park, TC. Just bring your own scarecrow attire & decorations. Scarecrow frames, burlap & straw will be provided. There will be cider & donuts on the Pavilion & a youth-oriented activity in the classroom. Register. $5. eventbrite.com/e/build-a-scare crow-family-fun-day-tickets-417914953877

SKITOBER DAYS: Noon, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls. Keg bowling, stein hoisting, Kids’ Zone fun, pond pedaling, craft brews, delicious eats, & more. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/skitoberdays

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: (See Sat., Oct. 1, except today’s time is 2pm.)

monday

9TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: Oct. 3-8. Cel ebrate all that is great about Michigan Craft Beer & the food scene in the coastal city of Frankfort & neighboring village of Elberta. Enjoy daily beer & food specials, events & more at participating locations. frankfortbeer week.com

MICHIGAN MEDICINE PENINSULA COM MUNITY LECTURE SERIES: 3pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring Dr. Gabriel Corfas, Ph.D., director of Kresge Hearing Re search Institute at University of Michigan. Cor fas will discuss progress in treatment of hear ing disorders. Register. Free. docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTGjsvIDGZO8wG UPZedB3m9TADM7EMnkVtrAhzpcLyfpC7 YQ/viewform

SKITOBER DAYS: 5pm, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls. Keg bowling, stein hoisting, Kids’ Zone fun, pond pedaling, craft brews, delicious eats, & more. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/skitoberdays

REMOTE WORKERS MEETUP: 5:307:30pm, Headwaters Land Conservancy Sturgeon River Preserve, Gaylord. Go on a short hike (1-2 miles), & then meet up around the campfire for s’mores. Bring your own food, drinks & chair. meetup.com/ login/?returnUri=meetup.com/nmiremote/ events/288578402/attendees

tuesday

BIZ START 101: 10am, NMC, University Center, TC. This workshop is for aspiring en trepreneurs in the beginning stages of starting a business, in need of accessing capital, or simply considering self-employment. Regis tration required. Free. nmc.augusoft.net/index. cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_ class_id=1119&utm_source=NMC+Extended +Education&utm_campaign=80b70ea9c4-EE S+PD+Accelerated+Solutions+091422&utm_ medium=email&ut

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Sut tons Bay Bingham District Library. Enrich your day with stories, songs & more. Free. sbbdl.org

9TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

SEEDS PRESENTATION: 5pm, Historic Barns Park, Cathedral Barn, TC. Meet wood fellow Chad Womack. Chad will share his experience working with EcoCorps last sum mer & helping SEEDS develop products made with wood rescued from the chipper or landfill. RSVP: 231-883-7922.

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SKITOBER DAYS: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

TCNEWTECH PITCH & NETWORKING EVENT: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Select startups will be allowed 5 minutes to present their pitch & 5 minutes of questions & answers from the audience. The audience is made up of technology-minded people. cityoperahouse.org

GRAND TRAVERSE KENNEL CLUB MEETING: Incredible Mo’s, Grawn. 6pm dinner & social time; 7pm meeting. New & prospective members are encouraged to join. Free. Grandtraversekennelclub.com

wednesday

9TH ANNUAL FRANK FORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

“GREAT LAKES FOR SALE”: Noon, The Leelanau County Govern ment Center, Suttons Bay. Join the author of “Great Lakes for Sale,” Dave Dempsey. Dave’s book is a call to action for every Great Lakes region resident to recognize the lakes as our most valuable gift from nature, & to recognize that they should be cared for as if our very lives depend on them. Free. LWVLeelanau.org

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FORESTRY FOR MICHIGAN BIRDS: 3-5pm, Little Traverse Conservancy, 3264 Powell Rd., Harbor Springs. Join Joy Mittig, forester for American Bird Conservancy, for a presenta tion & field trip highlighting the new Forestry for Michigan Birds guide. Start at the LTC office with a presentation, & then drive to the Offield Family Working Forest Reserve for a hike & fur ther discussion. landtrust.org/events/

OCTOBER RECESS: 5-7pm, North Bar, TC. After work fun for grown-ups. Don your Michigan or Michigan State gear! Food will include assorted North Bar appetizers, with guests also enjoying a selection of wine & Silver Spruce Brewing beers. Prizes include five $50 gift cards; three for North Bar & two for The Parlor. $10. fb.me/e/5fPri9kJU

SKITOBER DAYS: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

CONSERVATION PLANTINGS FOR FARM RESILIENCE TOUR: 5:30pm, Lakeview Hill Farm, TC. See a windbreak planting & discuss the planning & planting process for

conservation purposes. Farmer owners John Dindia & Bailey Samp will also showcase energy efficiency systems currently in use or under development at the farm including their extensive season extension hoophouse growing. Free; please register to attend. crosshatch.org/events/2022-10-05/conser vation-planting-7zn68

SAFE BANKING: IDENTIFYING & AVOID ING SCAMS: 5:30-7:30pm, West Shore Bank, 400 E. 8th St., 3rd Floor, TC. Register. Free. westshorebank.com/about-us/events.html

HANDMADE ARTIST BOOKS: BARBARA BOSWORTH & EMILY SHEFFER: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Com munity Room, TC. Tusen Takk artists-in-resi dence Barbara Bosworth & Emily Sheffer will discuss their collaborative artistic practice in small edition handmade photography books, their work together over the last decade, & their current project in residence at Tusen Takk in Sept./Oct. 2022. Register. Free. events.tadl.org/event/handmade-artistbooks-barbara-bosworth-and-emily-sheffer

SUPER STARS ON STAGE THE ULTI MATE VARIETY SHOW: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. See the variety shows we grew up on in the 70’s & 80’s, but now live & recre ated by Las Vegas’ number one imperson ators. Anthony & Eddie Edwards use state of the art make-up to look & sound like the superstars of today & yesterday. $20. city operahouse.org/node/457

“THE GREAT BEER STATE”: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. This film was cre ated in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Michigan Brewers Guild. Free. gardenthe ater.org/now-showing

thursday

9TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

IDEA FEST: 5-8pm, Art & Connection, Elk Rapids. Share ideas that will be used to create meaningful programs & possibilities for the Elk Rapids community through this organization. An evening of mu sic, & opportunities to network, socialize & share. RSVP: 231-620-4033.

SKITOBER DAYS: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: 7-9pm, NCMC, Iron Horse Café, Conf. room 4, Petoskey. A men’s group to connect with other local men who are interested in end ing gender-based violence & creating safe & thriving communities. RSVP: 231-347-1572.

FREE SCREENING - “COLOR OF CARE”: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Au ditorium, NMC, TC. Before the show, enjoy some light refreshments. A discussion will be held with a panel of local experts afterward featuring Dr. Cyrus Ghaemi, Chief Clinical Officer, Traverse Health Clinic; Toni LeafOdette, Senior Community Health Coordina tor, Munson Healthcare; Tamella Livengood, Director of Nursing Programs, NMC; & Dr. Joe Santangelo, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Munson Healthcare. This film chron icles how people of color suffer from sys temically substandard healthcare. COVID-19 exposed what they have long understood & lived: they do not receive the same level of care. Free. Registration required. simpletix. com/e/color-of-care-tickets-114843

MURDER ON THE ORIENT

(See Sat., Oct. 1)

friday

9TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

LUNCHEON LECTURE: “DISCOVERIES FROM DEEP SPACE”: 11:30am, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. Rod Cor tright, NASA/JPL Solar System ambassador, will discuss what makes the James Webb Telescope unique. An amateur astronomer & astrophotographer, Cortright is a found ing member & vice president of the Northern Michigan Astronomy Club & manages the Sky Docent Volunteer program at the Head lands International Dark Sky Park. Pre-regis tration required. $15; includes a lunch buffet. ncmclifelonglearning.com/events

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PRESENTA TION - ANA SPENCER: Noon, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Spencer’s residency is Sept. 25 – Oct. 8. During that time she’ll explore process issues such as glazing, & surface design techniques. On Oct. 7 Spencer will discuss her new work, which combines func tion with ornate finish. Free. glenarborart. org/events-page/talks-and-lectures

ART & MUSIC STROLL: 4-8pm. Stroll through Downtown Bellaire where businesses will be hosting local artists & musicians. Stop in the restaurants & bars for food & drinks.

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MOMITT BIKE FEST: 4pm, Mt. Holiday, TC. Celebrate cycling (& running!) & more, Oct. 7-9 at MoMITT Bike Fest! Packet Pickup/ Registration is tonight from 4-7pm. momitt bikefest.com

NORTHPORT CLAY STUDIO POTTERY EXHIBIT: Northport Arts Association, North port. Opening Reception: Oct. 7, 5-7pm. Gal lery open Oct. 8-9, 12-4pm. This is an exhibit & sale of emerging & professional clay artists. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

SKITOBER DAYS: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

LET’S TALK FIBER ART: Old Art Build ing, Leland. Enjoy a conversation between Focus on Fiber Artist, Georgina Valverde, & Karin’s Angle on Art creator, Karin Jacobson. They will discuss the creative process & in spiration behind Georgina’s work. Reception at 5:30pm; artist talk begins at 6pm. Free. oldartbuilding.com/events/lets-talk-fiber-art

OPENING RECEPTION: TC FALL EXHIBITS: 5:30-7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. For “Small Worlds: Juried Exhibition of Small Works” & “Honky Tonk: Photographs by Henry Horenstein.” crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/opening-receptiontraverse-city-fall-exhibits

FORT FRIGHT: 6:30-9:30pm, Colonial Mich ilimackinac, Mackinaw City. Lanterns light your way through an 18th-century fort & fur trad ing village overrun by werewolves, witches, goblins & ghouls. Storytellers weave spooky folktales near bonfires. Treats can be found throughout the site. Adult, $11; ages 5-12, $7; 4 & under, free. tickets.mackinacparks.com/ WebStore/landingPage?cg=MSHP

- SHAKEN NOT STIRRED: 6:30pm, GT Resort & Spa, Governors’ Hall, Williamsburg. Philip Greene returns to northern Michigan for an evening of lively storytelling centered around the work of Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond series of spy novels. Enjoy ele

gant cuisine & cocktails inspired by Agent 007, all while supporting Hospice of Michigan. This is a Black Tie event. Purchase tickets by Sept. 28, 2022. This event is for adults 21+ only. $150 per ticket. hom.org/shaken/traversecity

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COLLAGE: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring live performances by the Academy’s musicians, actors & dancers; readings by creative writ ers; shorts by filmmakers; & a visual arts ex hibition. Full, $33; students, $17. interlochen. org/events/collage-2022-10-07

COMEDY WITH ROCKY LAPORTE: 7:30pm & 10pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. Rocky LaPorte’s appeal comes from his every man, streetwise style of comedy. He delivers laughs in his trademark Brooklyn accent, & just recently appeared on season 8 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. $20-$25. traversecitycomedy club.com/rocky-laporte

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: (See Sat., Oct. 1)

saturday

MOMITT BIKE FEST: 6am, Mt. Holiday, TC. Celebrate cycling (& running!) & more, Oct. 7-9. Choose from six racing options & enjoy an Expo with a large beer garden, multiple food options, global bike brands, live music & lots of family fun. Races include: The Black Chili XC, Dirty Des X, Shorty’s Blitz, Belgian Waf fle Ride, Green Chili Super Junior, & Orange Pepper Push-Biker. For more info & to regis ter, visit web site. momittbikefest.com

13TH ANNUAL BREEZEWAY FALL COLOR CRUISES: (See Sat., Oct. 1)

ALDEN HARVEST FEST: 10am-3pm, Downtown Alden. Music, games, prizes, blacksmith demo, chili cook-off & more. face book.com/visitalden

ELKS CRAFT SHOW: 10am-4pm, Elks Lodge #323, TC.

FREE DROP-IN FAMILY ART: 10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Each session, a different artist will share an art activity related to the current exhibit. Art sup plies will be provided. crookedtree.org/class/ ctac-traverse-city/free-drop-family-art-october

GEORGINA VALVERDE PRESENTS THE ‘ATAVIA SERIES’: 10am-4pm, Old Art Building, Leland. The work of fiber art ist Georgina Valverde is featured at her ex hibition entitled ‘Atavia.’ This is the Old Art Building’s 21st Annual Focus on Fiber event. Drop by to interact with the artist & see the installation & listen to her opening reception talk. Free. oldartbuilding.com/events/focuson-fiber-georgina-valverde

HAPPY APPLE DAYS: Downtown TC. Enjoy fall sales & free apples at participating busi nesses. downtowntc.com/happy-apple-days

M22 ART2ART LEELANAU COUNTY FALL ART TOUR: 10am-6pm. Featuring ceramics at Cleveland Twp. Hall in Maple City, & painting, furniture & sculpture at Glen Arbor Twp. Hall. m22art2art.com

OUTDOOR CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10am-3pm, The Village at GT Commons, historic front lawn, TC. Browse Michigan

vendors offering art, jewelry, crafts, food, & more. Free. thevillagetc.com

LITTLE WAVES: 10:30am, Petoskey District Library; 1pm, Charlevoix Public Library. “Musi cal Adventures”: Aimed at children 4-10 years of age & their families, this program features a multimedia storybook time with Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO) percussionist & program director Tim Mocny, an opportunity to hear one or more GLCO musicians demon strate & explain how their instruments work, & fun music-related activities for kids. Free. gl corchestra.org/education/little-waves

9TH ANNUAL FRANKFORT BEER WEEK: (See Mon., Oct. 3)

ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL: 11am-2pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs. Live music, cornhole, donut eating contest, food & more.

FALL FESTIVAL IN FRANKFORT: The Gi ant Pumpkins Parade with locally-built floats & the Mutt March begins at 11am. Following will be activities in the Open Space Park including live music & the beer tent. Kids can guess the weight of a giant pumpkin, & everyone can en joy giant pumpkin carving demos, a cornhole tournament, & much more. 231-352-7251.

VESSELS EXHIBIT WALK +TALK: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager, leads a conversa tional tour of this exhibit. Bearup-Neal will ex plore the exhibit’s multi-dimensional theme -- an out-of-the-box look at bowls, baskets, urns, pods, & other objects that store & carry things. Free. glenarborart.org

NORTHPORT CLAY STUDIO POTTERY

EXHIBIT: (See Fri., Oct. 7)

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BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books,

TC. With M.B. Henry, author of “All the Lights Above Us.” horizonbooks.com/event/booksigning-mb-henry-all-lights-above-us

SKITOBER DAYS: 1pm, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls. Keg bowling, stein hoisting, Kids’ Zone fun, pond pedaling, craft brews, delicious eats, & more. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/skitoberdays

WOMEN’S MARCH TC: GET OUT THE VOTE!: Gather at The Workshop Brewing Company, TC at 1pm & march peacefully on the sidewalks through downtown TC & end up at the Open Space for a rally for Dr. Bob Lorinser, & other local candidates, who will be speaking. Afterwards feel free to head back to The Workshop for conversations & relaxation. Bring signs, friends & family, & your voice. For more info call: 231-325-6812. Free.

ANATOMY OF AN ELECTION ROAD SHOW-BELLAIRE EDITION: 6pm, Short’s Brew Pub, Bellaire. Center for Change, Northern Michigan Advocacy is working pro actively to arm community members with the knowledge & vocabulary to help defend the security of elections. This event will feature Marie E. McKenna-Wicks, MPA, a former East Lansing City Clerk and Elections as sistant & Precinct Chair for the city of East Lansing. Register. Free. c4cmi.org

FORT FRIGHT: (See Fri., Oct. 7)

COMEDY WITH ROCKY LAPORTE: (See Fri., Oct. 7, except tonight’s times are 7pm & 9:30pm.)

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MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: (See Sat., Oct. 1)

“FIND YOUR PARK” AFTER DARK: STAR PARTY: 8-10pm, Sleeping Bear Dune

Climb, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, Glen Arbor. Full moon viewing. Drop-in tele scope & information stations will be available for you to visit at your leisure. Must have a park entrance pass. 231-326-4736. Free.

sunday

MOMITT BIKE FEST: (See Sat., Oct. 8)

BLESSING OF THE ANI MALS: 10am, F&M Park, TC. Grace Episcopal Church’s annual ob servance of the Feast of St. Francis of As sisi, patron saint of animals. Bring your furry, scaly, hooved, clawed, & pawed friends to receive a blessing. All are welcome. Free. facebook.com/events/440438581518900

GEORGINA VALVERDE PRESENTS THE ‘ATAVIA SERIES’: (See Sat., Oct. 8)

HAPPY APPLE DAYS: (See Sat., Oct. 8)

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M22 ART2ART LEELANAU COUNTY FALL ART TOUR: 10am-4pm. Featuring ceramics at Cleveland Twp. Hall in Maple City, & painting, furniture & sculpture at Glen Arbor Twp. Hall. m22art2art.com

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COMMUNITY VOICES: 10:30am, Elmwood Township Hall, TC. The New Waves faith community has committed to build 7 rental homes for families who are finding it difficult to secure housing that is affordable to them. Attend the first presentation, “Homelessness 101,” from Ashley Halliday-Schmandt, direc tor of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness. Free.

FALL FESTIVAL AT CAMP DAGGETT: 125pm, Camp Daggett, Petoskey. Pontoon Fall

Color Tours, arts & crafts, camp activities, wagon rides, live music, fall festival treats & more. $10 per carload suggested donation. campdaggett.org/fall-festival-camp-daggett

GOOD FIGHT 5K & 1 MILE WELLNESS WALK: Noon, GT County Civic Center Path way, TC.$35. runsignup.com/remembrancerun

NORTHPORT CLAY STUDIO POTTERY EXHIBIT: (See Fri., Oct. 7)

HARVEST GATHERING: 1-4pm, Samels Farm, Williamsburg. All the buildings will be open today, & there will be demonstrations of various farm activities. Food will be available & you will be able to enjoy music, wagon rides, tours of the woods, archaeological exhibits/ lectures & games. samelsfarm.org/events.html

NECTAR & THORNS: A LOVE STORY (ONE MAN PLAY): 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Michigan playwright, novelist, & actor Raymond Goodwin returns with his new play, “Nectar & Thorns: A Love Story.” Free. events.tadl.org/event/nectarthorns-love-story-one-man-play

SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECT - SPACE: 1-3pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. While at the museum, work with real data from NASA telescopes & satellites using the Ob serving With NASA Kiosk in the Discovery Gal lery. dennosmuseum.org

CADILLAC AREA LAND CONSERVANCY ANNUAL MEETING: Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center, Cadillac. Free Outdoors Au thor Jim DuFrense is the featured speaker. The conservancy will provide updates about local land preservation work. Networking & donuts at 1:30pm; meeting at 2pm. RSVP: 231-7753631. calc-landtrust.org

MSU JAZZ ORCHESTRA 1 WITH TCAPS

JAZZ BANDS: 3-5pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring MSU Jazz Orchestra 1, Cen tral HS Jazz Band, & West HS Jazz Band. Free. cityoperahouse.org/node/474

“HEARTSTORM” PRESENTED BY THE BENZIE AREA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: 4pm, Northport Performing Arts Center. Fea turing Nancy Stagnitta on flute. Tickets are available at door or call 231-386-2009. $20/ adult; $5/student. northportperformingarts.org

HIKE & HOPS: 4pm, Elizabeth B. Hoffman Nature Preserve, Harbor Springs. Join for round three of Hike & Hops with LTC staff & Bier’s Inwood Brewery. The 1.5-mile preserve trail traverses through a mix of old apple or chards, rolling hardwoods, & farm fields, & follows a section of the Inwood Creek. After the hike, gather at the brewery for drinks & pizza. Please park at the brewery. landtrust. org/events-template/hike-and-hops-biers-2

ongoing

THE HUNT FOR THE REDS OF OCTOBER: Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. For $35 per person, receive a 3oz pour of red wine hand-se lected by each winery, & a souvenir glass, at all 21 participating Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail wineries, Monday-Friday, 12-5pm throughout October. mynorthtickets.com/events/the-huntfor-the-reds-of-october-10-1-2022

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GHOST FARM OF KINGSLEY HAUNTED TRAIL: Fridays & Saturdays, 7-11pm, Sept. 30 - Oct. 28. Ghost Farm of Kingsley, 5010 Pierce Rd., Kingsley. hauntedtraverse.com/ tourschedule

SCREAMS IN THE DARK HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS: Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, TC. Held Fridays & Saturdays, 7-11pm; & Sundays, 7-10pm, Sept. 30 - Oct. 30. There are two tour options: Option 1 includes a wagon ride, a haunted trail, The Mausoleum & corn maze while Option 2 includes all the at tractions including the wagon ride, haunted trail, Pandemonium, Swamp of Suffering & Dread moore Manor. evernighthaunt.com

HAUNTED BLUFFS’ 1ST ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE: 254 Little League Dr., Gaylord. Held every Thurs., Fri. & Sat. from 8pm-midnight; & Sun., 6-10pm from Sept. 30 - Oct. 29. Grand Opening on Fri., Sept. 30 at 8pm. alpenbluffs.com

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HAUNTED VINEYARD & FRIDAY FAMILY FRIGHT NIGHTS: Fridays, 6-9pm, Sept. 30Oct. 28. Pond Hill Farm, Harbor Springs. The Haunted Vineyard is for ages 12+ at $10/per son. The Family Fun Barn is free. Also enjoy a bonfire with s’mores, brats, hot dogs, beer, wine, cider & hot cocoa. On Sept. 30 only: “Lord of the Gourd” Pro Pumpkin CarverPatrick Harrison at 6pm. pondhill.com/events

art

EXHIBEERTION!: Oct. 3-8, Oliver Art Cen ter, Frankfort. This beer-themed art exhibit features beer-inspired artwork from local art ists. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

A BRUSH WITH NATURE ART SHOW & SALE: Runs through Oct. 28 at City Opera House, TC. Three local artists showcase the beauty of this place they call home - northern Michigan. They include Jacquie Auch, Doro thy McGrath Grossman & Janet Wilson Oli ver. The exhibit will be on display Mon.-Fri., from 10am-2pm, & during events in Sept. & Oct. cityoperahouse.org

TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB MEM

BER SHOWCASE EXHIBIT: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Photographic exhibit by

members of the Traverse Area Camera Club runs through Nov. 18. tacameraclub.org

“HONKY TONK: PHOTOGRAPHS BY HENRY HORENSTEIN”: Runs Oct. 1 - Nov. 12 at Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. A collection of photographs doc umenting the changing world of country mu sic. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ honky-tonk-photographs-henry-horenstein-tc

CHARLEVOIX CIRCLE OF ARTS, CHARLE VOIX:

- TURTLE HILL ART COLLECTION: Held in the Norman Brumm Artist Reference Library. On loan from the private collection of local resident Joan MacGillivray. Runs through Oct. 1. Open 11am-4pm on Mon. through Fri. & 11am-3pm on Sat.

- CHARLEVOIX AND THE NIGHT: An ex hibition featuring paintings by three award winning artists: Kevin Barton, Kurt Anderson, & Phil Fisher. Each artist explores their ap proach to nocturne. Runs through Oct. 29. Open 11am-4pm on Mon. through Fri., & 11am-3pm on Sat. charlevoixcircle.org

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETO SKEY:

- “TRAVELOGUES: JURIED EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY”: Runs through Nov. 5 in Gilbert Gallery. Highlights outstanding im ages that embody the essence of travel. For ty-eight pieces by 25 Michigan artists were selected for this exhibition. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/travelogues-juried-pho tography-exhibition

- “WORK: JURIED EXHIBITION OF FUNC TIONAL ART”: Runs through Nov. 5 in Bonfield Gallery. Featuring work exploring the relationship between form & function. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/workjuried-exhibition-functional-art

- CROOKED TREE PHOTOGRAPHIC SO CIETY EXHIBITION 2022: Runs through Oct. 29 in Atrium Gallery. Featuring recent work by members of the Crooked Tree Photographic Society. Photographs were self-selected by the group through peer review. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/crooked-tree-photograph ic-society-exhibition-2022

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “JASON S. YI: DISSIMULATIONS”: Runs through Dec. 23. Jason S. Yi is an interdisci plinary artist working in photography, video, sculpture, drawing, & site-specific installations. Immigrating from South Korea to the United States at an early age, his work is conceived through a bi-cultural lens & interrogates the no tion of perception’s equivalence to reality.

- 2022 ANNUAL CAPE DORSET PRINT COLLECTION: Runs through Nov. 27. In this collection of 34 prints by 15 artists, there is a diverse array of themes & techniques that showcase each artist’s individual voice.

- INFINITE SPLENDOR, INFINITE LIGHT: Runs through Dec. 23. Two years after graduating from DePauw University in 1953, Bruce Walker became a case officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. As a CIA officer, Walker participated in the Tibetan resistance project (code name ST CIRCUS) in its earli est stages, only six years after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet & captured the capital city of Lhasa. In 2002, Walker donated his 66-piece collection of Ti betan thangkas, works on paper, & religious objects to DePauw University. dennosmuse um.org/art/now-on-view/index.html

NORTHPORT ARTS ASSOCIATION, VIL LAGE ARTS BUILDING, NORTHPORT:

- NORTHPORT POTTERY EXHIBIT: Oct. 7-9, 12-4pm. See pottery created in the new pottery studio & by pottery professionals.

THE LEGACY ART OF JEAN HALE: Runs through Oct. 5. Open noon-4pm, Weds.-Sun. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

Lisa’s Story

Lisa was a young 21-year-old woman, fresh out of the Police Academy. As a woman, she was very unwelcome by the Emmet County Brotherhood of City, County and State Police, but got the job through the CETA Program because she was the most qualified.

The Chief of Police Crouse did not want Lisa in his police department and launched the department’s largest investigation at the time. Lisa was pulled from her cruiser for surprise blood tests, but Crouse would not have her skin cleaned with alcohol prior to testing. She faced verbal and mental abuse from the corrupt Brotherhood of Law Enforcement because she was a woman, and was forced to resign by threats after thirteen years of service as a police officer. Two years after, she was found dead in her home from a gunshot wound.

The night of her death, an acquaintance of hers, David Reed, called Lisa’s sister. Lisa’s sister called Art, and told him that Reed had called her. Art went to Lisa’s house but didn’t have a key, he walked around the house, but couldn’t get in. Art left to look around town to see if she was in a restaurant or bar.

Meanwhile, Reed was watching Art walk around the house. After Art left, Reed went home and got a sledgehammer. He smashed his way into Lisa’s house, sat on her bed and listened to her telephone messages. He had blood on his clothes and claimed he had to shake Lisa to see if she was alive. Then he called the police. The first officer on the scene was Officer Rice. By that time, Art was back home. Reed called Art and told him that he should get over to Lisa’s house right away. When he arrived, the house was full of police. Art wanted to see Lisa, but Rice said he couldn’t go in there because they had to treat the scene as a homicide. Yet standard operating procedure was not followed. Reed was not searched and nobody knew how long he was in Lisa’s room listening to her telephone messages. After pushing and shoving, Rice let Art go in and told him not to touch anything.

Tim Roth, of the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department, took over the investigation; he told the Pathologist, George A. Krzymowski, MD, to write the report as if it were a suicide. Why didn’t Tim Roth have a Rape Kit done? Art was told by George A. Krzymowski, MD, Pathologist, sex was involved. Lisa’s death was ruled a suicide despite lots of questions.

Why didn’t Tim Roth check Reed or Lisa for gun residue and Reed for prints on the gun? Why were there so many people allowed in and out of her room?

A law abiding citizen,

Man on Fire

Now Playing Up North Fall Vibes

Oct. 1-2

Fans of the blues will want to grab a ticket to Larry McCray, who brings his band and selections from his 2021 release Blues Without You to the Dennos Museum Center’s music series on Saturday, Oct. 1. Go early and explore the fabulous galleries with doors open at 7pm and the show kicking off at 8pm. For tickets and info: dennosmuseum.org.

The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra will present their season opener, also on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Bay Harbor when they perform “Aspects of America,” a journey concert through the history of American classics and composers from the late 1900s on. Visit greatlakescfa.org.

Off the beaten path, Cadillac residents Paul and Nancy Brown are hosting musicians and artists Max Lockwood, Eric O’Daly, and Brandon Smith at their residence for a limited-capacity house show combining elements of rock and roll, folk and pop, and poetry into a unique experience that might remind you of the Beat Generation. Doors open at 6pm, and tickets and info can be found at mynorthtickets.com.

One of the last outdoor experiences you can find this week will be on Sunday, Oct. 2, at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. You’ll find folk artist Ben Traverse and Company starting at 1pm at Left Foot Charley. The free concert is part of the German-themed weekend celebration Harvest Festivus. Food trucks, lawn games, and other fun can be had with details at thevillagetc.com.

Oct. 3-7

Self-described local “dangerous music man” Luke Woltanski (a solo folk artist and songwriter who plays guitar and harmonica) hits a roadshow this week playing in five different and cool venues from distilleries to vineyards all the way from Allegan to Northport to Cedar to Traverse City to Cadillac. You can follow along and get all the details for his shows at lukewoltanski.com

Also kicking off this week at The Commons will be the return of the Live Jazz series at restaurant Trattoria Stella every Tuesday in October, starting off at 6:30pm and featuring a rotation of local and regional musicians in the bar area. For more info, head to stellatc.com

In big news, you can catch iconic superstars Sonny & Cher, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Lionel Richie, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, and Tom Jones for one night only on Wednesday, Oct. 5, in downtown TC at the City Opera House! These stars will be recreated by Las Vegas impersonators Anthony and Eddie Dewards, who use acting and makeup artistry to transform themselves and take you on a nostalgic concert experience. Go to cityoperahouse.org.

Cincinnati native and singer/songwriter Erin Coburn will also be swinging through downtown TC, this time at club Encore 201 on Front Street for a show of her modern approach to American rock and roll on Friday, Oct. 7. Tickets and info at encore201.club

Oct. 8-9

Middlecoast Brewing in downtown TC hosts its second annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 8 from 1pm to 10pm. Three bands— BLT, Rolling Dirty, and The Timebombs— will be performing live throughout the day, and the beer will be flowing with two beer tents, 10 taps, and the release of two new Middlecoast brews. Find more at middlecoastbrewingco.com.

Oct. 9 is all about the strings and winds. The Benzie Symphony Orchestra is in concert at the Northport Performing Arts Center (104 S. Wing Street in Northport) at 4pm to pay tribute to their late violinist, David Lint, with several special pieces. Meanwhile, the MSU Jazz Orchestra teams up with the TCAPS high school jazz bands at the City Opera House in Traverse City for a collaborative joint concert. Head to cityoperahouse.org for details.

“I’m glad to be the first woman police officer, and I want to do a real good job.”

- Lisa Piel (News-Review Interview)

AT TRAVERSE CITY HORIZON BOOKS

October 8th marks the 29th year of the murder of Lisa Piel, Petoskey’s first and only female police officer, 1978 - 1992.

by Joseph Beyer

Photo courtesy of Luke Woltanski.

BONOBO WINERY, TC

10/7 -- Randy Reszka, 5:30

EARTHEN ALES, TC

10/9 -- Fall Fest w/ A.S. Lutes, 4-6

ENCORE 201, TC

10/1 -- Hell on Heels Drag Show & Pride Brunch, 11am-1pm; DJ Rob Greco, 9pm

10/6 -- DJ Rob Greco, 9

10/7 -- Blues Extravaganza w/ Frank Bang & Erin Coburn, 7

10/8 -- Frank Bang wsg Fly Lite Gemini, 8

JACOB'S FARM, TC

6-8:30:

10/7 – Stonefolk

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

10/2 -- 15th Annual Harvest Fes tivus w/ Ben Traverse & Co., 1-3

BARREL ROOM:

10/3 – Barrels & Beats w/ Ron Coonrod, 6-9

10/7 – Chris Smith, 5

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia

Thurs. – Jazz Night w/ Larz Cabot, 6-9

Fri. – Live Music Sun. -- Karaoke

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC

10/5 – Eric Clemons, 6:30-9:30

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

10/8 -- 2nd Annual Oktoberfest w/ BLT, Rolling Dirty, & The Time bombs, 1-10

NORTH BAR, TC

10/1 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine, 7-10

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

10/7 -- Miriam Pico, 4-7

TC WHISKEY CO.

10/2 -- Craig Jolly, 5-7

THE PARLOR, TC

7-10:

10/1 -- Rolling Dirty

10/4 -- Jesse Jefferson

10/5 -- Wink

10/6 -- Jimmy Olson

10/7 -- Blair Miller

10/8 -- Blue Footed Booby

THE WORKSHOP BREWING

Antrim & Charlevoix

CO., TC

10/1 -- Blair Miller, 7

10/3 -- Big Fun - Don Julin, Jeff Haas, Jack Dryden, Randy Marsh & Joe Wilson, 6

10/7 -- Chris Michels Band, 7

10/8 -- Bobby Brooks, 7

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC

10/4 -- Tuesday Trivia, 7-9 PATIO, 6:30-9:30:

10/1 -- 1000 Watt Trio

10/7 -- TC Knuckleheads

10/8 -- Project 6

TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC

10/7 -- Comedy w/ Rocky LaPorte, 7:30 & 10

10/8 -- Comedy w/ Rocky LaPorte, 7 & 9:30

UNION STREET STATION, TC

10/1 -- Rolling Dirty, 10

10/2 & 10/9 -- Video DJ Dance Party, 10

10/4 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Electric Open Mic

10/6 -- DJ Frank, 10

10/7 -- Happy Hour w/ Chris Sterr; then Electric Red

10/8 -- Electric Red, 10

nitelife

Leelanau & Benzie

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

Live From The Hilltop:

10/2 -- Mark Daisy, 2-4:30

10/6 -- Swingbone, 5-7:30

10/9 -- Sean Miller, 2-4:30

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEE LANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTH PORT

10/2 -- Luke Woltanski, 3

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CE DAR 4-7:

10/3 -- Luke Woltanski

10/6 -- Adam Sleder

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMP SONVILLE 5:30-7:30:

10/1 -- Lighting Matches

10/8 – Mckenzie Rosin

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

10/1 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Runaway Mule, 3-6; The Bour dains, 7-10

10/4 -- Bryan Poirier, 6:30-9:30

10/7 -- Jack Pine Band, 6:309:30

10/8 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ The Jameson Brothers, 3-6; Levi Britton, 6:30-9:30

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUT TONS BAY PATIO, 2-5:

10/2 -- Blair Miller

10/9 -- Jabo

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEU LAH

10/1 -- Barn Dance w/ The Benzie Playboys & Special Guests, 2-9

10/1 -- David Lawston, 5:30-8:30

10/5 -- Bill Frary, 5:30-8:30

10/8 -- Blair Miller, 5:30-8:30

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

7-9:

10/1 -- Jason Dean

10/8 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen

THE UNION, NORTHPORT

10/5 -- Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7-9:30

Otsego, Crawford & Central

BENNETHUM'S NORTHERN INN, GAYLORD

10/4 -- Randy Reszka, 5-8

BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX

10/6 -- Open Mic Night with Host John Eaton: Sign-up at 6:15; Open Mic at 7

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

8-11:

10/1 -- Normal Mode

10/7 -- Steve Leaf

10/8 -- Myron Elkins & The Dying Breed

HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE

10/1 -- Jessica Dominic, 5:308:30

10/7 -- Live Music with Rick - Mu sic & Art Stroll, 5-9

10/8 -- Live Music with David,

5:30-8:30

10/8 -- David Lawston, 6:30-9:30

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

10/6 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 6-9

SHANTY CREEK RESORT, BEL LAIRE SUMMIT VILLAGE, THE OTHER BAR:

10/7 -- David Lawston, 7-10

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 7-9:30:

10/1 -- Chris Sterr

10/7 -- Nick Veine

10/8 -- Carrie Westbay

SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS

10/1 -- Jason Dean, 7-9

TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL LAKE

10/1 & 10/7-8 -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 8

10/3 -- Karaoke & Open Mic Night, 7

10/4 -- Dominic Fortuna, 6:30

10/5 -- Lee Malone & Sandy Me tiva, 6:30

10/6 -- Nick Vasquez, 7 10/9 -- Jake Slater - Elvis Tribute Artist, 7:30

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY

10/1 -- Terry Coveyou, 5 10/2 -- Eliza Thorp, 5 10/8 -- The Shouting Bones, 5 10/9 -- Owen James: Second Sunday Solo Set, 4

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PATIO, PETOSKEY PATIO:

10/1 -- Chase & Allie, 2-6

10/7 -- Michelle Chenard, 4-7:30 10/8 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 10/7-10/8 -- OktoberFest w/ Tommy Shober & Sorgenbrecher Band, 6-9

Emmet & Cheboygan

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

10/1 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR 6-9:

10/1 -- Sean Bielby

10/7 – Jessica Dominic

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 10: 10/1 -- Don Swan & The 4

The Flavor Of

Horsemen

10/7 -- The Insiders

10/8 -- Uncle Ugly

OVATION HALL: 10/7 -- The McCartney Years, 8

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

10/1 -- Mark Bowen, 7:30

THE DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

10/7 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 9

Downtown

by jamie kauffold

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Libran approach to fighting for what's right shouldn’t involve getting into loud arguments or trying to manipulate people into seeing things your way. If you’re doing what you were born to do, you rely on gentler styles of persuasion. Are you doing what you were born to do? Have you become skilled at using clear, elegant language to say what you mean? Do you work in behalf of the best outcome rather than merely serving your ego? Do you try to understand why others feel the way they do, even if you disagree with their conclusions? I hope you call on these superpowers in the coming weeks. We all need you to be at the height of your potency.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): How to be the best Virgo you can be during the coming weeks: 1. You must relish, not apologize for, your precise obsessions. 2. Be as nosy as you need to be to discover the core truths hidden beneath the surface.

Risk asking almost too many questions in your subtle drive to know everything. 3. Help loved ones and allies shrink and heal their insecurities. 4. Generate beauty and truth through your skill at knowing what needs to be purged and shed. 5. Always have your Bullshit Detector with you. Use it liberally. 6. Keep in close touch with the conversations between your mind and body.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "One bad apple spoils the rest" is an idiom in the English language. It refers to the idea that if one apple rots as it rests in a pile of apples, the rest will quickly rot, too. It's based on a scientific fact. As an apple decays, it emanates the gas ethylene, which speeds up decay in nearby apples. A variant of this idiom has recently evolved in relation to police misconduct, however. When law enforcement officials respond to such allegations, they say that a few "bad apples" in the police force aren't representative of all the other cops. So I'm wondering which side of the metaphor is at work for you right now, Scorpio. Should you immediately expunge the bad apple in your life? Or should you critique and tolerate it? Should you worry about the possibility of contamination, or can you successfully enforce damage control? Only you know the correct answer.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Sagittarians know best how to have fun even when life sucks. Your daily rhythm may temporarily become a tangle of boring or annoying tasks, yet you can still summon a knack for enjoying yourself. But let me ask you this: How are your instincts for drumming up amusement when life doesn't suck? Are you as talented at whipping up glee and inspiration when the daily rhythm is smooth and groovy? I suspect we will gather evidence to answer those questions in the coming weeks. Here's my prediction: The good times will spur you to new heights of creating even more good times.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): More than you might realize, people look to you for leadership and regard you as a role model. This will be extra true in the coming weeks. Your statements and actions will have an even bigger impact than usual. Your influence will ripple out far beyond your sphere. In light of these developments, which may sometimes be subtle, I encourage you to upgrade your sense of responsibility. Make sure your integrity is impeccable. Another piece of advice, too: Be an inspiring example to people without making them feel like they owe you anything.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Rappersongwriter Nicki Minaj says, "You should never feel afraid to become a piece of art. It's exhilarating." I will go further, Aquarius. I invite you to summon ingenuity and joy in your efforts to be a work of art. The coming weeks will be an ideal time for you to tease out more of your inner beauty so that more people can benefit from it. I hope you will be dramatic and expressive about showing the world the full array of your interesting qualities. PS: Please call on the entertainment value of surprise and unpredictability.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Author Robertson Davies declared, "One learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s innocence." It sounds poetic, but it doesn't apply to most of you Pisceans—especially now. Here's what I've concluded: The more you learn your mystery, the more innocent you become. Please note I'm using the word

"innocence" in the sense defined by author Clarissa Pinkola Estés. She wrote: "Ignorance is not knowing anything and being attracted to the good. Innocence is knowing everything and still being attracted to the good."

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When you Aries folks are at your best, you are drawn to people who tell you exactly what they think, who aren't intimidated by your high energy, and who dare to be as vigorous as you. I hope you have an array of allies like that in your sphere right now. In my astrological opinion, you especially need their kind of stimulation. It's an excellent time to invite influences that will nudge you out of your status quo and help you glide into a new groove. Are you willing to be challenged and changed?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Toni Morrison thought that beauty was "an absolute necessity" and not "a privilege or an indulgence." She said that "finding, incorporating, and then representing beauty is what humans do." In her view, we can't live without beauty “any more than we can do without dreams or oxygen.” All she said is even truer for Tauruses and Libras than the other signs. And you Bulls have an extra wrinkle: It's optimal if at least some of the beauty in your life is useful. Your mandate is summed up well by author Anne Michaels: "Find a way to make beauty necessary; find a way to make necessity beautiful." I hope you'll do a lot of that in the coming weeks.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, "It requires a very unusual mind to make an analysis of the obvious." nominate you to perform that service in the coming days, both for yourself and your allies. No one will be better able than you to discern the complexities of seemingly simple situations. You will also have extraordinary power to help people appreciate and even embrace paradox. So be a crafty master of candor and transparency, Gemini. Demonstrate the benefits of being loyal to the objective evidence rather than to the easy and popular delusions. Tell the interesting truths.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian poet Lucille Clifton sent us all an invitation: "Won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life? had no model. i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay, my one hand holding tight my other hand." During October, fellow Cancerian, I propose you draw inspiration from her heroic efforts to create herself. The coming weeks will be a time when you can achieve small miracles as you bolster your roots, nourish your soulful confidence, and ripen your uniqueness.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Dear Rob the Astrologer: This morning I put extra mousse on my hair and blow-dried the hell out of it, so now it is huge and curly and impossibly irresistible. I'm wearing bright orange shoes so everyone will stare at my feet, and a blue silk blouse that is much too high-fashion to wear to work. It has princess seams and matches my eyes. I look fantastic. How could anyone of any gender resist drinking in my magnificence? I realize you're a spiritual type and may not approve of my showmanship, but I wanted you to know that what I'm doing is a totally valid way to be a Leo. —Your Leo teacher Brooke." Dear Brooke: Thank you for your helpful instruction! It's true that I periodically need to loosen my tight grip on my high principles. I must be more open to appreciating life's raw feed. I hope you will perform a similar service for everyone you encounter in the coming weeks.

ACROSS

“Jonesin” Crosswords

1. Decline an invitation

7. Takes it easy

15. Japanese fashion designer Issey (who passed away in August 2022)

16. "Better Call Saul" star Bob

Carriers that only offer nonstop flights?

Units of $1,000, slangily

Pledge drive bag

Amnesty Intl., e.g.

Mode or king preceder

Broadway musical about the wives of Henry VIII

"Licensed to ___" (Beastie Boys album)

Bear lair

Short film maker?

32. The Three Stooges' Roman ancestors?

___ Mode (Marshawn Lynch's lifestyle brand)

"A few days ___ ..."

Old stop-motion animated show that's the source of the "Well now I am not doing it" meme

Hitchcock sequel set at Yale?

Person ... person who kneads people

Actor McShane or McKellen

"Midsommar" director Aster

"Succession" family name

Price clarifier

Dog food container

Acquire

___ mi (sandwich on French bread)

The schmaltziest pop orchestra music you'll ever hear?

Secret identity

Component of some IKEA furniture?

Word that can precede each individual word in the four theme answers

Group of spam-infested machines

DOWN

1. Psi follower

Monitor point

Ambitious and high-energy

4. Scull movers

Kona instrument

Mic check word

Top player, like, ever

Garfield's sidekick

Auction conclusion

10. Show getting its first nonbinary cast member in season 48

11. It's used to keep some surfaces smooth

12. Lisa formerly of "The View"

110-year-old snack brand

Mo. fractions

Boston team

23. Veruca Salt song that you "can't fight"

Name in Ugandan history

It always falls on the 29th

It's used to keep some surfaces smooth

Indistinct

"Australian ___" (singing competition show return ing in 2023)

Viet ___

Country on the Atl.

Spartans' sch.

Settles a bill

Sample sites

Meas. of tempo or heart rate

Conductor ___-Pekka Salonen

"Yes, chef"

Simba, at the beginning of the movie

Make free (of)

Exultant song

Come after

Link's "Good Mythical Morning" partner

Placid

"I'm in" indicator

Driver's "House of Gucci" castmate

"Author unknown," briefly

Seat restraint

"Old MacDonald" sound

Lanka preceder

Pulp fiction gumshoe

Med. insurance plan

"Stateside" and the rest will follow.. by Matt Jones

CLASSIFIEDS

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