Northern Express - October 28, 2024

Photo courtesy of Michigan Barefoot Memories

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When It Doesn’t Square

In the Oct. 21, 2024, edition of Northern Express, Mr. Tuttle states “It seems no event, natural or human-caused, can escape the vivid imaginations of the conspiracy fans anxious to find wrongdoers lurking everywhere.”

I do not believe I have a vivid imagination; I think I am a critical thinker. I compare what I see with what I hear.

The first example I can think of is one that I fell for. In 1968, I was a senior in high school, and a senator came to my high school to explain the “Domino Theory of Southeast Asia.” I remember him saying when Vietnam falls, the rest of Asia will fall. He said allowing the fall of Vietnam would lead to Communist domination of Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia and eventually the world. In Vietnam, I learned the United States was in the throes of retreating in defeat.

The second thing I learned was it didn’t matter if the skin was black, white, or yellow—their blood was red. I believe the American theory was a conspiracy theory; what I heard and what I saw did not square. That event was the seed of my questioning of the government.

Current issues that do not square with me: Hunter’s laptop and the Steele Dossier. The Blue Tribe calls them conspiracy theories, the Red Tribe calls them false—all I know is the stories differ with what I hear and what I see.

Luigi DeGiorgio | Lake City

Thank the DDA

City voters who are unhappy, confused, and/or annoyed about Proposals 1 and 2 can thank the DDA. If only the DDA had honored the original intent (some say “promise”) in 1997 to have TIF 97 expire in 2027 after 30 years, there would be no Proposals 1 and 2.

But the DDA wanted to extend TIF 97 for another 30 years, thereby robbing the city’s general fund and other taxing authorities (COA, NMC, etc.) of what should rightfully be returned to their coffers in 2027. The DDA apparently thought changing the name to “Moving Downtown Forward” might fool people into believing it would be a brandnew TIF plan rather than a continuation of the old one.

Some future projects cited as reasons for the extension are fanciful. Take heated sidewalks as an example, which will require expensive maintenance, something for which the DDA has historically been reluctant to pay. Maintenance downtown falls largely to the city. To hear the DDA’s “spin,” they are willing to pay their fair share of maintenance downtown.

An older TIF plan here in TC (“TIF 2”) expired in 2015 after 30 years. It was replaced with a new TIF plan (“Old Town TIF”) and a new baseline was established for property tax values. This is what should happen with TIF 97. It should end in 2027 and a new baseline established for property tax values.

So, we have the DDA to thank for this divisive issue, all because they refused to honor the original intent of TIF 97.

Deni Scrudato | Traverse City

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

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National Writers Series

TRUE CRIME WITH Aphrodite Jones

Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Geri Dietze, Anna Faller, Max Howard, Abby McKiernan, Nora Rae Pearl, Stephen Tuttle

Copyright 2024, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Aphrodite Jones knows the crime world. The TV persona and true crime author has been covering high-profile homicide cases for 25 years. She’ll share her insider’s opinion with NWS board president Clark Bunting. Her book, Levi’s Eyes, became an instant bestseller on Amazon.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 • 7 PM

In-person at City Opera House + Livestreamed For tickets, visit NationalWritersSeries.org

Event Underwriters: Pam & Harold Lassers

Cover photo courtesy of Michigan Barefoot Memories

this week’s

top ten

HAUNTED TIMES AHEAD

Halloween creeps into town on Thursday, along with a few final celebrations around the North. This Wednesday, join the Grand Traverse Conservation District for a Halloween hike with a self-guided lantern stroll along the Boardman/Ottaway River and seasonal activities at the Nature Center. Also on Oct. 30, Cadillac’s Wine & Canvas teams up with Raven’s Social for a “Moonlit Raven” paint and sip from 6-8pm ($38). On Oct. 31, take the younger kiddos to Trunk ’r Treat in Bay Harbor from 4-5pm, or let the teens participate in a graveyard smash at the Petoskey District Library’s Teen Monster Mash from 4-6pm. (Spooky snacks provided, costumes encouraged, ages 12-18.) And all the vampires are hoping you’ll stop by Short’s Pull Barn in Elk Rapids for a blood drive from 1-5:30pm.

tastemaker

Fingers Crossed’s Grilled Cheese

Comfort food meets worldly flavors in Fingers Crossed Northport’s new fall menu (gochujang wings, anyone?), and we can’t think of a more perfect pairing than the Leelanau Raclette Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup ($15). An elevated riff on the classic combo, this nourishing plate pairs a buttery, white toast sandwich—stuffed with a blend of American, white cheddar, and Leelanau Cheese raclette cheeses—with scratch tomato soup (ingredients: house-preserved and canned Roma tomatoes, garlic, onions, and stock) finished with chef John Kehl’s top-secret seasoning blend. The soup is garnished with even more melty raclette, house-made croutons, and fresh dill, and that sammie was just made for dunking. (Promise we won’t tell if you lick the bowl!) Find Fingers Crossed at 108 S. Waukazoo St. in Northport. fingerscrossednp.com

HELLO DARKNESS

Say goodbye to daylight saving time again with “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend III,” a celebration that includes performances by Jack M. Senff and the Heartland Mission, Metal Bubble Trio, A.S. Lutes, and special guests. Doors open at the new sundown time (5:27pm) with the event starting at 6pm at City Opera House in Traverse City on Sunday, Nov. 3. Tickets are $20 at cityoperahouse.org.

(And this is your reminder to turn the clocks back before bed on Nov. 2!)

4

Hey, WATCH It! THE PERFECT COUPLE

Need one last shot of summertime before we enter the aforementioned daylight saving darkness? Head to the sandy shores of Nantucket with The Perfect Couple on Netflix. Greer and Tag Winbury are rich, famous, and beautiful, and their son is just days away from getting married. (Albeit to someone who Greer—played by an ice-cold Nicole Kidman— isn’t too thrilled about.) But when the maid of honor is found dead the morning of the wedding, the celebration is off, and the race to solve the case is on. A state police detective, a small-town cop, the bride to be, and even Greer—a bestselling novelist— all have their theories and suspects. As family and friends are interviewed, relationships crack, secrets are revealed, and the motives start piling up. Based on the novel by Elin Hilderbrand, this miniseries will have you guessing until the very end.

READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS?

It’s Halloween one day, Christmas the next! Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City is hosting their 25th annual Holiday Artist Market Nov. 1-2 from 10am-4pm. This beloved tradition kicks off the holiday shopping season with dozens of artists from across Michigan displaying their crafts and wares. We’re talking jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber, glass, and wood art, and more. There will also be a raffle, with funds raised benefiting children’s K-12 educational programming at the museum. Bonus: Merlyn’s Asian-French Patisserie will be on-site during the market to ensure you won’t have to shop hungry. Admission is free, so be sure to explore the museum and check out the special programming offered on market days. Get all the details at shop.dennosmuseum.org/2024-holiday-artist-market.

see your pet in print!

Regular readers know we usually print a Hallowen & Pets issue…but this year, we decided our furry friends deserved their own edition! As part of that issue, we create a collage of pet photos from readers. We invite you to send us photos of your best bud— cat, dog, horse, parrot, you name it— for a chance to see them featured in our Dec. 9 paper. You can be in the shot with your pet, or they can be the star of the show. Your submission must meet the following guidelines: 1) Send only one photo per pet. 2) The photo file size must fall between 150KB and 2MB. 3) Photos must be in color, not black and white. 4) Send your photo to info@northernexpress.com with the subject line “Pet Issue Photo” and include your name, your NoMi city of residence, and the name of your pet. We will collect submissions through Nov. 20.

Stuff We Love: RAKING A DIFFERENCE

No one likes raking leaves (though children and dogs alike appreciate the towering leaf piles we make), and for some folks, it’s a chore too tough to tackle. That’s why United Way of Northwest Michigan (UWNWMI) is launching its first annual Rake A Difference Oct. 27-Nov. 2. Rake A Difference provides seniors with teams to clean up their lawns in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, and Wexford counties. Teams of co-workers, friends, family, and students are needed now to lend a rake, and Halloween costumes are encouraged—at least for a photo op before you get to work! Volunteers should supply their own rakes, gloves, and other gear, though leaf bags have been donated by Lowe’s. To register a team, visit unitedwaynwmi.galaxydigital.com, or reach out to UWNWMI coordinator Bailey Nuss at Bailey@unitedwaynwmi.org.

Things are looking spooky at Bella’s Café in Frankfort! The witchy, pumpkin-y vibes are just right for the season, as are the cozy drinks and treats behind the counter. When we stopped in, we opted for a warming cup of the Michigan Mocha, a smooth and sweet blend of chocolate and coffee that kept our fingers (and bellies!) warm for a stroll through downtown Frankfort on a beautiful October afternoon. For something a bit more seasonal, try the autumn flight of coffee creations, including Pumpkin Spice, Autumn Leaves, Casperccino, and Pumpkin Cheesecake. They also have hot apple cider available if you want to go caffeine free! Look for the pumpkin arch at 313 Main St. in Frankfort, and find Bella’s on social media at @BellasCafeMI.

IMMIGRATION, INFLATION, AND ABORTION

spectator By steven Tuttle

Thankfully, it’s almost over—the absolute blizzard of misinformation, disinformation, and blatant lies. Let’s see if we can sort through some of it.

National Republicans have made immigration a top-of-the-line issue, and legitimately so. No president has had an effective immigration policy in decades, and Joe Biden has been no exception.

Donald Trump says he will “deport millions” if elected, but he wasn’t that tough on illegal immigrants while he was president. Barack Obama deported more illegal immigrants than Trump, George W. Bush deported more than Obama, and Bill Clinton deported more than Bush. And according to migrationpolicy. org, Joe Biden is on pace to equal Trump’s deportation record. (We have to be careful about language here as politicians like to play with the words “removal” and “return” as different actions, though both involve expelling someone here illegally.)

Kamala Harris says she will “secure” the border. It is true enough the Democrats have been weak on immigration policy, but it’s a

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 2.4 percent at the end of September (it was 1.9 percent Trump’s last month in office), unemployment is 4.1 percent, and we’re averaging 205,000 new jobs monthly for the last 12 months (unemployment was an aggregate 5.0 percent for Trump’s term in office). Standard & Poors Global says the U.S. economy is currently growing at a sustainable 2.6 percent annually (annual economic growth during Trump’s four years in office was 2.3 percent).

Harris tells us she’ll “lower prices” and stop price gouging. Defining “gouging” is a bit tricky, would require legislation, and lowering prices is a fantasy. Trump, meanwhile, is fixated on tariffs, which will increase American consumer prices on most every import. He’s currently talking about 10-20 percent tariffs on all imports, 60 percent on Chinese imports, and 100 percent on cars and car parts imported from China or Mexico. Paying more for everything made elsewhere...well, just look at the “Made in...” tags in your house and imagine it costing 10 to 100 percent more.

No individual politician at any level has the power to reduce the cost of living on their own.

lie that we have “open borders” and an ugly insult to the men and women in the Border Patrol trying to secure that border with inadequate personnel and funding.

Reality is that Donald Trump will not deport “millions and millions” of illegal immigrants already here for the simple reason he doesn’t know who they are, where they are, or how to find them. Kamala Harris says she will “secure” the border, but she won’t absent unlikely bipartisan legislation that requires it.

(Locally, Congressman Jack Bergman climbing on the illegal-immigrants-areinvading train is offensive. Is there a lot of crime being committed in CD1 by illegal immigrants? Are they taking jobs? Are Canadians sneaking across the border?)

It seems as though every candidate at every level from the statehouse up is going to “reduce prices” and magically increase affordable housing. No, they won’t. No individual politician at any level has the power to reduce the cost of living on their own. Even the president has extremely limited influence on consumer prices.

Trump likes to claim his presidency had the lowest inflation, the best unemployment, and the best economic growth in history. No, no, and no. Inflation was lower in the 1950s, as was unemployment, and even Biden’s economy has grown faster than did Trump’s. (Note in fairness: The last year of Trump’s presidency included the pandemic and the loss of some seven million jobs.)

The reality is economies have lives of their own and are influenced by any number of domestic and international events. Harris won’t be able to exert much control over consumer prices, but Trump’s tariffs will definitely increase prices. Neither party nor candidate has a clue on reducing spending— this year’s budget deficit will be at least $1.8 trillion (that’s $1,800,000,000,000)—and we still have no willingness to fix Social Security or Medicare.

Which brings us to reproductive rights. Trump’s position on this issue has been spectacularly diverse over the last quarter century.

In October, 1999, on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said, “I am very pro-choice.” Then, in 2011, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convention said, “I am pro-life.” In March of 2016, at an MSNBC town hall, he said “...there has to be some form of punishment” for women seeking or having abortions. While president in January of 2018, Trump advocated for a national 20-week abortion ban and bragged that he had “overturned” Roe v. Wade. In April of 2024, at a Fox News town hall, he said he would “protect all life without compromise” but then said we should leave the decision up to the states. Just a month ago he said he would veto a nationwide abortion ban. Downright dizzying.

Harris has been boringly consistent—always pro-choice and supports federal legislation protecting the right to choose.

THE DANGEROUS MAGA-REPUBLICAN PROJECT 2025 AGENDA:

us the liberty to do not what we want, but what we ought. This pursuit of the good life is found primarily in family — marriage, children, Thanksgiving dinners, and the like.” And who, according to this tome, will decide “what we ought” do? Why the Supreme Court, of course, with its Trumpappointed and like-minded political toadies.

Trump running mate J. D. Vance (who could very well become president, should his 79-year-old boss win the election and expire in office) has made many disparaging comments about women, most memorably his reference to “childless cat ladies.” He also said, “Our country is basically run by childless Democrats who are miserable in their own lives and want to make the rest

In 2024, 248 years after the founding of our nation, women still make up just 25 percent of the nation’s senators and 29 percent of representatives in the House.

of the country miserable too.” And Vance recently agreed with an interviewer who said that the main function of post-menopausal women was to take care of their grandkids.

Harris leads in the polls with women by (only!) 16 percentage points, while men favor Trump by 11. It’s truly shocking to hear the things people—including women—still say about women’s capacity for leadership. We’re too hormonal/emotional/menstrual. We’re not strong enough—but if we’re too strong, we’re aggressive and unlikeable. (No one seems to notice how many wars have been caused by the male ego.) If you don’t think a woman has what it takes to be president, look around you. Governors, senators, CEOs, lawyers, doctors—women are successful in all walks of life.

Women deserve the right to make their own decisions about their lives and their bodies. Recent restrictions on abortion in Republican-led states threaten women’s health. Fear of arrest and conviction is causing doctors to delay or refrain from treating complications due to pregnancy. Women have already died as a result, and more are sure to follow. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, “The regressive position taken by the US Supreme Court in June 2022 … puts millions of women and girls at serious risk.”

Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and other early feminists, including many men, devoted their lives to gaining the right to vote for women. So I will respect their sacrifices and vote for the only candidate who will protect the rights of women, men, immigrants, the working and middle classes, our LGBTQ+ community, people of color, people who believe in democracy, and people who love our country.

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern

LAYOUT 1.1

Leelanau Enterprise Ad FINAL 4 in. x 10 in. Oct. 20, 2024 CHATO / BIDLACK

OUR HOSPITAL. YOUR VOTE.

SEGMENT 9: FINDING ANOTHER WAY

guest

opinion by Barbara Stamiris

As a daily biker, TART Trails enrich my life, as they do for many. A year ago, I could not have imagined opposing the extension of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I love TART Trails, but when I learned that thousands of trees had to be cut for 4 more miles of biking, I realized that I love trees more.

The need to cut thousands of mature trees and the possibility of erecting retaining walls for dunes and building boardwalks over wetlands for the Segment 9 extension was not made public until 2024. Had this information been shared by the National Park in 2009 when it approved the route, concerns would have been raised then. The Borealis Survey counted 7,268 trees to be cut (3,010 being saplings). The Mansfield

of connectivity. The Good Harbor Trail destination, 4 miles further north, has an already overcrowded parking lot that will become a trailhead for bikers, creating problems for the park.

TART asks a lot for its dream of a M-22 trail network. The National Park is asked to place recreation ahead of preservation and to sacrifice an ecosystem. Yet lacking permission or funding to extend its trails beyond the park, TART’s dream may never happen. The park is asked to destroy an ecosystem before there is a reason.

The National Park was formed in 1970 to preserve these rare dunes. Its mission to protect nature is at odds with TART’s mission to connect trails. Since both missions have merit, a difficult choice must be made. TART

i love tart trails, but when i learned that thousands of trees had to be cut for four more miles of biking, i realized that i love trees more.

Engineering Report explains how the 2009 Environmental Analysis was erroneous. These scientific studies were funded privately.

The key question is, why choose the most sensitive route through the steepest dunes and rare wetlands when harmless routes are available? We need to go back 20 years to understand why. TART Trails wanted a trail through the National Park which could later be extended beyond the park into an M-22 loop. A committee of stakeholders was formed (which should have included the Tribes), and the Heritage Trail was initiated. TART became the National Park’s fundraising partner to cover costs beyond the 70 percent from federal funds. The first 22 miles, from Empire to Bohemian Road were completed in 2019 and have been enjoyed by many.

It’s the last 4 miles that are controversial. This final segment could cost more than the first 22 miles combined due to its greater sensitivity and difficulty—almost $4 million per mile. In August the Cleveland Township Board discussed concerns about its cost and why Bohemian Road (where the trail currently ends) wasn’t chosen. At the end of the meeting, a biker from Los Angeles described the day he turned down Bohemian Road and was stunned at the vista of Lake Michigan ahead. He went barefoot in the sand and returned to his unlocked bike—still there! He reminded us how lucky we are to have this and thanked the board for their generational wisdom in seeking to preserve it.

Bohemian Road is one of several easy routes overlooked in choosing to reach the park‘s northern boundary at Good Harbor Trail and M-22 for TART. The shorter Bohemian Road route would spare a pristine ecosystem, save money, and offer a spectacular biking experience, but it doesn’t meet TART’s goal

can find safer ways to connect its trails, but the park’s mission is lost when trees, dunes, and wetlands are destroyed.

TART defends the Segment 9 choice saying this route will make nature accessible and that the trees to be cut are mostly saplings, which need thinning anyway. TART Trails has done much good in northern Michigan, but these 4 miles do more harm than good, as many now realize.

Over 1,600 petitioners on Sleepingbearnaturally.com/petition seek to halt Segment 9. The National Park Conservation Association opposed the extension in April. The Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council sought a new Environmental Analysis in June. In August, the Grand Traverse Band opposed the trail “based on environmental concerns and treaty rights.” Then in September, Cleveland Township voted unanimously to rescind its prior approval. Reporters took note and statewide headlines declared “Opposition grows to Sleeping Bear trail expansion” (The Detroit News).

The climate crisis has revealed the value of nature, which the Tribes have always understood. Humans are a part of, not above, nature, so protecting nature will protect us all. Hopefully the ongoing consultation between the park and the Tribes will save the ecosystem at stake to honor tribal rights and the stewardship role of the National Park.

The costs of Segment 9 outweigh the benefits to the Tribes, the National Park, and the public, not to mention the rights of nature. Only TART stands to benefit, and even that’s uncertain. Irreversible harm should not occur today when TART can find another way tomorrow. And I believe they will.

Barbara Stamiris is an environmental activist living in Traverse City.

FALLING FOR FALL FLAVORS Inside the Ingredients

By Nora Rae Pearl

As the leaves turn and the temperatures drop, let’s celebrate with familiar ingredients, but in new ways to highlight their best features. When pumpkins with rice and apple rings with spice hit the menu, there’s plenty of reasons to enjoy a cozy night in.

To stock up on ingredients, look to Bakkers Acres in Suttons Bay for your favorite style of squash and visit VerSnyder Orchards in Lake Leelanau for a variety of heirloom apples.

CARAMEL APPLE RINGS

If you can’t decide on donut or pie, look no further. Serves eight.

Puff Pastry Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 12 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/8inch thick small cubes

• 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Filling and Topping Ingredients

• 2 large apples, Honeycrisp works well

• 1 egg

• 1 tablespoon heavy cream

• 3 tablespoons melted butter

• 3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Caramel Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons sugar

• 1 1/2 tablespoons water

• 4 tablespoons heavy cream

• Pinch of salt

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make the puff pastry: In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, and salt. Toss in the butter until evenly coated in flour. Briefly pinch the butter into smaller pebbles with your hands. You still want to keep most of the butter pretty chunky. Drizzle over 6 tablespoons of ice water. Toss until you feel a dough come together, add additional 2 tablespoons of ice water if there is still a lot of loose flour.

Gently knead the dough until you have one shaggy clump. On a floured surface, press or roll out the dough to a rough 6-by9-inch rectangle. Fold like a letter, folding the bottom third over the center followed by the top third over the center. Gently pat out to a 4-by-8-inch rectangle. Wrap in plastic, chill for two hours.

Roll out on a floured surface to an 8-by-12-inch rectangle, do one letter fold. Rotate dough 90 degrees, roll out again to an 8-by-12-inch rectangle, and repeat one letter fold. Wrap dough in plastic, chill for

20 minutes. Roll out on a floured surface to an 8-by-12-inch rectangle, do one letter fold. Rotate dough 90 degrees, roll out again to an 8-by-12-inch rectangle, and repeat one letter fold. Chill overnight.

To assemble: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring out dough and let sit at room temperature for five minutes. Meanwhile, cut your apples into 1/2inch thick rounds. You want a total of eight. Cut a 1 1/2-inch hole in the center of each. On a floured surface, roll out dough to an 8-by-20-inch rectangle. Cut into eight long strips, measuring 1-by-20 inches. Cut each strip in half, creating 16 strips measuring 1-by-10 inches. Working one apple at a time, pick up one dough strip and stretch to around 1416 inches. Wrap around the apple slice, weaving through the center. You should get halfway around with one strip, then pick up another dough strip, stretch, and wrap the remaining half. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat the process until all the apple slices are wrapped. Beat together the egg and cream. Brush rings. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through, until nicely golden. Let cool for five minutes, then brush with melted butter. Generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

To make the caramel: Place the sugar in a small, heavy-bottom saucepan with tall sides. Shake gently to level the sugar so that it covers the bottom evenly. Drizzle over the water. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until the sugar turns a deep amber color. Take off the heat. Carefully pour in the cream (the caramel will bubble and steam), then stir until smooth. Add salt and vanilla. Place in a heat proof container, and allow to cool for a few minutes. Drizzle over pie rings.

PUMPKIN RISOTTO

A delicious, comforting meal for a crisp autumn day. Serves six.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1/2 cup finely diced white onion

• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 4 large sage leaves

• Salt and pepper

• 1 cup Arborio rice

• 1/2 cup dry white wine

• 1 1/2 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see note)

• 3 cups hot vegetable stock or water, plus more if needed

• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more to serve

• Fresh parsley to serve

To make the risotto: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened and slightly golden. Add garlic, whole sage leaves, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook for one minute. Stir in rice, then add the wine. Cook until most of the liquid is evaporated, one to two minutes, then reduce heat to medium low.

Add pumpkin purée and 1/2 cup stock. Cook, stirring continuously, until almost all of the liquid is absorbed. Repeat adding stock in 1/2 cup additions, making sure the rice has absorbed all of the liquid before adding more. Once all the liquid has been added, around 35 to 45 minutes later, taste your rice. If it doesn’t taste cooked, add more liquid and continue cooking until tender. Stir in cheese and enough salt to taste. Serve with Parmesan and parsley on top.

To make homemade pumpkin purée: Cut one medium pie pumpkin or butternut squash in half. Remove seeds. Place cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast at 400 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes, or until soft. Let sit until cool enough to handle, then scoop out flesh and purée in a food processor until smooth.

Nora Rae Pearl is 99 percent foodie and 1 percent chef. When she is not writing about food, she can be found waiting in line at the farmers market hoping to get a croissant before they run out. Photo credits Cody Werme.

Field Report

At the annual World Conker Championship in Southwick, England, on Oct. 13, veteran player Dave Jakins, 82, won the men's tournament, the Associated Press reported. (Conkers is a traditional game played using the seeds of horse chestnut trees threaded on string; players try to strike and break each other's conkers.) But controversy followed when Jakins was found to have a steel conker in his pocket. His opponent, Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, said his own conker "disintegrated in one hit" after Jakins struck it. "He was very closely watched by four judges," said St. John Burkett, chair of the event's organizing committee. "It looks like it was absolutely impossible for him to cheat." Jakins has denied cheating.

Saw That Coming

An unnamed woman in Kitsap County, Washington, admitted to authorities that she'd been feeding about "a dozen" raccoons in her yard over the past 35 years, The New York Times reported. Several weeks ago, more raccoons started showing up, and on Oct. 3, the homeowner had to call 911 when about 100 animals arrived and became more aggressive. "Anytime she comes out of her house," said sheriff's department spokesperson Kevin McCarty, "they swarm her until she throws them food. ... The new ones showing up scare her." The woman fled her home, and local trappers were going to charge $500 per animal to remove the raccoons. So the state department of fish and wildlife stepped in, suggesting that she simply stop feeding them. "The raccoons appear to have started dispersing now that they are no longer being fed," the department said.

Ironies

When cops in Portland, Oregon, pulled over a 1994 Ford Taurus that had been stolen on Oct. 9, they met Reginald Reynolds, 35, and Mia Baggenstos, 37, along with their toys: a loaded .357 Magnum, a bag of methamphetamine, $1,360 in cash, three white pills that Baggenstos said were OxyContin, and a meth pipe. The Smoking Gun reported that a vehicle search yielded more meth, two scales, and a "brown bag that said on it, 'Definitely not a bag full of drugs.'" Inside, they found more meth -a total of about a half-pound. Both were charged with multiple felonies.

In Stadtallendorf, Germany, on Oct. 16, a state-of-the-art fire station that had been open less than a year ... burned to the ground, The Guardian reported. The fire started in a vehicle and quickly spread, destroying 10 fire engines and causing between 20 and 24 million euros' worth of damage. "It is a nightmare for a firefighter," said district fire inspector Lars Schafer. He went on to say that the station was not required to have fire alarms because it was classified as a building holding equipment. Schafer said the building would be reconstructed quickly, for safety and for local morale.

Oops!

In early October, The New York Times reported, passengers aboard a Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia, to Tokyo were

treated (or not) to an R-rated film with "sexual material and brief graphic nudity" on their seat screens -- and it couldn't be turned off. Because of technological problems, passengers weren't able to choose their entertainment, so the crew queued up "Daddio," starring Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn, and let it run for about an hour before switching to something more familyfriendly. "It was super uncomfortable for everyone," one Reddit user wrote. "We apologize to customers for this experience," a Qantas spokesperson said.

The BBC apologized on Oct. 10 after releasing a weather forecast predicting winds in London of 20,000 kilometers (13,000 miles) per hour, Yahoo! News reported. Matt Taylor, a meteorologist for the network, soothed concerns: "Hurricane Milton hasn't made it to us here in the U.K.!" He added that a data glitch had caused the extreme forecast, also warning of overnight temperatures of 759 degrees Fahrenheit in Nottingham. "Folk are working to solve the issue," Taylor assured Brits.

Unconventional Weapon

In Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Oct. 14, police responded to a report of an explosion, WPBF-TV reported. As they arrived at the scene, Joseph Moreton, 39, began yelling at them from his backyard, then came into the front yard holding a flamethrower. Police asked Moreton to drop the weapon, but he wouldn't -- luckily, one officer was close enough to grab it out of his hands. Moreton then moved inside his house and got a flashlight, which he tried to blind officers with. Law enforcement tased him, and he was taken into custody. Moreton was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer.

Bright Idea

Perfumer Michal Gilbert Lach was inspired by his childhood trips in the 1980s to vegetable markets in Zywiec, Poland, to create his newest scent: Polish Potatoes. TVP reported on Oct. 15 that Lach's latest perfume is going viral on social media. "I create my scents as an olfactory deja vu," said Lach, who visited the markets with his grandparents. "The farmers market was a gateway to another world. Going to the market was like hunting for treasure." Which is what buyers will have to find before picking up a bottle: 1.7 ounces of Polish Potatoes will set you back $185.

Animal Antics

Paraglider Marshall Mosher of Atlanta, Georgia, was drifting over the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt on Oct. 14 when he noticed something unexpected walking around the top of the structure, the New York Post reported. Mosher posted a zoomed-in photo of a dog on Instagram with the caption, "A dog climbed all the way up the Great Pyramid of Giza!" Viewers worried about the dog's safety, but back on the ground, Mosher posted again standing next to the adventurous dog and explained that dogs in the area often climb up and down the 454-foottall pyramid. People have nicknamed the pooch Anubis Pup after the Egyptian god of the underworld who's often portrayed with a canine head.

WITCHES ON THE WATER

SUP group balances—pun

By Geri Dietze

A group of like-minded women paddleboarders have spent the last 10 years meeting up on area waters every Monday evening from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day to enjoy the great outdoors and good vibes. (Not to mention the low-impact, fullbody workout targeting cardio, core, balance, endurance, and mental and spiritual wellness.)

Brittany Brubaker McNeil, founder of the Petoskey Ladies SUP Group, first experienced paddleboarding with a Traverse City group years ago, where she was “inspired by the kinship and camaraderie.”

So she recreated that experience in 2014, upon moving to Petoskey. “It was fun because you’d start to see more and more paddleboards on cars every Monday,” she says of the early days.

Since then, any number of women will gather every week at locations on one of our many waterways: Lakes Charlevoix, Walloon, Burt, and Douglas; Petoskey and Boyne City State Parks; or basically any place that is accessible, safe, and beautiful. “We go all over,” McNeil says. “That’s one of the neat things.”

Out on the Water

McNeil is a busy mother and owner of Boyne City’s Lake Charlevoix Coffee Company, so when the demands of business and motherhood took priority, she passed the torch—or the paddle, as it were—to fellow boarder Sue McLain, another regular of the Petoskey Ladies SUP.

“Sue was a natural fit,” McNeil adds, of the experienced sailor. “She knows how to read the wind, and she [puts an] emphasis on safety.” (McNeil adds that the SUPs have “certainly had some experiences,” citing high winds at Petoskey State Park and Horton Bay, for example.)

McLain was a teacher from the Grand Rapids area who moved with her husband to the family’s Up North home upon retirement.

“I am the official leader,” she explains, “but it takes many hands to make it all happen… to organize, photograph, post, encourage, and read the weather to make every Monday night the best night of the week.

“We attempt to hit a different launch or lake each time,” she adds, and “each paddle is followed by a picnic.”

There’s no pressure with the Petoskey SUP. Indeed, anyone can show up on a Monday, or skip it, and no one minds. “Attendance averages this year around 15,” McLain explains, “but we’ve had as few as two and as many as 50 on any given [Monday.]”

The SUP group has a large following on Facebook—over 1,000 people—but McLain says that “thankfully the group … is usually very manageable.” Wondering who will show up “is half the fun,” she says. “Each week we just love the ones we’re with.”

Learning the Ropes

And while it’s not recommended to jump right in without any experience, the group is accommodating to those who want to learn the sport. Boyne City’s Kim Mettler, a

member since 2018, is a good example.

“I [first] saw the FB group online, but I didn’t even own a paddleboard,” she says. Mettler used a borrowed board for the first two years and admits that she had only tried the sport “a couple of times,” adding, “I spent the first season falling off.” As proprietor of Michigan Barefoot Memories Photography, Mettler is known for her great shots taken on and off the water. (You’ll find her shots, and those of others,

on the SUP’s Facebook page.)

There’s no particular order to how these diverse women—from teenagers to seniors, from at-home moms to professionals—came to embrace all of the sport, but do know that when they’re not on their Monday paddle, they are up to all kinds of cool things: leading yoga on the Little Traverse Ferry; mountain biking in Copper Country; hiking Michigan’s section of the North Country Trail; or paddleboarding through all four

The Petoskey Ladies SUP Group

The Witchy Woman Paddle takes place annually around the autumn equinox. Photos courtesy of the Petoskey Ladies SUP Group.

seasons, snow and ice be damned.

“Isn’t it great to surround yourself each week with such inspiring women?” McLain asks.

Celebrating the Autumn Equinox

The first annual Witchy Woman Paddle took place in 2020 on Walloon Lake around the autumn equinox, and you can be sure heads were turning at the sight. (Mettler was there with her board and her camera to record the event.)

The inspiration came from McLain via an article in a Portland, Oregon, newspaper about a like-minded group who paddled the Willamette River in Halloween costumes. “I knew this bunch of gals would be up for the fun,” she says.

This year’s paddle took place on Sept. 23 and launched from Peninsula Park in Boyne

City, with over 30 participants paddling the shoreline past downtown Boyne to the marina and back.

“The costumes, props, and hats get better and better every year,” McLain says. (Safety dominates, but there are also fashion tips, like make sure your witch’s hat is secure from the lake breezes.)

Spectators look forward to this lowtech, environmentally friendly, and very chill event and take it in from Boyne City’s downtown docks. Café Sante was the scene of post-paddle cocktails and apps.

The Witchy Woman Paddle officially closes the season, though group members stay in touch on Facebook for other adventures on and off the water.

Visit the Petoskey Ladies SUP Group on Facebook for inspiration and information.

A participant in the Witchy Woman Paddle arrives in the Boyne City Marina

FROM HUNTING GHOSTS TO TENDING GARDENS

Demonologist (and farmer) Samantha Fall has traded holy water for organic soil

By Anna Faller

If you looked up “Jane-of-all-trades” in the dictionary, you’d likely find Samantha Fall’s picture.

A Michigan native, Fall (née Harris) is a demonologist with a background in abnormal psychology, a former ghost hunter and deliverance minister (i.e., a cleanser of evil spirits), and founder of the Michigan Paranormal Research Association (MPRA), through which she’s helped inform such mainstream media as The Travel Channel, SyFy, and the A&E Network, among several others. She even hosted six episodes of the Travel & Escape Network’s Paranormal Survivor!

Fall is also the brains behind awardwinning photography and videography company Timeless Media Productions (Traverse City), which she founded in 2009, and an avid naturopath, farmer, and culinary veteran. Oh, and she’s a published author; her book, which hit shelves in 2014, is entitled Fighting Malevolent Spirits: A Demonologist’s Darkest Encounters

The paranormal parts of Fall’s life often bleed into the rest of her day-to-day. Inevitably, she’s become an expert in walking the line between worlds.

“In college it felt very dichotomous, where I’d [be experiencing] both life and death,” she notes. “It was like being on two opposite sides of the spectrum, and in a lot of ways I’m still doing that.”

A Sixth Sense

Fall’s eerie expertise, she says, took hold in early childhood, when she first discovered that she possessed, in her own words, some “weird abilities.” These included unnerving déjà vu, dreams that often came true in real life—and in a few exceptional cases—even accurate death premonitions.

“I had a dream about the passing of a

senior gentleman [in my community] two weeks before it happened,” she notes. “It was the same with my grandpa—just momentfor-moment déjà vu.”

Per Fall, the gift is a family affair, passed down through generations on her mother’s side. As early on as high school, Fall felt called to help families experiencing paranormal activity.

In other words, she hunted ghosts.

As for what the job entails? For Fall, it’s all about helping people rid their homes and lives of negativity. Her work definitely isn’t Satanism, which she says is a common misconception (and knowingly poking at darker practices, like animal sacrifices and Ouija boards, she says, can be a one-way ticket to attracting an evil that’s tough to shake).

Once a home, or occasionally a person, has attracted an unwanted spectral guest, Fall says that every demon hunter’s M.O. is totally unique. Hers, which she developed through years of careful research and mentorship (including a stint with renowned paranormal investigator and medium Lorraine Warren), includes first closing the spiritual threshold and restoring peace to the space through a blessing—an age-old practice with variations throughout dozens of global religions and cultures.

“It’s always really beautiful when it feels like a weight has been lifted,” adds Fall. “Your home is supposed to be a place of safety and respite; but for some people, it’s where the nightmare begins.”

Inexplicable Experiences

And boy, has she seen some stuff!

For her first foray in the field, for example, Fall helped perform the spiritual cleansing of a former classmate’s family home, which sat on the grounds of the old Michigan State Sanitarium (aka, Hillcrest Sanitarium) in Howell.

When the team—a caravan of five cars—

arrived, she says, all five alarms sounded instantaneously and couldn’t be silenced, despite the group’s efforts. “It was just so odd,” she notes. “That’s when I was like, ‘I think you’ve got more than just grandma’s ghost in the attic!’”

In the nearly 12 years following, Fall, alongside her MPRA crew, witnessed everything from “bad energy”—“when the space is oppressive or you’re uncomfortable and there’s no logical explanation why,” she explains—to infestations, chronic illness, and full-fledged apparitions, one of which even followed her home!

Accompanied by other paranormal experts and researchers throughout the state,

Fall has also amassed scores of evidence, much of which she’s presented at universities and exhibitions. This includes shadows forming on camera, unexplained marks and scratches on eyewitnesses, and one especially creepy Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP, or recordings thought to be spirits talking), wherein a disembodied speaker can be heard addressing Fall directly. Nevertheless, Fall also appreciates, and even encourages, skepticism in supernatural dealings. In fact, she notes that some of the MPRA’s cases actually had logical causes: addiction or mental health conditions, negative side effects of prescription medication, or even a wayward animal could

A screenshot from Fall’s stint on “Paranormal Survivor.”

all masquerade as a malevolent spirit.

“I totally respect people who don’t believe in [the paranormal]. Unless you’ve seen or experienced it yourself, it’s like asking you to believe in the Tooth Fairy!” she says.

By the same token, though, most people also haven’t gone looking for the supernatural, and though she concedes that modern science hasn’t yet caught up to the spiritual spectrum, there’s no question in Fall’s mind that it’s all real.

“By presenting [the MPRA’s findings], I’d hoped to reassure people that there are good things in the world, that if [evil entities] are

real, then the other side of the spectrum has to be real, too. Maybe down the road, we’ll have an explanation,” she adds, “but what I’ll tell you right now, the stuff that I’ve seen firsthand—I can’t explain it.”

Family and Farming

All that intuition, though, comes with a heavy emotional burden, and in the eight years since her son, Cameron, was born, Fall has formally left ghost hunting. Instead, she’s pursuing other passions, the most recent of which is a 14-acre agrarian oasis called Elderberry Farms Estate.

Established in 2020, the farm, which sits just west of Traverse City, is part of Leelanau’s burgeoning “farm corridor” alongside neighbors like Jacob’s Farm, Gallagher’s Farm Market, and Light of Day Organic Farm and Tea Shop, and features offerings for all ages, including organically grown herbs and produce, u-pick lavender, a café, and a rentable farm-stay.

Per Fall, running a farm has long held a space on her personal business docket. She got her start just after college with a mini farm in mid-Michigan, where she also raised chickens and dairy goats, while other phases

of her life have been marked by gardens, orchards, and general land-tilling.

“Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve had something like that going on. We really wanted a piece of land,” she explains.

The estate also offers the perfect outlet for Fall’s fascination with herbalism, which she satisfies by hand-crafting tinctures and supplements, many of which feature elderberry. The potent fruit—which grows widely in Michigan—contains an extract called Sambucol, which can provide immune support and shorten the length of cold and flu symptoms.

LISA TROMBLEY

DID YOU KNOW?

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Fall with her family

Fall’s book tells the true stories of her darkest, creepiest, most terrifying cases.

As its name suggests, Elderberry Farms Estate is a regular haven for the stuff—in fact, it’s even been recognized as Michigan’s first commercial elderberry location— offering extracts, teas, tinctures, syrups, and everything in between. Fall also plans to keep other natural supplements in stock via the farm’s bulk dispensary, notably willow bark, echinacea, and mullein.

Peering into the Future

Down the line, Fall has plans in play to expand the farm’s offerings even further,

teasing the reprisal of events like ticketed dinners helmed by rotating and out-ofstate chefs, as well as an army of farm animals (so far, she’s committed to goats, ducks, and chickens), and maybe even a liquor license.

For now, though, the space aims to offer continued support for the local farming community—a longtime goal of Fall’s—while also providing some well-deserved respite from the outside world’s chaos.

“I think I’m drawn to playing in dirt on the farm because it helps me disconnect,” she

says. “It’s a place where I can turn it all off.”

While you can take the girl away from the ghosts, though, you can’t take the ghost hunter out of the girl. It’s no surprise then that Fall, at least in part, is still tuned into her intuitive “frequency.”

“The dreams still happen,” she says. “I’m not skilled at turning it on and off, so [practicing] moderation is how I get through each day.”

In fact, she says, she’d like to see other people open their minds to their own sensitivities.

“It’s like a muscle that we all have, but are trained early on not to use,” says Fall. “Intuition is something we’re all capable of, and I think that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.”

Find Elderberry Farms Estate at 4702 E. Traverse Hwy in Traverse City. (231) 2209098. elderberryfarmsestate.com. For more information on Samantha Fall and her work in the supernatural field, visit mpra26.wixsite. com. (Please note: the original Michigan PRA domain has been compromised).

Fall during a taping for The Discovery Channel’s “A Haunting” (two episodes of which were based on Fall’s cases).

Don’t Let DDA Hog Our Future

TIFs Increase City Property Taxes

Tax increment financing plans (TIFs) work like a tax on City taxpayers. TIFs have increased city property tax rates by 20% so far.

Extending TIF97 will Hog much more

The downtown tax increment financing plan (TIF97) took $17 million from city finances in its first 26 years. It will take $121 million more if extended.

TIFs have increased City property tax rates 20% so far. Extending TIF97 will increase property tax rates much more, cut city services or both.

Wasteful Spending on the Downtown Shorts the Neighborhoods

$34 million for a third parking deck

$15 million for heated sidewalks downtown

$7 million on Rotary Square

Right to Vote

We have the right to vote on where our property tax dollars are spent. We vote on taxes for schools and libraries. We should vote on TIFs.

■ Vote YES on City Prop 1 makes new TIFs and extending TIFs subject to voter approval.

■ Vote YES on City Prop 2 makes any extension of TIF97 subject to voter approval

To learn more visit: www.tctaxpayersforjustice.com Paid for by TC Taxpayers for Justice, 1223 Randolph St., Traverse City, MI 49684

INTO THE WOODS

Book by James Lapine, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

BLACK CATS AREN’T BAD LUCK

Two local shelters share the myths and realities of rescue work

By Max Howard

When Northern Express sat down with Melissa Smith, vice president of TC Paw Cat Rescue, she was watching a live feed of a trail cam intently. On the screen was a live trap.

“There are humane traps,” Smith says. “No one’s getting hurt. I simply set up a little trail of food, and the kitty walks all the way in. It steps on something, and it closes the door with the cat inside.”

The trapping site is just 10 minutes from her home, and Smith has it set for lost cats that have been reported in the area. In fact, she’s on standby for a few different traps. “Never a dull moment,” jokes Smith.

TC Paw was founded just over a year and a half ago after another shelter in Antrim County, AC Paw, announced it would retire its animal rescue operations to shift its focus to other services. As with many new organizations, the founders have to wear a number of different hats. Smith’s job consists mostly of handling media relations for TC Paw, but she’s also picked up some other responsibilities along the way.

“I do all of the tracking when it comes to cats that are outside,” says Smith. “I do a lot of missing cat search and rescue.”

Smith says what she’s seen on the trail cams in the last year and a half has been eye opening. Lots of times when she is looking for one cat, she encounters many more cats she had never been called to rescue.

“When I encounter other cats, I’m thinking—wait a minute, who does this cat belong to? I can’t tell you how many dozens upon dozens of cats I will get on my cameras at night.”

Pets Aren’t Cheap

Smith says one of the big drivers she is seeing that leads to so many cats out in

the wild is simply due to cost of care. The majority of cats who’ve been lost or let go seem to be a result of financial difficulties.

LendingTree.com released a survey last month which showed that, among nearly 2,000 U.S. consumers, 12 percent of Americans (and 25 percent of Gen Zers) have surrendered a pet because they could no longer afford to care for it. On top of that, 85 percent of pet owners say inflation is making ownership more expensive, with 41 percent struggling to afford costs.

“I think what we’re seeing on our end with TC Paw,” says Smith, “is that people are facing a financial crisis. They’re losing their home or they can’t get into a home where they can bring pets.”

In the past five years, the trend for cat

Black Cats Aren’t Bad Luck

Another reason some pets stay longer in shelters has nothing to do with the economy. Smith says black cats and dogs are too often misunderstood.

“I think a lot of it is tied in part to, you look at a black cat and think, oh it’s bad luck,” says Smith. “Or it’s associated with scary things and Halloween.”

But it’s not all superstition. Barbera has noticed the trend that darker pets often stay longer in shelters—a phenomenon called “black cat bias”—but thinks there are some very practical ways to help these pets get adopted.

“There’s an overall trend where darker colored pets—dogs and cats—are often overlooked,” says Barbera. “But sometimes it

“We’re going up against a never-ending battle, and we want to help as many [cats] as we can.”

—Melissa Smith, Vice President of TC Paw Cat Rescue

adoptions has stayed steady while adoption rates for dogs—especially larger ones— has declined. This is most likely due to the extra expenses that come with a large pet. Tia Barbera, an animal behaviorist at the Cherryland Humane Society, sees this too and links it to a larger trend.

“It seems like pets are just staying longer in shelters because of these adoption trends,” Barbera says. “The reasons kind of vary by community, but the biggest reason is kind of the cost of living—inflation. When it comes to caring for yourself along with caring for your animal, that care has gone up dramatically.”

really just comes down to how you feature these animals in shelters, how you promote them, how you market them, and letting people get to know the animal in front of them and their individual personalities.”

Age Isn’t a Deal Breaker

Being overlooked goes double for animals who are older or have health issues—even ones easily managed.

“I think there is a mentality where people think the kitty is 10-plus years old, so that means they’re going to be the kind of cat that’ll have all of these medical issues, or this kitty’s not going to want to socialize,” Smith

says. “I would say the great thing about senior cats is they have this unconditional love that they have been rescued in their golden years. They’re like, ‘I don’t have the energy of a kitten. I’m not going to race around and have all of that high energy, but simply knowing that I have a human who loves me is what I need.’”

She tells us of a recent adoption success story, in which Opal, a 10- or 11-year-old dilute tortie with thyroid and kidney issues, had been waiting for her forever home for a year. She was adopted by a woman in her 70s who decided, “We’re going to live our golden years together,” according to Smith.

Indoor cats can often live 18 or more years, especially when provided with consistent vet care. And even those with disabilities or health conditions can live long, healthy lives.

For example, it’s not uncommon to see “FIV+” listed in an adoptable cat’s bio. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), is similar to HIV in humans and can weaken a cat’s immune system. The Humane Society of the United States estimates 3-5 percent of healthy cats in North America are FIV+.

“These cats can live truly normal, healthy, wonderful lives,” Smith says of FIV+ cats. “If you have other cats in the home, we just say to obviously be vigilant and to know that FIV is transmitted through cat bites. But usually we don’t really see cats getting to that point where they’re biting each other.”

Smith recommends separate food and water dishes for cats with FIV and working with your vet to learn about caring for an FIV+ cat, but says it is very rare for FIV to be transmitted to other cats in a household.

Cats Don’t Need to Go Outside

Another common myth is that all cats want to be in the great outdoors. Yes, some

Tim Horton was nicknamed “Tiny Tim” because he was the smallest of the litter. He is friendly and happy to be picked up and held for pets.

Midnight was a TC Paw foster who was adopted this month. Midnight’s former owner lost her house and asked TC Paw to help find sweet, quiet Midnight find a good home.

will scratch at the door and make daring escapes, but Smith says that the indoor life is the safest for everyone involved.

“Unless the cat is a barn cat, which sometimes is the key for feral cats … keeping your cat inside is the best thing you can do,” Smith explains. “And sadly, I can’t tell you how many cats this past summer that I found on the side of the road that I will take to the clinic because the cat is deceased. And I’m just thinking, ‘My God, why was this cat outside?’”

Smith points to other downsides of letting cats outside, from their hunting impact on wildlife (especially birds) to shortened lifespans. She also notes that many outdoor

cats are not spayed or neutered, which leads to more and more cats being born.

“Spay and neuter is the top of our list,” she adds. “We spay and neuter all of our cats.”

There’s No Such Thing as a Crazy Cat (or Dog) Lady

At the end of the day, TC Paw and Cherryland Humane Society are working toward finding safe homes for animals in our area.

“Part of the reason why I got involved is I want to not only educate people on feline psychology, but I want to debunk the myth of the term ‘crazy cat lady,’” Smith says, laughing. “My mission every day is to try to

make this world a better place for animals, and that is why I’m involved with TC Paw, because I want us to be a resource and an educational tool.”

She explains that whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, the best thing you can be is an animal person and help pets in need.

Along those lines, both shelters report what they need more than anything is volunteers. TC Paw, in particular, is foster based, which means that the cats they rescue go to the homes of foster volunteers around northern Michigan.

“We just ask that the person have a safe, clean space in their home for the cat and the kittens while we work on getting those

cats and kittens adopted into their forever homes,” says Smith.

Both Cherryland Humane Society and TC Paw are always looking for volunteers to step up as new foster homes. To assist their volunteers, the organizations cover all the financial burdens of pet ownership including medical bills, food, and litter.

“The more fosters we have, the more cats we’re able to bring in who are living outside, who are being surrendered,” says Smith. “We’re going up against a never-ending battle, and we want to help as many as we can.”

Learn more at tcpaw.org and cherrylandhumane.org.

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Fanta and her siblings were found and rescued near a Traverse City middle school and are staying in a TC Paw foster until they find their forever family.

Gordie Howe is a cuddly, sweet-natured kitty who found his family this October. He was part of a semiferal mother’s litter, along with his brother Tim Horton. Last week, Gordie was adopted!

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CAN IT HAPPEN HERE?

guest opinion by

Tom Gutowski

The answer depends on how one defines “it.” For example, “it” may be taking young children from their parents and not keeping records that would facilitate the families later being reunited. Or putting innocent people in concentration camps. Or blackballing people for their political opinions or jailing them for failing to report on their friends’ political leanings.

We’ve already done all of the above in this country. And that’s not even considering the history of our treatment of indigenous people and people of color. It’s hardly far-fetched to contemplate the possibility that we might repeat some of our past mistakes, or worse.

The number of people who would need to directly participate in committing egregious injustices would be relatively small. Half a million people, for example, is less than 0.2 percent of the adult population. The other 99.8 percent would need only sit by and do nothing.

Finding people willing to do the dirty work wouldn’t be a problem. The vast majority of Americans are obviously good, decent people. But we don’t lack for those willing to harm others because of differences in skin color, ethnic background, or sexual orientation. The fact that legal, law abiding Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are currently being threatened, harassed, and shunned is just one example.

And there are plenty of armed hate groups who could intimidate much of the rest of the population into staying home with their shades drawn. If you’ve ever been hesitant to wear a hat or T-shirt that advertises your political affiliation, multiply that feeling by a thousand. As the need to speak out increases, so do the incentives not to.

The first victims would be undocumented immigrants. Trump has called them savages, rapists, murderers, and drug dealers. He’s claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating their neighbors’ pets, and says immigrants will come to your house and slit your throat. And a substantial number of adults apparently believe pretty much anything Trump or his major supporters say. Millions claim that Trump won the 2020 election, despite the failure of more than 60 court cases, and that Jan. 6 was a peaceful protest, despite video evidence to the contrary. Marjorie Taylor Green said that meteorologists can create and control hurricanes, and now meteorologists are getting death threats. It’s not hard to imagine that there are people willing to carry out terrible deeds against those identified by their leaders as very bad people.

Trump wants to use the National Guard to run “the largest mass deportation program in history.” We’re talking 15 to 20 million people, which would likely be impossible to pull off. What might actually

happen is anyone’s guess. Mass detention camps? Breakup of families? U.S. citizens caught up in the process? Other forms of maltreatment?

There’s no guarantee that government officials would stop the worst abuses. Trump and his inner circle have learned from his last stint in the White House. As described in Project 2025, they plan to fire tens of thousands of nonpartisan federal employees and replace them with Trump loyalists. According to experts, this is how modern dictators obtain and consolidate power: not by militarily overthrowing the existing order, but by subverting it from within, until one day the substance of democracy is gone and only the shell remains. Even Putin—a man who routinely assassinates troublesome opponents—still holds elections.

The process often begins with scapegoating, but it doesn’t always end there. The point is to instill fear in the population so they’ll hand over power to a strongman who they hope will save them from the imagined horrors. (For anyone not paying attention, undocumented immigrants have a violent crime rate that’s about half that of U.S. citizens.)

Once in office, the strongman’s first priority is to secure his own power. Critical journalists, political opponents, and those who dare speak out face the possibility of harassment, prosecution, and imprisonment. Trump has said he’ll order “his” justice department to prosecute his enemies, he constantly vilifies the press, he calls liberals vermin and lunatics, and he’s called for the execution of various people who he claims are traitors, including at least one general in the U.S. army. How far would he actually go? I hope never to find out.

The root of this phenomenon lies in demographic and cultural change combined with a high level of economic inequality and declining social mobility. Some people see their “traditional” way of life—which in many cases means white male ascendancy—b eing threatened and feel powerless to do anything about it. So they look for someone to blame for their woes, economic and otherwise, and they support a “strong man” who says he’ll return America to a supposedly glorious past. Anyone deemed part of the problem becomes, in Trump’s words, the “enemy within.”

What can we do? “We the people” have the power to ensure that the United States remains a just and decent society that respects the rule of law and the democratic norms that have made it a great nation. That’s because we have the ability to vote. Use it or risk losing it.

Tom Gutowski earned a PhD in history from the University of Chicago before entering the insurance industry, from which he retired

TURNING NORTH TO FARO

A fresh start with familiar flavors in Northport

By Abby McKiernan

Northport’s culinary landscape has always had its hidden gems, but few restaurants carried the beloved weight of The Tribune. Known for its community atmosphere and mouth-watering dishes like the iconic pancakes and fried chicken sandwich, The Tribune was more than just a dining spot—it was a cornerstone of local life.

When the building The Tribune called home was sold, change came calling. Though the new owners wanted The Tribune to stay on, owner Eric Allchin decided to close on a high note.

“The Tribune was a site-specific name,” he told our sister publication, the Leelanau Ticker. “The restaurant was named after the old Northport Tribune newspaper, which used to be printed in that building. It wasn’t a name I wanted to transfer.”

He chose to rebrand instead of cashing in on the brand he built, fearing that a sale could tarnish its reputation. “I couldn’t handle the thought of someone running it into the ground,” Allchin admits. “So instead, I decided to take it with me to the next phase.”

Thus, FARO was born—a fresh start that still retained the heart and soul of its predecessor.

Setting the Scene

As FARO took shape in 2024, the vision was clear: to honor the legacy of The Tribune while creating something new and exciting for Northport. The restaurant’s building itself, steeped in history, became a canvas for this reinvention. Originally a bank, it had over a century of stories written into its walls.

As Allchin explains, “The building has so

much history. Renovating it took 16 months longer than expected.” The restoration was painstaking but rewarding, with nods to the past like the exposed bank safe in the kitchen, a butcher block hostess stand, and the original flooring from the IGA General Store—all testaments to Northport’s longstanding history.

This thoughtful renovation was a collaborative effort, made possible in part thanks to two key figures: Megan Kellogg, Allchin’s sister and owner of Darling Botanical, and Daniel Caudel, a close friend and owner of Olean’s in Northport. Kellogg and Caudel were integral to helping Allchin think through the rebranding and creative vision for FARO.

“They really helped me brainstorm and get everything off the ground,” Allchin says. The result is a space that feels both familiar and new, and from the moment you walk into FARO, there’s a sense that time moves a little differently.

“Everything here moves a little slower in the best way possible,” Allchin says. “It’s not that time stops, but rather that time becomes more valuable and cherished. Everybody is a little calmer and willing to slow down and enjoy the moment—that speed allows for quality and atmosphere.”

This philosophy is woven into every aspect of FARO, from the design of the space to the preparation of the food.

“ There is a sacrifice that comes with rushing any process, and usually, the sacrifice is quality. We won’t produce anything but the best. That means doing things without shortcuts—from the local produce we use to our handmade, 72-hour dough,” Allchin says.

New Beginnings, Familiar Faces

The transformation into FARO has

been met with enthusiasm from both new and returning customers. Regulars from The Tribune still flock to the restaurant, especially for Sunday brunch, with favorite meals carried over from the previous menu.

Dishes like Eggs Benedict, classic biscuits, and Huevos Rancheros have become brunch staples, offering comfort and familiarity amid the change.

However, FARO’s evolution is happening at its own pace, and Allchin stresses the importance of quality over rushing expansion.

“Ultimately, we want to host brunch daily, but we aren’t there yet. We live here because we enjoy the slower pace, and that’s reflected in our approach to food and service.”

This commitment to a more thoughtful process has garnered support from regulars,

even as they lightheartedly demand the return of their beloved dish—pancakes. “Our customers may as well have picket signs out front demanding pancakes,” Allchin jokes, a nod to the loyal following that continues to support FARO.

Rather than pancakes, the current star star of FARO’s menu is pizza, and it’s no wonder, given the level of care that goes into every aspect of its preparation. As Allchin mentioned above, each dough takes 72 hours to ferment, ensuring a flavor and texture that’s hard to match. The dough starters, cherished by Allchin and his team, are even named—Dough-loris and Danny Dough-vito.

At the heart of this process is FARO’s talented baker, Kate, who also runs Baker’s Gamble, a custom-baked goods company

known for its inventive creations. Kate meticulously maintains the starters, ensuring every pizza carries the same attention to detail that FARO is known for.

Across the board, the menu reflects the restaurant’s commitment to local ingredients and seasonal flavors. One of the current standouts is the Potato Raclette Pizza, which has become a fast favorite. It features locally sourced potatoes and the world renowned raclette cheese from Leelanau Cheese Company, bringing together the comforting flavors of fall.

Another pizza, the Speck & Poblano, with its combination of cured ham and smoky poblano peppers, is what Allchin

calls a “sweeper” on the menu—unexpected yet delicious.

The Northport Spirit FARO sources 100 percent of its produce from two local farms, Loma Farms and Lakeview Farms, highlighting its dedication to sustainability and supporting the local community. The restaurant’s commitment to the local community extends beyond its menu. Northport has a tight-knit group of six food-focused businesses, and together, they work to ensure that there’s always at least one dining option available for locals during the slower winter months.

While FARO, like its predecessor The Tribune, plans to close from January through March for deep cleaning and menu development, the collaboration with other restaurants in the area means that the town’s residents are never left without a place to gather and enjoy a meal.

“Being closed helps us minimize losses during the slow period, but at the end of the day, we want to make sure we take care of those that live in our wonderful town,” Allchin says. “Not everything is about tourist season after all.”

As the cooler months approach, the restaurant is preparing for a series of special events designed to entice locals and

bring people together. In November and December 2024, FARO will host intimate wine dinners, ticketed events pairing local wines with seasonal dishes.

“We wanted to create a space where people turn north rather than south to Traverse City when they think about dinner,” Allchin explains.

Whether you’re drawn in by the Potato Raclette Pizza, the upcoming wine dinners, or simply the chance to experience a slower, more meaningful dining experience, FARO promises something special for every guest.

Find FARO at 107 E Nagonaba St. in Northport. (231) 386-1048; faronorthport.com

Dogman3: Fight to the finish

by Joseph Beyer

Though the story began in 1887 with a reported attack in Michigan’s Wexford County from a creature “with a dog’s head and a man’s body,” the legend of the Dogman lay relatively dormant for 100 years. That was until Traverse City DJ Steve Cook recorded “The Legend of Dogman” for WTCM, a hit song that brought the mythology roaring back around campfires everywhere.

It got veteran filmmaker and Benzie County creative Rich Brauer thinking— and he knew a good franchise when he saw one. So in 2011, Brauer Productions put the monster mutt on screen for the first time in his now cult-classic feature Dogman

Brauer followed the underground hit quickly with Dogman2: The Wrath of the Litter in 2014, which featured a continuation of the often light-hearted horror. Think “just when you thought it was safe” and the same cast of characters suddenly finding themselves fighting a new breed of Dogman offspring.

B-Movie maverick Roger Corman would have loved it.

And for those fans who have been on the edge of their seats ever since (and there are many), it’s been over a decade waiting for Dogman3: Fight to the Finish.

But the time has come. And on Oct. 26 at 7:30 pm, Brauer and his cast and crew will not only premiere the third installment of the now infamous series at the Garden Theater in Frankfort, but true loyalists can also screen the whole marathon in a special trilogy event not far from where it was all shot.

Dogman3 will be instantly familiar to fans, picking up with the central character of Hank Purvis: an outdoorsman who first discovers Dogman and has become plagued by the beast ever since. Purvis and his encounters take place in an unnamed Midwestern town, where the whole community must band together to understand the demon, fight it, and survive. Not all will, of course, and that’s part of the intentional fun.

Played again by veteran television actor Larry Joe Campbell, Purvis is a sort of Tim Walzish Everyman who brings the common sense approach to the campy hunt for the Dogman that delights and grounds the chase.

is joined by notable performances from Kimberly Guerrero of Reservation Dogs fame as the spiritual guide Francis Wellman, Purvis’ neighbor who tries to intuit the animal’s emotions and motivations. Actress Stacie Mitchell returns as Meg Samels, a smart heroine unwillingly caught up in the Dogman chaos. The trio are pitch perfect with Brauer’s scripts and have been featured in all three films.

Brauer continues his tradition in Dogman3 of using locals and professional actors sideby-side in a tonal blend that keeps the film feeling fresh and unexpected throughout. (One of the enduring franchise mysteries is who plays the Dogman, as the role remains uncredited.)

Shot by director of photography Brett Bowers, the visual style is far from being horrific, but is just enough to satisfy those of the genre. And the cinematography uses suspense and psychological humor more than blood to create its menacing tone. As for the victims, each will meet the Dogman End in unique and entertaining ways.

Writer, director, and producer Brauer has said this the final installment of the Dogman storyline, but true to haunting form, Dogman3 ends with a tiny-dogteaser that could easily be picked up again later when audiences want more.

Known as a mentor to Michigan filmmakers, Brauer and his sets have always been a welcoming sandbox for the next generation of makers to learn from his decades of uniquely independent grit of making films. Perhaps one of them will pick up where Brauer has left the Dogman…and maybe that was a plan all along?

What’s great about this new film is that you don’t necessarily need the backstories, but if you know you know. No matter how you come to it, Dogman3 stands alone as a wild and charming experience. Especially with a posse or audience to enjoy it together and howl out loud.

If you pick up this edition of the Express early in the week, note that tickets for the Saturday, Oct. 26, premiere of Dogman3 at 7:30pm are $11 for adults, with additional tickets for the full trilogy marathon available at gardentheater.org. Dogman and Dogman2 can be streamed anytime on Amazon, with Dogman3 coming later this year.

Campbell

Saturday

16TH ANNUAL TC ZOMBIE 5K RUN: 9am, Right Brain Brewery, TC. Wear your best zombie costume & walk, creep or crawl! Proceeds benefit TART Trails. Stick around after the race for the medal ceremony, costume prizes, music, post-race refreshments & more. Before Oct. 25: $25-$30; On Oct. 25 & 26: $25-$35. tczombierun.com

LAKE ANN UMC’S 15TH ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFT SHOW: 9am-3pm, Lake Ann United Methodist Community Center. Local vendors showcase a variety of handcrafted items. There will also be a bake sale & silent auction. Free. lakeannumc.com/projects-6 SKI SWAP: 9am-2pm, Crystal Mountain, James Bay, lower level of the Crystal Center, Thompsonville. Sell your skis, boots, snowboards, poles, goggles & bikes! Crystal will also be accepting clean & lightly used ski & snowboard outerwear. No used helmets. 25% of the proceeds benefit local high school ski teams & the Crystal Community Ski Club. Drop off your equipment on Oct. 24 from 9am-3pm or Oct. 25 from 1-7pm at the lower level of the Crystal Center. Pick up unsold equipment on Oct. 26 from 2-4pm. crystalmountain.com/event/ ski-swap

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY TRICK OR TREAT: Meet at Central Elementary School at 9:45am to start the costume parade at 10am. Then march down Howard St. to Pennsylvania Park. Trick or treat throughout the downtown stores. petoskeydowntown.com/events/halloween-fun

CONSERVATION CENTER TOUR: 10am. Enjoy a tour of the buildings & grounds at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Preserve. This tour will include a look at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s new conservation hub & office space, including the McMullen Family Conservation Center, the Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, & the native plant greenhouse & goat barn. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/ event/home/conservationcentertour102624

DOWNTOWN HALLOWEEN WALK: 1011:30am, Downtown TC. Downtown will transform into a spooky wonderland, so get into your favorite costume. Participating businesses will be handing out sweet treats to trick-or-treaters. Free. downtowntc.com/ downtown-halloween-walk

FAMILY FALL FEST: 10am-noon, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Not too scary stories, crafts & autumn treats. 231-223-7700.

FLEE & ELUDE 5K/10K: 10am, Crawford County Court House parking lot, Grayling. Presented by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Youth Services Program, with all raised funds going to Crawford County’s youth. $20-$30. runsignup.com/Race/ Events/MI/Grayling/FLEEELUDE5K10K

NATIVE PLANTING: 10am, Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve, by greenhouse/ workshop area, TC. Volunteers will learn about & take an active part in the Conservancy’s ongoing habitat restoration project by assisting with planting plugs grown in their greenhouse. Bring a reusable water bottle, snacks, sunscreen & bug spray. 9297911, ext. 316. gtrlc.org/volunteer/calendar

BOO BASH: 10:30am-4:30pm, The Curiosity Place, GT Mall, TC. Celebrate Halloween with the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. They are now The Curiosity Place & have moved to the Grand Traverse Mall. Wear your costumes & enjoy the Halloween Steam Spooky Science Lab, crafts &

games, Halloween Forest Trail, & haunted treats. Reserve your spot. $9 for general public; free for members. greatlakeskids.org ----------------------

HALLOWEEN FOR ALL: 11am-2pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Join Dennos Museum & Children’s Therapy Corner for the second annual sensory-friendly Halloween event. Visitors may self-select activities they would like to participate in, with descriptive maps provided at the entrance to the museum. Featuring pumpkin art projects, playdough monsters, coloring & activity pages, Discovery Gallery interactive exhibits, & Halloween treat bags. The Dutmers Theater will be a designated quiet room, offering an easily accessible space to take a break. Free. simpletix.com/e/halloween-for-all-tickets-179399

PUMPKIN PATCH PARTY: 11am-1pm, Traverse City Elks Lodge #323, 625 Bay St., TC. For ages 0-12. Fun activities, games, food & candy. Wear your costume! Free.

TRUNK OR TREAT: 11am-2pm, Zips 45th Parallel Harley-Davidson, Gaylord.

BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Bill O. Smith will sign his book, “A Chickadee Year.” horizonbooks.com/event/ bill-o-smith-book-signing

EAST JORDAN’S OPERATION BLANKET DISTRIBUTION: 1-5pm, outside of the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce Office in the Main Street Center Lobby (100 Main St.). Self-serve, on your honor. Please take what you need & leave the rest. ejchamber.org/event/east-jordansoperation-blanket-distribution

HALLOWEEN AT THE OAB: 1-3pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Halloween activities for the whole family. Enjoy cider & donuts, kids’s crafts, & face painting. Kids can decorate a goodie bag to take trick-or-treating at participating Leland businesses. (We’ll provide a map, so be sure to stop at the OAB first.) Costumes are encouraged! Free. oldartbuilding.com/events/halloween-at-the-oab ---------------- -- --

“LICKETY SPLIT”: 2pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Performed by the Aged to Perfection Senior Readers Theatre group, this fast-paced, rollicking group of short plays is filled with funny females & misbehaving men. From divas of the theater at the bedside of a dying rival to good ol’ boys baring secrets, laughs abound. No ticket required; free will contributions accepted. oldtownplayhouse.com/aged-to-perfection/performances/lickety-split.html

DOG HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST & PARTY: 2-4pm, The Back Lot, Petoskey. Get your costumes ready for your dogs & cats! Prizes for the best costumes, plus treats for all. LTBHS will be on hand with some cute furry friends that need homes. Adoption Event will take place on site. Free. petpantryharborsprings.com

HALLOWEEN AT IPL: 2-4pm, Interlochen Public Library. Spooky fun & ghostly goodies. Children can get creative with Halloween-themed crafts. Costumes encouraged. 231-276-6767.

MASHUP ROCK & ROLL MUSICAL PRESENTS “THE SOUND OF MUZIC”: 2pm & 7:30pm, The Grand Traverse Circuit, TC. A parody of the classic “The Sound of Music,” this feminist retelling sets the story in a zombie apocalypse. It is set with a rock & roll soundtrack. Tickets: $25-$38. mashuprockandrollmusical.com/upcomingshows-tickets

GHOSTBUSTERS THEMED HALLOWEEN OPEN HOUSE: 3-6pm, NorthShore Dock & Marine, Kewadin. Kids games, slime, hay ride, scavenger hunt & treats.

If you’re looking to change things up this Halloween, or just want something to do before the trick-ortreaters arrive, head to The Writing Center at Interlochen Center for the Arts! Meet Robyn Schiff, the author of four collections of poetry, including the volume Information Desk: An Epic (Penguin 2023) which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was awarded the Four Quartets Prize of the Poetry Society of America. Schiff also co-edits the independent poetry press Canarium Books and is a professor at the University of Chicago, among other accolades. This event starts at 4pm and is free. interlochen.org/events/afternoon-robyn-schiff-2024-10-31

Find ‘Halloween Open House at NorthShore Dock & Marine’ on Facebook. Free. ---------------- -- --

MONSTER CORN MAZE: 5:30-8pm, Cellar 1914, Central Lake. The Central Lake Prom Committee will be hosting the haunt! $5 per person. cellar1914.com/event-details/monster-corn-maze

ADULT HALLOWEEN DANCE: 7-11pm, TC Elks Lodge #323. Costume prize, cash bar, music by DJ Dave Sobiech. $15; includes appetizers. facebook.com/ events/1252264635908931

MAY ERLEWINE IN CONCERT: 7pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. May continues to share her gift for writing songs of substance that feel both new & soulfully familiar. Her lyrics offer a window into her heartbreak, her empowerment, & her emboldened spirit. $0-$40. simpletix.com/e/may-erlewine-tickets-179230

PIPELINE PERIL: 7pm, Trinity ChurchUnited Church, Northport. Jeff Smith of Groundwork will speak on Pipeline Peril, as it relates to Line 5 which is 70 years old & lies exposed on the bottom of the Mackinac Straits. This talk is part of the Belko Peace Lecture series. Free will offering.

THE PACK DRUMLINE: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. As seen on America’s Got Talent, The Pack Drumline brings an amazing blend of Southern style drumming & hip-hop choreography. Serving their 5th year as the Official Drumline for Chicago Sky (WNBA), The Pack has

performed across the country for many corporate clients like Mcdonald’s, Activision, RedBull, Coca-Cola, Northwestern Mutual & many more. $10-$45. greatlakescfa.org/ events/detail/the-pack-drumline

ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Presented by the Fine Arts Society of Detroit. Learn about the bizarre hunting traditions of the Escanaba, Michigan area. This play, originally written by Jeff Daniels, was adapted into the classic 2001 comedy film Escanaba in da Moonlight. $20 adults; $10 students.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE IN ONE ACT: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. A sextet of stars & pianist of New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players perform “The Pirates of Penzance” in one act, with the characters dressed in piratical & Victorian splendor. $40-$75. cityoperahouse.org/node/576

oct 27

Sunday

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE: 1pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Free. gardentheater.org/harrypotter-film-series

“LICKETY SPLIT”: (See Sat., Oct. 26)

---------------------A VERY HITCHCOCK HALLOWEEN DOUBLE FEATURE: Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. “Vertigo” (PG, 2 hrs., 8 min.) will be shown at 2pm, & “The Birds” (PG-13, 2 hrs.) at 7pm. $8 double

feature; $5 single film; free for 3 & under. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/a-veryhitchcock-halloween

PRESENTATION & BOOK SIGNING:

2-6pm, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Author Amy Piper will present & sign her book, “Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.” 231-237-0884. Free.

NORTH COUNTRY OPERA - THE MOVIE:

WEDNESDAY NOV 6 • 5PM-7PM

3:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Recorded Live at the Ark. The 40th Anniversary Revival of North Country Opera toured Michigan in Oct. of 2022. This screening is part of a sixstop tour throughout Michigan. You will be joined by one of the original cast members for a song & brief Q&A in advance of the screening. Set in the Buckhorn Bar in northern Michigan, it is the north country’s own version of a timeless love story. $15. oldartbuilding.com/ events/film-screening-north-country-opera

TRUNK-OR-TREAT: 4-5:30pm, Faith Reformed Church, TC. Join in the back parking lot for a safe alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating. Visit decorated trunks, collect candy, eat freshly-popped popcorn, play games, & more. There will be a petting zoo with farm animals on site. Wear a costume & bring something to put your candy in. No alcohol, weapons or pets allowed. Free.

COMEDY MIXTAPE #12: 7-9pm, The Workshop Brewing Co., TC. Comedy variety show. Improv, original sketch, parody songs, new formats & more. $10 suggested donation. tiltthink.com/about-1

THE DON JULIN TRIO - ALBUM RELEASE SHOW: 7:30-9:30pm, The Alluvion, TC. Don Julin celebrates the release of his new album, “Fractured Fiddle Tunes,” in trio form with Kevin Gills on bass & Joe Wilson on dobro. Julin is a mandolin player, commercial composer, recording engineer, & best-selling author. $20 advance; $25 door. thealluvion. org/tickets/don-julin-trio-10-27-24

monday

TECH TALK: 3pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Patricia Henkel will answer all of your questions about technology, AI & more. 231-223-7700.

NWS: PAULA HAWKINS: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Meet #1 New York Times bestselling author Paula Hawkins, author of “Girl on the Train,” which sold more than 23 million copies worldwide & was made into a major motion picture, starring Emily Blunt. Guest host & #1 bestselling author & NWS co-founder Doug Stanton will talk to Hawkins about her new novel “The Blue Hour.” $10-$52.50. nationalwritersseries.org/paula-hawkins

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION DAY: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, DeRoy Center for Film Studies. Join the Film and New Media Division for an evening of international animation. See films from Australia, China, Iran, India & the United States. The showing is rated PG-13 & may require trigger warnings. Free. interlochen.org

tuesday

PRESCHOOL STORY

TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Preschool children of all ages & their caregivers are invited to join each Tues. for stories, songs & more. Free. sbbdl.org

NOVELEMBER: 6-8pm, Kingsley Branch

Library. Every Tues. in November plus Oct. 29, write your novel! There will be guest speakers, weekly writing prompts, & refreshments. Bring your notebook or laptop. Oct. 29 will be the Novelember Kick-off where you will learn from prolific author Marshall Thornton. For ages 15+. Find ‘Novelember Write-in’ on Facebook. Free.

wednesday

NATIVE PLANTING: (See Sat., Oct. 26, except today’s time is 1pm.)

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION & LANTERN-LIT HIKE: 6pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Come dressed in your costume & celebrate Halloween with a self-guided lantern walk at the Boardman River Nature Center & surrounding trails. GTCD naturalists will host several seasonal activities in the Nature Center. Free; $5 recommended donation. natureiscalling.org/events/halloween-celebration-amp-lantern-lit-hike

DISSECTING THE DEFINITION OF “HEALTHY” WITH GABBY DAVIS: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Gabrielle Davis, racial equity & food justice manager for National Coop Grocers, will lead a discussion around dissecting the definition of eating healthy. Through speaking with co-op staff, patrons, & others all over the country about what eating healthy means to them, Gabby is continuously modifying her presentation. Free. oryana.coop/event/gabby-davis-dissecting-the-definition-of-healthy

thursday

COFFEE @ 10, PETOSKEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Liz Ahrens, former president of Crooked Tree Arts Center & current executive director of the American Impressionist Society, will share the benefits of joining a national artist organization. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/coffee-10-should-i-join-insights-national-artistorganizations-liz-ahrens

AN AFTERNOON WITH ROBYN SCHIFF: 4pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, The Writing Center. Robyn is the author of four collections of poetry, including the volume Information Desk: An Epic (Penguin 2023) which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Schiff coedits the independent poetry press Canarium Books & is a professor at the University of Chicago, where she is director of the Program in Creative Writing. Free. interlochen.org

TEEN MONSTER MASH: 4-6pm, Petoskey District Library, Teen Space. For tweens & teens (ages 12-18). Join for a graveyard smash! There will be snacks, creepy noises & prizes for those who dress up. petoskey. librarycalendar.com/event/monster-mashhalloween-381

TRUNK ‘R TREAT: 4-5pm, Bay Harbor Village. Runs along Main St. with cars lined up & trunks open with goodies for all.

BOYNE CITY HALLOWEEN PARADE: Line up at 4:30pm along Lake St. in front of Lake Street Market. The parade will begin at 4:45pm, moving north along Lake St. to Water St., turning at Park St. & ending at the First Presbyterian Church’s Trunk or Treat from 5-6pm. Trick or treating around town is from 5-8pm.

---------------------ALANSON TRUNK OR TREAT: 5-7pm, Alanson Public School. Park in the school parking lot, bring your candy, & deck out your trunk!

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COMMUNITY TRUNK-OR-TREAT IN ELLSWORTH: 5-6:30pm, Ellsworth Community Park. Enjoy treats, games & fun.

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DOWNTOWN GAYLORD TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT: 5-7pm. Candy will be passed out beneath the pavilion on Court & at participating businesses.

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FRANKFORT TRUNK OR TREAT: 5-8pm, Main St., downtown Frankfort. Bring your spooky car or truck to park downtown & give out treats or bring your kids to trick-or-treat.

TC TRICK OR TREATING: 5-8pm. Held within the TC limits. Participating residents are asked to promptly turn lights on & off at the specified times to indicate their participation to the public.

friday

HOLIDAY ARTIST MARKET: 10am-4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Featuring a variety of artful gifts in a festive marketplace. Admission is free. Special programming will be offered to enhance the experience for visitors of all ages. Participating artists & more info is available on the Museum Store web site. simpletix.com/e/2024holiday-artist-market-tickets-179401

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EAST JORDAN’S OPERATION BLANKET DISTRIBUTION: (See Sat., Oct. 26, except today’s time is 4:30-7pm.) ----------------------

University. Registration opens at 8am. Free. facebook.com/events/1080603126916427

ANNUAL SCANDINAVIAN BAZAAR: 10am-2pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort. Locally handmade crafts featuring Scandinavian tomtens made by church elves, as well as other crafted items. There will also be Scandinavian baked goods & many tasty confections that will jump start your holiday baking. Free. trinityfrankfort.org

AUTHOR TALK: 10am-noon, Interlochen Public Library. Join Barb Barton as she presents her book, “Manoomin The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan.” 231-276-6767.

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

HOLIDAY ARTIST MARKET: (See Fri., Nov. 1)

52ND ANNUAL FASHION SHOW FUNDRAISER: 11am-2pm, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Lange Center. Presented by the Zonta Club of Petoskey. Themed “Every Woman, Everyone, Everywhere,” this event will present its full runway show & highlight the latest fall & winter fashions from more than 30 retailers in the Petoskey-Harbor Springs area, & include an elegant lunch, entertainment, a silent auction & a gift basket raffle. Michelle Chenard will be the featured performer. $100. zontapetoskey.com

PETOSTree Gallery, Ahrens, forCrooked current Impresbenefits of Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/coffee-10-should-i-join-insights-national-artist-

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SCHIFF: The four colInforwhich Schiff coCanarium University of Program Petoskey tweens & graveyard noises petoskey. librarycalendar.com/event/monster-mashHarbor Villined up

PARADE: front of begin at Water First from from 5-7pm, school deck out

WARREN MILLER’S 75: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. Catch a diverse lineup of snowsports legends, Olympic hopefuls, world champions, X Games stars, & emerging talents on the big screen, including snowboarders Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, & Toby Miller, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Mark Abma, & Aaron Blunck. Presented by Crystal Community Ski Club. $25. cityoperahouse.org/node/612

“PRESENT LAUGHTER”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Harvey Theatre. British performer-playwright Noël Coward criticizes the life of a self-absorbed actor in his semi-autobiographical comedy “Present Laughter.” Join the Arts Academy Theatre Division & director Stephen John for a joyful reflection on fame & vanity. $19-$24. interlochen.org

saturday

ICEMAN COMETH CHALLENGE: 8:45am, Kalkaska Airport. The Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge & Tandem - Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge are FULL. There is still room in the Pro/Cat 1, Iceman Junior, Meijer Slush Cup, Tandem - Meijer Slush Cup, & Meijer Sno Cone. The Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge is around a 30-mile pointto-point cross-country mountain bike race from Kalkaska to TC. The Meijer Slush Cup & Sno-Cone events add an 8-mile course for beginning riders as well as a race for children 10 & under. For starting times & registration, visit web site. registericeman.com

ART & CRAFT SHOW: 9am-3pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Featuring more than 45 artists & crafters. Enjoy holiday shopping!

THE ELKS HOOP SHOOT: 9am, TC West Senior High Gym. A national free throw contest presented by TC Elks Lodge #323. All children who will be the age of 8-13 years as of April 1, 2025 are invited to participate. The first-place winners in each age category for both boys & girls will advance to the District Finals in January at Ferris State

HOLIDAY GIFT & CRAFT SHOW: 11am5pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. Support local artists & vendors with a big selection of gifts, crafts, art & more. Free, but non-perishable food & cash donations are being accepted at the door for the Manna Food Project. odawacasino.com

THE INDIANS OF THE MIDWEST & THEIR FIGHT FOR THEIR HOMELAND: 11am, Cadillac Wexford Public Library. Slide presentation by Robert Downes, author of “RAW DEAL - The Indians of the Midwest & Their Fight for Their Homeland.” Hosted by Friends of the Cadillac Wexford Public Library. Free. friendsofthecadillaclibrary.wordpress.com/upcoming-programs

EAST JORDAN’S OPERATION BLANKET DISTRIBUTION: (See Sat., Oct. 26)

NORTHPORT PROMISE SPEAKEASY NIGHT: 6-8:30pm, Willowbrook Mill, Northport. Arrive dressed to impress in Roaring 20’s attire. There will be bingo, heavy hors d’oeuvres, prizes, music & much more. Proceeds benefit the Northport Promise which helps Northport Public School kids receive scholarships for secondary education. Register. $75. northportpromise.com/speakeasy-night

18TH ANNUAL FALL FOR DANCE: 7-8pm, Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. The CTAC School of Ballet presents works choreographed by their students & celebrated guest choreographers. This year’s student works have been mentored by Robin Pettersen, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, & Peter Sparling, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan & regisseur and former principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company. $5-$50. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey-ctac-school-ballet/ ctac-school-ballet-presents-fall-dance-0

GOPHERWOOD HOUSE CONCERT: JEN SYGIT & BLAKE ELLIOTT: 7-8pm, 4320 E 46 Rd., Cadillac. Enjoy an evening of stories & songs. Sygit’s soulful folk & Americana sound blends with Elliott’s retro bluesy-jazz vibe. $9-$18 plus fees. mynorthtickets.com/events/jen-sygit-blakeelliott-11-2-2024

THE AMERICAN TENOR: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Acclaimed Michigan-born tenor, Glenn Seven Allen, returns to his home state to debut The

Natalie + Brittany Haas wsg Nic Gareiss

Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: Día de los Muertos

The Rodney Whitaker Septet feat vocalist Rockelle Whitaker

Big Fun @ Funky Fun Monday

Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: Mini Bird

The Jeff Haas Trio feat Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive

Jordan Hamilton wsg After Ours + Hannah Laine

Nancy Stagnitta's A Flutist's Journey: Classical, Jazz + Funk

Funky Uncle @ Funky Fun Monday

David Wilcox wsg Kyle Joe

Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: Mini Bird

Here:Say Storytelling: Twist of Fate

The Jeff Haas Trio feat Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive

Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: Mini Bird

Interlochen in Town: Sea Shanties and Siren Songs

Big Fun @ Funky Fun Monday

IPR presents: An Evening with Kenny Pheasant

Groundwork presents Blue Zone life in Northern Michigan

The Jeff Haas Trio feat Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive

Compton + Newberry wsg The North Carolines

Molly + full band wsg Amber Hasan

The Alluvion Big Band

Funky Uncle @ Funky Fun Monday

Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: Mini Bird

Lipstick Jodi + The Marsupials + Super Nuclear

Ava DiSimone

SECOND FLOOR COMMONGROUNDS BUILDING

American Tenor, a classical crossover concert blending opera & theater. Also features Conductor Isaac Hayward. $10-$62. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/the-american-tenor

“PRESENT LAUGHTER”: (See Fri., Nov. 1)

THE GORDON LIGHTFOOT TRIBUTE: 7:30pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. “Lightfoot - The Stories, The Songs” performed by Mike Fornes. Learn back stories & more of the songs written by Canada’s poet laureate. Enjoy Lightfoot’s classic radio hits along with popular album cuts particular to his early writings of lost love & heartbreak. $15-$30. theoperahouse.org

PARMALEE: 8-9:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. These contemporary country hitmakers are known for many favorites, including Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2022, “Take My Name.” $50-$80. lrcr.com/event/parmalee

THE OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS: 8pm, City Opera House, TC. Forming in 1971, this band started out as the Family Tree & produces sounds of country-rock & electric bluegrass all on the same record. Regularly played songs include “If You Wanna Get To Heaven,” “Jackie Blue,” “Chicken Train,” & many more. $20-$65. cityoperahouse.org/node/574

nov 03

Sunday

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS: 1pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Free. gardentheater.org/harrypotter-film-series

“PRESENT LAUGHTER”: (See Fri., Nov. 1, except today’s time is 2pm.)

HELLO DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND

III: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Year three of NoMi’s boutique celebration of shorter days - the end of daylight saving time. Celebrate the arrival of a comforting blanket of night with performances by Jack M. Senff and the Heartland Mission, Metal Bubble Trio, A.S. Lutes, & special guest performers. Doors open at 5:27pm (sundown). $20. cityoperahouse.org/node/621

LAMB’S LELAND SONGWRITERS CONCERT: 6:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Celebrate Springfed Art organization’s 30th annual songwriters retreat featuring artistsin-residence from John D. Lamb’s Retreat for Songwriters, being held Oct. 31 - Nov. 3 at the Jolli Lodge. Musicians include Michael Camp, Robby Hecht, Michael McNevin, Grace Pettis, Abigayle Kompst, & Sadie Gustafson-Zook. $20. oldartbuilding.com/ events/lambs-leland-songwriters-concert

ongoing

THE DEAD ENDS ON SPRUCE: 315 S. Spruce St., TC. See the awesome effects, sounds, animatronics, & surprises within this Halloween display. Without the jump scares or Halloween gore, all ages are welcome. Runs daily through Oct. from 6-10:30pm. Find ‘The Dead Ends on Spruce’ on Facebook. Free.

& locally grown produce & goods. Find ‘East Bay Corners Farmers Market’ on Facebook.

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INTERLOCHEN FARMERS MARKET: Sundays, 9am-2pm through Oct. 2112 Joe Maddy Parkway, Interlochen. Featuring 60+ vendors. Includes local produce, baked goods, arts & crafts, & more. facebook.com/InterlochenFarmersMarket

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SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: Runs every Weds. through Oct. from 8am-noon; & every Sat. through Oct. from 7:30am-noon. Held at Rotary Square in Downtown TC.

art

“NOMADS”: Higher Art Gallery, TC. A Fran De Anda exhibit. His work touches upon themes related to the human condition which he ties to ancient myths & archetypes. Concepts such as transformation, death, alchemy, the sacred, & the profane are explored through his paintings. Runs through Nov. 10. higherartgallery.com

FREE OPEN STUDIO TUESDAYS: Noon4pm, Boyne Arts Center, Boyne City. Bring your paints, fiber arts, written arts, sculpting, jewelry, cards, drawing, or other portable mediums. Create & share.

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“FARM-TO-WALL”: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. Enjoy an array of 2D & 3D works inspired by the rural beauty of our area & the farm-to-table movement. Featuring artwork by nine local & regional artists. Runs through Oct. 26. Check web site for hours. charlevoixcircle.org

BIRDS FLY IN: A HUMAN REFUGE: The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Grand Ballroom, Manistee. Art, music & poetry by Ellie Harold. Runs through Oct. ramsdelltheatre.org

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ARTIST KATIE LOWRAN: SOLO EXHIBITION “WILD THINGS”: Three Seasons Gallery, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Runs through Oct. This exhibition celebrates the untamed beauty of the natural world, bringing together a vibrant collection of artworks featuring animals, flowers, & people. thebotanicgarden.org/visit/#aotm2

UNIQUE ART OF ANTRIM COUNTY OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT: Downtown Bellaire. Featuring 12 local artists’ works on display. After the exhibit the artwork will be auctioned off, & these funds will help fund future public art exhibitions in Downtown Bellaire. Runs through Oct. 31. bellaireart.wixsite.com/bellaireart

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: Saturdays, 10am-1pm in the Visual Arts Room. Free drop-in art studio for the whole family. New projects are offered weekly. crookedtree.org

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP/CLASS: East Bay Branch Library, TC. Held on Thursdays (except holidays) through mid-Dec. from 1-3pm. 922-2085. Free. tadl.org/ event/understanding-your-grief-17583

FARMERS MARKET

EAST BAY CORNERS FARMERS MARKET: Thursdays, 3-7pm through Oct. 31, 1965 N 3 Mile Rd., TC. Featuring fresh

- 77TH ANNUAL MICHIGAN WATER COLOR SOCIETY EXHIBITION: Runs through Nov. 2 in Gilbert Gallery. Featuring the 30 works selected for recognition by the juror, Stan Kurth, from 193 submissions by 105 artists. Stan Kurth is an award winning artist & instructor, best known for his intuitive approach to painting. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/77th-annual-michigan-watercolor-society-exhibition

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- IDENTITY MAPS: JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: Runs through

Nov. 2 in Bonfield Gallery. Featuring 48 photo-based works that explore dynamic interplays between identity, community, & place, selected by the juror, Amy Sacka. The 26 artists explored the theme through a variety of approaches, including digital, analog, mixed media, & cyanotype photography. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/identity-mapsjuried-photography-exhibition

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:

- MICHIGAN: AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT: Held in Cornwell Gallery. An art & culture exhibition that looks at the history, people, & natural environment of the state of Michigan. Through original works of art by Michigan artists, relationships between place, identity, & the human experience are explored. Runs through Oct. 26. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/michigan-american-portrait

- TIMES 2: Held in Carnegie Galleries. Featuring artwork created from recycled & upcycled materials. Runs through Oct. 26. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traversecity/times-2

- THE EKPHRASTIC: Held in Carnegie Rotunda. Poets & writers are encouraged to write poems or verse based on artworks on exhibit at Crooked Tree. Both written works & the inspiring artwork will be displayed & accompanied by readings with the authors. Exhibit runs through Oct. 26. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ekphrastic

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- “A BEAUTIFUL MESS: WEAVERS & KNOTTERS OF THE VANGUARD”: The eleven artists in this exhibition transform rope, yarn, clay, wire, & extension cords into wall hangings & sculptures that range from minimal & hyper-organized to expansive, organic installations. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

- “KATRINA BELLO: SKY INTO STONE”: A solo exhibition by Katrina Bello featuring charcoal & soft pastel drawings created around the time of her Tusen Takk residency in 2023. Runs through Jan. 5. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

- A STYLE ALL OUR OWN: CANADIAN WOODLAND ARTISTS: Runs through May 25. In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, & Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the Father of the Woodland School. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/ art/now-on-view/canadian-woodlandartists.html

- CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CERAMICS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. An array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, this is a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, & ages. These artworks are drawn from the curated collection of Carol & Jeffrey Horvitz, some of the leading collectors of Japanese contemporary outside of Japan. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am4pm. Closed on major holidays. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/ index.html

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- OUTDOOR GALLERY EXHIBIT: MARGO BURIAN + ORDINARY MAGIC: Leelanau County artist Margo Burian’s collages have been chosen for display in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2024-25 Outdoor Gallery exhibition, an annual, invitational exhibit. Burian’s collages are rooted in the idea of Ordinary Magic, or delight. They were reproduced on five, 5-foot-square, weather-resistant aluminum panels created by Image 360 of TC. Runs through April 20, 2025. Check web site for hours. glenaborart.org

- SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY EXHIBITION + GRATEFUL GATHERING: The 2024 Small Works Holiday Exhibition is an annual showcase of 2D + 3D work that offers small, original art at affordable prices; $150 or less. It runs Nov. 1 - Dec. 19 & features more than 100 works of art. There is a preview week, Nov. 1-7, for leisurely online or in-gallery perusal of the exhibition. Small Works objects will be ready for acquisition during the Grateful Gathering open house on Nov. 8, 6-8pm. Enjoy music performed by harpist Sylvia Norris, refreshments, & morsels while perusing the exhibit, & the pop-up holiday store. glenaborart.org

- WILD THINGS: Held in the Lobby Gallery. This exhibit is an homage to the natural world, & the creatures in it, as expressed in the collages by Benzie County artist Claudia Keglovitz. It runs through Dec. 19. Almost every aspect & element of Claudia’s compositions are created from recycled, reused, & found materials. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/exhibits

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- “RESONANCE AND RHYTHM”: This exhibit opens with a free reception on Fri., Oct. 25 from 5-7pm, & continues through Nov. 30. It highlights the work of four Michigan artists & focuses on the interplay of the abstract & organic as showcased in the whimsical & sculptural wood furniture of John DeHoog & the mixed media abstract paintings of Christy DeHoog Johnson. Michelle Krievins-Newman’s layered, color field paintings create a rhythmic balance against the geometries & patterns explored by Joan Richmond in her interpretive landscape paintings. The Oliver Art Center is open Tues-Sat. from 10am-4pm & Sun. from noon-4pm. oliverart.org

- TRANSFIGURATION: THE ART OF UPCYCLING: Runs through Nov. 8. Trash to treasure! Transfiguration, an exhibition showcasing artists who breathe new life into the discarded. Featuring surprising & detailed works of art made from everyday objects most of us wouldn’t give a second glance. Check web site for hours. oliverart.org Deadline

THE SEASON FOR GATHERING IS COMING

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. Central United Methodist Church D o w n t o w n T r a v e r s e C i t y

ENCORE 201, TC

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ Ricky T & DJ Jr, 9

11/1 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 8-10:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2

11/2 -- DJ Ricky T, 8

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC

11/1 -- David Lawston, 7-10

IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC

11/1 -- Drew Hale, 6-9

JACOB'S FARM, TC

10/26 – Jeff Tucker Band, 6

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

10/25-26 -- Scarkazm, 9:30 Mon -- Team Trivia, 7-9 Tue -- The Will Harris Trio, 8 Wed -- The Pocket, 8 Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30 11/1-2 -- Risque, 9:30

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

10/29 – Open Mic, 6-7 10/31 – Trivia Night w/ Host Marcus Anderson, 7-9

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:

10/28 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM:

11/1 -- John Piatek, 5-7

LIL BO, TC

11/1 – Monster Mash Halloween Bash w/ Karaoke, 8 Tues. – Trivia, 8-10 Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC 10/26 – Adult Halloween w/ Clint Weaner, 7

MARI VINEYARDS, TC

4-6: 10/29 -- Gary Wilson 10/31 -- Your New Neighbors

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC 10/26 -- What's Up Chuck,

8-11

11/1 -- Tai Drury, 6-9

NORTH BAR, TC 7-10:

10/26 – Swan Bros, 7-10; Tropical Halloween Bash, 8 10/30 – Jesse Jefferson, 7-10

11/1 – Jimmy Olson, 7-10 11/2 – Chris Sterr, 7-10

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC

SEVEN HILLS, PENINI:

10/26 -- Mark Daisy, 6 10/30 -- Jimmy Olson, 6 11/1 -- Blair Miller, 6-9 11/2 -- Reminisce - Jim & Dave, 6:30

SORELLINA'S, TC SLATE RESTAURANT: Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8 Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

THE ALLUVION, TC

10/27 -- The Alluvion Big Band, 3; The Don Julin Trio - Album Release Show, 7:30-9:30

10/28 -- Funky Uncle - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30 10/31 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30 11/1 -- Natalie & Brittany Haas w/ Nic Gareiss, 7:309:30

11/2 -- The Rodney Whitaker Septet feat. vocalist Rockelle Whitaker, 7:30-8:30

THE COIN SLOT, TC

10/26 -- 5th Annual Booze + Beats Bash w/ Protea, DJ E-Knuf, Sense Taker & DJ Roksteady, 6 10/31 – Speed Trivia, 7-9

THE HAYLOFT INN, TC 10/25-26 -- Tyler Gitchel's Traditional Country Show, 7:30-11

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

10/26 -- Classic Halloween Bash w/ DJ Wolinski, 8

11/2 -- Day of the Dead Celebration with DJ Botala, 8-10

THE PARLOR, TC

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ Rhett & John, 6-9; Dance Party w/ Producer AJ from BayB Productions, 9

10/29 – Jesse Jefferson, 8-11

10/30 – Boardman River Band, 8-11

11/1 – Jazz Cabbage, 8-11 11/2 – Brett Mitchell, 8-11

THE PUB, TC

10/26 – Luke Woltanski & John Piatek Trio, 8-11

10/28 – Mon. Night Karaoke, 8-11

10/30 – Zeke Clemons, 7-10

10/31 – Brett Mitchell & The Mitchfits, 8-11

11/1 – Drew Hale, 8-11

11/2 – The Pocket, 8-11

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ Stonefolk, 8

10/27 -- Full Tilt Comedy Mix Tape #17, 7

10/29 -- Open Mic Night, 6:30

10/30 -- Jazz Show & Jam, 6 11/2 -- Delilah DeWylde, 8

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO:

10/26 -- Tower of Bauer, 6:30-9:30

TURTLE CREEK CASINO, WILLIAMSBURG 9-1:

10/26 – Brett Mitchell & The Mitchfits 11/1 – DJ Mr. Markis 11/2 – One Hot Robot

UNION STREET STATION, TC 10/26 -- Soul Patch, 10 10/31 -- 1Wave Halloween Glow Rave, 9

Antrim & Charlevoix

BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ Jamarr, 7-10

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ, 7-10

11/1 -- DJ Bingo, 6:30-8:30

HOTEL EARL, CHARLEVOIX

11/1 -- DJ Parker Marshall, 7:30-10:30

JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX

10/30 -- Trivia Night, 7

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE

10/30 – DJ Trivia, 7-9

MAREK'S HARBOR GRILL, CHARLEVOIX

10/26 -- The Flybridge Halloween Party w/ DeJaylmar, 8-11

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

10/26 -- Halloween Party!

nitelife

Leelanau & Benzie

BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY BISTRO POLARIS, 6-8: 10/26 -- Christina Teresa 11/2 -- Jakob Abraham

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE VISTA LOUNGE: 10/26 -- Trivia Night w/ DJ Trivia, 6

DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT 10/27 – Rhett & John, 3-6

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH

10/31 -- Trivia Night, 6

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

10/31 -- Billy & The Kid, 4

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

10/26 -- Larz Cabot, 5:307:30

10/27 -- Keith Scott, 3:305:30

11/1 – Nick Veine, 6-8 11/2 – Frank Pfaff, 5:30-7:30

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 10/26 -- The BooneDoggies, 6:30-9:30

10/31 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

11/1 -- Tim Jones & Aaron Dye, 6:30-9:30 11/2 -- Drew Hale, 6:30-8:30

LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY

11/1 -- Blake Elliott, 6-9

Emmet & Cheboygan

RIVER CLUB, GLEN ARBOR 5-8:

10/26 -- Loose Change

10/31 -- Larz Cabot

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

11/1 -- Friday Night Live w/ Jeff Socia, 4-7

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

10/26 -- Sandy & the Bandits, 5-8

10/31 -- Open Mic Night, 6-9

11/1 -- Aaron Dye, 5-8 11/2 -- Billy & The Kid, 5-8

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

10/26 -- Keith Scott, 7-9

Costume Karaoke Contest w/ T-Bone, 8

SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE

10/26 -- Halloween Party: Fluffy, A Tribute to Ween, 8-10:30

TOONIES RESTAURANT & BAR, BELLAIRE

10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ & Karaoke, 7 10/28 -- Trivia 4 Charity, 6:30

BAR HARBOR, HARBOR SPRINGS

10/31 -- DJ Parker Marshall, 9

BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY

ROOT CELLAR:

10/26 -- Halloween Boogie w/ DJ Franck & Yakob, 7

BOB'S PLACE, ALANSON 10/30 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2-6: 10/26 -- Michelle Chenard 11/2 -- Two Track Mind

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

10/26 -- Annual Halloween Bash w/ Straits Shooters, 9 10/29 -- Trivia Night, 7-9 11/1 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE 11/2 – Parmalee, 8-9:30

NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA 6:

GYPSY DISTILLERY, PETOSKEY

10/26 -- Halloween Bash w/ DJ Parker Marshall, 8

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR

10/31 -- Thursday Trivia, 7-9

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

10/26 -- Sydni K, 7-10

10/30 -- Singo Bingo, 6:30 11/1 -- Charlie Witthoeft, 7-10 11/2 -- The Shouting Bones, 7-9

NORTHLAND BREWING CO., INDIAN RIVER

10/26 -- Sean Miller, 6-9 10/31 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ Franck, 5

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 10/26 -- Halloween Bash, 9-11:30

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS 3-6: 10/26 -- Underleaf Band 10/27 -- Charlie's Root Fusion

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 10/26 -- The Beau House Band, part of Ahab & Smelt Dippers, 8; Afterglow Party From Escanaba in Da Moonlight Cast & Crew, 9 10/31 -- Musicians Playground Open Mic, 7 11/1 -- Vertical Limit, 7 11/2 -- Mark Bowen, 7

THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER 10/31 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:30-9:30

& Missaukee

10/26 -- Howard Wilson 11/2 -- John Pomeroy & Angela Caro

THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/PRIMOS, CADILLAC 10/26 -- Halloween Party w/ DJ Shawny-D, 7

10/30 – Trivia & Music Bingo Night w/ DJ Shawny-D, 6-9

10/31 – Kids Karaoke, 6-7; Adults Karaoke, 7-10 11/1 – Brett Mitchell & The Mitchfits, 7

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 10/26 -- Jim Akan, 6-9 11/2 -- Pete Fetters, 6-8

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 11/1 -- Randy Reszka, 6

KARMA TAPROOM, GAYLORD

10/26 -- Monster Mash w/ DJ Jack, 8

SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD 10/31 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

Manistee, Wexford

lOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio painter Pablo Picasso has been described as a "masterfully erratic pioneer." He influenced every art movement of the 20th century. His painting *Guernica* is a renowned anti-war statement. Though he was a Communist, he amassed great wealth and owned five homes. Today, his collected work is valued at over $800 million. By the way, he was the most prolific artist who ever lived, producing almost 150,000 pieces. I nominate him to be your role model in the coming weeks. You are due for a Season of Successful Excess. Halloween costume suggestion: an eccentric, charismatic genius.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient Egypt, onions were precious because they symbolized the many-layered nature of life. Just as some modern people swear oaths while placing a hand on a Bible, an Egyptian might have pledged a crucial vow while holding an onion. Would you consider adopting your own personal version of their practice in the coming weeks, Leo? It is the oath-taking season for you—a time when you will be wise to consider deep commitments and sacred resolutions. Halloween costume suggestion: a spiritual initiate or devotee.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Two of the world's most famous paintings are the Mona Lisa and *The Last Supper*. Both were made by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), one of the world's most famous painters. Yet the brilliant artist left us with only 24 paintings in total, many of which were unfinished. Why? Here are two of several reasons: He worked slowly and procrastinated constantly. In the coming months, Virgo, feel you will have resemblances to the version of da Vinci who created *The Last Supper* and the Mona Lisa Some of your best, most enduring work will bloom. You will be at the peak of your unique powers. Halloween costume suggestion: Leonardo da Vinci or some great maestro.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “When you are faced with a choice between two paths, it’s always better to take the most difficult one.” What!? No! That’s not true! A shamanic psychotherapist gave me that bad advice when I was young, and I am glad I did not heed it. My life has been so much better because I learn from joy and pleasure as much as from hardship. Yes, sometimes it’s right to choose the most challenging option, but on many occasions, we are wise to opt for what brings fun adventures and free-flowing opportunities for creative expression. That’s what I wish for you right now. Halloween costume suggestion: a hedonist, a liberator, a bliss specialist.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian Keith Richards, guitar player for the Rolling Stones since 1962, is a gritty, rugged man notorious for his rowdy carousing. Lots of observers predicted he would die at a young age because of his boisterous lifestyle, yet today he is 81 years old and still partying. But here's his confession: "I never sleep alone. If there is no one to sleep next to, I'll sleep next to a stuffed animal. It makes me feel secure and safe. It's a little embarrassing to admit it. It's important to me, though." I bring this up, Sagittarius, because feel that no matter how wild and free you are, you will be wise to ensure that you feel extra secure and supported for a while. Halloween costume suggestion: a stuffed animal or a lover of stuffed animals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Halloween offers us a valuable psychological opportunity. We can pretend to perform our shadowy, wounded, and unripe qualities without suffering the consequences of literally acting them out. We can acknowledge them as part of our make-up, helping to ensure they won’t develop the explosive, unpredictable power that repressed qualities can acquire. We may even gently mock our immature qualities with sly humor, diminishing the possibility they will sabotage us. All that’s a preamble for my Halloween costume suggestion for you: a dictator or tyrant. If you have fun playing with your control-freak fantasies, you will be less likely to over-express them in real life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Paganism and astrology have key affinities. For instance, they both understand that our personal rhythms are connected with the Earth's cycles. I bring this to your attention because

we are in the season that pagans call Samhain, halfway bet ween the equinox and solstice. For Aquarians, this festival marks a time when you are wise to honor and nurture your highest ambitions. You can generate fun and good fortune by focusing on lofty goals that express your finest talents and offer your most unique gifts. How might you boost your passion and capacity to make your mark on the world? Halloween costume suggestion: your dream career.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): like how you are opening, widening, and heightening! Keep up the good work, Pisces! I am cheering you on as you amplify, stretch, augment, and burgeon. Here’s a small alert, though: You may be expanding so fast and so far that it’s a challenge for less expansive people to keep up—even your allies. To allay their worries, be generous in sharing the fruits of your thriving spaciousness. Let them know you don’t require them to match your rate of growth. You could also show them this horoscope. Halloween costume suggestion: a broader, brighter, bolder version of yourself.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many people believe in the existence of ghosts. If you’re not yet one of them, you may be soon. The spirit world is more open than usual to your curiosity and explorations. Keep in mind, though, that the contacts you make might not be with ghosts in the usual sense of that term. They might be deceased ancestors coming to deliver clues and blessings. They could be angels, guardian spirits, or shapeshifting messengers. Don’t be afraid. Some may be weird, but they’re not dangerous. Learn what you can from them, but don’t assume they’re omniscient and infallible. Halloween costume suggestion: one of your ancestors.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When you attended kindergarten, did you ever share your delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich with friends who didn't like the broccoli and carrots in their lunch boxes? If so, you may be well-primed to capitalize on the opportunities now in your vicinity. Your generous actions will be potent catalysts for good luck. Your eagerness to bestow blessings and share your resources will bring you rewards. Your skill at enhancing other people's fortunes may attract unexpected favors. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, charity worker, or an angel who gives away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For you, dear Gemini, the coming weeks could be the least superstitious time ever. There will be no such thing as bad luck, good luck, or weird luck. Fears rooted in old misunderstandings will be irrelevant. Irrational worries about unlikely outcomes will be disproven. You will discover reasons to shed paranoid thoughts and nervous fantasies. Speaking on behalf of your higher self, I authorize you to put your supple trust in logical thinking, objective research, and rational analysis. Halloween costume suggestion: a famous scientist you respect.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Which sign of the zodiac is sexiest? Smoldering Scorpios, who are so inherently seductive they don't even have to try to be? Radiant Leos, whose charisma and commanding presence may feel irresistible? Electrifying Aries, who grab our attention with their power to excite and inspire us? In accordance with current astrological omens, I name you Cancerians as the sexiest sign for the next three weeks. Your emotional potency and nurturing intelligence will tempt us to dive into the depths with you and explore the lyrical mysteries of intimate linkage. Halloween costume suggestion: sex god, sex goddess, or the nonbinary Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara.

“Jonesin” Crosswords

ACROSS

"30 For 30" --thirty years*, so let's go themeless! by Matt Jones

1. "Pulp Fiction" star [*November 4 marks the 30th anniversary of my professional crossword debut, so here's a throwback to that first puzzle!]

11. SALT concerns

15. "No, you got the wrong number, this is ___" (Chief Wiggum quote on "The Simpsons")

16. Devonshire cream lump

17. Vehicle in a 1967 thought experiment

18. Old board game that means "I play" in Latin

19. Garfunkel and ___ (musical comedy duo)

20. To some degree

22. Jellied delicacy

23. Abbr. after Cleveland or Washington

25. Baltic Sea tributary

26. Dominant Mexican political party for most of the 20th century

27. Moliere play segment, maybe

30. "Benevolent" group

32. Alter

34. It's also called a "majestic plural"

36. First human in space

38. Gets at

39. Struggle

40. Hard hitters of ancient literature?

41. Specialized vocabularies

42. Dash instruments

43. Words before "I say!"

45. Even ___ (chance of Kamala Harris winning the election)

46. ___ streak

47. Romanov ruler

49. Taco Bell's Live ___ Scholarship

51. Trucker's ID need

52. "Hoo boy ..."

54. Croupiers' equipment

58. CT scan units

60. Surgical protection

62. Vet school subj.

63. Compliment, for some

64. Chat signoff

65. Engaging

DOWN

1. "Once more ___ the breach ..."

2. Paul Sorvino's daughter

3. In ___-so-distant future

4. Video visits with a doctor, e.g.

5. His most famous work opens with "Mars, the Bringer of War"

6. "Ceci n'est pas ___ pipe"

7. Co-authors Margret and H.A., for instance

8. New Zealand's highest peak

9. Party after prizes?

10. Sur's opposite

11. Letters often on an injury report

12. 1901-1904, in art history

13. Got with the times

14. Impassivity

21. Zaragoza's region

24. "Ratatouille" setting

27. Noble

28. "Police Academy" head rank

29. Norm's time to shine?

31. What shields allow you to take, in RPGs

33. Dip with fruit, onions, and salt

35. Snows

37. Workplace antidiscrimination focus

44. Talented talker

48. Lug

50. Laser gas

53. Cardinals' beaks

55. "Today" host until sometime in 2025

56. First name in jumping

57. Sun-baked

59. 2011 World Series hat letters

61. "Hollywood Squares" block

CLASSIFIEDS

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