Northern Express - July 31, 2023

The War on Drugs

letters CONTENTS feature

Despite her good intentions [in her July 24 guest opinion], Karen Mulvahill failed to identify the most important cause of opioid-related mortality and morbidity: drug prohibition, better known as the War on Drugs.

To see that the War is a killer, one must first know that most overdoses are accidental. Users don’t want to die. They perish because the War on Drugs prevents them from obtaining pharmaceutical-grade narcotics that can be ingested safely.

Surgery patients who receive prescription opioids for pain occasionally become addicted—but they rarely overdose, and they never die from fentanyl poisoning. Those fates are reserved for people who consume street drugs, which addicts do because the War on Drugs—which has killed thousands of people, turned thousands of users into criminals, and undermined entire countries—denies them access to pure substances whose potency is known.

Charles Silver | Empire

Michigan Medicine

Peninsula Community Lecture Series

MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND victors.us/MMPeninsula

Monday, Aug 21, 2023 — 3pm

NEW TREATMENTS FOR MELANOMA AND ADVANCED SKIN CANCERS: ARE WE CLOSE TO A CURE?

In this dynamic presentation, Dr. Lao will share advances in melanoma therapies and review where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going in skin cancer treatments and research.

Christopher D. Lao, M.D. Professor, Internal Medicine and Dermatology Medical Director, Clinical Research for Oncology

in a

The seasonal Black Raspberry Bramble at Fingers Crossed in Northport. Photo credit: Meg Stojcevski.

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC.

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PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY 2893 Island View Road, TC

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top ten this week’s

Friday Night Comes Back to Life

Friday Night Live is back! After four years without the beloved Traverse City event, FNL returns Aug. 4 to kick off your weekend in style. And we mean that literally—earlier in the day, another TC classic, the Downtown Street Sale, will have merchants of all stripes displaying their hottest sale items along Front Street and beyond. Shop til you drop (or from 8am to 9pm) and then suit up in your new duds for FNL from 5pm to 9pm. Billed as a “community block party,” FNL will offer food vendors and entertainment in addition to family-friendly activities put on by 17 local nonprofits, including Cherryland Humane Society, The Watershed Center, and Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network. Best of all, hometown superstars The Accidentals will perform their Michigan-inspired tunes at the intersection of Front and Cass streets. Friday Night Live is free and open to the public. Learn more at downtowntc. com/friday-night-live.

Going to the Fair!

It’s that time of year again—and you all know the jingle! The Northwestern Michigan Fair runs Aug. 6-12 at 3606 Blair Townhall Rd in Traverse City. One of the draws to the fair is the Northwestern Michigan Figure-8, BNR & Big Car Rs Bonestock Demo Derby on Sunday, Aug. 6 from 6-9pm. Make sure to also catch the Lawn Mower & Mini Wedge Races, SJO Motocross, Super Kicker Rodeo, midway rides, animals, and much more. northwesternmichiganfair.net

Hey, read It! Butts: A Backstory 4

Don’t let the peach emoji fool you—the bum is just the beginning of Radiolab reporter and essayist Heather Radke’s debut book, Butts: A Backstory. In it, she explores the evolution of the glorious gluteus maximus from a critical piece of our species’ survival (we wouldn’t be bipeds without the booty!) to the highly-scrutinized appendage we’ve come to inspect in mirrors and tight-fitting pants. This zinger of a cultural history spans 200 years of the female backside: from London side-show exhibitions, to the rise of vanity clothing sizes, to the 1980’s “Buns of Steel” movement, to the legacy of Sir Mix-aLot. Along the way, we meet industry experts— including designers, scientists, and pop-culture icons—while investigating how long-held ideals of race and power not only drive beauty standards (especially for women of color) but also our most intimate feelings about our bodies. Written with Radke’s signature snarky humor, this read is well-researched, propulsive, and just a bit cheeky.

Poke and nachos? What could be better? That was our takeaway when dining at Petoskey’s POUR Kitchen & Bar on a recent July night. For the uninitiated, poke (poh-kay) is a Hawaiian dish that features raw fish, fresh veggies (and sometimes fruit), and lots of flavor. Think of it as an island-inspired, deconstructed sushi roll or a tasty fish salad. POUR takes this concept—using marinated ahi tuna, mango salsa, avocado mousse, and unagi—and puts it on top of crispy wonton chips with a dash of salsa verde. Scallions, sesame seeds, and togarashi (a spicy chili seasoning) round out the dish. They even offer a wine pairing from their impressive wine list to accompany the dish: Raventós De Nit, a beautifully subtle rosé perfect for summer sipping. Don’t miss out on this cultural mash-up ($25) when you next visit POUR at 422 E Mitchell Street in Petoskey. (231) 881-9800, pourpetoskey.com

6 Art by the Beach

One hundred artists in a variety of mediums are about to descend on Suttons Bay this weekend for the 43rd annual Suttons Bay Art Festival. They’ll compete for four Best of Show slots among other awards, while festival-goers can shop the work of local and visiting artists alike. There will also be a community library book sale, food vendors, and a children’s area to enjoy. Proceeds from the event are invested back into the community through grant and scholarship programs, supporting local arts-related education projects like music and dance performances, artist in residence programs, and scholarships for local art students. The Suttons Bay Art Festival runs Saturday, Aug. 5, from 10am-5pm and Sunday, Aug. 6, from 10am-4pm at Suttons Bay Marina Park. (And if you can’t make it this weekend, be sure to save the date for their M22 Art2Art fall tour, which features ceramics, painting, furniture, and sculpture work October 8-9.) For more details, visit suttonsbayartfestival.org.

OTP Looking for Local Artists

Ready to put your art skill to the test?

Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City is seeking six local artists for their new “At the Corner of Art & Culture” project. The playhouse sits on the corner of 8th and Cass streets, and this project will bring a pop of color to the neighborhood by decorating the building facade with artwork that spotlights the arts scene in TC. (Think pieces focused on various disciplines including theater and drama, music, dance, painting, artwork, literature, and film.) If selected, your work will be converted into a banner to hang along the large windows of the building for a minimum of one year. OTP notes that they will give “preference to modern and abstract representations in the mosaic or stained-glass style” and that all six pieces will “need to have a cohesive feel.” (You can submit up to six pieces or just one.) Submissions are due by Aug. 5, 2023. For more information and to submit your work, head to oldtownplayhouse.com/artist-call.html.

Stuff We Love: U.P. Trolls

Wait a second—aren’t we under-the-bridge-dwellers here in the Lower Peninsula called trolls? Typically, yes, but this time around, we found a big ole troll above the Mighty Mac. In July, Danish rapperturned-artist Thomas Dambo came to Germfask, Michigan—about halfway in between St. Ignace and Marquette—to build one of his iconic recycled-material trolls at the Northland Outfitters Campground. Michigan’s own troll, a 14-foot tall guardian who sits along the Manistique River, is named Benny the Beard Fisher and is Dambo’s 117th piece. Similar sculptures can be found all across the globe and are made from discarded wooden pallets and other upcycled materials. (The art pieces last about five to seven years in the elements.) Dambo has also had stops in New Jersey, Vermont, and soon Colorado before heading to the Pacific Northwest on his “Way of the Bird King” tour across the U.S. See more of Dambo’s work at thomasdambo.com.

Ever heard of a Belgian-style Pilsner? We hadn’t either, until we discovered Stormcloud’s seasonal brew, The Hat Dept., and we can’t think of a better sunny day pairing! Belgianinspired, but with a local twist, this crusher of a summer lager blends Belgian malt with Michigan Saaz hops for a full-grain flavor with a zesty backbone. The result is an easydrinking beer that floats on the palette and finishes dry with a crisp snap. Treat it as a digestif (we’re told it’s all the rage in Belgium), or, for some extra European flair, enjoy a pour from the Taproom’s new side pull faucet. Shots of frothy beer foam are highly encouraged! Grab a pint of The Hat Dept. ($6.50) at Stormcloud Pub (303 Main Street) and Parkview Taproom (366 Parkview Lane) in Frankfort, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for its upcoming release in 16-oz cans! stormcloudbrewing.com

Photo courtesy of Thomas Dambo and Northland Outfitters Campground

WHERE FACTS GO TO DIE

spectator

By Stephen Tuttle

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says Florida is “where woke goes to die.” He could have more accurately said Florida middle schools are where facts, history, and reality go to die.

Those Florida students will receive some interesting information about racism in general and slavery specifically in the new school year. What a shame much of it will be based on old, racist lies.

Under laws championed by DeSantis and recently passed by a compliant Florida Legislature, the appointed Florida Board of Education is creating new standards and all lessons involving race must be “objective,” “include both sides of the issue,” and may not “persuade students to a particular point of view.”

So, a subject like slavery cannot be taught with a particular point of view like, for instance, that slavery is completely and totally evil. No, students will be taught there are two sides to the issue, and this goes way beyond the usual excuses about state’s rights.

The new curriculum suggests students be taught that “…slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit…” Yes, this means teaching slavery was a vehicle for personal improvement because, you know, slaves learned things like carpentry and blacksmithing and agriculture. That slavery somehow improved the lot of slaves is an ancient and ugly racist trope now unpleasantly regurgitated by education officials in Florida.

Unwilling to back down from this offensive gibberish, two participants in the working group that came up with the new standards were quoted in the Miami Herald responding to criticism: “Florida students deserve to learn how slaves took advantage of whatever circumstance they were in to benefit themselves and the community of African descendants.”

“Took advantage of” and “benefit themselves” are interesting language choices that make it all seem not quite so terrible if there were advantages to be taken and benefits to be gained.

The lesson that should be taught is there is no advantage or benefit to being enslaved and never were. These are human beings who were kidnapped or captured and transported here in conditions so deplorable as many as 20 percent died en route according to The Resource Bank. Then they were sold like pieces of furniture, stripped of their given names while their families were ripped apart. Most slave children were forbidden from learning how to read, write, or do even basic arithmetic. The men were often shackled and whipped,

and those trying to escape could be legally hunted down and killed. Women were raped, sometimes repeatedly, by slave owners. (There is a reason so many Black Americans still have traces of European DNA. )

Yes, some slaves, once freed, went on to become blacksmiths or cobblers or carpenters. But they could have just as easily learned those trades and made an income without being someone’s property and calling anyone “master.”

There is no benefit to being enslaved, and to suggest otherwise is racism at its most basic and naked.

Unfortunately the Florida lesson re-writers weren’t quite done. They’ve decided the race riot and massacre in Ocoee, Florida, on Election Day, 1920; the Tulsa race massacre in June of 1921; and other race massacres should be described as “Acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans.”

Here’s a brief refresher, courtesy of the Florida Historical Society: On November 2, 1920, a group of Black citizens attempted to vote in Ocoee, Florida, as they were legally entitled to do. They were met by members of the Ku Klux Klan who then followed and systematically murdered 50 of the would-be voters in what contemporaneous reporting described as a massacre with no mention of violence perpetrated by Black citizens.

In Tulsa, on May 31, 1921, as recounted by the Tulsa Historical Society, a young Black man entered an elevator with a white woman, who complained he had made advances, which he denied. It didn’t matter. At the time, the Greenwood District of Tulsa had successful and affluent Black business owners and professionals and had become known as the Black Wall Street. White Tulsa seized the opportunity to end that success, and for the next two days, white citizens, some deputized and armed by local officials, rampaged through Greenwood, looting, burning, and killing. When they were done, 35 blocks, the entire Greenwood District, had burned to the ground and somewhere between 35 and 300 people, all Black, had been killed. Press at the time referred to it as a “race massacre.”

There were no acts of violence by Black citizens precipitating or contributing to these events, regardless of what Florida teachers must now claim. It is absurd to believe there is another side to a massacre perpetrated by white sheet wearing thugs.

Or to teach children that, hey, at least those slaves learned useful trades while being owned, whipped, shackled, raped, hunted, lynched, and violated in every way imaginable.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND ITS DISCONTENTS

guest opinion

by Isiah Smith, Jr.

The Supreme Court did not go far enough in ending affirmative action (AA) in college admissions. Instead of being bold and decisive, the Court took the road most traveled.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. Many commentators, at least those who support affirmative action, argued that the ruling will force a dramatic change in how the nation’s private and public universities select their students.

But if one looks at the case more closely, it becomes clearer that Roberts’ opinion also reinforces existing systems of preferences.

Chief Roberts in his majority wrote: “Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.” What he didn’t say is “eliminating discrimination means eliminating all of it.” He said, instead, “Distinctions between citizens solely because of their ancestry are by their very nature odious to a free people whose institutions are founded upon the doctrine of equality.”

The decision would have been stronger and more credible if Roberts had instead written:

“Today we hold that preferences of all types have no place in a fair and just society. For far too long, our finest institutions of higher learning have catered to the needs of the privileged classes. Children of parents who attended Harvard and North Carolina have been awarded admission over more qualified applicants. Children of parents who have donated large sums of money to these institutions are given preferences over those whose parents can’t afford to donate such sums. And finally, students whose ancestors have their names on buildings at these institutions are seldom turned away

“The decision I am announcing today also eliminates preferences based on athletic ability. The ability to pass, catch, run, and block must no longer be given preference over the ability to read, write, and think. The Court’s decision eliminates all these types of discrimination. Gone are the days when the only kind of affirmative action considered offensive is the ones put into place to benefit those who for centuries suffered the most brutal and inhumane treatment on account of the color of their skin or their national origin.”

But that is not what Roberts’ decision did. Instead, legacy admissions, athletics admissions, and the affirmative action for children of donors and faculty members were untouched.

A 2019 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper by Peter Arcidiacono found that 43 percent of students admitted to Harvard College were either athletes, legacies, members of the Dean’s or Director’s lists of relations of

donors or prominent figures, or children of university employees. (We’ll call that 43 percent “ALDCs.”)

Almost 70 percent of Harvard legacy applicants were white, which is also the case at the University of North Carolina. Therefore, Roberts’ decision protects, preserves, and perpetuates the status quo where “them that’s got shall get, them that’s not shall lose.”

The two Supreme Court cases were brought on behalf of Asian students. Apparently, it was argued that but for Affirmative Action, more Asian students would have been admitted to Harvard. However, it’s just as likely that if ALDC didn’t allow so many white students to be admitted, more Asians would have gained admission. The percentage of Asian students at Harvard is double the percentage of Black students. The percentage of ALDC students is greater than the percentages of Black and Asian combined.

So, really, the Asian students’ complaints were misdirected; the argument could have easily been that by admitting lesser qualified ALDCs over more qualified Asian students deprived Asians of equal protection of the law. To effectively ban consideration of race in college admissions requires banning ALDC admissions! Otherwise, unqualified applicants will continue to dominate college admissions.

These discriminatory practices have disturbing consequences, to wit: George W. Bush’s father and grandfather both attended Yale University. So, naturally, George W. was admitted to Yale, where he was a C student, scoring 77 percent (with no As and one D, in astronomy) with a grade point average of 2.35 out of a possible 4.00. He did, however, excel in cheerleading.

Bush’s legacy admission had devastating consequences. George W’s grandfather served as a senator, and his father was a one-term president. So naturally, George W. became Governor of Texas and later arguably the second worst president in the history of the country. As president, he falsely claimed that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and posed a “threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region.”

The stupid war that followed devastated the nation’s budget. When Bill Clinton left office, he had balanced the federal budget and erased the federal deficit. The Iraq war cost the U.S. $757.8 billion and dug a massive hole in our economy from which we still haven’t recovered.

In conclusion, legacy preferences are discriminatory and detrimental to the welfare of our great nation. There’s no evidence that affirmative action has had a similar adverse impact.

Isiah Smith, Jr. is a retired government attorney.

Harbor Springs Car Festival

Harbor Springs Car Festival

Harbor Springs Car Festival

MICHIGAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS DESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPAIR

guest opinion

by Bob Thompson

Imagine you’re a farmer. You’re passionate about growing food, and you put in hours of labor each week to ensure your animals get fed, your crops get watered, and your farm keeps operating. Then, at the height of the growing season, your tractor breaks down. The earliest a technician can come to diagnose the problem is in three days, and after that you’ll have to wait another three days for a repair — at a shop that’s two and a half hours away.

Adding insult to injury, you know the repair would have cost significantly less and would get fixed in less time had you been allowed to fix it yourself or take it to a local shop.

time when a minor equipment issue could jeopardize their livelihood.

Right to Repair is also an issue of economic fairness for farmers, ranchers, and their communities. It’s been the case for some time that giant agriculture companies hire lobbyists to write laws that protect their bottom line while everyone else pays the price—especially farmers and ranchers. These laws impact independent farmers by limiting competition and self-sufficiency. It’s time we rein in the control that corporate agriculture has on farmers and eaters alike. Allowing farmers the right to repair their own farm equipment is a good first step.

Right now, the rules are rigged in manufacturers’ favor to ensure that farmers don’t have the ability to repair their own equipment, and this must change. The current system is broken and costs farmers precious time and money.

As the president of the Michigan Farmers Union, I hear these concerns from our members all too often. Right now, the rules are rigged in manufacturers’ favor to ensure that farmers don’t have the ability to repair their own equipment, and this must change. The current system is broken and costs farmers precious time and money.

Farmers own the equipment they use, so it’s only common sense that they should have both flexibility and options when it comes to making repairs on the equipment they own. But for too long, farm equipment manufacturers have refused to make the software tools and parts needed to repair modern tractors, combines, and other farm equipment fully available to farmers and independent mechanics.

Thursday August 10, 2023

A short time ago, most rural farming communities had a couple options when it came to repairs and finding machinery. Now, in many places, there might only be one dealerauthorized repair center. This dynamic is part of a broader trend in rural areas that favors the consolidation of industry. Consolidation means that there’s less competition and fairness in the marketplace, which often means that us farmers and ranchers, and ultimately folks who eat our food, pay more.

What we’re seeing now with independent repair shops is that they can’t get business because they can’t access the tools, parts, and diagnostics for repairs. By passing the Right to Repair, farmers can get their equipment serviced at independent shops in their own communities, or do the repair themselves if they’re capable, saving them both time and money while supporting local businesses. This means that jobs can stay local rather than going elsewhere.

5:30 PM till dusk

Thursday August 10, 2023 5:30 PM till dusk

Thursday August 10, 2023

Zorn Park - Downtown Harbor Springs

To make matters more complicated, farmers and ranchers might have to travel several hundred miles just to get a tractor or combine repaired at a dealer-authorized repair center, and it may cost a small fortune. That’s simply unfair.

5:30 PM till dusk

Zorn Park - Downtown Harbor Springs

Hosted by: The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

Zorn Park - Downtown Harbor Springs

Hosted by: The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

Hosted by: The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

Luckily, state lawmakers are considering a bill proposed in the state legislature to address these ongoing concerns farmers and ranchers are voicing.

HB 4673, the “Agricultural Equipment Repair Act,” (aka Right to Repair) was introduced by Rep. Reggie Miller (D–Van Buren Township) and ensures that farmers and ranchers in the state of Michigan have the right to access the tools and equipment they need to repair the equipment they own. The state legislature should pass HB 4673 as soon as possible, because repairing a tractor shouldn’t require days and a significant financial setback to get fixed.

HB 4673 would save farmers both time and money during the growing season, at a

Right to Repair is a key issue in National Farmers Union’s Fairness for Farmers campaign, which aims to build fairer and more competitive agricultural markets, and to address the consolidation crisis in agriculture. The Michigan Farmers Union believes that HB 4673 is a win for independent farmers and ranchers across Michigan and provides another important precedent for other states across the nation.

As a fourth-generation independent family farmer, I know all too well that it’s time to bring some fairness to agriculture so folks who grow our food can make a living and thrive.

I’m pleased that Rep. Miller introduced HB 4673, and I hope both legislative chambers pass this bill soon, allowing it to make its way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk.

Bob Thompson is president of the Michigan Farmers Union.

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AUGUST ART SHOWS

Seven shows to explore around the North

By Alexandra Dailing

August is art season throughout northern Michigan. From picturesque landscapes to the creatures from your dreams, there’s something for every viewer and collector in all media types. Channel your inner art critic and enjoy the visual beauty of these fleeting summer exhibits.

1. A New Perspective: Landscapes from the Dennos Museum Center Dennos Museum Center, Now – Sept. 3

This summer exhibition of pieces from the Dennos’ permanent art collection features various landscapes, from abstract Inuit scenes to more realistic landscapes by Mathias Alten. The exhibit aims to evoke memory, transport viewers through time, and reveal new outlooks and possibilities. A New Perspective is also part of a three-part thematic summer exhibition schedule at the Dennos.

“Our curatorial team spent the past few months thinking about thematic connections to our other summer exhibitions: Luster: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile and Motorcycle Painting and Jerry’s Map,” says Craig Hadley, executive director and chief curator. “Cars, for instance, move through the landscape and transport people to new or familiar places, while Jerry’s Map meticulously documents a fictitious topography created by artist Jerry Gretzinger. Highlighting landscapes from our own permanent collection seemed like the perfect connection to both of these exhibitions.”

Without a doubt, Hadley says, viewers will find a piece that resonates with them and their relationship with the geography that surrounds us.

“Visitors will enjoy the opportunity to see familiar places—the dunes, the rolling hills of Michigan wineries, and more—in a variety of media ranging from oil paint to photography,” adds Hadley.

2. Great Bodies Higher Art Gallery, Now –Aug. 10

A display of 50 original works of art by 32 artists, Great Bodies is a visual love letter to the beautiful, clean, and lifegiving bodies of freshwater found throughout Michigan.

Great Bodies is also Higher Art Gallery’s first-ever annual group show, and gallery owner Shanny Brooke can’t wait to share this curated collection with viewers.

“What makes this show so special is that each artist depicts a different aspect of just how special this area is,” says Brooke. “Some artists focus on the natural and environmental aspects, such as the life in and around our waters—birds, fish, and the entire ecosystem. Other artists reflected a little more on the recreational aspect and all the joy our lakes bring us through canoeing, boating, and swimming.”

No matter the subject, the beauty of the area shines through.

“There is no denying the absolutely amazing views we can get from any one of our lakeshores or wetlands,” adds Brooke. “So this show is not short on jaw-dropping depictions of Lake Michigan sunsets.”

Glen Arbor Arts Center, Now – Aug. 25

Ready for some creepy crawlies? For their annual Clothesline Exhibit, Glen Arbor Arts Center has selected the theme of Insects + Spiders. As the organization puts it, “It’s a celebration—an infestation of appreciation for these small creatures.”

An open-air exhibition of small works, the 2023 Clothesline Exhibit features art by individuals of all skill levels in a wide variety of media, including paintings, drawings, photographs, collages, and art constructed with paper, fabric, and plastic. Featured insects and spiders may be real—there are over 900,000,000 different insects to choose from, after all!—or entirely made up by the artist. Viewers will enjoy imagined and lifelike creations in this outdoor exhibit experience.

4. Karen Clark Antrim, Paula DeGregorio, Frank Galante

Oliver Art Center, Aug. 4 –Sept. 8

This three-person exhibition features an oil painter, pastel artist, and ceramicist. Paula DeGregorio, Frank Galante, and Karen Clark Antrim are three artist friends who have worked together over the last several years and collaborated on themed shows. DeGregorio’s oil paintings offer luminous color and unique perspectives; Galante’s pastels provide a luscious touch and flourish; and Antrim’s combination of ceramics and naturally found objects fuse nature and art. Each artist approaches their work in their own way, but all three styles blend effortlessly in

3. 2023 Clothesline Exhibit: Insects + Spiders

this curated collection.

The June opening of A New Perspective was well attended by all ages at the Dennos Museum Center.

“In the Blue Sturgeon Bay” by Patrick Kelly Wise is an oil painting on linen that captures an impressionistic moment on one of Michigan’s great bodies of water.

Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2023 Clothesline Exhibit features the work of eight artists depicting insects and spiders.

“The Spanish Plate” is one exhibited piece by Frank Galante.

5. Ron Theisen Show – Windows

North Three Pines Studio, Aug. 12 – 22

A solo show of plein air scenes featuring northern Michigan landscapes, Windows North by Harbor Springs artist Ron Theisen is set for a limited 10-day exhibit run at the popular Cross Village gallery space. As a plein air oil painter, Theisen draws inspiration from the beautiful scenery and landscapes that our region has to offer, including the gorgeous vistas, a multitude of trees and vegetation, and breathtaking beaches. With his slightly impressionistic style, Theisen delivers beautiful paintings to which any viewer can connect.

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6. Summer Salon

Charlevoix Circle of Arts, Now – Sept. 2

Charlevoix Circle of Arts’ fourth annual salon-style exhibit showcases regionally inspired artwork by over 40 northern Michigan artists. Original fine art includes watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, and mixed media.

“Not only does the Summer Salon provide local artists with an opportunity to display and sell their artwork in downtown Charlevoix during the busy summer season, it also offers visitors the chance to see local artists’ works and purchase artwork that reminds them of their time in beautiful northern Michigan,” says Sarah Matye, executive director of Charlevoix Circle of Arts.

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7. Animal - Vegetable - Mineral: Paintings by Nancy Adams Nash & Trisha

Witty: Pilgrimages in Paint, A Retrospective 1988 to Present

Crooked Tree Arts Center Petoskey, Now – Sept. 2

Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) of Petoskey features two engaging summer exhibits by local artists Nancy Adams Nash and Trisha Witty.

Nash’s acrylic paintings on canvas and wood panels depict mystery, curiosity, seriousness, and humor with haunting creatures and ambiguous narratives.

“Nash’s oeuvre is distinct and truly her own. In this solo show, viewers will be surrounded by the sometimes strange and thought-provoking creatures and scenes only Nash could imagine and create,” explains Liz Erlewine, CTAC galleries director. “References to art history reveal both a critical and celebratory appreciation for painting and the visual art lexicon.”

For Witty’s retrospective, the show will contain works from the past 35 years, showcasing her travels worldwide captured in oils. Mountains, vineyards, deserts, and beaches—Witty has painted it all while absorbing the beauty of her subject matter and imbuing the canvas with each location’s culture and essence.

“Viewers will see Witty’s outstanding impressionist studies created when the artist was just a student alongside inspiring contemporary pieces created in Witty’s custom signature style,” shares Erlewine. “This is a unique opportunity to see the breadth of creative work by two northern Michigan artists.”

Three Pines Studio in Cross Village will feature a short-run exhibit of plein air artist Ron Theisen’s works.

Artwork by more than 40 northern Michigan artists is on display at Charlevoix Circle of Arts.

Trisha Witty’s oil paintings, such as “Hillside in Tuscany,” feature landscapes from her world travels.

MICHIGAN’S SIXTH GREAT LAKE

By Ren Brabenec

The U.S. Geological Survey defines groundwater as “Water that exists underground in saturated zones beneath the land surface. It fills the pores and fractures in underground materials such as sand, gravel, and other rock, much the same way that water fills a sponge.” Nationally, groundwater is the source of about 40 percent of water used for public supplies and about 39 percent for agriculture.

Michiganders rely on groundwater at even greater rates. About 44 percent of the population gets its drinking water from the ground. The state’s agricultural enterprises use about 187 billion gallons of groundwater annually, double the amount in 2009. Groundwater supplies 25 percent of the volume of the Great Lakes and plays a vital role in creating cold-water habitats for trout streams and endangered flora and fauna.

Despite its importance, Michigan’s groundwater suffers from being out of sight, out of mind.

“We quite literally rely on groundwater to live,” says Liz Kirkwood, executive director

of For Love of Water (FLOW). “But unlike Michigan’s lakes, rivers, and streams that we can see, Michiganders can’t see groundwater, so it’s often forgotten.”

When a core natural resource doesn’t receive the attention it deserves, it becomes threatened. In the case of groundwater, entire aquifers (huge underground storehouses of water) across the state have become contaminated by failing septic systems, agricultural runoff, abandoned wells, and legacy contamination from now-closed sites.

Septic Issues Are on the Rise

Forty-nine states have laws demanding state-wide inspection of septic tank systems, but Michigan is the lone exception, leaving the issue of private septic up to counties, townships, cities, and villages.

For example, it wasn’t until 2022 that Leelanau County adopted formal septic instruction rules for the whole county in a 5-2 vote by the County Board of Commissioners. (Those opposed cited concerns about “big government.”) Meanwhile, Benzie County, Leelanau’s neighbor, had implemented an ordinance requiring septic system

inspections whenever a home is bought, sold, or transferred back in 1990.

This scattered, patchwork-approach and overall lack of regulation means Michigan homeowners must bear what amounts to significant infrastructure costs to maintain, pump, inspect, and replace their septic systems, all with zero assistance or enforcement from state environmental departments.

FLOW has published studies showing the harm to groundwater resulting from this disorderly approach. One study found at least 330 failing or failed septic systems in the state, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Dr. Joan Rose from MSU sampled 64 river systems that drain approximately 84 percent of the Lower Peninsula for E. coli and the human-specific source tracking marker bacteria called B-theta,” says Kirkwood. “The more septic systems in the watershed, the more human fecal source tracking bacteria were found in the water.”

In layperson’s terms, when rivers with several homes nearby were tested, they had much higher concentrations of human fecal

matter than rivers with fewer homes nearby. Because they’re underground, septic systems fall prey to the same out-of-sight, out-of-mind issues that hamper efforts to protect groundwater. And when there are no state-level regulations around how septic systems must be maintained and serviced, old systems get even older as homes change

A snapshot from FLOW's groundwater story map, which features information about the environmental significance of the resource.

Liz Kirkwood

ownership or pass down from generation to generation, with no one paying attention to rising septic contamination risks.

“That spells bad news for our water supply,” says Kirkwood. “Our groundwater is hydrologically connected to our 11,000 lakes, thousands of miles of rivers, and our Great Lakes coastline. If the groundwater becomes contaminated, that has knock-on effects for all our water.”

Corporate Pollution Remains a Concern

If septic failures are a private issue, corporate pollution is a public issue. FLOW documented more than 24,000 groundwater contamination sites across Michigan, including 11,000 orphan sites, i.e., sites with no responsible party. These are sites where a corporation caused pollution many years ago, the corporation moved away or was dissolved, and the pollution remained. In those cases, taxpayers foot the bill for the cleanup.

While the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has provided comprehensive documentation on what sites exist and what must be done to decontaminate them, cleanup efforts are slow going.

To give us one example, Kirkwood pointed us to EGLE’s reporting on the Wickes Manufacturing Trichloroethylene (TCE) Plume in Antrim County, the largest contamination site of its kind in the United States.

“Mount Clemens Industries Inc., later known as Wickes Manufacturing, used TCE in vapor degreasers as part of the manufacturing of auto parts in Mancelona from 1947 to 1967,” wrote EGLE in its 2020 report. “Waste containing TCE was discarded on the ground and in lagoons, where it seeped through the soil and dissolved into the groundwater. Both companies went out of business many years ago. As a result, DEQ funds have been allocated to address the TCE contamination.”

Identifying Solutions

Whether the land and groundwater are publicly or privately owned, the ability to test for and identify contamination problems in groundwater is the first step in keeping the Sixth Great Lake healthy. Kirkwood says organizations like FLOW, its partners, and state bodies like EGLE have shown what the risks are and what needs to be done to address them.

“Michigan has been trying to address this issue for 20+ years,” Kirkwood adds. “Now we know what the problems are, and there’s finally legislation on the books to balance the needs of homeowners and public health officials.”

Kirkwood highlighted several solutions FLOW and other agencies are supporting, including efforts individual Michiganders can support:

1. Private Septic. Homeowners should ensure their systems are inspected and serviced every three to five years, and the state should create new funding sources for replacement and state-wide inspections of Michigan’s 1.5 million private septic systems

“There needs to be a funding source for inspection, enforcement, and replacement on private septic systems,” said Kirkwood. “For homeowners, the costs of replacing failed septic systems must be dealt with, and we hope upcoming legislation addresses that. Having leadership in Lansing sympathetic to environmental concerns is a big help.”

2. New Legislation. Speaking of legislation, Kirkwood advocates for representatives who pass legislation to fund pollution cleanups. (She points to legislative sessions in 1983, 1988, and 1998 that appropriated funds for

legacy pollution cleanup.)

FLOW’s 2018 report on the status of Michigan’s groundwater argues for the necessity of government assistance to “clean up over 6,000 remaining sites with contaminated groundwater where no other viable party can be found to pay for cleanup.”

There’s also talk in Lansing that polluter pay laws may be on the horizon, legislation that would hold corporations accountable for any pollution they create, including groundwater contamination.

“When we look at this economically, what we’re seeing here is another unaccountable giveaway to irresponsible corporations,” says Sean McBrearty, legislative and policy director for Clean Water Action, a national organization supporting health and

environmental protections. “What we need this [l]egislature to address is to bring back our polluter pay program to ensure that the responsible corporations, not taxpayers, are on the hook for cleaning up contaminated sites moving forward.”

3. Educating the Public. Getting the public informed is a huge part of the effort to protect groundwater resources. A 2016 study showed 30 percent of homeowners surveyed didn’t know they had a septic system, much less when it was last serviced. And education should be offered to youngsters, too, Kirkwood says.

“We’d like to see high school classes teaching kids about the risks to Michigan’s groundwater. The subject should be taught alongside other environmental science

issues. That way, Michigan youths will grow up with a better understanding of their state’s critical natural resources.”

As we reach the end of our interview, Kirkwood puts the importance of groundwater education into perspective.

“It’s not like everybody has to be a scientist,” she says. “But having a basic understanding helps a lot, because your septic system affects the groundwater and the long-term wellbeing for you and your community. We are the Great Lakes State. Water defines us. But in order for us to continue being the Great Lakes State, we also have to be great stewards.”

Learn more about groundwater concerns and solutions at forloveofwater.org.

A depiction of the watershed by artist Glenn Wolff for a 2022 FLOW report.

Taking a Swing at Something New

Twin Birch Golf Club introduces new restaurant, amenities, and events

By Rachel Pasche

Golf is a quintessential pastime during northern Michigan summers. Is there a better way to enjoy the long days of sunshine and verdant, blooming landscapes than spending a few hours out on the links? For Kwin Morris, owner of the recently updated Twin Birch Golf Club, the answer is definitely not.

Twin Birch sits just northeast of downtown Kalkaska. The par-72 course is bordered by statuesque pine trees and runs along the Boardman River, allowing guests to experience the quiet, natural beauty that being Up North provides. (Morris says golfers might spot some deer or turkeys on the course while they’re out playing.) Combine the picturesque setting with 18 holes, putting and practice greens, a driving range, clubhouse, and restaurant, and you’ll start to see what makes this newly renovated space so special.

The Course

Twin Birch Golf Course had only nine holes when Ron Cross designed it back in 1967. It was expanded in 1989 by Joe Roeske, a well-known golf architect who made the course the 18 holes it is today. The course is a daily fee course with an “open to the public” guest policy.

Morris’ family bought the property in 2013, but it wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that Morris took up the reins. He is a teacher and says that teaching virtually at the start of the pandemic made for “a really tough year.” That spurred him to look for a fun side project.

“We [my family] had the course but I wasn’t involved in it,” Morris explains. “And we decided as a family, let’s revamp this thing and build a brand-new, awesome clubhouse, and that really got me excited to do something unique and offer something lacking in Kalkaska.”

In the last two years, the property has undergone a major upgrade to elevate the entire experience at the club, from the course to the on-site restaurant. (More on dining below!) According to Morris, all of the buildings have been given a facelift, down to the cart barn, where 52 new golf carts in the fleet help the club manage the busy summer season. Morris also says he’s working with the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association to construct a single-track around the property to give golfers and nongolfers alike another way to enjoy the area.

“It’s a place with live music that you can bring the family biking, camping, hiking— and golfing, of course—and get an amazing chef-crafted meal,” Morris says.

The course itself garners positive reviews across the board, with 98 percent of players recommending it on NBC’s GolfPass, a site where users can rank courses around the country. Twin Birch consistently gets strong marks for its condition, pace of play, and the friendliness of the staff. The value is also a big draw.

Morris says they’ve made a concerted effort to make golfing accessible to more

members of the community, including offering discounted rates for seniors. Nine holes plus cart rental is $30 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday. Similarly, 18 holes plus cart rental is only $40 Monday through Thursday, and $45 Friday through Sunday. Senior and twilight rates (past 3pm) are $25 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday—both rates include cart use.

The Restaurant

On the dining side, Morris has brought in a new chef who constructed a menu with a focus on handcrafted food that’s perfect for both a quick bite or a relaxing dinner. (In addition to the lunch and dinner menus, the club also offers breakfast on the weekend for some pre-tee fuel.)

You’ll find classic apps like Spinach Artichoke Dip, Soft Pretzels, and Chips and Salsa, but also creative shareables like Buffalo Cauliflower, Tempura Mushrooms, and Brisket Burnt Ends. Friday nights offer a shrimp and fish fry, while Saturdays are dedicated to a prime rib special.

Morris says some of the most popular menu items are the steaks and fish entrees (Scottish Salmon and Panko Parmesan Crusted Whitefish stand out), though their burgers, wraps, and salads are regular picks too.

Inside the restaurant, large windows and wood ceilings and beams lend the space a contemporary rustic feel, and an extensive wine and beer list gives golfers plenty to choose from whether they’re grabbing some drinks for the links or cooling off after a round.

Speaking of beverages, the Twin Birch Mug Club sold out almost immediately, but there’s a waitlist for those who want their chance at a mug on the wall. Free coffee and soft drinks, $1 off all drafts, and extra treats on birthdays are all part of what make a membership so coveted. The perks extend past the restaurant, too: Mug Club members can also enjoy deals on apparel at the pro shop and discounted rates to enter

into tournaments and other events at Twin Birch. The membership is $60 for the first year and $50 for each following year.

The Events

If you can’t get into the Mug Club, then by all means get into the summer golf leagues and activities. The weekdays at Twin Birch Golf Club are stacked with different types of events, from the Monday Night Scramble with cash prizes, a sold-out men’s league on Tuesday nights, two women’s leagues on Wednesday, and the Jack and Jill Scramble (a couples’ scramble) on Thursday, not to mention live music on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout the summer.

Part of Twin Birch’s mission, Morris says, is to make golf feel fun for grown-ups and kids alike. In addition to events for adults, Twin Birch offered its annual youth golf camp July 17-19. The camp consisted of golf instruction and etiquette for ages six to 16 and cost $40.

Morris feels that by offering affordable prices, hosting regular events including live music, and serving up great food in the restaurant, Twin Birch has the entire package for anyone in the region. “You can come here to have an event, play with your family, or have a laid-back golf experience. It’s a great spot to enjoy northern Michigan without breaking the bank,” he says.

Learn more about Twin Birch Golf Club— the course, restaurant, and events—at twinbirchgolf.com or by calling 231-258-9651.

The Aristocrats Wow! Things went literally and physically south on July 11 at a press dinner on New York's Upper East Side in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign. According to Page Six, as Kennedy answered questions, someone posed one about climate change, but before Kennedy could answer, Doug Dechert, the event host, screamed, "The climate hoax!" Which brought a scold from art critic Anthony Haden-Guest, who called him a "miserable blob." The two continued their exchange, with Kennedy calmly looking on, until Dechert loudly released a "prolonged fart" while yelling, helpfully, "I'm farting!" After attempts to change the subject and more verbal antics, the evening wound down. The next day, Dechert told Page Six, "I apologize for using my flatulence as a medium of public commentary in your presence." How do I get on this guest list?

Creme de la Weird

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman, who sat out some of last season with Wake Forest University, underwent surgery in August 2022 to remove blood clots and the rib closest to his collarbone, 247Sports. com reported. Hmmm, what to do with that extra rib? Hartman's mom, a nurse, is making a necklace for him with the bone. "It's actually clean. It is well on its way to becoming a necklace," he said. "I asked her to try and make it like a puka shell-type deal with the riblike shark's tooth at the end." Hartman said the jewelry might appear in a couple of pregame warmups. "It won't be worn a lot."

Awesome!

Australian sailor Tim Shaddock, 51, of Sydney and his dog, Bella, became stranded in the Pacific Ocean after they set out from Mexico for French Polynesia, a 3,700-mile trip, in April. The boat became damaged in storms, the BBC reported, and Shaddock drifted until mid-July, when a helicopter spotted him. A tuna trawler picked up the pair, who were in surprisingly good health. Shaddock said they ate raw fish and collected rainwater, and he sheltered from the sun beneath the boat's canopy. "I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," he said. "I'm just needing rest and good food."

Buh-Bye

In Glastonbury, Connecticut, 11 boats took off from the Seaboard Marina on July 12 -- make that with the marina. WTNHTV reported that a 200-foot section of dock with 11 boats attached broke off and started floating down the Connecticut River, later passing through Cromwell, Portland, Middletown and Haddam. One part of the errant dock was still floating downstream the next day; officials said it was likely that flooding in Vermont had caused the high waters that set the structure free. Teddy Charton of Middletown said he "got a call that my boat was floating down the river ... It ended up all the way down in Chester." Eventually all but one of the boats was recovered.

Ewwwww

Multiple wrecks tied up northbound

I-95 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on July 17, all attributed to one cause: A tractor-trailer was leaking human waste onto the roadway, which caused a motorcyclist to lose control and crash, the Associated Press reported. Several vehicles crashed into each other or concrete barriers on the slippery roads, and another truck skidded into a state police cruiser, which then rammed into another cruiser. No one was seriously hurt in the pileup. The driver was charged with reckless endangerment and reckless driving, as officers believed he knew of the gross leak but kept driving.

How Hot Is It?

To demonstrate the deadly heat inside a closed car, the staff of the National Weather Service in Midland, Texas, baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies on a car's dashboard on July 18, United Press International reported. While it was 105 degrees outside, the dashboard registered 190 degrees -high enough to bake the cookies in about 4 1/2 hours. "Even though ours weren't golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious," NWS employees wrote on Facebook.

It's Come to This

When a backyard bunny breeder bundled their belongings and said bye-bye to Jenada Isles, a community in Wilton Manors, Florida, they left behind between 60 and 100 lionhead rabbits, who have now infiltrated the neighborhood and are driving residents bonkers. Click Orlando reported that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has declined to intercede, so resident Alicia Griggs is heading up an effort to raise the money needed to capture, neuter, vaccinate and rehome the rabbits -- to the tune of $20,000 to $40,000. "People don't realize they're exotic pets and they're complicated," Griggs said. "They have to eat a special diet. You can't just throw any table scraps at them." Residents complain that the bunnies dig holes, chew wiring and leave droppings on sidewalks and driveways. Others think the rabbits are cute, but experts say their heavy coats and finicky digestive systems aren't conducive to living wild in Florida. "They are not equipped to thrive on their own," said Eric Stewart, executive director of the American Rabbit Breeders Association.

Bright Idea

Michael Raduga, 40, founder of the Phase Research Center in Russia, but -critically -- NOT a doctor or neurosurgeon, nearly lost his life in June when he tried to implant a chip in his brain on his own, in his living room in Kazakhstan. The Daily Mail reported that Raduga lost more than a liter of blood in his quest to control his dreams. He said he practiced on five sheep's brains and watched hours of neurosurgery on YouTube before starting on his own head. "During the first 30 minutes I was ready to give up many times because ... I was afraid I could just lose consciousness," Raduga said. "I finished the surgery, I took a shower and I worked for 10 hours straight. People didn't know." But neurosurgeon Alex Green of the University of Oxford wasn't having it. "This is an extremely dangerous thing to do," he said. "We are probably decades away from being able to synthesize new experiences."

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Book by Terrence McNally

Bringing the Party to You

Boutique and mobile bartending businesses are serving in style

By Brighid Driscoll

Just as the kitchen is the heart of a home, a bar is the heart of a party. Outdoor gatherings especially raise spirits (pun intended) when the bar goes above and beyond, and local mobile and pop-up bars are doing just that with plenty of versatility and style.

Ready to bring that heart to your next wedding, reunion, birthday, or get together? Here are three local traveling bar options to elevate and inspire your party planning.

(Pro-tip: Depending on your event, you may need to obtain a liquor license. You’ll also need to purchase your event’s alcohol in addition to bartending fees. But worry not, your mobile bar service pros will guide you. Cheers!)

Tonic & Lime

You can’t talk mobile bars without talking about northern Michigan’s original in bartending service: Tonic & Lime. Owner Amber Jaeger had helped a friend run a similar business when she was living in Denver, and when she moved back to northern Michigan she brought the concept with her.

“I knew the wedding industry was growing rapidly and no one was really doing something like this,” she tells Northern Express

Jaeger had always been designated as the cocktail curator among friends, so starting the business was a natural fit. In 2017, T&L officially opened for service and it has been nonstop since. While our other two mobile bars serve out of caravans, T&L staffs their bar sans wheels. The company is billed as “boutique bartending” and can adapt to a variety of settings whether you’re at home, at the workplace, or at an event venue.

“Service is our number one priority and the most important aspect to us,” Jaeger says. “We have a team of over 20 bartenders who are wonderful and very professional. I go through a pre-event checklist to make sure they’re completely prepared, stocked, and ready to go.”

And when it comes to the night of, Jaeger’s passion for cocktails shines through her creative concoctions. “One of my favorite signature drinks right now that people seem to be loving is a gin lavender lemon cocktail. We use a really beautiful purple simple syrup. Even without the gin, it has so much flavor that you’re not missing out.”

She’s also putting effort into great mocktails, a rising event trend that’s gaining momentum. “We can definitely provide non-alcoholic spirits options—a lot of times we can make a signature cocktail non-alcoholic,” Jaeger says. “The request for NA options at our events has increased tenfold over the last year. We already saw it gaining popularity in the West Coast, so we knew it was coming. We don’t want anyone to feel like you have to drink to have a good time at an event.”

Learn more at tonicandlimemi.com.

Wandering Spirits

Local couple Haley and Cody Zietz were due to get married in the summer of 2020. As we know, the world had other plans.

“We ended up having to cancel our wedding and get married in the backyard instead,” Haley explains. But the bump in the road led to some inspiration. “Some friends of ours had a similar [mobile bar] business downstate, and we thought that it would have been really cool to have had something like that at our wedding.”

The duo took the plunge in the form of a vintage camper and invited another couple, Kaitlyn Grangood and Evan Merrill, along for the pursuit. Cody and Evan renovated what is now called the Leland Blue, the first in Wandering Spirits’ fleet of traveling bars. The second is a renovated horse trailer called the Petoskey Pebble.

“The Leland Blue generally gets rented more for weddings because it’s white. The Petoskey Pebble is black and a bit sharper and more modern looking, that gets rented out more for retirement parties and birthdays. It all just depends what look people are going for,” says Haley.

Something else to note about the Petoskey Pebble is that it has four taps, great for beer-heavy celebrations.

Wandering Spirits provides the mobile bar, all of its equipment and decor, and furniture for a small seating area, but bartenders will need to be hired and beverages will need to be bought separately. According to the FAQ section on their website, the Wandering Spirits team will help connect bartenders with the folks who need them.

Learn more at wanderingspiritsmi.com.

Dan Stewart Photography

Miles And Sarah Photography

Roaming NoMi

Local couples and friends Maria and Matt Drost and Danielle and Adam Oster are the powerhouses behind Roaming NoMi, which opened in September 2022.

Maria, Matt, and Danielle are all teachers and met through work, “and we just became best friends,” Maria says. She and Matt had been playing with the idea of opening a mobile bar for a couple of years, but the idea of opening and running a business was intimidating…at least until they added Danielle and Adam to the mix. “A partnership with our best friends made this feel totally possible,” Maria says.

She and Matt already had some wedding event experience, him with DJing and her with bartending. “I had spent time bartending in bars and restaurants and knew I didn’t

want to do that again. But bartending a wedding with Matt was fun. We could talk with members of our community and not have the pressures of the restaurant industry.”

Adam and Matt renovated their traveling speakeasy with meticulous care. They provide the bar and staff all events. “We are the bartending service as well and don’t rent out the mobile bar by itself,” Danielle explains. “We see it through from start to end.”

The bar can accommodate two kegs plus refrigerated wine and beer, and the team can provide fun signature cocktail ideas. They also can provide self-serve non-alcoholic stations with custom NA creations flowing from barrels. “It’s nice for people not drinking to have more than just pop and water to choose from,” says Maria.

For a taste of what they do, stay tuned on their Facebook page (@roamingnomibar) for public events.

Learn more at roamingnomi.com.

EXTENDING A HAND TO THE COMMUNITY

MSU Extension wants to provide the tools to live and work better in Michigan

By Ross Boissoneau

It’s 193 miles from Suttons Bay to East Lansing. Frankfort is 184 miles away, Gaylord is 171, and Traverse City clocks in at 180.

Yet the resources and expertise of Michigan State University are here in our communities, thanks to MSU Extension.

MSU Extension dates back over 100 years to 1914, when the Smith-Lever Act created extension programs in essentially every county across the nation with the goal to bring advances in agricultural practices and technology to rural Americans. Land-grant universities in each state oversee the programs.

“MSU is the original land grant college,” says Jennifer Berkey, who serves as the program’s District 3 director, one of 14 such individuals across the state.

Experiential and Educational Programming

So MSU Extension boasts a presence in every county in Michigan, but what does the Extension do, exactly? In short, it provides resources and expertise from the campus to communities and individuals in every part of Michigan. Efforts are concentrated in four general areas: agriculture and agribusiness; children and youth; health and nutrition; and community, food, and environment.

Within those areas, what MSU Extension offers differs from town to town and region to region because the needs of each local community are unique.

For example, take agriculture and agribusiness, which Berkey says is the part of MSU Extension that it’s best known for. “Agriculture is a huge part of northern Michigan,” she says. Her district encompasses Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Kalkaska, and Manistee counties and is home to plentiful apples, cherries, wine grapes, and hops.

In contrast, her counterpart in District 6, Eric Karbowski, says the Christmas tree industry is particularly strong in Missaukee and Wexford Counties. “Michigan is the third-largest Christmas tree-producing state in the country, with an annual economic value of $35 million,” he says. The state annually harvests two million trees, creating 2,300 jobs. “Because of this large industry, we have a Christmas tree educator, Bill Lindberg, who covers this area.”

The differences can be seen in the office staff as well. In Benzie County, the

office includes a secretary, 4-H program coordinator, community nutrition instructor, and health and farm stress educator. In Emmet County, there is a 4-H program coordinator, a community food systems educator, and a tribal educator for tribal governance and leadership and community engagement. Residents in both counties—and across the state—have access to specialists in public policy education, sustainable agriculture, produce safety, and myriad other fields.

Berkey also points to the extension service’s work with young people as another

mental and emotional health. As part of its health and nutrition focus, it developed the Farm Stress program, which concentrates on helping those in agriculture deal with the pressure of depending on so many factors for their livelihood like weather, fluctuating prices for crops, disease, and caring for animals.

The Farm Stress program includes offerings like a teletherapy program that connects farmers in need with therapists at Pine Rest Behavioral Services; workshops like “Mending the Stress Fence,” aimed

from pest management, horticultural production and handling, and value-added processing to marketing and farm financial management practices.

Rothwell says there are many challenges in the fruit industry, including—perhaps especially—in cherries. Disease, lowpriced imports, and the changing climate all make for a difficult job. The center has demonstration and research plots to help farmers think outside the box, or at least beyond the rows of the orchard, to what can benefit them economically.

“We have to rethink what fruit farming looks like. It doesn’t look like 1950,” Rothwell says. Indeed, the modern farm may need to diversify not only in terms of crops but in everything from adding a retail to a commercial kitchen.

area of impact. That includes the familiar 4-H projects, the “experiential, educational opportunities designed to connect in-school learning with out-of-school time activities,” as the Extension puts it. But the youth development arm of the Extension is more than animals at the fair. “It’s soccer in Benzie and Kalkaska, camp in Leelanau, fishing in Grand Traverse,” says Berkey.

District 14 Director Adam Koivisto says the Flying Clovers racing pigeon club is one of the popular 4-H programs in his district, which covers Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle Counties. “Kids in the club all get pigeons, and one girl won an award from the Pigeon Racing Association,” he says.

Another popular program is the 4-H Swim School in Boyne City. It offers swim lessons and water safety instruction on Lake Charlevoix. Koivisto says Coast Guard and sheriff’s department offices swim with the kids along with the lifeguard instructors.

Investing in Healthy Communities

MSU Extension also offers community and economic development. Berkey says it works with township and county commissioners on governance and training. “That’s off people’s radar,” she says.

Another spot where MSU Extension shines: The program is a national leader in

directly at helping farmers and their families; Facebook Live sessions for farmers called “Lunch Breaks,” held on MSU Extension’s Field Crops Facebook site every Wednesday; and free webinars, online factsheets, and educational articles.

“We were one of the first to tackle farm stress,” says Berkey. That includes the hiring of Dr. Remington Rice as a community behavioral health educator statewide, with a particular focus in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Manistee counties.

Rethinking What Farming Looks Like

Speaking of farming, the pinkie corner of northern Michigan is unique in that it houses the Extension’s Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center. Dr. Nikki Rothwell heads the 137-acre center, located between Traverse City and Suttons Bay and between West Grand Traverse Bay and the south arm of Lake Leelanau.

There’s a huge focus on cherries at the center, of course, as the five-county region produces almost half of the U.S. supply of tart cherries and 83 percent of sweet cherry production in Michigan.

But the center goes beyond cherries, providing research and real-life examples of how farmers can improve all their crops and their lives as well. That includes everything

Rothwell says the pandemic dealt a blow to the research center’s programs. While the pivot to the virtual world helped keep things going, she says the lack of personal connection made it difficult. “It’s hard to talk to a screen without a live audience. It’s a little more of a one-way street. You don’t get the side conversations, [people’s] interactions with their peers,” she says.

While now operating in a world in which the pandemic has receded, Rothwell says inperson attendance to events sponsored by the Research Center is still lagging. “This year, the Cherry Festival was really down,” she says of visits and farm tours the research center offers during the weeklong celebration of cherries. “It was down by at least half to a third from previous years.”

Meanwhile, attendance at the orchard and vineyard show it hosts each January at Grand Traverse Resort is rebounding. She says in 2021 the show was virtual, and in 2022 it was about half the pre-pandemic total. This year it was up to 350 attendees.

Yet those changes are reflective of the world beyond, where climate change, technology, and shifting tastes mean nothing is ever static. MSU Extension continues to evolve, while providing the expertise and resources of a world-class university to every area of the state. The sheer breadth of programming it offers and its continued growth and responsiveness to change indicate they are always ready to adapt to the times.

Learn more about the programs offered by MSU Extension at canr.msu.edu/outreach.

The center has demonstration and research plots to help farmers think outside the box, or at least beyond the rows of the orchard, to what can benefit them economically.

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3. DATE SALAD - GREENS - SHERRYMARCONA - CRISPY SERRANO HAM 6.95

4. CROQUETTE - CHEESE - POTATO - SALSA 6.95

5. MUSSELS - SAFFRON CREAM - CHORIZO - TOAST 9.95

6. OCTOPUS - CAST IRON - ROASTED PEPPER MAYOPICKLED CABBAGE 9.95

7. OXTAIL - RIOJA - POTATO PUREE - TARRAGON 8.95

8. PRAWN - TOMATO - SPICY PEPPER - LEMON 6.95

9. SEA BASS - CEVICHE - CAVAPINEAPPLE - AVOCADO 11.95

10. CHEESE - ASSORTMENT - QUINCE 8.95

11. CALAMARI - FRIED - SWEETY DROP PEPPERSVALENCIA SAUCE 8.95

12. JAMON IBERICO- ASSORTMENT - MUSTARD - APRICOTS 11.95

13. PAE LLA - SAFFRON RICE - PRAWNMUSSELS - CALAMARI 11.95

14. DESSERTS (FEATURED DAILY)

WILL BE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

saturday PATRICK’S HEAVY RIDE: 6:45am, Darrow Park, TC. Norte’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Choose from routes of 90 miles, 55 miles or 20 miles. Postride celebration at The Little Fleet. norteyouthcycling.org/patrick-heavy-ride?mc_ cid=40b7bddb8f&mc_eid=df24b9efb4

MACKINAC BRIDGE SWIM: This 4-5 mile swim starts at Forst Michilimackinac State Park, Mackinaw City at 7am. mackinacbridgeswim.com

AUSABLE RIVER FESTIVAL: Grayling. Today includes the GRA 10K & 5K, Lumberjack Breakfast, Miss AuSable River Festival, live music by Love Thug & Adam Hoppe, Duck Derby, Downtown Parade, & much more. festival.ausableriverfest.com/event-calendar - -

62ND ANNUAL UGOTTA REGATTA: Little Traverse Bay. Featuring nearly 100 boats. Presented by the Little Traverse Yacht Club. ltyc.org

36TH ANNUAL WALLOON LAKE FLY-

WHEELERS TRACTOR, ENGINE, & CRAFT SHOW: 00145 US 131 N., Boyne Falls, July 27-30. Featuring Unstyled Tractors, washing machines, Economy Small Engines, & a parade of power at 2pm daily. Entry fee donation of $7.

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ALDEN DAYS: 9am-4pm, Downtown Alden. Includes The Alden Run, farmer’s market & craft show, parade, kids’ games, face painting, blacksmith & wood carving demonstrations, & more.

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CROOKED TREE 62ND ANNUAL ART

FAIR: 9am-4pm, GT County Civic Center, TC. Featuring 130 artists & artisans from across the country. Enjoy a kids activity tent, food vendors, & free parking & admission. Artists represent a variety of art media, including sculpture, jewelry, glass, fibers, paintings & other 2-D fine art, pottery, metalwork, & more. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/crooked-tree-art-fair-july-29-2023

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MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: 9am-5pm, Washington Park, Cheboygan. Featuring a large assortment of crafters selling jewelry, home decor, pottery, clothing, toys, kitchen essentials, custom printed shirts & mugs, & more. For vendor info, email: madeincheboygan@gmail.com. facebook.com/madeincheboygan

PETOSKEY SIDEWALK SALES: 9am-6pm, Downtown Petoskey. - -

THE ALDEN RUN: 9am, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Featuring a 5K, 10K Run & 2 Mile Fun Walk. $25; price increases after July 25. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/Alden/TheAldenRun - -

$25,000 USHJA INTERNATIONAL DERBY/

DUDLEY B. SMITH EQUITATION CHAM-

PIONSHIP: 10am, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Enjoy Olympic-caliber show jumping. Featuring equestrian performances, food & drink options, & family-friendly activities. This week’s event is dedicated to supporting the Cherryland Humane Society. Gates open at 9am. $15 GA. eventbrite. com/e/25000-ushja-intl-hunter-derby-and-dudley-b-smith-equitation-championship-tickets617322065917?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

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18TH ANNUAL MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY/HERITAGE VILLAGE

HISTORIC FESTIVAL:10am-3pm, Heri-

tage Village, Mackinaw City. Today includes the Jack Pine Lumberjack Demo, Maypole Freedom School, Gospel music with Jim Stevens, Vintage Baseball Pick-Up Demo/ Game, music with Dan House, raffle drawing, quilters, spinners, juggler, & much more. mackinawhistory.org

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GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

IV: Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg, July 26-30. CSI 3*/Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship & $10,000 Trainer Bonus/$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby/Pro & Non Pro Traverse City Derby’s/ Premier Hunters / Jumper 6 / Equitation. traversecityhorseshows.com/events

OPEN STUDIO: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in free arts & crafts for the whole family. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ open-studio-july-29 ----------------------

PETOSKEY LIBRARY FRIENDS’ ANNUAL

USED BOOK SALE: 10am-4pm, Petoskey District Library, lower level. Thousands of titles. 25cents - $3. Plus vintage & collector books, puzzles & board games individually priced. ----------------------

QUILT & ART SHOW: 10am-4pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Torch Area Artisans Guild, also known as TAAG, will hold a Quilt & Artisan Show with Boutique. There will be a variety of quilts, needlework, paintings, etc. on exhibit as well as a Boutique with handmade items & paintings for sale. No entry charge. facebook.com/TorchAreaArtisansGuild

THE DUNE ECOSYSTEMS OF ANTRIM

CREEK: 10am, Antrim Creek North Entrance. A Grass River Natural Area naturalist will guide you as you explore this unique dune & forest ecosystem by admiring endangered species like Lake Huron Tansy & learning the area’s natural & human history. Free. grassriver.org

THE INVITATIONAL AT WALLOON LAKE FINE ART SHOW: 10am-5pm, Village Green Park, Walloon Lake. Featuring more than 30 award-winning artists selling, demonstrating & answering your questions. daniellesblueribbonevents.com

COFFEE W/ THE AUTHORS: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Poet Holly Wren Spaulding will talk about keeping & banning words. Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager, leads the discussion. Spaulding, a northern Michigan native now living in southern Maine, published her third book of poems, “Familiars,” in 2020. It was a response to the 2015 deletion of words by the Oxford Junior Dictionary. “Familiars” is full of poems about trees, flowers, magic, touch, memory, erasure, power, & [Spaulding’s] grief over the changing climate. Free. glenarborart.org/ events-page/events-all

“SAND, SEA & SHELLS”: Noon-4pm, Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. 22nd Annual Flower Show presented by the East Jordan Garden Club & the Jordan River Arts Council. Over 50 entries. You vote for the winners! Free admission. ----------------------

LADY LUCK’S M-22 AUTOMOTIVE SHOWCASE: 3-5pm, Peshawbestown, north lot of Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge. All motorized vehicles are welcomed to attend & bystanders are encouraged to place their votes on multiple judging classes. leelanausandscasino.com/ play/lady-luck-m22-automotive-showcase

STAR PARTY: 5-11pm, Dune Climb, 6748 S. Dune Hwy., Glen Arbor. Please park in the row furthest from the dunes with your headlights facing M-109. Drop-in telescope & info

stations will be available for you to visit. Find Your Park in the stars. Programs will be cancelled if the sky is not visible due to weather conditions. Call 231-326-4700, ext. 5005, for a voicemail message with the decision. All programs are free with a valid park entrance pass. nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/explorethe-night-sky.htm

GAYLORD COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA

- PAVILION POPS: 7-9pm, Pavilion on Court St., Downtown Gaylord. Free. gaylordorchestra.org

LECTURE: “SCIENCE AND RELIGION: MUSINGS OF A RELIGIOUS ASTRONOMER”: 7pm, Trinity Church, Northport. Dr. William Blair, astrophysicist, who has worked on the Hubble Telescope & the James Webb Space Telescope, will give this lecture. Free.

MUSICAL THEATER KARAOKE SHOW: 7pm, The Greenhouse - Willow/ Primos, Cadillac. Presented by Cadillac Footliter Teens. facebook.com/even ts/1421153018737112/1429378574581223

OTP YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS

“SHOWSTOPPERS”: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. The OTP Young Company’s Teen & Advanced Musical Theatre Workshops

present their annual musical revue. This small cast of young adults will perform several selections, featuring the best of Broadway. Ticket prices include fees: Adult: $21; youth under 18: $12. oldtownplayhouse.com/young-company/ performances/showstoppers.html

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. BATTLE CREEK BATTLE JACKS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

2023 MANITOU MUSIC: THE TRAVERSE CITY DANCE PROJECT: 7:30pm, Nash Road Red Barn, Maple City. Enjoy original choreography, live music, & professional dancers from around the country. $35 GAAC members; $40 non-members. glenarborart. org/events/tc-dance-project

BAROQUE ON BEAVER FESTIVAL

OPENING NIGHT: YING LI, SOLO PIANO: 7:30pm, BIC Center, Beaver Island. Ying Li is the winner of the 2021 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and the inaugural Antonio Mormone International Prize in Italy. $100. store.biccenter.org/product/ying-li-solo-piano

WOOD BOX HEROES: 7:30pm, Lavender Hill Farm, Boyne City. Melding together

A community paddle with Paddle Antrim and Arnold’s Amusement Carnival are a couple of the many Harbor Days highlights in Elk Rapids, running Aug. 2-6. Others include a Senior Luncheon, Evening on River Street with Sweetwater Blues Band, Car Show by the Bay, Ice Cream Eating Contest, Pet Show, Fireman’s Waterball Contest, Harborun Fun Run and Harborun 5K & 10K, $100,000 Hole-In-One Contest, and much more. elkrapidsharbordays.org

various sounds including country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock & classical. Wood Box Heroes has numerous GRAMMY, IBMA, CMA, ACM & other industry-recognized honors. $35, $15.

GIRL NAMED TOM: 8pm, Bay View Association, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. This trio is made up of three siblings: Bekah, Joshua, & Caleb Liechty. They notably made history as “the only group to ever win NBC’s The Voice.” GA: $30. bayviewassociation.org

MACKINAW CITY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Roth Performance Shell, Mackinaw City. Enjoy folk & pop music with Brady Corcoran.

sunday

62ND ANNUAL UGOTTA REGATTA: (See Sat., July 29)

36TH ANNUAL WALLOON LAKE FLYWHEELERS TRACTOR, ENGINE, & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., July 29)

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL IV: (See Sat., July 29)

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., July 29, except today’s time is 10am-3pm.)

THE INVITATIONAL AT WALLOON LAKE FINE ART SHOW: (See Sat., July 29)

FOURTH ANNUAL TC CHERRY WHIS-

KEY FEST: Noon-4pm, The Stillhouse - TC Whiskey Co., TC. Tickets include a premium cocktail, sample of 2023 Barrel Proof Cherry

Whiskey, TC Whiskey tasting glass, raffle ticket, live music & yard games. $23 online; $30 door. tcwhiskey.com

COFFEE WITH THE AUTHORS: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. A live, conversational interview with local & regional authors about the writing craft & process. Join poet Holly Wren Spaulding in a conversation about keeping & banning words. Sarah BearupNeal, GAAC gallery manager, will lead the discussion. Free. glenarborart.org

KID’S CRAFT LAB: FISH MAGNETS: 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create your laminated fish shaped refrigerator magnet. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

$145,100 CSI3* GRAND PRIX: 2pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Enjoy Olympic-caliber show jumping. Featuring equestrian performances, food & drink options, & family-friendly activities. This week’s event is dedicated to supporting Little Traverse Bay Humane Society. Gates open at noon. $15 GA. eventbrite.com/e/145100-fei3-grand-prix-tickets-599194505897?aff=odc leoeventsincollection

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OTP YOUNG COMPANY PRESENTS

“SHOWSTOPPERS”: (See Sat., July 29, except today’s time is 2pm.)

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SUNDAY MUSIC IN THE PARK: RIVERTOWN JAZZ BAND: 4-6pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs.

BUY THE RUNWAY GALA: 5pm, French Valley Vineyard, event barn, Cedar. Leelanau Christian Neighbors’ annual fundraising event. Fashions from Samaritan’s Closet

will be modeled & available for purchase, along with silent auction items. Ticket price includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine, & entertainment. Help support this local food pantry. $75. leelanauchristianneighbors.org

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. BATTLE CREEK

BATTLE JACKS: 5:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

WORLD YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHES-

TRA: GEMMA NEW, CONDUCTOR: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. New Zealand Symphony Principal Conductor Gemma New joins the World Youth Symphony Orchestra for their fifth performance of the season. $26 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen.org/ events/world-youth-symphony-orchestragemma-new-conductor-2023-07-30

monday

STORYTIME ADVEN-

TURES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “Thunder Cake” by Patricia Polacco. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

SUMMER FINALE PARTY (PRE-READERS): 11am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Families of Pre-Readers (ages 0-5) enrolled in TADL’s Summer Library Challenge are invited to join. There will be games, activities, crafts, books, & music by local children’s performer Miriam Pico. Free. tadl.org/events

COMMUNITY READ: Noon & 7pm, Carnegie Building, Petoskey. Discuss “The Marrow

Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline with keynotes speaker & award-winning journalist Sierra Clark. petoskeylibrary.org

TADL SUMMER FINALE PARTY: 6pm, Hull Park, TC. All Together Now - a communitywide celebration of reading. Crafts, books, games & more. The grand prize winners from the Summer Library Challenge 2023 will also be announced. Free. tadl.org/summerreading

FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIESJAMMIN’ MONDAYS ON BETSIE BAY: 7-9:15pm, Waterfront Park Amphitheater, Elberta. Featuring Joseph & the Velozians. Enjoy blues, soul & rhythm ‘n blues. Free. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083608920741

NEW & NEXT: CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL WITH HOST ROBERT NORDLING: 7:30pm, BIC Center, Beaver Island. Hear cutting-edge classical music performed by Baroque on Beaver’s performers. Freewill donation. store.biccenter.org/product/new-and-nextcontemporary-classical-with-robert-nordling

TSO SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: MOVIE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS: 7:30pm, Rotary Square at State St. & Union St., TC. Reserved: $45.50 - $61.50. GA on lawn: Free. traversesymphony.org/concert/movie-music

tuesday

COFFEE & CONVERSATION AT THE CHAMBER: 8-10am, Harbor Springs Area Chamber office, 118 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Enjoy conversation & connections with chamber staff & other members. Free.

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Please bring a blanket for your family to sit on. Geared towards children pre-K to grade 2 & their caregivers. Free. sbbdl.org

TCNEWTECH PITCH & NETWORKING

EVENT: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Select startups will be allowed 5 minutes to present their pitch & 5 minutes of questions & answers from the audience. The audience is made up of technology-minded people. tcnewtech.org/?mc_cid=1c05b6afd7&mc_ eid=36a666ea46 ----------------------

GRAND TRAVERSE KENNEL CLUB

MONTHLY MEETING & PICNIC/POTLUCK: Silver Lake Recreation Area, TC. Social time starts at 6pm; meeting at 7pm. Free. Grandtraversekennelclub.com ----------------------

LIVE AT THE GARDEN: RICHY MITCH & THE COAL MINERS: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Enjoy this folk/rock group based in Bozeman, MT who will also play at Lollapalooza in Chicago. $25. gardentheater.org/live-at-the-garden

STRAITS AREA CONCERT BAND: 8pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City.

wedne sday

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL V: Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg, Aug. 2-6. Major League Show Jumping CSI5* & 2*, USHJA National Hunter Derby, Grand Prix CSI 2*, MLSJ Team Competition CSI 5*, Grand Prix CSI 5*, National Hunters/Jumper 6/Equitation. traversecityhorseshows.com/events

29TH RENDEZVOUS IN MACKINAW & 18TH CENTURY TRADE FAIR: Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City, Aug. 2-6. Merchants, entertainment, 18th Century Cook-off, Farkle Tournament, Looting the Town, Street Battle, auction, camp demonstrations & more. Free. facebook.com/mackinawrendezvous ----------------------

KID’S CRAFT LAB: FISH MAGNETS: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create your laminated fish shaped refrigerator magnet. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

ELK RAPIDS HARBOR DAYS: Aug. 2-6. Senior Luncheon, Evening on River Street with Sweetwater Blues Band, The Hair Fairy for Teens, Harbor Days Opening Ceremonies & more. elkrapidsharbordays.org/ events-schedule

CHARLOTTE ROSS LEE CONCERTS IN THE PARK: LEJET: Noon-1pm, Pennsylvania Park, Gazebo, Petoskey. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/charlotte-ross-lee-concerts-park-2023

FREE KIDS PERFORMANCE WITH AKROPOLIS REED QUINTET: 2pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Winner of 7 national chamber music prizes including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal, Akropolis delivers 120 concerts & educational events each year & has premiered over 130 works. gardentheater.org/upcoming-events

AUTHOR EVENT: “ANGEL OF THE GARBAGE DUMP” WITH JACOB WHEELER: 5pm, The Homestead Resort, Whiskers, outside, Glen Arbor. Author Jacob Wheeler will read from his book “Angel of the Garbage Dump: How Hanley Denning Changed the

World, One Child at a Time.” Free. AngeloftheGarbageDump.com

EVENING ON RIVER STREET: 6-9pm, River Street, Elk Rapids. Enjoy food, kid’s activities & live music by the Sweetwater Blues Band.

ELLSWORTH CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE: 7pm, Ellsworth Community Square, next to Banks Township Hall. Featuring the Fog Horn Jazz Band. Bring a chair or blanket. Free.

HOMEWARD BOUND: A JOURNEY THROUGH MUSIC: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Opera singer Katherine DeYoung returns to her hometown to offer this concert showcasing her musical journey from when she fell in love with music as a child to her operatic repertoire now. Accompanied by Jamie Hardesty, the program will range from musical theater, traditional art songs, operatic selections & more. $15-$25. cityoperahouse.org/node/527

BAY VIEW MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS:

“A PUCCINI DOUBLE-BILL: SUOR ANGELICA & GIANNI SCHICCHI”: 7:30pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. This fully staged opera includes an orchestra & features student artists, selected from nationwide auditions, attending the Bay View Music Festival’s summer voice program. $30. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/bayview-opera-presents-gianni-schicchi

thursday

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL V: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

ELK RAPIDS HARBOR

DAYS: Aug. 2-6. Group Guided Meditation, Yoga on the Beach, Car Show by the Bay, Ice Cream Eating Contest, Community Paddle hosted by Paddle Antrim, Harbor Voices & more. elkrapidsharbordays.org/eventsschedule

NMCAA’S LAUNDRY PROJECT: 8:3011:30am, TC Laundry, Garfield Plaza, TC. Free laundry service for those in need.

THE 48TH ANNUAL BOYNE FALLS POLISH FESTIVAL: Aug. 3-6. Enjoy the polka tent, carnival, youth bike parade, Bump-N-Run, Grand Royale Parade, cornhole tournament, live music with Motor City Memories Band, Derailed, Michael Costa & the Beat, The Family Tradition Band, & much more. boynefallspolishfestival.com/schedule-of-events ----------------------

FIRST STEPS SCIENCE: KEEPING IT CLEAN: 9:30am, noon & 2:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Try out some hands-on experiments & find out what makes water dirty, & what keeps water clean. greatlakeskids.org

29TH RENDEZVOUS IN MACKINAW & 18TH CENTURY TRADE FAIR: (See Weds., Aug. 2) ----------------------

BABY’S BREATH WORKBEE AT ELBERTA BEACH: 10am-noon, Elberta Beach. Join ISN & the GT Regional Land Conservancy to remove invasive baby’s breath. Please bring work gloves. Long pants & close-toed shoes are recommended because there is poison ivy around the beach. Meet at the Elberta Beach parking lot. habitatmatters.org/babysbreath-workbees.html

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY-MAKING LIP BALMS: 10am, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Sierra LaRose of Kingsley Folk School will lead kids ages 6 to 12

in making several lip balms to share & take home, as well as hand decorate their labels. Sign-up: 231-331-4318. Free.

COFFEE @ 10, PETOSKEY W/ STELLA

KAY: 10-11am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Whitefeather sis ters Stella Kay, Regina Brubacker-Carver, & Vicki Lynn are local Waganakising Odawa artists who work in beadwork & other tradi tional & contemporary practices. Learn about Indigenous beading & the ways craft can con nect to community, heritage, & ancestry. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/coffee10-stella-kay-white-feathers-daughters

LUNCHEON LECTURE: “ROSIE THE RIVETER”:

Conference Center, Petoskey. Presented by Angie Morthland & Linda Rogers, retired teachers & members of the American Rosie the Riveter Association dedicated to recog nizing & preserving the history & legacy of working women & volunteer women during World War II. $15; includes a buffet lunch. ncmclifelonglearning.com/event-5270026

LYLE GUN DEMONSTRATION: ing Bear Point Maritime Museum, Sleeping Bear Dunes Rd., Glen Arbor. The Lyle Gun is the only canon ever designed to save lives, not take them. Watch the demonstration to find out more about this life-saving tool. The program lasts about 15 minutes. Arrive early. All programs are free with a valid park entrance pass. nps.gov/ planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=515B86FB0ECE-F358-4B22AF376CE4F3A2

MOUNTAIN PUB CRAWL TO FIGHT CAN

CER: 5pm, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. Presented by Chain of Lakes Relay For Life & Boyne Mountain Resort. Featuring a Pub Crawl

Biergarten at Boyne Mountain & progressing to other establishments on Boyne Mountain property. Along the way there will be items to find & tasks to complete in a Bingo for mat. Pre-register: 231.675.2492 or syrina@ charter.net. $30 per person. relayforlife.org/ chainoflakesm

BLOCK PARTY:

terian Church of TC. Dinner, games, face painting, raffle prizes & Dessert Walk. Free. tcpresby.org

ELK RAPIDS HARBOR DAYS COMMU

NITY PADDLE:

ids. Grab your paddleboard, kayak or paddle craft of choice & join Paddle Antrim for a slow paddle on the Elk River as a kick off to Elk Rapids Harbor Days. All paddlers must bring their own craft/boat, paddle, & pfd (life jack et). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult out on the water. Free; waiver re quired. paddleantrim.com/event/elk-rapidsharbor-days-community-paddle-2

HARBOR SPRINGS STREET MUSIQUE:

BLUES/AMERICANA: 6:30-8:30pm, Downtown Harbor Springs. Featuring the Pearl Street String Band, Crosscut Kings, Jake Waite, Peter Jensen, Les Older, & Magic by Jania.

“RAGTIME” THE MUSICAL: 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Relive the events, issues, & leading figures of turn-of-the-century America in Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, & Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning musical “Ragtime.” $34 adult; $19 child through college. interlochen. org/events/ragtime-2023-08-03

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CONCERTS ON THE LAWN WITH REBOOTED FEAT. JUDY HARRISON: 7pm, GT Pavilions, Grand Lawn, TC. Free. gtpavilions.org/ news-events/2023-concerts-on-the-lawn

SALE: 8am-9pm, Downtown TC. Find many bargains displayed by merchants on Front St. between Union St. & Park St.

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ELK RAPIDS HARBOR DAYS: Aug. 2-6. Kindness Rock Painting, Art & Craft Show, Cornhole Tournament, Penny Scramble, Pet Show, Arnold’s Amusement Carnival, Fireman’s Waterball Contest, Harbor Voices, Drum Circle & more. elkrapidsharbordays. org/events-schedule

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

V: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

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ONEKAMA DAYS: Aug. 4-7. Yoga on the Beach, Glen Park Adventure Walk, 5K Run/ Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run, Frank English Memorial Car Show, Cornhole Tournament, TNT Demolition Derby, fireworks, Butterfly Release, Onekama Days Parade, Concert in the Park with Elvis Tribute Artist Jake Slater,

FUNKY-SEXY-STRANGE INTER-DIMENSIONAL BEINGS SENT TO BRING INFINITE LOVE AND SHENANIGANS TO THE PEOPLE OF EARTH MEETS EXPRESSIVE DOUBLE-STUFFED SYNTH-POP CELEBRATING HEARTACHE AND TRIUMPH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5 AT 8:00 PM

COMING FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 @ 7 PM

“WELL-VERSED COMPOSITIONAL TRAITS ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE SPIRITUALLY VIBRATING ANIMUS ... FINDS THE SAXOPHONIST TESTIFYING WITH RESTRAINED FERVOR ... THE IMPROVISERS HAVE THEIR CHEMISTRY ON LOCK ... A CHURNING VORTEX CULLED FROM CONTORTED ROCK, JAZZ AND ELECTRONICA” ~JAZZTRAIL.NET

& much more. onekama.info/onekamadays-schedule

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THE 48TH ANNUAL BOYNE FALLS POLISH FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

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29TH RENDEZVOUS IN MACKINAW & 18TH CENTURY TRADE FAIR: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

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ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 10am, River St., Downtown Elk Rapids. Artisans & crafters displaying & selling their work. Pet-friendly, family-friendly. elkrapidschamber.org/arts-crafts-show

JUNIOR RANGER ANGLER PROGRAM: Loon Lake Picnic Area, Honor. Stop by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a day of festivities aiming to provide safe & barrier-free opportunities to engage youth (primarily K-5th graders) in fishing. Between 10am-2pm, collect a Junior Angler booklet from the Mobile Visitor Center (Bear Force One) & complete all activity stations to learn about aquatic food webs, water safety, Leave No Trace, the importance of fishing to the Anishinaabek, etc. Once the Junior Angler booklet is complete, return it to Bear Force One to earn a Junior Angler badge & other goodies. Completing the Junior Angler booklet & activities takes about one hour, so please plan on arriving to Loon Lake by 1pm. All programs are free with a valid park entrance pass. nps.gov/planyourvisit/eventdetails.htm?id=5149C1AD-040D-CFFF5F6A2BFE0F745C8D ----------------------

THE SCARROW FRIDAY FORUMS: 10am, Bay View Association, Voorhies Hall, Petoskey. “An Intergenerational Perspective on the Odawa Experience in Northern Michigan.” Matthew Fletcher, professor of law at

the University of Michigan, & Wenona Singel, associate professor of law at Michigan State University, share their families’ experiences as part of their mini-American Experience 3-lecture series. Free.

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CHARLOTTE ROSS LEE CONCERTS IN THE PARK: THE BOONDOGGLE CATS: Noon-1pm, Pennsylvania Park, Gazebo, Petoskey. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/charlotte-ross-lee-concertspark-2023

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VEGMICHIGAN - TC - MONTHLY MEETUP:

1-3pm, Cultured Kombucha Company, TC. Cool off with a cold kombucha. Learn about potential health benefits of drinking fermented teas. Free. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/294789333/?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_ savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Jazz, art, food & fun fill downtown TC. Enjoy this community block party with demonstrations, activities & much more. Held along the 100 & 200 blocks of East Front St.

GAAC’S 14TH ANNUAL PLEIN AIR WEEKEND: This event will be highlighted by two outdoor painting competitions & exhibitions of original work. The Quick Draw is Fri., Aug.

4. This year’s theme is BRANCHING OUT: Honoring the Trees of the Glen Arbor Area. Quick Draw paintings will be on view & for sale at the Glen Arbor Town Hall on Fri. from 5-6:30pm. The Paint Out exhibit & sale is held on Sat., Aug. 5. It features work by over 70 artists. The evening viewing & sale runs from 5:30-7pm at the Glen Arbor Town Hall. The works of art will be exhibited & offered for sale on a first-come basis. Conor Fagan, a visual arts instructor at Interlochen, will be

judging the Paint Out & awarding cash prizes for the paintings. Entry to Sat. evening’s show & sale is ticketed; $10 - available at door. Children under 12 are free. glenarborart.org/events-page/plein-air-weekend

FRIDAY MUSIC IN THE PARK: INDIGO MOON: 6:30-8:30pm, Marina Park, Harbor Springs.

“BABE”: 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Performed by the Young Company’s middleschool aged Studio Factory campers. Enjoy the story of one piglet’s rise to become the world famous “sheep pig.” $18 adults; $9 youth under 18. $3 order fee per ticket. oldtownplayhouse.com/calendar

“RAGTIME” THE MUSICAL: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

GAYLORD’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7-10pm, Claude Shannon Park, Gaylord. Featuring Adam Hoppe, Dixon’s Violin.

SOUNDS OF SUMMER: 7pm, Pennsylvania Park, Petoskey. Featuring Luke WinslowKing. Bring a chair or blanket. Free.

SUMMER SOUNDS CONCERT: YOUNGMAN & OLDMEN: 7-9pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Amphitheater, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Michigan music fixtures for nearly 50 years, Frank Youngman & Mark Schrock bring Americana folk tunes, vintage jazz, “ancient” country music & singalongs. $15 advance; $20 if still available at door; free for 12 & under. michlegacyartpark.org/events/summer-sounds

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KALAMAZOO

GROWLERS: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

“SLEEPLESS”: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

saturday

ELK RAPIDS HARBOR

DAYS: Aug. 2-6. Harborun Fun Run & Harborun

5K & 10K, Grande Parade, $100,000 Hole-In-One Qualifying Contest, Sand Sculpture Building, Dinghy Parade, Paddlebuoy/Paddleboard Races on Elk River, Final Round for Hole-In-One Qualifiers, Swan Race, Boat Lighting Contest & display, Zambelli International Fireworks & more. elkrapidsharbordays.org/events-schedule ----------------------

BOYNE CITY PIRATEFEST: Aug. 5-13. Port Royal Bash, Disc Golf Tournament, Tommy’s PirateFest Poker Run, Pirate Princess & Queen Banquet, decorate your ship & invade Treasure Town, USA, live music, PirateFest Parade, Highlander Games, The Battle of the Boyne River, “BC Rocks!” & much more. boynecitypiratefest.com/schedule

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

V: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

HARRIETTA BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL: 8am-3pm, 122 Davis Ave., Harrietta. Celebrate everything blueberry: pancake breakfast, ice cream social, handheld pies, pie eating contest. Live music by Silver Creek Revival. Parade at 11am. Geocaching, bike decorating contest, children’s games, craft show & much more. Free. facebook.com/ HarriettaBlueberryFestival

PORT ONEIDA RUN: 8am, Charles Olsen and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, 3164 W. Harbor Hwy (M-22). Proceeds help preserve over 200 historic buildings & landscapes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Choose your race between the Flat and Fast

5K, a 10K, & the inaugural hilly half marathon. $35-$95. phsb.org/port-oneida-run

THE NORTHPORT LIONS CLUB’S ANNUAL FLY-IN, PANCAKE BREAKFAST & CAR

SHOW: 8am-noon, Woolsey Airport, 5 miles north of Northport. $10 adults; $5 ages 5-18; free for 4 & under; pilots eat free. 586-604-9936.

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

20TH ANNUAL PETOSKEY ANTIQUES

SHOW: 9am-5pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Featuring more than 120 antique dealers. $10; kids under 16, free. petoskeyantiques.com

ANNUAL FRIENDS OF THE SUTTONS BAY BINGHAM DISTRICT LIBRARY BOOK

SALE: 9am-5pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Thousands of books to purchase. The sale will be held outside the library, overlooking the beach. All proceeds support the Friends of the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. sbbdl.org

ONEKAMA DAYS: (See Fri., Aug. 4)

THE 48TH ANNUAL BOYNE FALLS POLISH FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

29TH RENDEZVOUS IN MACKINAW & 18TH CENTURY TRADE FAIR: (See Weds., Aug. 2) ----------------------

33RD ANNUAL BOATS ON THE BOARDWALK: 10am-4pm, Downtown TC. Presented by the Water Wonderland Chapter of The Antique & Classic Boat Society. Set along the boardwalk of the Boardman River, just steps from Front St. Vintage wood & fiberglass boats, many of which were built in Michigan, will be displayed. Submit your vote for the People’s Choice Award. Free. wwcacbs.org/ event/boats-on-the-boardwalk-boat-show

43RD ANNUAL SUTTONS BAY ART FESTIVAL: 10am-5pm, Marina Park, Suttons Bay. Featuring work by over 100 artists, a library book sale, food vendors, & activities for children. There will be a pancake breakfast Sun. morning. suttonsbayartfestival.org

60TH ANNUAL PORTSIDE ART FAIR: 10am-4pm, Elm Pointe Estate, East Jordan. Free parking, live entertainment, luncheon served on site, Historical Society Museum open during fair. Free. portsideartsfair.org

COPEMISH CAR SHOW: 10am-2pm, American Legion Post 531, Copemish. 231-9709068. Free. facebook.com/events/75043087 0216607/?ref=newsfeed

MY SISTER’S CLOSET: FREE CLOTHING & APPAREL FOR GIRLS, TEENS & WOMEN: 10am-1pm, Lighthouse Missionary Church, East Jordan. 231-675-7477.

OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for all ages. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/openstudio-august-5

BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Debby DeJonge will sign her book “Catch Rider.” horizonbooks.com/event/catch-riderdebby-buck-dejonge-book-signing

ARK5: 2pm & 7pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Presented by the Young Company’s high-school aged Studio Factory campers. $18 adults; $9 youth under 18. $3 order fee per ticket. oldtownplayhouse.com/calendar

GAAC’S 14TH ANNUAL PLEIN AIR WEEKEND: (See Fri., Aug. 4)

“RAGTIME” THE MUSICAL: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. KALAMAZOO

GROWLERS: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

“SLEEPLESS”: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

BLISSFEST TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY

DANCE: 7:30-10pm, Littlefield-Alanson Community Building, Alanson. Calling by Cynthia Donahey with music from Pearl Street String Band. Contras, circles, reels, squares & more. All dances taught. 6pm potluck. Bring your own tableware. $7/person, $10/couple, $15/family.

EXIT 282 DANCE PARTY: 7:30pm, BIC Center, Beaver Island. Enjoy classic rock, blues, country & more. $25. store.biccenter. org/product/exit-282

HOOKED ON HARMONY!: 7:30pm, The Presbyterian Church of TC, Fellowship Hall. Presented by the Cherry Capital Men’s Chorus. Featured guests will be the Four Man Fishin’ Tackle Choir & chapter quartets. $10$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/hooked-onharmony-54th-annual-program-of-the-cherry-capital-chorus-8-5-2023

sunday

BOYNE CITY PIRATEFEST: (See Sat., Aug. 5)

GREAT LAKES EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL V: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

ONEKAMA DAYS: (See Fri., Aug. 4)

THE 48TH ANNUAL BOYNE FALLS POLISH FESTIVAL: (See Thurs., Aug. 3)

29TH RENDEZVOUS IN MACKINAW & 18TH CENTURY TRADE FAIR: (See Weds., Aug. 2)

art

JORDAN RIVER ARTS PRESENTS FARMER, FARMHERS & FARMS: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. This exhibition celebrates local farms with works in a variety of media. Runs through Aug. 5. Regular gallery hours: 1-4pm, Thurs.-Mon. jordanriverarts.com/farmers-farmers-and-farms

SUMMER SALON: Runs June 30 - Sept. 2 at Charlevoix Circle of Arts. 4th annual salonstyle exhibit showcasing regionally inspired work by local & area artists. Gallery is open Mon. through Fri., 11am-4pm, & Sat., 11am3pm or by appointment. charlevoixcircle.org/ exhibits-2023

CHARLES CULVER PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION: On display throughout downtown Bellaire, mid-June through Oct. Each piece of art will display a QR code to access an audio presentation providing history & background of the particular piece. bellairelibrary.org/programs/charles-culver-public-art-display-2023

“SUMMER’S PALETTE,” THE MAGIC THURSDAY ARTISTS’ 10TH ANNUAL SHOW & SALE: City Opera House, TC. The show runs through July & Aug. from 10am3pm weekdays & is open during evening events. Featuring original paintings in oil, watercolor, pastel, gouache & acrylic by artists Sue Bowerman, Lori Feldpauch, Linda Goodpaster, Ruth Kitchen, Dorothy Mudget, Joyce Petrakovitz, Marilyn Rebant & Laura Swire. cityoperahouse.org

“YOUTH INNOVATION IN RURAL AMERICA”: Raven Hill Discovery Center, East Jordan. Community-based youth design proj-

ects by local students. Runs through Oct. 7. miravenhill.org

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

- ANIMAL - VEGETABLE - MINERAL: PAINTINGS BY NANCY ADAMS NASH: Held in Bonfield Gallery. Enjoy new paintings from Nash, as well as select works from the past. Runs through Sept. 2. CTAC hours are Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/animal-vegetable-mineral-paintings-nancy-adams-nash-opensmay-25

- TRISHA WITTY: PILGRIMAGES IN PAINT, A RETROSPECTIVE 1988 TO PRESENT: Runs through Sept. 2 in Gilbert Gallery. Retrospective exhibition highlighting Trish Witty’s paintings from the past 35 years. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ trisha-witty-pilgrimages-paint-retrospective1988-present-opens-may-25 ----------------------

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:

- GREAT LAKES PASTEL SOCIETY: 2023 MEMBERS JURIED EXHIBITION: Runs July 8 – Aug. 25 in the Cornwell Gallery. Featuring 65 works by 58 artists working throughout the Great Lakes region. Works were reviewed & selected by guest juror & judge of awards, Kathleen Newman. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-traverse-city/great-lakes-pastel-society2023-members-juried-exhibition-opens-july-8

- REFLECTIONS BETWEEN CONVERSATIONS: Held in Carnegie East Gallery. This exhibit is showcasing 2D & 3D artwork by Rufus Snoddy & Glenn Wolff, who are friends & teaching colleagues in the Art Department at NMC, & have often collaborated on public art. Runs July 8 - Aug. 5. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/reflections-betweenconversations

- ROYCE DEANS & ANGELA SAXON: NEW MONOTYPES: Held in Carnegie West Gallery. Showcasing new work by artists & collaborators, Royce Deans & Angela Saxon. The prints celebrate the collaborative energy of the two local artists. Runs July 8 - Aug. 5. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-traverse-city/royce-deans-andangela-saxon-new-monotypes

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- A NEW PERSPECTIVE: LANDSCAPES FROM THE DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER: Runs through Sept. 3. Hours are Tues.Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- JERRY’S MAP: This exhibition is comprised of over 4,000 individual eight by ten inch panels. Its execution, in acrylic, marker, colored pencil, ink, collage, & inkjet print on heavy paper, is dictated by the interplay between an elaborate set of rules & randomly generated instructions. Runs through Sept. 3. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- LUSTER: REALISM & HYPERREALISM IN CONTEMPORARY AUTOMOBILE & MOTORCYCLE PAINTING: Runs through Sept. 3. This is a traveling exhibition comprised of over 55 paintings by 15 leading photorealists & hyperrealists who specialize in automobiles & motorcycles as their primary subject of choice. Featuring paintings that encompass a broad range of vintage vehicles, recent classics, off-road vehicles, exotics & more. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- “THE BIRDS ARE WATCHING”: Runs through Aug. 25 in the Lobby Gallery. Mixed media constructions by Jessica Kovan. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-the-birdsare-watching

- 2023 MEMBERS CREATE: An exhibition of work by 49 GAAC members. Runs through Aug. 10 in the Main Gallery. glenarborart.org/ events/exhibit-2023-members-create

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1811, Leo scientist Amedeo Avogadro (1776–1856) formulated a previously unknown principle about the properties of molecules. Unfortunately, his revolutionary idea wasn't acknowledged and implemented until 1911, 100 years later. Today his well-proven theory is called Avogadro's law. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Leo, you will experience your equivalent of his 1911 event in the coming months. You will receive your proper due. Your potential contributions will no longer be mere potential. Congratulations in advance!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Nineteenthcentury Libran physician James Salisbury had strong ideas about the proper ingredients of a healthy diet. Vegetables were toxic, he believed. He created Salisbury steak, a dish made of ground beef and onions, and advised everyone to eat it three times a day. Best to wash it down with copious amounts of hot water and coffee, he said. I bring his kooky ideas to your attention in hopes of inspiring you to purge all bunkum and nonsense from your life—not just in relation to health issues, but everything. It's a favorable time to find out what's genuinely good and true for you. Do the necessary research and investigation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "I’m amazed that anyone gets along!" marvels self-help author Sark. She says it's astonishing that love ever works at all, given our "idiosyncrasies, unconscious projections, re-stimulations from the past, and the relationship history of our partners." I share her wonderment. On the other hand, I am optimistic about your chances to cultivate interesting intimacy during the coming months. From an astrological perspective, you are primed to be extra wise and lucky about togetherness. If you send out a big welcome for the lessons of affection, collaboration, and synergy, those lessons will come in abundance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Please don’t make any of the following statements in the next three weeks:

1. “I took a shower with my clothes on.”

2. “I prefer to work on solving a trivial little problem rather than an interesting dilemma that means a lot to me.”

3. “I regard melancholy as a noble emotion that inspires my best work.” On the other hand, Sagittarius, I invite you to make declarations like the following:

1. “I will not run away from the prospect of greater intimacy—even if it’s scary to get closer to a person care for.”

2. “I will have fun exploring the possibilities of achieving more liberty and justice for myself.”

3. “I will seek to learn interesting new truths about life from people who are unlike me.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Champions of the capitalist faith celebrate the fact that we consumers have over 100,000 brand names we can purchase. They say it’s proof of our marvelous freedom of choice. Here’s how respond to their cheerleading: Yeah, I guess we should be glad we have the privilege of deciding which of 50 kinds of shampoo is best for us. But I also want to suggest that the profusion of these relatively inconsequential options may distract us from the fact that certain of our other choices are more limited. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I invite you to ruminate about how you can expand your array of more important choices.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My best friend in college was an Aquarius, as is my favorite cousin. Two ex-girlfriends are Aquarians, and so was my dad. The talented singer with whom I sang duets for years was an Aquarius. So I have intimate knowledge of the Aquarian nature. And in honor of your unbirthday—the time halfway between your last birthday and your next—I will tell you what love most about you. No human is totally comfortable with change, but you are more so than others. To my delight, you are inclined to ignore the rule books and think differently. Is anyone better than you at coordinating your energies with a group's? I don’t think so. And you’re eager to see the big picture, which means you’re less likely to get distracted by minor imperfections and transitory frustrations. Finally, you have a knack for seeing patterns that others find hard to discern. I adore you!

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Is the first sip always the best? Do you inevitably draw the most vivid enjoyment from the initial swig of coffee or beer? Similarly, are the first few bites of food the most delectable, and after that your

taste buds get diminishing returns? Maybe these descriptions are often accurate, but I believe they will be less so for you in the coming weeks. There's a good chance that flavors will be best later in the drink or the meal. And that is a good metaphor for other activities, as well. The further you go into every experience, the greater the pleasure and satisfaction will be—and the more interesting the learning.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions are not inconvenient distractions from reason and logic. They are key to the rigorous functioning of our rational minds. Neurologist Antonio Damasio proved this conclusively in his book Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. The French philosopher's famous formula—"I think, therefore I am"—offers an inadequate suggestion about how our intelligence works best. This is always true, but it will be especially crucial for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. Here's your mantra, courtesy of another French philosopher, Blaise Pascal: "The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know."

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The famous Taurus TV star Jay Leno once did a good deed for me. I was driving my Honda Accord on a freeway in Los Angeles when he drove up beside me in his classic Lamborghini. Using hand signals, he conveyed to me the fact that my trunk was open, and stuff was flying out. waved in a gesture of thanks and pulled over onto the shoulder. I found that two books and a sweater were missing, but my laptop and briefcase remained. Hooray for Jay! In that spirit, Taurus, and in accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to go out of your way to help and support strangers and friends alike. I believe it will lead to unexpected benefits.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "Did you learn how to think or how to believe?" When my friend Amelie was nine years old, her father teased her with this query upon her return home from a day at school. It was a pivotal moment in her life. She began to develop an eagerness to question all she was told and taught. She cultivated a rebellious curiosity that kept her in a chronic state of delighted fascination. Being bored became virtually impossible. The whole world was her classroom. Can you guess her sign? Gemini! I invite you to make her your role model in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the coming weeks, I advise you not to wear garments like a transparent Gianfranco Ferre black mesh shirt with a faux-tiger fur vest and a coral-snake jacket that shimmers with bright harlequin hues. Why? Because you will have most success by being down-to-earth, straightforward, and in service to the fundamentals. I’m not implying you should be demure and reserved, however. On the contrary: I hope you will be bold and vivid as you present yourself with simple grace and lucid authenticity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Israeli poet Yona Wallach mourned the fact that her soul felt far too big for her, as if she were always wearing the clothes of a giant on her small body. I suspect you may be experiencing a comparable feeling right now, Virgo. If so, what can you do about it? The solution is NOT to shrink your soul. Instead, I hope you will expand your sense of who you are so your soul fits better. How might you do that? Here’s a suggestion to get you started: Spend time summoning memories from throughout your past. Watch the story of your life unfurl like a movie.

ACROSS

1. Garden crawlers

6. Slangy pet name

9. Big girder

14. Eyelashes, scientifically

15. "Blue Rondo ___ Turk" (Dave Brubeck song)

16. Auli'i Cravalho role of 2016

17. Time away from work, for short

18. She inspired a boycott

20. "SNL" alum who starred in the recently canceled "American Auto"

22. Muscle below a delt

23. Madrid money, before the euro

24. Presley's middle name

26. Copier powder

29. Go too far with

33. Pro at CPR

36. Board

38. Barnyard noises

39. Her Modernist sculptures include "Contrapuntal Forms" and "Rock Form (Porthcurno)"

43. Cheese with Buffalo wings

44. Comedian Silverman

45. One in favor

46. Vacillate

49. Behavioral boo-boos

51. Eagerly repetitive greeting

53. Give

57. Word after meal or sewing

60. Big name in 1990s tennis

63. Tag on some holiday presents--or where the beginnings of each theme entry derive?

65. Lucky Charms charm

66. Chick who was once keyboardist for Miles Davis

67. Thoughtful ability?

68. Online mag, outdatedly

69. Stifled laugh

70. Hearty bread

71. Heavy, like bread

DOWN

1. Old metal

2. Former "Weekend Edition" host Hansen

3. Bones in forearms

4. Sally Field TV title character

5. Upstate N.Y. battle site of 1777

6. S.F. area transit system

7. Plant for balms

8. Breezy class

9. Acting on the spot

10. Fabulous neckwear

11. Sandwich rank

12. Lyricist for Sinatra's "My Way"

13. Schooner part

19. Prefix with dynamic

21. Comparatively sound

25. Verne's captain

27. Delayed flight stats

28. Kingdom in Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"

30. Actor Kinnear

31. Lavish attention (on)

32. Labor Dept. div.

33. Points of decline

34. "The ___ gaze" (early card in the Cards Against Humanity starter pack)

35. Sloth's hangout

37. Late pianist Peter

40. #43

41. Tibetan mammal

42. Rushed (by)

47. Sets as a goal

48. "Hold on there!" (this is the correct spelling, and I will be taking no further questions)

50. Hay fever symptom

52. Sanctum or circle preceder

54. Four-time Formula One champ ___ Prost

55. Beach birds

56. Lauder with an empire

57. Some red-and-white fast food outlets

58. Multivitamin additive

59. Symbol in el zodiaco

61. "The ___ Bitsy Spider"

62. Superhero accessory

64. "La ___" (Debussy opus)

"Must Be" I know it's early. by Matt Jones

“Jonesin”

NEED HELP WITH YOUR TECHNOLOGY? ASK

BUCHAN TECH...: 20+ years experience, call (231) 598-8324 or visit my website www.BuchanTECH.com

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-228-6248

DOWSING: LET'S START A NORTHERN MICHIGAN Dowsing group. Share your knowledge or learn from others. Contact Colleen at biovibe@fmuth.com, cell 989-239-4138. or Ron 989-239-8390.

GOLDENDOODLE MINI PUPPIES FOR SALE: Ten weeks old July 31. Available in Traverse City. Call or text 231-944-2039.

THE ROBERT "BOB" SELL ONLINE AUCTION: TRACTORS, Tools, Antiques - Wood Carousel Horse, Vint. Slot Machine, Farm Toys, Vint. Auto Parts, Toys, MORE! Online auction in Bellaire ends Tues. 8/15 @ 7pm. www.bradneuhart.com

MR.GETITDONE: Got a task, powerwashing, hauling junk, moving, leaves piles, if I can't I can tell you who can 231-871-1028

RELIABLE PAINTERS LLC: is booking interior painting for fall and winter. 5% discount for local TC jobs. Residential/commercial. Spray, roll, brush, stain. Experienced, insured, trusted. flycsii@gmail.com