Traverse Northern Michigan, November 2023

BEES, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING Enterprising sisters make bees their business

PLUS:

Finding Romance in the Ordinary 4 Dreamy Maple Desserts for Your Fall Table

11.2023 ROASTED CHESTNUTS / FESTIVE HOLIDAY EVENTS / WINTER ROCKHOUNDING TIPS NOVEMBER 2O23

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features 11.23

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT UP NORTH PEOPLE, PLACES, FOOD AND EVENTS.

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MAPLE RUSH

Dear Michigan maple syrup fans, behold a smattering of decadent desserts, just in time for your holiday table. photo by Dave Weidner; styling by Sarah Peschel

BY EMILY TYRA PHOTOS BY DAVE WEIDNER / STYLING BY SARAH PESCHEL

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B E E S , LO V E A N D U N D E R S TA N D I N G

On a wing and a prayer, two sisters go from bee-keeping hobbyists to entrepreneurs with a vision: to help bees help you.

BY KANDACE CHAPPLE / PHOTOS BY COURTNEY KENT

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INTERSECTIONS

Justin Shull paints with an eye to how we connect: people to landscape, art to business, humans with each other.

BY CARA MCDONALD / ARTWORK BY JUSTIN SHULL

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9 | UP NORTH

Kick off the holiday season at festive small-town events; artist Mary Beth Acosta romances the retro; a new Petoskey boutique offers whimsical delights for children.

46 | ON THE TABLE

After singing about them for years, it’s high time we actually roast some chestnuts at home.

48 | LOVE OF THE LAND

Take a sunrise hike to the top of Marquette’s Black Rocks.

16 | OUTDOORS

This winter, plan the cold-weather rockhounding trip of your dreams.

WE’VE MOVED!

412 N St Josephs • Suttons Bay 231-252-4132

photo by Sarah Goodwin; art by Mary Beth Acosta

41 | CULINARY NORTH

Community support meets good eats at After 26 Depot, a café offering employment opportunities for developmentally- and cognitively-impaired adults. Plus, graband-go holiday treats at Peninsula Provisions.

45 | SIP

The buzz around town.

Follow Us On Social Media

13

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ON THE COVER Sisters Kim Ambrose and Kelly Bonnema of Sister Bees photo by Courtney Kent

4 T R AV E R S E N O R T H E R N M I C H I G A N

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Traverse

NORTHERN

MICHIGAN A MyNorth Media Publication

Vol. 43 | No. 6

PRESIDENT

Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SENIOR EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST CULINARY COLUMNIST

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Read informative articles about us at MyNorth.com: search Sidock Group

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Periodicals class postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49684 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Traverse Northern Michigan, 415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684. Advertising rates available upon request. Subscription rate: $29.95 for 12 issues. Single issue price: $6.50.

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Editor’s Note

I

rolled into the tru fit trouser complex just as the sun was cresting the trees on a crisp fall morning. The urban industrial community of artistic professionals was created way ahead of its time—before the housing crunch of Covid19 and whatever fill-in-the-blank economic convergences have created. I was here to visit with artist Justin Shull, a painter whose landscapes we’d fallen in love with having seen them exhibited around the area (most recently and in full effect in the gate area of the Cherry Capital Airport).

The studio was cool and homey, full of natural light and houseplants, a commuter bike parked under one of his large-scale canvases—new work, he explained, less observational, more experimental. More personal and philosophical. Harder to sell.

I asked if we could put a pin in that for a minute and circle back. Traditionally, talking about what sells is tricky (dirty?) territory for fine artists, many of whom walk a fine line between creating a life to make art and making art to create a life.

Among the more conceptual pieces is a study of a table off the back of the farmhouse he and his now ex-wife, also an artist, had bought and rehabbed in 2017. The couple had come to Northern

by CARA MCDONALD Michigan in search of an artsfriendly community, a “micropolitan” area that would provide a supportive culture and a quality of life that would allow them to support and raise a family somewhere welcoming and humane and good.

With changing family dynamics came a reckoning.

Shull now lives full-time in his live/work studio at Tru Fit. He has had to contemplate the balance of the kind of work he is creating, as well as how many, how large, how familiar, how sellable they need to be in order for him to earn a living after the galleries take their cut. And if that means painting familiar landscapes, so be it—he is an artist, and if that’s how the money comes, then he’ll pick up a brush and paint. He’s already spent too many years working around and adjacent to his art. Life is too short not to do what he was born to do.

We talk more in this issue with Shull about this crossroads in his life and work, and it made me think about my own, and our own, as a community. The quality of my life is shaped so much by this place, and that might be an unbearably precious worldview. Would I be as happy without my wooded walks in the Commons, my indie coffee shop, my favorite alleys with their sagging garages, the open mic nights and literary fests and farmers markets? Doubtful.

I’m not a fine artist, but as a journalist and writer, I fall under the same spindly, windblown umbrella. Just today I was reading a social media rant about the paywall on a local newspaper. Some good voices chimed in, those who

A PLACE FOR ART

"Winter Forsythia" by Justin Shull

realize that the work is foundational to a healthy community, it costs money to create and the people who create it need to be able to live.

I guess people could argue that maybe being Up North is a luxury that writers and journalists and artists can’t afford, and that’s the way of the world and no one’s fault.

And it is and it isn’t. As a country, our inventory of vacant housing is at a painful five percent; in Traverse City, it’s an unbearable .7 percent. We need housing, full stop; safe and decent year-round places—not the ninemonth glut of cast-off Airbnbs and motel rooms—for people to build lives, grow businesses, raise families and create beauty.

Art can help anchor a place even as that place changes.

Artists don’t just show us a literal reflection of place, but they hold up a mirror to what we value and who we are as human beings, with all the beauty, pain, confusion and joy.

They help us better know that we are not alone and that we belong by creating community across boundaries and increasing our understanding of the world and each other.

We need our creative underbelly, soft and vulnerable as it is. We need places for artists to live and create—not just some summer cabins where they can get away and paint for a bit, but a place among us.

Beyond housing, we could rally around our arts community the way we did our wineries and restaurants during Covid. Make the donation. Take the class. Buy the thing. Spread the word. Keep them doing what they’re doing. We know that the way to keep the things we profess to love is to pull together and embrace them as part of everyday life, keeping them close so they don’t slip away for good.

Cara McDonald, Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

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Up North.

PEOPLE | NATURE | ARTS | NOSTALGIA | BUZZ | WISDOM | CURIOSITIES

Traditions, Tree Lightings & Parades NOVEMBER 3–5 & 10–12 Toast the Season

Spend a weekend tasting your way along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. The annual Toast the Season event features pours and food pairings at participating wineries, each offering its own experiences, from cozy fireside nooks to riverside patios and bright blue lake views. While each ticket holder can travel along the wine trail at their own pace, reservations are highly recommended.

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NOVEMBER 11 Toy Town Toy Trot 5k

photo courtesy of Manistee County Visitors Bureau

Over the past 11 years, Toy Town and the Cadillac Salvation Army, with the help of community partners, have been able to give $65,000 worth of toys to families in need during the holidays.

This annual race helps raise funds for Toys for Tots of Wexford and Missaukee counties. cadillacmichigan.com

NOVEMBER 18

Traverse City Light Parade

A favorite downtown tradition that celebrates Santa’s arrival to his house at Rotary Square. downtowntc.com

NOV. 23-DEC. 30

Holiday Lasers on the Ore Dock

Marquette merges local history and modern technology with a laser light display on the iconic Lower Harbor Ore Dock on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. travelmarquette.com

EVENTS

NOVEMBER 24

NORTH COUNTRY REVELRIES

Shop locally on Black Friday in Leland then welcome Santa to town later that evening. lelandmi.org

Kick off the holiday season at these festive small-town events. curated by CARLY SIMPSON

PJ Party & Light Up Leland

NOVEMBER 24 Gaylord’s Downtown Christmas Stroll

Visit your favorite shops and enjoy decorated luminarias, a window display contest, Santa parade and tree lighting ceremony. gaylordmichigan.net

NOVEMBER 24 Holly Jolly Boyne

Dressed in holiday finery, Boyne City sparkles during the annual holiday parade. Join Santa as he travels to the tree lighting in Old City Park. boynecitymainstreet.com N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

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Downtown Petoskey

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Up North EVENTS

NOVEMBER 24

Charlevoix Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting

Nab complimentary cookies and cocoa next to the Community Christmas Tree in East Park then ohhh-ahhh over the dazzling parade floats. visitcharlevoix.com

NOVEMBER 25

Harbor Springs Christmas Tree Lighting

This city’s historic holiday tradition is celebrating 108 years.

Stay for caroling. harborspringschamber.com

NOVEMBER 25

Suttons Bay Holiday in the Village

Shop downtown stores, visit with reindeer, see Santa on his fire truck, help decorate the village tree and more family-friendly fun. suttonsbayarea.com

NOVEMBER 25

Aglow on the Avenue Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting

A spectacular six-week holiday market featuring more than 30 local artists. charlevoixcircle.org

NOVEMBER 18

Traverse City Shop and Sip

Browse home décor, jewelry, mouthwatering treats and one-of-a-kind artworks, all crafted by talented Michigan artisans. Held at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, this year’s marketplace covers a whopping 50,000 square feet.

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NOVEMBER 25

Holly Berry Art & Crafts Fair

An annual gathering of craft and art exhibitors at Frankfort High School. Don’t miss the complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides. frankfort-elberta.com

Bring your family to Ludington and welcome Santa to town. More fun: Small Business Saturday promotions, horse-drawn carriage rides, a parade, tree lighting, carols and cookies. pureludington.com

Comedy, Live Music & Stage Performances

Downtown Shopping & Artisan Markets NOVEMBER 11

Little Traverse Civic Theatre in Petoskey presents a C.S. Lewis classic, recreating the magic and mystery of Aslan the great lion, the White Witch and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the never-to-be-forgotten Narnia. ltct.org

Shop Your Community Day

left photo by Dave Weidner; bottom photo by Allison Jarrell

NOV. 17-DEC. 30

Charlevoix Circle mARkeT

Support your favorite nonprofit by shopping downtown Traverse City. For every purchase made at participating merchants, 15 percent of the sale will be donated to the organization of your choice. downtowntc.com

NOVEMBER 16-19

Christmas on the Farm

Myrtle & Maudes in Williamsburg features plenty of shopping (think holiday décor and Michigan-made gifts) and a free hot cocoa bar.

Santa arrives on Sunday with his reindeer and EM Creative Photography will be offering professional photos with the big guy. myrtleandmaudes.com

NOV. 2–5 & NOV. 9–11

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

NOVEMBER 3-4

Lindsay Glazer at Traverse City Comedy Club

Lindsay Glazer—a standup comedian, voiceover artist, writer, lawyer and expert witness who tours all over the country—is inspired by her sassy but brilliant 6-year-old daughter and her own experience as a successful trial lawyer. She’s been seen at Gilda’s Laugh Fest, Asheville Comedy Festival and Big Pine Comedy Festival, to name a few.

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NOVEMBER 17

NOVEMBER 11

Shop, sip and stroll the streets of Petoskey. Scope out gifts for yourself and your loved ones while playing games, winning prizes and snacking your way through town. petoskeydowntown.com

Gopherwood Concerts in Cadillac presents Schrock Bros Band, an Americana/roots/blues ensemble featuring the soulful lead vocals and family harmony of brothers Andrew and Jasen with ‘Papa’ Mark Schrock. They are joined by Michigan musical legends Michael Shimmin on drums and Grammy award–winning Peter Madcat Ruth on harmonica.

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Schrock Bros Band

Ladies Opening Night

NOV. 30–DEC. 18

“Holiday Resort” The Musical photo by Dave Weidner

The Leland Lodge welcomes you to a dinner theater performance you won’t forget, written by Ron Murden, a local playwright living in Traverse City. Tickets include a three-course dinner prepared by the culinary team at The Lodge.

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Manistee’s Victorian Sleighbell Parade, Dec. 2

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Up North

A R T WATC H

ROMANCING THE RETRO

by PATTY LANOUE STEARNS

The Feral Housewife’s quirky-cool collages, meticulously culled from vintage magazines and other ephemera, are joyous love letters to domestic bliss and aero design.

photo of Mary Beth Acosta by Allison Jarrell; top: “Camera Dreaming;” inset: “Goggles on Mimas”

M

ary Beth Acosta spends most of the year in a time capsule she calls the “Cartoon Cottage and Appliance Museum.” Her Northport kitchen, a curvy 1950s Youngstown Steel modular unit with rounded corners, features harvest gold appliances from the ’60s. And when she gets dressed up to go out, says the wife, mom of two and grandma of four, “I have to call up my courage to walk out the door,” because she is in full vintage regalia. Cat-eye glasses, 1940s dress, hat, gloves. You get the picture.

“I love to keep the old things alive and the sensibilities going,” says Acosta, 68, aka the Feral Housewife, whose

collages, in kind, depict women and cars from the 1920s to 1960s. She particularly loves the 1950s, part of which she experienced growing up in Detroit, when automotive design was a celebrated art form and women still wore hats and gloves downtown. “It was so hopeful then,” she recalls. “Only the dinosaurs were extinct.”

Acosta’s collages were recently featured in a severalmonth solo show at the Glen Arbor Arts Center and her works have also been exhibited at Traverse City’s Dennos Museum Center.

Find more of her work at feralhousewife.com.

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Up North

S H O P LO CA L

BEACH BABES

by CARLY SIMPSON

Whimsical toadstool PJs and floral jumpers abound at this children’s boutique in Petoskey.

I

n a land where forest frolicking, sandy-toed tots roam free (under the watchful eyes of their mama and papa bears, of course), Alexis Murphy saw a need for more gender-neutral clothing for babies and littles—think palettes of olive, rust, moss and lilac. Her boutique, Fox & Hound, is inspired by her own childhood memories of beach days on Lake Michigan and camping in the U.P. Earth-toned knit sweaters and plaid dresses hang on clothing racks made of driftwood, and the walls are spruced up with greenery. There are woodland puzzles, sunset quilts

photo by Dave Weidner

NEW UP NORTH

and Great Lakes books.

“I decided to open up a children’s boutique knowing the area didn’t have many options for babies and kids,” Murphy says. “I found a niche, offering quality clothing—the majority of our selection is made of bamboo or organic cotton.”

Murphy is often joined in the shop by her one-year-old Lab, Winnie. He loves giving licks and cuddles.

Fox & Hound 204 Petoskey St., Petoskey foxandhoundkid.com

Cool finds, community updates and sweet new businesses.

RETAIL INCUBATOR …

CASS STREET MARKETPLACE

ON THE MOVE …

PETOSKEY CHEESE

NEW IN TOWN …

GILCHRIST FARM WINERY

KEEN BUILDING ON CASS & FRONT TRAVERSE CITY

1053 WEST CONWAY RD. HARBOR SPRINGS

417 N. ST. JOSEPH ST. SUTTONS BAY

Launching this fall on the ground floor of the Keen Building, Cass Street Marketplace is offering retail stalls to six or seven locally owned businesses that will also have access to peer and expert-led trainings. The goal is to create a supportive environment for start-up retailers, helping them to eventually expand from the incubator into their own spaces. dda.downtowntc.com

“Don’t you worry, our pimento cheese isn’t going anywhere,” owner Katie Potts promises.

The move will allow Potts to grow her business online and ship more of her popular housemade dips and gift packages, while still keeping a retail storefront for local shoppers. petoskeycheese.com

The homey tasting room (think vintage nautical maps, cozy fireplace, toys and books for kiddos, a fabulous blue wall color everyone’s asking the staff about) offers a selection of whites, reds and espresso in addition to seasonal small plates. gilchristfarmwinery.com

Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update? Let us know at editorial@traversemagazine.com.

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Outdoors

A ROCKIN’ WINTER text and photos by ALLISON JARRELL

How to plan the cold-weather rockhounding trip of your dreams.

Y

ou’re walking along your favorite beach, not a soul in sight. On a sunny summer day, this stretch would be dotted with beach umbrellas and sandcastles, but today, it’s speckled only with icy treasures washed up from the depths.

The spoils of winter rockhounding are many, and as daunting as an off-season hunt may sound, with the proper planning and preparation, it could easily become your new favorite coldweather hobby.

Most local rock lovers know that the best source for rock hunting tips and advice is the beloved Michigan Rockhounds group, a geologicalbased community and organization with a prolific Facebook following. So that’s where we started our search—how would an expert rockhound plan a winter trip?

We caught up with Midland resident Cody

Wiedenbein, who founded the group in October 2020, to hear how he approaches the season, his advice for rockhounds going out for their first winter excursion and why he feels it’s such a special time of year for rock enthusiasts.

Allison Jarrell: Can you walk us through

the benefits of winter rockhounding?

Cody Wiedenbein: One of the biggest benefits

is lack of tourists, and in some regions, lack of locals as well. Fewer rocks being picked is a nobrainer, but you will never be alone on the beach.

The diehard hounds don’t care about the cold, the distance or the weather. The fall months tend to bring a lot of harsh waves from the change in temperature; due to this, the waves tend to be more consistently powerful than they ever are during the summer. This means the waves are almost always bringing new stones to the shorelines. Not just new, but larger stones as well.

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FUSTINIS.COM

gift guide | 2023-2024

Let’s Get Together and Cook!

let’s get together and cook

Our oils and vinegars make healthy and flavorful additions to so many recipes – from appetizers and entrees to desserts and even beverages. Vinegars are naturally low in calories and olive oils are high in antioxidants, so they are as good for you as they are for the dishes you create. Because they are imported from select artisan growers around the world, cooking with Fustini’s always means cooking with freshness and quality.

extra virgin olive oils

We emphasize sourcing the freshest extra virgin olive oils, which have the highest level of nutritional value and flavor. These olive oils are then infused with all-natural ingredients to create flavorful oils that can be used in a wide variety of applications.

balsamic vinegars

Our balsamic vinegars are sourced from Modena, Italy and infused with natural flavors. We feature balsamics flavored with Michigan-grown fruit.

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AJ: When should rock hunters plan to head to the shoreline?

CW: Usually a couple of days or so after a consistent

storm. During a storm, the beaches themselves tend to disappear, and this disappearance can persist for days at a time, especially if the storms become more frequent/the sands haven’t had time to wash away. This tends to leave the beach conditions extremely inconsistent. Truthfully, there isn’t much of a golden rule on when to head to the beaches. The best piece of advice I have is to look online for beach cams that could represent the region you’re heading to. Our website (michiganrockhounds.com) actually includes a whole list of beach cams from all over the Great Lakes, as cameras are heavily used for checking nearby beach/weather conditions.

Ears do not have insulating fat, and are made almost entirely of cartilage. They’ll freeze faster than your fingers, and if you’re out too long, you’ll eventually feel it in your head as the lack of circulation will cause severe pain. Wear a nice warm hat with ear coverage, grab some earmuffs, or throw on a heavy hood.

And finally, never venture onto the ice. There’s a thing called “shelf ice,” where mounds of snow and ice buildup look deceptively like a solid form. In reality, these mounds

AJ: Are there certain areas

where people generally have success in the winter?

CW: The conditions are never predictable, and one beach can bring great treasure one year, with none the next. Success is heavily dependent on beach conditions, and as we know with Michigan weather, such things can never be predicted. While I often travel to Leland for rock collecting, I’ve found the conditions to be too inconsistent to be worth my time.

AJ: Are there specific types of rocks people might have more luck finding in the winter? Or are hunters just likely to find more of them?

CW: There really is no rhyme or reason to stones that appear more often during the winter. If you’re finding a rock more often during the winter than you ever would during the summer, this would primarily be due to the waters indiscriminately churning up the shorelines, leaving new stones that go unpicked because few people tend to hound during the winters.

AJ: Let’s talk safety. What should folks consider when planning

a winter trip? Do you recommend bringing any specific gear?

CW: Rock scoops help keep your hands out of the water, and they also save your back from the discomfort of constantly bending over. Waders will keep you dry; but this tends to be situational because you never want to challenge whitecaps with a wader on. Hand warmers are hand-y (pun intended). Boots are a no-brainer, but you can manage without them if you’re careful. But the biggest thing you want to protect during a winter out on the shoreline are your ears.

of shelf ice can cover unstable ceilings that would lead to a nasty, cold fall into a pit of ice and water with no way out.

AJ: Where can rockhounds go for more information?

CW: Our website is host to a variety of digital tools

and resources that have been custom built for rockhounds all over Michigan! Our map has 111 publicly accessible locations across the lower and upper peninsulas, with rockhound reports detailing what you can find on some beaches versus others. It’s a great place to get started when you want to get into rockhounding. We’ve recently implemented webcam data into the map itself, so locations with nearby webcams will have them listed in their descriptions. Not every location has data on our map, but each one has a button at the bottom for folks to submit photos and descriptions, and to report their own finds as well.

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Bees, Love and Understanding On a wing and a prayer, two sisters go from bee-keeping hobbyists to entrepreneurs with a vision: to help bees help you.

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by Kandace Chapple / photos by Courtney Kent

Sister Bees

has what you would expect—bee everything and a couple of sisters. What you don’t expect is how this twosome, born and raised in Ludington, went ahead and built themselves a full-on hive in just five years.

In that short amount of time, they’ve gone from making lip balm by hand with their hobby bees to still making lip balm by hand—for 5,500 stores and with the help of 10 employees.

Sisters Kim Ambrose and Kelly Bonnema have a knack for business and bees. And their banter and playful chatter makes it easy to see why their hive has grown. They cleared yet another milestone just last fall when they opened a brick-and-mortar Sister Bees boutique in downtown Ludington. When you stop in, you may well find both women running the storefront, handcrafting lip balm or pouring candles. This is all bees on deck, and they love it.

We sat down to ask them what the buzz is all about.

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Kandace Chapple: Why bees?

Kim: We began Sister Bees as hobby beekeepers. We enjoyed the honey, but we didn’t know the amazing benefits of beeswax for skin. As this became apparent, our first product was lip balm, and we soon followed that with our skin balm. We now create more than 100 products inspired by the honey bee.

Where are your bees?

Kim: We no longer use our hobby bees. Instead, we partner with five Michigan beekeepers. We love going to their fields and watching the beauty of the bees. All of our products are locally sourced, and we filter the beeswax ourselves; beeswax comes from the honeycomb and it has debris in it, like bee wings. We melt it down and filter it once more.

When we think of bees, we think of honey, but not necessarily beeswax …

Kelly: Our business really took off with our beeswax products. Most skincare products in stores are petroleum– based. Our beeswax is natural, doesn’t suffocate the skin and still locks moisture in, and it has anti-bacterial properties. The benefits continue after it’s been absorbed by the skin! Everyone wants to look at ingredients now.

They are realizing their skin is another organ that they need to treat with natural products.

But … does it work?

Kelly: Ha! That’s the first question when it comes to natural products—and, yes, it works! Try beeswax lotion for your hands during the harsh winter or on your cracked

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heels. Try the anti-aging moisturizer for your face–my personal fave.

What’s a typical day at Sister Bees like?

Kim: We start each day at 9 a.m. going over what’s on the agenda, what needs priority and the ins and outs of running a business. At 10 a.m., our shipping and manufacturing team arrives, and we assist the team. We both run the Sister Bees Boutique two days a week.

started. On top of that, they’ve done a lot to shine a light on us. When the boutique opened a year ago, they were at the door waiting. We are so grateful.

What was a crisis moment at Sister Bees that you had to overcome?

Kelly: We were at a large market in downtown Grand Rapids when the governor announced that we all needed to go home because of Covid concerns. That pushed us to

Is your honey all from Michigan?

Kim: Yes. A lot of the honey in other stores is pasteurized, and you don’t know where it’s from. It tastes different from our Michigan-based honey, which is not pasteurized.

We sell raw and unfiltered Michigan honey. And because it hasn’t been pasteurized, the enzymes that are good for your gut haven’t been killed off, so there are more benefits. A lot of people are excited to discover honey because it’s sweet, so they can eat less refined sugar and add more honey to their diet for a win-win. And because honey is “already digested”—the bees add enzymes that partially break down the sugar—it’s easy to digest and an instant energy boost. That’s why you see a lot of athletes using honey for performance.

Kelly: Also, as we are going into the winter months, try honey for soothing sore throats. My son is a singer, and he always takes honey before he sings.

I think many people feel that most honey tastes the same—mostly true?

Kim: We partner with one farm where they allow bees to go into the blueberry orchards. We then harvest a small amount of seasonal blueberry-infused honey. We offer unique varieties.

And what about pollen, how does that figure into your product line?

Kelly: Bee pollen is a supplement. You can take it straight up with a spoon or add it to a smoothie, toast or yogurt.

The supplement gives you energy, balances hormones, reduces inflammation and provides joint comfort.

OK, back to business and running the hive.

Why Ludington?

Kelly: We grew up in Ludington, and what a gift that was. We have the best beaches, best hiking and so many natural resources—like those blueberry fields! And our community has supported us from day one.

Kim: Yes, they invested in us. We won a $50,000 Momentum Grant in 2018 (from the Chamber Alliance of Mason County)—and it was a huge step to get us N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

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SISTER BEES’ TOP 3 NOT SURE WHERE TO START GETTING ALL-THINGS-BEE INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE? TRY ONE OF THESE FAN FAVORITES.

–•– LIP BALM EACH TUBE IS STILL HANDCRAFTED

–•– SKIN BALM MADE WITH BEESWAX AND OTHER NOURISHING INGREDIENTS

–•– INFUSED HONEY BOURBON, TEQUILA, LAVENDER, HOT AND CINNAMON VARIETIES

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TIPS FOR THE FOODIE “PUT BOURBON-INFUSED HONEY ON SMOKED RIBS. IT’S AMAZING. OR PUT IT ON CUT PEACHES FOR A FUN TREAT. OH, AND THE CINNAMONCREAMED HONEY—PUT THAT IN YOUR COFFEE (YOU’LL DEFINITELY HAVE A SECOND CUP!) OR ON AN APPLE.” –KELLY BONNEMA

look for new ways to connect with people and introduce our products. We had to find several online sources and started generating new sales avenues that way.

How do you get along working together as sisters?

Kim: We have a blast. And we each have our own roles.

We’re both passionate about what we do. I still live in Ludington, and Kelly is in Zeeland, 90 minutes away. Two days a week, Kelly comes up and we work together and spend that time in the boutique.

Is the rest of your family involved with the business?

Kim: I have four kids and have been married for thirtyseven years. Kelly has five kids and has been married twenty-five years. We’re entering the stage of empty nesters. We started out making products we wanted for our own families, and it’s fun to be at this season of our lives.

Our families are behind us and encourage us. Kelly’s daughter, Faith, ran the store for us all summer, and my

son, Ken, is our business manager and runs the office.

So, yes, we have a few kids in the hive with us.

What’s next?

Kelly: We’re constantly developing new products. Right now, we are perfecting our Christmas gift boxes and building the face of our boutique downtown. The boutique allows us to talk to our customers directly. We learn where to tweak things, and they often have the best ideas.

We love our hive!

Visit sisterbees.com online or their boutique at 115 S. James St. in Ludington.

Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and avid Michigan outdoor adventurer. mi-girl.com Courtney Kent is a photographer based in Traverse City.

She loves exploring Northern Michigan with her husband and young son. courtneykentphotography.com

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INTERSECTIONS JUSTIN SHULL PAINTS WITH AN EYE TOWARD HOW WE CONNECT: PEOPLE TO LANDSCAPE, ART TO BUSINESS, HUMANS WITH EACH OTHER.

There is something startling and recognizable about Justin Shull’s landscape paintings. It’s an immediacy and intimacy as if the artist had been taken by surprise—maybe pulled the car over to catch the last light of day slanting over a farm field or stopped in mid-walk through a back alley, captivated by converging power lines. They are scenes that feel familiar and yet are seen through a passionate perspective, infused with unapologetic color and life.

It’s a perspective that has the crackle of a new inBY CARA MCDONALD fatuation. Which it is, in a way; before capturing Northern Michigan on canvas, Shull grew up in New Hampshire. He earned a master’s in studio art, living in various places across the country, teaching and working in video game art direction to help forge an income with his work in new media pieces dependent on grant funding.

But earning a living as an artist is a dance on shifting sands. In 2017, Shull and his then-wife, artist Colleen Gleason, decided to move their family and reinvent in order to better create a different life; Justin was ready to get back to making art. “I was paying the bills with other jobs,” he says, “and I want to paint, so? After working with commercial artists for seven, eight years, I saw they were finding a way to thread that needle of priorities to make art and also make a living.”

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HIS LANDSCAPES ARE UNAPOLOGETIC AND VIVID, WHICH HE CREDITS TO SEEING WITH THE FRESH EYES OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW THEM INTIMATELY OR TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED.

They shortlisted seven micropolitan areas—livable, beautiful, strong sense of community, supportive of the arts—and Traverse City trumped them all. The couple bought and rehabbed a dilapidated farmhouse and Shull shifted his energy toward creating art that would earn him a living.

“That’s what informed me going back to the landscape,” he says. “I love the landscape. For me it’s a balance … is there an intellectual challenge that is relevant in looking at the landscape, and is it appealing enough to an audience that someone would pay for that to support me continuing painting?”

Short answer: Yes. His landscapes are unapologetic and vivid, which he credits to seeing with the fresh eyes of someone who does not know them intimately or take them for granted. “I’m just a painter, painting what I see where I

go,” he explains. “There’s a certain distance for me, for the paintings. People are emotionally connected to, say, that barn, that intersection. I don’t have the familiarity and that’s the value of it as an artist … I show up with fresh eyes, somewhere new, responding to it.”

He paints both en plein air and in his Traverse City studio, where the morning light streams in past the tiny army of succulent plants on the long windowsill, brightening the colors of his work hanging on the walls. Over here, a detail of a flower garden that’s been painted over and started again. On an easel in the back, a commission of a cottage in Glen Lake. On a long wall hang bold landscapes as well as newer, conceptual works, such as the cobalt blue canvas with two human figures awash in monarch butterflies.

Here, in his work-live space at the Tru Fit Trouser complex in Traverse City, Shull is steering his career into new territory, balancing both his observational pieces with more conceptual works.

“I want to [give myself the chance] to see what I would make if I were not looking at the landscape … some themes that are important, things to open up to intellectually, societal themes about how technology is transforming our culture, reflection on relationship and how we relate to others and the world.”

It’s a bit of an artistic crossroads for Shull, who says he’s devoting the next one to two years to see where the art takes him. But for now, that’s with firm roots here in Northern Michigan, and the influence the landscape has on life here.

“I find the creative production and productivity with the land to be synergistic,” he says. “It’s embodied in a certain open-mindedness and creative approach to production systems and marketing, which is just like art—making one thing at a time at a small scale.”

Cara McDonald is executive editor of MyNorth Media and Traverse Northern Michigan.

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Above: River Flows Acrylic Gouache on Panel 36 x 36", 2021 Opposite: Three Barns Acrylic Gouache on Cradled Panel (Triptych) 48 x 16", 2021

Previous spread: Fishtown Art Shanty Acrylic Gouache on Paper Mounted on Cradled Panel 30 x 36", 2021

Orchards in the Snow Acrylic Gouache and Acrylic on Paper Mounted on Cradled Panel 22.5 x 22.5", 2021

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Above: Lake Ave. & E 10th St. Gouache on Paper 22.5 x 22.5", 2019 Left: Leland Acrylic on Linen 20 x 20", 2021 Opposite: Interstices Acrylic Gouache on Paper Mounted on Cradled Panel 22.5 x 22.5", 2021

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Meet the people taking the movement from lifestyle trend to landscape-changing, economy-boosting community builder.

by Diane Conners photos by Beth Price

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Dear Michigan maple syrup fans, behold a smattering of decadent desserts just for you.

Maple Rush

by Emily Tyra / Photos by Dave Weidner / Styling by Sarah Peschel

Of all the ingredients in my pantry, I’m most charmed by the multitudes contained in maple syrup. It’s a workhorse—just a glug whisked with garlic, olive oil, Dijon and lemon juice becomes a simple, sublime salad dressing.

And it’s a show horse, taking an otherwise homespun cake to ethereal heights in a swirling cloak of maple icing.

.

Whenever I call on its golden touch in the kitchen, I’m also cheering on the tree-tapping, sap-lugging, fire-stoking devotion of maple syrup makers across Northern Michigan.

.

A drizzle of this pure Michigan-made syrup gives a deep, beguiling deliciousness to spiced nuts; transforms a silk pie filling; and vibrantly infuses crème brûlée before it’s caramelized to a dramatic crackle. Whichever you choose to make for your next gathering (perhaps one coming right around the corner?), know that dessert will taste like the Northwoods. It will taste like home.

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(See p. 32)

Apple Carrot Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting Two glories of the fall harvest—juicy apples and earthy carrots—make this a dense, moist cake that can’t come out dry. Crown with maple-tinged cream-cheese frosting. Any leftover frosting makes a perfect treat sandwiched between graham crackers.

Serves 12

Cake 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 ½ cups grated carrots 1 ½ cups finely chopped apples 2 cups sugar 1 ¼ cups canola oil 4 large eggs Frosting 12 ounces cream cheese (1 ½ boxes Philadelphia brand), room temperature ½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar (little less than one box of Domino brand) ¼ cup pure maple syrup

Maple Crème Brûlée Tasting a nip of Harwood Gold’s infused maple syrups is like tasting gold indeed. We loved the Saffron & Apricot at first blush, then immediately started dreaming of a custard imbued with its sweet, floral and tart notes. The coffee bean or chai spice-infused syrups would also add welcome verve to this classic dessert.

Serves 4

5 egg yolks 1 Tablespoon maple sugar (or brown sugar) ¼ cup Harwood Gold infused maple syrup 1 ½ cups heavy cream 6 teaspoons granulated sugar to caramelize on top of custards Equipment: Shallow ramekins, clean dish towel, kitchen blow torch

For cake Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch cake pans.

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir in carrots and apples and toss to coat. In a separate large bowl, whisk sugar and oil until blended. Whisk in eggs. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Divide batter between baking pans.

Bake cakes until they spring back to the touch or a toothpick comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks.

For frosting Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until well blended. Beat in maple syrup. After frosting cake, keep in refrigerator until serving.

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. 2. Put on a kettle to heat about 4 cups of water for a water bath for the custards.

In a large mixing bowl (or large glass measuring cup with a spout) whisk together egg yolks and sugar until the sugar dissolves and ribbons form. Whisk in the maple syrup.

3. Add heavy cream and whisk until well blended. Line a large cake pan/roasting pan or casserole dish with a clean dish towel. Set four ramekins on the towel.

Evenly divide the cream mixture between ramekins. (A ladle can help, if you didn’t use a measuring cup with a spout to pour.)

4. Pour warm water from the kettle into the pan, being careful not to splash any water into the ramekins. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake until the custard trembles slightly when gently shaken, about 40-50 minutes.

5. Let the ramekins cool in their water bath. Once cool, place custards covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for two hours (or for up to 3 days) before serving.

6. To serve, sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons granulated sugar over the top. For best results, use a small handheld torch to caramelize. Otherwise, place under a preheated broiler until caramelized. Keep a close watch (when it caramelizes, it happens fast)!

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Your Sweet Source Northern Michigan is home to ancient maple-sugaring traditions, and family maple farms producing gallons of gorgeous amber-hued syrup. Here, just a handful of makers and purveyors we’ve sourced for these recipes: Pa Brown’s Maple Syrup Northport Jim Brown is better known in Leelanau County as Pa Brown. His namesake syrup is a hyperlocal legend, as countless syrupseekers pop by each season to pick up their precious quart or two. Brown found his niche—and devotees—turning sap to syrup on his 40-acre property back in 2009. As a retired chemical engineer, he says, it just clicked. Friends and neighbors join the harvest and all proceeds from the syrup go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Look for the yellow Pa Brown’s sign on M-22 just south of Northport, or call ahead at 231.386.5882.

Spiced Maple-Glazed Nuts Nibble on these with a cup of tea, scatter them on a cheeseboard with a juicy sliced pear and mellow goat cheese, or serve by the dishful at a cocktail hour with people you really like.

2 Tablespoons melted butter 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup 2 teaspoons cardamom 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cups raw, unsalted pecans 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary Zest of one medium orange Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix butter, syrup, spices and salt in a medium bowl. Add pecans and mix well to coat. On a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet, spread nuts in an even layer and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle fresh rosemary and orange zest over the hot nuts.

Allow to cool then store in an airtight container.

American Spoon Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix & Traverse City The 41-year-old preserve company offers regular and whiskey maple syrup and jarred maple cream in addition to a best-selling salted maple caramel. “We use Currey Farms dark, robust maple syrup, which stands up to the butter and cream used in making the caramel,” shares owner Noah Marshall-Rashid, “so the woodsy, earthy maple flavors shine through.” He adds, “The Curreys are extraordinary people carrying on a multi-generational tradition on their Charlevoix farm.”

Harwood Gold Charlevoix The Parsons family’s Charlevoix County homestead in the forest near Harwood Lake was established in 1898; today, fifthgeneration sisters Amber and Katie continue to tap the trees and develop products like maple peanut butter, black-fig maple spread and their incredibly complex and luscious maple syrup infusions (cinnamon quill, bay leaf, ghost pepper and makrut lime, to name a few).

americanspoon.com

harwoodgold.com

“

A drizzle of this pure Michiganmade syrup gives a deep, beguiling deliciousness to spiced nuts …”

–Emily Tyra

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Salted Maple Caramel Silk Pie Nab a couple of jars of American Spoon’s salted maple caramel to make this salty-sweet, crunchy-cool dream pie. The maple caramel is made in small batches in Petoskey using Charlevoixharvested maple syrup.

Serves 8

Crust 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cup almond flour ⅓ cup sugar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 4 ounces cold butter, cut in 1” pieces 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Filling 2 jars American Spoon Salted Maple Caramel 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin 2 Tablespoons water 1 ½ cups heavy cream Crushed pretzels and chopped peanuts, to garnish For the crust

1. Place flours, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.

Add cold butter and process until pea sized. Add eggs and vanilla extract; pulse just until dough comes together. Turn dough out between two pieces of parchment paper.

Press into a disk, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

2. Remove dough from fridge and roll out to a 1/8-inch-thick round. Flour the dough to keep from sticking to rolling pin. Transfer dough to a 10-inch tart pan and press it into pan with your fingers. Fold excess dough back into the pan to make a double-wall crust.

Press together snugly, then trim any excess. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

3. Cover dough with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.

Bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes, then remove parchment paper and pie weights.

Bake for 10 minutes more, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

For frosting

1. While crust cools, heat 1 ½ jars of caramel in small pot over medium-high heat.

Bring to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Once sauce has thickened, pour into tart shell in even layer. Let cool at room temperature for one hour.

2. Place gelatin and water in small bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to hydrate.

Using stand mixer with whisk attachment, whip cream on medium-high until medium peaks form.

3. Microwave gelatin-water mixture until gelatin is just dissolved, about 10–15 seconds. Start whipping cream again, on low. Add gelatin mixture and remaining caramel and return to medium-high speed. Whip until caramel is incorporated and mixture thickens slightly.

4. When ready to serve, pile the caramel-whipped cream into tart shell and garnish with crushed pretzels and peanuts.

Emily Tyra has reported and shared stories for over two decades in publications such as Taste of Home, Traverse Northern Michigan and Reader’s Digest. She writes from Lake Ann. Dave Weidner is an editorial photographer and videographer based in Northern Michigan. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook @dzwphoto.

Sarah Peschel, @22speschel, is a stylist and photographer with an appreciation for all things local agriculture, food and drink.

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DONATE AND VOLUNTEER IN THE PLACE WE LOVE

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

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GIVING

IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING A DONATION, IT’S ABOUT MAKING A

DIFFERENCE.

Whether planning a retirement lifestyle, ways to give or a lasting legacy, we help you make financial choices that allow you to live life fully — now and into the future. Start living today.

Life looks good on you.

hemmingwm.com / 231.922.2900 financial planning & abundant perspectives hemming& Wealth Management, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor.

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10/6/23 12:05 PM

Photo credit Nick Loud

Listener support is the power behind IPR– your public radio station For 60 years, Interlochen Public Radio has connected northern Michigan and the world. IPR brings you local storytelling, NPR programming, inspiring music, and so much more that is only possible through listener support. You make IPR possible.

iprgiving@interlochen.org 231.276.4400

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Local Wealth Management

Working to Deliver the Best Wealth Management Experience

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HORIZON FINANCIAL Creating Solutions. Empowering people. Enhancing lives.

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4020 Copper View, Suite 230 Traverse City, MI 49684 231.941.6669 HorizonFinancialTC.com Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser.

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C O N T E N TS 7

A CREATIVE FORCE NORTHERN MICHIGAN

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THE JOY OF READING

A MyNorth Media Publication

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SUPPORTING EDUCATION

Elizabeth Edwards Carly Simpson Allison Jarrell

SENIOR EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

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LIFTING UP MOTHERS

Rachel Soulliere

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MORE KIDS ON THE SLOPES AND TRAILS

Elizabeth Aseritis Caroline Dahlquist

PROOFREADERS

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Julie Parker

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Mike Alfaro Ann Gatrell Julie James Meg Lau

MARKETING COORDINATOR

PEDAL POWER

Rachel Watson

DIRECTOR OF SALES

MARKETING DIRECTOR

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Tim Hussey Theresa Burau-Baehr

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR, SPECIAL SECTIONS

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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Michael Wnek Cara McDonald

PRESIDENT

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TENDING THE LIGHT

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KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE

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REDEFINING WELLNESS

21

IN THE NEWS

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BRIDGING LAND AND COMMUNITY

25

15

PRESERVING PRISTINE HABITAT

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BIG IDEAS

WHERE EVERY CHILD IS LOVED

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FILL THE PANTRY

Erin Lutke Ashlyn Korienek Nichole Earle Beth Putz

OFFICE MANAGER

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES

415 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231.941.8174 | Fax: 231.941.8391 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Visit MyNorth.com/Account to renew your subscription, change your address, or review your account.

photo by Dave Weidner

Please email other subscription inquiries to info@mynorth.com or call 800-678-3416 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

mynorth.com

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN

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521 S. Union St. Traverse City, MI 49684 231-947-4230 thefestivalfoundation.org FESTIVAL FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mike Meindertsma, President Stacey Isles, Past President Max Anderson, President Elect Ian Hollands, Treasurer Kelli Mengebier, Secretary BOARD MEMBERS Brian Beauchamp Kandace Chapple Doug Dowdy Nikki Schweitzer Kevin Severt Jessica Alpers

The Festival Foundation is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that with the time and talent of ten full time staff members, a board of directors and over 2,000 amazing volunteers organize four high impact events in the Grand Traverse Region. Of the four events, National Cherry Festival, Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge, CherryT Ball Drop, and Fifth Third Leapin’ Leprechaun 5K, multiple bring tourism and economic interest to the region but the root of the organization is so much more.

At the Festival Foundation, we celebrate and promote cherries to those who don’t get to experience them from their backyard. We do it by giving people experiences that they will not forget. So when they think back to their first taste of cherries, they remember Michigan cherries first. Because everyone has that one moment they remember for

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the rest of their lives…a memory that they build from to create a lasting tradition. We pledge to help you create those memories and preserve your tradition, starting and ending with cherries. In short, our story is making special chapters in yours.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Join the Grower’s Program!

The Festival Foundation Growers Program is a monthly donation program to help support the needs of the Festival Foundation. Whether you choose to contribute to our scholarship programs, general fund or the bricks and mortar, your accumulated donations will go towards preserving traditions for years to come and a level in the Founders’ Circle. Thank you for your support!

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E D I TO R' S N OT E

Y

OWNING THE NORTH

ou may have noticed there’s a housing crisis going on just about everywhere, but especially here in Northern Michigan, where there’s a confluence of economic pressures, a shortage of supply and an increasing crush of investors, second-home owners and relocating folks all looking to own their slice of the pie.

None of us are unaffected. This has ratcheted up the pressure and pain felt by some for decades as longtime locals and visitors have bemoaned the changing times, the tourist traffic, the rising prices; it prompts an unflattering chorus of “got mine, good luck with yours” and “I’ve been here forever, my claim is more valid.”

(Which, if that’s a thing, then may I introduce you to our Anishinaabek neighbors who may have some thoughts.)

This squeeze and sense of finite resources makes us all want to grab a piece of the dream and “own” the North. It’s tempting to do, without realizing the damage that impulse does not only to our local economy and communities and landscapes we love, but also to our sense of connection to this place and each other.

I’ve shared before that the GIVE guide is one of the most beautiful things we get to work on each year, and I mean it. In the next pages, you’ll find the very embodiment of welcome, of generosity, of neighborly concern and forward-thinking care taking. The stories run the gamut: inspired cyclists dreaming of a world where every kid has a bike and rides the streets like a free-spirited dervish. Conservationists fighting to save a stretch of shoreline for a single pair of nesting loons. Neighbors helping single moms secure safe childcare and education to help lift their kids out of poverty. Librarians working to spread literacy and put books in the hands of everyone who hungers to learn.

The heroes in this guide are passionate leaders and everyday people who just love hard enough, give a little and then a bit more, because they own the North, too.

If we want to own it here, then let’s own it all—let’s own the short-term rentals, the long lines at restaurants, the tired parent working two jobs to make ends meet, the lonely senior down the street who feels their world changing. We’ll own the crush of development threatening wildlife corridors, the lack of transportation for workers, the need for after-school clubs and homework help and affordable family housing. We’ll own the beaches and the bays and the sunsets and the traffic and the parking and the festivals, the waterfalls and outdoor concerts and walkable old downtowns and reliable diners and honor-system farmstands and secret sledding hills. We’ll own sugar maples in fall, the first trillium, a summer night’s chorus of frogs with the same joy we own the magic of a fireworks finale. We’ll own it all.

This is your owner’s manual. I hope it inspires you to give where your heart feels most at home.

Cara McDonald Executive Editor cara@mynorth.com

mynorth.com

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Leelanau Christian Neighbors 7322 E Duck Lake Rd Lake Leelanau, Mi 49653 231-994-2271 LeelanauChristianNeighbors.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mary Stanton, Executive Director LCN Board of Directors Charlie Bumb – President Mark Forbes – Vice President Carol Bawden – Secretary Bob Hetler – Treasurer Members at Large: Jennifer Groseclose Maureen Hensel Bob Laba Jim Richardson Steve Stanton Joe Hubbel Jeff Hamilton Kathy Laba Don Gregory

For over 36 years Leelanua Christain Neighbors has been assisting our neighbors in Leelanau County. Starting with two very caring people who gave a bag of groceries to their neighbors, LCN has grown to a sizable nonprofit serving neighbors with a food pantry, baby pantry, financial assistance program and a popular resale store.

At the Food Pantry, neighbors grab a grocery cart and shop the rows of fresh produce just like you would in your local grocery store. Healthy proteins, beef, pork and chicken, are always available in addition to cheese, butter and eggs.

Parents visit with our Baby Pantry volunteers who help them pick out just the right clothes, toys and diapers. Parents needing a little encouragement and support are welcome to visit with our Parenting Community Member and DHHS workers that are on site on Pantry Days.

The Baby Pantry and Food Pantry are open on Mondays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Our neighbors that find themselves needing financial assistance will meet with our Neighborhood Assistance Ministry team.

Gas cards, checks to third parties and connections to other resources are a lifeline for our neighbors.

The Neighborhood Assistance Ministry is open on Mondays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

During the school year, our Blessings in a Backpack team supplies not only bags of food for elementary kids, but also places snack and hygiene boxes in area high schools.

Samaritans’ Closet, our popular boutique resale store, accepts donations of new and gently used clothing, household goods, sporting equipment

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and more. These donated items are sold at very reasonable prices and those dollars are used to support other LCN programs. Find us on FaceBook for store hours and resale finds you don’t want to miss out on - facebook.com/samaritanscloset49653 How YOU Can Help: Monetary donations (checks, cash and stocks) along with food, clothing, household goods are always welcome. Listing us in your estate planning is another great way to help your neighbors. Find us online and learn more about the ways you can help and access our volunteer application. www.leelanauchristianneighbors.org

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A CREATIVE FORCE THE HEROES: Artworks Big Rapids Area Arts and Humanities THEIR MISSION: Vitalizing the community through the arts and

humanities while creating a culture of warmth and belonging and bringing the arts to everyday life.

“The humanities part of our mission often gets lost,” says Director of Creative Arts Education and Community Engagement Arthur Johnson, who is tasked with working more humanities programming into Artworks’ offerings. “Introducing a perspective or viewpoint that people maybe wouldn’t be aware of, getting people curious—that’s the goal.”

SOLUTION: The answer lies in more local collaborations and commu-

A three-part mini course on understanding Buddhism, classes on basket weaving and photography, an intimate one-person play critiquing the evolution of journalism, lunchtime experiential learning experiences and so much more made 2023 a standout year.

nity support. Artworks needs teachers capable of leading workshops and help getting the message out about 2024 programming—the theme is Telling Our Story, and events and programming are already breaking boundaries with student displays, exhibits showcasing work by adults with cognitive challenges and unique perspective photography by the Big Rapids Camera Club.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: It’s twofold. First, there’s a palpable need for

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Visit artworksinbigrapids.org to

RECENT SUCCESS STORY:

photo courtesy of Artworks

health disorders,” Johnson says. “People are hurting in general.” Second, Artworks is asking how they can expand services and programs to reach the rural community with only a small staff of four and a handful of volunteers.

therapeutic art right now. “We’re finding more of a community need for art classes or workshops for those who are suffering from mental

donate, or become an Artworks member and enjoy discounts on gift shop items, classes and rental facilities. —Lisa Blake

THE JOY OF READING

THE HEROES: Traverse Area District Library

The library provides dynamic resources and services that stimulate intellectual curiosity, facilitate lifelong learning, promote literacy and nurture personal enrichment.

photo courtesy of TADL

THEIR MISSION:

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: The Traverse Area District Library is celebrating a host of big wins. The library's children's programming saw a 58-percent increase in summer library challenge program attendance with 1.88 million minutes of reading tracked. The free program brought all generations together over music, games, performances and a shared love of reading. Thanks to a collaboration with area schools, 5,217 students have received library cards in the past year. And the new bookmobile is on a roll, bringing library resources to those who can’t easily access the library in person.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: Recent Michigan Student Test of Education Progress (M-STEP) scores show lagging proficiency in math and English language arts. The youth literacy struggle is real and the Traverse Area District Library is on a mission to course correct.

“The ability to read, speak and understand is key to quality of life for everyone,” says Executive Director Michele Howard. “Literacy rates are linked to economic success later in life. It’s vital.”

SOLUTION: The library is focused on making reading fun and ac-

cessible, bringing in guest authors, continuing its read-to-a-dog program and creating a special fund to invest in more intensive literacy-focused activities, giving kids the joy of reading to take home.

“My favorite thing is to look out the library window and see a parent dragging their kid to the car with their books and the kid is already nose-deep, not looking up from their book,” says Howard.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Visit tadl.org/donate and choose a

library program to support. Donate your gently loved books to the library and purchase a book to give someone for the holidays. —L.B. mynorth.com

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The Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, Inc., 3701 Point Betsie Road Frankfort, MI 49635 231.352.7644 www.pointbetsie.org MISSION STATEMENT At Point Betsie Lighthouse, our mission is to support Benzie County in the restoration and maintenance of Point Betsie Lighthouse through advocacy, fundraising and volunteers. Our goal is to promote related educational opportunities for the benefit of all, while maintaining the historical and environmental integrity of the site.

BOARD MEMBERS Grant Porteous, President Gayle Brown, Vice President Mica Jones, Secretary Andy Miller Michael Musgrave Brad Steffans Kelly Winter Executive Director Casey Ottinger

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The Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and operating the Point Betsie Lighthouse Station in support of Benzie County.

Over the past 15 years the organization has raised funds for matching grants for the restoration of the historic buildings that are now completed. The complex consists of our historic lighthouse and museum, gift shop, Fog Signal Building, rental apartment, and public beach. We are open for tours from mid-May to mid-October of each year and visitors are able to see the last manned lighthouse on Lake Michigan and the most photographed lighthouse in the state!

The fundraising focus is now on the other needed capital improvements, primarily the Shoreline

Protection System. The current Shoreline Protection System has kept Point Betsie Lighthouse in place for over 75 years. The structure is now showing signs of failure and must be replaced at the earliest opportunity; a need exacerbated by the rising water levels. This is a multi-million dollar project and the Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse are working with local and state government, The State Historic Preservation Office, The Army Corps of Engineers, and marine engineers to create a lasting replacement.

To date the Friends have secured donations from the public and private sectors. We were graciously awarded a 5.1 Million dollar grant for the project from the State of Michigan as well as an additional $350,000 from county and township offices. The project total will most likely be in excess of 10 million dollars so additional resources to begin construction and complete the project will be needed. We will go out for construction bids in the spring of 2024 for the project to take place during the 2025 season. Strong donor support has been a key factor from the beginning, enabling the Friends group to secure matching grants to restore and maintain this iconic site and its historic building for future generations to enjoy.

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10/10/23 1:17 PM

SUPPORTING EDUCATION THE HEROES: Benzie Area Christian Neighbors (BACN) THEIR MISSION: To improve the quality of life for people with

limited resources by providing food, clothing, financial assistance, education and social support.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Bill came to the GED program at

BACN, which is run by MichiganWorks!, in the fall of 2019. He’d dropped out of high school as a sophomore and never gone back.

Later in life, when his 13-year-old daughter asked him for help with homework, he didn't know how to help her. He was ashamed, embarrassed and felt like he’d failed as a father.

“In that moment, Bill decided he had to finish high school, not only for himself, but so that his kids knew how important it was for them to graduate,” says BACN Executive Director Sarah Lee Sullivan. Since graduating, Bill has enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College, pursuing a degree in nursing.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: Over the last few years, there has been a no-

ticeable trend developing in Northern Michigan surrounding a lack of trained workers for high-demand jobs in healthcare and trade

careers. BACN learned that, though tuition costs can be covered by financial aid, the remaining educational costs—laptops and tools, gas to get to school, childcare while parents are in class—are huge barriers to student success.

SOLUTION: The Benzie Area Adult Learner Fund was created with

partners Northwest MichiganWorks! and BEST Benzie County Educational Network to cover these expenses. Assistance kicks off in January 2024 and includes mentoring and social support to guide Benzie Area adult learners who are seeking postsecondary education or a career training program for the first time.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Visit benziebacn.org to contribute to the Adult Learner Fund and other BACN programs. —L.B.

LIFTING UP MOTHERS THE HEROES: Single MOMM THEIR MISSION: Founded in 2008, Single MOMM cultivates

communities to ignite hope, healing and confidence within single moms, guiding them to healthy independence.

photo courtesy of Single MOMM

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: In 2023, more than 1,900 single mom–

led families were impacted as Single MOMM brought hope and restoration to places of devastation and loss by replacing poverty with job opportunities, abuse with safe shelter, loneliness with healthy community, stress-filled homes with stable parenting and paralyzing fear with faith.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: Helping families that have survived severe abuse, illness and economic devastation, Single MOMM is faced

with increasing intensity and complexity of needs as families struggle to find available childcare, affordable housing and adequate transportation. “This next year the focus is to go deeper in the lives of the women that we serve and wider in the geographic area we cover, says Executive Director Jennifer Finnegan Pool.”

SOLUTION: Responding to these needs, Single MOMM must

train more mentors to support moms, expand its mobile offices to neighboring counties, increase available classes and grow its residential program.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Volunteer. Give. Become a Single

MOMM family champion for $365 a year and provide mentorship to a single mom working hard to support her children. Program champions are also needed to cover the cost of events, courses and residential programs ($2,500 to $10,000 a year). Learn more and make a difference at singlemomm.org. —L.B. mynorth.com

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN

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Protecting Land and Water at the Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy 2846 3 Mile Rd N Traverse City, MI 49686 231.929.7911 www.gtrlc.org

Is there anything that captures the essence of wilderness like the cry of the Common Loon? Their hauntingly beautiful wails and tremolos are emblems of the North, evoking thoughts of tree-lined lakes and rugged shorelines. While undisturbed areas are necessary for loons to build their nests and raise their young, unfortunately, the intrusion of docks, boat traffic and shoreline development has

Photo by Stone Hut Studios

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Russell, Chair Kathleen Guy, Vice Chair Linda Cline, Treasurer John Bercini, Secretary Perry Adams Mack Beers Alena Bowman Don Coe John Collins JoAnne Cook Cortney Danbrook Clifford Fox Jim Huckle Ray Kendra Koffi Kpachavi Chip May Paul Moyer Barbara Nelson-Jameson Annie Olds Susan Palmer Evan Smith Maureen Smyth Terrie Taylor

Photo by Stone Hut Studios

MISSION STATEMENT Protecting significant natural, scenic and farm lands and advancing stewardship now and for future generations .

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Glen Chown

made finding this habitat a challenge.

Once home to six pairs of loons, Lake Bellaire may have lost its population without the help of a coalition of donors, organizations and volunteers.

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) and its supporters played a vital role in this effort by safeguarding land in the lake’s secluded north arm. The Conservancy initially protected two parcels, the Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary and the nearby Loon Nursery Natural Area, and over time, worked with private landowners to preserve hundreds of acres of land and thousands of feet of shoreline. Today, Lake Bellaire is home to four pairs of nesting loons.

Yet this work isn’t over. Efforts are underway to protect a 28-acre parcel between the sanctuary and a large block of protected private land. With 650 feet of shoreline and 13 acres of undeveloped wetlands, the property provides essential habitat for loons and other wildlife and serves an important

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Photo by Dana Vannoy

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

role in protecting water quality. If added to the sanctuary, it would permanently establish a contiguous 350-acre tract of high-quality habitat that includes nearly 1.75 miles of shoreline—and would remain wild and undisturbed forever.

With much of Lake Bellaire’s waterfront already developed, opportunities like this are increasingly scarce. If not protected, residential homes will almost certainly replace the property’s critical wetlands, fragment

its wildlife habitat and disturb the shoreline that is so vital for the loon.

GTRLC has approximately $250,000 left to raise to protect this vital piece of land—and every contribution counts. By sharing your support, you can help loons continue to thrive in Lake Bellaire and ensure that the north arm is preserved for generations to come. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.gtrlc.org.

mynorth.com

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3700 Silver Lake Road Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-9622 gtbayymca.org MISSION STATEMENT To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dave Rowe, Chair Mary Beth Morrison, Vice Chair Christie Dompierre, Treasurer Kevin Klein, Secretary Mark Wilson, Immediate Past Chair Dean Adams Marshall Collins Laura Glenn Tifini McClyde-Blythe Steve Merten Christina Nowak Bob Spence Theresa Will Sid VanSlyke

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A mission of community wellness At the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA you’ll find a community built around wellness, not just of the body, but of the mind and spirit as well. Offering programming for people of all ages and interests, we strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for all, from all walks of life and at all stages of the journey to wellness. The Y never turns anyone away regardless of ability to pay or capacity to participate.

With the Y’s help, kids across our community have a safe space to learn and grow. Safe and supervised after-school activities are provided at West Y for students from Traverse City West Middle School throughout the school year. In the YMCA funded Safety Around Water program, children from local schools are taught the five crucial skills needed to stay safe around water, reducing drowning in Northern Michigan. With enriching programs like youth sports, Taekwondo and Breakers Swim Team youth build new skills and learn the meaning of good sportsmanship. Most importantly, they learn how to be themselves. That makes for confident and connected kids today who become contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

The Y aims to make wellness accessible to all with the availability of financial assistance for all facets of the organization, free member childcare with Child Watch, and affordable daycare at our Child Development Center. Older members of our community remain active and find social nourishment

with Enhanced Fitness and low impact aqua fitness classes, Community Breakfast, and continued learning in Wellness Workshops.

Thanks to the generosity of volunteers and public and private donors who give to the Y, our community is stronger. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive, regardless of age, income or background. Wellness is a commitment that we share together, as partners for positive change in ourselves and our community.

By giving to the Y you help us continue to provide our neighbors the support, guidance and resources needed to achieve greater health and well-being for their spirit, mind and body.

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MORE KIDS ON THE SLOPES AND TRAILS THE HEROES: Crystal Community Ski Club THEIR MISSION: Fostering a lifelong passion for the outdoors and

boosting physical and mental health by engaging youth through snow sports.

photo courtesy of Crystal Community Ski Club

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: In 2023, the Nordic Rocks cross-country

skiing program touched the lives of more than 650 students across eight elementary schools. Third-graders took one-hour Nordic lessons on school playgrounds while fourth- and fifth-graders navigated Crystal Mountain’s groomed trails. Program founder Beth Major’s award-winning curriculum covers mastering basic skills while honing leadership, confidence and a growth mindset.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: CCSC faces an ongoing challenge in ensur-

ing that all young individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background or physical abilities, have equal access to programs.

Limited resources and the costs associated with snow sports equipment, transportation and program fees are significant hurdles.

SOLUTION: Generous donors and ski-loving volunteers have played

a big role in providing scholarships, equipment and resources. By

continuing to support CCSC, you directly contribute to keeping program fees affordable, offering scholarships to underserved youth and expanding outreach programs.

“Together, we can overcome our challenges and ensure that every child can discover the thrill of winter sports and the sense of community that CCSC offers. Your support can truly transform young lives in our community,” says board member Anna Luther.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Help CCSC reach more children

and make winter sports accessible for all by donating toward scholarships, equipment and program expansion; volunteering your time as a coach or mentor; spreading the word about CCSC; sponsoring a child or exploring opportunities for corporate partnerships.

Visit ccskiclub.org to make an impact. —L.B.

PEDAL POWER While summer camps and programs like community slow rolls, the bike library, bike tune-ups, balance bike meet-ups, bike valet and Bikes for All continue to grow, the need for financial support and coaches also continues to widen.

THE HEROES: Norte THEIR MISSION: Championing bikes and community in Northern

Michigan, Norte engages youth to be physically active and socially connected through cycling-focused programs.

photo courtesy of Norte!

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Any given year, there are 200 to 400

children on the summer camp waitlist. In 2023, Norte increased its summer camp capacity by 39 percent—a substantial jump that ensured more children gained confidence, explored the community and learned how to navigate the region safely by bicycle—all made possible by Norte staff, donors, volunteers and coaches.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: As a small nonprofit, Norte is in a continual state of fundraising to support basic operating and program needs.

SOLUTION: Individual donations account for nearly 50 percent

of the Norte operating budget, while program revenue accounts for less than 30 percent. Financial gifts from the community are essential for impact and growth. “When you see a team of Norte riders pedaling through town, you can smile and know that you helped provide that experience,” says Executive Director Jill Sill.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Join us as a participant, coach,

volunteer, business champion, or donor. Your financial gift ensures Norte programs reach the children who need us most and allows us to provide even more scholarships, trained coaches, well-maintained bicycles, and community programs across Northern Michigan.

Get involved at norteyouthcycling.org. —L.B. mynorth.com

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WHERE EVERY CHILD IS LOVED THE HEROES: Eagle Village THEIR MISSION: To help children navigate their futures after being

removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Through God’s help and love, Eagle Village equips children and families for success.

photo courtesy of Eagle Village

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Among the 4,167 lives impacted in 2022,

Eagle Village served 275 children through residential treatment, adoption, foster care, short-term interventions, trauma assessments, counseling and specialized summer camps. One child in particular left a deep impression on staff; he’d arrived suffering from trauma, his hair purposely grown over his face as a shield. As he worked through his trauma, he decided to cut his hair so his face could be seen and he could better communicate with staff. He is now living with a family that has started the adoption process.

“This is a place that values each life, guides youth through their trauma, and helps them find hope” says Vice President of Advancement Carol Hyble. “These are Michigan’s orphans. They’re normal kids who have gone through unthinkable things. They need help

navigating those experiences and, with therapists and staff, learn how to move past it.”

CURRENT CHALLENGE: When a child turns 18, they are moved

out of the residential foster care system and it can be challenging for these young adults to navigate the workforce or college and independent living. Independent living programs are not currently available for these youth in Northern Michigan.

SOLUTION: Eagle Village is developing a program to meet the

needs of these vulnerable young adults.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Financial gifts and volunteers are

always needed. Visit on Friends Friday, the third Friday of each month, for an in-depth look at Eagle Village history, mission and a campus tour. Join a Serve Saturday, the first Saturday of each month, to assist with a meaningful work project. Make a financial contribution at eaglevillage.org/donate to help change the life of a child. —L.B.

FILL THE PANTRY RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Thanks to grant funding, the Summer of

Sharing program served 70 families lunches and breakfasts during the 2023 summer break from school.

“It was a fabulous program. Families were given menus, all of the food, spices, knives, spatulas, can openers—all of the tools to create it,” says Stanton. “We would love to continue a Food for Families program beyond summer in addition to our food pantry.”

THE HEROES: Leelanau Christian Neighbors THEIR MISSION: Founded in 1987, this impactful nonprofit of

more than 200 volunteers helps Leelanau County residents who are facing emergencies through programs that include Blessings in a Backpack, the LCN Baby Pantry and Samaritans’ Closet along with a community food pantry and financial assistance.

“Every person has such individual circumstances. Someone might come and say, ‘I need help paying my rent.’ We look at why that is,” says Executive Director Mary Stanton. “We find the answers to those questions and then look at them as a whole person and ask, ‘how can we really change the situation?’ And that’s made a difference in peoples’ lives.”

CURRENT CHALLENGE: Rising grocery and housing costs mean

more and more neighbors are reaching out for assistance. The Leelanau Christian Neighbors food pantry is serving 146 families each week along with families accessing the baby pantry weekly for diapers, wipes, toys, food and clothing.

SOLUTION: To continue expanding services and fully serving neigh-

bors, the nonprofit is seeking funding, staff and volunteers. “LCN employs only one full and two part-time people to run the overall organization, so volunteers are crucial to our success,” Stanton says.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Visit leelanauchristianneighbors.org

to contribute and to learn more about donating food and goods to the pantry and resale store. —L.B. mynorth.com

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN

ADVERTISEMENT

NorteYouthCycling.org Norte Youth Cycling P.O. Box 781 Traverse City, MI 49685 231- 883-2404 MISSION STATEMENT Norte champions bikes and community.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Witte, President Sue Paul, Vice President Anthony Rupard, Secretary Eric Mannix, Treasurer Marshall Collins, Director Mike Tarnow, Director Warren Wahl, Director Michelle Young, MD, Director

Norte moves Communities Forward, Together.

Norte brings children and communities together using the joy and adventure that bicycles provide.

We know that people who are physically active and socially connected are happier, healthier, and stronger. During 2023, we empowered nearly 3,000 individuals through our school programs, summer camps, and community outreach initiatives in northern Michigan. Norte programs provide a safe, supportive opportunity for children to gain confidence, form connections, and explore their community. When you see a Norte group navigating the streets or trails in our region, we hope you will smile and know it’s not really about the ride; it’s about the rider.

Bikes for All: We believe the benefits of riding bicycles with friends should be accessible to riders of all ages and abilities. Our Balance Bike program welcomes the youngest riders, typically ages 2-5, to experience the joys of moving under their own power. Our Bikes for All program invites riders who need assistance to enjoy our growing fleet of adaptive bicycles. Both of these important programs are free to participants and meet weekly at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.

OUR FOCUS FOR 2024

MAKE A GIFT

Access to Programs: We’ve never turned away a single child from our programs for financial reasons. In 2023, we did not increase our registration fees. We also nearly tripled the amount of program scholarships we awarded to area youth. Beyond providing scholarships, our Bike Library ensures that children in our programs and in our region can borrow a bicycle just like a book. Norte’s transformative experiences, lessons, and memories are available to every child who wants to be part of our organization, regardless of the financial situation at home - thanks to donors like you.

Less Screen Time. More Bike Time: On average, children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend 7.5 hours a day looking at a screen. Norte provides bike-based programs that ensure kids are outside, physically active, and connecting with their peers and trained coaches. The result is thousands of happier, more successful, and empowered children in our region.

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How Can You Help?: Please donate. Each gift ensures our programs support the children and individuals who need the engagement, exercise, and opportunity to gain confidence and friendships the most. Your gift will also keep our Kids’ Bike Library rolling, which lends out over 900 bicycles to children in six counties, free of charge, every year.

Beyond the need for financial support, Norte really is people powered. Each year our impact is buoyed by our coaches and volunteers. There are numerous ways to engage and your help is needed. Join us.

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TENDING THE LIGHT THE HEROES: The Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, Inc. THEIR MISSION: This nonprofit leads restoration efforts, handles

daily operations and raises awareness for one of the state’s most iconic lighthouses.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: A dedicated team of staff and volunteers

delivers programming that includes story times, ghost tours, an adult lecture series, scavenger hunts and daily tours. During peak season, June through August, the lighthouse welcomes 300 visitors a day.

photo by Taylor Brown

CURRENT CHALLENGE: The 75-year-old concrete apron that sepa-

rates the lighthouse from Lake Michigan is eroding and cracking due to water and wind exposure. Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse received a State of Michigan grant for $5.1 million to replace the apron as well as an additional $350,000 from county and township offices. But the project is estimated to cost more than $10 million.

SOLUTION: Aiming to break ground in 2025, lighthouse ad-

vocates are working with Marine Engineers, the State Historic Preservation Office, Office of Energy and Great Lakes and Army

Corps of Engineers to develop a plan while fundraising to meet monetary goals. The nonprofit will request construction bids in the spring of 2024.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: While strong donor support has

enabled the Friends to secure matching grants to restore and maintain this beloved site, additional resources to begin construction and complete the project will be needed. Visit pointbetsie.org to donate. Become a lighthouse member or volunteer and help lighten the staffing load. Be a tour guide, sit at the top of the tower and answer questions or work in the gift shop. Pick one day a week or one day a year—every effort helps. —L.B.

KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE CURRENT CHALLENGE: As they look into a sustainable future, the

Festival Foundation is hoping to purchase a permanent home office and materials storage space in downtown Traverse City (rather than renting space).

SOLUTION: In 2020, the nonprofit created its Festival Foundation THE HEROES: The Festival Foundation

photo courtesy of The Festival Foundation

THEIR MISSION: Founded by growers in 1926, the Festival Foun-

dation preserves Michigan traditions and the local cherry economy through iconic annual events that include the National Cherry Festival, the Iceman Cometh mountain bike challenge and the Leapin’ Leprechaun 5k.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Bouncing back from pandemic set-

backs stronger than ever, the beloved Cherry Festival will turn 100 in 2026. A 100th Anniversary Cherry Festival Committee is already hard at work planning special celebrations highlighting the festival’s history and regional traditions. (Hint: It will have a lot to do with pies.)

Growers’ Program, inviting donors to contribute anywhere from $5 to $500 monthly. “Every one of those small contributions makes a big difference,” says Festival Foundation CEO Kat Paye. “Those donations are very important for us to preserve traditions.”

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Join the Festival Foundation

Growers’ Program, volunteer to help out at an event or donate online at thefestivalfoundation.org.

Or, simply attend an event. “Run the 5K, race the Iceman Commeth, come to a parade—if you’re at one of our ticketed events, that’s funds going into our organization that’s then turned back into community funding for things like area trails, Norte Youth Cycling, the local NICU and family birthing center and aviation scholarships,” Paye says. —L.B. mynorth.com

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN

ADVERTISEMENT

Crystal Community Ski Club 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive Thompsonville, MI 49683 CCSKICLUB.ORG MISSION STATEMENT Crystal Community Ski Club engages youth through inclusive and accessible snowsports programming to build a strong community, boost physical and mental health and well-being, and foster a lifelong passion for the outdoors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Matthew Clayson, President Everett Leonard, Treasurer Carolyn Thayer, Secretary Matthew Bishop Andrew Cook Shawn Denton Mark Hughes Steve Kermode Anna Luther

Discover Crystal Community Ski Club:

Shaping the Future of Youth through Winter Sports Welcome to Crystal Community Ski Club (CCSC), a non-profit organization where snowsports become a gateway to building a stronger community, nurturing physical and mental well-being, and fostering a lifelong passion for the great outdoors.

Our programs, outreach efforts, and commitment to quality coaching have been the foundation upon which we’ve built our success. We’ve embraced diversity, expanded our reach into underserved communities, and made skiing a reality for children who might have never had the opportunity.

STAFF Hunter Steinkamp, Operations Manager

WHO WE ARE Established in 2018, CCSC is located in the heart of Benzie County and offers a variety of core Alpine and Nordic ski programs (lasting 8-10 weeks each winter) for beginners to elite athletes. Over the past five years, the organization has grown exponentially, touching the lives of thousands of young athletes and transforming the way communities experience winter.

MAKE A GIFT

OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS Our outreach programs extend our passion for winter sports to diverse communities, ensuring that youth, regardless of their background or abilities, have the opportunity to experience the joys of skiing and snowboarding. Our largest outreach effort is our Nordic Rocks program.

NORDIC ROCKS Nordic Rocks is CCSC’s flagship outreach program, dedicated to introducing cross-country skiing to elementary-school kids. This program provides free Nordic ski instruction to 3rd through 5th graders at eight different elementary schools, offering them the opportunity to explore winter sports right in their

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school playgrounds. This program, funded exclusively through generous donations, equips young learners with special Nordic Rocks skis that easily strap onto their snow boots. With an award-winning curriculum (developed by our program director), the kids progress from learning the basics to confidently skiing the trails at Crystal Mountain. Nordic Rocks not only encourages physical activity but also instills important life skills, making it a cherished program for 750+ young participants each year.

AFFORDABLE SNOWSPORTS FOR ALL One of the core tenets of CCSC is affordability.

We understand that the cost of snowsports can be a barrier for many families. That’s why we’ve worked diligently to create programs and opportunities that are accessible to a wide range of budgets. Our scholarship program, for example, covers registration fees, equipment, ski passes, and even clothing, for kids who need it. We’re committed to ensuring that the thrill of the snowy outdoors is within reach for all youth in our programs.

YOUR GIFT MATTERS Your generosity matters. Your donation to CCSC isn’t just an investment in snowsports; it’s an investment in the physical and emotional well-being of our youth, the accessibility of winter sports, and the vitality of our community. Your donation helps break down barriers to access, allowing more children to enjoy the snowy wonders of Northern Michigan. Join us in making a difference, one snowy adventure at a time.

Visit CCSkiClub.org/donate to learn more and make a donation.

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Home of the monthly PRECISION CARES $1000 Charitable Giveaway Home of the monthly PRECISION CARES $1000 Charitable Giveaway and the annual PRECISION FURNACE MAKEOVER. and the annual PRECISION FURNACE MAKEOVER.

Since 2006, Precision has given back over $ to the $284,000

284,000

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Service from Your Point of View!

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REDEFINING WELLNESS THE HEROES: Grand Traverse Bay YMCA

This not-for-profit social services organization is all in on youth development and healthy living for every generation.

THEIR MISSION:

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: As the leading provider of fitness, health

and wellness services in the Traverse City region, the YMCA has connected countless residents with resources such as the Child Development Center, Summer Day Camps and the life-saving Safety Around Water program.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: The definition of wellness is changing and

expanding, and the YMCA is shifting its services to answer the call.

“Wellness is no longer about waistlines or biceps, but more about mindsets and interactions,” says President and CEO Andrew Page.

“With that in mind, the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is becoming more purposeful in addressing social isolation and loneliness, not only for aging adults, but all ages.”

SOLUTION: The YMCA is bringing community together over free

breakfasts, free workshops hosted by professionals from all walks of

life and increased financial assistance so everyone can gain access to services regardless of ability to pay.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: “In partnership with our com-

munity, we all know we can do more to help,” Page says. “Whether it’s sharing a smile or just saying hello. Little things matter and kindness can be the elixir for a troubled soul.”

Page and the YMCA invite you to gift others awareness and kindness as they work to help address community mental health in a more holistic and effective way. Financial contributions can also be made at gtbayymca.org/give. —L.B.

IN THE NEWS CURRENT CHALLENGE: The sheer amount of content clamouring for attention in our media-saturated age and the decline of local journalism.

SOLUTION: Thanks to funding by Rotary Charities, Interlochen Pub-

THE HEROES: Interlochen Public Radio THEIR MISSION: To make Northern Michigan a place known for high-quality journalism where news, storytelling and local knowledge are core features of a rich civic life.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Interlochen Public Radio’s podcast

Points North is now heard in more than 30 states and 20 countries.

It won four of 13 categories in the multi-state regional Murrow Awards this year and has earned air-time on NPR’s radio show Snap Judgement.

lic Radio is currently conducting a survey of more than 60 news organizations in Northern Michigan to see if a collaborative approach to the news business is possible. “We’d like to produce a better future, one where our industry thrives rather than fights just to survive,” says Interlochen Public Radio Executive Director Peter Payette.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Support local news in your com-

munity with your attention and money. Visit interlochenpublicradio. org/givetoday to contribute to Interlochen Public Radio. Your gift will support this critical service, including special initiatives like developing a network of local news organizations who can join forces to meet community needs going forward. “Recognize that news is more expensive at the local level, but that is the cost of a society that can govern itself,” Payette says. —L.B. mynorth.com

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CENTER FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

For 28 years, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has empowered people who want to be part of creating a better Michigan with innovative, local-based solutions that create a clean environment, strong economy, and healthy community.

FIND OUT MORE AT GROUNDWORKCENTER.ORG SCAN TO LEARN MORE

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121_00

The

Painted Turtle Gift Shop

COMMUNITY

Artworks supports over 100 Michigan artists and authors.

CONNECTIONS

Artworks provides unique opportunities to exhibit and sell, offer workshops, and other innovative programming.

COLLABORATIONS

Artworks partners with artists and organizations throughout the state for the many exhibits at The Batdorff and Alley Galleries.

CREATIVITY

Find that one of a kind gift at The Painted Turtle Gift Shop. And don’t miss the Holiday Market that begins mid-November.

Vitalizing our community through the arts and humanities.

Monday-Saturday • 10am-4pm 106 N Michigan Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307

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artworksinbigrapids.org

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BRIDGING LAND AND COMMUNITY THE HEROES: Grand Traverse Conservation District

lead, facilitate and inspire exploration, appreciation, conservation and restoration of our natural world.

rendering courtesy of Grand Traverse Conservation District

THEIR MISSION: To

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: In spring 2023, the Grand Traverse Con-

The bridge will connect trails on the east and west side of the Boardman-Ottaway River, encouraging walkers, cyclists, anglers and adventurers to explore miles of trails on the Natural Education Reserve and beyond. The footbridge is an integral part of the ongoing restoration efforts, alongside initiatives such as stabilizing riverbanks, planting thousands of native trees and shrubs and managing invasive species. Together, these efforts will transform the Natural Education Reserve into an impressive community destination.

The Grand Traverse Conservation District is currently in need of funding for the $1.2 million Ottaway Crossing, a 160-foot pedestrian bridge that will span the Boardman-Ottaway River where the Sabin Dam used to be.

This bridge—named in honor of the river’s original designation and the Indigenous community—will play a crucial role in enhancing trail connectivity.

SOLUTION: The Grand Traverse Conservation District is actively

servation District welcomed its inaugural cohort of farmers into the Great Lakes Incubator Farm program. These dedicated farmers have been highly active throughout the season, engaging in hands-on farm projects, interactive educational sessions and field trips. The farm is thriving with garlic and rye crops, potatoes, onions, shallots, corn, collard greens, sunflower sprouts, beans, tomatoes, peppers and squash, all flourishing in the healthy soil.

CURRENT CHALLENGE:

seeking donations to support construction of the Ottaway Crossing.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: To contribute and be a part of this

transformative project, visit natureiscalling.org/campaign. Your support will help create a lasting impact on the natural environment and community. —L.B.

PRESERVING PRISTINE HABITAT

photo courtesy of Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

THE HEROES: Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy THEIR MISSION: To protect significant natural, scenic and farm

lands and advance stewardship now and for future generations.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: In its 32-year history, GTRLC has pro-

tected nearly 47,000 acres of land and 153 miles of shoreline.

Most recently, the group completed its $2.4 million fundraising campaign to protect the 120-acre Turtle Cove Nature Preserve.

“Saving that truly significant land and shoreline was a high priority,” says Director of Communications and Engagement Jennifer Jay. “Keeping Arbutus Lake pristine and protected and preserving a major wildlife habitat—there were a lot of wins with that one.”

CURRENT CHALLENGE: Before the intrusion of docks, boat traf-

fic and shoreline development, Lake Bellaire was likely home to

six pairs of loons, which require undisturbed locations to build nests and raise their young. By the 1990s, only one pair of loons was documented in the entire lake. GTRLC preserved the Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary (protected in 1998 and expanded in 2020) and the nearby Loon Nursery Natural Area (preserved in 2001), bringing the number of nesting loon pairs to four. Now, an opportunity to purchase a 28-acre parcel will connect the sanctuary to privately protected land, creating a 350-acre habitat. If the $622,020 goal isn’t met, developers will likely scoop up the highdemand shoreline.

SOLUTION: The great news? GTRLC is more than halfway there,

with a remaining $252,505 needed. Strong efforts are in the works to get the word out and to reach those who love Lake Bellaire and its loons or understand the importance of protecting water habitats.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Head over to gtrlc.org and click on the donate button, click support a project and find the Golden Days Loon Nature Sanctuary project. —L.B. mynorth.com

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN

ADVERTISEMENT

280 S Benzie Blvd, PO Box 408, Beulah, MI 49617 231-882-4391 info@benziecd.org

What should we do about the environment?

It’s a question we at the Benzie Conservation District hear often that’s not easy to answer. Indeed, climate change and the resulting species extinctions, loss of farms, and severe weather events can feel like an insurmountable challenge. We are here to “Preserve and Enhance the Natural Resources of Benzie County,” but we can’t do it alone. Our investment, our purpose, and our greatest hope lie with you: the communities and individuals who choose to make a positive impact on our shared natural world every day.

We need you to show up, ask questions, and advocate for the protection of our natural resources.

We need you to seek information about how you, your friends, family, and community can make lasting change and to share this information with others.

We need you to show up for what you believe in. Sharing your time, talent, and financial resources for causes that resonate with you.

Last year, we asked Benzie County residents and visitors about the most important conservation issues for the District to address. Accordingly, our top priorities for the immediate future are preserving and enhancing the quality of our water and providing accessible environmental education to inspire future conservation leaders.

Our vision is a future where residents and visitors of Benzie County are empowered and actively engaged in conserving our natural resources. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

To learn more or donate to the Benzie Conservation District, visit www.benziecd.org/donate

Your personal connection for all things Parkinson’s

You can transform a young artist’s life Interlochen is where a young artist’s creativity and confidence take root. Immersed in the arts, their lives are forever transformed. Your gift to the Interlochen Annual Fund gives a young artist the launch pad needed to transform their passion into purpose.

• Advocacy and personal counseling • Support group meetings • Ideas for daily living • Research and treatment updates • Popular summer forums • Local, independent, no fees Please donate to support our mission. pnntc.org/donate

Office of Philanthropy philanthropy@interlochen.org 231.276.7623

interlochen.org/give

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> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

We’re here for you – Ready to listen and navigate this together.

Your Financial Partners throughout your life.

Financial Advisors in Traverse City Heather J Boivin, AAMSTM 3285 South Airport Road West 231-933-5263

Financial Advisor in Interlochen Teressa Hupfer 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, Building D Suite 202 231-252-3561

John Tredway 806 S Garfield Ave, Suite B 231-932-1290

Bill Collin 9672 US Highway 31, Ste 400 231-276-1355

Dreaming up the ideal retirement is your job.

Helping you get there is ours.

Yancy Boivin, AAMSTM 3285 South Airport Road West 231-933-5263 John W Elwell, AAMS 3588 Veterans Dr 231-947-0079

TM

Jamie Keillor 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, Building D, Suite 202 231-252-3561

Jim Mellinger 12935 SWfrom Bay Shore Dr,you.

Ste 310 We’re excited to hear 231-947-1123

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John W Elwell, AAMS™

Andrew Weaver 125 Park Street, Suite 250 231-947-3032 Greg Williams 513 S Union St 231-933-0881

Call or visit any of our financial advisors in the area.

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ANIMAL SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AT CAPACITY. AND SO ARE WE. Please consider helping the homeless pets in need at Cherryland Humane Society.

WWW.CHERRYLANDHUMANE.ORG/DONATE

Keeping Healthcare Strong for Northern Michigan Charitable giving strengthens and enhances local healthcare for our communities.

Your generosity supports essential programs and services, leading-edge technology and equipment, facility upgrades, and more. Together, we improve lives.

MUNSON HEALTHCARE Foundations 28

231-213-1150 | foundation@mhc.net

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BIG IDEAS THE HEROES: Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities THEIR MISSION: Designing sustainable local solutions for envi-

photo courtesy of Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

ronmental, economic and community improvement. Think local food efforts aimed at saving farms and bettering community health, clean-energy transitions and keeping towns walkable.

RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Piloted nearly a decade ago, Groundwork’s

10 Cents a Meal program has expanded to bring locally grown food to school cafeterias statewide. The program is now viewed nationally as a model for Farm to School initiatives.

CURRENT CHALLENGES: With increasing pressures caused by

climate change, land development and area sprawl, leaders say there’s a short window to implement renewable energy sources and to protect the local farm economy.

SOLUTION: Continued support through private donations is crucial

to initiating Groundwork’s bold, innovative and sometimes controversial programs. “The upshot is that two of the key pillars of Groundwork’s strategy—start things and sustain them with a longgame vision—require private gifts. And it’s true that every single

Bringing FOOD to neighbors

one of our biggest achievements since 1995 would not have happened without the shared belief of private donors that a better, more sustainable world is possible,” says Groundwork Communications Director Jeff Smith.

HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE DAY: Choose your passion—expanding

local food initiatives to save farms and improve community health, speeding the transition to a clean-energy economy or keeping local towns walkable and livable—and donate to the one that speaks to you. Or, contribute to Groundwork’s general fund and they’ll steer it to the areas of greatest need. Visit groundworkcenter.org to make an impact. —L.B.

Hope Starts Here.

Helping people find HOME Powered by our stores and philanthropic donors

LIKE YOU

You can make quality mental health care affordable for a neighbor experiencing financial hardship.

Please make a gift today. pinerest.org/donate Choose designation: Patient Assistance Fund - Traverse City

goodwillnmi.org

pinerest.org/traverse-city mynorth.com

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Give Hope

To a homeless animal Little Traverse Bay Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that provides nutritious food, a warm bed, and medical care to 500-plus animals each year and helps them to find new homes.

MYNORTHTICKETS.COM 800.836.0717 We also offer the following services to the public: Boarding l Grooming l Daycare l Training l Full-Service Veterinary Clinic

Let us care for your beloved pet! Contact us today.

Adoptions, Training, Shelter Programs: (PH) 231-347-2396 Boarding, Grooming, Daycare: (PH) 231-347-2384 Veterinary Clinic: (PH) 231-622-6363

Little Traverse Bay Humane Society 1300 W. Conway Rd. Harbor Springs, MI 49740 PH: 231-347-2396 www.ltbhs.com

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TBAYS Traverse Bay Area Youth Soccer

PLAY

VOLUNTEER

SUPPORT

Join TBAYS in the second annual Giving Tuesday Fundraiser and Silent Auction at Right Brain Brewery on November 28, 2023 from 4-8p For more information visit our website www.TBAYS.org or contact us at admin@tbays.org

Providing accessible and affordable skating programs to members of the Northern Michigan community. www.centreice.org/donate I.C.E. (Involved Citizens Enterprises) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

mynorth.com

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Academic Excellence Endowment Supporting educational enrichment opportunities for students today and for years to come.

Donate online at: www.tcaps.net/fund

The Perfect Gift? You’re looking at it!

TWELVE ISSUES FOR $39.95!

Subscribe a Northern Michigan lover to a 12-month subscription to Traverse Northern Michigan for just $39.95 this holiday season.

MyNorth.com/subscribe

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10/10/23 4:21 PM

We are your Community Serving our community means everything to Hospice of Michigan’s local care team.

It means we’re here to care for you - our families, our friends, our neighbors - at a time when you need the comfort of a familiar face combined with the expertise of a team of professionals.

It means we show up for you so you’re never alone.

And it means we’ll treat you like family…because our community is our family.

888-247-5701 | www.hom.org 10850 E. TRAVERSE HWY., #3325, TRAVERSE CITY

mynorth.com

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10/11/23 10:59 AM

One Stop. Four Showrooms.

Epert Advice. Quality Products

Surface Sources is a unique showroom with ceramic, porcelain, and handmade and natural stone tile including granite,marble, and slate.

‘Round the Hearth featuring the industries finest wood, gas, and electric fireplaces and stoves; also offering fireplace doors, hearths, mantels and gas logs.

EMMET

Natures Landscape featuring cultured and natural stone; ask about our stainless-steel grills and cabinetry including outdoor fire-pits, fire-tables, and outdoor heaters.

Mason’s Market expert advice coupled with a large selection of specialized tools for the professional to the DIY homeowner.

Across from the Airport 8737 Hwy M-119 & Petoskey, MI 49770 231-348-5959 C CO. O. www.emmetbrick.com

BRIC K BL BLOCK OC K

Fireplaces –Fox Blocks Tile –Flagstone

Across from the Airport on . M119, Petoskey

231-348-5959

www.EMMETBRICK.com

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OFFICIAL SPONSOR

FEATURED SPONSORS:

100% of Ticket Proceeds go to

SUPPORTING SPONSOR:

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! LINK.MYNORTH.COM/TOUR23 34

2023 give northern michigan

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10/11/23 11:04 AM

GIVING DIRECTORY

ACME CHRISTIAN THRIFT STORE & FOOD PANTRY 8925 M72 E, Williamsburg, MI 49690 231.938.2990 •acmechristian.org Find out more on page 28

GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSERVANCY 2846 3 Mile Rd N, Traverse City, MI 49686 231.929.7911 • gtrlc.org Find out more on page 10

ARTWORKS BIG RAPIDS AREA ARTS AND HUMANITIES 106 N Michigan Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231.796.2420 • artworksinbigrapids.org Find out more on page 23

GROUNDWORK CENTER FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES 414 E Eighth St Suite 204, Traverse City, MI 49686 231.941.6584 • groundworkcenter.org Find out more on page 22

BENZIE AREA CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS (BACN) 2804 Benzie Hwy, PO Box 93, Benzonia, MI 49616 231.882.9544 • benziebacn.org Find out more on page 24

HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN 10850 E Traverse Hwy, Suite 3325, Traverse City, MI 49684 888.247.5701 • hom.org Find out more on page 33

CRYSTAL COMMUNITY SKI CLUB 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Thompsonville, Michigan 49683 CCSkiClub.org Find out more on page 18

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 4000 J Maddy PKWY, Interlochen, MI 49643 231.276.7200 • interlochen.org Find out more on page 26

EAGLE VILLAGE 5044 175th Ave., Hersey, MI 49639 231.305.6500 • eaglevillage.org Find out more on Back Cover ELIZABETH LANE OLIVER CENTER FOR THE ARTS 132 Coast Guard Rd., Frankfort, MI 49635 231.352.4151 • oliverart.org Find out more on page 30

INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC RADIO 9350 Lyon St, Interlochen, MI 49643 231.276.4400 • interlochenpublicradio.org Find out more on page 1 LAKE ANN CAMP 18400 Maple St, Lake Ann, MI 49650 231.275.7329 • lakeanncamp.com Find out more on page 31

GOODWILL NORTHERN MICHIGAN 2279 South Airport Rd W, Traverse City, MI 49684 231.922.4805 • goodwillnmi.org Find out more on page 29

LEELANAU CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS 7322 E Duck Lake Rd., Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 PO Box 196, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 231.994.2271 • LeelanauChristianNeighbors.org Find out more on page 6

GRAND TRAVERSE BAY YMCA 3700 Silver Lake Road, Traverse City, MI 49684 231.933.9622 • gtbayymca.org Find out more on page 12

MUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS 1150 Medical Campus Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684 231.213.1150 • foundation@mhc.net • munsonhealthcare.org/give Find out more on page 28

GRAND TRAVERSE CONSERVATION DISTRICT 1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685 231.941.0960 • natureiscalling.org/donate Find out more on page 14

MUSIC HOUSE MUSEUM 7377 US-31, Williamsburg, MI 49690 231.938.9300 • musichouse.org Find out more on page 33

mynorth.com

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10/8/23 11:19 PM

GIVING DIRECTORY

NORTE PO Box 781, Traverse City, MI, 49685 231.883.2404 • NorteYouthCyling.org Find out more on page 16

THE FRIENDS OF POINT BETSIE LIGHTHOUSE PO Box 601, Frankfort, MI 49635 231.352.7644 • pointbetsie.org Find out more on page 8

PARKINSON’S NETWORK NORTH PO Box 5734, Traverse City, MI 49696 231.947.7389 • pnntc.org Find out more on page 26

TRAVERSE AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY 610 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686 231.932.8500 • tadl.org Find out more on Inside Back Cover

SINGLE MOMM 1748 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686 231.944.1710 •singlemomm.org Find out more on page 20

TRAVERSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 300 E. Front St, Ste 230, Traverse City, MI 49684 231.947.7120 • TraverseSymphony.org Find out more on page 2

THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION 521 S. Union St., Traverse City, MI 49684 231.947.4230 • thefestivalfoundation.org Find out more on page 4

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10/9/23 11:32 PM

The gift of reading... a community legacy Once upon a time, nearly 155 years ago, a group of young women gathered in Leach’s Hall, near the corner of Front and Park Streers. With an average age of 27, and one 17-year-old, they voted to form the Ladies’ Library Association.

Our library today is built on the foundation set by these women and their starting collection of 79 donated books.

“Traverse City, that is for it’s size, is the liveliest, pluckiest, most enterprising and go-ahead little town to be found between Eastport, Maine, and the Golden Gate of San Francisco Bay,”

Summer 2023 3,650 participants 1.88M minutes of reading!

Program Attendance: Up 58%

said Martha Bates, in her dedication speech for the first Ladies’ Library Building. Ever since then there are many stories of the library supporting the enterprising community and the community supporting its plucky library.

We’re proud to continue this tradition today, as we face new challenges. Keep the gift of reading going - our literacy programs build strong early readers, and support struggling readers.

Reading is the gift of a lifetime that pays off for generations donate today!

tadl.org/donate

Special Giving Opportunity!

Purchase this beautiful, original painting donated by a wonderful library patron/artist, all proceeds will benefit the Bookmobile! (Size approx. 42” x 36”) $4800, Artist Dorothy McGrath Grossman Tax-Deductible Donation Inquire via email - mhoward@tadl.org ADVERTISEMENT

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10/11/23 10:20 AM

231.832.2234 | WWW.EAGLEVILLAGE.ORG 5044 175TH AVE. HERSEY, MI 49639 WHERE POTENTIAL SOARS

We exist to help children navigate their lives and futures after being removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK WITH YOUTH FRIENDS FRIDAY [ 3 Friday of Each Month ] rd

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME SERVE SATURDAYS [ 1 Saturday of Each Month ] st

DONATE WWW.EAGLEVILLAGE.ORG

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10/6/23 12:05 PM

T he Cu l i nary North local restaurants . craft drinks . seasonal cuisine

“

Spurred in part by their ability to store more carbon dioxide than other trees, the American chestnut has become a darling of climate conscious farmers.

photo by Dave Weidner

—CULINARY COLUMNIST STACEY BRUGEMAN

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BREAKFAST WITH A MISSION P. 42 GRAB & GO HOLIDAY DELIGHTS P. 44 THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN P. 45 SNACK ON ROASTED CHESTNUTS P. 46

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10/10/23 2:08 PM

T he Cu l i nary North Served

D I N I N G OUT

BREAKFAST WITH A MISSION

by ANNA FALLER

Community support meets comforting eats at After 26 Depot Café.

Donald’s go-to order is chicken tenders and fries. When he’s not at work, catch him at trivia, karaoke night or watching hockey.

Opposite: Sweet Potato Scramble

After 26 Depot Café 127 W. Cass Street, Cadillac after26project.org

photos by Dave Weidner

T

ucked inside the historic Ann Arbor Railroad Depot in Cadillac (constructed in 1915), After 26 Depot Café offers a healthy serving of 20th-century architecture; sky-high ceilings, exposed brick walls, angular floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s even a patio platform overlooking the still-standing railroad tracks.

Inside, guests fuel their engines with fresh-casual breakfast and lunch selections. Staples include build-your-own omelettes, à la carte baked goods (cinnamon rolls, English muffins, biscuits) and maple syrup–topped chicken and waffles; as well as hearty handhelds (think bacon jam burgers and chicken curry wraps) and the wildly-popular Cherry Grove salad.

But while you might come for a tasty meal, it’s the café’s mission that’ll have you hooked.

The eatery offers employment opportunities for developmentally and cognitively impaired adults. Established in 2013, Cadillac’s After 26 Project was inspired by The Junction of Hope in Chesaning—the nation’s first nonprofit 501 (c)(3) restaurant—and launched by a team of local board members to support and empower the community.

For context: those with developmental impairments age out of Michigan public schools when they turn 26. Consequently, they often stay at home or lack new learning opportunities.

“Our mission is to give them purpose so they really feel integrated in the general population,” explains General Manager Molly Mackey.

To accomplish this, the café not only encourages “project workers” to engage with diners, but also provides the tools for them to develop intrapersonal skills and ideally the independence to eventually manage a solo position.

The concept has been a huge success. In fact, Mackey says, several local businesses have since hired After 26 graduates.

More important, though, the café has helped contribute to a culture of acceptance. “We have such gracious community support,” she adds. “The program allows our guests to see what these project workers have to offer, and in turn, shows our project workers that the universe isn’t a big scary place.”

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T he Cu l i nary North New in Town

GRAB & GO LIKE A HOLIDAY PRO

by CARLY SIMPSON

Making merry is easy, thanks to the extensive wine list and gourmet bites at Peninsula Provisions.

Peninsula Provisions

photo by Dave Weidner

25 S. Lake Leelanau Dr., Lake Leelanau

When you’re looking for that just-right wine—something your guests haven’t tried before, pairs well with food and doesn’t cost more than your roast turkey—Kate Vilter Stassen undoubtedly has the perfect bottle. The proprietor of the newly opened Peninsula Provisions in Lake Leelanau (and former owner of Leland’s renowned Riverside Inn), Vilter Stassen has spent decades learning about the world’s wine regions, with a passion for sustainable, family-owned producers. Her carefully curated wine shop carries bottles from international and local vineyards, ranging in price from $10 to $250. “Our whole theory is that we can do better by the earth, and our wine selections are one place to start,” Vilter Stassen says.

What to pour this season: “We have a new bubbly from Krasno, a village in Slovenia, that’s made with ribolla gialla grapes, it’s right around $18, and it’ll definitely be on my table at some point this fall,” Vilter Stassen says.

A dish to pass: Peninsula Provisions won’t roast that turkey for you, but the team will send you off with rich butternut squash soup, exquisite cheese boards, hearty stuffing and the essential shrimp cocktail platter. peninsulaprovisionsmi.com

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10/10/23 2:10 PM

T he Cu l i nary North Sip THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN A taste of the North's craft beverage scene.

FIRST TASTES AT LOVE WINES WINERY OF LUDINGTON

There’s a frenzy of activity each fall at Two K Farms in Suttons Bay. Led by brothers George and Max Koskela, the team spends about two months picking and pressing close to 400 bins of heritage cider apples—varieties you won’t see at the grocery store, like Kingston Black, Harrison, Dabinett and Esopus Spitzenburg (one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorites that he planted at Monticello). The farm has one of the largest plantings of heritage highdensity apple trees in the Midwest. After being grown, pressed and fermented onsite, the apples result in single-varietal ciders that are poured for guests at the intimate tasting room, tucked on a hilltop between rows of pine trees with views of West Grand Traverse Bay. Watch for a new Golden Russet Ice Cider.

Jana Rose, owner of Love Wines, makes about 40 varieties of traditional grape and fruit wines. Her goal: Create flavor blends people haven’t tasted before. She adds mango and jalapeño to chardonnay for her bestselling “Two to Mango,” makes tea wine by infusing jasmine tea into grapes before fermentation and uses Ludington-grown aronia berries (chokeberries) in “Out Yonder.” “I love wine tasting, but I want to try something I’ve never heard of before,” Rose says. “Whether it’s a different kind of grape or a new blend, I try to do it in a way that nobody’s ever thought of doing.”

twokfarms.com

ludingtonwine.com

photo by Allison Jarrell

TASTE HERITAGE APPLES AT TWO K FARMS CIDERY & WINERY

Get Your Michigan Brewvine Passport

An easy-to-use mobile passport packed with deals and specials at your favorite Michigan breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries. mibrewvine.com

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T he Cu l i nary North On the Table DINING IN

CRACK THE CODE

by STACEY BRUGEMAN

photo by Dave Weidner // styling by Sarah Peschel

I

After singing about them for years, it’s high time we actually roast some chestnuts at home.

t used to be that “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” was just a kitschy, albeit classic, song lyric to me. That’s changed, and I’ve grown to have profound appreciation for this tree, fruit and bar snack.

Spurred in part by their ability to store more carbon dioxide than other trees, the American chestnut has become a darling of climate conscious farmers. In recent years, some Northern Michigan cherry growers have begun replacing aged-out orchards with chestnut trees. As a result, every November, this fast-growing perennial crop is a new regular in the checkout line at local specialty stores and some of my favorite restaurants. One bleak November day a few years back some girlfriends and I met for dinner at The Cooks’ House in Traverse City, where chef Jen Blakeslee greeted us with a small bowl of scored chestnuts—warm, fragrant, slathered in butter and utterly addictive. They were the perfect autumnal amuse, and I was still thinking about them one year later when chestnut season returned. That autumn, I made sure to nab some before their fleeting season expired and roasted them at home—wooing my red-nosed children with a warm afterschool snack. No, I didn’t go so far as to roast them in the fireplace.

The oven works just fine, thank you very much. I did, however, sprinkle them with a little smoked flake salt to give them just a kiss of that “open fire.”

I highly recommend adding this easy three-ingredient bar snack to your Thanksgiving recipe rotation. You be the judge of whether your crowd would prefer the climate conversation or a little Nat King Cole.

Stacey Brugeman is a 20-year food and beverage journalist.

Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, Eater and on Instagram @staceybrugeman.

Dave Weidner is an editorial photographer and videographer based in Northern Michigan. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook @dzwphoto.

Sarah Peschel, @22speschel, is a stylist and photographer with an appreciation for all things local agriculture, food and drink.

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^ Roasted Chestnuts Makes 2 cups, to be served as a bar snack 10 ounces fresh chestnuts 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter A few pinches of smoked sea salt, to taste 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Using your thumb and pointer finger, squeeze a chestnut firmly to cause the skin to separate from the meat inside. Working with a sharp paring knife, score an x through the skin on the flat side of the chestnut while squeezing it. Repeat until you have scored every chestnut, arranging them scored side up on a dry baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on the center rack of the oven and roast until the cut skin has peeled back and opened like a flower, about 15 minutes depending on the size of your chestnuts.

3. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and toss the chestnuts with butter while the pan is still hot. Sprinkle with smoked salt and serve with a discard bowl for the skins, which should easily peel away with your fingers. – S.B.

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Love of the Land

get there

photo by Sarah Goodwin

BLACK ROCKS They may be best known for summer cliff diving, but the Black Rocks at the tip of Marquette’s Presque Isle Park also offer ethereal views in fall and winter. After wending along Peter White Drive, photographer Sarah Goodwin hiked to catch this serene, snow-dusted sunrise over the rocks (composed of 1.7-billion-year-old magma formations). She recalls that the crisp winter air was thick with the aroma of pines and fallen leaves, and the quiet was broken only by the sounds of nature as she made her way to “the most breathtaking 360-degree views of rugged rock-lined Lake Superior shoreline.” Follow Sarah’s adventures: @sg.captures. -A.J.

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10/6/23 11:43 AM

Whether you head North for vacation or a day trip. Start planning your next adventure on MyNorth.com

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10/10/23 12:18 PM

SEEING YOU SOONER SAME DAY AND NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS OFTEN AVAILABLE

McLaren is dedicated to increasing access to primary care, lowering wait times, and promptly connecting you to specialty care if needed. We are growing our network of employed primary care providers throughout Michigan and opening access to make more appointments available. This way, whether you are a new patient or have been with McLaren for years, our providers are available when you need them.

Below are selected practices welcoming new patients and with the best access to see you sooner.

820 Arlington Ave., Ste. 258 Petoskey, MI 49770 (231) 487-9355

560 W. Mitchell St., Ste. C70 Petoskey, MI 49770 (231) 487-7200

573 N. Bradley Hwy Rogers City, MI 49779 (989) 734-2171

1890 US-131 #4 Petoskey, MI 49770 (231) 487-2000

1249 M-75 Boyne City, MI 49712 (231) 582-1515

WALK IN MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Med Center - Petoskey South

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1890 US-131 #4, Petoskey

(231) 487-2000

10/6/23 10:24 AM