Northern Express - May 15, 2023

Recalling the Film Festival

This coming from a former volunteer at the State Theatre and Bijou by the Bay: Michael, why did you micro-manage TCFF from New York City? When were you last here in Traverse City? Michael, why did you bring folks from the East Coast last year to run TCFF 2022 when you had experienced local talent that could have run things like clockwork as they gratefully have for many years? Michael, how many TCFF board members, who disbanded a local and vibrant institution, live in Traverse City?

Lastly, Michael, where did the nearly $1 million go from the American Rescue plan to TCFF? Time for your 501(c)3 to provide tax exemption paperwork to the public.

George Golubovskis | Traverse City

Show Up to Support Our Kids

I was 16 when I submitted my first Letter to the Editor. I wrote in support of sex education at a time when it was very controversial. Here I am again because groups funded by dark money are working to squelch sex ed in books and in our classrooms. The “don’t say gay” crowd is trying to gain entry in Benzie County, and we must not allow it.

Thankfully, the curiosity of young people can’t be easily tamed. But—and this is a big but—they can be shamed and marginalized if we don’t support them. The cost on their psyche is staggering, as evidenced by suicide stats and the rise in anxiety and depression.

At 71, I feel the need to raise my voice again.

Young people today give me great hope. My niece, at 40, has finally allowed herself the freedom to choose who she loves. I mourn the years she spent struggling with her beautiful feelings. The joy she and her wife-to-be exude brings happiness to my heart.

I love watching my granddaughters navigate the world. They have not yet defined their futures, but they know, without a doubt, they will be loved unconditionally.

It’s time to show up and engage at school board meetings and other gatherings to show our LGBTQ kids we stand with them—not with rhetoric and anger—but with facts and personal stories to quell fears. When love is in the room, eyes and hearts can open and fear is relegated to the back.

Shame on us if we stand by and let fringe groups win.

Betsy Alles | Benzie County

Losing Grant Money for the Kids

At a meeting last week, politicians on the Northwest Michigan Health Department Board rejected the chance to get up to $500,000 of private, non-tax money to promote better health for our children. Why?

The money available was from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to help students and their families see the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables and less fatty, sugary food. But a group of board members—Rubingh (Antrim), Ginop

(Emmet), and Mason and Turnbull (both Otsego)—silenced discussion and blocked the application from being submitted.

As a result, the grant money is lost, and the nutrition and long-term health of our families will likely suffer. Obesity and diabetes won’t be addressed. The burden on doctors and hospitals will probably increase. Medicaid and Medicare costs— and the taxes that support them—will grow. Worse, some people will die prematurely.

The schools have a duty to teach good nutrition and provide healthy food. They know more about students and teaching than Health Board members. Seven local districts showed support for the grant application. The Superintendent and the Food Service Director of Boyne Falls Schools wrote that “funding for these efforts should be increased and sustained. We are duty-bound to improve these children’s odds of success.”

Sadly, it looks as if some Health Board members are less interested in programs to improve our health than in promoting a political agenda that attacks expertise (including our own Health Department staff) and weakens all public health measures however funded.

Where will it end? Will this political agenda continue to undermine the longterm health of families? Will these board members block every grant proposal? If that happens, medical costs and taxes would inevitably rise. Is that what we want?

James Simpson Rodgers | Charlevoix

Will the Curtain Rise Again?

Like many of us, I was somewhat dismayed to hear that the Traverse City Film Festival would be ending its nearly two-decade run this year. The State and Bijou theaters will continue to show films, true enough. And considering the state of the economy, as well as the financial struggles that the festival often faced, it’s understandable that its founders would want to end on a high note without the risk of incurring new debts.

But I can’t help but feel like the loss of the festival proper, much like the closures of various live music venues across the country in the wake of the pandemic, will have a tangibly negative impact on the collective psyche. There is something to be said for the place that these institutions hold in our communities, as they create a shared and intimate atmosphere in which we can expand our cultural horizons and sample creative wares that we might otherwise not be privy to.

Do we still have the appetite for these things? Perhaps, in this hyper-connected and soundbite-sized world that we live in, there isn’t as much demand for in-the-flesh gatherings of like-minded souls. I prefer to believe that they’ll come if we build it. Or maybe that’s just the way things are now, as time marches on and cultural norms shift beneath our feet. Either way, I hope we can one day get together and watch the curtains rise on a new film festival here in town.

Mike Fuksman | Traverse City

columns & stuff

Editor: Jillian Manning

Finance Manager: Libby Shutler

Distribution Manager: Roger Racine Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer For

Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948

Creative Director: Kyra Cross Poehlman

Distribution: Joe Evancho, Sarah Rodery Roger Racine, Gary Twardowski Charlie Brookfield, Randy Sills

Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold

Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Ashlee Cowles, Ross Boissoneau, Anna Faller, Al Parker, Sarahbeth Ramsey, Steven Tuttle

top ten

No, not those kinds of shrooms…morel mushrooms, of course! The 63rd annual National Morel Mushroom Festival returns to Boyne City this weekend, running May 18-21. This beloved event pays homage to northern Michigan’s favorite fungus with morel tastings, a mushroom hunt, seminars, an arts and crafts show, concerts, and more! Signature events include Friday’s Morelfest Wine & Dine dinner at Beach House Restaurant ($95); Saturday’s Taste of Morels ($10 admission with tasting tickets for purchase), where local chefs compete for the top dish as voted by local celebrity judges; and, of course, the Saturday National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt ($30). There’s also a carnival that runs from 3-10pm Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5pm Sunday. Festival proceeds go to area high school students for college scholarships entering the fields of biology, natural science, hospitality, or culinary arts. For a full schedule of events, details, and tickets, head to bcmorelfestival.com.

Laughter Through Tears

Magnolias have been blooming around town, so head down to Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, as the Little Traverse Civic Theatre presents Steel Magnolias, “The funniest play to make you cry.” Choose from a 7pm performance on May 11-13 and May 18-20, or 2pm on May 14, all at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. Tickets are $20 for adults; $10 for students 18 & younger. ltct.org/steelmagnolias

We’ll watch anything that stars Stanley Tucci, so tuning into Amazon Prime’s latest spy thriller, Citadel, was a no-brainer. The action-packed first episode sets up the premise for the show: The Citadel, a global spy agency with no national allegiance, has been targeted and destroyed by a rival crime syndicate called Manticore. Manticore is now wreaking havoc across the world, and only the three remaining Citadel agents can stop them: Bernard Orlick, the brains of the operation (Stanley Tucci); former bad-boy and present amnesiac Mason Kane (played by Richard Madden and not Sebastian Stan, despite the striking resemblance between the actors); and MIA ex-agent Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra)…who has also lost her memories from her days in espionage. The early episodes are filled with more questions than answers and plenty of fight scenes to keep the adrenaline pumping, but we’re curious to see how these character arcs turn out as the series unfolds. Now streaming on Amazon Prime.

While we’re all for an extra helping of greens, sometimes they just taste better when they’re doused in sauce and served with some carbs. The team at The New York Restaurant in Harbor Springs get it, which is why their fan-favorite Veal Ravioli is making a seasonal comeback. The brainchild of Chef de Cuisine Chris Bugera, this dish has all our favorite spring veggies and fungi—thin-sliced asparagus, caramelized leeks, and savory morel mushrooms—all sauteed with cream and white wine. Five plump pieces of ravioli are the finishing touch, each made from scratch and packed with rich veal. Pair your plate with a glass of dry red and tuck in, secure in the knowledge that you’ve achieved the ultimate dinner balance. Be sure to get this one while it’s hot—it won’t be here past Memorial Day! Enjoy a bowl of Veal Ravioli for $44 at The New York Restaurant in Harbor Springs (101 State St.). (231) 526-1904, thenewyork.com

6 The History of the Universe

What’s better than stargazing on a spring evening? How about stargazing and getting a fascinating history lesson? Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City will host its “History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Recent History” talk on Wednesday, May 17, at 8:30pm. The free event will start with a bang (get it?) and then walk attendees through the formations of the very first atoms, stars, and galaxies until we reach our very own Milky Way. From there, you’ll learn about our solar system and planet, right up until 2023. Last but not least, the Headlands and the Northern Michigan Astronomy Club teams will ask the biggest question of all: Where is the universe headed next? Find the park at 15675 Headlands Road in Mackinaw City, and be ready for an educational evening in one of the most beautiful and remote settings in our region. Find more information at midarkskypark.org.

Piping Plover Season

Northern Michigan’s unofficial bird is back and ready to make more of the adorable, stick-legged little avians. May 1 marked the beginning of the mating, incubating, and baby plover season, which means we humans have to be thoughtful about how we explore some of our favorite natural areas. These endangered little birdies are sensitive types and can abandon their nests if we—or our four-legged friends—cause too much of a disturbance to their habitat. The Little Traverse Conservancy recently announced Vermilion Point Preserve will be closed to pets until August 15 to help protect the eggs and fledgling plovers. Similarly, multiple trails and beaches at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—where about half of the Great Lakes piping plover population makes their summer home—are a no-pet zone. (Get the full list at nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/pets.htm.) Fido can come with you for a car ride up the newly reopened Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, but he can’t explore everywhere!

Stuff We Love: Pawsome Animal Lovers

Earlier this year, AC Paw founders Brian Manley and June McGrath announced their retirement after almost 30 years of incredible work saving cats and dogs across northern Michigan. AC Paw will live on, but as a spay and neuter assistance and educational program rather than as an animal shelter and adoption organization. That left a gap in the shelter needs for pets in our area, and the newly formed TC Paw Cat Rescue has stepped up. The new org was created by AC Paw volunteers who wanted to continue the mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and fostering cats and kittens until they found their forever homes. The nonprofit received its 501(c)3 status and first batch of fosters—two mama cats and 11 kittens—at the beginning of May, and the all-volunteer team is getting up and running to bring more felines into the program. Learn more about their mission and how to get involved at tcpaw.org.

bottoms up

Traverse City Whiskey Company’s Finishing Series

Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC) has a reputation for taking its base rye and bourbon recipes and adding unique twists. Think of the distillery’s best-selling American Cherry Edition whiskey, or last year’s summer-tinged Lakeside Peach bourbon. This year, TCWC has rolled out The Finishing Series, a trio of cask-aged whiskeys that dial into an untapped corner of the whiskey world: wine finishings. For one whiskey, TCWC took its 100 percent straight rye and rested it for a year in cabernet franc barrels from 45 North Vineyard & Winery in Lake Leelanau. For the second, distillers finished TCWC’s traditional bourbon in port wine casks from Portugal. A third took the distillery’s high-rye bourbon and aged it in hand-selected Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels. Each spirit has a distinct flavor profile: The cab franc version carries notes of tart cherries and chocolate, while the sherry delivers a nutty, caramel flavor with a toasty finish. We recommend trying each whiskey as part of a Manhattan. Find the series at 201 E 14th St in Traverse City. tcwhiskey.com

spectator

By Stephen Tuttle

Traverse City’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has created an ambitious agenda for themselves.

There is the third parking deck, the riverfront redevelopment, talk of expanding the area in which they operate, and perhaps even a third tax increment financing (TIF) district. Recently, they’ve also added the possibility, at least in a legal sense, of becoming involved in the development of multi-family housing within their existing TIF districts.

The relative merits of each project are subject to debate, and there are plenty of Traverse Citians, including multiple members of the City Commission, who are very supportive. But there are issues raising concerns for other residents.

The latest suggested changes and additions to the proposed third deck make it seem unusually complex. At an April 24 City Commission study session, the DDA outlined terms for the request for proposal (RFP) for the deck. Among those terms is a “design that will accommodate the ability to repurpose the structure in the future” and “housing opportunities.” The DDA also notes that “planning and designing in this way may have a much higher initial cost but will have longerterm benefits.” How much cost would that design—and possible future retrofitting—add to the already $30-$35 million budget?

The redevelopment of two blocks of the downtown riverfront with a whopping $63.5 million preliminary price tag is a little stickier. We know a sewer line on the south

It’s understandable that the DDA and city planners would like to develop, or sell for development, surface parking lots. They occupy incredibly valuable chunks of land. But what happens if they keep eliminating surface parking and a TIF 97 extension is denied by voters?

The first is cost. The parking deck and river projects alone approach $100 million, though some of that expense would be spread out over a period of years.

More significantly, these projects cannot be undertaken unless the DDA’s TIF 97 is extended well beyond its 2027 expiration. Leaders were told when this was first approved it would not be extended, but times, we are told, have changed.

(A TIF district allows some property tax dollars to be “captured” by the DDA. To put it in the simplest of terms, assume a property in a TIF district paid $1,000 in property taxes when the district was formed. That $1,000 will continue going to the city’s general fund, but property taxes above that, as the property value increases, are “captured” by the DDA. Those properties within the TIF district also pay an additional two mils on their property. TIF 97, which covers all of downtown Traverse City, and the Old Town TIF 2, which covers much of the Union Street business district, now generate several million dollars annually for the DDA.)

The DDA cannot finance the parking deck without extending TIF 97. It is likely the question will somehow find its way onto a 2024 ballot, and even though there is no guarantee it will succeed, they are taking steps that cannot be retraced, especially as it involves downtown parking.

It’s understandable that the DDA and city planners would like to develop, or sell for development, surface parking lots. They occupy incredibly valuable chunks of land. But what happens if they keep eliminating surface parking and a TIF 97 extension is denied by voters?

side must be replaced and the retaining wall is being undercut and needs repair or replacement. Those aren’t optional, and there are funding sources other than city taxpayers that will be helpful. Those two blocks, now not especially appealing, will be greatly improved by the preliminary concepts we’ve seen. But it is not clear how many bells and whistles the project needs that take the cost all the way up to $63.5 million. It’s also not clear over how many years such a project can be spread so the cost becomes less of an annual burden.

The need for the third parking deck has always been the subject of some debate. The river redevelopment concept has been less controversial, but the price tag has raised some eyebrows. The real problem is there isn’t sufficient funding or available financing for either without extending a TIF district residents were assured would expire in 2027.

It might not be clear to some voters that either project is worth extending TIF 97 and, in the process, helping to create a DDA with an ever-expanding reach. The city’s general fund could likely use the extra millions. It should be noted some of those captured funds would also return to Grand Traverse County, Northwestern Michigan College, and the Traverse Area District Library.

Traverse City’s planners, meanwhile, want more and more and more density. More little houses in folks’ backyards, more units on empty lots, more multifamily buildings in formerly single-family home neighborhoods, more condos, more impervious surfaces, more pressure on aging infrastructure. Unfortunately, more is not necessarily synonymous with better; sometimes more is less.

FOSTER CARE: THE HIDDEN NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY

guest opinion by Emma Smith

Most of us shy away from the idea of foster parenting. It’s daunting just thinking about caring for a child who’s experienced neglect and abuse. We worry about the behaviors they’ll have and whether or not we’ll be able to meet their needs. We wonder whether they’ll get along with our own children or if they could disrupt family stability.

And then there’s perhaps the scariest question of all: What happens if we get too attached and the child ends up going back home to their parents?

Having worked in the field of child welfare for over a decade, I’ve been on the receiving end of all sorts of questions and curiosities from people wondering how it all works.

care. There are cases, of course, in which this is not possible. And in those instances, a child is often adopted by the foster family.

I’m not here to sugarcoat anything; being a foster parent is a huge undertaking. For the reasons that people think, yes, but also because there’s still a lot of stigma attached to the job. Not only do foster parents have to navigate a confusing, complex hellscape of a legal system while raising children who have significant trauma histories, but they do it for very, very little financial incentive. This is despite the caricatures you may have seen in the media depicting lazy, uncaring foster parents who are “just in it for the money.” It is unacceptable that foster parents have to deal with this

undertaking.

Friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike have asked me things like, “Is there actually a need for foster parents in northern Michigan?” Or, “Are you really seeing the effects of the opioid epidemic here?” Many folks can’t believe that homeless families even exist in Traverse City, a tourist destination with seemingly obvious affluence.

These inquiries do not bother me. Rather, they excite me. I am the type of person who not only welcomes discussions about foster care (and the various societal factors to which it can be attributed) but who also relishes the opportunity to talk anyone and everyone’s ear off about it.

That said, these questions do make me realize that those of us in the field of social work, and specifically child welfare, need to do a better job of communicating with our community to help them understand that the need does indeed exist in our own backyard.

There are a variety of reasons why a parent may no longer be able to adequately care for their child, thus resulting in the need for foster care. These reasons could include unmet mental health needs, physical health problems, issues with substance use, a lack of resources, or some combination of the four.

It’s important to note that foster care is not meant to be a long-term solution. Studies show that, in general, when children are raised in the same home as their biological parents, they are significantly more likely to avoid poverty and prison, as well as to graduate from college (Institute for Family Studies, 2021). So, whenever possible, children returning back home to their parents is the preferred outcome of foster

stigma, along with all the other ludacris judgments thrown their way from people in glass houses.

The fact is, foster parents are people— the vast majority are good people. And to circle back to my opening statement, they should (and do) get attached; in fact, that’s the whole point. Allowing yourself to get attached to a child means that you treated them as your own, and you’ve shown them what it means to be loved and cared for in the way they deserve. A foster parent may be the first safe attachment in a child’s life, which paves the way for them to form other healthy attachments later on.

When someone chooses to become licensed for foster care, they’ll receive training, support, and understanding at every step of the way. Potential foster parents are able to list their preferences right from the beginning, whether they want to foster teens or infants, one child or a sibling group. Maybe there’s a potential foster parent out there who has expertise in helping kids with things like LGBTQ+ support, grief and loss, culturallyspecific needs, or developmental delays

No matter what the skill set or background, you could have what it takes to be a great foster parent. I can guarantee that with over 10,000 children in foster care in Michigan alone, there is a child out there just waiting to be matched with a family who doesn’t even know that their particular brand of love, patience, and nurturing is exactly what that child has been waiting for.

Emma Smith is a Leelanau County native who now lives in Traverse City. She works on the development team at Child and Family Services and is also a clinical mental health therapist.

DRINK SPECIALS (3-6 Monday-Friday): $2 well drinks, $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles, $5 Hornitos margarita

SUNDAY - $6 Ketel One Bloody Mary & $4 Mimosas

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS (3-6pm): Mon- $1 chips and salsa

Tues- $1 enchiladas Thurs - $5 fried veggies Fri - $5 hot pretzels w/ beer cheese

E State St.

I’m not here to sugarcoat anything; being a foster parent is a huge

For the reasons that people think, yes, but also because there’s still a lot of stigma attached to the job.

farm raised &michigan made – located in williamsburg, mi –

smell the blossoms may 18 - 21

thurs

blossom tours

Offered Saturday & Sunday • Adults $8 Ages 3-12 $5 • 2 & under FREE! Springtime crafting for kids Fresh flower pots & baskets available Food Truck on Saturday!

myrtleandmaudes.com

Bright Idea

Eco-activist Rob Greenfield has stopped using toilet paper, and he wants you to, too. People reported on May 4 that Greenfield is touring the country as part of his Grow Your Own Toilet Paper Initiative, introducing people to the blue spur flower plant. The leaves are "soft as can be," he said. "They're durable. I call them the Charmin of the garden." Greenfield sets up a compost toilet in a busy area and gives his spiel: "Hey, did you know you can grow your own toilet paper? I want to show people that another way is possible. We just buy (toilet paper) at the store and we never think twice about it." Each leaf is about the size of a piece of toilet paper, and the plant supplies an abundance of them. They can't be flushed, but they can be thrown in the trash or buried in the yard. Passersby who get sucked in will also hear Greenfield's views on composting human waste rather than using flush toilets.

Field Report

Nina Jochnowitz was alerted on April 26 by a fellow citizen in Old Bridge, New Jersey, about an odd deposit near a stream, NJ.com reported. When Jochnowitz investigated, she found 500 pounds of cooked pasta -spaghetti, ziti and elbow macaroni -- dumped along a 25-foot-wide area. She posted photos on Facebook and alerted the town administrator and public works department, and two days later, the carb-y mess had been cleaned up. Jochnowitz pointedly remarked that Old Bridge is the only town in the county without bulk garbage pickup. Days later, the mystery of the pasta's origin was solved: A man moving out of his mother's home after her death discovered a stockpile of dry noodles and allegedly dumped them there. A weekend's worth of heavy rains softened the pasta, making it look as if it had been cooked. Old Bridge's mayor declared no harm, no foul, and the few stray noodles left on the ground are the only sign of the great pasta caper.

Fine Points of the Law

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on May 3 that a man who was serving eight to 12 years in prison did not, after all, commit a burglary. In September 2020, Donald Bertram approached the home of Timothy Huff as Huff was working in his yard, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Bertram walked into Huff's open garage, picked up a $500 leaf blower, got in his car and drove away. But the court said that because Bertram committed the act without "force, stealth or deception," it wasn't a burglary. Instead, justices told Scioto County Common Pleas Court that he could be charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Sentences for misdemeanors typically result in less than a year in jail.

Awesome!

From the too-good-to-pass-up file: Photographer Ken Pretty of Dildo, Newfoundland, had the extraordinary luck on April 27 to capture a 30-foot-tall iceberg floating in Conception Bay. (Nearby towns include Spread Eagle and Placentia.) Live Science reported that the berg, "a column with a domed head protruding up from two oval rafts of ice," resembled a phallus. "I knew I'd get a lot of comments," Pretty said, "but I didn't expect this much." Sadly, the

"dickie berg," as locals named it, didn't last: It collapsed the next day.

Recurring Theme

It's happened again. Minnesota state Sen. Calvin Bahr of East Bethel garnered some unwanted attention on May 1 after he cast a vote via Zoom -- camera on, lying shirtless in bed with, inexplicably, an "I'm Just a Bill" character from "Schoolhouse Rock!" on the wall behind him. The Associated Press reported that immediately after casting his vote, Bahr switched off his camera.

Suspicions Confirmed

On April 29 in Groningen, the Netherlands, police pulled over a driver who had mowed down a post on a sidewalk, Oddity Central reported. The unnamed 35-year-old man refused a breath test, but he did produce a Ukrainian driver's license with a familiar name and photo: Boris Johnson, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom. The license had Johnson's correct date of birth but had an expiration date of 3000. Apparently, such fake licenses are popular at Ukrainian souvenir shops.

Unclear on the Concept

Jerry Martin had what he thought was a winning idea for a retail shop: The Drug Store, where people could buy cocaine, heroin, meth and MDMA that had been tested for fentanyl. Vice reported that Martin's mobile shop, in Vancouver, Canada, was open less than 24 hours when he was arrested for drug trafficking. The store, housed in a mobile trailer that Martin parked next to a police van, featured bright yellow boards with prices listed for all the drugs. Martin wore a stab-proof vest as he sold the items from behind a plexiglass window. According to him, his plan included getting arrested so that he could challenge "laws that prevent a safe supply and result in death by poisoning" in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Least Competent Criminals

The BBC reported on May 4 that three burglars broke into a shoe store in Huancayo, Peru, in the middle of the night and made off with 200 shoes. Unfortunately for them, they were all right shoes. Surveillance video captured them using a tricycle to remove the boxed shoes. The shop owner estimated the value at more than $13,000, although the thieves may have trouble selling the shoes for only one foot. The local police chief was confident that they would be caught.

News That Sounds Like a Joke

Akron (Ohio) Municipal Court Judge Ron Cable made a couple's dreams come true on May 4 as he officiated a "Star Wars"themed wedding, the Associated Press reported. Julia and Robert Jones said when they heard about the special ceremonies, "There was no other right decision. That was it." They joined six other couples in 15-minute wedding ceremonies at the Highland Universal Gathering Spot in Akron. Julia and Robert took the theme to the next level, wearing Sith and Jedi robes and carrying lightsabers. "By the joining of the lightsabers," Cable intoned, "and by the giving and receiving of rings," he pronounced them husband and wife. "May the Force be with you."

Nursing a Dream

Livia Argyle’s journey from Brazil to Michigan and journalism to nursing

By Ashlee Cowles

It wasn’t long ago that patients staying overnight at Munson Medical Center might have received their meal tray from a friendly young woman who always wore a flower tucked behind her ear.

Livia Argyle, R.N., a native of Brazil, moved to Traverse City in 2015 following her marriage to her husband, Greg. Argyle’s mother-in-law is a hospital social worker and suggested that Argyle apply for an entry-level job at Munson to learn more about American culture.

Argyle wouldn’t describe her experience of moving to the United States as one of culture shock, but there were certainly differences that took some getting used to.

“In Brazil, when you meet people, you always give them a hug and a kiss on the cheek,” Argyle says as an example. “Here, it’s a little different. You just shake hands, so I had to learn how to stand back. Personal space is a bit different.”

Even still, Argyle’s personable demeanor and warmth endeared her to Munson hospital staff and patients alike. Fast forward to today, and Argyle is now a full-time Registered Nurse (R.N.) at the same hospital where she first started as a meal-service attendant.

A True Calling

It’s a career change that might seem

surprising, especially considering that Argyle studied and worked in journalism in her home country. Yet when Argyle looks back on her life in Brazil, she can see signs that nursing was her true calling.

Argyle grew up in Manaus, a bustling city and the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. While she pursued a career in journalism, she lived with her parents, which is the norm for young adults in Brazil, where a high value is placed on family.

This commitment to family also extends to the hospital. In Brazil, it isn’t typical for hospitals to have nursing assistants who can provide patients with around-the-clock care. As a result, family members must take on this role and stay overnight with their loved ones.

“Whenever a family member had surgery, I was the one to stay with them,” Argyle says.

These hospital stays included caring for her great-uncle after he had a stroke and also her mother after she had surgery. Families in Brazil are also expected to care for their elderly at home, so this background provided Argyle with caregiving skills from an early age.

After she began working at Munson, Argyle found she really enjoyed the contact with patients and decided she wasn’t satisfied remaining in the kitchen. Delivering meal trays had allowed her to meet Munson’s

nurses, which gave her a better sense of the path she might want to take if she continued working in a hospital setting.

“I fell in love with the people and with the nurses especially,” says Argyle. Witnessing nurses change people’s lives on a regular basis is ultimately what led to her desire to apply for nursing school.

Argyle says she was moved by seeing patients in difficult situations begin to improve under the nurses’ care. Watching patients regain their independence as they walked or ate or showered for the first time was a rewarding experience that solidified her commitment to a healthcare career.

A New Goal

Other staff also noticed Argyle’s aptitude for the field. When Argyle was still delivering trays, Kathy Stutzman, a nurse manager on Munson’s cardiothoracic floor, thought she was “the friendliest person” who would do a great job in healthcare.

About six months later, Stutzman told her, “‘Livia, you need to go to nursing school.’ And then she was on our floor as a nursing student… She really took the American Dream and went for it.”

Argyle began her nursing education at Northwestern Michigan College and continued working at Munson as a nursing assistant while completing the program.

Balancing work and pursuing a degree wasn’t easy—especially given that English is Argyle’s second language—but the most significant challenge was starting her healthcare career during the pandemic.

“It was hard,” Argyle says of that time. “We didn’t know what to expect. We were all scared.”

Argyle tells us how difficult it was to witness patients being unable to have contact with their loved ones while they were ill. Argyle herself lost family members and friends to COVID, an experience that gave her even more empathy for what her patients and their family members were going through.

During such stressful circumstances, Argyle’s calm presence was a major asset to patients and staff alike.

“She is very warm, inviting, and open to new opportunities,” Stutzman says. She cites Argyle’s humility about what she still needs to learn and her willingness to pursue constant growth as her greatest strengths as a nurse.

Argyle officially became an R.N. in December 2022, and she believes that helping people and advocating for her patients are the most rewarding parts of the job. “A lot of the time, we have to be educators too, so [patients] can understand the disease process, what’s going on, why they are taking a certain medication, and what outcomes to expect,” she says.

Sunshine and Summer Jobs

What the busy season looks like for a florist, dock installer, ice cream shop owner, and resort groundskeeper

By Sarahbeth Ramsey

Some jobs are made for summertime. Whether you’re slinging ice cream cones or trimming golf course greens, blue skies and sunshine feel like something of a workplace requirement. (Or at least a pretty good perk.) Here, we talk with four folks whose careers take off when the temperatures rise to see what it takes to work hard and play hard during these beautiful months in northern Michigan.

The Ice Cream (Wo)man

Dawnette Wessell, Co-Owner of Bardon’s Wonder Freeze

Bardon’s is a nostalgic staple for many locals in Traverse City, keeping that same oldschool charm and neon lighting despite changing hands a few times throughout its decades of operation. When Dawnette Wessell and her husband David bought Bardon’s three years ago, there was just one catch: She had never made an ice cream cone, ever.

Good thing the Wessells bring their own unique skills to the table. Dawnette says David is a people person, and he loves making ice cream. (Phew!) Meanwhile, Dawnette is all about the numbers and is meticulous about keeping records. (See their fun facts below for proof!)

Per those records, Dawnette tells us that the top flavor at Bardon’s is the vanilla twist, while the regular chocolate and vanilla cones are also strong sellers. Another crowd-pleaser? The flurries, specifically the cookie dough and Oreo flavors. Surprisingly for the Cherry Capital of the World, cherries are not the number one topping—chocolate fudge takes the medal for that category.

Evenings and weekends are the most popular times to grab a cone, especially in the summer. “There are a lot of sports that are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We noticed those times are pretty busy, as well as Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after church,” Dawnette says. Those busy nights add up to lots of cones and, hopefully, lots of tips from happy customers. Dawnette let us know that recently a former team member reached out on Facebook to say they were able to go through nursing school and are now a nurse due in part to the money they made working at Bardon’s.

Ice Cream Stats:

• Bardon’s has been around for almost 75 years.

• Last season, Bardon’s sold 32,850 ice cream cones and 1,016 bananas.

• Star alert: They once served Paris Hilton (pictured) her ice cream.

The Head Dockman

Tad Dowker, Owner of NorthShore Dock & Marine

NorthShore Dock & Marine started as a side business for owner Tad Dowker and a friend to make extra income after work and on the weekend. During that first season, they installed about 20 docks. Now, in year 15 of business, they install roughly 1,600 docks each season. The season starts as soon as the water temperature is around 36-41 degrees—brrr!— and it slows down around mid-July. Although many team members are sporting a wetsuit at the start of the season, they end up in swimsuits by the end.

But the cold is only one challenge of the job. “We do a lot of installations on East and West Bay, and that’s some pretty big water,” Dowker says. “Anybody that lives out there is going to, at some point, experience a storm bad enough to knock down their dock or hoist, or we’ve had to pull boats off the beach or boats off the bottom of the lake. You can get some pretty big waves out in Lake Michigan.”

And then let’s not forget the ever-shifting water levels, which can mean a dock starts after a 20-foot stretch of mucky sand, in a foot of water, or right up against the edge of a beach.

“The water levels are a challenge every year, just because it can change the layout and the equipment needed drastically,” Dowker explains.

After the mad rush of early summer installation comes a slower and steadier dock removal season in fall…at least until snow threatens. During the off-season, Dowker and his remaining crew complete marine work until prep starts for the next season.

Dock Stats:

• The NorthShore Dock & Marine team installs about 6-8 docks per crew per day.

• The biggest dock they’ve built had 120+ sections with a 40-foot hoist.

• The longest dock was 600+ feet in a straight line.

The Flower Artist

Jamie Beth Platte, Owner of A.R. Pontius Flower Shop

Jamie Beth Platte, owner of A.R. Pontius Flower Shop in Harbor Springs, didn’t start out in the flower business. Instead, she is a trained musician with a degree in vocal music and a minor in art. When she moved home 15 years ago, a friend of hers mentioned a florist job was opening and thought Platte would be a fit, so she applied. She felt the job would be fun, but it turned out to be so much more—a fulfilling career.

“Once you get into it, you realize it’s endlessly creative,” Platte tells us. “The flowers change seasonally, so there are endless combinations of color and texture, balance and size. It’s absolutely never boring. For me, as an artist, it’s completely satisfying to always be creating something new.”

Personal parties, or what Platte calls “local business,” have become a main source of income for A.R Pontius, alongside weddings. The shop uses about 10-20 different varieties of flowers during a season, bringing in hundreds of blooms per week. Some of these flowers come from the 11-acre farm that Platte’s family owns and some are locally sourced from growers in Cheboygan.

During the summer, Platte estimates she works about 80-100 hours per week. For several months, there are no days off. “I’m cool with it because I love my job,” she says. Platte says she prefers to do the creative side of the work, with other team members managing the business end of things. “I guess that’s my prerogative as the owner. I choose what I want to do most. If there is something that’s truly, really inspiring for me, I’ll pick that.”

Flower Stats:

• A.R. Pontius has been in business for 100 years.

• The business needs several hundred flowers 1-2 times per week to make arrangements.

• They participate in over 35 big events each season.

The Man with a Master Plan

Alex Piotrowski, Director of Outside Operations at Shanty Creek Resort

Alex Piotrowski is a problem solver. At Shanty Creek Resort, he oversees five golf courses, the grounds around the courses and hotels, roadsides, signs, and fleet maintenance. That’s hundreds of acres and machines that need near-constant attention.

“Every day, I have a game plan, then I have a backup plan, and then a third contingency plan in case all goes to heck,” Piotrowski says. “Then, we usually end up on step four or five for the plan. Every day brings something new, and you get very good at doing some serious problem-solving. It almost becomes second nature to you.”

(That second nature was well-earned—Piotrowski has been in this line of work for over 20 years.)

Piotrowski says the season starts with team building; everyone is getting back together and excited for spring. Small projects are started to prep the courses and prepare the grounds for golfers. Bigger projects, like finding ways to minimize the environmental footprint of the golf courses and meeting Michigan Agricultural specifications, are also under Piotrowski’s purview. He says Shanty Creek is always thoughtful about their environmental impact, including doing strict water monitoring and testing alongside the Friends of Cedar River.

Piotrowski adds that he also has an affinity for teaching new employees the ropes.

“Getting to mentor younger people coming into the businesses is another of my personal favorite parts of the job. I love teaching people the knowledge I’ve acquired over the last 20 years of working on golf courses.”

Golf Course Stats:

• Shanty Creek maintains 100 mowers and machines for their golf and grounds fleet.

• Their golf courses see 12,000 annual rounds of golf (at a minimum).

• Thousands of golf balls are rescued from the ponds each year.

NOW HIRING!

Welcome to our Spring 2023

“Now Hiring” section sponsored by Munson Healthcare! Here you’ll find nearly 100 jobs now open across northern Michigan, some seasonal, some part-time, some full-time. Explore away!

FOOD & NUTRITION

TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK IN FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AT MUNSON MEDICAL CENTER?

• Directly impact patients, visitors and staff—good food promotes healing!

• Opportunities to learn and grow, plus tuition reimbursement to help you further your education.

• Be part of a world-class healthcare team.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• A year-round job with benefits for full-time and part-time jobs: health, dental, and life insurance, retirement plan, local discounts

• A competitive wage with up to $3,000 sign-on bonus

• Paid holidays and vacations

• The satisfaction of helping patients in need

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Job history with references

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

healthcare system.

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

reimbursement. Plus, opportunities for clinical advancement.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive wage with up to $10,000 sign-on bonus

• Complimentary scrubs

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and other benefits

ASSISTANT TEACHER TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK IN CHILDCARE FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Make a difference in the lives of our healthcare team and their families every day.

to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• High school diploma or GED For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

NURSING ASSISTANTS TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A NURSING ASSISTANT FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Your career path starts here; start as a Nurse Assistant, become a Nurse Technician, and then a Registered Nurse.

• Opportunities to learn and grow, plus tuition reimbursement to help you further your education.

• Be part of a world-class healthcare team.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Benefits for full-time and part-time jobs: health, dental, and life insurance, retirement plan, local discounts

• Competitive wage starting at $18/hr with up to $3,000 sign-on bonus

• Paid holidays and vacations

• Satisfaction of helping patients in need

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• Graduate of accredited surgical technologist program and Surgical Technician certification

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

• Join a fun, creative atmosphere while having fun engaging with children.

• Tuition reimbursement to help you further your education.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive wages and paid training

• Evenings/weekends off

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• High School diploma or GED

PATIENT ACCESS TRAVERSE

CITY

WHY WORK IN PATIENT ACCESS FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Improve patients’ lives every day by being the welcoming face of Munson Healthcare.

• Work with a positive team that values you and your contributions.

• Opportunities for growth and development, ongoing education, and tuition reimbursement.

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Be part of an amazing team with the latest technology to help provide precise diagnoses.

• Opportunities for growth and development, ongoing education, and tuition reimbursement.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive wage with up to $10,000 sign-on bonus

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, valid CDA Certificate preferred

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive pay and up to a $3,000 sign-on bonus

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• As part of an integrated care team, you’ll make a positive impact on patient lives

• Opportunities for growth, skill development, and advancement

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive wage with up to $10,000 sign-on bonus

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• Completion of AMA-approved curriculum in Radiologic Technology

• Passed or eligible for the examination of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Be part of a collaborative team and valued in patient diagnosis and care.

• Use highly sophisticated diagnostic technology to deliver accurate results.

• We perform more than 5 million tests a year in our accredited labs.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Support for professional development

• Competitive compensation and benefits, like tuition reimbursement to help further your education and up to 19 days of paid time off your first year

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• Associate’s degree (Medical/ Clinical Laboratory Technician or related degree)

• Associate’s degree, two years formal education, or equivalent experience For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

MEDICAL ASSISTANTS TRAVERSE

CITY

WHY WORK AS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Be a valued member of the care team in a healthcare clinic or medical office.

• Improve patients’ lives every day.

• Opportunities for growth and development, ongoing education, and tuition reimbursement.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

HOUSEKEEPING/ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK IN HOUSEKEEPING AT MUNSON MEDICAL CENTER?

• Impact patient safety and satisfaction by providing a clean, healing environment.

• Teamwork is KEY—we are a hardworking team with a passion for cleanliness.

• Our department is a great place to work and discover areas of the hospital you may want to start your medical career.

• 24/7 department, with full-time, part-time, on-call positions.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• A year-round job with benefits for full-time and part-time jobs: health, dental, and life insurance, retirement plan, local discounts

• A competitive wage with up to $3,000 sign-on bonus

• Paid holidays and vacations

• The satisfaction of helping patients in need

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Opportunities for promotions within the department and throughout the

• Full benefits—health, dental, and life insurance, retirement plan, local discounts—and up to 19 days off your first year

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• Registered Respiratory Therapist/ Certified Respiratory Therapist who is registry-eligible

• Currently licensed as a Respiratory Therapist in the state of Michigan or eligible to apply

• New graduates welcome to apply For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

CENTRAL PROCESSING TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK IN CENTRAL PROCESSING AT MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Be part of providing safe, quality care by sterilizing medical instruments.

• Improve lives every day.

• Have direct input into your work and improving processes.

• Opportunities for growth and development, ongoing education, and tuition reimbursement.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• Competitive pay and up to a $10,000 sign-on bonus

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Registered MLT with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists or equivalent

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

• Competitive pay and up to a $3,000 sign-on bonus

• Full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• High school diploma or GED

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Work in a dynamic environment with a team committed to excellence in patient care.

• Focus on growth and development, including ongoing education and up to $5,000/year in tuition

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up to 19 days your first year)

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

• High school diploma or GED

• Patience, attention to detail, flexibility

For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

PHLEBOTOMIST TRAVERSE CITY

WHY WORK AS A PHLEBOTOMIST FOR MUNSON HEALTHCARE?

• Start as a phlebotomist and grow your career in healthcare.

• Improve patients’ lives every day.

• Work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, physician office, or nursing home.

• Be part of a world-class healthcare team.

• Opportunities for growth and development, ongoing education, and tuition reimbursement.

WHAT WILL YOU GET?

• A year-round job with benefits for full-time and part-time jobs, including full medical, dental, optical, flex spending, retirement plan, and supplemental insurance benefits

• Paid holidays and paid time off (up

• Graduate of an accredited Medical Assistant Program or three years’ MA experience, preferred For more details or to apply online, visit careers.munsonhealthcare.org.

NOW HIRING sponsored by

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MICHIGAN

Clinician

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $58,500

PETOSKEY

Under limited supervision, uses specialized knowledge in gynecological/family planning medical diagnosis and treatment, along with skills obtained through experience and/or formal training to deliver high quality patient care in support of the “Care, No Matter What” mission. Assess patient needs, conduct appropriate exams, and respond to patient questions. This staff person will fully embody a commitment to race equity; evidenced in all interactions with PPMI colleagues and external stakeholders.

APPLY! HR@ppmi.org

NORTHWOODS HARDWARE

Garden Center & Nursery Manager

HOURS/PAY: full-time / negotiable

GLEN ARBOR

This is a year-round, career-oriented position offering competitive salary and benefits, incentive bonus, and shared equity ownership. Experience in horticulture or agriculture required.

APPLY! jeff@northwoodshareware.com

JOLLY PUMPKIN

Banquet Sous Chef

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $15/hr and above based on skills

TRAVERSE CITY

Seeking a self-motivated individual to execute the culinary needs of our many weddings and private events. Excellent pay and benefits package.

APPLY! Apply in person at 13512 Peninsula Dr, call (231) 223-4222 to set up an interview, or email your resume to manager.tc@ jollypumpkin.com

BAHIA Kitchen Staff

HOURS/PAY: part-time / competitive TRAVERSE CITY

Creative fast-paced kitchen positions available. Room for advancement. APPLY! sierra.darga@gmail.com

ORYANA

Join our growing team!

HOURS/PAY: full-time / Competitive

Hourly + Benefits and Store Discount TRAVERSE CITY

The Co-op is growing and looking for more awesome workers to join our team. We are excited to find folks from our community to come and grow with us! Now hiring for a variety of full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions at both store locations.

APPLY! Visit oryana.coop/careers to learn more! hr@oryana.coop

CORDIA SENIOR LIVING

Concierge

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $15 - $16/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Cordia is seeking a part-time employee with a flexible schedule to join our concierge team. Concierge tasks include greeting members and visitors, driving and/or running errands, assisting with scheduling, and managing large amounts of detail. This position requires a clean driving record, and candidates must be age 18 or older. Some weekend shifts are required. If you have excellent customer service skills, are task oriented, like to stay busy and prefer each day to be unique, this job may be for you! At Cordia, our mission is to create opportunities for our members to continue to lead meaningful lives. Our approach to the aging journey is unique, and our members love living here. We think you might love working here, too.

APPLY! mwolff@cordia.biz

BRIGHTSTAR CARE OF NORTHERN

MICHIGAN

Sales Manager

HOURS/PAY: full-time / negotiable with experience

TRAVERSE CITY

Do you have energy to burn? Are you looking for a career that will give you the challenge that you are seeking?

We are seeking a professional that is looking to make a difference in the home care field. This is a chance to make a real difference in your community and work with a nationally known leader in home care, and still be able to work in beautiful northern Michigan. Position

Responsibilities Summary: The Sales Manager is responsible for developing a new territory or taking over an existing territory to increase sales.

They will do this by establishing and maintaining contacts that will develop into sales leads. They will have a strong presence in the community and actively promote the BrightStar brand. APPLY! sondra.gee@brightstarcare. com

GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL

LAND CONSERVANCY

Director of People and Culture

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $81,222$113,713 TRAVERSE CITY

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy seeks a skilled and energetic personnel professional to join our team as Director of People and Culture. This new role offers an exciting new opportunity to advance our mission through the continual elevation of our intelligent, energizing, and motivated staff and volunteers. This position is responsible for leading initiatives designed to foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, ensure we attain and retain great talent, and support the success of our strategic objectives.

APPLY! View full job description on our website. Please submit a cover letter and resume including references to Allie Bukowski (allie@ gtrlc.org) by the end of the day on Friday, May 26, 2023.

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Health Services Assistant (Summer)

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $15/hr

INTERLOCHEN

Join us as a Health Services Assistant for the 2023 season of Interlochen Arts Camp. The dates of employment are 6/14/23-8/7/23. If housing is not required, pay is $15/ hr. If housing is needed, pay is $12/ hr. All meals are included if living on campus. If living off campus, one meal per shift is included. Opportunities for overtime may be available. Major Responsibilities: Work in one of three Health Centers with a team consisting of a Physician or Nurse Practitioner, Nurses, other Health Services Assistants, and a secretary. Be delegated tasks by the Camp Nurse including taking vital signs, dressing changes, transporting students to or from a

MUNSON HEALTHCARE REGISTERED NURSES

Traverse City

Are you a nurse who loves to work with a team and is passionate about caring for your community? Do you want opportunities to grow your nursing career? At Munson Healthcare, nurses are respected clinical experts and valued partners in care. They are recognized as mentors, educators, and healthcare advocates. Professional nursing practice is emphasized, and nurses participate in clinical decision-making and improve the quality of their work life. Nursing specialties include medical/ surgical-telemetry, critical care, maternity, NICU and pediatrics, women’s health, provider offices, and more. Beyond the day-to-day work, registered nurses can develop their careers with ongoing education through multiple university partnerships, internal training, and opportunities in simulation labs. In addition to benefits like health and life insurance, local discounts, tuition assistance, and a robust paid-time off policy, Munson is also offering a sign-on bonus of up to $10,000. Ready to help nurture a culture of caring? Learn more or apply at careers.munsonhealthcare.org/pages/nursing. (Graduate nurses and new RNs accepted!)

Health Care Center, etc.

APPLY! For a complete job description and to apply, go to interlochen.org/careers.

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN

COLLEGE

Supplemental - Banquet Server

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $16/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Join our Hagerty Center event staff as a banquet server! This position is responsible for setting up and cleaning banquet rooms and serving food and beverages for banquets and events.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

CITY OF TRAVERSE CITY

Planning Intern

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $18-$22/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Under the general supervision of the Planning Director, or other designated staff, provides assistance for planning. An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all the following essential functions. These examples do not include all the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Assist in office with basic technical administrative

tasks. Research funding sources for grant proposals. Assist in collecting and preparing data or written support for various projects. Assist staff/consultants with community engagement. Assist in committee meeting preparation. Assist Planning Director and Zoning Administrator. Performs related work as needed. APPLY! traversecitymi.gov/jobs

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Teacher

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $18.77$19.90/hr

KINGSLEY

Come PLAY on our team! Do you like summers off? How about mostly working during the school day? Do you dream of promoting a culture of support and empowerment by teaching and leading our community’s youth, while encompassing the whole family? We proudly promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to enrolled children and families. Full-time position with paid time-off during the school year, wellness activities, flexible hours on some Fridays, work from home on snow

WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN THERAPIST Cheboygan

Looking for a job that makes a difference? Have experience as a trauma-informed therapist? Consider applying for the therapist job now open with the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, headquartered in Petoskey. This full-time role (with competitive benefits) will be based out of the center’s Cheboygan location. A masters-level therapist (LMSW, LPC, LMFT) is preferred, and candidates should be committed to equality, justice, and the well-being of women, children, and families to align with the mission of the center. The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan has operated since 1977—serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, and Otsego counties—and their staff and volunteers are leaders for social change and respected as a strong voice for the population they serve. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Counseling and Advocacy Program Director Joelle Drader jdrader@wrcnm.org or mail to Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, 423 Porter Street, Petoskey, MI 49770.

days, insurance, summers off, and continuing education support. Qualifications start with a CDA up to BA/BS in ECE or related field. Support provided to further education if needed. $18.77-$19.90 hr. ($31,984-$35,820 yearly).

APPLY! For details, visit nmcaa.net

BAY AREA TRANSPORTATION

AUTHORITY

Public Bus Operator

HOURS/PAY: full-time / up to $23.98/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Come be a part of something big and serve your community in public transportation! BATA is looking for full-and part-time drivers to help in our local communities. BATA offers on-site, paid training to help you obtain your CDL, with competitive wages and benefits and a $10,000 incentive! If you want more than a job and are looking for a career where you are considered family and love to help others, join BATA today.

APPLY! You can apply in person at our Cass St. location or online at bata.net

BENZIE COUNTY

Emergency Communication Specialist

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $18.6/hr

BEULAH

The primary function of the job is

to be the public safety answering point (PSAP) responsible for emergency and non-emergency telephone requests for public safety services as well as the primary Emergency Communications Center (ECC) responsible for dispatching the appropriate jurisdictional law enforcement agency, fire department, and emergency medical service (EMS). Benzie County Central Dispatch is a 24/7 operation and supports multiple agencies, township, village, and city contacts after normal business hours.

An Emergency Communications Specialist works as a team member to meet the operational objectives of the ECC, consistent with the County’s overall mission and policies. A new employee is on probation for 2,080 hours of continuous employment. After training, all work is performed with a coworker or independently.

APPLY! For a full job description, please visit our website at benzieco. net/residents_visitors/job_ openings/index.php

NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICES

Mechatronics Instructor

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $44,387$65,666 depending on experience TRAVERSE CITY

Valid State of Michigan Secondary Teaching Certificate (desired); Valid or the ability to obtain the appropriate State of Michigan;

Professional/Standard CTE Certificate; Major in an approved program related Mechatronics field of Professional/Standard CTE Endorsement; Two years’ relevant work experience in the area of the Professional/Standard CTE Endorsement; Knowledge of CADD, PLC Diagnostics, Fluid Power, Pneumatics, Robotics, Blueprints, Machining and other related Mechatronics fields; Knowledge of alternative energy, green building practices and LEAD building regulations (preferred); Minimum of three years (3) successful teaching experience (desired)

APPLY! northwested.tedk12.com/ hire/index.aspx

CC JEWELERS

Sales Associate

HOURS/PAY: part-time / Varied by experience

TRAVERSE CITY

We’re looking for an upbeat salesperson who loves working with people and would enjoy honoring the special events they are commemorating in their lives! Jewelry and/or sales experience preferred but not required.

APPLY! nicolinaccjewelers@gmail.com

LANE PLUMBING & HEATING

Journeyman Plumber

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $20-$35/hr

FRANKFORT/ELBERTA

Position seeks journeyman with five years’ experience and ability to complete new and remodel plumbing and heating, repair, and service.

APPLY! (231) 633-7963, laneamyc@gmail.com

and Final Art set up will keep you busy and fully engaged; yes, you are a creative, but fast, efficient finished product with a focus on quality and happy clients is what turns your crank. A fun and “Make it Better” approach to work is essential! Ability to communicate clearly with customers to support the sales team with art questions as needed. Use experience to constantly improve productivity and competitiveness. Work with other departments on new product development and improvement. Maintain accurate and up-to-date sketch templates. Create scaled mockups based on client and project management requests. Collaborate with the entire project team including Sales and Production under the direction of Project Management to create custom products.

APPLY! For more information or to apply go to tentcraft.com/careers

INTERLOCHEN

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Plumbing Technician (Year-Round)

HOURS/PAY: full-time / TBD

INTERLOCHEN

Interlochen Center for the Arts is looking for a plumbing technician to join a dynamic team and participate in the Maintenance plumbing department. There are over 450 buildings that range from state-of-the-art facilities to seasonal cabins, and they all have plumbing and utility maintenance needs. No day will be the same and will keep you challenged and building on your plumbing expertise. You won’t have to travel all around northern Michigan wondering where your next job will be. Come work at one amazing, world renowned, family-oriented school and have set hours, paid vacation/sick/dependent care/ personal time, holidays to spend time with your family, and get that work/life balance you deserve. This is a hybrid position that will work mainly with plumbing but also involve other areas of maintenance. This position will assist with completing work order requests, preventative maintenance, and repairs. APPLY! For a complete job description and to apply go to interlochen.org/careers.

TENTCRAFT General Production

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / hourly

TRAVERSE CITY

Fun, reliable, and a little weird, that’s what we need right now!

The Seasonal General Production employee is an hourly position that will work Monday – Friday with start times ranging from 6:30 to 8am and are 8-hour shifts, additionally you could be asked to work 10hour shifts and/or weekend work as needed supporting multiple production departments. The position pays $15 an hour and is flexible for employees in need of a part-time schedule where we are willing to work around school hours or full-time hours during summer break. A good sense of humor, incredible work ethic and motivation to burst through ceilings are essential.

APPLY! For more information and to apply go to tentcraft.com/careers

TENTCRAFT Artist

HOURS/PAY: full-time / hourly

TRAVERSE CITY

Focused on the event and experiential marketing space, the TentCraft Art Team is a dedicated group of fun and weird artists with diverse backgrounds. Production Art

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Child Family Specialist - Early Head Start

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $18.11$18.41/hr

EMMET COUNTY

Come play on our team! Are you interested in a position that supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher? Hours are flexible, with paid time off, wellness activities, and continuing education opportunities. Homebased CDA credential or equivalent coursework as part of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Full time: 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. $18.11 - $18.41/hr.

APPLY! For details, visit nmcaa.net

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE

ARTS

Instructor of Residence Life (Academy)

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $28,000

INTERLOCHEN

The Instructor of Residence Life is a live-in teaching position that is responsible for building community and caring for students in a designated area of the Residence Halls. Instructors of Residence Life are members of the faculty and are responsible for developing educational programming,

NOW HIRING sponsored by

instructing students on life skills, advising and mediating student concerns, enforcing policy, creating safe communities, advising student groups, and developing other special projects. Instructs students in the areas of living skills, social-emotional learning, and behavioral growth. Provides care and a variety of direct support services to students in a residential setting. This position includes housing and all meals during dining services hours.

APPLY! For a complete job description and to apply, go to interlochen.org/careers.

BENZIE COUNTY

Appraiser II

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $17.84/hr

BEULAH

The primary functions of the job are to perform field inspections, appraise and assess real and personal property for tax equalization purposes, calculate the fair market value and sales and appraisals, and maintain records. Employees work as a team and are responsible for ensuring that the teams meet their objectives. Employees must meet the minimum requirements and conditions of employment and be able to successfully perform all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. This position may require irregular hours. In addition, it will require travel by the employee in the employee’s own vehicle. APPLY! For a full job description please go to our website at benzieco.net/residents_visitors/ job_openings/index.php

JOLLY PUMPKIN

Server

HOURS/PAY: part-time / base plus tips

TRAVERSE CITY

Looking for energetic servers to deliver memorable experiences to our guests. Excellent pay and benefits package. Flexible schedule, seasonal/full- and part-time available.

APPLY! Apply in person at 13512 Peninsula Dr, call (231) 223-4222 to set up an interview, or email your resume to manager.tc@ jollypumpkin.com

BENZIE COUNTY

Equalization Secretary

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $16.4/hr

BEULAH

The primary function of the job is to provide advanced, complex, and varied administrative and technical support for the department. Employees work as a part of a team ensuring that the team meets its objective. Employees must meet the minimum requirements and conditions of employment and be able to successfully perform all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. This position may require irregular hours. In addition, it will require travel by the employee in the employee’s own vehicle.

APPLY! For a full job description please go to benzieco.net/residents_ visitors/job_openings/index.php

GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSERVANCY

Engagement Specialist

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $50,433$70,606

TRAVERSE CITY

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy seeks a strategic, creative, and driven individual with superb communication skills to strengthen our community outreach efforts. Working collaboratively across the organization, the Engagement Specialist will plan and execute events and presentations that align with our mission, increase brand awareness, and deepen meaningful connections with our work.

APPLY! View full job description on our website. Please submit a cover letter and resume including references to Allie Bukowski (allie@ gtrlc.org) by the end of the day on Friday, May 26, 2023.

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Supplemental - Tutor

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $14/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Help students expand basic skills, increase self-confidence through successful experiences, develop study skills and increase the effectiveness of their efforts, reinforce your own knowledge, enhance your ability to communicate and relate to others.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Adjunct - Machining

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $684$772*

TRAVERSE CITY

*Pay is based on qualifications and contact hours. This adjunct faculty member is responsible for teaching Manufacturing courses, which may include MFG 113 Machining I and MFG 114 Machining II for the Technical Academic Area. Responsibilities include preparing and delivering instruction to students in cooperation with other faculty. Teaching proper class-related records, and promptly assess student coursework and apprise students of progress. The adjunct faculty member is a member of the professional teaching staff that is responsible for effectively implementing the mission of Northwestern Michigan College and the Technical Academic Area. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to relate well to a diverse population of learners. Responsibilities may include teaching nights, weekends, and/or online instruction.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

LOVING NEIGHBORS PRESCHOOL Lead Teacher

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $20/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Northern Lakes Community Church of Traverse City, MI is seeking four Lead Teachers for their new full time childcare program, Loving Neighbors Preschool. We are excited to have you help us start up

a great preschool for our beautiful community! We are looking for loving and nurturing caregivers to work as a lead teacher in our childcare center. We are searching for a candidate who is reliable, considerate, kind, patient, a selfstarter, a hardworking and great team player. Leadership skills are also desired! We will consider part time applicants if we are able to arrange job sharing with another candidate. Our childcare facility will provide full term care for 30 children ages infant thru preschool. Applicants must meet State of MI lead caregiver educational requirements. Our Lead Teachers will start in August. The center plans to open in September. APPLY! office@northernlakescc.org

LOVING NEIGHBORS PRESCHOOL Director

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $48,000

TRAVERSE CITY

Northern Lakes Community Church of Traverse City, MI is seeking a director to help start up and then lead their new full time childcare program, Loving Neighbors Preschool. We are excited to have you help us design and create a great preschool for our beautiful community! As our director, you will hire/manage four Lead Teachers and two Assistant Teachers for 30 children, ranging from infant to preschool and develop staff and parent handbooks and so much more. Educational requirements include either a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Development, or an associate degree in early childhood development and 18 semester hours and 480 hours of experience. Position starts in June. Center opens in September. Join us in serving our community!

APPLY! office@northernlakescc.org

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Computer Information Technology

Instructor

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $58,998$68,269

TRAVERSE CITY

This full-time faculty role is responsible for working in the Computer Information Technology Department within the Business Academic Area supporting the CITDeveloper curriculum.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

JOLLY PUMPKIN

Culinary Staff

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $15 and above based on skills

TRAVERSE CITY

Seeking all culinary positions including Line cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers. Great work environment, excellent pay, and benefits package. Flexible schedule, seasonal/full- and part-time available.

APPLY! Apply in person at 13512 Peninsula Dr, call (231) 223-4222 to set up an interview, or email your resume to manager.tc@ jollypumpkin.com

CITY OF TRAVERSE CITY CITY TREASURER/FINANCE DIRECTOR

Traverse City

Left-brained folks with a knack for numbers and leadership, take note! The City of Traverse City is seeking a new Treasurer/Finance Director (salary is dependent on qualifications and experience). This is a full-time job focused on directing the city’s accounting and budgeting—think developing revenue estimates and expenditures; preparation of bond issues and offerings; collecting taxes and other receivables; administering accounts payable; overseeing debt issuance and management; and preparing various financial reports required by the city, state, and federal agencies. Aside from the dollars and cents, you’ll also manage department employees, work with other city staff on budget requests, and evaluate financial trends and fiscal status. The Treasurer/Finance Director may attend City Council meetings and act as the department spokesperson. If this sounds like your kind of gig, head to traversecitymi.gov/jobs. Candidates must submit a resume and a cover letter with their salary requirements to be considered. Mail it in (City of Traverse City, Human Resources Office, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49684) or email to citypers@traversecitymi.gov.

NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICES

Technology Support Specialist

HOURS/PAY: full-time; $20.30$21.44/hr including benefits

TRAVERSE CITY

Associate degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field and a minimum of 2 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired. Experience with databases and the connections between disparate systems, as well as SQL. PowerSchool experience preferred. Must be able to learn and support new and quickly changing technologies. Familiarity with a wide range of standard office automation products. Ability to research solutions or information regarding technical issues.

APPLY! northwested.tedk12.com/ hire/index.aspx

SEEDS ECOLOGY & EDUCATION CENTER

Assistant Farmers Market Manager

HOURS/PAY: part-time* / $14-$16/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

*Part-Time, approximately 6-8 hours per week November-April, approximately 8-15 hours per week May-October. Are you passionate about local foods? The SEEDS Sara Hardy Farmers Assistant Market Manager will supervise and work with an energetic, close-knit staff, farmers, food producers, volunteers, and the Traverse City Downtown Development Association, while providing excellent customer service to Sara Hardy Farmers’ Market customers. The Assistant Manager will help coordinate and manage all functions of the market held in downtown Traverse City, attend collaborative committee meetings as needed, assist with social media marketing, assist customers and vendors in utilizing available food benefit programs, and participate in farm visits.

APPLY! bpepper@ecoseeds.org

MARI VINEYARDS

Kitchen Assistant Manager

HOURS/PAY: full-time / competitive pay TRAVERSE CITY

Mari Vineyards is looking for an individual to fill our new Kitchen Assistant Manager Role!

Responsibilities: Ordering and scheduling; Responsible for a busy, fast-paced kitchen with a limited menu; Oversee five to six kitchen staff; Able to step into any operational role within the kitchen; Must be a leader by example and a working member of the team. Qualifications: Familiar with Michigan’s safety and sanitation requirements; Must be ServSafe Food Handler certified; Must have at least 2-years kitchen experience and at least 1 year in a management position. Compensation: SIMPLE IRA with company matching program after qualification period; health, vision, and dental insurance for full-time, yearround employees; employee discounts on Mari wine, food, and merchandise. APPLY! tina@marivineyards.com

NATALIE’S BRIDAL & TUXEDO Seamstress/Tailor

HOURS/PAY: full-time / Depends on Skill Level - $20+ TRAVERSE CITY

Seamstress/Tailor Position: Meet with customers, pin garments, and discuss alterations, give estimates as to the time and cost to complete work, do the sewing. All work would be on-site at Natalie’s using your own machine. Monthly Bonuses. Assistant Position: Help with sewing, even if it’s just a few days a week. APPLY! (231) 946-0840, nataliesbridalandtuxedo@gmail.com

BAY SPRAY MOBILE WASH Laborer

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $22/hr TRAVERSE CITY

Come work for an established local company! Position consists primarily of power washing and painting. Will also consider seasonal workers (spring/summer). APPLY! bayspray231@gmail.com

NOW HIRING sponsored by

PIRATE’S COVE ADVENTURE PARK

Attractions Attendant

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $13/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Come work in a fun outdoor setting at Pirate’s Cove! We are looking for gocart workers for the summer season. Must be 16 years of age or older and must be able to push a go-cart.

APPLY! Go to the Traverse City page of our website (piratescove.com) to fill out and submit an application.

PORCELAIN PATROL SERVICE

Evening Cleaning

HOURS/PAY: full-time / Negotiable

TRAVERSE CITY

Full-Time and Part-Time positions are available with an expected 4-8/hrs per day typically MondayFriday. Some weekend work may be available. A flexible schedule may be available. Pay will depend on experience and qualifications. Up to $1,300 signing bonus offered after a successful 90-day probationary period of employment.

APPLY! (231) 922-9556, tasha@ grandtraversejanitorial.com

TRAVERSE BAY INTERNAL

MEDICINE, PC

Clinical Navigator, MA

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $17-$19

TRAVERSE CITY

Traverse Bay Internal Medicine, PC is a private medical practice that is expanding and bringing on two new providers! We are looking to hire more clinical support staff. We are actively recruiting for a Medical Assistant for a Clinical Navigator role. This person will help in the clinic, with administrative clinical needs like prior authorization and office coverage. We very much look forward to hearing from you! APPLY! manager@traveresebayim. com

NORTHWEST EDUCATION

SERVICES

Teacher of Emotionally Impaired

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $44,387$65,666 depending on experience

TRAVERSE CITY

Approval by the Michigan State Department of Education as a teacher of the Emotionally Impaired. APPLY! northwested.tedk12.com/ hire/index.aspx

CITY OF TRAVERSE CITY

Parks/Cemetery Maintenance

Worker

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $13-$18/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Under the supervision of the Parks & Recreation Supervisor. Performs general grounds maintenance work from spring cleanup, summer mowing and fall cleanup. Submit a completed application to the City of Traverse City Human Resource Office, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City MI 49684 or via email to citypers@traversecitymi.gov.

APPLY! traversecitymi.gov/jobs

CITY OF TRAVERSE CITY

Grounds/Building Maintenance

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $14.79/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

An employee in this position may

be called upon to do any or all the following essential functions. These examples do not include all the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Perform building maintenance operations as directed by Superintendent. Scrape and paint buildings, sweeping, cleaning, and trash removal. Pick up parts for mechanics and staff. Perform outside grounds work tasks (mowing, trimming, raking, etc.) Perform related work as required. APPLY! traversecitymi.gov/jobs

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Early Head Start Teacher

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $18.02$19.17/hr

CADILLAC

Early Head Start teacher needed to join co-teacher in a classroom of 8 at our NMCAA North Street Child Development Center in Cadillac, where we provide 30 hours weekly of responsive caregiving to infants and toddlers. Year-round, no weekends, health, vision, and dental insurance, paid holidays, accrued vacation up to three weeks, accrued sick/personal time, and professional development opportunities. Associate degree in early childhood education or child development with a focus on infant and toddler development preferred.

Minimum Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) with a focus on infant and toddler development. $18.02 - $19.17/hr.

APPLY! For details, visit nmcaa.net

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Retails Sales Associates

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $12/hr

INTERLOCHEN

The full-time and part-time Retail Sales Associate is responsible for the daily operations and customer service of the Scholarship, Interlochen’s retail store, on the main campus. The ideal candidate will be able to serve customers efficiently, by maintaining product knowledge, best store practices and quality customer service. The fulltime position includes a complete benefit package, time off, discounts to events and more. Essential

Duties: Direct customers to their needs effectively; Maintain store layout and cleanliness; Handle cash, card, and store credit transactions accurately; Maintain a positive attitude in serving customers; Interact with vendors, students, faculty, and staff on a regular basis; Stock merchandise according to set store plans as needed and directed.

APPLY! For a complete job description and to apply, go to interlochen.org/careers.

RED SPIRE BRUNCH HOUSE Cook

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $17-20

DOE

TRAVERSE CITY

Part-time line cook and prep position is available. Day shifts only. Schedule

should be flexible as shifts are varied between weekdays and weekends. Qualified candidates should have experience cooking in a commercial environment. Enjoy a positive work environment, free shift meals, and opportunities to advance.

APPLY! Info@redspirebrunchhouse. com

BIGLITTLE WINES

Tasting Room Server

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $12.5/hr

SUTTONS BAY

bigLITTLE Wines is looking to hire for the summer season. We are a small-batch winery just outside Suttons Bay. We are looking for candidates who have a passion for wine and want to share that with our customers.

APPLY! Reach out to zak@ biglittlewines.com for more details if pouring wine and chatting with customers sounds like it’s a good fit for you!

MAWBY SPARKLING WINERY

Tasting Room Staffer

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $13/hr plus tips

SUTTONS BAY

MAWBY Sparkling is looking for some great people to join our fabulous tasting room team. Our mission is to provide a fun and enjoyable experience to all our guests. We pride ourselves on our wide array of amazing sparkling wines and love to share the MAWBYNESS with our visitors. If you enjoy sharing your love of our area, meeting new people, being on the go and working with a fantastic group of folks, plus learning about the great sparkling wines that MAWBY has to offer, then you should join our team. Come and check it out!

APPLY! hsmith@mawby.wine

SEEDS ECOLOGY & EDUCATION

CENTER

EcoSchool Site Coordinator

HOURS/PAY: full-time / Salary

MESICK

Would you like to have a direct, positive impact on children through the facilitation of our 21st Century After School Program? SEEDS is looking for candidates who are passionate about improving the lives of the children we serve at Forest Area Middle School.

APPLY! bpepper@ecoseeds.org

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Residence Life Office Manager

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $49,723

TRAVERSE CITY

The position provides office, administrative, and operational support services to a student services department including coordinating Residence Life office operations utilizing specific knowledge obtained through education and experience.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

SEEDS ECOLOGY & EDUCATION

CENTER

EcoCorps Crew Leader

HOURS/PAY: seasonal* / $16-$18/hr

LAKE LEELANAU LAKE ASSOCIATION BOAT CLEANING TECHNICIAN Lake Leelanau

If you have a passion for the environment and want to spend all summer by the lake, then the Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) wants you to come work for them. This seasonal position ($20/hr) is key to the association’s work in preserving the beauty and health of Lake Leelanau. The Boat Cleaning Technician will work to keep the equipment at LLLA’s four boat cleaning stations operational and well-maintained and respond appropriately when issues with the stations arise. There’s also a public-facing side of the position, as you’ll have a chance to help educate boaters and community members about the importance of cleaning their boats to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Duties include talking with boaters at boat launches, recording data, maintaining equipment, instructing boaters on how to properly use boat cleaning stations, and explaining the threat aquatic invasive species pose and the steps LLLA is taking to control and remediate them. Want to help protect the lake? Visit lakeleelanau.org/employment to apply.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY AND BENZIE COUNTY

*This position is a temporary role with potential to move to permanent full-time, engaging in outdoor work. Supervise and work with a diverse array of crew members to complete green collar work projects in the Traverse City and Grand Traverse County region. The leaders will be responsible for creating a valuable and safe experience for the EcoCorps crew members facilitating environmental education, life skills, transferable work skills, and safe, positive work environment. Crew Leaders will be responsible for performing quality work deliverables, in a timely fashion on diverse project sites.

APPLY! bpepper@ecoseeds.org

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Traverse City Parking Services

Parking Specialist

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $17/hr + $1.50/hr shift premium

TRAVERSE CITY

The DDA is looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused Parking Specialist. The Parking Specialist position includes providing customer service to answer inquiries about parking and promoting TC’s parking system rules and functions. Must have a valid driver license and a successful background check. The position is full-time with a generous benefit package that includes employer paid health insurance, paid time off, health savings account and employer matching retirement plan. Starting wage is $17/hr with $1.50/ hr additional shift premiums.

APPLY! To view full job description and apply please visit: dda. downtowntc.com/jobs

GRAND TRAVERSE INDUSTRIES

Payroll Clerk

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $20-$22/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

We are looking for an experienced payroll clerk for our organization that is mission driven. We believe that people with disabilities have something unique and valuable to contribute to our world. As a member of our team, you’ll have

the opportunity to contribute toward our mission to advocate, strengthen and advance the dignity and opportunities of people with disabilities through services and employment. Our workers love earning a paycheck at the end of the week, and you could be the one to produce it! This is a full-time, 40 hours a week position with benefits (including health insurance and retirement). If you have payroll/ accounting experience and a strong desire to make a difference in our community by supporting people with disabilities, then Grand Traverse Industries may be the place for you! APPLY! grandtraverseindustries.com

NORTHERN LATITUDES

DISTILLERY OF SUTTONS BAY

Barista/Spirit Guide/Cocktail Maker

HOURS/PAY: full-time / based on experience

SUTTONS BAY

Come be a part of a new hot spot in beautiful downtown Suttons Bay! Here at Northern Latitudes Distillery, we offer tastings, full coffee bar, cocktails, and bottle sales. All employees are trained to do every job. We work as a team. This is a friendly, high energy, fast paced, growing business. Full time/part time/seasonal. APPLY! (231) 866-4025, dan@ nldistillery.com

JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS MICHIGAN

Legal Assistant

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $19.80/hr TRAVERSE CITY

The Legal Assistant’s role is to provide case support to the attorney in our Traverse City site. They screen potential clients, schedule appointments, and maintain client files. They communicate with clients and help prepare routine legal documents. On-site job training is provided, part-time or full-time position. Answer office phones in Spanish and English, maintain voicemail, maintain phone logs, and record messages. Schedule appointments for clinics and all client meetings. Collect and process incoming mail. Maintain open client files and update the casetracking system. Ensure that client

NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICES SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER Traverse City

Northwest Education Services (NorthEd) is looking for a Special Education School Social Worker ($47,480-$67,239, depending on education and experience) to join their team serving schools in the five-county region. Your role will be to address students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs, as well as to provide coaching and consultation with school staff to help ensure every student is supported. You’ll also work with parents and community agencies to address any issues that may interfere with student development, learning, and school success. A great applicant will excel at solving problems, organization, and teamwork and will be passionate about methodologies and strategies for instructional programs for students with disabilities. Candidates must have a master’s degree from a graduate school of social work program approved by the State Board of Education as well as a valid school social worker license. If this sounds like you, you can apply online at northwested. org under Employment Opportunities and include as an attachment your cover letter, resume, and transcripts.

communications and documents are interpreted and translated, using translators as needed. Assist in the management of local immigration intake clinics including training volunteers and initial client screening. Assist JFON-MI attorney with USCIS form preparation, immigration court filings, and client interviews. Additional office duties as assigned. APPLY! admin@jfonmi.org

INCEPTION WOODWORKS

Cabinet Maker

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $19-30/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Full time position producing fine bespoke cabinetry for custom homes. Builders, finishers, and CNC operators needed. Pay follows experience. Benefits and paid time off are available. Newer shop with state-of-theart tools and clean work environment. Excellent career growth opportunity for motivated and skilled individuals.

APPLY! (231) 933 7193, peter@ inceptionwoodworks.com

NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICES

Aviation Maintenance Instructor

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $44,387$65,666 depending on experience

TRAVERSE CITY

Valid Airframe and Powerplant certification (required); Valid State of Michigan Secondary Teaching Certificate (desired); Valid or the ability to obtain the appropriate State of Michigan Vocational/Occupational Certificate; Major in an approved program related to the area of Occupational Endorsement (preferred); Two years relevant work experience in the area related to the Occupational Endorsement (desired); Minimum of three years (3) successful teaching experience (desired); Recent industry experience in aviation maintenance (past 10 years); Knowledge of FAA regulations and curriculum required to obtain A&P certification APPLY! northwested.tedk12.com/ hire/index.aspx

RED SPIRE BRUNCH HOUSE

Servers

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $5 +tips

TRAVERSE CITY

Experienced server needed for TC’s

Come work on a flower farm that grows so many people’s favorite flower: the peony! Weeding, harvesting, shipping, etc. of the 4,000+ plants primarily during June and July with the possibility of work through August. Energetic and enthusiastic workers needed; experience preferred but not mandatory.

APPLY! (248) 444-7304

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Adjunct - Electronics Technology

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $684$772*

TRAVERSE CITY

CONE DRIVE

Machinists and Assemblers

HOURS/PAY: full-time TRAVERSE CITY

emergency situations and must be able to act without direct supervision in completing work.

APPLY! traversecitymi.gov/jobs

popular brunch location in the Village of Grand Traverse Commons. The right candidate must offer flexibility with schedule and availability throughout the year. Experience in drink service and attention to details are appreciated. We offer flexible scheduling, a positive work environment, and 401(k) matching.

APPLY! Info@redspirebrunchhouse. com

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Great Lakes Maritime Academy Engineering Officer

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $72,782

TRAVERSE CITY

The position is responsible for serving as a key member of the team that ensures the overall safe operation of the Training Ship State of Michigan Vessel.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

CORNWELL ARCHITECTS

Entry Level Architectural Intern

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $65,00070,000

TRAVERSE CITY

Assist project managers with CAD production of construction drawings using latest AUTOCAD and Revit Software.

APPLY! mark@cornwell-architects. com

STRONG FOUNDATION CHILDCARE

Toddler Lead Teacher

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $17.50/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Our center is hiring a Toddler Lead Teacher. We are seeking an individual with a passion for teaching children. We are a non-denominational

Christian Childcare Center providing care for children 0-5. Lead Teachers must be at least 19 years old and have either a CDA, CEU’s or semester hours in Child Development. Applicants must be willing to submit to fingerprinting and a background check and complete a TB test.

APPLY! (231) 943-2200

INEVITABLE FARM PEONIES

Flower farm worker

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / $15-20/hr

TRAVERSE CITY (LEELANAU COUNTY)

*Pay is based on qualifications and contact hours. This adjunct faculty member is responsible for teaching one or more Electronics, Lasers, Industrial Controls and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) courses, including lectures and labs. You will also be expected to maintain lab, equipment, and reagent inventories and to assist in the development and revision of courses as needed. The Lasers class introduces elements of a laser, operation of a helium-neon gas laser, laser physics, opticalcavities, properties of laser light and a survey of laser systems. Safety procedures concerning lasers and related equipment will be discussed throughout the course. The industrial control classes will include content in industrial safety, panel wiring, relay logic and print reading, I/O, motor starters and similar. PLC courses will include content in PLC wiring and programming, PLC applications, integration of I/O, and HMI development. Advanced PLC courses are offered to go into design and integration.

APPLY! Apply online at jobs.nmc.edu

HORIZON BOOKS

Barista/Bookseller

HOURS/PAY: part-time / negotiable TRAVERSE CITY

Do you like books and coffee? Think you can sell both and have fun doing it? If so, send us your resume and let’s talk. Northern Michigan’s premier bookstore is searching for a part-time barista/bookseller with a flexible schedule.

APPLY! (231) 946-7290, manager@ horizonbooks.com

GRAND TRAVERSE PLASTICS

CORP

Automation Technician

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $21/hr

WILLIAMSBURG

An automation technician will support the uptime of manufacturing machinery and the launch of new manufacturing processes with emphasis on industrial controls automation, robotics, machine vision, and visualization packages. Emphasis in knowledge of PLCs, HMI terminals/ports, network cards, and troubleshooting. No day is the same and no job is too small. Free healthcare; 401K; a learning environment in a growing company.

APPLY! zjuett@grand-t.com

We are currently hiring for production associates in our assembly and machining operations in our Traverse City facility, which produces gear products for a wide variety of customers and industries. Production associates start on 2nd (evening) or 3rd (midnight) shifts, will be cross-trained on assembly and machining processes, then able to pursue internal opportunities on various shifts once trained. This is a great opportunity to work with a well-respected company offering a variety of career paths in manufacturing! Requirements include: Mechanical aptitude; Willingness to work any shift; Hands-on mechanical experience, preferably in a manufacturing or technical environment; Strong work ethic; Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively; HS diploma or equivalent; Ability to perform basic math (algebra and geometry), read prints and use gaging devices. APPLY! conedrive.com/careers

LELAND MERCANTILE CO

Grocery Associate

HOURS/PAY: seasonal / based on age and experience

LELAND

Duties include stocking shelves and coolers; assisting customers; unloading trucks and deliveries; closing store down at night. APPLY! lelandmerc@gmail.com

HOPE NETWORK

Direct Support Professional

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $17/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

Help those experiencing a mental health crisis by joining our direct care team. Sign-on bonus $1,000. Starting pay $17. Full benefits start the first day. Paid training provided; no experience needed. All shifts available full and part time.

APPLY! Contact Dana at (616) 2607266 or dgrummet@hopenetwork.org

CITY OF TRAVERSE CITY

Firefighter-24 hour

HOURS/PAY: full-time / Starting

Base Salary: $50,057.28 + Stipends and Allowances Scheduled Step Increase at 6 months, 12 months, 36 months, and 48 months

TRAVERSE CITY

Under the general supervision of the Fire Chief or his/her designee, the employee is responsible for extinguishing fires, responding to emergency calls, and performing emergency medical techniques to protect and minimize the loss of life and property. The employee assists in the mitigation of critical incidents and serves as additional safety measure for events held in the city, such as the National Cherry Festival. Assignments are received and carried out with a degree of independence within the established department guidelines. The work involves an element of personal danger, and the employee uses considerable judgment, initiative, and skill in a variety of

NORTHWEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Budget & Housing Coach

HOURS/PAY: part-time / $18.11/hr

PETOSKEY OR CADILLAC

Budget & Housing Coach – Petoskey or Cadillac works directly with customers through education and casework to empower them to improve the quality of their lives and strengthen their communities. BA or BS in human services field, accounting, business or equivalent. High School diploma with minimum five years’ work experience in related field. Experience with low-income and/or at-risk individuals, education, or customer service. Prior experience with housing counseling/education is a plus. 25 hours per week, leading to full-time, 52 weeks per year. $18.11/hr.

APPLY! For details, visit nmcaa.net

SEEDS ECOLOGY & EDUCATION CENTER

EcoCorps Senior Crew Leader

HOURS/PAY: full-time / $18-$20/hr

TRAVERSE CITY

This SEEDS EcoCorps Senior-Level Crew Lead will serve as a full-time employee focused on three areas of activity: Senior field supervisor and trainer to our EcoCorps members; liaison between crews working in the field, clientele, and SEEDS leadership; and development and implementation of construction, carpentry, and other skilled trades training. Fieldwork may take place in rural regions, national parks, urban areas and may include activities such as small-scale construction, light carpentry, landscape or agricultural installations and maintenance, trail construction and maintenance, invasive species removal, building renovations, recycling, and historic preservation. The Senior-Level Crew Leader will model quality work ethic and skills, including customer service, for the EcoCorps Members and other Crew Leaders. This person will also be expected to seamlessly incorporate teaching moments throughout the workday to enrich the academic and cultural success.

APPLY! bpepper@ecoseeds.org

THE ALLUVION

Operations & Finance Coordinator / Communications & Marketing Director / Events Manager

HOURS/PAY: full time / starts at $47,300/year TRAVERSE CITY

The Alluvion, a new performance space at the Commongrounds building on 8th Street, is now hiring three integral staff roles as it approaches its grand opening. Roles will be shared across The Alluvion's three co-owner organizations: Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology, Commongrounds Cooperative, and Jeff Haas/Building Bridges with Music. Full descriptions available at any of these websites: commongrounds.coop, crosshatch. org, or thealluvion.org.

What Was Your First Job?

Business owners, community leaders, and creative souls tell us how they got their start

By Al Parker

Young workers shouldn’t be discouraged if their first jobs don’t come with big paychecks and even bigger status. Many very successful people had humble work debuts: Beyoncé’s first work situation was sweeping up hair in her mother’s salon; Mick Jagger sold ice cream; and Brad Pitt dressed as a chicken to promote an eatery.

In honor of our Now Hiring issue, Northern Express checked with a number of locals to see what they picked up from their first work gig. (Spoiler: No chicken costumes, but we do have some cows and a few restaurants.)

Joe Short

Founder of Short’s Brewing

The entrepreneurial spirit has always been strong with me. As a kid, I sold Halloween candy and baseball cards to make a buck. By the time I was 12, I was doing odd jobs for a neighbor in Rapid City and learning everything from the Doppler effect to how to properly detail a car. When I could legally work, I was buffing cars and taking out the trash at local businesses. I cut my teeth in hospitality at the Dockside, and when I realized how much I loved service (and tips!), I was hooked for life. Working on the water also gave me a deep appreciation for my home, and led to the establishment of Short’s Brewing in Bellaire 10 years later.

Ed Ness

President

There is nothing quite comparable to heading to work on a dark, freezing Minnesota morning to milk cows and muck stalls. My first job was on my neighbor’s 100head dairy farm. As a 16-year-old, I drove big four-wheel-drive tractors, witnessed calves being born, learned a lot about problem solving, and developed a work ethic that stems from the unending demands of a farm. I kept that job throughout my high school years. It gave me a love for rural communities, and undoubtedly helped influence my decision to leave healthcare opportunities in the Chicago area and come to northern Michigan.

Stafford Smith

Founder of Stafford’s Hospitality

My first job was with my mother in 1942 to 1944. She was a trained dietitian who volunteered to feed approximately 200 Army Air Corp Cadets three meals a day at the United Methodist Church in Albion, Michigan. These cadets were taking their early training to become pilots at Albion College. I was only four, and as there was no childcare available, my mother took me to the job site and perched me on a stool at the head of the serving line where I folded linen napkins. This task afforded me to be able to talk with the cadets and sort of act like the general host of the dining room. I guess I learned that kitchens never stop. There is always something being prepped for the next meal and dishes to be washed.

Rachel Johnson

Incoming CEO of Cherryland Electric

My first paid job was as a clerk at a grocery store when I was 15. That job taught me two things that still stick with me today. The most important lesson is to show gratitude and to never forget there are real humans behind the service. I always try to make eye contact, listen and truly engage, and offer sincere thanks to anyone who is helping me at the grocery store or elsewhere. It’s really a small thing, but I know from experience it makes a huge difference. I also learned the produce codes for common items. Want some bananas? That would be #4011.

Julie Rubsam

Executive Director of HeadWaters Land Conservancy

Reflecting on the six years I trekked the hills of our neighborhood as a paper carrier, I can say there are many lessons I learned along the way which still impact my life. Planning is important: Navigating an afterschool paper route, the weather, practices, homework, and other activities required ongoing planning. Learn to adapt: Even with the best planning, unexpected things happen. Instead of allowing myself to be derailed, I learned to find quick and creative solutions. Be clear and state expectations: While training substitute carriers, I learned communicating information clearly and being direct about expectations created the best outcomes for everyone. Being outdoors is awesome: Perhaps the most important lesson learned was that it is possible to work outdoors. While my current position often has me sitting behind a desk, having the ability to get outside and trek in all kinds of weather is still my happiest place to be.

Noelle Moeggenberg

Prosecuting Attorney of Grand Traverse County

My first real job was a summer during high school spent at the local McDonald’s. I learned that I do not like polyester uniforms and I can no longer eat fast food. More than anything, remembering this job motivated me for years when my desire to buckle down and study was low. That said, the job wasn't all bad. I made friends and I truly enjoyed the morning regulars. Greeting the same group of women who walked to McDonald’s together every morning for their “senior coffee” made me smile every time.

and CEO of Munson Healthcare

Matt Morrissey

Event Director of Traverse City Horse Shows

My first job as a young teenager was at The River Club golf course in Bradenton, Florida. My role(s) at the course was to pick the golf course driving range and assist with getting golf carts ready in the morning, cleaning them upon return, and getting them back into the cart barn to charge for the next round of golf that day or the next morning. I had this job from late middle school up until the end of high school and it required oftentimes being one of the first to the course or one of the last to leave the course with little supervision. Some of the invaluable lessons I learned as an employee included the importance of being dependable, paying attention to the details, and not being afraid to make mistakes, but also learning from those mistakes.

Rick Heitmeyer

Kalkaska Schools Superintendent

My first job was working as a gopher for my dad, Carl Heitmeyer, who owned Elk Rapids Tile. He has been in the floor covering business for more than 50 years. I did a lot of carrying tile, hardwood, and all the cements, grouts, and mixes. Sometimes, I would be allowed to do some real “work,” but mostly I just hauled, retrieved, delivered. We would spend so much time prepping for each job—thinking, calculating, etc. It used to drive me crazy, but what I ultimately learned is that if you put the right amount of time into preparing, the work takes care of itself and comes out really solid.

Joyce Petrakovitz

Cadillac artist

When I was a young (19) art student at College for Creative Studies in Detroit, I worked at the Detroit Community Music School after my classes were over for the day. I was the night receptionist. I buzzed students and music teachers into the building, answered the phone, took messages for teachers, and loved my job! The people there were wonderful, kind, and very interesting. What I learned from working there was how much I loved being with people in the arts and how to clean pianos. Almost every room had a piano, and sometimes dusting the insides and polishing the outsides was my Saturday job.

Naturally, you take on a leadership role when you have three brothers and you are the eldest. So my first official job was babysitting, not my brothers—as that was expected—but one of our family friend’s children. I was 11 years old, and thinking back, I am not sure I would trust an 11-yearold now to watch my three-month-old. I remember that sweet baby girl crying almost the entire time. I powered through, called my mom a couple times, and was their official babysitter of record. My first job taught me to be dedicated and driven at a very young age, how to manage conflict, and care for a small little human.

Stacie Bytwork President of Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce

The Post-Prison Job Market

Michigan’s Offender Success programs aims to help parolees find jobs and housing

By Ross Boissoneau

Navigating life after prison can be tough, especially when job hunting. Many formerly incarcerated people face stigmas and hiring prejudice based on their past crimes, and Vice reports that “[a]ccording to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three Americans— over 100 million people—have a criminal record that impedes them from finding gainful employment after incarceration.”

That’s where the Offender Success program, an outreach project of the Michigan Department of Corrections, comes in. The program is available to individuals on parole with the goal of helping them find jobs and housing, among other things, as a means to successfully reintegrate into society.

“Typically they get very little support,” says Jessica Willis of those who have a criminal background. Willis is the chief program officer at Networks Northwest, which oversees the program in this area. “We work with employers and help to place them.”

Willis says some prospective employers believe that such individuals are not trustworthy, have no work ethic, and are not safe. “That’s a risk you take with anyone,” she says. “These individuals have a parole agent, people working with them—they have a team behind them.”

“I did 17 years in prison,” says Christian Studabaker, who has gone through the program. “When I got out, my parole agent hooked me up with the program. We worked together for two years while I was on parole.”

Closing the Gap

The Offender Success program started in 2005 under Gov. Jennifer Granholm. At that point, the recidivism rate—those returning to prison after being paroled—was almost 50 percent, and the program was designed to reduce those numbers.

Willis says when the program started, they had to work to help employers see

the value in it and the positives of the population. “There’s a stigma, especially for violent crimes. Those individuals are often incredibly motivated. They want to prove they are not their crimes.”

The program addresses mental health, housing, and training. It was piloted in different areas of the state, including Traverse City, and is now offered statewide with over 300 employees. One measure of its accomplishments thus far: The recidivism rate has dropped to 23 percent. (And locally it is even lower, at 22 percent.)

Willis says the success of the program can also be measured in terms of the individual’s success in landing work and keeping it. She says 85 percent of its subjects are employed in a full-time capacity, and they boast a 52 percent retention rate. “They’re still employed one year later,” she says, which is also about the state average.

Making Changes

Another way to highlight the importance of the Offender Success initiative comes from the stories of those who have worked with the program. Chris Cook says the program gave him some of the tools he needed to be successful in life and avoid the actions that landed him in prison.

“When you come out, 99.9 percent of it is on your mentality. You can make changes or make excuses,” he says. “I wanted change. I was tired of the drug scene, making the dumb decisions. It gave me someone to talk to.”

He says the day he was released, he began filling out online applications. But he decided he could present himself better in person, so he went into a local Taco Bell and told them he had been released from prison and needed a job. “I’d said I’d never work in the fast food industry, so I fought with my ego. I said, ‘I’ll do anything,’ and worked my way up.” He subsequently found work at a sawmill, then in maintenance, and now works for Grand Traverse Construction.

Cook also credits the program with helping him find housing. And things are continuing to go well: “I met a beautiful woman, and we’re engaged and buying her parents’ place.”

Studabaker similarly lauds the program. “The people were willing to help out. We built up some rapport. I wish I could still get help,” he says, as the program only extends to the time those in it are still on parole.

While Studabaker landed a job working with an outdoor lawn care company, he’s had a more difficult time finding housing and is currently renting a room. His experience points to another challenge for those who were incarcerated. “Every place I applied [for housing] went off credit. I didn’t have good credit,” he says.

A Skilled and Talented Pipeline Offender Success services are provided based on the parole agent’s referral, which may include but are not limited to the following: temporary transitional housing, housing supplies, on-the-job training, temporary work experience, work supplies, clothing assistance, public and private transportation assistance, and health and behavioral health services.

Willis says 90 percent of those released from prison are released on parole. The program is available to all of them as long as their parole lasts, and parolees meet with one of the program’s resource specialists, who create an individualized plan for each person.

The program has become more important than ever in the last few years, not just for the individuals using it but for employers, too. The Great Resignation has seen people leaving the workforce in record numbers, and many workforce experts have highlighted the untapped potential of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals. Brian Matthews, senior vice president at Appriss Insights, a division of Equifax dedicated to

growth strategy and people-based risk, says hiring those with criminal records can be a win-win.

“Not only does it build a new talent pool of workers to help address the nation’s ongoing labor shortage head-on, but it also gives a second chance to those in need,” he told CNBC Make It, the website for NBC’s financial and business cable channel. “This movement provides a great opportunity to strengthen businesses and improve inclusiveness in the workplace.”

That same article also points to the dearth of effort those in hiring positions typically make in reaching out to a segment that could provide a much-needed boost for companies looking to bolster their employee population. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, only five percent of managers and three percent of HR professionals actively recruit candidates with criminal records for open roles.

“This is a skilled and talented pipeline that can do the job and keep the job. They have support,” Willis concludes.

Offender Success Resource Specialist Kendall Rodriguez works with an OS participant at the Northwest Michigan Works! office.

Jessica Willis

saturday

TC TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL: Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. The 100K & 100K Relay, 50K, 75K, 25K & 10K will be held today. tctrailrunningfestival. com/event-info

64TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM

FESTIVAL: May 12-14. Includes a flea market, car show, mud bogg, co-ed softball, parade & more. mesick-mushroomfest.org

NORTH MITTEN HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. A combination of paved roads, dirt roads & trails. Half marathon: 8am; 10K: 8:30am; 5K: 9am; 1 Mile Fun Run: 11am. Prices range from $15$93. crystalmountain.com/event/north-mitten

29TH SUE DEYOUNG/JUDY EDGER MEMORIAL BREAST CANCER 5K WALK & RUN: 9am, East Park Pavilion, Downtown Charlevoix. $30. screenmaster.net/walkruncure/shop/home

MARKET AT THE PAVILION: 9am-noon, Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Includes live music with Rhett & John Duo from 10amnoon. boynecityfarmersmarket.org

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

HICKORY MEADOWS VOLUNTEER

WORKBEE: 9am-noon, Hickory Meadows Natural Area; meet at Randolph St. Trailhead, TC. Help the Grand Traverse Conservation District staff plant native seedlings & pull invasive garlic mustard, in partnership with the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network. Register. natureiscalling.org/events

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

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

SPRING ART MARKET: 9:30am-4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Celebrate spring & moms with fun museum programming & over 20 Michigan artists selling their work indoors in a range of media from painting, printmaking, mixed media & ceramics to glass, metal, fiber, wood & jewelry. Parking is free in the DMC lot & throughout NMC’s campus. Free. shop.dennosmuseum.org/2023-springart-market

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

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

CREATE HANDMADE BOOKS USING

GELLI PRINTING: 10am-noon, Interlochen Public Library. Instructor Pam Yee will demonstrate how to create colorful pages with this popular method of printmaking. Info: 231276-6767. Free.

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

FREE DROP-IN FAMILY ART: 10am-noon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Gallery, TC. Fun art activity inspired by exhibit in the gallery. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-traversecity/free-drop-family-art-may

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT EVENT: Bellaire Public Library. Stop in between 10am - noon to create a planting pot out of folded news-

paper & plant seeds. Free. bellairelibrary.org

WALK & TALK THROUGH SWIMMING & THE BIRDS ARE WATCHING: 11am, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Glen Arbor Arts Center Gallery Manager Sarah Bearup-Neal leads a conversational walking tour of the SWIMMING and The Birds Are Watching exhibits. BearupNeal talks about how the exhibiting artists interpreted the SWIMMING exhibition’s theme, both literally & symbolically; tools & materials used; as well as other insights into their creative process. The Birds Are Watching is a selection of mixed-media paintings by Benzie County artist Jessica Kovan. Jessica uses birds as a meditation on climate change. Free. glenarborart.org/events-page/events-all

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

IRISH IMMIGRANTS IN MICHIGAN: A HISTORY IN STORIES: 11:30am, Cadillac Wexford Public Library. Pat Commins of Dublin, Ireland & Elizabeth Rice of Michigan have compiled true stories of Irish immigrants who came to Michigan in the 19th century. cadillaclibrary.org

BARTER FAIR: Noon, Grow Benzie, Benzonia. Enjoy an afternoon of swapping, trading & upcycling. Meet the person whose trash is your treasure & make a trade. The only rule: Money won’t get you anything. Free. growbenzie.org/events/2023/5/13/barter-fair -

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION: 1-4pm, Petoskey Winter Sports Park. Celebrate spring & the city’s designation as a Tree City. Kids’ arts & crafts, scavenger hunt, speakers, tree climbing demonstration & more.

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

BLESSING OF THE BLOSSOMS: St. Joseph Catholic Church, TC. 1pm: Ceremony. 1:30pm: Reception; free slice of Sara Lee pie. 2pm: Requested Blessing of Orchards & Vineyards.

MICHIGAN BREWERS GUILD’S 2ND ANNUAL SPRING BEER FESTIVAL: 1-6pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. An outdoor celebration of Michigan beer. Featuring hundreds of local beers from many of Michigan’s breweries. Food available for purchase. Must be 21. Tickets: $50 + service fees in advance; $60 day of, if available. mibeer.com/Events/spring-beer-festival

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

MOTHER-DAUGHTER AFTER HOURS

PARTY: 5:30-8pm, Interlochen Public Library. Enjoy food, games & fun. Diverse activities will encourage problem-solving, skill-building, & relaxation to help you & your girl(s) have fun & connect. Registration encouraged: 231-276-6767. Free.

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: 7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Presented by Little Traverse Civic Theater. $20 adults; $10 students 18 & under. app.arts-people. com/index.php?actions=4&p=3

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

AN EVENING WITH ABRA BERENS & FRIENDS: 7pm, Old Art Building, Leland. A fundraiser for the Leland Township Library. Renowned chef & cookbook author Abra Berens will introduce her newest book, “Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit,” & engage in a conversation with local fruit growers Gene Garthe, Nikki Rothwell & Pete Laing, all of whom are featured in the book. $100; $150 for VIP tickets. lelandlibrary.org

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. In the 1590s, brothers Nick & Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” $28 adults; $15 youth under 18, plus fees. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/something-rotten.html

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

ARIEL STRING QUARTET: 7:30pm, Cheboygan Opera House. Formed when they

were just teenagers in Israel, the Ariel Quartet has been playing together for more than twenty years. Currently the Quartet serves as the Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Their program includes works by Beethoven & Schubert. $30; $25 veterans; free for students. ci.ovationtix.com/36618/production/1151534

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

CANTICUM NOVUM: 7:30pm, Church in the Hills, Bellaire. NMC’s a capella chorus under the direction of Jeff Cobb will perform the program, “Music of Love and Loss,” including the music of Brahms, Rutter & more. $15 suggested donation.

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

COMEDY W/ NICK LEYDORF: 7:30-9pm, Traverse City Comedy Club, TC. This comedian/lawyer has been described as “funny, adorable, and non-threatening.” $25-$30. mynorthtickets.com/events/comedy-wnickleydorf-5-12-2023

MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL 5K GLOW RUN: 7:30pm, Northern Exposures Campground, Mesick. This run will start at the covered picnic area, located just north of the parking area. You will run alongside the Manistee River & proceed onto the trail. The trail is winding & hilly with several roots. Your final part of the run is along the Manistee River on a paved campground road. $15$40. mesick-mushroomfest.org/Run.html

TRAVERSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAAN EVENING WITH BOB JAMES: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. A concert honoring jazz legend Bob James playing his most beloved tunes with the Traverse Symphony Jazz Orchestra. $25.50 - $61.50. traversesymphony.org/concert/bob-james/?mc_ cid=9e8d71241b&mc_eid=36a666ea46 ----------------------

APRIL WINE & THE LEGENDARY LITA FORD: SOLD OUT: 8-10:30pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. lrcr.com/eventcalendar/concerts/april-wine-and-the-legendary-lita-ford

sunday

64TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: (See Sat., May 13)

BIRDWATCHING: 8am, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Join Michigan Legacy Art Park’s Executive Director & birding guide Angie Quinn on a birdwatching hike through the Art Park. Bring binoculars if able. Meet at the trailhead. $5 entry fee per adult; ages 17 & under, free. crystalmountain.com/event/birdwatching-may ----------------------

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 13, except today’s times are 10am-3pm.)

CREATIVITY Q+A LIVE WITH BLACKSMITH SCOTT LANKTON: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Leelanau County artist/blacksmith Scott Lankton talks about his practice with Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager. Lankton was hooked on hot steel the first time he worked with it. He went on to find a vocation in the forge, pounding metal into domestic objects. Lankton also found that this old art + craft form can be put to use in the pursuit of peace, & be a way of raising awareness about gun violence. Free. glenarborart.org/events/ creativity-qa-live-with-blacksmith-scott-lankton

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 13, except today’s time is 2pm.)

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: (See Sat., May 13, except today’s time is 2pm.) ----------------------

HONORING OUR HEROES & HEROINES: AN AFTERNOON OF SYMPHONIC MUSIC BY ENCORE WINDS: 3pm, First Congregational Church, TC. An afternoon of powerful symphonic music chosen to honor our national heroes & our personal heroines: our mothers. $10/person; students free. encorewinds.org

TRAVERSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

- AN EVENING WITH BOB JAMES: (See Sat., May 13, except today’s time is 3pm.)

monday

PRESCHOOL ADVENTURES IN ART: 9:3010:15am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. Drop in for hands-on fun for preschoolers & their grown-ups. Early registration encouraged. $5. crookedtree.org/class/ctac-traverse-city/preschool-adventures-art-may-15

A super scenic bicycle ride is just part of the fun at the 33rd Zoo-De-Mack, May 19-21. The ride begins at The Highlands at Harbor Springs on Sat., May 20 between 7:30-10:30am, and you will ride 51 miles along Lake Michigan, stopping for lunch at Legs Inn, Cross Village between 10:30am-2pm. There will also be a Post Ride Party from noon – 5pm at The Crossings, Mackinaw City, parties on Mackinac Island Sat. night and more! zoo-de-mack.com

KID’S CRAFT LAB: FAIRY STICKS: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Decorate your own special stick to put in your backyard to attract the fairies. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

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

MSU FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOP: 1pm, Grow Benzie, Benzonia. Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University, will provide a basic food preservation workshop to learn the how-to’s of food preservation safety, canning, & connect registered individuals to additional preservation resources. Registration is limited to 20 attendees. Free-will donation. growbenzie.org/events/2023/5/15/ msu-food-preservation-workshop

DDA MEET & GREET: 5:30-7pm, Terrain Restaurant, Downtown Bellaire. Meet the current board members of the Village of Bellaire Downtown Development Authority. 231313-1517. Free.

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

BAD AXE FREE SCREENING: 6pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Winner of the 2022 Critics’ Choice Documentary Award for Best First Doc Feature & the TCFF Audience Award for Best Feature Film, BAD AXE captures a closely-knit Asian American family living in rural Michigan during the pandemic as they fight to keep their local restaurant & American dream alive. Before the film, enjoy light refreshments in the Dennos Sculpture Court. Then, head to Milliken Auditorium for brief remarks with the film to follow. Register. simpletix.com/e/badaxe-free-screening-tickets-129809 ----------------------

SEAN GASKELL: 7pm, Glen Lake Library, Empire. Sean will perform traditional songs on the kora, a 21 stringed West African harp. He has studied under the tutelage of traditional kora masters in Brikama, Gambia over multiple extended visits. glenlakelibrary.net ----------------------

MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE: 7:30pm, Bay View Association, Voorhies Hall, Petoskey. bayviewassociation.org/events/mondaynight-movie

tuesday

PRESCHOOL STORY

TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library. Stories, songs, & active fun. Free. sbbdl.org ----------------------

STORYTIME ADVENTURES: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “If You Were My Baby” by Frank Hodgkins. Sign up when you reserve your attendance at the Museum. greatlakeskids.org

SKEGEMOG RAPTOR CENTER: 6pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, Elk Rapids. See a bird of prey up close. Hear stories about what makes these beautiful birds so unique, & learn about how you can help protect local wildlife. Event is hosted by the Elk Rapids Rotary Club. Free.

CLIMATE CHANGE: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Chris Edwards, retired meteorologist, will talk about climate change as of 2023. His program will be a verifiable fact-based look at the scientific state of the issues & impacts involved in climate change, localized in many ways to Michigan. Free. tadl.org/climatechange ----------------------

CHEBOYGAN HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR: 7pm, Cheboygan Opera House. Enjoy the Spring Concert of the Cheboygan Area High School Choir, under the direction of Kevin Wells. Free. theoperahouse.org

GRAND TRAVERSE HIKING CLUB MAY

MEETING: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, parking lot, TC. Enjoy a hike on the trails around the Boardman River Nature Center. You will head north on the trails for about an hour, & then head back. It will be about a 3-4 mile round trip. natureiscalling. org/boardman-river-nature-center ----------------------

QUEER TALES BOOK CLUB: AFTERPAR-

TIES: 7pm, Traverse Area District Library, Nelson Room, TC. Chat about books that are by &/or about LGBTQ+ people. Reading is not required. This month’s book is “Afterparties” by Anthony Veasna So. Free. tadl. org/event/queertales-may2023

wednesday

CONNECTING WITH CHANGEMAKERS: 8:3010:30am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Network with other nonprofit, business, & community leaders, & create relationships with those who share your passion for making a positive impact in the community. Featuring Sakura Takano, CEO of Rotary Charities, & Michelle Howard, director of the Traverse Area District Library. RSVP. eventbrite. com/e/connecting-with-changemakers-tickets580707440587?utm_campaign=66e47cfa7fEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_5_03_23_ COPY_01&utm_term=0_9290401f3e-66e47cfa7f-251252261&utm_source=Resources+fo

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

SPRING WILDFLOWERS AT PETE’S

WOODS: 10am, Arcadia Dunes, Pete’s Woods. Join leader Paula Dreeszen, GTRLC steward for a field trip to Arcadia Dunes at Pete’s Woods to look for spring wildflowers. Register. Free. gtrlc.org/recreation-events/events

STONE SOUP: 3-6pm, Leelanau Montessori Public School, Lake Leelanau. Slurp soup, warm up by a bonfire, join in the games & wander the grounds while listening to student storytellers & live music by local band Us Up Here. 231-994-2074. $10; 12 & under, free.

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

CHILLIN’ WITH THE HARBOR SPRINGS CHAMBER OFFICE - ON THE ROAD: 4-6pm, Colonial Inn, Wequetonsing. High Five Spirits will provide specialty cocktails & Beth Wemigwase from the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society will talk about historical Inns in the area. Free. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/chillin-with-thechamber-office-2023-colonial-inn-12124

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

RIDE OF SILENCE: 5pm, TC. Presented by the Cherry Capital Cycling Club to inform motorists, police & city officials that cyclists have a legal right to public roadways. Ride also honors those who have been killed or injured. 3.2 mile ride. Starts & ends at The Little Fleet. Registration, 5-6pm, with cyclists setting out single-file after a brief talk. cherrycapitalcyclingclub.org

PETOSKEY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5:30-7:30pm, Trovato at Hidden River Casting Club, Brutus. Enjoy networking, appetizers, prizes & more. Bring your business cards. $10 Chamber members; $15 not-yet members. petoskeychamber.com ----------------------

MICHIGAN AUTHOR JEFF VANDE ZAN-

DE: “AN INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE”: 6:30pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. This Delta College professor & award-winning author offers a brief presentation on some of the history of the dystopian genre in literature, followed by a reading from his book, Rules of Order. Free. tadl.org/dystopian

CLIMATE CHANGE 2023 SIMPLE SERIOUS SOLVABLE: 7pm, Leelanau Township Library, Northport. Retired meteorologist, Chris Edwards, will talk about climate change as of 2023, simple, serious & solvable. His program will be a verifiable fact-based look at the scientific state of the issues & impacts involved in climate change, localized in many ways to Michigan. We will explore a range of ideas to address the significant challenges we face, including what each of us can do. Free. leelanautownshiplibrary.org/news-events/lib-cal/climatechange-as-of-2023-simple-serious-solvable

COMEDY AT THE CASTLE: 7-8:30pm, Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Featuring Cam Rowe, a reality TV personality, stand-up comedian, & failed basketball star from Southfield, MI; & Dustin Cole, who has worked with Saturday Night legends Chris Kattan & Victoria Jackson, 80’s movie icon Bobcat Goldthwait, & is

a regular & fan favorite on the Darren McCarty Slapstick Comedy Tour! Recommended for ages 18+. Includes light appetizers before & during the show, & 1918 Cellars wine available for purchase. $45. castlefarms.com/ events/comedy-at-the-castle

HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE: FROM THE BIG BANG TO RECENT HISTORY W/ NOMAC: 7:30pm, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Mackinaw City. Trace the history of the universe from the big bang through the formation of the first atoms, to stars & the first galaxies. Then on to the galaxy, the Milky Way, the formation of the solar system & finally the earth. Free. midarkskypark.org/programs-events

thur sday

KID’S CRAFT LAB: FAIRY STICKS: (See Mon., May 15) --------------

SCORE WORKSHOP: FINANCING WITH BANKS: Noon, Traverse Area District Library, TC. You will learn some ins & outs to make obtaining a business loan easier to understand. Michael Caruso, senior vice president, commercial banking officer at Nicolet National Bank, will be the presenter. Register. Free. score.org/traversecity/event/financing-banks

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

63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes the Schmidt Amusements Carnival from 3-10pm & Music & Karaoke Party from 5-9pm, both in Veterans Park. bcmorelfestival.com/schedule-of-events.html

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

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY EXPO: 3:30-5:30pm, Otsego Resort, Gaylord. Community businesses, nonprofits, emergency responders, & government agencies will be on hand to offer vital information to help individuals & families prepare for future disasters & emergencies.

CLIMATE CHANGE AS OF 2023: SIMPLE, SERIOUS, SOLVABLE: 4pm, Bellaire Public Library. A fact-based look at the scientific state of the issues & impacts involved in climate change, localized in many ways to Michigan.

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

FLYING CLOVERS’ HOMING PIGEONS: 4:30pm, Petoskey District Library. Learn from Mike Netzky & the 4-Hers about how pigeons love to fly. The program will take place at the library’s outdoor labyrinth with the pigeons’ loft set up along Waukazoo Ave. Free. petoskeylibrary.org/en/index.aspx

ANTRIM ART GATHER: 6-8pm, Short’s Brew Pub, Bellaire. Held with Two Hoots

Studio. You are welcome to bring your own painting in progress & supplies.

DIET CULTURE DROPOUT CLUB: 6-7:30pm, Higher Grounds Coffee, GT Commons, TC. Join for community building, laughter, venting & zero diet talk! Enjoy a safe space for people in all bodies to connect as you actively deconstruct & unlearn the pervasive messages of diet culture. Free. headandhearttc.com/ events-1/2023/4/12/diet-culture-drop-out-club

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

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: (See Sat., May 13)

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 13)

friday

MORE TO EXPLORE: 9:30am, noon & 2:30pm, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Children will experiment with blowing soap bubbles. greatlakeskids.org

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

63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes an Arts & Crafts Show & food trucks from noon-6pm, free Morel Seminar at 3:30pm, Morelfest Wine & Dine, The Tropic Brothers Live, & more. bcmorelfestival.com/ schedule-of-events.html

LUNCHTIME TAI CHI AT THE LIBRARY: Noon, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy an introduction to Tai Chi, a systematic & gentle form of exercise & stretching. Free. tadl.org/events ----------------------

A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN FIBER

ART: 5-8pm, Tinker Studio, TC. Join Tinker Studio for their first Artist Reception of the 2023 Summer Season as they celebrate several talented local fiber artists. Enjoy an artist demonstration by macrame’ & macraweave artist, Lisa Pucelik, while you mingle with fellow artists & art appreciators. Seasonal sips & nibbles will be offered. Free. facebook.com/ events/601026115253825?acontext=%7B% 22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22m echanism%22%3A%22calendar_tab_event %22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookma rk_calendar%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_typ

33RD ZOO-DE-MACK: The Highlands at Harbor Springs. Registration will be held tonight from 6-11pm in the Lobby below Zoo Barr. A Kick-Off Party will be held in the Zoo Bar at 8pm. zoo-de-mack.com ----------------------

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: (See Sat., May 13)

BAND AID: 7-9pm, NCMC, Gymnasium, Petoskey. Enjoy jazz & steel drum favorites performed by the award winning Petoskey Band Program. Band students grades 6-12 will perform. There will be a silent auction & concessions. This is a fundraising event to support Petoskey Bands. Tickets available at entrance. $10 per person; $30 family of four.

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 13)

FRESHWATER CONCERTS PRESENTS

MARTIN SEXTON: 8pm, Freshwater Art Gallery & Concert Venue, Boyne City. Enjoy this singer-songwriter who is “the real thing.” Tickets: 231-582-2588. $55. facebook.com/

FRESHWATERARTGALLERY

saturday

33RD ZOO-DE-MACK: A weekend of huge parties with great bands, a super scenic bicycle ride, views of the Mackinac Bridge, parties

on Mackinac Island & more. Today’s schedule includes: Registration in the lobby below The Zoo Bar at The Highlands at Harbor Springs from 7:30-10:30am; the bicycle ride starting between 7:30-10:30am at The Highlands in the Ski Area Parking Lot; lunch at Legs Inn, Cross Village between 10:30am-2pm; Post Ride Party - noon-5pm at The Crossings, Mackinaw City. Tonight there will be parties on Mackinac Island. https://zoo-de-mack.com/

63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL

MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes a Community Breakfast, the 63rd Annual National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt, Painting in the Park with Dan, Taste of Morels, Great Morel Giveaway, 63rd Motherload Bash w/ The Family Tradition Band, & more. bcmorelfestival. com/schedule-of-events.html

ALPEN-CAR SHOW: 8am-3pm, Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord. A fundraiser for Alpenfest. Awards, food trucks, music & fun.

FREE PANCAKES FOR TORNADO SURVIVORS: 8am, Otsego County Fire Department, Gaylord. Survivors of the 05.20.2022 tornado are invited to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. otsegofoundation.org/long-termrecovery-group

FREE WRITING WORKSHOP WITH AUTHOR HEATHER SHUMAKER: 9-10:30am, Interlochen Public Library. Learn more about the world of children’s books, from writing to publishing. 231-276-6767.

SPRING STEWARDSHIP DAY: 9am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Trail grooming, garden weeding, window shining & more. Please bring a pair of gloves. Register: stewardship@grassriver.org. grassriver.org

SWEETWATER EVENING GARDEN CLUB

PLANT SALE & GARDEN CRAFTS: 9am1pm, Bayside Park, Acme. Shop for perennial flowers, herbs, ferns, veggie plants, & garden crafts. 938-9611. Free. ----------------------

TVC5K - RUN THE RUNWAY: 9am, Cherry Capital Airport, TC. Benefits the Wings of Mercy West Michigan & The Grand Traverse YMCA. $38. runsignup.com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TVC5K?aflt_token=vkmwDmweQ 4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

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

2023 TRAVERSE CITY STROLL FOR EPILEPSY™: 10am, Clinch Park, TC. In-person & virtual adult participants (ages 12+): $25. In-person & virtual child participants (ages 2 -11): $15. In-person & virtual infant participants (ages 1 & under): free. epilepsymichigan.org/stroll

ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE: 10am-noon, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Over 70 species of Michigan native flowers, ferns, & grasses. natureiscalling.org/native-plant-sale

GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S WATER SAFETY DAY: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, outside, TC. See a real Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter up close, learn about different types of lifejackets & how to wear them, run sinking boat drills, learn about swim safety & CPR with the Red Cross, & much more. Free; does not Include Museum admission. greatlakeskids.org/join-us-for-water-safety-day

OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR MCLA LAMB

SHOW: 10am, Otsego County Fairgrounds, Gaylord. otsegocountyfair.com/2023-mclalamb-show ----------------------

CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW: 10am-3pm, The Village at GT Commons, Historic Front Lawn, TC. This is a free event & great for all ages. thevillagetc.com

PETOSKEY SPRING ART & CRAFT

SHOW: 10am-5pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. festivalnet.com/90294/ Petoskey-Michigan/Craft-Shows/PetoskeySpring-Art-Craft-Show

SPRING BIRDING: 10am-noon, Greenwood Foundation - Windswept Entrance, Wolverine. Must pre-register. Free. landtrust.org/events

SPANISH MEETUP: 10:30am, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Practice Spanish. RSVP: lstarsoneck47@gmail.com.

GAYLORD COLOR FOR A CURE

5K: 11am. Starts & ends at the Pavilion on Court, Gaylord. $35 + $3.10 signup fee. runsignup.com/Race/MI/Gaylord/ GaylordColoredForACure?aflt_token=vkmwD mweQ4iCYn8otSOOnKQ3vCO8buOw

TSO AT THE LIBRARY: SUZUKI STUDENT

PERFORMANCE: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy a performance by Suzuki students. Families welcome & encouraged. Free. tadl.org/events

FREE COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT: 6:30pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, TC. Featuring “Sing.” Feel free to wear your PJs. bethlehemtc.org/community-movie-night

“STEEL MAGNOLIAS”: (See Sat., May 13)

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 13)

sunday

PETOSKEY SPRING ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., May 20)

10TH ANNUAL SPRING

PUMPKIN PEDAL: 11:30am-2pm, Old Mission Peninsula. Starts at 11:30am. Choose from the 40-mile full Peninsula ride, the 20-mile Lighthouse ride, or the 7.5-mile family friendly ride. Free; suggested $10 donation. traversetrails.org/event/spring-pumpkin-pedal/?mc_ cid=d87e0459fb&mc_eid=df24b9efb4

63RD ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 18-21. Today includes Paint & Sip with Duncan Studios, Arts & Crafts Show, & more. bcmorelfestival.com/schedule-of-events.html

“SOMETHING ROTTEN”: (See Sat., May 13, except today’s time is 2pm.)

BARN RED MOVIE AT THE BAY THEATRE: 4pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Michigan Made filmmaker Richard Brauer’s story of a farmer who protects his cherished farm from developers through land conservation. $15 per person or $10 per member. thebaytheatre.com/special-events

JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND’S SPRING CONCERT: 4pm, East Jordan Middle/High School, Community Auditorium. Music from the 60’s is the theme. ----------------------

THE GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE HUMMEL TRIO W/ MAESTRO LIBOR ONDRAS: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs. The Hummel Trio is an ensemble-in-residence at Grand Rapids Community College department of music. Free. glcorchestra.org

FACULTY & GUEST ARTIST RECITAL: 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Music Center 1010. With Ara Sarkissian, Mike Ouzounian, & Evelyn Elsing. Free. interlochen.org/events/ faculty-and-guest-artist-recital-ara-sarkissianmike-ouzounian-and-evelyn-els-2023-05-21

PRESENTS

“among the most compelling Detroit jazz musicians of their generation.”

by Joseph Beyer

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

As another Earth Day has recently come and gone—with our only known inhabitable world in an even worse climate crisis than in the 1970s when the environmental holiday began—this critic found himself drawn to a flinty new independent film with a title as straightforward as the plot: How to Blow Up a Pipeline.

Now available on VOD and based on Andreas Malm’s nonfiction manifesto of the same name, this onscreen adaptation is fast paced, engaging, logical, and intense. In addition to delivering a tick-tock heist film that plays perfectly well on its own, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a modern dialogue about the extremes of climate change and what will be fair play in defending one’s right to survive.

A thrilling vérité drama unfolds in which climate activists are drawn together by different motivations, creating a Western of sorts appropriately set in west Texas. Using the same power and posse dynamics you’d expect from a Good vs. Bad structure, the film challenges you with the realities and perspectives of a new generation that may not believe in the power of policy change to save them.

If extremity is the heart of invention, then the serious debate buried within the film deserves praise. Through flashbacks and tones, it examines the consequences of a society destined to burn itself out. And even though the realities of global warming have been known for decades, knowledge and slow responses have failed to activate impactful change.

Don’t get me wrong—this sometimes (literally) high falutin’ plot should probably not work as well as it does. One of the most interesting aspects of How to Blow Up a Pipeline is the collaborative filmmaking, done in fittingly guerilla style. Many of the enormously talented cast are also credited as producers, along with an anonymous technical consultant one can only presume was brought on to provide the authenticity of underground warfare. The cinematic world here was created by a long list of artists working together in concept, script performances, and direction.

Director Daniel Goldhaber wrote the screenplay along with Ariela Barer and actress Jordan Sjol, with an ensemble that pairs Sjol with Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner, Jake Weary, and Irene Bedard. I’m already quite grateful to them all for opening up a real dialogue about climate action that has long been too dormant.

Instead of the characters seeming futuristically Mad Max or Rebel Alliance like, they leap from the screen with a contemporary familiarity, as we all sit in the same cosmic pot, still thinking it’s a hot tub.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline seems ripped from the here and now but was also made with the heart of legacy. It’s both a call to arms and a time capsule in case anyone finds it later. It documents that at least some of the humans fought back against the voluntary extinction. Or should have. Or might even still?

Whether you’re renting for the weekend our opening the family co age, we have all the staples to prep your pantry & stock your summer spot!

“Where GATHERINGS become a FIESTA”

LOCATED INSIDE THE BAR OF NITTOLO’S 5PM – 10PM (SUNDAY TO THURSDAY)

FEATURING:

CRUSTED BREAD WITH TOMATO PUREEOLIVES - PAPRIKA GARLIC MAYO 3.95

1. SALMON & SCALLOP TARTAREAVOCADO - SAMBAL - COCONUT-LIME 9.95

2. POTATO - FRIED - SMOKED PAPRIKA AIOLI - BALSAMIC 6.95

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

4. CROQUETTE - CHEESE - POTATO - SALSA 6.95

5. MUSSELS - SAFFRON CREAM - CHORIZO - TOAST 9.95

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

7. OXTAIL - RIOJA - POTATO PUREE - TARRAGON 8.95

8. PRAWN - TOMATO - SPICY PEPPER - LEMON 6.95

9. SEA BASS - CEVICHE - CAVAPINEAPPLE - AVOCADO 11.95

10. CHEESE - ASSORTMENT - QUINCE 8.95

11. CALAMARI - FRIED - SWEETY DROP PEPPERSVALENCIA SAUCE 8.95

12. JAMON IBERICO- ASSORTMENT - MUSTARD - APRICOTS 11.95

13. PAELLA - SAFFRON RICE - PRAWNMUSSELS - CALAMARI 11.95

14. DESSERTS (FEATURED DAILY)

RESERVATIONS WILL BE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

231.994.2400 www.nittolos.com

104 Main Street, Lake Leelanau, MI

COMMON GOOD BAKERY, TC

5/13 -- Blair Miller, 6

ENCORE 201, TC

5/13 -- Blake Elliott, 8; DJ Ricky

T, 10

5/19 -- The 4 Horsemen, 8; DJ

Ricky T, 10

5/20 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 8; DJ Ricky T, 10

FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC

7-10:

5/19 -- Levi Britton

5/21 -- Matthew Orlandi

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC

9:30:

Thu -- Ladies Night with DJ Leo

5/19 -- Ampersands

5/20 -- The Timebombs

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

5/15 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM:

5/19 -- Weston Buchan, 5-7

LIL BO, TC

Tues. – Trivia, 8-10

Weds. – Open Mic Night w/ Aldrich,

9-11

Sun. – Karaoke, 8

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC

5/18-19 -- Clint Weaner, 7-10

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

5/19 -- Rhett & John, 6-9

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC

5/19 – Levi Britton, 5-8

SORELLINA'S, TC

SLATE RESTAURANT:

Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano,

5-8

Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9

SPARKS BBQ, TC

5/13 -- Levi Britton, 7

THE ALLUVION, TC

5/20 -- Balance, 7-9

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC

5/13 -- Metal Bubble Trio, Fake Baseball, & Jonathan Timm Band,

6-10

THE PARLOR, TC 8-11:

Emmet & Cheboygan

5/13 -- Chris Sterr

5/19 -- Dave Crater

5/20 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine

THE PUB, TC / 8-11:

5/13 -- Nick Vasquez

5/19 -- Rolling Dirty

5/20 -- Empire Highway

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

5/15 -- Music Trivia, 7

5/16 -- Open Mic, 7

5/19 -- Clay Wires, 8

5/21 -- Comedy Mixtape, 7

TRAVERSE CITY COMEDY CLUB, TC

5/12 -- Comedy w/ Nick Leydorf, 7:45-9:15

5/13 -- Comedy w/ Nick Leydorf, 7:30-9

UNION STREET STATION, TC

5/13 -- The Marsupials, 10

5/16 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; then Karaoke

5/17 -- Skin Kwon Doe, 10

5/18 -- DJ DomiNate, 10

5/19 -- Happy Hour: Comedy Show; Then: One Hot Robot

5/20 -- Parker Marshall, 10

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

5/21 -- Dolce, 2-4:30

DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU

Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

5/18 -- Chris Skellenger & Andre Villoch, 4-7

TC’s (mostly 90’s) party pop band The Timebombs will rock out Kilkenny’s Irish Public House, TC on Sat., May 20 at 9:30pm.

Leelanau & Benzie

5/13 – Lighting Matches

5/20 – Alex Teller

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

5/13 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Sydni K, 3-6; Silver Creek Revival, 7-10

5/16 -- Uncle Z, 6:30-9:30

5/19 -- Happy Hour w/ Rob Coonrod, 3-6; then Jack Pine, 7-10

5/20 -- The Daydrinker Series w/ Chris Skellenger & Paul Koss, 3-6; then Drew Hale, 7-10

5/14 -- Robert Feddersen, 2-5

5/18 -- Open Mic Night w/ Jeff Louwsma, 5:30-8:30

5/19 -- Kettle Belles, 5-8

5/20 -- Barefoot, 5-8

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY

5/14 -- Elizabeth Landry, noon-3

5/19 -- Friday Night LIVE with Keith Scott, 5:30-8:30

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD / 6:

5/13 -- Lou Thumser

5/19 -- Mike Ridley

5/20 -- Zeke

'Big Dog' Fetters, 8-11

THE NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

7-10:

5/13 -- Moon Howlers

5/19-20 -- Sunny Bleau

Otsego, Crawford & Central

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD

5/13 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

6-8:

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

5/13 -- Bill Frary, 5-8

Antrim & Charlevoix

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

Thu -- Sean Bielby & Adam Engelman, 6-9

BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT, BOYNE FALLS

BEACH HOUSE DEER LAKE:

5/14 -- Nelson Olstrom, 11am

CASTLE FARMS, CHARLEVOIX

5/17 -- Comedy at The Castle w/ Cam Rowe & Dustin Cole, 7-8:30

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

5/13 & 5/20 -- Darrell Boger, 6:30-

9:30

5/19 -- DJ Bingo, 7-10

JUNCTION EVENT CENTER, WALLOON LAKE

5/20 -- Jelly Rolls Blues Band, 7

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY

5/15 -- Blake Elliott, 6-9

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

5/19 -- Tim Jones, 7-9

PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY

5/20 -- Peter Allen Jensen, 6-8

SHORT'S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 8-10:30:

5/13 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen

5/19 -- Luke Woltanski

5/20 -- The Birthday Suits

THE WHI-SKI INN, BOYNE FALLS

5/13 -- Nathan Bates & The Shifties, 7-10

N O W H I R I N G N O W H I R I N G

Sleder's is legendary for great food, friendly service, and fun! We are the oldest, continuously operating restaurant in Michigan.

Apply at Sleder's Family Tavern, Est 1882 717 Randolph Street, Traverse City Info: 231- 947-9213 | sleders@sleders.com | sleders.com

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11AM-9PM & Sunday, 12PM-8PM

Crosswords

ACROSS

1. "C'mon, ___ it out!"

5. Graph starter

10. Otherworldly glow

14. Southern cornbread

15. Hard-hit baseball

16. Minute or milligram, e.g.

17. Home clearance event ["Here's where your ring fingers go ..."]

19. Bring down, as a building

20. Came to an end

21. Skiing surface

23. Country singer Musgraves

24. 2006 Nintendo release

25. Egg-shaped

29. Some retired boomers, for short

30. Digital gambling game ["Position your middle fingers right there ..."]

32. All dried out (and anagram of 28-Down)

33. Electrician's tool

34. Turkey

38. "Oh, golly ..."

39. Comic book artists

40. Sound of contentment

41. Steak and peppers dish ["Let's get the index fingers back to home position ..."]

43. Obama-era policy, briefly

47. Chihuahua, for one

48. Acne medication brand

49. Hall of Hall & Oates

50. "No question"

52. "___ borealis?! At this time of year ..."

53. Protein building block?

56. 1994 Robin Williams/John Turturro movie ["Now move those index fingers inward ..."]

58. Rank emanation

59. Come after

60. "___ California" (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)

61. "Push th' Little Daisies" duo

62. Stashed in a new place

63. Those, in San Jose

DOWN

1. Dots of dust

2. Pretend to be

3. Complete

4. Hints at, like a movie trailer

5. Answered a court charge

6. ___ Majesty the King (title official since May 6)

7. Per team

8. Singer-songwriter McKay

9. Pie crust flavor

10. "So long," at the Sorbonne

11. "Sherlock" actress Stubbs

12. "Sound of Metal" actor Ahmed

13. Had some grub

18. "Miss Pym Disposes" author Josephine

22. Cottonwood, for one

24. Telegraph

26. "Just pick ___!" (complaint to the tin-eared)

27. Presidential span

28. Scots Gaelic

30. Vice ___

31. Nearly 300-year-old unfinished Jean-Philippe Rameau work, completed and premiering in 2023, e.g.

32. Wave rider

34. Small prevarications

35. Working without ___ (taking risks)

36. Acronymic store name

37. What a flashing yellow arrow may allow (watching for crossing traffic)

38. "Jury ___" (2023 Amazon Freevee series)

40. Playfully mischievous

42. Song that Dolly Parton temporarily reworded as "Vaccine" in 2021

43. Finnish DJ behind the ubiquitous hit "Sandstorm"

44. Candle store features

45. 1993 Broadway flop musical based on a big-nosed Rostand hero

46. "Jagged Little Pill" singer Morissette

49. "No ___" (No Doubt tribute band)

51. Rival of Lyft

52. Like most fine wines

53. Pull behind

54. Praiseworthy poem

55. Opponent

57. Rapa ___ (Easter Island, to locals)

"Home Row Truths" a little typing test, and pinkies out! by Matt Jones

“Jonesin”

lOGY

MAY

BY ROB BREZSNY

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the coming weeks, you Bulls must brook no bullies or bullying. Likewise, you should tolerate no bullshit from people trying to manipulate or fool you. Be a bulwark of integrity as you refuse to lower your standards. Bulk up the self-protective part of your psyche so you will be invincibly immune to careless and insensitive spoilers. Your word of power is BUILD. You will align yourself with cosmic rhythms as you work to create situations that will keep you strong and stable during the next 12 months.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I would love you to go searching for treasure, and I hope you launch your quest soon. As you gather clues, I will be cheering you on. Before you embark, though, I want to make sure you are clear about the nature of the treasure you will be looking for. Please envision it in glorious detail. Write down a description of it and keep it with you for the next seven weeks. I also suggest you carry out a fun ritual to formally mark your entry into the treasure-hunting chapter of your life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the coming weeks, you'll be guided by your deep intelligence as you explore and converse with the darkness. You will derive key revelations and helpful signs as you wander around inside the mysteries. Be poised and lucid, dear Scorpio. Trust your ability to sense what's important and what's not. Be confident that you can thrive amidst uncertainty as you remain loyal to your core truths. No matter how murky this challenge may seem, it will ultimately be a blessing. You will emerge both smarter and wiser.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you take the Bible’s teachings seriously, you give generously to the poor and you welcome immigrants. You regard the suffering of others as being worthy of your compassionate attention, and you express love not just for people who agree with you and share your cultural traditions, but for everyone. Numerous Biblical verses, including many attributed to Jesus Christ, make it clear that living according to these principles is essential to being a good human. Even if you are not Jewish or Christian, Sagittarius, I recommend this approach to you. Now is an excellent time to hone your generosity of spirit and expand your urge to care for others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1982, Capricorn actor Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the film Gandhi. Then his career declined. In an animated movie in 1992, he voiced the role of an immortal frog named F.R.O.7. who worked as a James Bond-like secret agent. It was a critical and financial disaster. But Kingsley’s fortunes rebounded, and he was nominated for Academy Awards in 2002 and 2003. Then his trajectory dipped again. He was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for four separate films between 2005 and 2008. Now, at age 79, he's rich and famous and mostly remembered for the great things he has done. I suggest we make him your role model for the coming months. May he inspire you to emphasize your hits and downplay your misses.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m devoted to cultivating the art of relaxation. But I live in a world dominated by stress addicts and frenzied overachievers. Here's another problem: aspire to be curious, innocent, and open-minded, but the civilization I'm embedded in highly values know-it-all experts who are very sure they are in command of life's secrets. One further snag: I’m an ultra-sensitive creator who is nourished by original thinking and original feeling. And yet I constantly encounter formulaic literalists who thrive on clichés. Now here's the good news: I am a successful person! I do what I love and enjoy an interesting life. Here’s even more good news, Aquarius: In the next 12 months, you will have a knack for creating rhythms that bring you closer than ever to doing what you love and enjoying an interesting life.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Most of us suffer from at least one absurd, irrational fear. I have a daft fear of heights, even when I’m perfectly safe, and a manic fear of mosquitoes dive-bombing me as I sleep, an event that has only happened four times in my life. My anxiety about

running out of money is more rational, though, as is my dread of getting sick. Those worries help motivate me to work hard to earn a living and take superb care of my health. What about you, Pisces? Do you know which of your fears are preposterous and which make at least some sense? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to get a good handle on this question. Ask yourself: “Which of my fears are misdirected or exaggerated, and which are realistic and worthy of my attention?”

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries dramatist Samuel Beckett, winner of the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote 22 plays. The shortest was Breath. It has no dialogue or actors and lasts less than a minute. It begins and ends with a recording of the cry of a newborn baby. In between there are the sounds of someone breathing and variations in the lighting. I recommend you draw inspiration from Breath in the coming weeks, Aries. Be succinct and pithy. Call on the powers of graceful efficiency and no-nonsense effectiveness. Relish the joys of shrewd simplicity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): How much do you believe in your power to become the person you want to be? Ninety percent? Fifty-five? Twenty? Whatever it is, you can increase it in the coming weeks. Life will conspire with you to raise your confidence as you seek new ways to fulfill your soul's purpose. Surges of grace will come your way as you strive with intense focus to live your most meaningful destiny. To take maximum advantage of this opportunity, I suggest you enjoy extra amounts of quiet, meditative time. Request help from the deepest core of your intelligence.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Early in the 19th century, cultural researchers Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm gathered an array of old folk stories and published a collection of what we now call fairy tales. Because the two brothers wanted to earn money, they edited out some graphic elements of the original narratives. For example, in the Grimms' revised version, we don't get the juicy details of the princess fornicating with the frog prince once he has reverted to his handsome human form. In the earlier but not published stories of Rumpelstiltskin, the imp gets so frustrated when he's tricked by the queen that he rips himself apart. I hope you will do the opposite of the Brothers Grimm in the coming weeks, Cancerian. It's crucial that you reveal and expose and celebrate raw, unvarnished truths.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Is there a job you would love to have as your primary passion, but it's different from the job you're doing? Is there a calling you would delight in embracing, but you're too consumed by the daily routine? Do you have a hobby you’d like to turn into a professional pursuit? If you said even a partial yes to my questions, Leo, here's good news: In the coming months, you will have an enhanced ability to make these things happen. And now is an excellent time to get underway.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) was a versatile virtuoso. He excelled as an essayist, biographer, playwright, editor, poet, and lexicographer. How did he get so much done? Here’s one clue. He took his own advice, summed up in the following quote: “It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Present opportunities are neglected and attainable good is slighted by minds busied in extensive ranges and intent upon future advantages." Johnson’s counsel is perfect for you right now, Virgo. Forget about the future and be focused on the present. Dive into the interesting work and play that’s right in front of you.

CLASSIFIEDS

TWO WICKER COUCHES WITH CUSHIONS, excellent cond.: $300.each. Cash only. Pictures available. (231) 534-5546.

6 KELLY GREEN STACK CHAIRS EXCELLENT CONDITION.: Pictures available, $12 each, you pick up, cash only. (231) 534-5546.

POSITION AVAILABLE: Dish Team (14 yrs or +, 2-3 days/wk, 8:30am-3:30pm) Flexibility with days necessary. Competitive wages, day shifts only. Email info@redspirebrunchhouse.com , apply online at redspirebrunchhouse.com, or in person. Red Spire Brunch House

LOOKING FOR A KEYBOARD PLAYER: The band ReBooted with Judy Harrison is starting a new project and looking for a keyboard player. Are you interested? Contact judy@highimpactnow. com or call 231.620.6246

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LATIN DANCE: Latin Dance Classes @ 6p Wed at VFW Post 2780. Come alone or as a pair! $12 per

SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231-2286248

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

PAID PART-TIME WORK TRAINING FOR SENIORS 55+: PAID PART-TIME WORK TRAINING POSITIONS AVAILABLE for Seniors 55 and Over. Positions are waiting to be filled! Applicants must be 55 and over, unemployed and seeking work and meet the program eligibility. Call today-phone screening can quickly determine eligibility. To find out if you qualify, contact AARP Foundation SCSEP Program at 231-252-4544.

CDL CURIOUS? – MAY 10 4-6 P.M. Ever wonder what it takes to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)? Attend BATA’s CDL Open House for a free informal information session on Wednesday, May 10 from 4-6 p.m. at BATA’s Cass Transfer Station located at 3233 Cass Road, Traverse City, MI. Bring questions and hear directly from a BATA

driver and BATA’s own CDL certified trainer. Contact info@bata.net or call 231.933.5533 to learn more.

COME GROW WITH US – JOIN OUR TEAM!

Now Hiring!! Up to $1,300 signing bonus! Calling all motivated, hard-working individuals. Porcelain Patrol Service is hiring for full time and part time cleaning technicians. We offer competitive wages and benefits! Evening and day positions are available. Advancement opportunities available. Stop in our office at 726 Hastings St. and fill out an application and we will arrange an on the spot interview! Our office number is 231-922-9556 if you have additional questions.√ We do require that all applicants have insured, reliable transportation

SALES/MARKETING SUPPORT & CLIENT

SERVICES Mini Golf Design/Build firm seeking full time Sales/Marketing Assistant responsible for supporting sales/marketing efforts with lead assignment, proposal documents, working with ACT database, SmartSheets, improving marketing collateral, assisting tradeshow tasks, market research along with general office support. Client Services includes tracking

maintenance/repair jobs for existing clients and maintaining timelines. Must be proficient with Office 365, as well as strong communication skills and able to work in fast pace environment. cherie@adventureandfun.com