Northern Express

LEELANAU TOWNSHIP VOTER GUIDE

ORDINANCE #1

A YES VOTE WOULD: A NO VOTE WOULD:

PROTECT 100’S OF WETLANDS & PRESERVE CLEAN WATERS

REDUCE OVERCROWDING, SMOKE, NOISE AND TRAFFIC

ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO ENCROACH ON WETLANDS

PRESERVE NATURAL SHORELINE AND WETLAND HABITATS

INCREASE NOISE, TRAFFIC, SMOKE AND OVERCROWDING

REMOVE SHORELINE AND WETLAND SAFEGUARDS

CONSERVE WHITEFISH SPAWNING GROUNDS

THREATEN NATIVE BIRD AND FISH HABITAT

INVITE RESPONSIBLE RECREATION FOR ALL

HAVE NO EFFECT ON RESIDENTIAL ZONING

ENDORSE LOCALLY-CREATED

GIVE COMMERCIAL-RESORT DEVELOPERS FREE REIGN

LOCK IN STALE RULES

FAVORING DOWNSTATE, METRO-DETROIT DEVELOPERS

ERASE PROTECTIONS CREATED

Mancelona Needs Clean Water

As someone who was born, raised, and still lives in Mancelona, I have heard too many stories of people who don’t have access to clean water. I knew classmates in high school whose families barely made ends meet who had to buy bottled water. When I worked at Northland, customers would tell me about how the water in their home wasn’t safe to drink.

This is wrong. The citizens of Mancelona and Kalkaska are hardworking, friendly people who deserve the same access to clean water as people living in urban and suburban areas.

Which is why when I found out about Riverside Energy LLC’s plan to take fresh, drinkable water from our local water table, pollute it, then dump the polluted water back in the ground, I knew I had to say something.

To make matters worse, the hearing that’s being held about the proposal is not being held in Mancelona or Kalkaska—it’s being held in Lansing. This effectively takes away local people’s right to stand up for themselves. Whether or not Riverside Energy can come in and work in Custer and Rapid River townships should be up to the people of Mancelona and Kalkaska, not someone in Lansing.

Furthermore, if they were to go through with this, it would only make life harder for local people. More struggling families would have to buy water. More children would not have access to safe water at home.

What Mancelona and Kalkaska need are more jobs and better internet access, not polluted water.

Valerie Reeves | Mancelona

Jillian Manning

& Distribution Manager: Brian Crouch

Kathleen Johnson, Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance,

Poehlman

Evancho,

Racine,

Brookfield,

Jeff Haas & Laurie Sears

Twardowski

Boissoneau,

Detroit All Stars

Anthony Stanco Marion Hayden Tariq Gardner

week’s

top ten

Did Someone Say Cider Mimosas?

You don’t want to miss a moment of fall color this week—it will be gone before we know it, and five (or more) months is a long time to wait before those leaves return. While there are breathtaking views to be found just about everywhere, we’re especially excited about the Fall Color Tour at Michigan Legacy Art Park in Thompsonville on Sunday, Oct. 16. The 90-minute tour starts at 2pm and takes you along two miles of trails within the park with your guide, naturalist Caitlin Chism. In addition to seeing the 50+ sculptures under the reds and golds of autumn leaves, you’ll also get to hear about the natural history and environment of the park, plus brush up on some tree identification. (Indulge your inner schoolkid and bring a notebook to press leaves and make tracings!) The tour is free with park admission ($5 for adults; free for kids). Find the park on the grounds of Crystal Mountain, and learn more at michlegacyartpark.org/fall-tour.

Leaf Peeping in the Park 4

Fresh cider mimosas and fall doughnuts are on the menu at Aurora Cellars in Lake Leelanau during their Harvest Party on Saturday, Oct. 15, from noon to 6pm. Their normal wine offerings will also be available, along with the Good To Go Michigan Food Truck serving up tacos. Blair Miller will perform from 1-3pm, followed by Luke Woltanski from 4-6pm on the front lawn. Visit facebook.com/auroracellars for details.

Hey, watch It! Reservation Dogs

If you seek the good vibes of humanity and a wickedly rewarding experience, then the irreverent second season of Reservation Dogs on Hulu is up your alley. It’s easy to fall into the Oklahoma storyscape developed by the first writers’ room ever made up of all Native and Indigenous creatives, led by Sterlin Harjo (Seminole Nation) and Taika Waititi (Māori) and this season’s standout director Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo Nation). Theirs is a fresh new world of relatable characters centered around a pod of teenagers who pull you into their lives as they struggle to find their happiness in the world while also trying to understand it at the same time. There is joy, there is loss, and always a deep, soulful honesty at work in this evolving narrative. Reservation Dogs offers all of us the chance to broaden our perspectives through the unique power of storytelling. Now streaming on Hulu.

Jolly Pumpkin’s Amber Ale Cheese Dip

As you watch those first autumn leaves fall to the ground, embrace the warm, familiar flavors of Jolly Pumpkin’s Amber Ale Cheese Dip, best paired with one of the sour beers the brewery is famous for. Friendly bartender Ron will give you the option to add spicy chorizo and pico de gallo to the top of your bowl of melted cheddar infused with siren ale and cayenne peppers, and trust us, you’ll want to take it. There won’t be any dip left after you dive in with a selection of white corn tortilla chips and toasted baguette (the latter of which reign supreme and should be re-loaded between each bite). The appetizer or small plate—made perfectly suitable for two at $12—is just what you need right now to get excited about fall foods that warm the soul. Find Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant & Brewery on Old Mission Peninsula at 13512 Peninsula Drive. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then open all other days from 12pm to 8pm. traversecity.jollypumpkin.com

6 Anishinaabe History

Monday, Oct. 10, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and to honor the original inhabitants of northern Michigan, the Leelanau Historical Society is offering a special event focused on Anishinaabe history. JoAnne Cook is the featured speaker. She is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, a former tribal councilor and tribal court judge, and local educator and culture preservationist. Cook will share information about the original way of life of the Anishinaabe, including culture, tradition, spiritual views, and living as a nation, tribe, and community. She’ll also discuss how historical changes in the Great Lakes region affected the Anishinaabe from societal, environmental, and legal perspectives. The event is free and begins at 4pm in the Munnecke Room at the Leelanau Historical Society Museum, 203 E. Cedar. St. in Leland. Learn more at leelanauhistory.org/events.

Sleeping Bear Shines at ArtPrize

If you reside in northern Michigan, chances are you’re familiar with the legend of Sleeping Bear. Though the legend itself has a complex cultural history, it remains a popular tale of how the magnificent hills of sand came to be. As the story goes, the main dune is the mother bear and the two Manitou Islands are her cubs, lost in a crossing of Lake Michigan. The legend got a brand-new interpretation at this fall’s ArtPrize, the renowned biennial art competition in Grand Rapids. Muskegon-based artist and photographer Katelyn Wollet spent four days painting a white 2022 Honda Accord into a sprawling canvas where each panel tells a different part of the Sleeping Bear legend. The finished work, called “Dune Bears,” earned Wollet a victory in the West Michigan Honda Dealers Design & Drive Art Contest at ArtPrize, “where six finalist artists compete to win a 24-month lease on a new 2023 Honda HR-V.” Learn more (and see more photos of the car)

Alden’s Mill House

The House of Good Taste

Mill

Stuff We Love: Protecting Our Homeland

Northern Michigan is a special place to live and work for many reasons, but chief among the area’s benefits is our beautiful—and in some places, still untouched— natural setting. In an effort to make sure that beauty exists for decades to come, Traverse City nonprofit SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service this summer for habitat restoration projects in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. The project was helmed by SEEDS’ EcoCorps, a “green collar” program for ages 16 and up to learn about and work on the restoration of public and private lands, installing and maintaining ecologically regenerative landscapes, farming, and green infrastructure. The partnership with the Forest Service improved hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat, rehabilitated camping sites near Lake Michigan Recreation Area, restored habitat for pollinators, and planted 500 native wildflowers. EcoCorps, we salute you for your work protecting the places we love most! Learn more at ecoseeds.org.

For

Roasted

Sprouts

bottoms up American Spoon’s Paloma Mix

Since its establishment in the early 1980s, American Spoon has hung its hat on homemade brunch and breakfast bits, from Blueberry Coffee Cake to fruit conserves. (Try the Spiced Pear and thank us later.) Craft cocktail blends are a recent addition to their lineup, and the Paloma Mix is giving other daytime drinks a run for their money. Inspired by the iconic grapefruit at the breakfast table, this small-batch blend Paloma script (which is made 60 jars at a time) begins with vibrant grapefruit and lime juice. Steeped with fresh hibiscus flowers and finished with agave and a touch of smoked salt, this delightfullypink concentrate gives “balanced breakfast” a whole new meaning. Spike it with your favorite tequila and a salted rim for a classic Paloma or top it with seltzer for a no-nonsense mocktail. Find it for $16.95 online at spoon.com and their four Up North locations, including the original store at 411 East Lake Street in Petoskey. (231) 347-1739.

FIGHT

EASY TARGETS

spectator

By Stephen Tuttle

Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida as a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, up to 17 inches of rain, and storm surges ranging from 9 to 12 feet. As this is being written, The Associated Press is now reporting more than 100 deaths in Florida directly related to Ian. The property damage, which in many areas is total, may reach losses of more than $100 billion.

Even though Ian formed quickly and intensified even quicker, there aren’t enough dots to connect it directly to climate change. September hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico are not especially rare, and Florida is the most common target. The National Hurricane Center lists 247 hurricanes or tropical storms that have made landfall or otherwise directly impacted Florida since just 1950. Go back another century, and since 1850 there have been only 18 years when such a storm did not impact Florida.

At the same time, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), the rains which accompany Gulf hurricanes are becoming

islands off Florida’s coast, many of which qualify as barrier islands, providing another layer of protection. Nature had created its own safety valves, and the indigenous people of the area learned to value and use them.

We Europeans had “better” ideas. First, eliminate the people already there, then start to settle the area and eventually develop the place. We figured the weather was mostly great, the water could be drained, the mosquitoes conquered, and the beaches were just perfect for resorts. None of that likely caused more hurricanes, but we certainly made the impact worse.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, fully half the Everglades have been drained, the wetlands and natural waterways replaced by levees, canals, and irrigation ditches that cleared the way for agriculture and housing. By the 1890s, rail lines had been established and the first Florida resorts were already being built. (In September of 1935, a hurricane killed at least 600 in Florida, including hundreds

National Weather Service records indicate 88 percent of hurricane related deaths since 1947 have been caused by flooding, not wind. That is a particular problem in Florida, and human activity has certainly exacerbated it.

more severe, adding significantly to both the damage wrought and deaths caused. Such storms are now producing, on average, about 10 percent more rain than they did just 25 years ago.

It’s that rain and storm surges that cause the flooding. NWS records indicate 88 percent of hurricane related deaths since 1947 have been caused by flooding, not wind. That is a particular problem in Florida, and human activity has certainly exacerbated it.

Florida is, by far, the flattest state. Its highest point is a scant 345 feet above sea level, and much of it is only a few feet above the water. Miami, for example, is only 6.5 feet above sea level, which is why it is in great danger as sea levels continue to rise. (Traverse City, by comparison, is 626 feet above sea level, and the surrounding hills, pushed up by glaciers, are much higher still.)

Indigenous people who lived in the southern part of what is now Florida had adapted to living in the wetlands we now call the Everglades. Farther north, there were wide beaches and small dunes and a series of natural inland waterways.

The Everglades, technically a very slow moving river that was 60 miles wide and 100 miles long flowing from north to south, functioned as a sponge for heavy rains and storm surges. The dunes, which often extended at least half a mile inland, also served to mitigate tides and surges. Additionally, there are more than 4,500

of Civilian Conservation Corps workers extending rail lines.)

In addition to draining the Everglades, we leveled the dunes and started putting resorts and homes as close to the shore as possible. Then came the highrise condos. We even leveled most of the barrier islands so it was easier to build on them.

Now there are almost no natural barriers of any kind. Nothing could have totally stopped the destruction that came with the monster that was Ian, but barrier islands, dunes, and wetlands would have helped some.

And nature is trying its best to give us some help. If you saw any of the aerial photos of the Fort Myers area, you might have noticed significant amounts of sand were deposited hundreds of yards inland— the beginning of dune restoration. You might have also noticed people refusing to take the hint and beginning the process of removing that sand so they could rebuild on the shore a couple feet above sea level while they await the next storm so they can repeat the process.

Warmer oceans, a function of climate change, help generate tropical storms and hurricanes, but both existed long before we showed up. Meanwhile, we refuse to learn how to mitigate the impact and keep destroying nature trying to rebuild itself and protect us. Where dunes and wetlands used to be will once again be condos and hotels. Easy targets.

AND PLANNING BILL OF RIGHTS

guest opinion

By Fred Anderson

As a relatively new homeowner in Traverse City, I continue to be amazed by the enormous gulf that exists between the citizens who live here and those in City Hall. It is sad that in a city that prides itself on inclusiveness and transparency, there appears to be an exception to that policy when it relates to anyone who has any different ideas on development.

Developers, special interests, and nonprofits who agree with the non-elected bureaucrats appear to be given open access, while the general public is not consulted until the latest plan is already formulated…and then citizens are given the perfunctory three minutes at the end of the decision-making meeting. I continue to wonder why more inclusiveness and tolerance is not shown to a broader segment of the community. That average citizens are not meaningfully consulted in the policy and development process seems wrong to me.

Two election results and numerous court suits that the city has lost demonstrate the extent of the gap between the city and the public. The tall-building ballot proposal in November is most likely to yield another result contrary to the planning process.

The solution to this problem is an amendment to the City Charter that provides more balance between non-elected officials and those who call Traverse City home. But that will take a long time to achieve. We can continue down the same path that will yield more litigation and ballot proposals, or we can look for a way to be more inclusive of the general public.

In the short term, I would like to propose what I am calling a “Bill of Rights for the Citizens of Traverse City Relative to Planning and Development” with the following steps:

1) Senior-level bureaucrats in the planning process must conduct a series of listening sessions prior to developing new development projects, zoning amendments, or policies.

2) Going forward, the public must be included in all meetings and discussions to the same extent as developers and nonprofit organizations.

3) All senior-level bureaucrats and those involved in the planning and development process must be required to take inclusiveness training with a focus on working with people who have different views and with a special focus on how to work with senior citizens.

4) Prior to the rollout of the Master Plan revision, a renewed inclusion of the public on all issues that are being decided in advance of the Master Plan revision must be implemented.

5) No more use of text amendment changes or other shortcuts which excludes the public from the discussion.

6) More transparency and common sense dialogue on what will be the true height of a building.

7) In an era of increased transparency of public proceedings, senior-level bureaucrats and those involved in the planning and development process should be required to publicly disclose on the city website all meetings, emails, text messages, or communications of any sort regarding planning, zoning, and development issues on a bi-weekly basis. This will allow monitoring of whether the public is being included in policy development to the same extent as special interests.

8) Planning Commission agendas should be reduced in the amount of content included in each meeting. Additional meetings with shorter agendas must be held. Both actions will allow the public to better comprehend the items being discussed. Currently, multiple issues with several hundred pages of documents are often considered in a single meeting, which makes it extremely difficult for the public to digest and follow.

9) All agendas and meeting materials must be publicly disclosed on the city website at least 14 days before meeting on the items included in the materials. While this exceeds the minimum requirements of state law, there would be nothing that would prohibit the city in the spirit of increased transparency to set a higher standard.

10) All senior-level bureaucrats and individuals in all segments of the planning and development process must be required to sign a public statement committing to more inclusiveness on planning and development with the public they serve.

11) We should see a renewed emphasis and expansion of the city’s commitment to historic preservation, including in the older residential neighborhoods. To create a model for such ordinances and programs, city staff would gather such information from older cities throughout the U.S. that have comprehensive historical preservation programs.

12) On all planning and development projects, the Planning Commission and the public should be presented with information on the other side of the issue being debated. No one set of planning ideas or philosophies is perfect, and a wider range of philosophies needs to be examined as it relates to future development. A document on the city’s website already requires this approach, but the planning and development process appears to have ignored this requirement.

Fred Anderson retired from a long career in legislative, political, regulatory, and community affairs in Lansing and Washington, D.C. Now a homeowner in Traverse City, he is concerned about balancing the pressure for growth with protecting the unique nature of what makes Traverse City so special.

CLASSIFIEDS

LOOKING AT THE NEXT MASTER PLAN

guest opinion by Jim Carruthers

As the City Commission and Downtown Development Authority review our Master Plan, it’s important they consider decades of planning that got us to this point.

Several themes have prevailed, and it’s important these governmental bodies understand that planning does not mean erasing the past. Residents continually stress the importance of managing growth while protecting historic character, natural environments, and small-town atmosphere. Below is a brief history highlighting the planning our citizens have dedicated themselves to in order to protect this wonderful town.

The 1979 Traverse City Downtown Redevelopment Program Guide introduced the idea of a redevelopment plan for downtown. It said, “Traverse City Downtown Development Authority was established in September 1978 to work toward strengthening the retail function of downtown Traverse City.”

The DDA’s objective was to retain anchor stores in order to maintain downtown’s regional retail role while focused on conserving and enhancing the unique natural and historic features that shape downtown’s image and form. It pointed to our community’s strong values, reflecting an appreciation for history and character—which is embodied in our buildings—and protecting natural resources. It reflected the need to develop downtown while maintaining a small-town atmosphere, historic architecture, and smaller-scale retail, shaping the values important to our citizens.

In 1997, the DDA recommended a Tax Increment Finance plan, commonly known as TIF97. The plan was marketed as a 30year loan (tax capture) that would be used to incentivize the revitalization of downtown. After the 30 years were up, the increase in taxable value would go back to the General Fund and TIF97 would end.

The vision was to provide upfront funding for public improvements while “preserving downtown’s small town character, improving pedestrian experiences, make better use of the land, and maintain historic building patterns.” Bryan Crough, former DDA Executive Director wrote, “To preserve our small-town character, we envision a downtown very much like that of the past: 2 to 5 story buildings… skyscrapers and office towers have NEVER been a part of this plan.”

The 2003 Traverse City Master Plan reiterated recurring themes of previous plans that maintained a small-town atmosphere and protected and enhanced the rich natural environment, all while preserving the community’s historic resources.

In the 2006, New Designs for Growth Development Guidebook, a chamber-led development tool, referenced protecting natural resources while maintaining our rural and urban character as we grow. The Guidebook provided a foundation and resource for communities to use when updating plans and zoning ordinances to better accommodate the needs and desires of residents. When planning our commercial core, preserving local character and attractive

communities is more important than the use of a property relating to building placement.

The 2006 Across Grandview Parkway Plan speaks to Traverse City’s rich history and natural features and that preserving our character is important to our local economy and residents. It points to preserving Traverse City’s small-town character and references the city’s 1977 and 1994 Master Plans that made this a community goal.

The 2007 Grand Vision Land Use and Transportation Strategy Report points out that local plans should express an interest in planned development practices that protect the rural feel and agricultural practices of the region. The emphasis is on protecting the area’s natural resources, scenic views, and roadways, which are important for successful growth. Natural resources and appearances are recognized as a significant part of our economic engine, and these amenities draw tourists and attract businesses.

The 2009 City Master Plan states the importance of recognizing our past as we plan our future. A “quantifiable” standard to measure intensity is recommended. The core principles speak to preserving and protecting our neighborhoods as we grow while protecting natural and historic resources, which are limited and need protection. As written, “the commercial neighborhoods at the boundaries are expected to mitigate their intensity level to one that is no higher than the highest accepted intensity level of the adjoining residential neighborhood.”

The plan encourages action in harmony with community values and provides the “legal” basis for protecting our neighborhoods.

The 2013 Corridor Master Plan also speaks to the importance of preserving our community’s core values while protecting existing nearby residential neighborhoods along urban corridors. It is clear this community’s values reflect protecting the environment and the character that attracts people here.

Downtown has plenty of room to grow, and governmental representatives should recognize that citizens want to protect our character and natural resources. Zoning ordinances and the city charter are legally binding and have been upheld by the courts.

Just because investors/developers are taking advantage of a hot real-estate market is no reason to ruin what makes Traverse City so appealing. Growth is changing the world around us, but that does mean we should not consider thoughtful redevelopment that protects our community values.

My many years of involvement with government and research into 40 years of planning documents has led me to understand what our community goals and values represent. Protecting and preserving our natural resources, historical features, and maintaining a small-town atmosphere are consistent themes that we value and are worth protecting.

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

Surviving a Petoskey winter requires fortitude.

Holding a Grudge

A family is seeking to press charges against an unnamed man who was briefly married to their mom in the 1970s, the New York Post reported. Their beef? Allegedly, the New Jersey man arrives at Linda Torello's tombstone in Orangetown, New York, early almost every morning with his current wife in tow, where he urinates on her grave and sometimes leaves a bag of excrement. Torello died in 2017, according to her son, Michael Andrew Murphy, 43. In April of this year, he and his sister discovered a bag of poop and supposed a dog walker had dropped it. When the second bag showed up, they called police. Then they went to work, setting up a trail camera that recorded the man's visits, and on Sept. 18, taking video with a cellphone that identified him as Torello's onetime husband. "My sister was crying ... I was sick I was so angry," Murphy said. "No one in my family has had contact with him since 1976 or so." Police have been unhelpful; Murphy said he's called them three times and they won't put him in touch with a detective.

Ewwwwww

Amanda Gommo, 51, of Bristol, England, required hospitalization after an unfortunate incident involving her daughter's Chihuahua, Belle, the Daily Mail reported on Sept. 26. As Gommo and Belle cuddled together during a nap, Belle suffered "violent diarrhea," some of which fell into Gommo's open mouth. "It was disgusting, and I was hurling violently for hours after -- I just couldn't get the taste out of my mouth," Gommo said. Afterward, she suffered stomach cramps so bad that two days later, she went to the hospital, where doctors discovered an infection that had been passed on by the dog. "I'm happy to say both me and Belle are on the mend," she said, but noted that she'll "be more mindful of what position we sleep in in the future."

Bright Ideas

Can't sleep? Pack your bags and head for Sussex, England, where you can spend a night next summer in a "luxurious" double bed at the Shleep Sanctuary, according to the Daily Star. As you drift away, numbered actual sheep will mill around the grassy hillside outside the glass dome enclosing your bed. Emma Sleep, a tech company, is offering the one-night stay, which includes dinner, morning yoga and breakfast. "Counting sheep is more than an old wives' tale," said Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO. "It's a tried-andtrue visualization technique that Brits are relying on to send them to sleep." Zzzzzzz.

From the "make your resume stand out" files: Karly Pavlinac Blackburn, 27, of Wilmington, North Carolina, was recently laid off from her job, the New York Post reported. Hoping to land a position with Nike in Beaverton, Oregon, and knowing they'd be celebrating Just Do It Day on Sept. 8, Blackburn cooked up a plan: Working with Albertson's Grocery Store,

she ordered a sheet cake with an edible resume printed on top. Next, she talked with Instacart driver Denise Baldwin, who promised her she would "do whatever it takes to get this cake to where it needs to be." Sure enough, Baldwin delivered the sweet treat into the appropriate hands, and Blackburn has meetings on the calendar with the sportswear brand -- and more. "There are a bunch of companies that are kind of involved in the process," she revealed.

The Neighbors (Naked Edition)

The obvious question is: Why are there so many naked people outdoors these days? On Sept. 25 in McMinnville, Oregon, KOIN-TV reported, an "unclothed male subject" was in his front yard, which drew the ire of his across-the-street neighbor. The neighbor launched two full beer cans, hitting the naked man's house, which prompted him to go inside to retrieve a shotgun. The neighbor grabbed a handgun and shot five shots into the ground in an effort to scare the naked man. No one was hurt, but the beer thrower was cited for criminal mischief.

Sweet Revenge

Porch pirates in a south Austin, Texas, neighborhood are driving residents crazy, KXAN-TV reported. The same people in the same car are hitting front stoops day and night, so a woman identified only as Gabriela came up with a plan. Her husband put a box of used, dirty diapers on the porch, and sure enough, "The same people came back and took the package," she said. Unfortunately, they "came back and smeared those diapers on our front door. Thirty minutes later, they came back with a giant bag of cow manure. They spread that all over our front porch and on our cars in the driveway. I called police, filed a report, and now there's a detective on the case." Britany Walker, who lives near Gabriela, confronted the thieves herself, yelling, "I have a baby," but she said they just laughed at her. "It was a really upsetting moment." Austin police advise against engaging with the suspects.

Unclear on the Concept

A second grader in Jacksonville, Florida, has been expelled from Victory Christian Academy after their parents objected to a homework assignment suggesting students "send a picture of you doing reading homework in the bathtub," Action News Jax reported on Sept. 22.

Misty Dunham emailed the teacher: "Hey, you might want to explain that. Send something out to the parents. Let them know what the intentions are." Dunham also reached out to school administrators and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

School officials responded by suggesting that the Dunhams "should do a parental withdrawal for the child." When Dunham refused, the school expelled the 8-yearold. Pastor Jesse Latta issued a statement about the assignment but did not address the child's removal from the school.

And a great pair of moccasins.

Petoskey

Bird by Bird

Fall birding tips, hotspots, and species to watch

By Jillian Manning

Spring is usually thought of as the high season for birders, with the return of our feathered friends not only marking the end of winter but also bringing us bright plumage and beautiful songs to enjoy while the world wakes up.

But according to Brian Allen of the Manistee Audubon Society, fall is a special time all its own.

“Fall is more subtle and it’s more protracted,” Allen says of the migration season. “But in ways that can be more exciting because there are more rare birds in fall, partly because of the young birds that are raised during the summer. As migration starts, we assume that there’s a tendency for some young birds to make mistakes,” which he says leads to the chance of spotting some rare creatures outside their usual migration patterns.

(Those of us with no sense of direction can surely relate.)

Caleb Putnam, a “self-professed bird nut” who has worked for the Audubon Society and Michigan Department of Natural Resources, agrees that autumn is an ideal time for birding.

“One of the neat things that happens in the fall is there are now three to four extra birds per adult bird that came in the spring. … The woods are so full of birds that it’s just a wonderful time to be out. It can be even a little bit easier to see stuff, because you’ll have the foliage starting to fall,” he says.

WHAT TO SEE (AND WHEN)

What we humans think of as autumn officially begins in mid-September. But for the birds, the fall migration can begin as early as late June for some species and stretch into December for others.

Shorebirds head south in early August, while neotropical species (like orioles, warblers, and tanagers) peak in midSeptember. As you read this story in October, you can expect to see the tail end of the sparrows’ journey and the start of prime migration time for waterfowl, followed by

the departure of raptors.

Allen calls the first week of November “rarities week,” noting it’s a chance to see some very unique species.

“All of a sudden, usually the first week or second week of November, you’ll get a huge storm. It’ll be 65 degrees one day and then 20 the next, with 20 foot waves on Lake Michigan and gale warnings. Things really get pushed around, and if you go out to the lake or the beaches, something weird is going to show up, like a scissortailed flycatcher from Texas or a vermillion flycatcher or a northern wheatear from Europe.”

Even later in the year, you can catch another strange sight.

“In November, even December, before everything freezes up in the Straits [of Mackinac], they get these huge rafts of ducks,” says Lisa Hoyt, president of the Petoskey Audubon Society. “A lot of times, it’s the redhead duck, which is beautiful. Essentially, it’s just these masses—there could be 2,000 or 3,000 of them together. It’s something that’s really incredible.”

WHERE TO GO

In a way, the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect birdwatching spot.

For those ready to travel, the experts shared a few favorite spots.

The Hottest Spots

Putnam says many of the geographic peninsulas that stick out into the Great Lakes are prime habitat, listing Tawas Point (near East Tawas), Whitefish Point (near Paradise in the U.P.), and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Above the 45th

For a similar on-the-water vibe, Hoyt recommends McGulpin Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City. And for a unique way to experience local raptor migration, she points to the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch (MSRW). The organization tracks and researches migrating birds of prey with the

goals of both conservation and educating the public about species like red-tailed hawks and golden eagles.

Tracking takes place in St. Ignace at Point LaBarbe, and September data reveals a lot of birds on the move; 5,639 raptors ranging from turkey vultures to bald eagles to peregrine falcons were recorded in 2022 as compared to 5,071 in 2021. Over the years, MSRW has recorded spikes in the populations of broad-winged hawks and red-shouldered hawks, while osprey, American kestrel, and sharp-shinned hawk sightings have declined.

“They do counts both in the spring and the fall,” says Hoyt. She explains that the organization also does an owlbanding project that the general public can participate in. “If someone has never experienced that, that’s definitely something that people can go try out. The great thing is that it’s free and they can learn more about the owls and their behaviors.”

Those interested in owl banding can send an email to: info@mackinacraptorwatch.org to reserve a spot. MSRW offers a variety of other programs throughout the fall at mackinacraptorwatch.org/events.

On the River

Grass River Natural Area (GRNA) in Bellaire is part of the Sunset Coast Birding Trail and is a prime spot to see waterfowl right now, according to GRNA Education Director James Dake.

“We get a lot of waterfowl out on the river like goldeneyes, buffleheads, and redheads that use that open water, especially going into the wintertime. [Grass River] stays open, so we get tons of waterfowl packed in there as things start to freeze up later in the fall.”

Down South

As for the southern part of northern Michigan, Allen says the First Street Beach pier in Manistee is a great spot, though it’s currently under construction. He also enjoys Arcadia Marsh—“the boardwalk is such a fantastic place to bird the wetland habitat,”

he says—as well as Otter Creek in Benzie, Elberta Marsh, and the Betsie Valley Trail.

In Your Backyard

But if you don’t have the spare time for a trip to a bird wonderland, for many of us, birding can be as simple as looking out the window or walking to the wooded lot at the end of the street.

“I really want to make a pitch for local patch birding,” Putnam says. “Even in your backyard, if you’re paying attention, you can see many of the same species that you’ll see in these world-famous sites. … I really encourage folks to just figure out where within a short distance to your house— walking distance, biking distance—where do you have habitat? Then make a point to hit that a couple of times a week, and you’ll be shocked what you’ll find. People even find amazing rarities in these kinds of sites.”

Allen seconds this. “A lot of people get out to certain woodlots or beaches or fields that are really good habitat. You know, it’s very tempting, especially with all the rarities being found, to hop in your car to drive… but a lot of people have found, especially during COVID, that it’s really fun to have a local patch to really get to know.”

Want to attract more birds to your yard? Allen has the solution.

“Always be conscious of what you can do, as far as conservation and protecting birds. If you’re going to be birding, this is a great time of year for planting native plants or bushes that have berries and food for birds year-round. It’s great on the nasty days of fall to have a little sanctuary where you can sit back, have a cup of hot chocolate, and look outside of the bushes and trees you planted and see some [migrating birds] taking advantage of the shelter and food you’ve provided for them.”

He adds that volunteering for organizations like the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, local Audubon clubs, and Saving Birds Thru Habitat of Omena are great ways to protect habitat, get out on the trails, and see some birds along the way.

Photos courtesy of Caleb Putnam

Blackburnian Warbler

HOW TO SEE THEM ALL

Now that you know what you’re looking for and where to go, it’s time to talk gear. But when it comes to bird apps, we’re not talking about Twitter. Our experts gave us multiple recommendations for upping your birding game, and none of them involve a character limit.

Websites

BirdCast (birdcast.info) and eBird (ebird.org) offer real-time migration maps and data to help you find the perfect species and the perfect flyover hotspot. Meanwhile, the American Birding Association gives birding dos and don’ts, as well as ways to get involved in conservation efforts. aba.org

Apps

Merlin is a birding app developed through the Cornell Lab (the preeminent experts on all things bird with the help of scientists, students, and citizens) that helps you identify birds by their songs, photos, or information about their size, colors, and habitat. Putnman says this app is akin to having a “personal tour guide in the field.”

Similarly, an app called BirdsEye provides lists of bird sightings nearby, trip planning, and a rare bird alert.

Discord, a platform for instant messaging of all formats, has a Michigan Birds server that connects avid birders across the state.

Gear

Beyond the tech lists above, a camera and good pair of binoculars go a long way, according to Dake. “Birding is one of those things, like any other hobby, where you can get really into it and spend tons of money on loads of equipment or you can keep it really simple. So I recommend that’s one of the things you can keep very simple. Get a nice pair of binoculars…and just get out and enjoy it.”

Nature and Science for creative and curious minds of all ages

Let’s celebrate Indigenous People’s Day Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 with an enhanced perspective on history and culture!

Did You Hear?

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!

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.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

1150 MILLIKEN DR. - TRAVERSE CITY

Adults: $15.00

Seniors: $ 10.00

Students: $5.00

Kids 12 & under: Freewww.encorewinds.org

Peregrine Falcon

Pine Warbler

Redhead duck

Let's make some "great" musical memories.

Bringing the Border Closer to Home

NMC’s International Affairs Forum hosts immigration debate

By Al Parker

Some years ago, a young woman born in Mexico and raised in Traverse City since the age of six stood in the Northwestern Michigan College admissions office of Jim Bensley.

With tears in her eyes, the student explained she was living in TC under a family visa, which had expired, and was pleading for the college to help her. She feared being sent away to the city of Juarez, Mexico, a place where her brother and uncle had been murdered by a drug cartel.

Her fears turned real when, the next week, a large black SUV pulled up to her house. Two men in black suits, immigration agents, approached her, asked her name, handcuffed her, and took her away.

“At the time, I remember feeling so helpless as there really wasn’t anything I could do to resolve the situation,” recalls Bensley. “She was sent to Mexico, where she lived in constant fear of being raped or kidnapped while also working daily on the extensive paperwork that would allow her to return to the U.S., the only real home she had ever known.

“Thankfully, after a long, drawn-out process and with support from her fiance and others in Traverse City, she was able to get back to the U.S. where she and her husband now live and work.”

On the Agenda at International Affairs Forum

Our nation’s immigration policy has long been the source of contentious debate and calls for policy reform from all sides. On Oct. 20, Northwestern Michigan College’s International Affairs Forum (IAF) is offering a unique opportunity to hear from two distinguished immigration experts on the subject.

David Aguilar, former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and Theresa Cardinal Brown, managing director of Immigration and Cross Border Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, will tackle the confusing topic of immigration.

“We plan to start from the premise that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary,” says Bensley, now director

of IAF. “David will provide rationale for limiting the program to those who have entered the country legally and Theresa will argue for a less restrictive policy. As always, our audience, both in-person and virtually, will have the opportunity to ask questions following the debate.”

Why is immigration important to us in northern Michigan?

“Because so much of what many of us take for granted is that immigrant and migrant families provide important work in our area, not only in agriculture but in other fields such as healthcare, education, and construction,” says Bensley.

“Immigrants contribute much to the area’s economic growth,” he continues. “In the Traverse City region, our population is getting older, and what comes with that is

His impression of our current immigration policy?

“Our nation’s immigration policy is in complete disarray. We, as a nation, need to revamp the immigration laws, regulations, and policies,” says Aguilar. “The current state of the U.S. immigration system is the result of piecemeal legislation, executive orders, and policies creating an ineffective, complex, outdated, archaic system. One strength is that we recognize the value that immigration and immigrants bring into our country.”

What have we learned from the past, where are we now and what should we do in the future?

“Past experience has demonstrated that addressing the nation’s immigration system in a patchwork manner has not worked,” he

regional migration processing centers near the border that would have separate spaces for families, unaccompanied children, and single adults. (Persons suspected of criminal activity or with outstanding warrants might be placed into secure facilities to conduct law enforcement responsibilities.)

These facilities would work in partnership with temporary housing for migrants conveyed directly from the border, run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Along the way, they would also coordinate with the HHS National Disaster Medical System for doctors and nurses to provide medical assistance to migrants.

the need for younger employees to fill jobs that are desperately in need of workers. In short, sustaining labor force growth is vital for ensuring our economic growth and competitiveness over the long run. … Comprehensive immigration reform is needed for those in northern Michigan, as the human and economic toll without it detrimentally affects us all.”

David Aguilar

As acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Aguilar oversaw a workforce of 60,000 agents and personnel and a budget of more than $11 billion. He’s had a distinguished 35-year career in federal law enforcement and has clear memories of his first visits to Michigan.

“My first time in northern Michigan was at the age of 12 when my family traveled to northern Michigan as migrant workers,” he recalls. “We worked the cherry and strawberry fields north of Lansing.” Later, as chief of the Border Patrol, he traveled to the state’s northern border.

says. “We are literally at a state of a failed border and a failed immigration system due to the overwhelming flow of illegal/irregular migration into the U.S. Immigration reform must be addressed comprehensively in a bipartisan manner to address the interests of the nation.”

Theresa Cardinal Brown

As a senior immigration and homeland security professional at the Bipartisan Policy Center, Brown strongly believes in the need to bring all sides together to make the immigration system work for America.

She has authored several reports and publications on immigration and is a regular contributor on immigration issues in publications such as The Washington Post, New York Times, and USA Today. Her TV and radio appearances include PBS NewsHour, CNN International, Fox News, and other outlets.

Brown has developed a myriad of solutions and approaches to the various issues at the border, including constructing specialized

Brown also recommends reassigning asylum officers and interpreters to regional processing centers in border asylum processing teams responsible for the asylum interview process after migrants arrive to the processing facility. The teams would process each case within 20 days to ensure that families can present their cases together. The asylum officers would be authorized to decide asylum claims in the first instance and approve “clearly approvable” cases without resorting to an immigration court.

Finally, she advocates for creating border courts with judges located near regional facilities who would prioritize processing the cases from recent arrivals. This court would operate under the same rules but with a separate docket for border cases. Cases that cannot be decided within 90 days could be transferred to other immigration courts, allowing migrants to be relocated with supervision. Border cases must be decided within six months from date of arrival.

Immigration Debate on Oct. 20: An hourlong reception with wine and light appetizers begins at 5:30pm at Dennos Museum Center’s Milliken Auditorium. Presentation at 6:30pm. Admission $15 per person, free to current students and educators. Speaker format: Oxford-style debate moderated by Major General Michael Lehnert, USMC (ret.), IAF Advisory Board co-chair. David Aguilar will be in person and Theresa Cardinal Brown will appear virtually. tciaf.com

David Aguilar

Theresa Cardinal Brown

“So much of what many of uS take for granted iS that immigrant and migrant familieS provide important work in our area, not only in agriculture but in other fieldS Such aS healthcare, education, and conStruction,” SayS benSley.

The Piano Men

BJ Leiderman and Kenny White to play City Opera House

By Ross Boissoneau

Two singers. Two keyboards. And a guitar in between.

That will be the setup when BJ Leiderman and Kenny White come to town. The two singer/songwriters are teaming up for a series of concerts together, including an Oct. 22 date at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City. They’ll each perform solo and back up one another as well.

Getting to Know You

Now, maybe Leiderman and White aren’t your typical household names, but they’re well-known in certain circles. White worked with several pop acts in the ’70s before settling in the studios for most of the next two decades.

White toured as keyboard player for Jonathan Edwards and with Livingston Taylor backing Linda Ronstadt. In the ’80s and ’90s he was a fixture in the New York studio scene, producing and arranging music for hundreds of commercials for TV and radio, and working with artists including Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Ricky Skaggs, and Aaron Neville. He also contributed to film soundtracks as writer/musician, and his production credits include Shawn Colvin’s Grammy-nominated “I Don’t Know Why,” as well as the last four CDs by former J. Geils singer Peter Wolf.

Leiderman, meanwhile, has composed numerous themes for programs on National Public Radio. In fact, Leiderman is still credited for the themes, the only such composer to receive on-air credits. His first theme was for “Morning Edition” in 1979.

Over the following decades, Leiderman composed music for other shows on NPR, including “Weekend Edition,” “Car Talk,” “Marketplace,” “Science Friday” and “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!”

Getting Together

Leiderman’s appreciation for White is obvious in conversation. “He’s one of the best writers I’ve ever seen. Meaningful, deep, funny lyrics. Kenny is steeped in so many different types of music: rock, jazz, folk,” says Leiderman.

So he called White up. “I reached out and said, ‘I love your stuff.’ I was going to go on tour, and [thought] how cool it would be to partner up with someone whose songs thrill me.”

That sparked the concept and collaboration for their “Piano/Piano” tour.

“Our styles complement one another,” says Leiderman. “I regard myself as Ringo of piano. My first instrument was drums, and I play like a drummer. I beat the living hell out of the keyboard.”

For his part, White says the opportunity to join another keyboard player was new and

exciting. “BJ approached me last year. I’d not done anything like it and I was intrigued,” he says.

While he still backed other performers, his solo shows were just that: Solo. So the chance to have additional voicings on his original material was appealing, and to have it be someone he was both personally and musically compatible with was the icing on the cake. “We get along well. I enjoy having another piano on my songs. BJ’s a good singer, and we have nice harmonies.”

Taking the Stage

Now, this concert will not be any kind of a dueling pianos/piano bar show. “Originally we were looking at two acoustics, but I chickened out,” says the ever-modest White.

In actuality, they decided that including one acoustic and one electric would give them a broader palette of sounds. It would also preclude any of those dreaded dueling piano comparisons. White will also occasionally trade his keyboard for guitar.

The show will revolve around their originals, though Leiderman leans toward including favorite covers by the Beatles, Cat Stevens, Elton John, even Bruce Springsteen.

Leiderman’s portion of the show will focus on songs from his solo album as well as his public radio theme medley. BJ Leiderman’s first recording—opens with the rowdy “Sometimes,” and the rest of

the eclectic disc is similarly rocking. He’s backed by the Randall Bramblett Band with Béla Fleck on banjo. Leiderman’s piano is prominent, but so is the electric guitar and— unlike his NPR themes—so is his voice. That voice and his music are at times reminiscent of another piano man: Billy Joel. (Truly— download “Sometimes” and you’ll be doing an auditory double take!)

White points to the fact he’s released five albums (compared with Leiderman’s single recording) and sharing the show means he’ll only be doing eight of his nearly 50 original songs. “I’m not a classic singer. I don’t do covers unless we can do a new spin,” says White.

Both believe the positives, including new harmonies and voicings and working and traveling with a friend, far outweigh any downside. Plus, there’s the fact each will gain exposure to a different audience than might come out to see either individually.

Of course, neither has performed in such a duo before. Leiderman, for one, admits to some nerves. “It’s just the right mix of excitement and butterflies,” he says. “Onstage I’m crazy. Kenny’s smart crazy. It’s the perfect chemistry, more than the sum of its parts.”

For tickets or more information, go to cityoperahouse.org.

BJ Leiderman

Kenny White (photo by Sandrine Lee)

ALL ELECTRIC, ALL THE TIME

Electric cars, boats, and bikes race to northern Michigan

By Craig Manning

During the summer of $5 gas, it was perhaps no surprise that many consumers across the country were trading combustion for electricity. According to a TIME article from May, a whopping 53 percent of active automotive shoppers were “considering a more fuel-efficient vehicle in response to high gas prices.”

The electric surge has been building in northern Michigan for several years, but certainly crested a new wave this summer. From the roads to the lakes to the nonmotorized pathways, it’s gotten easier to spot electric cars, boats, or bikes throughout the region as of late. And while electricity costs are seeing their own spikes, there’s reason to believe that the “all electric, all the time” trend isn’t going away.

Inside the Electric Car Craze

Just ask Mike McFarlan, general sales manager at Serra Traverse City. Where electric vehicles (EVs) were once a fringe concern for car dealerships, McFarlan says they’re now drawing a huge amount of interest from northern Michigan buyers—to the point where dealers can’t even keep up with demand.

“In the last couple of years, all the numbers are showing that there is a pretty darn good demand for electric cars,” McFarlan says. “You can count on one hand how many EVs we get [on our lot in Traverse City] in any given month, but the ones we do get, typically, we sell right away—and that’s if they’re not sold before they even get here.”

Whether consumers are buying EVs to save money on gas or to be more environmentally conscious, McFarlan says there’s no doubting the popularity. For instance, Serra currently has dozens of “orders in the bank” for brand-new EV

models like the Cadillac Lyriq and the Subaru Solterra.

According to the International Energy Association (IEA), global EV sales reached 6.6 million in 2021—an all-time record and double the sales from the year before.

Then, in the first three months of 2022 alone, EV sales hit 2 million, up 75 percent from the same three-month period in 2021. The IEA estimates that 2022 will turn out to be another record year for electric cars, bringing EV market share up from last year’s 9 percent to around 13 percent.

What’s driving the growing adoption in EVs, beyond expensive gas prices? In

Case-in-point is TCLP itself, which began a process this year to transition its vehicle fleet over to electric. The utility recently purchased its first EV—an F-150 Lightning, the all-electric version of Ford’s flagship pickup truck—and currently has four more EVs on order. While some TCLP team members were initially skeptical about EVs, Hardy says everyone was won over by key Ford Lightning features like regenerative braking. That technology, per J.D. Power, “recovers some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise turn into heat and instead converts it into electricity,” which is then used to charge the car’s battery.

From the roads to the lakes to the non-motorized pathways, it’s gotten easier to spot electric cars, boats, or bikes throughout the region as of late. And while electricity costs are seeing their own spikes, there’s reason to believe that the “all electric, all the time” trend isn’t going away.

northern Michigan, a big factor is the region’s growing EV charging infrastructure.

Last year, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) installed a new charging network that collectively provides 27 spots to charge an electric car within TC city limits, including at the Open Space, the Traverse Connect building, and Traverse Area District Library. Cherryland Electric Cooperative, meanwhile, has installed charging stations in several other more rural parts of the region, including at Blain’s Farm and Fleet, Iron Fish Distillery, and Mountain View Mini Mart.

According to Jacob Hardy, who serves as sustainability manager for TCLP, the extra charging infrastructure is helping drivers get past what used to be the biggest impediment to EV adoption in rural areas like northern Michigan: limited travel range.

“With our Lightning, we got an Extended Range one, so we can have a full charge that gets us 300 miles,” Hardy explains. “And since it has regenerative brakes, that means that as our guys are driving around town, it’s actually recharging the battery. They went an entire week without even plugging it in, and at the end of that week, even with all the driving they do, they still had 230 miles left on the battery.”

The Impending Electric Boat Boom

The electric car market isn’t the only one that’s been stalled by issues of range anxiety. Historically, travel range and charging infrastructure have been even more limited in the marine economy, and electric boat manufacturers have struggled to find a foothold as a result. According to market

But industry players see big potential in electric boats—and see northern Michigan as an ideal place to make an early mark. One early believer is Lewis Cooper, who co-owns Elk Rapids Marina on Elk Lake along with his wife, Susie.

“My wife and I bought the marina about a year and a half ago, and they had kind of a one-boat line [that they were selling] and two pontoon boats,” Cooper says. “We were looking for something unique and different to bring to a marina in northern Michigan, as opposed to another Boston Whaler dealer or another Sea Ray dealer.”

That search led the Coopers to start a dialogue with X Shore, a Swedish manufacturer breaking barriers in the electric boating space. Crucially, X Shore vessels are powered by a state-of-the-art electric motor that can deliver both speed (30+ knots, or 34.5 miles per hour) and range (up to 100 nautical miles, at slower speeds)—features that have typically been hard to come by in electric boats.

X Shore didn’t have much of a presence in the Midwest yet, and had no dealers in the state of Michigan, so the Coopers worked out an agreement to bring X Shore vessels to Elk Rapids. Around Memorial Day, the marina got its first X Shore model on the premises, a demo vessel that the Coopers used throughout the summer to show off the perks of electric boating.

Elk Rapids Marina on Elk Lake is also a key partner in an effort to bring more electric boat charging infrastructure to northern Michigan. Aqua superPower, a Londonbased marine fast charging network, is eyeing the region for one of its first North American expansions. Currently, the vast majority of Aqua superPower chargers are in

research firm Mobility Foresights, electric boats currently represent just 2 percent of the total boat market.

Europe, in locales like Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Venice. In July, Aqua made its first mark on North American waters by launching a fast charger in Lake Tahoe, California. Northern Michigan wasn’t far behind: As of August, Elk Rapids Marina on Elk Lake has an Aqua fast charger on its dock.

Scott Canning, Aqua superPower’s VP of North American business development, promises the Elk Rapids charger will not be a one-off. Aqua also has a contract in place with G. Marsten Dame Marina in Northport and is in talks with several other harbors and marinas throughout the region, including Duncan L. Clinch Marina in Traverse City. Because northern Michigan has multiple harbor towns along both Lake Michigan and the Chain of Lakes, Canning says the area is an ideal spot for Aqua superPower to set up a charging network.

“What’s important to us is having these corridors of chargers,” Canning explains. “Because if you’ve only got one charger in one location, that’s not that useful for you to perform what your normal boating day is. We want the transition away from gas to electric to be as uncompromised as possible. Grand Traverse Bay is not huge, but there’s a lot of boating activity going on, so it’s an ideal place where you can position chargers strategically and get a really solid corridor of charging. That’s going to make people feel less anxious about switching to electric.”

Flying by on Electric Bikes

Even bigger than electric cars and electric boats is the electric bike market. In 2021 alone, U.S. consumers purchased 880,000 e-bikes. That number not only signified a huge year-over-year increase from 2020 (which saw the sale of 450,000 e-bikes) but also significantly outpaced electric car and truck sales (which ended up at approximately 608,000).

“The demand for e-bikes has grown exponentially over the last two years in northern Michigan and the rest of the U.S.,” says Christian Jannsens, owner and founder of the Petoskey-based Latitude 45 Bicycles and Fitness. And while Jannsens says that some buyers “are looking to use the bikes for short trips as a transportation alternative,” he points to shifting demographics as the biggest factor behind the e-bike phenomenon. “This demand is primarily driven by an aging customer base looking to use e-bikes for fitness and pleasure.”

Where things like charging infrastructure and range anxiety are barriers to would-be buyers in the electric car and boat markets, Jannsens says the biggest hurdle around e-bikes is usually just around understanding the terminology.

For instance, e-bikes are available in Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 varieties. Class 1 bikes have a max motor speed of 20 miles per hour and are pedal assist only. In other words, Class 1 bikes can be used as regular bicycles

when necessary, but also have a mode called “pedal assist” which can be switched on to deliver power from the motor if/when the rider wants help with pedaling. The cyclist must continue pedaling on a pedal assist bike, but will be able to move faster with less effort thanks to the extra power of the motor.

Class 3 e-bikes are also pedal assist only, but come with a 28-mile-per-hour motor max. Class 2 e-bikes, meanwhile, include a “throttle” mode—a source of controversy in the cycling world. When throttle is engaged, the cyclist riding a Class 2 bike doesn’t need to pedal at all. Instead, the throttle enables the bike to propel itself forward thanks solely to power from the motor.

For prospective e-bike buyers, Jannsens says the distinctions are important to understand, particularly for reasons of legality and safety.

“Consumers that are looking to buy an e-bike that is able to be ridden on all Michigan trails and is not ‘banned’ should stick with Class 1s,” Jannsen advises. “Consumers that are looking to have support and service for their very expensive e-bikes should also stick with Class 1s. Many of the cheaper online options are Class 2s—bikes with throttles that are banned on all state bike paths and which most bike shops will not touch in terms of service. Class 1s are reasonable and safe on non-motorized bike paths. Class 2s are one step off of a moped or motorcycle and very dangerous on these same high traffic pathways.”

Latitude 45 carries a range of different Class 1 e-bikes from trusted brands like Giant, Liv, Momentum, Cannondale, Norco, Electra, and Santa Cruz. Jannsens tells Northern Express his shop has also “recently expanded into Class 1 e-mountain bikes,” given that those models are “now being welcomed on the local trail systems.”

2022-23 FALL/WINTER RACE CALENDAR

By Jamie Kauffold

Biking, running, and skiing. Zombies, turkeys, and Santa’s elves. Mountains (Michigan ones, at least), trails, and downtown roadways. If there’s one thing to say about the fall/winter race season, it’s that there’s no shortage of creativity. We’ve found 25+ races across the North from October through March to keep you on your toes in the colder months. All you need to do is bundle up and head to each race’s website for the latest information on registration, dates, and courses. Good luck!

SUNDAY, OCT. 9, 2022

Remembrance Run: Good Fight 5K GT County Civic Center Pathway, TC facebook.com/RemembranceRunTCTC

SATURDAY, OCT. 15, 2022

Vineyard at Sunset 5K & Fun Run French Valley Vineyard, Cedar mynorthtickets.com/events/vineyard-at-sunset-fun-run-and-5k

SUNDAY, OCT. 16, 2022

CCSC Grinder Rollerski Race Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville ccskiclub.org/grinder

SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 2022

16th Annual Founders Peak2Peak Mountain Bike Classic Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville crystalmountain.com/event/peak2peak

SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 2022

Junior Bike Races

Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville crystalmountain.com/event/tourdetykes

SATURDAY, OCT. 29, 2022

TC Zombie Run 5K Right Brain Brewery, TC tczombierun.com

SATURDAY, NOV. 5, 2022

Treetops Trifecta: 5K, Hill Climb & Half Marathon Treetops Resort, Gaylord greatlakesendurance.com

SATURDAY, NOV. 5, 2022

Iceman Cometh Challenge: 30 Mile Mountain Bike Race Kalkaska Airport iceman.com

THURSDAY, NOV. 24, 2022

Up North Media TC Turkey Trot 5K & 5 Mile Flier 123 E. Eleventh St., TC runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTurkeyTrot

THURSDAY, NOV. 24, 2022

Turkey Vulture Trot 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run

Crystal Mountain, Mountain Center Road Course, Thompsonville crystalmountain.com/event/5k-turkey-vulture-trot

SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2022

Manistee Jingle Bell Jog 5K Location TBD runmanistee.blogspot.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2022

Farmland 5K & Free for All Bike 145 Rasho Rd., TC tctrackclub.com/farmland

SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022

Winterstart: Lakes of the North Freestyle 7.5km Lakes of the North, Mancelona nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3564

SUNDAY, DEC. 18, 2022

Jingle Bell Run 221 Garland St., TC tctrackclub.com/jingle-bell-run

SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 2023

Michigan Cup 2x6k Skiathlon Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling hansonhills.org/schedule

SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 2023

Cote Dame Marie Ski Loppet: 26km, 13km, 8km Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3569

SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 2023

Frozen Foot 5 Mile & Kids’ 1 Mile Eastern Elementary School, TC tctrackclub.com/frozen-foot-race

SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 2023

White Pine Stampede: 50km, 20km, 10km Mancelona High School whitepinestampede.org

SATURDAY, FEB. 11, 2023

North American Vasa Freestyle: 27k, 15k Timber Ridge Resort, TC nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3578

SUNDAY, FEB. 12, 2023

North American Vasa Classic: 15k, 6k Timber Ridge Resort, TC nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3579

SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 2023

Michigan Cup Freestyle Championships/Meijer State Games of MI/ Forbush 5k/17k Freestyle Forbush Corner - 4971 W Co Rd 612, Frederic nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3580

SUNDAY, FEB. 19, 2023

Michigan Cup Classic Championships & Meijer State Games of MI/ Hanson Hills 14km Classic Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3581

SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2023

Dynastar/Lange Challenge Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs nubsnob.com/product/dynastar-lange-challenge-2023

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023

Black Mountain 31k Classic & 10km Tour Rippling Rapids Golf Course, Cheboygan nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3575

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023

HEAD Head-2-Head Dual Paneled Slalom Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs nubsnob.com/head-head-2-head

SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023

Black Mountain 10km Freestyle Bluffs Bar & Grill, Cheboygan nordicskiracer.com/event-details.asp?id=3576

The TC Zombie Run 5K always brings out the coolest (and creepiest) costumes.

Saturday

MOMITT BIKE FEST: 6am, Mt. Holiday, TC. Celebrate cycling (& running!) & more, Oct. 7-9. Choose from six rac ing 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, Bel gian Waffle Ride, Green Chili Super Junior, & Orange Pepper Push-Biker. For more info & to register, visit web site. momittbikefest.com

13TH ANNUAL BREEZEWAY FALL COLOR

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. ej chamber.org

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

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

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 ‘ATA VIA SERIES’: 10am-4pm, Old Art Building, Le land. The work of fiber artist Georgina Valverde is featured at her exhibition entitled ‘Atavia.’ This is the Old Art Building’s 21st Annual Focus on Fiber event. Drop by to interact with the art ist & see the installation & listen to her opening reception talk. Free. oldartbuilding.com/events/ focus-on-fiber-georgina-valverde

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

OUTDOOR CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10am3pm, The Village at GT Commons, historic front lawn, TC. Browse Michigan vendors offering art, jewelry, crafts, food, & more. Free. thevil lagetc.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: Oct. 3-8. Celebrate 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

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

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FALL FESTIVAL IN FRANKFORT: The Giant 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.

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

NORTHPORT POTTERY EXHIBIT: Village Arts Building, Northport, Oct. 7-9, 12-4pm. See pottery created in the new pottery studio & by pottery professionals. northportartsassociation. org/events-exhibits

BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. With M.B. Henry, author of “All the Lights Above Us.” horizonbooks.com/event/book-signingmb-henry-all-lights-above-us

FALL FAMILY FILM FUN: 1pm, The Bay The atre, Suttons Bay. Featuring “The Wizard of Oz.” $1. thebaytheatre.com/special-events

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

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WOMEN’S MARCH TC: GET OUT THE VOTE!: Gather at The Workshop Brewing Company, TC at 1pm & march peacefully on the side walks through downtown TC & end up at the Open Space for a rally for Dr. Bob Lorinser, & other local candidates, who will be speak ing. 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.

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ANATOMY OF AN ELECTION ROADSHOWBELLAIRE EDITION: 6pm, Short’s Brew Pub, Bellaire. Center for Change, Northern Michigan Advocacy is working proactively to arm com munity members with the knowledge & vocab ulary to help defend the security of elections. This event will feature Marie E. McKennaWicks, MPA, a former East Lansing City Clerk and Elections assistant & Precinct Chair for the city of East Lansing. Register. Free. c4cmi.org

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FORT FRIGHT: 6:30-9:30pm, Colonial Mich ilimackinac, Mackinaw City. Lanterns light your way through an 18th-century fort & fur trading 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

COMEDY WITH ROCKY LAPORTE: 7pm & 9:30pm, 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. traversecitycom edyclub.com/rocky-laporte

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Just after 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 comedy-mystery for the stage by play wright Ken Ludwig. Adults, $28; youth under 18, $15 (plus fees). tickets.oldtownplayhouse. com/TheatreManager/1/login&event=406

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

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, Glen Ar bor. Full moon viewing. Drop-in telescope & 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 observance of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. Bring your furry, scaly, hooved, clawed, & pawed friends to receive a blessing. All are welcome. Free. face book.com/events/440438581518900

GEOLOGY DISCOVERY PROGRAM: 10amnoon, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Join author & Earth scientist Steven Veatch to con nect with nature & geology. First, meet at the visitor center for a presentation on the geologic processes that created the GRNA’s landscape. Next, hike the Sedge Meadow Trail (less than one mile) where you will discuss the geology & natural history of the area at selected stops. Optional lunch afterwards - bring your own. $5. grassriver.org

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

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

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

COMMUNITY VOICES: 10:30am, Elmwood Township Hall, TC. The New Waves faith com

munity 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, director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Home lessness. Free.

FALL FESTIVAL AT CAMP DAGGETT: 12-5pm, 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 Pathway, TC. $35. runsignup.com/remem brancerun

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NORTHPORT POTTERY EXHIBIT: (See Sat., Oct. 8)

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HARVEST GATHERING: 1-4pm, Samels Farm, Williamsburg. All the buildings will be open to day, & 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/nectar-thorns-love-story-one-man-play

SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECTSPACE: 1-3pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Make your own space themed artwork in the Sculpture Court with some of the museum’s docents. While at the museum, work with real data from NASA telescopes & satellites using the Observing With NASA Kiosk in the Discov

Make some new friends at the 43rd Annual Charlevoix Apple Festival! Held Fri., Oct. 14 (10am-6pm), Sat., Oct. 15 (10am-6pm), and Sun., Oct. 16 (10am-4pm) in Downtown Charlevoix: East Park, Mason St., there will be a lot going on, including a petting zoo, food booths, art and craft show, farm market, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run, Twister Joe, orchards, kids’ activities, paint party and more. facebook.com/CVXAppleFest

ery

CADILLAC AREA LAND CONSERVANCY AN

NUAL 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 & do nuts at 1:30pm; meeting at 2pm. RSVP: 231775-3631. calc-landtrust.org

AUTHOR LIGHTHOUSE PRESENTATION: 2pm, Elk Rapids District Library. Author Dianna Stampfler shares stories of those who dedi cated their lives - & afterlives - to protecting the Great Lakes’ shoreline in her book, “Michi gan’s Haunted Lighthouses.”

MSU JAZZ ORCHESTRA 1 WITH TCAPS JAZZ

BANDS: 3-5pm, City Opera House, TC. Fea turing MSU Jazz Orchestra 1, Central HS Jazz Band, & West HS Jazz Band. Free. cityopera house.org/node/474

“HEARTSTORM” PRESENTED BY THE BEN ZIE AREA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: 4pm, Northport Performing Arts Center. Featuring Nancy Stagnitta on flute. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 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, & fol lows 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

monday

ANISHINAABE HISTORY: 4pm, Leelanau Historical Society Museum, Munnecke Room, Leland. In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, JoAnne Cook will share in formation about the original way of life of the Anishinaabe; culture, tradition, spiritual view, world view & living as a nation, tribe, & com munity. leelanauhistory.org/events

TRAVERSE CONNECT CANDIDATE FORUM: 4-7pm, NMC Hagerty Center, TC. Please join Traverse Connect for a discussion with candi dates hoping to represent northern Michigan in the state legislature. Issues will be covered that are critical to the business community, in cluding talent attraction, housing & child care. Running for Senate District 37, Barbara Conley & John Damoose. Running for House District 103, Betsy Coffia & Jack O’Malley. Running for House District 104, Cathy Albro & John Roth. Free. business.traverseconnect.com/ events/details/traverse-connect-candidateforum-6529

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MARCHING BAND EXPO: 5pm, Thirlby Field, TC. The Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association District II Marching Band Exhi bition will feature 20 marching bands from around the region performing, including TC Central High School & TC West Senior High. Food trucks will be on site. Tickets can be pur chased at gate.

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER’S ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEET ING: 5:30pm, Kensington Church, TC. Meet with like-minded individuals interested in real estate & other investing. The speaker this month will be from the sheriff’s department, speaking on issues related to rental properties. RSVP: 231.714.9568. Free.

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G.T. HUMANISTS MEETING: DIVING GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECKS: 6pm, Traverse Area

District Library, TC. Chris Roxburgh will pres ent on the shipwrecks & stories of the area’s maritime history. Chris is a scuba diver & un derwater photographer, known for the images & videos he takes of Great Lakes shipwrecks. Free. gthumanists.org

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NORTH COUNTRY OPERA: 7:30pm, The Op era House, Cheboygan. A musical play by re nowned Michigan playwright & songwriter, Jay Stielstra. Set in the Buckhorn Bar in northern Michigan, it is the north country’s own version of a timeless love story: a young man falls in love with the beauty of the northern woods & rivers & the woman he meets there. After leav ing for the big city to pursue bigger & better things, he realizes how much he misses the two loves he left behind. $25 adults; $20 veter ans & students. northcountryopera.org

tuesday

BUILDING A RECOVERYFRIENDLY WORKPLACE: 9am-1pm, Northwest Michi gan Works!, Conference Center, TC. The ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S. is making it important for businesses to un derstand how they can attract & retain talent by creating a recovery-friendly workplace. Re sources to help businesses do that will be fea tured at this event. There will also be a panel discussion featuring: Timothy Hudson with the Michigan Opioid Collaborative; Lindsay Ray mond, Employment Law Attorney, Danbrook Adams Raymond PLC; Caitlin Koucky, Execu tive Director, Community Recovery Alliance. Lunch is provided. Seating is limited. Register. Free. nwm.org/recovery

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

wednesday

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be awarded. elgruponorte.org/

WALK & ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY: 8am. For schools all across northern MI. Organize your own class or a small pod to meet up & walk to school. Park & Strolls count. If you’re taking the school bus, that stroll to the bus stop counts as well. The school with the most students walking or rolling (bike, scoot er, other)

FREE SCREENING - “INTO THE WILD TIBET”: 1pm & 2:30pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. North of the Himalayas & three miles above sea level stretches a land barely glimpsed by the outside world: the Tibetan Pla teau. Here, packs of wolves, herds of chiru an telope, & small families of pika struggle to sur vive & raise their young in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Limit of 30 people per screening. Please limit groups to 10 people. Free. Registration required.. simpletix.com/e/ into-the-wild-tibet-tickets-111995

HISTORY, CULTURE, & ART ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN: 4:30pm, Woolam Family Nature Preserve, Harbor Springs. Join Goodhart Art ist Residency artist Jana Harper & Eric Hem enway, director of Repatriation, Archives, and Records for the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, for an early evening autumn walk exploring different ways to view this na ture preserve just south of Cross Village along M-119. Register. landtrust.org/events/eventregister

GAYLORD BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5pm, Big Buck Brewery, Gaylord. Oktoberfest themed. Polka music, lederhosens & dirndls encouraged, networking & door prizes. Regis ter. $5 members; $10 non-members. gaylord

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TCAPS BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE

FORUM: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. It will also be broadcast on Traverse Area Community Me dia (TACM) on TV Channel 89l & livestreamed on Facebook LWVGTA & Facebook TACM.

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“THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM” - FREE FILM SCREENING: 6:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. This film chronicles the eight-year quest of John & Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland & a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. The movie will be followed by regenerative agriculture discus sion with Crosshatch & Koffi Kpachavi, Great Lakes Incubator Farm, Grand Traverse Con servation District. Local environmental groups will be tabling in the basement before & after the movie. Doors open at 6pm. facebook.com/ events/2607045346104190

wreck personally, diving 550 feet down in a tiny submarine to explore the site for over an hour. Register. $15. ncmclifelonglearning.com/ event-4797610

FUTURE OF CINEMA FILM FESTIVAL: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, DeRoy Cen ter for Film Studies. Join the Interlochen Arts Academy Film & New Media Division for their annual celebration of film. The three-day event will feature film screenings, guest artist lectures, hands-on demonstrations, & more. Free. interlochen.org/events/future-cinemafilm-festival-2022-10-13

friday

43RD ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX

RECOVERYWORKPLACE: Michi Conference ongoing U.S. to un talent workplace. Re be fea panel with the Ray Danbrook Execu Alliance. Register.

-------------------Suttons your day sbbdl.org SCHOOL schools all Organize small walk to count. to the with the scoot elgruponorte.org/ theme_event/walk-roll-to-school-day/?mc_

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TIBET”: Center, three barely Tibetan Pla chiru an to sur harshest people per people. simpletix.com/e/ ------------------LAKE Nature

Goodhart Art Hem Archives, and Band of autumn this na along landtrust.org/events/event-

-----------------5pm, Oktoberfest dirndls Regis gaylord

THE MOXIE STRINGS: 7pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. The Moxie Strings are long-time partners with the Music House, known both for their concerts, & for the en gaging educational workshops that they have conducted at the Music House for high school string musicians. $25. musichouse.org/up coming-events

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AN EVENING WITH ANNE-MARIE OOMEN: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, The Writing House. Michigan-based author AnneMarie Oomen returns to Interlochen for a read ing, Q&A session & book signing. Oomen has published several memoirs, a full-length poetry collection, & seven stage plays, including the Community Theatre Association of Michigan contest-winning “Secrets of Luuce Talk Tav ern.” Free. interlochen.org/events/eveninganne-marie-oomen-2022-10-12

NORTH COUNTRY OPERA: 7:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. A folk musical by renowned Michigan playwright & songwriter, Jay Stiels tra, this play is a loving tribute to the people & culture of northern Michigan, featuring a cast of Michigan musical & theater luminaries. $30. oldartbuilding.com/events/north-country-opera

thursday

FALL, FLANNEL & FRIENDS: 5pm, Townline Ciderworks, Williamsburg. Community Happy Hour to raise money for the Elk Rapids District Li brary, who is supporting Cher ryland Middle School’s students as their library is closed this school year. $20 ticket includes light appetizers. Beverages will be available to purchase. friendsoftheelkrapidslibrary.org/ membership-store/p/fall-flannel-friends

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD

TOUR: 6:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Join fellow enthusiasts for short films & documen taries about mountain culture, outdoor ac tion sports, & the environment. There will be a pre-show social at 5:30pm & theater doors open at 6:10pm. GA: $15. cityoperahouse.org/ node/471

MOMS & TOTS FUNDRAISER: 7pm, East Jor dan High School Auditorium. Enjoy an evening of laughter & support an organization that does so much good in the community. Featuring comedians & motivational speakers, Derrick & Julie Tennant. For tickets, please call: 231588-2200 or register online. $20 per person. thegoodsam.org

THE EDMUND FITZGERALD INVESTIGA

TIONS: 7pm, NCMC, Library Conference Cen ter, Petoskey. A presentation by researcher Ric Mixter, who interviewed the men who built & sailed the Edmund Fitzgerald. Ric is one of only a handful of people who have visited the

APPLE FESTIVAL: 10am6pm, Downtown Charlevoix: East Park, Mason St. Food booths, art & craft show, farm market, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run, Twister Joe, orchards, kids’ activities, petting zoo, paint party & more. facebook.com/CVX AppleFest

PUMPKIN CARVING DEMO: 11:30am-2:30pm, Leland Township Library, Leland. Watch the Lord of the Gourd, Pat Harrison, carve ordi nary pumpkins into fabulous works of art. Free. lelandlibrary.org/programs-events

CREEPY KIDS COSTUME PARTY: 3pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Featuring lo cal authors & podcasters Ayla & Calla Ry bicki who will be celebrating the release of their new book. Hear a spooky, silly story, eat snacks, try out a podcasting microphone & enter to win a book. facebook.com/profile. php?id=100064722066984

“THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME”: 7-9pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. The film will be accompanied by Andrew Rogers on the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. $25. musi chouse.org/upcoming-events

TC SACRED DRUM CIRCLE: 7pm, House of Bear, 4242 Co. Rd 633, Grawn. No experi ence necessary. No drum necessary, but feel free to bring an acoustic item of your own mak ing. Dress for outside. Children must stay with adults. 231-383-0803. Free.

FUTURE OF CINEMA FILM FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., Oct. 13)

saturday

THE WHOLE WOMAN COL LECTIVE KICK-OFF EVENT: 9am-noon, ELEV8 Climbing & Fitness, 777 Boyd Ave., TC. The Whole Woman Col lective is growing an empow ered & inclusive community of women & Mind/ Body/Lifestyle wellness providers to help ALL women feel more whole. Join in this community building event to connect with other women, & build your wellness team by meeting providers you need, might need, or didn’t even know you needed. Goodie bags & giveaways included. Free. thewholewomancollective.com/events

43RD ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX APPLE FESTI VAL: (See Fri., Oct. 14)

CLAY CLIFFS NATURE HIKE: 10am, Clay Cliffs Natural Area, Lake Leelanau. Docents Ann McInnis & Bert Thomas explore the ways nature is planning for the cool temperatures, diminished sunlight, lack of food & water availability, & secure shelter. Register. Free. leelanauconservancy.org/events/clay-cliffsguided-hike

COLOR TOUR CRAFT SHOW: 10am-6pm, Historic Yuba School, Williamsburg. Local art ists & crafters, & Betty’s Little Brat food truck.

Stanco Marion Hayden Tariq Gardner

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ST. PATRICK ANNUAL FALL BAZAAR: 10am6:30pm, 630 W. Silver Lake Rd. South, TC. A bazaar with a country pantry (homemade baked goodies & jellies), silent auction, jewelry/ purse boutique, Grandma’s attic & homemade soup luncheons. Free. stpatricktc.org

TAILGATE BLOCK PARTY: 12-3pm, 400 Block of Union Street, TC. Sample food, beer & wine, watch televised football & play a little cornhole. Samples will be available from The Cheese Lady, Brady’s Bar, Grand Traverse Sauce Co., High Noon, Water’s Edge Sweet Tooth, Max bauer’s & The Butcher’s Block. Maxbauer’s will be accepting donations for the Northwest Food Coalition & will match all donations received.

FALL FAMILY FILM FUN: 1pm, The Bay The atre, Suttons Bay. Featuring “Paddington 2.” $1. thebaytheatre.com/special-events

GRAND TRAVERSE SOIL EXPO: 1pm, GT Con servation District, TC. Join the GTCD Agricul ture Team & community partners to learn about all things soil. Ideal for gardeners, hobby farm ers, & families of all ages. There will be dem onstrations, activities, & farm property tours. Learn about the ways in which you can sup port native flora & fauna, fight climate change, & prevent erosion - all by improving soil health. $5/adult, $3/child, $10/family. natureiscalling. org/events/northern-michigan-soil-expo

WRITERS WORKSHOP: 1-4pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. The Michigan Writers presents a workshop for writers: “A Book’s Journey: From Publish ing to Marketing & Beyond.” Taught by longtime author publicist Sheryl Johnston. Free for Michigan Writers Association members, & for non-members, a suggested $10 donation. eventbrite.com/e/429391851587

FREE GODDESS WORKOUT® BELLY DANCE: WITCH GODDESS®: 2pm, Pure Essence Well ness Center, 1240 E. 8th St., TC. For all ages, sizes & shapes. No dance experience neces sary. You will learn bewitching dance moves which will be brewed up into a combination or two from the global spellbinding sensation, The Witches Dance. The class will conclude with a performance of Amira’s dance troupe, Ragnar Rak. Free. amirahamzarraks.com

IPR FOR KIDS COMMUTE LIVE: SPACE FLIGHT: 2pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring Interlochen the atre & singer-songwriter students, TCAPS mid dle school musicians, & special guests from NASA, the Coast Guard, & the International Dark Sky Park. Go early for the pre-concert activities for kids of all ages, including drone demonstrations & paper airplane contests. $15 full; $12 student. interlochen.org/events/kidscommute-live-space-flight-2022-10-15

VINEYARD AT SUNSET FUN RUN & 5K: 4:30pm, French Valley Vineyard, Cedar. Benefits Lee lanau Montessori Public School Academy. $30 for 5K; $10 for Fun Run. mynorthtickets. com/events/vineyard-at-sunset-fun-run-and5k-10-15-2022

“THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME”: (See Fri., Oct. 14)

FREE CONCERT: 7pm, The Bay Theatre, Sut tons Bay. Featuring pianist/composer Jeff Haas, saxophonist Laurie Sears & special guests Detroit All Stars trumpeter Anthony Stanco, bassist Marion Hayden, Tariq Gardner on drums & watercolorist Lisa Flahive. Dona tions encouraged. Proceeds benefit Building Bridges with Music & The Bay Community Theatre. thebaytheatre.com

GOPHERWOOD CONCERT: CROSSCUT KINGS: 7pm, Cadillac Elks Lodge. Jim Bon ney & Charlie “Hipps” Witthoeft are Crosscut Kings. They blend old-school acoustic blues, roots renditions of modern songs, as well as their own original songs. $7-$15. mynorthtick ets.com/events/crosscut-kings-10-15-2022

FUTURE OF CINEMA FILM FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., Oct. 13)

MANITOU WINDS PRESENTS COLORS PASS

ING THROUGH US: 7:30pm, Central United Methodist Church, TC. An evening of evoca tive music & thoughtfully curated poetry & prose. Free. manitouwinds.com/upcomingperformances

THIRD COAST SWING BAND WSG DAVE BEN

NETT: 7:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. $10-$35. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/ctac-presents-third-coastswing-band-special-guest-dave-bennett

REO SPEEDWAGON: 8pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, & fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon’s unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring & recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Hit singles include “Keep On Loving You” & “Take It On the Run.” $70, $80, $85. lrcr.com/event-calendar/concerts/reospeedwagon

oct

SUNDAY

COLOR RUN FOR PROJECT

GRADUATION: 9am, Hanson Hills, Grayling. 5K Trail Color Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run. Wear a white shirt. runningin theusa.com/details/130547

43RD ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX APPLE FESTI

VAL: 10am-4pm, Downtown Charlevoix: East Park, Mason St. Food booths, art & craft show, farm market, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run, Twister Joe, orchards, kids’ activities, petting zoo, paint party & more. facebook.com/CVXAppleFest

CRYSTAL COMMUNITY SKI CLUB GRINDER ROLLERSKI RACE: 5K & 10K: 10am, Crystal Mountain, Kinlochen, Thompsonville. Both routes will go out & back on Mountain Center Rd. with a climb up Mountainside Drive for a finish at the MountainTop Townhomes. Skiers will then be transported down the mountain by a Crystal Mountain shuttle. $10 ages 18 & under; $50 ages 19+. crystalmountain.com/ event/rollerski-race

COLOR HIKE AT PETE’S WOODS: 1-3pm, Blaine Township. Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy volunteer preserve stew ard, Mike Grahl, will lead a hike on the loop trail at Pete’s Woods. Enjoy fall colors & come prepared with sturdy hiking shoes, water, & a snack. Reserve your spot. gtrlc.org/recreationevents/events

COVERED BRIDGES: 2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Dianna Stampfler from Promote Michigan will be presenting a his tory of Michigan’s covered bridges that spans from the first construction in the mid-1800s to their demise & into present day restoration with historical markers. 231-331-4318. Free.

FALL COLOR TOUR AT THE ART PARK: 2pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Michigan Legacy Art Park is offering a Guided Fall Color Tour with natural ist & tour guide Caitlin Chism to experience fall colors in the Art Park, along with two new pieces of artwork to enjoy. Free, with adult admission of $5; children free. michlegacyart park.org/fall-tour

AN AFTERNOON OF JAZZ & BUILDING BRIDGES WITH MUSIC: 3pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Featuring Jeff Haas & Laurie Sears & The Detroit All Stars. Free. crookedtree.org

ongoing

THE HUNT FOR THE REDS OF OCTOBER: Lee lanau Peninsula Wine Trail. For $35 per per son, 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 Oct. mynorthtickets.com/events/the-hunt-forthe-reds-of-october-10-1-2022

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 ATTRAC TIONS: Northwestern Michigan Fairgrounds, TC. Held Fridays & Saturdays, 7-11pm; & Sun days, 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 attractions including the wagon ride, haunted trail, Pande monium, Swamp of Suffering & Dreadmoore 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. alpen bluffs.com

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

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. pondhill.com/events

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

GROUP: Fridays, 1-3pm through Nov. 18. 856 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac. Learn skills for man aging difficult emotions, mindfulness, coping skills for distress tolerance & skills for setting boundaries with others. Group limited to 10 people. Register: 231-846-4495.

MUFFIN RIDE: Join the Cherry Capital Cycling Club every Fri. at 9am for a bike ride to Suttons Bay & back from the parking lot in Greilickville behind Subway on M-22. It includes a coffee & bakery stop. Continues through Oct. cherry capitalcyclingclub.org

PETER DOUGHERTY OLD MISSION HOUSE TOURS: Fridays & Saturdays, 1-5pm. Tour the 180 year old Dougherty House built by Rev. Dougherty, Chief Ahgosa & his people where Old Mission Peninsula earned its name. Ex plore the House, outbuildings, a new visiting exhibit & 15 acres of trails. doughertyoldmis sionhouse.com

HEALING PRIVATE WOUNDS RECOVERY GROUP: Thursdays, 5:30-7pm through Nov. 17. 856 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac. A 10 week recovery program. For adults who have been sexually abused. Explore ways to heal from sexual abuse trauma. Register: 231-846-4495.

GUIDED WALKING HISTORY TOURS OF TRA VERSE CITY: Perry Hannah Plaza, TC. Held on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays through Oct. 10, 10am-12:30pm. Learn about the his tory of this area on a two mile route through historic neighborhoods, the waterfront area & downtown. 946-4800.

farmers markets

HARBOR SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET: Sat urdays, 9am-1pm, corner of State & Main streets, Harbor Springs.

INTERLOCHEN FARMERS MARKET: 9am2pm, Interlochen Corners, US 31 S at J. Mad dy Parkway. Held every Sun. through Oct. 231378-4488.

SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MAR KET: Saturdays, 7:30am-noon; Wednesdays, 8am-noon. Lot B, Downtown TC, across from Clinch Park. dda.downtowntc.com/farmersmarket

THE VILLAGE AT GT COMMONS OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Mondays, 2-6pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Piazza, TC. Featuring fresh fruits & veggies, eggs, honey, baked goods, & much more. thevillagetc.com/ outdoor-farmers-market-17-6

art

“RUST NEVER SLEEPS”: All media show fea turing artists’ interpretations of the beauty & angst of rust & its many incarnations. An opening reception will be held on Sun., Oct. 9 from 1-4pm. Runs through Nov. 4. Hours are 1-4pm on Thursday through Monday. Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday. Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. jordanriverarts.com

“CHARLEVOIX AND THE NIGHT”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. An exhibition featuring paint ings by three award winning artists: Kevin Barton, Kurt Anderson, & Phil Fisher. Each art ist explores their approach to nocturne. Runs through Oct. 29. Open 11am-4pm on Mon. through Fri., & 11am-3pm on Sat. charlevoix circle.org

ADVERTISEMENT

13TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES PUMPKIN

PATCH: Boyer Glass Works Studio & Gallery, Harbor Springs will be demonstrating blown glass pumpkins, Oct. 1-8, 10am-5pm. face book.com/Boyerglassworks

BEST IN SHOW: Oct. 3 - Nov. 5, Higher Art Gal lery, TC. Featuring art by B. Lucy Stevens & Diane Hawkey. higherartgallery.com

EXHIBEERTION!: Oct. 3-8, Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. This beer-themed art exhibit fea tures beer-inspired artwork from local artists. 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, Dorothy McGrath Grossman & Janet Wilson Oliver. The exhibit will be on display Mon.-Fri., from 10am-2pm, & during events in Sept. & Oct. cityoperahouse.org

TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB MEMBER

SHOWCASE EXHIBIT: Traverse Area District Library, TC. Photographic exhibit by mem bers of the Traverse Area Camera Club runs through Nov. 18. tacameraclub.org

“HONKY TONK: PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEN

RY HORENSTEIN”: Runs Oct. 1 - Nov. 12 at Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gal lery, TC. A collection of photographs docu menting the changing world of country mu sic. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ honky-tonk-photographs-henry-horenstein-tc

SHIPWRECKS OF THE MANITOU PASSAGE

EXHIBIT: Runs through Dec. 30 at Leelanau Historical Society Museum, Leland. This ex hibit illustrates the stories of the ships, steam

Personal trainer at NMC, Dedenbach pushes himself to learn more, has goal set on master’s degree from GVSU

Michele Coffill Grand Valley State University

Much like he pushes the clients he trains in the gym, Isaac Dedenbach pushes himself to learn more and find a path to a career he will be passionate about.

Dedenbach is a personal trainer at the fitness facility at Northwestern Michigan College. The Leland Public School graduate enrolled at NMC after earning the Commitment Scholarship, which focuses on first-generation students who show academic promise and have financial need.

“The scholarship allowed me time to explore a lot of different classes to find my interests,” he said.

Dedenbach worked as a resident assistant at NMC, which he said helped his communications skills and served as a boost on his resume.

After earning an associate degree, Dedenbach took his passion for physical fitness to the next level and studied to become a certified trainer. He worked at a gym in the Detroit area and found his clients would ask questions about health and nutrition that he wasn’t prepared for.

“It made me want to go back and educate myself so I could educate others, in a public health role. And that was at the start of the pandemic when most people were stuck in their homes and not able to get out as much to exercise, so I wanted to be able to help,” he said.

Dedenbach moved back to Traverse City and enrolled at Grand Valley State University’s Traverse City Regional Center. In April, he earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies with an emphasis in public health.

“I liked the smaller class sizes and I had a good relationship with the professors,” he said.

Dedenbach was involved in a class project that helped him better understand the role of a public health educator.

“For a team project we worked with the Northern Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness and it’s similar to what I’d like to do with my degree,” he said. “We created educational materials and welcome home baskets to give people a good start once they get into a home.”

He has his next goal set: a master’s degree in public health from Grand Valley, which he hopes to begin in fall 2023.

Integrative Studies in Traverse City

A bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies at Grand Valley allows you to enter directly into a career by developing the advanced critical thinking skills, interdisciplinary approaches, social responsibility, and intercultural awareness employers value. This flexible and convenient

Traverse City program is perfect for those that want to positively impact their communities by acquiring a broad range of meaningful skills.

Learn more at gvsu.edu/traverse.

Isaac Dedenbach, a personal trainer at the fitness facility at Northwestern Michigan College.

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- “TRAVELOGUES: JURIED EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY”: Runs through Nov. 5 in Gil bert Gallery. Highlights outstanding images that embody the essence of travel. Forty-eight pieces by 25 Michigan artists were selected for this exhibition. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/travelogues-juried-photography-ex hibition

- “WORK: JURIED EXHIBITION OF FUNCTION AL ART”: Runs through Nov. 5 in Bonfield Gal lery. Featuring work exploring the relationship between form & function. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/work-juried-exhibitionfunctional-art

- CROOKED TREE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCI

ETY 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-photo graphic-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.

array of themes & techniques that showcase each artist’s individual voice.

- INFINITE SPLENDOR, INFINITE LIGHT: Runs through Dec. 23. Two years after graduat ing 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 earliest stag es, 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 Tibetan thangkas, works on paper, & religious objects to DePauw University. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-onview/index.html

Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.

Don't worry darling

Please read: This review contains major spoilers, none of which will ruin a film that has more plot problems than Olivia Wilde’s explanation of what really happened behind the scenes of filming it.

Don’t Worry Darling is a highly stylish but ultimately disappointing thriller that is, in the end, so simple, it could have been subtitled “Synchronized Fibbing.”

The plot itself pits men against women— men who are trying to control and understand women but going to elaborate and incel-uous lengths in order to do so. (All the while, the day-to-day realities of masochistic behavior are far uglier and more frightening than the imagined world in the a screenplay by Katie Silberman with story by Carey and Shane Van Dyke.)

With as much subtlety as waiting to drop a dollar in the tip jar when the clerk is looking, director and co-star Olivia Wilde paints the first half of the story with the best success and lays out the vague, ambivalent secrets of a desert utopia and the highly monitored world of The Victory Project. (Pssst! It’s a secret no one understands but the men.)

“There’s beauty in control,” the gatekeepers remind us. And if that directness isn’t enough, you can also read into the film’s many sequences of vintage dance montages, which play out every now and again like kaleidoscope reminders that, yes, everything is being choreographed before our very eyes.

Most on the nose of all is the lead character Alice, played as best she can by Florence Pugh, who goes down the rabbit hole of trying to understand The Victory Project and what it’s really about.

With strange breakfast clues and otherworldy experiences guiding her, Alice pieces together the fact that she’s not in control of this world long after the audience does. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique will remind you Alice’s life is spinning out of control by revolving around her in 360 degree steadicam with great relish. (And if

that doesn’t help, the scary oompa loompas in the red jumpsuits are also a sign that something is not perfect in this pristine and fashionable world.)

Alice’s almost-absent husband Jack is no help (in both the lackluster performance from Harry Styles or the plot itself), eventually betraying her in favor of The Project and giving her up to the creepy Mad Hatter in actor Chris Pine’s performance as Frank. Channeling a kind of young L. Ron Hubbard, Frank is the dashing leader of this cult and the puppeteer in charge. There is sexual tension disguised as intellectual combat when the two face off and Alice confronts him about being trapped in this world, but that should be expected in a film that does more to reinforce gender stereotypes of the 1950s that it does to break them down.

Director Wilde had a fascinating debut in 2019 with Booksmart but just can’t keep the tension moving into Don’t Worry Darling’s implausible third act, where the fourth wall is broken and all virtual hell breaks loose.

To create a sophisticated story, you have to give the audience some respect and trust in their intelligence. With all the studio hype and machinery involved, Wilde may not have been able to keep the film from being dumbed down by focus groups or any of the nine producers she shares credit with. But in the end, drama belongs on the screen… and there just isn’t enough of it here to work with despite all the ingredients of celebrity, female-empowered sex, virtual realities, and a post Me-Too audience consciousness.

Not all is lost! Fans of Palm Springs’ fabulous modern architecture will get to enjoy iconic gems in the film sets including the Tramway Gas Station Depot by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers, The Volcano House outside Barstow designed by Harold J. Bissner, Jr., and Richard Nuetra’s Desert Kauffman House made famous by photographer Slim Aarons, who once described his work as capturing “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Indeed.

by Joseph Beyer

AURORA CELLARS, LAKE

LEELANAU FRONT LAWN:

10/15 -- Harvest Party w/ Blair Miller, 1-3; Luke Woltanski, 4-6

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

Live From The Hilltop:

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

10/13 -- John Phillips, 5-7:30

10/16 -- Blake Elliott, 2-4:30

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

4-7: 10/10 -- Steve Paige

10/13 -- Luke Woltanski

Leelanau & Benzie

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

10/8 -- Zie Simmons, 5:30-7:30

10/14 -- Lynn Callihan, 5:30-7:30

10/15 -- Blair Miller, 5:30-7:30

10/16 -- Nick Veine, 3-5

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

10/8 -- The Daydrinker Series w/

The Jameson Brothers, 3-6; Levi Britton, 6:30-9:30

10/11 -- John Paul, 6:30-9:30

10/14 -- The Pocket, 6:30-9:30

10/15 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Niemisto & Skellenger, 3-6; Drew Hale, 6:30-9:30

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

PATIO, 2-5:

10/9 -- Jabo

10/16 -- Luke Woltanski

Antrim & Charlevoix

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

5:30-8:30:

10/8 -- Blair Miller

10/13 -- Open Mic Night w/ Jeff Louwsma

10/14 -- Luke Woltanski

10/15 -- Lynn Callihan

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

7-9:

10/8 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen

10/15 – Tim Jones

THE UNION, NORTHPORT

10/12 -- Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7-9:30

nitelife

jamie kauffold

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

8-11:

10/8 -- Myron Elkins & The Dying

Breed 10/14 -- Stone Folk w/ Ourselves

Open 10/15 -- The Pistil Whips

HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE

5:30-8:30:

10/8 -- David Lawston

10/14 -- The Pistil Whips 10/15 -- Darrell

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE

10/8 -- Clint Weaner, 6:30-9:30

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

10/13 -- Blair Miller, 6

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

10/8 -- Carrie Westbay 10/14 – Rolling Dirty 10/15 – The Be Colony

Emmet & Cheboygan

TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL

LAKE

10/7-8 -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 8 10/9 -- Jake Slater - Elvis Tribute Artist, 7:30

10/10 -- Karaoke & Open Mic Night, 7 10/11 -- Dominic Fortuna, 6:30

10/12 -- Lee Malone & Sandy Metiva, 6:30

10/13 -- Nick Vasquez, 7 10/14-15 -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 8

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY

10/8 -- The Shouting Bones, 5

10/9 -- Owen James: Second Sunday Solo Set, 4

10/15 – Owen James Trio, 5 10/16 – Charlie Millard, 4

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY PATIO:

10/8 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6

10/14 -- Yankee Station, 4-7:30

10/15 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

10/14 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 10: 10/8 -- Uncle Ugly 10/14 -- The Kathy Ford Band 10/15 -- Bumpus

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

10/8 -- Ben Dratnol, 8 10/14 -- Brett Mitchell, 8 10/15 -- Various Artists, 7

THE DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

10/14 -- Pete 'Big Dog' Fetters, 9

Otsego, Crawford & Central

BENNETHUM'S NORTHERN

INN, GAYLORD

10/11 – Pete Kehoe, 5-8

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD

10/7 -- OktoberFest w/ Tommy Shober & Sorgenbrecher Band, 6-9

10/8 -- OktoberFest

Shober & Sorgenbrecher Band, 5-9

10/14 -- Nelson Olstrom,

10/15 --

Kehoe,

Oct. 14 from 6-8:30pm.

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

TC on

BONOBO WINERY, TC

10/14 -- Sam Augusta, 9:30

EARTHEN ALES, TC 10/9 -- A.S. Lutes, 3

ENCORE 201, TC 10/8 -- Frank Bang wsg Fly Lite Gemini, 8 10/14 -- Scarkazm & DJ Ricky T Mashup, 7:30 10/15 -- DJ Ricky T, 9

FANTASY’S, TC DJ

JACOB'S FARM, TC 10/14 – The North Carolines, 6-8:30

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC 10/14 – Shawn Butzin, 5

BARREL ROOM: 10/10 – Barrels & Beats w/ Ron Coonrod, 6-9

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia Thurs. – Jazz Night w/ Larz Cabot, 6-9 Fri. – Live Music Sun. -- Karaoke

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC 10/13 – Chris Smith, 6:30-9:30

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 10/8 -- 2nd Annual Oktoberfest w/ BLT, Rolling Dirty, & The Timebombs, 1-10

NORTH BAR, TC 10/14 – Jim Hawley, 7-10

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC 10/14 – Drew Hale, 4-7 TC WHISKEY CO. 10/12 -- Craig Jolly, 6 10/16 -- Chris Smith, 3-5

THE PARLOR, TC 7-10:

10/8 -- Blue Footed Booby 10/11 – Jesse Jefferson 10/12 – Wink 10/13 – Jimmy Olson 10/14 – John Pomeroy 10/15 – Jazz Cabbage

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

10/8 -- Bobby Brooks, 7 10/11 -- Open Mic & Musical Talent Showcase, 7 10/12 -- Jazz Jam, 6 10/14 -- Ben Davila & the Powers That Be, 8 10/15 -- East Bay Drive, 7

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC 10/11 -- Tuesday Trivia, 7-9

PATIO, 6:30-9:30: 10/8 -- Project 6 10/14 -- EBD 10/15 -- The Truetones

TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC

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

10/15 -- Good On Paper Improv Troupe, 8

UNION STREET STATION, TC

10/8 -- Electric Red, 10 10/9 & 10/16 -- Video DJ Dance Party, 10

10/11 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Electric Open Mic 10/12 -- DJ Parker Marshall, 10 10/14-15 -- Biomassive, 10

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When he was young, Libran poet W. S. Merwin had a teacher who advised him, "Don't lose your arrogance yet. You can do that when you're older. Lose it too soon, and you may merely replace it with vanity." I think that counsel is wise for you to meditate on right now. Here's how I interpret it: Give honor and respect to your fine abilities. Salute and nurture your ripe talents. Talk to yourself realistically about the success you have accomplished. If you build up your appreciation for what is legitimately great about you, you won't be tempted to resort to false pride or self-absorbed egotism.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo journalist Sydney J. Harris described "the three hardest tasks in the world." He said they weren't "physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts." Here they are: 1. to return love for hate; 2. to include the excluded; 3. to say "I was wrong." I believe you will have a special talent for all three of these brave actions in the coming weeks, Virgo. Amazingly, you're also more likely than usual to be on the receiving end of those brave actions. Congratulations in advance!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In his absurdist play Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett offers us two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who patiently wait for a white-bearded man named Godot. They're convinced he will provide them with profound help, perhaps even salvation. Alas, although they wait and wait and wait, Godot never arrives. Near the end, when they have abandoned hope, Vladimir says to Estragon, "We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment." My sense is that you Scorpios, like Vladimir and Estragon, may be close to giving up your own vigils. Please don't! I believe your personal equivalent to Godot will ultimately appear. Summon more patience.

you will summon the extra courage necessary to triumph over shyness and timidity. Please claim your rightful upgrade!

ARIES (March 21-April 19): "Magic Realism Bot" is a Twitter account that generates ideas for new fairy tales. Since you will benefit from imagining your life as a fairy tale in the coming weeks, I'll offer you a few possibilities. 1. You marry a rainbow. The two of you have children: a daughter who can sing like a river and a son who is as gleeful as the wind. 2. You make friends with a raven that gives you savvy financial advice. 3. You invent a new kind of dancing; it involves crying and laughing while making holy prayer gestures toward your favorite star. 4. An angel and a lake monster join forces to help you dream up fun new adventures. 5. You discover a field of enchanted dandelions. They have the power to generate algorithms that reveal secrets about where to find wonders and marvels.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Poet

Charles Wright has testified, "I admire and revere and am awed by a good many writers. But Emily Dickinson is the only writer I've ever read who knows my name, whose work has influenced me at my heart's core, whose music is the music of songs I've listened to and remembered in my very body." In my astrological reckoning, now is an excellent time for you Sagittarians to identify artists and creators who provide you with similar exaltation. And if there are no Emily Dickinson-type influences in your life, find at least one! You need to be touched and transformed by sublime inspiration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I've read and studied poetry for many years, but only recently discovered Capricorn poet Lizette Woodworth Reese (1856–1935). How is it possible I missed her? Her contemporary, journalist H. L. Mencken, described her work as “one of the imperishable glories of American literature." She received many other accolades while alive. But today, she is virtually unknown, and many of her books are out of print. In bringing her to your attention, am announcing my prediction about you: Anything in your life that resembles Reese's reputation will change in the next 12 months. If you have until now not gotten the recognition or gratitude you deserve, at least some of it will arrive.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Sophia Dembling defines a friend as a person who consoles you when you're feeling desperate and with whom you don't feel alone. A friend is someone whose life is interesting to you and who is interested in your life. Maybe most importantly, a friend must not be boring. What's your definition, Aquarius? Now is an excellent time to get clear about the qualities you want in a friend. It's also a favorable phase to seek out vital new friendships as you de-emphasize mediocre and overly demanding alliances.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Do you or do you not wish to capitalize on the boost that's available? Are you or are you not going to claim and use the challenging gift that would complicate your life but also expedite your growth? Act soon, Pisces! If you don't, the potential dispensation may disappear. This is an excellent chance to prove you're not afraid of achieving more success and wielding more power. I hope

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): On February 1, 1976, singer Elvis Presley was partying with buddies at his home in Memphis, Tennessee. As the revelry grew, he got an impetuous longing for an 8,000-calorie sandwich made with French bread, peanut butter, blueberry preserves, and slabs of bacon. Since this delicacy was only available at a certain restaurant in Denver, Colorado, Elvis and his entourage spontaneously hopped onto his private jet and flew 900 miles to get there. In accordance with astrological omens, Taurus, I encourage you to summon an equally keen determination to obtain pleasurable treasures. Hopefully, though, they will be more important than a sandwich. The odds of you procuring necessary luxuries that heal and inspire are much higher than usual.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini writer Nikki Giovanni reminds us, "It cannot be a mistake to have cared. It cannot be an error to have tried. It cannot be incorrect to have loved." In accordance with astrological omens, I ask you to embody Giovanni's attitude. Shed any worries that your caring and trying and loving have been blunders. Celebrate them, be proud of them, and promise yourself that you will keep caring and trying and loving. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to renew your commitment to your highest goodness.

21-July 22): I was born near Amarillo, Texas, where the US Energy Department stores over 20,000 plutonium cores from old nuclear warheads. Perhaps that explains some of my brain's mutant qualities. I'm not normal. I'm odd and iconoclastic. On the other hand, I don't think my peculiarity makes me better than anyone. It's just who I am. I love millions of people who aren't as quirky as me, and I enjoy communicating with unweird people as much as I do with weirdos. Everything I just said is a preamble for my main message, Cancerian: The coming weeks will be prime time for you to give extra honor and credit to your personal eccentricities, even if they comprise a minor part of your personality.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Author Jennifer Huang testifies, "Poetry is what helps me remember that even in my fragments, am whole." What about you, Leo? What reminds you, even in your fragments, that you are whole? Now is an excellent time to identify the people, animals, and influences that help you generate a sense of unity and completeness. Once you're clear about that, spend quality time doing what you can to nurture those healers. Maybe you can even help them feel more cohesion and harmony in themselves.

CLASSIFIEDS

AUDIO TECH: Are you excited about audio technology and production? Central United Methodist Church is a vibrant, open and inclusive downtown Traverse City congregation with an opening in our sound booth on Sunday mornings. Our professional team will train the right person. Apply in person at 222 Cass Street, Traverse City

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

CARGO E BIKE FOR SALE BY OWNER:

Fully assembled Babboe Curve. Family commutes or bussiness delivery. Stored in garage. Car seat attachment. Great working condition. TXT Sue Green @ 586-484-8133. Can deliver local

TIDYING UP...WITH ALL SEASONS

HAULING!: Power washing, junk haul away for a fair price. Clean out the garage or attic. NEED brush hauled away. Call Mike at 231871-1028. Anything you need I can do it. Senior discount!!

COTTAGE FOR RENT: Traverse City, Very Nice 1 BR Cottage, W/D, A/C, Fully Furnished, All Utilities Included, Cable TV, Enclosed Porch, Month-to-Month to One Year, No Pets; $1,600 mo., 231-631-7512.

VINTAGE COMBINATION SAFE.: FREE: Small vintage combination safe. Call 231.941.2147

SHEPLER'S FERRY HIRING CHIEF

SAFETY OFFICER: The CSO will provide leadership and compliance within the Safety Program. To include: serving as work comp liaison, ensuring safety certifications and inspections are current. Required knowledge of OSHA, DOT, FMCSA, USCG standards. Benefits include 401K, BCBS, unlimited rides to Mackinac Island, and local discounts. Apply at sheplersferry.com/employment

PAID PART TIME WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS AGE 55+: PAID PART-TIME POSITIONS ARE WAITING TO BE FILLED IN GRAND TRAVERSE REGION for Seniors Age 55 and Over: Receptionist/File Clerk, Cashier, Retail and Customer Service,

Sorter and Stocking. Applicants must be age 55 and over, unemployed-seeking work and meet program eligibility. To find out if you qualify contact the AARP Foundation SCSEP office, 231-252-4544.

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

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS: Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248

GREAT LAKES HOME CARE UNLIMITED IN HOME HEALTHCARE: Looking for Amazing, Caring and Reliable caregivers to make a difference by helping people stay home and independent. One on one care and you can set your own schedule. Call 231668-4171! Servicing all of Northern Michigan. Great extra income or full time career.

YOUR NEW WEEKEND SIDE HUSTLE FOR $25 AN HOUR! Great Saturday morning gig.

Can start early and be done early, just driving in your own car in and around TC! Northern Express routes are available starting this month for delivery of the Northern Express around the region. Depending on the route, Sunday delivery is also an option. Two routes available, 4 to 6 hours each weekend. Must be able to lift bundles of newspapers and have a dependable vehicle. Ideal work for students, retirees or anyone seeking extra cash! distribution@ northernexpress.com