Northern Express - June 23, 2025

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUTSIDE?

• Federal funding freezes disrupt Crystal River watershed projects

• Traverse City braces for July 7 State Park closure

• No more camping in The Pines…but where did everyone go? IN TOTAL CASH & PRIZES ACROSS BOTH LOCATIONS! SATURDAYS IN JUNE. SEE PAGE 7 FOR DETAILS.

MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • june 23 - june 29, 2025 • Vol. 35 No. 25

$95,000 $95,000

A WRITERS SERIES

Fiction Workshop for Adults

Mondays, June 23rd-July 28th, 6:00-7:00 pm

STORIES ON STAGE! From Anecdote to Art Form

Monday-Friday, July 21-25, 1-2:30 pm

Performance time on Tuesday, July 29th TBA Grades 9-12

A WHALE OF A TALE:

Online: Mondays, July 7- August 4, 1:00-2:15 pm 3rd-5th Graders

GUMSHOE, SLEUTH, PRIVATE EYE: Create a Mystery Detective

Online: Mondays, July 7- 4, 11:00 am-12:15 pm 5th-8th Graders

THE COLLEGE ESSAY: Tell Your Story

Online: Tuesday, August 12th, 7-9 pm High School - Grades 11-12

Term Limits

I usually agree (or mostly agree) with Stephen Tuttle but never on term limits.

Look at how poorly this has worked out for Michigan since we’ve had it. Can anyone show how legislative work has improved? And please compare the 30 years before term limits went into effect with the years after term limits became law.

Let’s instead spend our time on making an age limit the law of the land. My father and I argued about this. He thought all politicians should retire at 65; I didn’t. We argued through his 60s, 70s, 80s, and until he died at 93.

We have had elderly presidents since 2017, and both men have shown examples of aging; one trying to work a full day and the other trying to golf every day. Neither showed their best work.

That holds true even more for members of Congress, senators, and all state office holders.

Don Seman | Bellaire

The Threat of AI

Editor Jillian Manning’s article on the threat of AI to a galaxy of professions is a clarion call that needs to be repeated before we sink into a new Dark Ages where every worker is replaced by a robot or a digital program.

Currently, the brightest minds in the tech sector are spending billions to advance artificial intelligence while also noting that their silicon Frankensteins will likely exterminate the human race if and when they achieve consciousness. As was the case with the inventors of the atomic bomb, even the direst warnings aren’t stopping them.

Someday, perhaps, AIs capable of living for thousands of years will reach the stars, spreading the values they learned from the human race throughout the galaxy. But as for actual humans, we’ll be lucky if they keep a few of us around as exhibits in their zoos.

Bob Downes, author and founder of Northern Express | Traverse City

Call It What It Is

Regarding Stephen Tuttle’s June 9 column “Selective Humanitarianism,” he “selectively” omitted a key portion of the genocide definition. According to the US Holocaust Museum’s website, the full definition is as follows:

“The legal term ‘genocide’ refers to certain acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Genocide is an international crime, according to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). The acts that constitute genocide fall into five categories: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group”

The first four of these acts are most certainly happening to Palestinians at the hands of Israel, aided and abetted by our tax dollars and political cover. While forcible transfer of children from one group to another is not, to our knowledge, happening, it is clear from the words of Israel’s political establishment, soldiers, and pundits (mostly in Hebrew, so as not to alarm their English-speaking patrons), that Palestinian children are being targeted by

and bombs, as well as starvation. Israel boasts widely about its ability to precisely target people and places in Iran and elsewhere, and simultaneously suggests it is not targeting civilians in Palestine with 2000 lb. bunker busters. The intent is clear. Call it what it is: GENOCIDE.

For MidEast: Just Peace | Gina Aranki, Dawn Chalker, Lydia Hatton, Deyar Jamil, Andrea Lints, Mike and Kathy Potter, Denise Sica, Peter Solenberger, Becky Stoeckel, Robin Tinholt

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

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Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com

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Contributors: Joseph Beyer, Ross Boissoneau, Ren Brabenec, Matt Dursum, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsberg, Stephen Tuttle

Copyright 2025, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

this week’s

top ten

The Cherry Fest Is Back in Town

It’s hard to believe we’re already this far into summer, but the National Cherry Festival kicks off Saturday, June 28! The Opening Ceremonies will be held from 1011am at the Open Space, followed by the air show from 1-4pm. (And yes, both the amusement park and the beer tent will be up and running that afternoon!) Tyler Hubbard, the country star that is one half of the duo Florida Georgia Line, performs that night on the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage. Sunday’s big events include the Arts & Crafts Fair on Union Street, a Cherry Farm Market, the Classic Car Show, another air show, and the Cherry Royale Picnic at F&M Park to celebrate the festival’s Junior Royalty before Cheap Trick and Collective Soul perform from 6-10:30pm. To see the full schedule of events, head to cherryfestival.org/events.

A celebration of music through the decades comes to life at The Highlands in Harbor Springs with The Young Americans Dinner Theatre returning with “American Jukebox.” Enjoy this high-energy tribute to the soundtrack of America with a talented cast of young singers, dancers, and musicians from across the country June 20 – Aug. 16. Check in at the Day Lodge by 5:45pm, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at 6pm, followed by a three-course dinner at 6:15pm while you take in the performance. Tickets range from $39-$129, with ages 5 and under free. highlandsharborsprings.com

Hey, watch It! Stick 4

Oh, wow—Owen Wilson is on the golf course! Apple TV+’s latest heartfelt comedy is being pitched as Ted Lasso for golf…and we think that’s pretty accurate. In Stick, Wilson plays the has-been pro golfer Pryce Cahill, who is divorced, broke, and about to lose his house when he happens upon teenage phenom Santi Wheeler sneaking into the driving range. Pryce knows talent when he sees it, and convinces a reluctant Santi (Peter Dager) and Santi’s wry and watchful mom Elena (Mariana Treviño) to hit the road for a summer of competitions and cash prizes…and some shady bets placed by Pryce. Judy Greer, Marc Maron, and Lilli Kay round out the main players off the course. Stick doesn’t have all the casting magic, humor, or emotional stakes of Ted Lasso, but it’s a nice sports-adjacent placeholder until the hit show returns for season four.

While we already love Chubby Unicorn in Traverse City for their stacked sandwiches and scratch-made soups, we didn’t know that this day dining gem also makes one heckuva breakfast burrito. Originally a featured item made permanent—because it’s just that good!— this flavor-packed wrap is stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage, classic Pace picante salsa, and a schmear of homemade bacon jam. It’s all rolled up in a cheddar tortilla, sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, and panini-pressed until melty with a buttery crunch. Served with a side of house maple and sriracha syrup for sweet-meetsspicy dunking, this breakfast baddie is about to see you straight through to lunch, and maybe a few hours after! (Psst, veggie options are also available!) Grab one 439 E. Front St. in Traverse City. chubbyunicorntc.com

June 28 (10am-5pm) and 29 (10am to 3pm), the Charlevoix Summer Art Show comes to the shores of Round Lake. Dozens of artists across all mediums will showcase their wares in East Park. And while you’re in that neck of the woods, be sure to catch the Stillhouse Junkies playing in The Series at Lavender Hill Farm on Saturday from 6-9:30pm. Tickets (lavenderhillfarm.com/the-series) range from $15 to $38.50, and you’re encouraged to come early and enjoy a picnic atmosphere among the fields of lavender. On Sunday, after you’ve shopped the art show, head to Vue Wine Bar for a Summer Martini Class from 1:30-4pm. Start off sipping a specialty mocktail and noshing on snacks, then learn how to create a lemon drop martini! Tickets (vuecharlevoix.com/events) are $49 per person, including two martinis.

Chigidaaki: Place of the Big Hill

Little Traverse Conservancy has been eyeing a property known as White Mountain in Charlevoix County since 2020. For years, they’ve been working to fundraise to purchase the 654 acres of hardwoods, meadows, and two tracks. This month, after an aggressive push to hit their $3 million goal, LTC announced that the property has been protected, making it the largest reserve in the Lower Peninsula. The anonymous lead donor asked that the name reflect the culture of the indigenous Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, so the property will be called Chigidaaki: Place of the Big Hill Working Forest Reserve. While LTC staff is now working to create a management plan—after which will come planning for any future trails—the reserve is now open to the public to enjoy the non-motorized two-tracks. Learn more at landtrust.org/bighill.

Stuff We Love: Hazardous Waste Going to the Right Place

We all know we’re not supposed to throw light bulbs, paint cans, and batteries in the trash. But did you know aerosol hairspray, nail polish remover, super glue, thermometers, and bug repellant are also considered household hazardous waste? Time to check your local county household hazardous waste drop-off schedule (and confirm your items are on their list of accepted waste)! Here are a few at a glance—for most, you’ll need to go online or call to make an appointment. Antrim County: June 28, July 19, Sept. 27. Emmet County: Sept. 27. Grand Traverse County: June 26, Aug. 14, Sept. 13. Kalkaska County: July 26. Leelanau County: June 21, Sept. 22, and Oct. 11. Manistee County (through Manistee Conservation District): Aug. 16. Otsego County: Aug. 15-16. Other counties in our coverage area have either hosted events already or did not have dates posted.

Ready to take a trip under the sea just steps away from Grand Traverse Bay? Stop into downtown TC’s Playa Bowls and grab a bottle of the Blue Mermaid Wave juice ($7.50). The ingredients start off familiar—filtered water, organic lemon, simple syrup—and then get a little oceanic with the addition of blue spirulina, which gives the drink its signature hue. Blue spirulina is the dried form of blue-green algae that has been used for centuries, dating as far back as the Aztecs, and is considered something of a superfood in terms of B vitamins, protein, and iron. Playa Bowls touts that their drink is “rich in antioxidants and protects the skin.” Give it a splash at 222 East State Street, Suite 101 in Traverse City. playabowls.com/ location/traverse-city

OPEN PUBLIC

DISCUSSION, READING,

AND BOOK SIGNING

PEOPLE OF THE DUNE

by Jim Olson

Saturday, June 28, 1-3pm at Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City

‘a conversational yet probing Socratic debate about what has value and meaning in life’

In a tense showdown between corporate interests and community values, the fate of the Voyager Dune hangs in the balance. Mython Corporation’s ambitious plans to extract the dune and replace it with a sprawling residential complex along one of North America’s Great Lakes spark a grassroots movement of resistance. Led by local tribes, residents, and conservation groups, protesters gather at the base of the dune, forming an encampment to block the mining operation. Legal battles ensue, with Mython filing lawsuits to remove the encampment. Meanwhile, the tribes and concerned citizens rally under the banners of the Mound People Coalition and People of the Dune, seeking legal avenues to halt the destruction of this cherished landscape.

A TRADITION OF VIOLENCE

spectator

By steven Tuttle

There was a certain inevitability to it given the increasingly violent rhetoric spewed by our president, elected members of both political parties, and way, way too much of the general public. Now an elected political leader in Minnesota, and her husband, lie dead for no rational reason.

“Enter this book with the anticipation of wonder. It’s all here: water, myth, and environmental destruction met with fierce compassion and the wondrous journey of a judge’s mind as he redefines justice. This book is a treasure for those who embrace the wild earth, and those of pure heart. “

—Michael Delp, co-editor emeritus, Made in Michigan Book Series, Wayne State University Press

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, JIM OLSON

Illustrated by Sherry Petersen and Tajín Robles

Author and environmental lawyer, celebrates One-Year Anniversary of People of the Dune on the release of his new Paperback Edition

MISSION POINT PRESS

184 pages; 6 x 9 inches; b/w; bibliography

ISBN: 978-1-961302-50-1 (Hardcover)

$29.95 (Hardcover)

Jim Olson is a lawyer and writer who lives in Northern Michigan. For five decades, Jim has represented citizens and communities in the courts, and authored articles, papers, and blogs on law and the environment, water, and natural resources. He is a recipient of many awards for his work. In 2010, he founded For Love of Water, a nonprofit law and policy center, to protect the public commons in water, lands, and community

FICTION / Nature & the Environment

FICTION / Legal

FICTION/Native American

Release date: June 27, 2024

Pub. date: Hardcover, July 15, 2024; Paperback, May 15,

individuals or groups of individuals who espouse certain ideologies are now more likely to be targets, and they need not be elected or appointed officials.

Defined as an act linked to a particular election or partisan political dispute or premeditated acts driven by a specific ideology, Reuters has cataloged 213 acts of “political violence” since January 6, 2021, resulting in 39 deaths, including 24 in politically motivated mass shootings.

“Jim Olson’s allegory for his home region is a masterful display of great storytelling that also reflects the author’s expertise and refreshing respect for the law and jurisprudence. Few writers so capably explore principles of fairness, conservation, myth, and character. People of the Dune is all that and more, cast in a rollicking great yarn. This book is a fun read, for sure.”

—Keith Schneider, New York Times

We have an unfortunate history of political violence, sometimes perpetrated by members of the public and sometimes politician vs. politician. We should be shocked this continues but we aren’t. After all, in 1804, a sitting vice president, Aaron Burr, shot and killed Alexander Hamilton, a founder and former treasury secretary, in a duel. Duels were considered matters of honor, and it didn’t take much for someone to feel their honor had been violated. And it didn’t even have to be direct.

In 1838, a representative from Kentucky shot and killed a representative from Maine in a duel orchestrated primarily by a newspaper that goaded them into “defending their honor,” though neither was especially keen to participate. The next year, Congress passed legislation finally outlawing dueling in and around the District of Columbia.

“There is the bird and the movement of the bird. There is the dune and the idea of the dune. Through a totally surprising alchemy of the artist’s and the lawyer’s point of view, Jim Olson illuminates both in what is an amazing and thoroughly entertaining kind of colloquy of a novel.”

—Doug Stanton, #1 New York Times best-selling author

Northern Michigan For five decades, Jim has represented citizens and communities in the courts, and authored articles, papers, and blogs on law and the environment, water, and resources. He is a recipient of the Michigan State Bar’s Champion of Justice Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly. In 2010, he Love of Water, a nonprofit law and policy center, to protect the water, lands, and community. He is a recipient of a Michigan Environmental Law, A Citizens (Neahtawanta Press, 1984), FLOW: For Love of Water (2008),

There were some 70 acts of violence by members of Congress against each other, usually after arguments over slavery. It reached a crescendo in 1856 when Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, beating him unconscious with a cane.

We can’t forget the ultimate acts of political violence, the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy, and the attempts on the lives of William Howard Taft, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan (and we won’t even count the attempt on Barack Obama since he wasn’t home when someone fired at the White House). Plus we shoot candidates, too—Bobby Kennedy, George Wallace, Donald Trump.

In Buffalo, a man shot and killed 10 Black shoppers in a grocery store because, he said, he wanted to start a race war. In Florida, a man killed his neighbor because he criticized Donald Trump’s business acumen. In Ohio, a man shot his neighbor to death because he thought he was a Democrat (he wasn’t), and in Louisville someone tried to kill the Democrat mayor because he didn’t believe he was liberal enough.

Sometimes the spouse of a politician is apparently a good enough target, as Nancy Pelosi’s husband discovered.

These days, the violence seems less ideologically directed and much more personal. We aren’t attacking symbols— we’re attacking people, and the only issue is whether or not the victim supports one individual.

The targets are too often local election officials committing the grievous offense of taking their oaths and their jobs seriously. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 38 percent of election workers have been threatened, harassed or suffered verbal or written abuse since 2020, and many of the threats also involve their families. The Associated Press has cataloged literally thousands of threatening phone calls and emails directed at election officials after the 2020 and 2024 presidential election. It’s a serious enough problem that the DOJ has created an Election Threats Task Force. It does not help at all there are still politicians and their operatives stoking the fires that can lead to violence.

Meet Maison—the new all-day café at Delamar Traverse City. Open daily 7 am - 10 pm.

MAISON RIBBON CUTTING

Wednesday, June 25 | 10:45 am - 11:30 am Join us for complimentary Panther drip coffee and pastries.

Fast-forward and we experienced a different kind of political violence in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Vietnam war generated violence from the left, including bombings and over-the-top protests, and violence from anti-abortion protesters on the right. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, those targets were mostly structures, symbols of what was being protested rather than people. Military recruiting offices, Selective Service offices on one side and reproductive health centers on the other. And often the targets were warned or attacks happened at night.

The intent and the targets have changed, and that’s worrisome. Where an ideology and its symbols were previous targets,

It won’t get better until our leaders condemn rather than encourage violent rhetoric and actions. In May of this year, research conducted by Reuters/Ipsos contacted people self-identifying as left or right of center and fully 20 percent said they believe “acts of violence against individuals” are acceptable if committed to “achieve my idea of a better society.”

Having listened to the verbal sewage being spewed by their leaders, and the physical assaults they are hesitant to condemn, the public is just playing follow-theirresponsible-political-leaders. Much more of this, and we’ll be in irrational darkness the light of reason will be unable to penetrate.

A WILDFIRE SUMMER

GUEST OPINION

by Lauren Teichner

I’m a mom, a camping enthusiast, and an environmental attorney, and in the past few years, these roles have intersected in painful ways. Like so many Michiganders, my family treasures summer camping. Blue skies, leafy green forests, s’mores, and sleeping under the stars. To us, camping is not just recreation; it’s how we restore, connect, and teach our kids what it means to belong to a natural place.

But now, each trip begins with checking the air quality index before we load up our van. Wildfire smoke is changing the way we live—not just in places like California, but right here, in northern Michigan. And I’m not willing to pretend that’s normal.

Already, in early June 2025, smoke from over 200 Canadian wildfires drifted into northern Michigan. AQI levels reached “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” (150250+) in areas including Benzie County, Leelanau County, and parts of the Upper Peninsula. All residents across those regions, not just those with sensitive lungs, were advised to limit outdoor activity. In Marquette, smoke reduced visibility so dramatically that downtown was barely visible in photos. Many still recall the Canadian wildfires of 2023, which created some of the worst air quality conditions in recorded human history—including here in our region.

Thankfully, scientists predict that wildfire smoke this summer may not be as severe. But even so, monitoring AQI projections has become routine for families like mine, and essential for deciding whether it is safe enough to take our kids on the camping trips we love.

As much as we might not want to face it, there is no escaping the truth: Our beloved summer traditions are colliding head-on with the climate crisis. We must draw a direct line between forest fires and humandriven climate change, and then shout that truth from our camper van rooftops.

This smoke is not just an inconvenience; it is a symptom of a growing global pattern. Canada’s wildfire seasons are becoming longer, more intense, and more destructive, fueled by warmer temperatures and drier air conditions directly linked to carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) for electricity, transportation, industry, and heating. These emissions have heated up the Earth’s atmosphere and raised the risk of extreme weather events.

What was once only an inconvenient backdrop to our summer adventures has now become a painful reminder of the urgent need for climate action.

At the time of this writing, Congress is still debating the terms of Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, which—among other atrocities—directly attacks our natural resources and healthy future. It mandates

the sale of public lands, cuts funding for those who care for them, and slashes our hard-fought clean energy initiatives that are critical to curbing climate change and its impacts, including wildfires.

The proposed bill would drive up energy bills for Michiganders, eliminate hundreds of thousands of clean-energy jobs, and prop up a dying fossil fuel industry. All at the very moment when we should be sprinting in the opposite direction.

If we think the air quality is bad now, just wait: This legislation would gut vehicle and methane emissions standards and even cut air pollution monitoring programs in schools, not to mention eliminate funding for the scientists who research air quality.

And yet, there is still hope. A YouGov study earlier this year found that 66 percent of voters now believe climate change is happening, and 76 percent of voters believe it is very or somewhat likely that climate change is worsening weather events.

We stand at the tipping point of transforming how we live to support a sustainable future. What’s needed to move the needle— locally, statewide, and nationally—is not a majority, but a small, active percentage of the population willing to speak up. Research suggests that even 3.5 percent of engaged citizens can be enough to spark meaningful political change.

That’s where we come in. Like my own family, if you have spent one of the 1.16 million camping nights logged in Michigan’s state parks and recreation areas in 2024, you already have a personal stake in what’s at risk, and a powerful story to tell.

Call your representatives in Congress— every few days if you’re up to it—sharing your camping experiences and demanding that your elected leaders protect our climate and public lands. (Always say you’re a constituent and include at least your zip code, so staff can tally your call.)

Politicians rely on voter support, and your calls, voicemails, and emails hold them accountable; their positions can be moved by the personal stories of their constituents.

During the summer camping season, we rely on fresh air to fill our lungs, give us energy to play, help us sleep deeply in our tents, and restore our minds as we wake up to birdsong-filled mornings at the campsite. Every breath is a gift from the trees around us. Let’s use our love for these places to ground and guide our advocacy. Let’s demand that our leaders act now to defend our planet, so that we and generations to come can continue to breathe deeply and find joy in Michigan’s great outdoors.

Lauren Teichner is the founder and principal attorney at Teichner Law, a public interest environmental law firm based in Traverse City.

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Unclear on the Concept

At Chicago's O'Hare Airport on May 17, a lost DoorDash driver made it past a security gate and onto the tarmac, driving a significant distance before being stopped by airport personnel, WKRC-TV reported. The 36-year-old driver stopped near a grounded aircraft and showed the food receipt and meal he was trying to deliver; he was released without any citations. However, the security employee at the gate was relieved of her duties after letting the car pass through her post.

That's Punny

In London's Brockwell Park, the annual Lambeth Country Show kicked off on June 7 with livestock competitions, sheep shearing and, most notably, a vegetable sculpture contest, the Associated Press reported. "Every year, this is what we get so excited about, is the vegetable sculptures," said fairgoer Maddy Luxon. "We love the political ones." And, her friend Marek Szandrowski added, "The puns." For example, one sculpture featured Catholic cardinals made of corn: "Cornclave." Another called "Cauli Parton" was shown in a scene from "9 to Chive."

President Donald Trump was depicted in butternut squash form.

To Your Point

Lake of the Isles, a neighborhood in Minneapolis, marks the start of summer by sharpening a pencil -- a 20-foot-tall wooden pencil sculpted from a tree damaged in a storm several years ago. The Associated Press reported on June 7 that residents John and Amy Higgins wanted to give the tree new life, so they enlisted wood sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad to fashion a No. 2 pencil. "Why a pencil? Everybody uses a pencil," said Amy. Every year, they sharpen it with a custom-made sharpener carried up to the point on scaffolding, taking off 3 to 10 inches. The Higginses know that one day, their pencil will be a stub, but they're OK with that. They just want the ritual to pull the community together. The party includes entertainment and music, and people dress as pencils or erasers.

The Golden Age of Air Travel

At Milan's Malpensa Airport on June 8, a Chinese woman went full-on toddler tantrum after being told her carry-on bag was too heavy to fly, news.com.au reported. The woman was boarding a flight when staff tried to check her carry-on suitcase, but when they told her it was over the weight limit, she hit the floor, rolling around, stamping her feet and yelling. Authorities eventually removed her from the flight, and she later rebooked after calming down. Videos of her antics have since gone viral, provoking comments such as "This is shameless and disgraceful behavior" and "This is so embarrassing."

Questionable Judgments

Well, it's that time of year again, when people with less sense than animals head into the wild and carelessly approach large, dangerous wildlife. So it was in Yellowstone National Park this month, when 1) a 30-yearold New Jersey man was gored by a bison on June 10 after getting too close, and 2) bystanders caught a video of a woman walking a toddler right up to a grazing

bison at the same park on June 2, according to KDVR-TV. The New Jersey man was treated at the scene for minor injuries. The bison, thankfully, ignored the adult and toddler. "Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal," wildlife officials said.

Fox2-TV in Detroit reported on June 9 about a Zoom court hearing that went viral. The hearing was overseen by 36th District Court Judge Sean Perkins, who was talking with Asja Outerbridge about her misdemeanor open container violation. On the Zoom video, Outerbridge could be seen wearing a robe and making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while she spoke to the court. "Put whatever you're trying to prepare down," Perkins instructed her. "Put your proper dress on. I don't do robes." Outerbridge explained that her 3-year-old daughter was home sick from school and the sandwich was for her, then showed the judge that she was dressed in a T-shirt and pants. But he wasn't having it: "Bye, Ms. Outerbridge!" he said before booting her off the call. Outerbridge said she "could have came dressed better and more prepared. I do genuinely, with a serious face, apologize to the judge."

But Why?

A woman shopping "in aisle 18 at Sam's Club" in Orlando, Florida, got an eyeful on May 30 when she caught Patrick Mitchell, 70, urinating on two pallets of canned Spam and Vienna sausages, The Smoking Gun reported. Police said the witness snapped a photo and reported the incident to store employees, who confirmed that the pallets, worth $10,584.54, had been "contaminated with bodily fluids." After relieving himself, Mitchell strolled around the store and tested some patio furniture before checking out and leaving. Mitchell was arrested at his home in The Villages, a retirement community, and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

Kindness Counts

A woman stopped an Osceola County (Florida) Sheriff's deputy on June 9 to report that her brother had been stabbed with a machete, WESH-TV reported. Oh, also, that the assailant was driving the victim to the hospital. Sure enough, officers found Angel Ramos-Arce, 35, at the hospital, where his truck yielded the victim's blood and the machete. The two men had gotten into an altercation over Ramos-Arce repeatedly harassing the victim's sister at the Circle K where she worked. He was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; it's unclear whether he'll get any Brownie points for transporting the victim to the hospital.

Bright Idea

Tiron Alexander, 35, of Florida is facing up to 30 years in federal prison after being found guilty on June 5 of wire fraud and unlawfully entering a secure airport area under false pretenses. CBS News reported that between 2018 and 2024, Alexander falsely claimed to be a flight attendant with seven different airlines to take advantage of free flights. He created about 30 different badges and boarded 34 flights without paying. He will be sentenced on Aug. 25.

Blue, Beulah

SHOP LIKE A LOCAL

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL WORK IN LIMBO

Nonprofits

speak out

on federal, state, and local decisions and their impact on the environment

Ren Brabenec

Michigan’s natural beauty is no mystery to anyone who’s put their feet in our sand, their hands on our lake stones, or turned their face up toward the summer sunshine that brings it all together. Across the state, several nonprofits operate in quiet reverence of the landscapes we hold dear, advocating tirelessly for Michigan’s water, earth, and air.

We checked in with two, Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) and the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC), to hear about their latest projects, wins, and concerns.

Funding Pauses Hamper Important Environmental Projects

Suzie Knoll, executive director of CRA, says her organization has been deeply affected by changes at the federal level.

“We recently finalized a three-year strategic plan in early 2025, less than a month before the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued the federal funding freeze memo, immediately casting uncertainty over previously-awarded funds from CRA’s largest federal agency partners,” Knoll says.

The funding freeze is already affecting critical environmental projects. Many of CRA’s projects rely on support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Millions of dollars in newly awarded grants to CRA—including one large grant that was earmarked for 31 road/stream

crossing replacements and bridge projects— are currently on hold,” says Knoll.

Knoll gave two examples of stream crossing replacements in the Cedar River watershed (Leelanau County), funded through the Farm Bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program that have been put on hold. The supply ordering window for the projects was missed due to payment uncertainty, resulting in a delay of at least a year.

What Happens Next?

Knoll says continued delays stemming from White House funding freezes could result in increased erosion and sedimentation in critical streams, further degrading habitat for aquatic species.

Even more urgently, some sites involve aging dam infrastructure. Without timely intervention by the CRA and its partners, further deterioration could lead to dam failure.

And it’s not just funding freezes CRA is concerned about. Knoll referenced the current administration’s staffing of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with pro-deregulation leadership, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who stated during his confirmation hearing that under his leadership, the EPA would not be required to regulate fossil fuel emissions.

Everything about Michigan’s natural resources is influenced by the human populations who live in and near those resources, and the federal policies governing how humans operate in their environments make all the difference in the world.

For example, Knoll explained that one of CRA’s greatest challenges is balancing rapid population and tourism growth with the need to protect and restore the natural landscapes that draw people to northern Michigan in the first place.

“Federal funding shortfalls will require us to put more time and resources into pursuing private funding sources and will undoubtedly take away from our work on the ground,” Knoll says.

Knoll used a map to show us which 2025-2027 projects are at risk due to funding pauses, revealing that 31 of the 60 projects listed, including dam removals, wetland restorations, and stream crossing repairs, are at risk because of paused federal funding.

Decisions from D.C. Could Have Lasting Effects

Mike Foley, co-chair of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, says he’s most concerned about the Trump Administration’s efforts to clamp down on clean energy initiatives, especially considering Michigan’s strong leadership in this industry.

Foley says that what’s worse is that the current administration is fast-tracking all the wrong energy projects.

“The declaration of an energy emergency by the current administration has led to certain projects that NMEAC strongly opposes [e.g., the proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac] being fasttracked in their permit review process,” says Foley. “We’re working with partner organizations on how best to respond to these accelerated threats. We continue to

raise awareness with the public, educate citizens on the dangers inherent with the current Line 5 operations and the proposed tunnel, and contact the governor, the head of the DNR, and our congressional delegations to voice our opposition to this project.”

Foley emphasized that the Line 5 project has implications for the climate, critical ecosystems around the Straits of Mackinac, and the untold thousands of habitats located along the pipeline’s 645-mile-long transit.

“Every bit of effort pushing for the pipeline from the feds to local pipeline supporters is effort that could be put towards clean energy,” Foley adds.

Foley also shared concerns about the pollution of Michigan waterways from the illegal discharge of wastewater, concerns about deregulation, the excessive removal of mature trees and tree canopies in northern Michigan cities, development sprawl with associated increases in impervious surfaces leading to increased stormwater runoff, and an increase in chlorides in local waters from the use of road salt in winter.

Drawing Strength from Victories

It’s never all bad news when a majority of the public supports healthy ecosystems, because even in the face of opposition, concerned residents can still come together and make changes for the better.

On his highlight reel, Foley pointed to several land conservation victories his organization has been involved in.

“We’ve been very happy to support and see some significant land protection by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy,

Paddlers on the Crystal River before the launch of the Crystal River Initiative connectivity project. Photo courtesy of Conservation Resource Alliance

Leelanau Conservancy, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians,” he says.

Foley also emphasized his hope that the point-of-transfer septic regulations his organization has advocated for—recently approved by the Grand Traverse County Commissioners—will become a first step toward a more comprehensive, uniform septic code for the northern Lower Peninsula, and perhaps for the entire state.

Knoll says she takes hope in the projects her organization was able to secure funding for and begin implementing before the federal funding freeze hit.

“For decades, clogged and undersized culverts degraded the Crystal River’s health, disrupting natural stream flow and fragmenting habitat for fish and wildlife,”

she says. “The Crystal River Initiative was launched to address four critical road-stream crossings at the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—one of our region’s most treasured landscapes.”

The initiative will reconnect the Crystal River to Lake Michigan, opening nearly five miles of stream below the watershed’s lowermost sea lamprey barrier.

“Our organization has taken a supporting role, as this work is being led by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in partnership with CRA, the Leelanau County Road Commission, and the National Park Service,” Knoll continues.

“Together, we’re restoring natural river function, improving public safety, and helping to deepen cultural and spiritual connections to the land and water.”

CONTACT. EDUCATE. VOLUNTEER. DONATE.

According to Foley and Knoll, the public remains the decision-makers in what happens to Michigan’s natural lands, at least for now. That’s why the theme is always “contact, educate, volunteer, donate.”

“Contact local, state, and federal government representatives about environmental issues that matter to you, your family, friends, and neighbors,” Foley says. “Educate yourself with trusted, verifiable sources on the impact of rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere and the importance of reducing energy consumption and accelerating our transition to a low-carbon energy future. Volunteer and donate if you are able.”

Knoll mirrors Foley’s sentiment. “We urge our supporters to reach out to their congressional representatives, share what they know of CRA’s impactful work in your region, and advocate for federal agencies to expedite their review of conservation programs,” she says.

“Swift action is needed to allow restoration projects to move forward, supporting the rural communities that depend on them.”

Foley Knoll

A section of the Crystal River flowing freely after the 2024 completion of Site Three, aka “The Tubes.” Three aging, undersized culverts were removed, and a new bridge was installed for unrestricted passage for paddlers and wildlife.

WHAT COMES AFTER THE PINES?

Following the no-camping enforcement at The Pines, local leaders talk homelessness Up North

By Kierstin Gunsberg

As the morning commute rushed by on May 7, streams of yellow caution tape outlined the woods off West Eleventh Street and Division in Traverse City. After years of debate over how to respond to the growing number of unhoused people living in those woods in an encampment nicknamed “The Pines,” officials were enforcing a no-camping ordinance.

Residents of The Pines, which less than two years ago sheltered a quarter of the county’s unhoused population, were told they had to leave.

The enforcement didn’t come as a surprise to the roughly one dozen people still living there, says Ashley HalladaySchmandt, director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness. “Folks knew it was coming.”

That’s why over the last year, coalition field workers and members of Traverse City Police Department’s Quick Response Team (QRT) had been visiting The Pines to inform its residents of the upcoming change and to help them make relocation plans. For the first summer ever, Safe Harbor, the only emergency shelter within city limits, was an option. Before this year, Safe Harbor always closed its doors from mid-May through

mid-October, opening just for the coldest months. But as the enforcement loomed, city leaders pushed for a pilot program to keep the shelter—and the extra summertime beds it would bring to the unhoused community—open year-round, pitching it as a safer alternative to outdoor encampments. As soon as the pilot was approved, the enforcement went into effect.

Leaders like Holm, whose work revolves around increasing the resources available to northern Michigan’s vulnerable populations, agree that creating a year-round emergency shelter was a step in the right direction, but as Halladay-Schmandt says, they’re far from resolving homelessness Up North.

And, as it turns out, most residents displaced from The Pines haven’t been

The vacancy rate for affordable housing—that is, housing that costs no more than 30 percent of a household’s income and is often subsidized by federal funds—is zero in northern Michigan.

Where Did Everyone Go?

While some of the public discourse surrounding the change at The Pines questioned why it needed to be emptied at all, others pointed to the health and safety risks of living in the elements. “We had people in The Pines using wheelchairs during the summer,” says Jennifer Holm, TCPD’s Police Social Worker Coordinator and the developer of its QRT.

utilizing Safe Harbor, according to Brad Gerlach, Safe Harbor’s volunteer manager. He says that five Pines residents sought shelter at Safe Harbor following the enforcement. Now, just one remains.

“We’re not generally seeing people from the Pines,” he says. Instead, most of the shelter’s summer guests are familiar faces, people who have historically always stayed there (though he notes that some of Safe Harbor’s wintertime-regulars did default

to The Pines during past summer months when the shelter closed.)

That’s because some in the unhoused community prefer outdoor encampments over the challenges of communal living at indoor shelters like Safe Harbor, he says. “You’re always together. And you’ve got a schedule [for] all the things that at home you just do when you want to do them.”

So where are former Pines residents living? That’s tough to answer because, as Gerlach explains, most are hesitant to disclose where they’re staying if it’s not an approved shelter.

Not Enough Shelters, Not Enough Housing

Even if every person experiencing homelessness in northern Michigan wanted a shelter bed in a communal living space, there wouldn’t be enough. Safe Harbor has 74 beds—56 for men and 18 for women— and is almost always at capacity.

“When we turn someone away, which happens at 8:30 right when our check-in ends, there really isn’t anywhere we can direct them to,” says Gerlach.

Traverse City’s only other emergency shelter, the Goodwill Inn, offers 120 additional beds. That brings the city’s emergency bed total to 194, still short of the 250 people experiencing homelessness across the five-county region, most of whom

are concentrated in Grand Traverse County, according to Halladay-Schmandt.

“So what we have to do is really double down,” she says. “Making sure that of the 250, we are housing the people who are most likely to die in the streets if we do not intervene.”

Having to triage who gets shelter first reinforces how much more work still lies ahead. Ideally, says Halladay-Schmandt, “We could have gone in [to The Pines] and said okay, everyone in here gets housing. But that’s not a reality in our community right now.”

The shortage of emergency shelter options and permanent affordable housing is a concern shared by the QRT, says Holm, and part of why the push to establish Safe Harbor as a year-round option was so important.

“We don’t want people to be in that situation, where they don’t even have a shelter to go to,” she says.

It’s a problem without a quick fix, admit Holm and Halladay-Schmandt. In the meantime, as they work toward the ultimate goal of permanent affordable housing for all while pushing for policies that better support the current unhoused population, here’s what they’re sharing about their progress— and what still needs to happen.

Up North, Homelessness Numbers Are Holding Steady

And that’s surprising, says HalladaySchmandt, considering that nationally, it’s only getting worse, with PBS reporting an 18 percent rise in homelessness across the U.S. at the end of 2023.

Across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties, coalition data shows the number of people experiencing homelessness has held steady over the past two years. “Folks come and go, so it’s not a static number,” Halladay-Schmandt says, “but it hovers right around 250 people experiencing homelessness any night.”

We Need More Cohesive Systems

More than 60 agencies—including Addiction Treatment Services, Traverse Health Clinic, and Safe Harbor—make up Traverse City’s QRT, a network connecting people at risk of law enforcement contact with agencies that can help improve their lives.

“[QRT] was built because we figured that if we can get to the root causes of some of those contacts,” which includes the challenges of homelessness, “then we can, in theory, reduce them,” says Holm.

Now, Holm wants to educate other communities on how they can build their own version of the QRT, not just so they can improve their own systems, but so they can network with her team to create better communication and resource coverage over the region.

“If other communities have this… we would be able to transcend geographical boundaries and actually provide coordinated services.”

Agencies can’t help people in crisis if they don’t know what their needs are, she explains.

Systemic Change Needed

Ultimately, says Halladay-Schmandt, more permanent affordable housing is needed. The vacancy rate for affordable housing—that is, housing that costs no more than 30 percent of a household’s income and is often subsidized by federal funds—is zero in northern Michigan.

“Whereas, in a healthy community, it would be around 5 to 8 percent,” she says. “[The number] of places in our community that are available to rent for people who are experiencing homelessness is extremely limited.”

As for how many units it would take to meet demand?

“We’re working on that,” she says. “We thought we had the number, but what we kind of failed to recognize was the economy… There’s so many factors we have no control over, like how many people will fall into homelessness this year. We cannot estimate that.”

Limiting Healthcare Access Could Drive a Spike in Homelessness

One of the biggest upcoming unknowns is healthcare access. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which would require nondisabled adults on Medicaid to work at least 80 hours per month beginning in July 2026.

While there’ll be some exemptions, millions could still end up losing coverage, including people in Grand Traverse and Benzie counties, where 20 percent of each county’s population is enrolled in a Medicaid program according to Georgetown University data.

For some of those enrollees, that loss could be a tipping point towards housing instability.

“If folks aren’t able to pay their medical bills, are we going to see a huge increase [in homelessness]?” Halladay-Schmandt asks. “We can’t predict what’s going to happen in the next couple of years here in terms of

the general population or with folks who are kind of right on the edge of the margin of becoming homeless.”

Planning Ahead

In May, the coalition partnered with the City of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County Rotary to launch a housing and homelessness task force.

“We’re meeting for the rest of the summer and into the early fall to determine what a Community Action plan would look like to address and eventually end homelessness in our region,” explains Halladay-Schmandt.

Besides pinning down the number of affordable housing units that are needed, those meetings will dig into where the next emergency shelter should be located and how it’ll be funded.

“We’re working on that with local stakeholders, state partners, and then we’ll present the community with a plan hopefully in December of this year,” she says.

Halladay-Schmandt Holm

TRAVERSE CITY STATE PARK TO UNDERGO A MASSIVE MAKEOVER

The campground will be closed starting July 7, but at what cost?

By Matt Dursum

Campers hoping to enjoy the popular wooded campsites in the heart of East Bay Township’s Beach District will soon have to postpone their trip or find an alternative spot. Starting on July 7, the Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park will be closed until the 2027 summer season.

“We are planning on closing on July 6, which will be our last night of camping. And then, on July 7, we will be closing the park, and we’ll have about a week to move out of our buildings,” says Park Supervisor Stephanie Rosinski. The park’s day use section on East Bay will stay open, aside from sporadic closures caused by construction on the intersection of US-31 and Three Mile Road.

During construction, campers will (ideally) be diverted to alternative campsites, though the best the team can do is offer recommendations. “We would tell them what the local state parks are, like Interlochen State Park, Leelanau, and Mitchell State Park in Cadillac. If they’re into rustic camping, we would suggest our rustic campgrounds in the area, such as Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground and Forks State Forest,” says Rosinski.

What’s on the Docket

The $8.5 million construction cost is part of the $273 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated in 2021 through Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan. The funding will help revamp the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’

long backlog of infrastructure projects.

The construction will include several park improvements. These include new entrances to the day use area and campground, an atgrade pedestrian crossing, and a two-lane vehicle bridge connecting the park with the new park headquarters building planned to be built on the south side of Mitchell Creek.

One of the most anticipated changes will be the new entrance off US-31, aligning with Three Mile Road. This sweeping entrance replaces the old path past the dumpsters and service areas to enter the campground and park headquarters.

Crews will also expand the park’s dump station from a two-lane to a four-lane station. “Right now, the waiting line backs up into the campground. We have to have people out there directing traffic,” says Rosinski, adding that the traffic congestion is worse on weekends and holidays.

The new dump station will include a broader staging area, which is designed to reduce internal traffic buildups. According to Rosinski, the new staging area will improve the flow of traffic and make the park safer for workers and campers entering and exiting the park.

B esides improved dump stations and entrances, construction will also begin on a new park headquarters inside the 29-acre expansion south of Mitchell Creek and a two-lane wooden bridge connecting it to the campground. “Our staff has tripled in the last six or seven years without any expansion to their office space,” says Kasey Cline, District Supervisor at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

staff manage properties throughout the area, including Arbutus Lake State Forest Campground and Forks State Forest Campground.

“Our planner used to say that we have 10 pounds in a five-pound bag currently,” Cline says. With more space for workers and campers, Cline is hopeful visitors and staff will be happy with the changes. “I’m just really excited for the right sizing for everything; the right sizing for the public and the right sizing for our staff.”

Goodbye, Green Metal Bridge

One of the most controversial parts of the project is the replacement of the bridge over US-31, linking the campground with the beach. According to Rosinski, the Michigan

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) determined that the bridge needed to be replaced.

“We did a traffic study, and it was decided that the bridge is outdated. It’s over 50 years old and needs a lot of work. It’s at the end of its life expectancy, and it’s not ADA compliant,” Rosinski explains.

Once the bridge is torn down, pedestrians will cross US-31 via crosswalks with push-button smart signals. According to MDOT’s Traffic and Safety Engineer Jessica Carpenter, these “adaptive signals” will be coordinated with other intersections to minimize disruptions. “One way of putting it would be that the signals communicate with each other and constantly adapt to live traffic by adjusting the signal timing along

the corridor to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion,” says Carpenter in an email.

Rosinski says that the new crossing and traffic signal will have a major impact, not only on the park but on traffic safety. “First of all, it’ll be ADA accessible for people to get to and from the beach. It’s also going to provide a safe left-hand turn out of the campground so people can get into town.”

Hopefully, that means the days of campers using hotel parking lots to turn around will be over. “We also see a lot of people from the hotels coming over and turning around in our entrance to go the opposite direction,” Rosinski adds.

Rosinski believes that the new crossing will also make it easy for maintenance workers and safety personnel to travel between the parks.

“It’s going to allow us to get over and respond to emergency requests much faster. There are times when we get the call, we jump in the vehicle to go over there. We see

the ambulance pull in, see the ambulance do whatever they’re doing, and then we see the ambulance leave, and we’re still trying to turn left out of the park.”

How Will We Cross?

But many locals are concerned that an at-grade crossing will result in dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike, especially on the busy, 45mph roadway.

Citing crossing safety along the US-31 corridor as the number one public concern, East Bay Township officials are working with local businesses to develop long-term solutions to the problem.

“We’ve been working with businesses, property owners, and other stakeholders along the corridor to try to identify safe locations for pedestrian crossings,” says Claire Karner, Director of Planning & Zoning for East Bay Charter Township.

Some options discussed include new

bridges or tunnels along the Beach District corridor from the edge of Tom’s East Bay to the Acme Burger King. Karner says that the township is open to creative public-private partnerships for corridor improvements.

“Whether that’s a creek crossing similar to what’s planned at the state park, a bridge, or a tunnel, we’re very open to everything, because we know that there needs to be better crossings.”

Adding Up the Dollars and Cents

The closure is also expected to have a significant impact on the local economy.

Per a report from our sister publication

The Ticker, the total visitor spending loss associated with the TC State Park closure could reach $35.36 million.

According to the Traverse City State Park’s General Management Plan, the average camping party spends around $272 a day within 20 miles of the park. This includes

restaurants, bars, and activities at businesses such as Pirates Cove. “I think it will certainly impact us when you have over 300 campsites, especially when they’re only a block away,” says Tim Olson, general manager of Pirates Cove.

Olson estimates that roughly 10 to 15 percent of his customers are campers. But, “If they close the beach too, that’s another amenity taken away from East Bay and another thing that keeps people away,” says Olson.

Olson’s biggest concern is the length of time the closure is scheduled to remain in effect. “It’s going for an entire year, from July to July, which will really put a damper on things here. Of course, I’m not happy with the walking bridge going away, but they gotta do what they gotta do.”

When asked if he thinks the project will help businesses once it’s done, Olson says he’s hopeful. “We’ll get through it; we get through everything else. I just hope they get it done when they say.”

PACKING YOUR BACKPACKING PACK

Essentials for a backpacking weekend in Michigan

By Ren Brabenec

Humans have grown accustomed to the comforts of home. As much as we romanticize “roughing it” and “living off the land,” getting away from civilization and going back to where the wild things are can get a little hairy (sometimes literally).

But according to Frankfort’s Elaine Newbold, co-owner of Crystal Lake Adventure Sports since 1995, there is an almost direct cause-and-effect relationship between how well one prepares for their trip in their gear choices and how much fun they’ll have.

“There is no bad weather, only a lack of proper equipment or poorly chosen gear,” Newbold says, reciting common parlance in the backpacking community.

Backpacking Below the Bridge

She’s not wrong. When you’re heading out into the wilderness for a weekend of backpacking, what you choose to bring can lead to either a euphoric prance through the woods or a miserable, unending slog. Newbold gave us her list of what backpackers need to achieve the former.

A backpacking pack. (Of course.)

According to Newbold, adventurers should select a pack based on their height, weight, and how long they’ll be in the wilderness. The bigger the person and the longer the excursion, the larger the pack.

A good tent. Crystal Lake Adventure Sports sells popular Mountain Hardware and Marmot brand tents that are lightweight

and easy to set up. Two-person and threeperson options are available.

A *warm* sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are rated for different temperatures, and Newbold offers a variety of styles and temperature ratings. When in doubt, Newbold says opt for a bag that’s rated for colder temps rather than spending the night shivering. (It is northern Michigan, after all).

A comfortable sleeping pad. “Get an ‘EXped’ sleeping pad,” Newbold says, noting the importance of a good sleeping pad for sleeping comfortably on the ground. Appropriate clothing. “Leave the lounge clothes at home,” Newbold jokes. She emphasizes the use of extra layers, wool clothing, Darn Tough-brand socks, and clothing with moisture-wicking fabrics. And don’t forget about rain gear! Newbold recommends brands such as Patagonia, Rob, Marmot, KÜHL, and Mountain Hardware.

Food, water, and footwear. When packing for a backpacking weekend, Newbold reminds us to bring the things that we already know we’d be uncomfortable without. That includes plenty of food, more water than we think we’ll need (Crystal Lake Adventure Sports sells Hydro Flasks for this purpose), and quality hiking boots that are properly broken in.

Adventures North of the Bridge

While there’s plenty of backpacking and rustic camping to be found in our neck of the woods, the camping world is truly your oyster in the U.P.

In 2016, Ken and Wilda Hopper opened Bird’s Eye Outfitters in Sault Ste. Marie to inspire locals and visitors to get active, eat healthy, and spend time outdoors. The eastern Upper Peninsula rarely gets the attention the central and western U.P. does, but according to the Hoppers, the east side has some real gems a folks can drive right by without realizing what they missed.

The Hoppers recommend adventurers visit Mission Hill Cemetery Scenic Overlook, a viewpoint looking out over Lake Superior. The overlook has a four-mile loop trail option, and if that’s not enough, hardy

souls can backpack through a series of ORV trails up to Mission Hill, the tallest point in the region. The Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway is also a must-visit, as there is a 7.5mile section of the North Country Trail that follows Lake Superior. For “rest” days when folks want to leave the heavy backpacks at home or for “primer” days when you want to warm up for a backpacking weekend, the Hoppers prefer Sault Ste. Marie’s Voyageur Island, Rotary Park, and the Ashmun Creek Natural Area. And when you’re ready to fill up that pack, Bird’s Eye is truly a one-stop shop.

Ken and Wilda Hopper inside Bird's Eye Outfitters. Photo by Steve Jessmore

It’s a deeply knowledgeable camping and backpacking outfitter, but it’s also a bar, coffee shop, WiFi lounge, restaurant, and retail hub for clothing, water sports, skiing, hiking, and cycling.

Throughout the year, Bird’s Eye hosts guided tours for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, canoeing, hiking, and, of course, backpacking. The Hoppers also manage a nonprofit called Outdoor Use of Trails Consortium, or, playfully, the “O.U.T. House” Consortium. It’s a 501(c) (3) dedicated to establishing non-motorized recreational trails in the area.

“We wanted to make it simpler for locals and visitors to get outdoors,” Wilda says of the duo’s overall goals. “We also wanted to introduce the education and safety aspects of doing certain activities and give folks an opportunity to tap into our local knowledge, which is why we’ve added so many guided activities.”

Ken agrees. “We wanted to create a hub where folks could come in, get their gear questions answered, and get everything they need to have fun outdoors.”

If (or when) you stop in, here’s what the Hoppers say you should add to your pack… items that aren’t always top of mind unless you’re seasoned pro.

Bear spray. The Michigan DNR estimates there are approximately 10,000-10,218 black bears in the Upper Peninsula, and bear spray is the best deterrent for bear encounters.

Cooking gear. A simple cook stove like the MSR PocketRocket literally fits in a pocket. Add a couple small canisters of propane or isobutane and a small saucepan. This enables backpackers to forgo campfires and the risks they entail.

Navigation. Much of the U.P. does not have reliable cellular service, especially deep within the national forests. Even on their guided trips, the Hoppers take a simple Garmin GPS device as “it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”

Toiletries. Everyone thinks of toilet paper, but the Hoppers also recommend products like Sea to Summit Soap Leaves and Wilderness Wipes, biodegradable options for staying fresh and making the roughing it a little less rough.

Chafing ointment. The subject of backpacking/hiking boots is an almost religious one, with entire schools of thought constructed around how to match shoes to feet so you can have a comfortable time hiking long miles with a heavy backpack. But even the pros recommend simple chafing ointments like BodyGlide or Chamois Butt’r.

BACKPACKING LOCATIONS

Michigan’s state forests cover 53 percent of the state, and another 14 percent is national forest, both of which allow for dispersed camping. Our favorite backpacking locations include:

The North Country Trail: Backpack and camp along Michigan’s 1,176 miles of the North Country Trail.

Manistee River Loop Trail: Dispersed camping is allowed at this popular 19.2mile loop trail. It also has designated campsites.

Jordan Valley Pathway: Backpack the first half of this 18-mile loop trail on day one, camp overnight, then backpack out on day two.

Wilderness State Park: This park has designated areas where one can backpack in and enjoy a moderately secluded camping experience away from the park’s main campgrounds.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park: The North Country Trail passes through Tahquamenon, guiding backpackers up close to both the lower and upper fall systems.

Naomikong Point: Also located on the North Country Trail, this section features a miniature Mackinac Bridge at a creek crossing. This path follows Lake Superior, a popular overlook, and a wooden camp shelter constructed by a local Boy Scout troop.

IS YOUR CANNABIS REAL OR SYNTHETIC?

How largely unregulated, lab-made substances are sneaking into Michigan products

By Anna Faller

At Torch Cannabis Co. in Central Lake, the motto is: “Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best.” For CEO and Founder, Kelly “Green Girl” Young, this translates to a storefront full of full-spectrum cannabis and CBD products, ranging from infused edibles to live resins, oils, and beyond.

But what if, instead of whole-plant products, your favorite cannabinoid gummies or vape distillates were made from chemicals synthesized in a lab, and you were none the wiser?

“Recently, we’ve noticed an alarming trend: fake weed is increasingly being sold in local dispensaries without proper oversight,” Young says, a practice that not only poses risks to patrons, but also threatens the regional market by disenfranchising local growers.

But how can consumers know what they’re getting is the real deal?

Plant Science

By definition, synthetic weed refers to human-made chemicals that imitate the active compound in marijuana, or THC—specifically, Delta-9 THCA, aka Tetrahydrocannabolic Acid. It’s found naturally in the flower’s resin (there’s an enzyme in the plant that makes it), and when it interacts with our bodies’ homeostatic regulatory systems, it works as an activator to produce that classic “high.”

Of course, once scientists discovered that THC had a physiological effect, they started developing drugs to study and mimic it. Per Dr. Codi Peterson, Chief Science Officer

at The Cannigma and board member of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), this effort first started gaining traction back in the 1980s, in large part for commercialization and research.

It was then, in laboratories and test tubes, that synthetic cannabinoids first materialized. (“For research,” Peterson emphasizes). By the late 1990s, though, California had legalized medical cannabis, which is when we start to see the first traces of synthetics entering the consumer space. Early designer terms were K2 or “Spice,” and those synthetics are now illegal in Michigan.

Fast-forward to the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (aka, the 2018 Farm Bill), which legalized hemp and everything derived from it—including cannabinoids, extracts, and isomers, along with a handful of other substances—so long as they contained no more than 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC.

Anything more potent than that fell into a separate “marijuana” class and required checking legal boxes like licensure and tracking compliance to sell.

But this legislation created a loophole for crafty consumers, who quickly set about finding other ways to enjoy weed’s psychoactive potential. One of these was Delta-8 THC, an isomer of Delta-9 (it’s identical aside from one double-bond). Another was growing hemp legally under the bill and extracting THC from CBD.

“People said, ‘oh, I can sell this thing that still gets people high, and I can sell it in any old gas station or smoke shop because it falls within this carve-out.’ Now, we’ve made a new THC that’s entering the market,” Peterson says.

Diminishing Oversight

The boom in synthesizing and converting naturally-occurring compounds paved the way for a litany of lab-grown cannabinoids to be falsely labeled as marijuana when they didn’t come from a plant at all.

“I keep going back to [the fact] that people voted for the plant,” says Young. “[That’s] what people think they’re getting, but these aren’t researched or regulated.”

Some bureaucratic context here: In Michigan, marijuana facilities—including dispensaries, both medical and recreational; as well as growers, processors, retailers, and the like—fall within the operational scope of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), which requires them to meet key benchmarks, like obtaining appropriate licensure and compliance with Michigan’s seed-to-sale tracking system, Metrc.

Synthesized cannabinoids operating via the hemp market, though, aren’t beholden to the same legal channels that would enforce product quality and safety benchmarks (like testing standards, regulations, and packaging specifics) that producers and sellers of “capital M” marijuana must meet.

Consequently, many hemp retailers whose product pedigree falls outside the realm of a system like Metrc may have synthetic products on their shelves.

“You can’t tell by looking at [the product]. You’d have to send it off for a special lab test to know whether it came from a marijuana plant or a synthetic source,” Peterson says.

Strange and Unwanted Effects

And the effects of synthetics? “They’re just not the same,” Young adds.

Put it this way: A marijuana plant contains over 200 molecules. Two of these are THC and cannabidiol, aka CBD—the “mama and papa” particles, as Young’s dubbed them—and underneath those, a host of smaller molecules, like chlorophylls, phyto-cannabinoids, and terpenes, or essential oils.

When you take a puff of flower smoke or consume a full-spectrum CBD product, you’re taking in the whole cannabis plant and with it, the benefits those smaller compounds provide. Isolating or chemically synthesizing just one of those components, by contrast, eliminates those benefits.

Chemical additives can also result in sky-high or fluctuating potencies, which can offer an inconsistent experience or even be dangerous to consumers’ health.

Because the market largely remains unchecked, these products also put consumers at higher risk for issues like contamination, both in terms of processing cleanliness and the presence of abnormal particles. Peterson says he’s been seeing “a bunch of weird stuff that doesn’t pop up in nature showing up in these products.”

Various adverse side effects have also been reported. Per John Lohner, Wholesale Purchasing Manager at Lume Cannabis Co., these can include anxiety, paranoia, and even hallucinations, though Peterson notes that these concerns remain mostly speculative.

Know Your Growers

With so many unknowns in the market, this begs an even larger question: How can consumers be certain that their cannabis products are real?

As a first step, Peterson encourages consumers to steer clear of the hemp market, whose lack of federal regulations makes labproduced cannabis difficult to spot. Instead, he recommends getting your supply from a properly licensed dispensary; even better if they can provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that verifies their products’ purity and cannabinoid content.

“It’s definitely a buyer-beware situation,” he says. “It’s not a perfect solution, but [synthetic and converted] products are more likely to show up in extra-marijuana channels.”

Other easy safeguarding practices include sticking to brands and locations you trust, as well as leaning into flower, which is far less likely to be synthesized than something requiring lab creation (aka, oils, comestibles, vapes, and the like).

Powders Instead of Plants

As for the future of synthetic cannabis on the Michigan market? That remains to be seen. Though it’s unlikely these products will vaporize anytime soon, Young highlights that they pose a real threat to cannabis businesses statewide, many of which are struggling to compete with the industry’s declining production costs.

New legislation is another question mark; in particular, a GOP-led House bill that could effectively illegalize hemp products with even trace THC, or any future changes to the language of the 2018 Farm Bill, which is on the docket for extension this year.

Further, Lohner and the folks at Lume highlight the potential of synthetic cannabinoids to sow distrust in the regional cannabis market, citing its safety issues and lack of consistency as deal breakers for scores of consumers.

If, like Young, you’d like to see some reform? “Write the CRA and file complaints with the governor and the attorney general,” she says. “We need information, and people need to know that they’re buying powders and not plants. Enough said.”

From Rock to Blues, Country to Classical— Legends Play Here.

JUNE 13 Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ with special guest Abraham Alexander

JUNE 14 Ben Folds & A Piano Tour with Lindsay Kraft

JUNE 15 Whiskey Myers with Bayker Blankenship

JUNE 17 Diana Krall

JUNE 20 Gary Clark Jr. with Lamont Landers

JUNE 25 Rick Springfield with John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young

JUNE 26

Wynonna Judd

JUNE 28 May Erlewine and Joshua Davis

JULY 9 America

JULY 10 Iron & Wine and I’m With Her

JULY 12 St. Paul & The Broken Bones and The Wood Brothers with Yasmin Williams

JULY 14

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with JJ Grey & Mofro and Dumpstaphunk

JULY 15 The Infamous Stringdusters & Leftover Salmon featuring special guests Kitchen Dwellers

JULY 17

JULY 18

JULY 19

JULY 22

Ashley McBryde

Let’s Sing Taylor - An Unofficial Live Tribute Band

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band with Jefferson Starship

JULY 23 Mat Kearney

JULY 24

Straight No Chaser with O-Town

AUG. 2 Lang Lang

AUG. 4

AUG. 5

The War and Treaty

Earth, Wind and Fire

AUG. 6 The Temptations and The Four Tops

AUG. 7 The Head And The Heart with Wilderado and Katie Pruitt

AUG. 9 Toad the Wet Sprocket with The Jayhawks & Sixpence None the Richer

AUG. 12

moe. with Special guest Eggy

AUG. 14 The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra

AUG. 15 Cake

AUG. 16

AUG. 18

AUG. 22

AUG. 23

Brit Floyd - Pink Floyd Experience

Allison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Greensky Bluegrass (Two Nights)

Greensky Bluegrass (Two Nights)

ALPEN BLUFFS GOES ALL IN ON A FULL-SERVICE EXPERIENCE

Lodging, dining, a waterpark, mini golf, groceries, and more await

By Ross Boissoneau

Go ahead, call it glamping if you must. But please don’t call Alpen Bluffs a glampground. “It’s Michigan’s first outdoor hotel,” says Rob Platt, one of the owners of the newly opened Gaylord facility.

With cabins, yurts, and RV sites that all include hookups to city water and sewer, plus a restaurant, market, and other amenities, it’s hard to argue with that term. “It’s an RV resort plus 44 accommodations that are not RVs,” Platt says.

Indeed, with all its amenities, Alpen Bluffs is much more than just a campground or glampground. Start with Inukshuk Shores, an aquatic waterpark that features an inflatable obstacle course floating on a man-made pond, a sandy beach area, comfy chairs, locker rooms, and a concessions area. Alpen Point is an 18hole mini golf course. Youngsters can mine for gems at Matterhorn Mine, a gem mining sluice.

Mulligans at the Bluffs is a full-service restaurant with seven indoor golf simulators, an expansive outdoor patio, and lawn games, including shuffleboard, bean bag toss, a putting green, lawn bowling, and croquet. The resort includes a grab-and-go store at its welcome center and Alpen Market, a fullservice grocery store.

All those are open to both the public and guests. Those staying at the resort can also take advantage of other exclusive amenities: pickleball courts, a dog park, a playground, horseshoes, table tennis, sand volleyball, golf cart rentals, pedal cart rentals, bicycle rentals, food trucks, and communal fire pits.

But wait, there’s more: The upcoming Bluff Club will include a shipping container bar with

food offerings from the grill and smoker, a resort-style outdoor pool, hot tub, and cabanas.

The Bigger Picture

It’s all part of a plan, according to Platt, one that came about when he saw property across from Otsego Resort was for sale.

He and his business partner Craig Snyder purchased it, then began working to buy other contiguous parcels, ending up with 45 acres within one of Michigan’s Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zones offer tax deferral and potential tax-free growth on investments held for at least 10 years.

Platt and Synder’s backgrounds include work in construction, property management, and mixed-use development, including properties featuring living spaces, coffee shops, valet parking—even rooftop pools and restaurants. It all dovetailed nicely into the creation of Alpen Bluffs, where they wanted to bring such design details and what he calls “experiential living” to an outdoor space rather than an urban property.

The 45-acre resort is located just outside of Gaylord proper—literally one and a half miles from the heart of downtown. Platt and his partners don’t see Alpen Bluffs as competition for other resorts, but rather another attraction within northern Michigan. They say the goal is simply to offer another exciting and memorable option for families looking to have fun together. “Downtown Gaylord is unique, plus the Golf Mecca, skiing—you can walk across the road to golf and ski at Otsego Resort,” says Platt.

The Opening Slate

He says all the purchases and planning

took place during the heart of the COVID lockdown. He and his partners recognized the immediate appeal of outdoor activities and business and believed that would be a long-term attraction. “Up North and the U.P. were always great destinations for outdoor hospitality,” he says.

The first part of the plan came to fruition last September with the opening of Mulligans at the Bluffs, offering winter golf leagues. Also opened were outdoor games associated with the restaurant, as well as the mini golf (including nine holes designed for ADA accommodations) and the gem mining sluice.

The next phase came in late May, with the opening of a number of RV spaces, four cabins, two pickleball courts, dog park, pedal cart, bicycle, and golf cart rentals, the bathhouses with laundry facilities and Alpen Market. Inukshuk Shores, the aquatic waterpark, opened Father’s Day weekend.

The last phase includes the balance of the resort’s 30 cabins, 14 yurts, and remaining amenities, as well as the outdoor pool. All those are scheduled to be open and available sometime between mid-July and midAugust.

The Year-Round Mindset

Platt says a key consideration was creating accommodations and attractions that could be open year-round. The cabins and yurts are open in the winter, as is Mulligans at the Bluffs. That allows them to keep a large portion of staff on payroll throughout the year.

Platt is also cognizant of the challenge endemic to virtually every business of

finding enough staff. When fully open, he estimates there will be 45 to 50 staffers needed for the aquatic water park, and close to 60 for housekeeping. That’s more than 100 just for those two parts of the operation.

He also recognizes the concurrent need for housing for employees. “It can be difficult to find housing,” he admits, noting they rented one of the cabins to their new food and beverage manager.

When it comes to more housing, Platt hopes they’ve found at least part of the solution. “We own 37 acres less than a mile south. The intent for our next project is [building] a single-family-home neighborhood,” he says. He believes the cabins they purchased for the resort could be used or modified for use on that site, depending on zoning.

The Alpen Bluffs team plans to expand the resort’s social activities and offerings when the build-out is complete. That includes live music on the weekends at Mulligans, the haunted house in the cart barn at Halloween, and pig roasts, all of which will be open to the public. There are plans for special services for guests as well, including offering food delivery services to the individual campsites and intimate dining experiences along the water of Inukshuk Shores.

Though just barely open, Platt says they are already fielding requests for reservations for 2026. “We’re getting good feedback from people already. They are booking for next year,” he says.

Learn more about Alpen Bluffs at alpenbluffs.com.

Saturdays 7pm - 9pm

concert series | grand traverse county civic center amphitheatre

WORLD CLASS

LIVE MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY

bring family, friends, pets, lawn chairs

JU NE 14 | rodney whitaker ensemble

World renown! Chart topping bassist, anchors this swinging combo.

JUNE 21 | planet d nonet

Midwest Favorite! Detroit’s nine piece, multiple award-winning jazz n blues “little big band”.

JUNE 28 | seth bernard quartet

Engaging, masterful chops! Genre defying old-soul troubadour. A heart-felt conscientious spirit.

JULY 05 | nmc jazz big band

Traverse City’s own college jazz program features many local professional musicians.

JULY 12 | metro soul band

“Ain’t nothing but a party.” Authentic Motown, soul and funk favorites plus rock, pop, r&b classics.

JULY 19 | sears n sears quintet

“The couple that swings together.” A sophisticated, soulful jazz showcase.

JULY 26 | the steepwater band

USA’s rock & blues icons. Chicago’s national touring rockers. Gritty, soulful, electrifying!

AUG 02 | east bay drive

Smooth, cool, harmonic, accessible. A humble easy approach. Contemporary jazz-infused funk, pop, and deep soul.

AUG 09 | the dave keller band

3x BMA nominee, soulful blues-rock. Blinding riffs. Heartfelt vocals.

AUG 16 | greg nagy band

Chart-topping blues/r&b guitar vocalist. Soulful favorites and new enticing hits.

AUG 23 | jeff haas big fun electric band

Mesmerizing vibe! FUNKY JAZZ ROCK FUSION WITH A TWIST OF BLUEGRASS.

AUG 30 | the schleppinbop kids

Fresh, funky, soulful. New generation of unbridled funky soul-jazz artists. jazz | blues | rock | folk | soul

Saturday

CHARLEVOIX MARA-

THON, HALF MARATHON, 10K & 5K: 6am, Draw Bridge, downtown Charlevoix. See web site to register & for various start times. charlevoixmarathon.com

2 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP RUN: River Park, Ellsworth. Registration runs from 7-7:45am, & the race starts at 8am. $20. facebook.com/ EllworthPigRoast

BETSIE RIVER CLEAN SWEEP: Homestead Dam, Benzonia. Join Benzie Conservation District & partners in the annual Betsie River cleanup to keep it a healthy & beautiful habitat. Includes a light breakfast & 9am launch. Cleanup gear provided; please bring your own kayak/canoe, life jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, & water. Registration required: 231-882-4391. benziecd.org/events

MUSICIANS-IN-RESIDENCE: KODAK

QUARTET: 9am, Inn and Trail Gourmet, Glen Arbor. Sunrise Sounds. Free. glenarborart.org/product/musicians-in-residencekodak-quartet

RAINBOW RUN: 9am, Hull Park, TC. Presented by TART Trails & Up North Pride, this is a color fun run & fundraiser around the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. To celebrate the trail systems & the Northern Michigan 2SLGBTQ+ Community during Pride Month, the event invites the community to join together at Hull Park to enjoy music & refreshments before & after the run. $24-$35. traversetrails.org/event/rainbow-run

THE FRIENDS OF INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE: 9am2pm, Interlochen Public Library. Featuring thousands of books in dozens of genres for adults, teens & children, along with DVDs, CDs, puzzles & games. Prices are $3 for hardcover, $2 for softcover. All proceeds benefit library programs. interlochenpubliclibrary.org

44TH ANNUAL ELLSWORTH/ATWOOD PIG ROAST: Community Park, Ellsworth. Featuring the Grand Parade, free kids’ games, Pork Roast Dinner, Horse Pull, 2-Mile Championship Run & much more! facebook.com/EllworthPigRoast

8TH ANNUAL PAINT GRAND TRAVERSE: Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. A Pint-Sized Paint Out for Kids will be held from 10amnoon. The Gallery will be open from 10am3pm & it’s the public’s first chance to view & purchase the remaining paintings from the week. paintgrandtraverse.com

BAY HARBOR CLASSIC CAR & BOAT

FESTIVAL: 10am-2pm, Bay Harbor. Featuring a collection of the finest classic, future classic & rare cars & boats in the country. This year’s show will feature the first Mustang ever built & the only full collection of all 7 models of Ford cars built in 1957. Free for spectators. bayharborcarandboatfestival.com

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY FLOWER FESTIVAL: Celebrate the beauty of nature! The streets come alive with vibrant floral installations, creative workshops & unique botanical experiences. facebook.com/ people/Downtown-Petoskey-Flower-Festival/61573247475880

EAST JORDAN FREEDOM FESTIVAL: Today includes kids events in Memorial Park from 10am-2pm; Grand Parade at 4pm; fireworks at dusk; live music, & more. eastjordanfreedomfestival.org/events

FRANKFORT CRAFT FAIR: 10am-4pm, Downtown Main Street, Frankfort. Explore the talents of more than 70 art & craft vendors, showcasing a diverse array of handmade goods.

GAYLORD ART & CRAFT SHOW: 10am5pm, Court St., downtown Gaylord. daniellesblueribbonevents.com

TRAVERSE CITY SHOP & SIP AT TRAVERSE CITY HORSE SHOW: 10am-4pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Explore a diverse lineup of local makers & artists, featuring handcrafted pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodworking, & more. There will also be live music, face painting, food trucks & top-tier equestrian competition happening on the show-grounds. $5; 12 & under are free. traversecityshopandsip.com

BERYL DAYS: 11am, Empire Public Beach Lighthouse. June 20-22. Enjoy a freshwater festival rooted in joy, community, & caring for what you love. This grassroots event merges surf, stewardship, music, & play to cultivate a culture of connection to the lakes, & to one another. From comps to cleanups, live music to laughter, Beryl Days is a fun solstice shindig. Free. sleepingbearsurf.com/event/ beryl-days

6TH ANNUAL

CHERRY WHISKEY FEST:

Noon-4pm, TC Whiskey Stillhouse, 201 E. 14th St. Enjoy a day of whiskey, food from Le Metro Pizzeria Food Truck, specialty cocktails, live music by Whale Rampage & The Daylites, yard games & fun. Exclusive giveaways include a private Distillery tour for 10, VIP guided tasting for 10, & Heritage bottle. facebook.com/events/2428454697505960

GREG RAPPLEYE BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Greg will sign his book, “Barley Child.” horizonbooks.com/ event/greg-rappleye-book-signing

WORKSHOP WITH MARVEL-COMICS

ARTIST: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room & front lawn, TC. Learn to make comics with Marvel Comics Artist Jerry DeCaire in his signature workshop. Signed demo drawings will be offered to lucky participants for free at the end of the program. Free. tadl.org/DrawComics

FERNWOOD SUMMER BLOCK PARTY: 1:30-5:30pm, Sixteenth St. & Arnold Court, TC. For Fernwood neighborhood residents. Join for grilled burgers & dogs, games for kids, live music & raffle giveaways. Please bring your favorite side dish or dessert. Free. fernwoodtc.org/events

“YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN”: 2pm & 7pm, Cadillac Community Auditorium, Cadillac High School. Presented by the Cadillac Footliters Theatre. This musical brings laughter, music, & the everyday charm of childhood to life. $14 online + fees. cadillacfootliters.ludus.com/index.php

LADIES OF THE LIGHTHOUSE PRESENTATION: 4pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, upstairs Reading Nook. Dianna Stampfler, author of “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” & “Death & Lighthouses of the Great Lakes: A History of Misfortune & Murder,” will share the history of women who worked as lighthouse keepers along the Great Lakes from the 1840s through present day. Free. sbbdl.org

PIZZA & PIPES: 6pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. Enjoy a gourmet pizza dinner & a concert with Red Wings & Tigers organist, Dave Calendine, on the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. Reservations highly recommended. $30 adults; $15

kids 10 & under. mynorthtickets.com/events/ the-music-house-presents-2025s-first-pizza-and-pipes-a-delicious-pizza-dinner-anda-very-special-concert-from-red-wings-andtigers-organist-dave-calendine-on-saturday

AN EVENING WITH WADE ROUSE (VIOLA SHIPMAN): 7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Help celebrate Wade’s newest book, “The Page Turner.” Free. mcleanandeakin.com/event/2025-06-21/viola-shipman-page-turner

AUTHENTIC CHICAGO BLUES WITH JOHN PRIMER & THE REAL DEAL BLUES BAND: 7pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. Primer was a sideman to Willie Dixon, Junior Wells & Muddy Waters (for whom he was also music director). After that he spent many years with Magic Slim and the Teardrops before leading his own band - The Real Deal - & has earned multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards & Grammy nominations. $25 advance; $30 door. thebaytheatre. com/special-events/event-five-xx4ly

EVERCLEAR WSG SISTER HAZEL: 7pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, has sold over 6 million records & achieved 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, & Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” & more. $49-$99. lrcr.com/event/everclear

NORTHLAND PLAYERS: SUMMER YOUTH THEATER - “THE LION KING JR.”: 7pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Join Simba, Rafiki & a cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle &

back again. $6-$12. theoperahouse.org

SATURDAYS IN THE PARK WITH PLANET D NONET: 7pm, GT County Civic Center Amphitheater, TC.

SUMMER SOLSTICE PARTY: 7pm, House of Bear, 4242 Co. Rd. 633, Grawn. Featuring a natural tie-dye station (bring your own item to dye), sun altar & solstice ritual, wishing flags for the fields, community potluck picnic, live music, drumming, dancing, bonfire & more. Find ‘Summer Solstice Party at The House of Bear’ on Facebook. Free.

VIRIDIAN STRINGS: 7pm, Pines of Arcadia. Soak in the masterful sounds of Viridian Strings musicians Kyle & Suni, surrounded by the beauty of northern Michigan. $40. oliverart.org

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. ROYAL OAK LEPRECHAUNS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

LIVE AT THE GARDEN: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Featuring The Claudettes. With six albums to their name, this group continues to put a new spin on American roots music. Enjoy their “garage cabaret” sound. $27 + fees. gardentheater.org/ live-at-the-garden

INFINITY: 8pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. One of the top cover bands in the country, Infinity brings the hits of Boston, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Styx, Queen, REO Speedwagon, Journey, & more to life. Get ready to sing along & be part of the action. $47-$82. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/infinity

Register your watercraft, any kind, to be blessed for a safe and fun boating season at the 13th Annual Blessing of the Fleet in Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs Harbor, Thurs., June 26. You will parade by the Harbor Princess in front of the main city dock any time between 5:30-8pm. harborspringshistory.org

sunday

BERYL DAYS: (See Sat., June 21, except today’s events start at 9am.)

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY FLOWER FESTIVAL: (See Sat., June 21)

GAYLORD ART & CRAFT SHOW: (See Sat., June 21)

BASIC PADDLING INSTRUCTION & INTRO TO TAPC: 1pm, Lake Arbutus #5 Park; NOT the Boat Launch, TC. Get to know the Traverse Area Paddle Club! Basic instruction followed by an hour on the water to practice basic paddle strokes. Bring your own boat or let the club know if you need to borrow from one of their members (email: harold@traverseareapaddleclub. org). Free but advance registration is required on webpage. traverseareapaddleclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_ id=813410&item_id=2647662

3RD ANNUAL LONGEST DAY - MUSICAL SHOWCASE: 2pm, Bier’s Inwood Brewery, Charlevoix. Celebrate the Day with the Most Light. A benefit to support those affected by Alzheimer’s. Performers include The Tweed Tones, Lou Thumser, Michelle Chenard, John Piatek, Patrick Ryan, Josh Hall, Ken Shepley, Significant Others, Dan Duncan, Jeff Socia, & Scott Hankins. Also enjoy Bier’s brewed offerings, & food from their Hilltop Kitchen. The funds raised from beer sales, raffles & donations advance the care, support, & research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

NORTHLAND PLAYERS: SUMMER YOUTH THEATER - “THE LION KING JR.”: (See Sat., June 21, except today’s time is 2pm.)

-

TC HORSE SHOWS GRAND PRIX SHOW JUMPING: 2pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Molon Excavating CSI3* Grand Prix. Fast-paced show jumping, food, boutique shopping, & open-air fun. Gates open early. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library. $15 GA. app.gopassage.com/venues/8654

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. ROYAL OAK LEPRECHAUNS: 5:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pitspitters/schedule

VESPER CONCERT: “STAND BY ME”: 8pm, Bay View, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. An evening of blues, classical, jazz, & soul celebrating our connections to one another. $20.50-$24.50. bayviewassociation. org/events/vesper-concert-stand-by-me

monday

KIDS’ CAMP!: 10am-1pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Held for third to fifth graders, June 23-27, 10am-1pm. Writing, reading, nature based activities, science & more. Supported by the Bonnie Sloane Yingst Memorial Fund. Fifteen spaces available; register soon! Free. glenlakelibrary.net/events

DOWNTOWN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: 7-9pm, Claude Shannon Park, Gaylord. Featuring the Shawn Riley Band. Bring your own chair. Free.

JAMMIN MONDAYS ON BETSIE BAY: 7-9:15pm, Waterfront Park Amphitheater, Elberta. Featuring Planet D Nonet, Detroit’s nine piece, multiple national award winning “little band.” Free.

MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE: 7:30-10pm, Voorhies Hall, Bay View Association, Petoskey. Featuring “Blueback.” The documentary “Renovating the Squaw Island Lighthouse” will be shown before the movie. Free. bayviewassociation.org/monday-night-movies

june 24 june 23

tuesday

ALL ABOUT FLOWER ARRANGING: Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Presented by the Friendly Garden Club. Members & guests gather & chat at 10am, followed by the monthly membership meeting at 10:30am. At 11:30am the flower arranging committee will present tips & a miniworkshop to improve everyone’s flower displays. RSVP: 231-409-9262.

KIDS’ CAMP!: (See Mon., June 23)

SPECIAL OUTDOOR STORY TIME WITH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: 10:30am, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, outside, overlooking the beach. You will be painting rocks with the Friends of the Library for the Library Garden. Please bring a blanket for your family to sit on. These story times are geared toward pre-k to second graders & their caregivers, but fun for all who attend. Rain site is the library’s lower level Community Room. Free. sbbdl.org

SUMMER READING KICKOFF MOVIE: 1pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring the timeless classic “The Wizard of Oz.” 231-223-7700. Free.

FRIENDS OF SBBDL MONTHLY MEETING: 5pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library, lower level Community Meeting Room. Learn more about Friends of the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library by stopping by a meeting or emailing: friends@sbbdl.org. Meeting are held the fourth Tues. of the month at 5pm. sbbdl.org

2025 NIGHT OF THE ARTS: 5:30-8:30pm, Main St., downtown Harbor Springs. This annual event showcases the incredible range of talent found in northern Michigan, from fine art & adornment to antiques, live music, literary inspiration, floral design, & culinary delights. Enjoy live music by The Tweed Tones, Lara Fullford, Peacemeal String Band, & Bay View Association. Check web site for various locations; businesses. Free. harborspringschamber. com/events/details/2025-night-of-the-arts16156?calendarMonth=2025-06-01

LIVE ON THE BIDWELL PLAZA: ATJ: 5:30-7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Bidwell Plaza, Petoskey. Bring a folding chair. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/livebidwell-plaza-atj

T-SHIRTS FOR TOTES - TWEEN & TEEN NIGHT: 5-7pm, Bellaire Public Library. For ages 10-17. Make no-sew, easy & fun tote bags. You will make two totes - one to keep & one to donate to a local food pantry. Register. Bring two, three or more gently used or new t-shirts. 231-533-8814. bellairelibrary.org

AUTHOR KATHERINE REAY: 7pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Katherine will discuss her latest novel, “The English Masterpiece,” set in the art world of 1970s London. Free. glenlakelibrary.net/events

FREE MONTHLY MOVIE CLUB: 7:30pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Featuring

“Stand By Me.” Come dressed in your best “Stand By Me” outfit to receive a free Kilwin’s treat. gardentheater.org/upcoming-events

wednesday

KIDS’ CAMP!: (See Mon., June 23)

INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY’S SUMMER

READING PROGRAM: 10:30am, Interlochen Public Library, Community Room. The Skegemog Raptor Center will present a raptor education program. Sponsored by the Friends of the Interlochen Public Library. Free. -

NATURE IN THE PARK: 10:30am-noon, Old City Park, Boyne City. Meet at the gazebo. Geared to ages 4-8, but all welcome. Today’s theme is “River Explorers.” Learn about the critters who live in the Boyne River. Afterward, paint your favorite river critter on a rock provided. Free. ejchamber.org/event/ river-explorers-free-nature-program-for-kids

TADL SUMMER STORYTIME: 11am, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Meet the Traverse Area District Library Youth Services team for art-inspired story time this summer. Each session will feature a different artistic theme & will be followed by a related art project with Dennos staff & volunteers. Free. dennosmuseum.org/events/community-programs.html

CHARLOTTE ROSS LEE CONCERTS IN THE PARK: Noon, Pennsylvania Park, Gazebo, Petoskey. Enjoy music by Don Phelps. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free. crookedtree.org/article/concerts-park

ISEA VISION UNVEILING: 3:30-5pm, ISEA campus, Suttons Bay. ISEA will unveil their bold new vision for the future of Great Lakes education on their expanded waterfront campus. Free. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLSf0Nab1MLclBNFSYVVhZ1oiMm XMfmwyVZnzD1WUVppSkLNFsw/viewform

MUSIC IN THE STREETS BLOCK PARTY: 4-9pm, Downtown Bellaire. Featuring the Jelly Roll Blues Band. Music is 6-9pm. Free. bellairechamber.org/2025/06/25/265259/ jelly-roll-blues-band

EVENING ON RIVER STREET: 6-9pm, downtown Elk Rapids. Live music, food & fun. This week’s theme is MI Country Roots featuring music by Little Dipper. Free. business.elkrapidschamber.org/events/details/ evening-on-river-street-48339

MEDICARE 101: 6pm, Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. Educational seminar for those who are aging into Medicare. This is a non-sales, educational only seminar, open to the public. Free. tadl.org/ event/medicare-101-22391

WEDNESDAY NIGHT “JUST SHOW UP” PADDLE: 6pm. Meet at boat launch on White Owl Rd., off M-22, 4.6 mi south of Elberta. Leisurely paddle on Lower Herring Lake with members of the Traverse Area Paddle Club. Bring your boat, life jacket & paddle. Canoes, recreational kayaks, sea kayaks welcome. Optional dinner or drinks afterwards. Free. traverseareapaddleclub.org

THE GROWING SEASON – READING OF A FOLK MUSICAL: 6:30pm, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, TC. Experience “The Growing Season,” a heartfelt folk musical featuring songs by Steve Clark & a narrative by Steve Clark & Tom Emmott. This performance explores themes of grief,

23, 2025

family, & healing through the land. $15-$23. thebotanicgarden.org/events

ELLSWORTH CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE: 7-9pm, Ellsworth Community Square, Center St. Featuring the Drawbridge Ukulele Band. Bring a chair or blanket. Free.

RICK SPRINGFIELD: I WANT MY 80S TOUR: 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Wsg John Waite, Wang Chung, & Paul Young. Singer, actor, author & radio host Rick Springfield is best known for his number-one hit “Jessie’s Girl.” He established himself as one of the leading power pop creators of the 1980s—selling 25 million albums & racking up 17 top-40 hits. Tickets start at $57. interlochen.org/events/rickspringfield-i-want-my-80s-tour-2025-06-25

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. FOND DU LAC DOCK SPIDERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

june 26

thursday

COFFEE @ 10, PETOS-

KEY: 10am, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Featuring Dr. Andrea Miehls, communications associate, Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “Great Lakes Sea Lampreys: From Crisis to Control.” Meet the infamous sea lamprey & learn how scientists are managing this invasive species. Free. crookedtree. org/event/ctac-petoskey/coffee-ten-greatlakes-sea-lampreys-crisis-control

K9 TEAM DEMONSTRATION: 10am, South Torch Lake Fire Station, lawn, Alden. Meet Antrim County K9 Lieutenant Bricko & his handler, Sgt. Skyler Skrobecki. This team will be demonstrating Bricko’s obedience, agility, detection & article searching skills. Bring a chair.

KIDS CAN COOK! COOKING CLASS: Interlochen Public Library. Educate kiddos about good nutrition, what’s in season, planning & preparing meals, & reading food labels. This class is for ages 5-12 & runs on the following Thursdays from 10amnoon: June 26th & July 10, 17, 24, & 31. Participation in all of the classes is optional. The youngest participants play with sensory food activities; the older children can participate in a food cutting & prep station using special knives, & then they take the fresh vegetables & fruits & assemble a fun snack or treat. Registration required: 231276-6767. Free.

KIDS’ CAMP!: (See Mon., June 23)

SUMMER READING KICKOFF: MAKE ART WITH BRIANNE FARLEY: 10:30am, North Park Pavilion, Suttons Bay. Sign up for the Color Our World Summer Reading Program & help create a mural with published artist & children’s book author Brianne Farley. For all preschool, elementary & middle school students. Sign-up starts June 26 & includes a free book & reading kit. sbbdl.org

2025 LITTLE GARDEN CLUB GARDEN TOUR: 11am-5pm. Visit six Leelanau Peninsula gardens. Each garden showcases a variety of garden styles with unique features & environments encompassing the home. Tickets are available from club members as well as various businesses. A limited number of tickets will also be available at each garden site & at the Old Art Building on the day of the tour. In addition to the Garden Tour, the “Art of the Garden” Exhibit will be

held at the Old Art Building & admission to the exhibit is included for Garden Tour ticket holders on June 26 starting at 11am. Plein Air Artists be will in the gardens during the tour. $20; cash or checks only.

LUNCHEON LECTURE: ICE STORM EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: 11:30am1pm, NCMC, Library Conference Center, Petoskey. Matt Blythe, Emmet County’s emergency management coordinator, Harbor Springs Police Chief Kyle Knight, Petoskey Public Safety Director Adrian Karr, & Emmet County Building Department Director Marty VanBerlo will each tell stories of the work they did to help serve the people who were affected by April’s ice storm that wreaked havoc in northern Michigan. $15. ncmclifelonglearning.com/ event-5947307

GENEALOGY MEETING: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, TC. The Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society will meet. Featured speaker Derek Blount will present “Identifying Old Family Pictures and the People in Them.” Free. gtags.org

13TH ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET: 5:30-8pm, Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs Harbor. Register your watercraft to be blessed for a safe & fun boating season as they parade by the flagship, the Harbor Princess, in front of the main city dock. All kinds of boats are welcome. harborspringshistory.org/events/calendar/ blessing-of-the-fleet/blessing-boat-paradeon-the-harbor.html

HARBOR SPRINGS STREET MUSIQUE: 6:30-8:30pm, downtown Harbor Springs. Featuring The Third Degree. Free.

AN EVENING WITH KATHERINE REAY: 7pm, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey. Katherine will celebrate her newest book, “The English Masterpiece.” RSVP: 231-347-1180. Free. mcleanandeakin.com/ event/2025-06-26/katherine-reay-englishmasterpiece

CERUS SAXOPHONE QUARTET: 7pm, Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. The Oliver Art Center’s annual collaboration with Interlochen Public Radio’s Sound Garden Project continues with a free performance by the Cerus Saxophone Quartet. Cerus recently took top honors at the 52nd annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. oliverart.org

CONCERTS ON THE LAWN: 7pm, GT Pavilions, TC. Featuring All About Buffett: A Jimmy Buffett Tribute by Doc Probes and The Riptides! Concessions will be available for purchase from 5:30-7pm. Free. gtpavilions.org/news-events/2025-concerts-onthe-lawn/band-lineup

MICHIGAN MOVIE MANIA: 7pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Featuring “Gran Torino” (R), a movie set in Highland Park, Michigan starring Clint Eastwood. 231-2237700. Free.

NWS: LIEUTENANT KEGAN “SMURF”

GILL: SOLD OUT: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. This decorated U.S. Navy fighter pilot, ultraendurance athlete, & motivational speaker will discuss his debut memoir, “Phoenix Revival: The Aftermath of Naval Aviation’s Fastest Ejection.” On Jan. 15, 2014 during a high-intensity dogfight training exercise, Lieutenant Gill was forced to eject from his F/A-18E Super Hornet at an unprecedented speed of 695 miles per hour. It was the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history. Guest host is award-winning jour-

nalist, broadcaster & author Ron Jolly. You can join waiting list. nationalwritersseries. org/author-event/lieutenant-kegan-smurf-gill

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. FOND DU LAC DOCK SPIDERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

WYNONNA JUDD - THE GREATEST HITS TOUR: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Known for hits like “No One Else On Earth” & “She is His Only Need,” this Country Music Hall of Famer is widely recognized as one of the most-awarded women in country music history: Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, nine Country Music Association Awards, & eight Billboard Music Awards, among many others. Tickets start at $48. interlochen.org/events/ wynonna-judd-greatest-hits-tour-2025-06-26

june 27

friday

KIDS’ CAMP!: (See Mon., June 23)

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY: Thomas Judd Care Center will offer free HIV testing at the Walgreens at 3900 US-31, across from Meijer in TC from 10am-7pm. Rapid tests are fast, easy, & provide results in 15 minutes while you wait. Attendees can learn about the latest options to prevent or treat HIV & at-home self-tests will be available, as well. Anyone who tests will receive a coupon for a free meal at the TC Taco food truck, which will be onsite. 935-7548. greaterthan.org/freetesting-nhtd-2025

CHARLOTTE ROSS LEE CONCERTS IN THE PARK: Noon, Pennsylvania Park, Gazebo, Petoskey. Featuring music by Keith Scott. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free. crookedtree.org/article/concerts-park

IN CONVERSATION WITH MATT SHLIAN: 3pm, Dennos Museum Center, Dumters Theater, NMC, TC. Join exhibiting artist Matthew Shlian for a presentation of his artistic process. Following the talk, move to the gallery to explore his work first hand in a conversation with Executive Director Craig Hadley. Limit of 30. simpletix.com/e/in-conversationwith-matt-shlian-tickets-216541 $0-$10.

ARTIST MEET & GREET WITH CARRIE HENSEL, CHRISTOPHER STRUNK & STEPHANIE SCHLATTER: 5-7pm, Somebody’s Gallery, Petoskey. Join for art, artists, libations, appetizers & music. Free. somebodysgallery.com

BEATS AT THE BARN: 5-8pm, 3396 Casey Rd., Frankfort. Support ISN by enjoying a Frankfort cover band, food from local food truck Off the Hook Tacos, & Stormcloud beer. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to relax, or enjoy one of the provided lawn games. $20/person in advance; $25 at door. habitatmatters.org/beats-at-the-barn.html

CHERRY CLASSIC CAR CRUISE: 5pm, Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, Williamsburg. Join fellow car enthusiasts to celebrate the beauty, history, & nostalgia of classic vehicles cruising through the scenic streets of TC. cherryfestival.org/events/2025/classic-car-cruise

LATE NIGHT FRIDAYS & MANITOU MUSIC: 5-7pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Front Porch. Featuring the B-Side Growlers, acoustic trio from Grand Rapids who plays a plein air concert of blues, jazz & country. Bring a chair. Both GAAC galleries are open. Free. glenarborart.org

U.S. COAST GUARD OPEN RAMP: 5:308pm, USCG Air Station, TC. View a wide range of aircraft up close. The display will include all National Cherry Festival airshow performers. Shuttles are also available. Free. cherryfestival.org/events/2025/us-coastguard-open-ramp

CENTER STAGE: THE FABULOUS HORNDOGS: 7pm, The Center, Suttons Bay. This six-piece party band brings R&B, boogie woogie, rock & roll, swing, funk, soul & reggae. $25. mynorth.com/events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/198729x-center-stage-thefabulous-horndogs

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EAST JORDAN MUSIC IN THE PARK: 7-9pm, Memorial Park Bandshell, East Jordan. Featuring the Motor City Memories Band. Bring a chair or blanket. Free.

THE BROADWAY TENORS: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. This concert brings together three of Broadway’s finest leading men, performing iconic show tunes & timeless classics with amazing harmonies & charm. Enjoy beloved favorites & contemporary hits. Starting at $52 before fees. greatlakescfa. org/events/detail/the-broadway-tenors

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. WISCONSIN RAPIDS RAFTERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

THE JOHNS: 7:30pm, The Rhubarbary, 3550 Five Mile Creek Rd., Harbor Springs. Enjoy an evening of songs & fiddle tunes with Odawa Fiddler Ruby Johns, multi-instrumentalist & songwriter Budd Greenman, & guitarist John Warstler. 231-499-8038. Donations requested.

INTERLOCHEN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: “MEASURE FOR MEASURE”: 8pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Upton-Morley Pavilion. The Interlochen Shakespeare Festival was recently named one of the Best Outdoor Theater Performances in the U.S. by the Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards. Reimagined by director Bill Church as a 1970sinspired urban thriller. $41. interlochen.org/ events/interlochen-shakespeare-festivalmeasure-for-measure-2025-06-27

TAKE A KID FISHING: NITE-CRAWLER HUNT: 9:30pm, Mineral Springs Park pavilion, Frankfort. Tonight includes a short story, “Where Worms Come From,” followed by the Nite-Crawler Hunt. Bring a flashlight & bucket for your worms. A Day of Fishing takes place Sat., June 28 (see listing). 231-352-7251. Free.

saturday

2025 NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL: TC. Today includes the Balance Bike Race, Pickleball Tournament, Very Cherry Flying Pancake Breakfast, Zumba By The Bay, Bayside Beach Volleyball Tournament: 2 Person Men’s & 2 Persons Women’s; Opening Ceremonies, Air Show, Great American Picnic, Adult Cherry Pit Spit Contest, concert with Tyler Hubbard & special guest Drew Hale, & more. cherryfestival.org/events

TAKE A KID FISHING : A DAY OF FISHING: 8am, Mineral Springs Park, Frankfort. Kids can enjoy a full day of fishing with a free fishing rod. They can also register to win prizes. The drawing takes place at 11am; must be present to win. Following the drawing will be a free pizza party. 231-352-7251. The Nite-Crawler Hunt takes place on Fri., June 27 (see listing). Free.

SUMMER CRAFT SHOW: 9am-4pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Jewelry, home goods, food & more. Entry is $2 or a non-perishable food item.

CADILLAC FOOTLITERS YOUTH THEATRE AUDITIONS: 9:30am-12:30pm, Cadillac High School. For ages 8-13 for “The Sponge Bob Musical.” sites.google.com/ view/footliters-spongebobyouth/home

26TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX SUMMER

ART SHOW: 10am-5pm, East Park, downtown Charlevoix. Arts & crafts are displayed on the shores of Round Lake. Participating artists are carefully selected to ensure a wellrounded show.

ART IN THE GARDEN FESTIVAL: 10am4pm, 459 Livingston Blvd., Gaylord. Enjoy live music, explore the gardens, & admire the artwork on display. There will be free workshops throughout the day. Also enjoy lunch from Tilly’s Grill. Free. facebook.com/ share/168MEtpeXV

BLU DOT FARM WINE RUN 5K: 10am, Blu Dot Farm & Vineyard, Charlevoix. $25-$45; prices increase after 6/27. runsignup.com/ Race/MI/Charlevoix/BluDotFarmWineRun5k

ELK RAPIDS ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: 10am-4pm, Downtown Elk Rapids. 60+ artisans & crafters feature art & homemade items in many areas including coastal art, home decor, jewelry, ceramics, woodcrafts, photography, & much more. elkrapidschamber.org/arts-crafts-show

HIKE THE RIDGE!: 10am, Five Mile Rd., TC. Join for a hike on The Ridge, a new GTRLC project that will help safeguard the water quality of GT Bay, save wildlife habitat, & open up recreational opportunities. See web site for exact directions. Registration required. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/ es/event/home/theridge062825

MACKINAW PREMIER ARTS & CRAFTS

SHOW: 10am-6pm, Conkling Heritage Park, Mackinaw City. Featuring many artists from around the country. Paintings, woodwork, hand-crafted jewelry, hand-designed clothing, nature photography & much more. mackinawcity.net/mackinawcity/event/Mackinaw_City_Arts_and_Crafts_Show/466

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT

SHOW SERIES: 10am, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. More than 30 crafters & artists will display jewelry, home decor, artwork & much more. Free. facebook.com/ madeincheboygan

2ND ANNUAL SUMMER CELEBRATION: Noon-2pm, Watershed Discovery Center, Petoskey. Presented by Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. Explore a stream model, caddisfly cookie decorating, & a watershed model demonstration. You can also check out the Discovery Center’s aquariums & stream tank. watershedcouncil.org

CHERRYLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

- FIELD DAY: Noon-8pm, Back orchard at Kiessel Farms, Suttons Bay. Enjoy free food & observe Amateur Radio in action! You will see solar, battery & generators being set up in a field with homemade antennas, & making contacts in a nationwide contest - & communicating with other stations all over the world. Free. CherrylandARC.com

THIRD ANNUAL BREW-TO-BREW TRAIL DAY: Noon, Betsie Valley Trail/breweries. This self-guided event benefits the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail. You can ride the traila full 20-mile loop between Stormcloud Brew-

ing Co. in Frankfort & Five Shores Brewing in Beulah. If you just want to ride one way, Benzie Bus will offer complementary shuttle service with your bikes back to your cars. Register. The $50 fee includes beer vouchers, which are valid for one week following the event. betsievalleytrail.org/brew-to-brew

JIM OLSON BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Jim will sign his book, “People of the Dune.” horizonbooks.com/event

CADILLAC FOOTLITERS YOUTH THEATRE AUDITIONS: 1:30-3:30pm, Cadillac High School. For ages 8-13 for “The Sponge Bob Musical.” sites.google.com/view/footliters-spongebobyouth/home

AN AFTERNOON WITH PETER GEYE: 3pm, Elder Piper Beer & Cider, Petoskey. Peter will celebrate his newest book, “A Lesser Light.” He will be in conversation with Jessilynn Norcross, owner at McLean & Eakin. RSVP: 231-347-1180. Free. mcleanandeakin.com/ event/2025-06-28/peter-geye-lesser-light

PRIDE OF STONEWALL & DANCE PARTY: 4-10pm, TC Whiskey Co. Presented by Up North Pride & Firelight Coalition. Igniting knowledge, understanding & celebration for The Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. upnorthpride.com/event/2025/6/28/unp-firelight-coalition-at-tc-whiskey

“THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT LAKES: AUTHOR DAN EGAN IN CONVERSATION”: 5:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theater, Petoskey. Egan & Greg McGlinchey of Great Lakes Fishery Commission will explore issues related to the ecology, culture, politics & commerce of the Great Lakes. Free; registration required. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/deathand-life-great-lakes-author-dan-egan-conversation-free-registration

SATURDAYS IN THE PARK W/ SETH BERNARD QUARTET: 7pm, GT County Civic Center Amphitheater, TC. Free.

SIX MILE STRINGS: 7-8:30pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Visiting from Detroit, Yuri Popowcyz, Natalie Frakes, Alycia Wilder, & Tom Sullivan are a string quartet of friends who focus on performing classical & contemporary works. They are lauded as the most fun string quartet in the world by Interlochen Public Radio’s Kate Botello. OAB members: $25; non-members: $30. oldartbuilding.com/ events/six-mile-strings-3

TC PIT SPITTERS VS. WISCONSIN RAPIDS RAFTERS: 7:05pm, Turtle Creek Stadium, TC. northwoodsleague.com/traversecity-pit-spitters/schedule

MAY ERLEWINE & JOSHUA DAVIS: SOLD OUT: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. These two stars of the Michigan music scene join in this performance of authentic music. Erlewine is known for her heartfelt, vunerable songwriting. A former topthree finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” & founding member of the Lansing-based band Steppin’ In It, Davis brings his poetic, American rootsinspired sound. Tickets start at $31. interlochen.org/events/may-erlewine-and-joshua-davis-2025-06-28

ABBA MANIA: 8pm, Bay View, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. Dance & sing along with this tribute to ABBA. A show for all generations. Tickets start at $23. onthestage.tickets/ show/bay-view-association/67ab65dba912010 75e6038cd/tickets#/productions-view

INTERLOCHEN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: “MEASURE FOR MEASURE”: (See Fri., June 27)

june 29

sunday

2025 NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL: TC. Today includes a Pickleball Tournament, Bayside Beach Volleyball Tournament: 4 Person Open Co-ed, 4 Person Rec Co-ed, 2 Person Co-ed; Yoga by the Bay, Arts & Crafts Fair, Classic Car Show, Air Show, A Cherry Royal Picnic, Cheap Trick & Collective Soul concert, Family Sand Sculpture Contest, & more. cherryfestival.org/events

26TH ANNUAL CHARLEVOIX SUMMER ART SHOW: (See Sat., June 28, except today’s hours are 10am-3pm.)

MACKINAW PREMIER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: (See Sat., June 28, except today’s hours are 10am-3pm.)

MADE IN CHEBOYGAN SUMMER CRAFT SHOW SERIES: (See Sat., June 28)

LOG CABIN DAY: 11am, Dougherty Mission House, museum, TC. Experience Old Mission Peninsula life from 1842-1917 on the property that gave Old Mission Peninsula its name. Play croquet on the lawn by the demonstration garden while Angus MacDonald plays old time music. Explore the trail on the 15 acres of history while viewing unusual, pure American chestnut trees in bloom. Free. doughertyoldmissionhouse.com

VESPER CONCERT: 11am, Bay View, John M. Hall Auditorium, Petoskey. “Broadway: The Heart of America.” $20.50-$24.50. bayviewassociation.org/events/vesper-concertbroadway-2025

NATIONAL GRAND PRIX HORSE COMPETITION: 2pm, Flintfields Horse Park, Williamsburg. Fast-paced show jumping, food, boutique shopping, & open-air fun. Gates open early. Proceeds benefit the Grand Traverse Region Public Safety Alliance. $15 GA. app.gopassage.com/venues/8654

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

COMEDIAN DUSTIN NICKERSON: 7pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Known for his sharp wit & relatable humor, Dustin brings his hilarious takes on everyday life, family, & the ups & downs of adulthood. His clever storytelling & quick delivery have made him a favorite on stage & in the comedy scene. Starting at $32 before fees. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ dustin-nickerson

farmers markets

ALDEN SUNSET MARKET: By tennis courts on Tyler St. Held on Thursdays, June through Sept. from 2-7pm. Shop for fruit, veggies, gifts, art & much more. The downtown stores will be open late & there will be live music.

BOYNE CITY: Veterans Park. Held on Wednesdays & Saturdays through mid-Oct. from 8am-noon. Exceptions include July 12 at Peninsula Beach & Aug. 9 at Green Space between City Hall & Field of Dreams. boynecityfarmersmarket.org

- -EAST through Rd., TC. benefits program live music, eastbaytwp.org/residents/food_security.php

ELK RAPIDS: town. noon.

EMPIRE: through farmersmarkets.com

FRANKFORT Space

GLEN Hall, 6394 through smarkets.com

HARBOR Main days Aug. Oct. 11. food producers music petoskeyarea.com/events/harbor-springsfarmers-market-2025

INTERLOCHE Parkway. 9am-2pm, from 2-7pm. locally & crafts. Market

LELAND ing lot. 9am-1pm.

LONG N. Long through

MANISTEE: Held every manisteekitchen.org/farmers-market

NORTHPORT: marina. 9am-1pm.

OLD through County, of a group makers, com/events/old-town-emmet-farm-market

OUTDOOR days, GT Commons, cal baked - - - -SARA MARKET: Grandview days urdays The farmers ground during 28 – July market/

- - -SUTTONS Held every leelanaufarmersmarkets.com

DOWNTOWN PETOSKEY: Howard St., between Mitchell St. & Michigan St. Held every Fri., 8:30am-1pm. Local producers offer organic meats, fruits & vegetables, flowers & more. petoskey-farmers-market

CHERRY Today inTourBeach Tournament: 4 Co-ed, 2 Crafts Cherry Collective Soul Contest, & - - - -SUMMER except to-

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- - - -7pm, Bay Harrelatable takes on downs of quick stage $32 begreatlakescfa.org/events/detail/ tennis Thursdays, Shop for more. The there

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& more. petoskeychamber.com/downtownpetoskey-farmers-market

EAST BAY CORNERS: Thursdays, 2-6pm through Oct. 2. Township Hall, 1965 N. 3 Mile Rd., TC. This market accepts SNAP/EBT benefits & also offers a Power of Produce program for kids ages 5-13. There will be live music, food trucks, & family game nights. eastbaytwp.org/residents/food_security.php

ELK RAPIDS: Cedar St. Parking Lot, downtown. Runs every Fri. through Oct. 3, 8amnoon. elkrapidschamber.org/farmers-market

EMPIRE: 10234 Front St. Held every Sat. through Aug. 30 from 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com

FRANKFORT: Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Open Space Park, Main St.

GLEN ARBOR: Behind Glen Arbor Twp. Hall, 6394 W. Western Ave. Held every Tues. through Sept. 16, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com

HARBOR SPRINGS: Corner of State & Main streets, downtown. Held on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 9am-1pm through Aug. 27, & Saturdays continue through Oct. 11. Featuring local farmers, artisans, food producers & more. There will be live music on select dates, & also Kids Days. petoskeyarea.com/events/harbor-springsfarmers-market-2025

INTERLOCHEN: Corner of US-31 & J. Maddy Parkway. Held every Sun. through Oct. from 9am-2pm, & every Thurs. in June, July & Aug. from 2-7pm. Featuring local fresh produce, locally produced food, & natural artisan arts & crafts. facebook.com/InterlochenFarmersMarket

LELAND: Immanuel Lutheran Church parking lot. Held every Thurs. through Sept. 4, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com -

LONG LAKE TWP.: Haywood Park, 8870 N. Long Lake Rd., TC. Held on Thursdays through Oct. 2, 9am-1pm. 946-2249.

MANISTEE: Wagoner Community Center. Held every Sat. through Oct. 4, 9am-noon. manisteekitchen.org/farmers-market

NORTHPORT: 105 S. Bay St., across from marina. Held every Fri. through Sept. 19, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com

OLD TOWN EMMET: Saturdays, 9am-1pm through Oct. 4, Friendship Center of Emmet County, Petoskey. This market is made up of a group of local farmers, growers, bakers, makers, crafters, & artisans. petoskeyarea. com/events/old-town-emmet-farm-market

OUTDOOR MINI FARMERS MARKET: Mondays, 1-5pm through Aug. 25. The Village at GT Commons, Piazza/Pavilion, TC. Find local baked goods, vegetables, herbs & more.

SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS

MARKET: Parking Lot B, Cass St. & E Grandview Parkway, TC. Held on Wednesdays through Oct. from 8am-noon, & Saturdays through Oct. from 7:30am-noon. The farmers market will take place on the ground floor of the Old Town Parking deck during the National Cherry Festival, June 28 – July 5. dda.downtowntc.com/farmersmarket/

SUTTONS BAY: North Park, 601 Front St. Held every Sat. through Oct. 18, 9am-1pm. leelanaufarmersmarkets.com

SUMMER SALON: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. 6th annual salon-style exhibit showcasing regionally inspired work by local & area artists. Runs June 27 - Aug. 30. Hours: M-F, 11am4pm; Sat., 11am-3pm. charlevoixcircle.org/exhibits-2025

PAINT GRAND TRAVERSE 2025 - EXTENDED EXHIBIT: Crooked Tree Arts Center, Carnegie Rotunda, TC. Runs June 24 - Aug. 22. Features a selection of available artwork created during Paint Grand Traverse 2025, a week-long event where artists painted on location throughout the greater Grand Traverse area. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ paint-grand-traverse-2025-extended-exhibit

MEMBERS ART EXHIBIT: Northport Arts Association. Featuring a wide range of artistic expressions, including paintings in various styles & mediums, pottery of all shapes & sizes, photography, fiber arts, woodworking, miniatures, & more. Runs through July 6, noon to 4pm, Tues. through Sun. northportartsassociation.org/events-exhibits

PFLAG/MARJDI: “ART SPEAKS PRIDE”: The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Hardy Hall, Manistee. Runs through July 6. Contact for hours. ramsdelltheatre.org/art CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY:

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

- IMMERSED: An immersive exhibition exploring aesthetic, cultural, environmental, & historical dimensions of water - through art, artifacts, sound, & motion. Runs through Aug. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctacpetoskey/immersed-free-public-programming

- LEGACY & LIGHT: 150 YEARS OF BAY VIEW: Held in Atrium Gallery in honor of Bay View Association’s 150th anniversary, this exhibition showcases original artwork inspired by the beauty, spirit, & enduring legacy of this Chautauqua community. Runs through July 12. Check web site for hours. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/legacylight-150-years-bay-view

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:

- JOAN FITZSIMMONS: INTO WHAT WORLD?: Runs through Aug. This is a solo exhibition by Joan Fitzsimmons & a personal investigation into landscape as a place of dreams & imagination. It consists of selections from three of her photographic series called “The Woods,” “Blue Moon,” & “Plant Life.” Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- MATT SHLIAN: EVERY LINE IS A CIRCLE IF YOU MAKE IT LONG ENOUGH: Runs through Aug. See a world where art, science & engineering converge. Renowned for his intricate paper sculptures, Shlian transforms flat sheets into dynamic, dimensional forms, exploring the beauty of structure, pattern, & movement. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- RECLAIMED: THE ART OF ECOLOGY: Runs through Aug. San Francisco’s waste management service Recology believes that art plays a unique role in educating & inspiring the public. Each year they award residencies to artists, which include a stipend, coveted studio space, & scavenging privileges at their Transfer Station & Recycling Center. These 33 artists have created this exhibit. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org

- CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE CERAM ICS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. An array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, this is a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, & ages. These

26 • june 23, 2025 • Northern Express Weekly

artworks are drawn from the curated collection of Carol & Jeffrey Horvitz, some of the leading collectors of Japanese contemporary outside of Japan. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcoming-exhibitions/index.html

- A STYLE ALL OUR OWN: CANADIAN WOODLAND ARTISTS: Runs through Sept. 28, 2025. In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, & Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the Father of the Woodland School. Open Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-onview/canadian-woodland-artists.html

GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:

- RANDOM EXHIBITION: Runs through Aug. 28 in the Lobby Gallery. “Random: Collages From The Scrap Pile,” an exhibition of spontaneous compositions by Leelanau County artist Mark Mehaffey. Random is also a tutorial about remaining alert to creative possibilities. glenarborart.org/exhibits

- MEMBERS CREATE: Held in the Main Gallery, this exhibit runs through Aug. 7. Featuring work in a wide range of media: paint to fiber, clay to metal. Open Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm, & Sat. & Sun., noon-4pm. Free. glenarborart.org/product/exhibit-2025-members-create

OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT:

- OLIVER ART CENTER ANNUAL SUMMER MEMBER’S EXHIBITION: An opening reception will be held on Fri., June 27 from 5-7pm. The exhibit continues through July 26. It will showcase hundreds of artworks in a wide variety of artistic styles, media & techniques, highlighting the talents & creativity of Oliver Art Center members. Open: Mon. - Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm. oliverart.org

- GREAT LAKES PASTEL SOCIETY’S 2025 MEMBERS SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION: Held in Fisher Room Gallery through July 12. This juried show features the work of some of the best pastelists in the region. The exhibition is juried by Pastel Society of America Master Pastelist Lyn Asselta. oliverart.org

ongoing

BOYNE CITY’S STROLL THE STREETS: Downtown Boyne City. Held Friday evenings at 6pm through Aug. 29. Enjoy live music, children’s activities & much more. The first Stroll the Streets of July will take place on Thurs., July 3rd due to the 4th of July Festival on that Fri., July 4. boynecitymainstreet.com

NAMI-GT SUPPORT & SHARE: NATIONAL Alliance on Mental Illness-Grand Traverse Recovery Support Groups are free, peer-led support groups for adult persons & family/friends having a “lived” experience of a mental health condition. Hear the challenges & successes of others. The groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. Held on Mondays at 6pm at Builders Assoc. Bldg., lower level, 3040 Sunset Lane, TC; & Wednesdays at noon at Christ Church, lower level, 430 Fair St., TC. namigt.

region’s fruit industry began & 15 acres of trails. See American chestnut trees. Tours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11am to 4pm. doughertyoldmissionhouse.com

WEEKLY WILDFLOWER WALK: Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Every Tues., 10:30am-noon through Aug., take a leisurely stroll through the scenic trails of Grass River Natural Area alongside knowledgeable docent Lyn Petty. Discover the variety of wildflowers & learn to identify their unique beauty. Keep an ear out for the melodies of birds that call Grass River home. grassriver.org

We make our own custom blends for relief with sleep, pain, anxiety, menopause and more.

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sion House built by Rev. Peter Dougherty, Chief Agosa & the Odawa & Ojibwe people. Tour the house Old Mission Peninsula is named for, outbuildings & demonstration garden. Explore the former inn where the

7957 State St, Central Lake

Pee-wee as Himself

by Joseph beyer

Pee-wee Herman is his name, don’t wear it out! And if, like me, you grew up in the 1980s with the offbeat and mischievous comedian / performance-artist / television and movie star, I predict the experience of watching the new two-part documentary of his life on HBO will be a nostalgic, emotional, and revealing ride.

For many of us, we now know Pee-wee Herman as a character played by the actor Paul Reubens. But for me, growing up transfixed with this man-child and his signature red bowtie, Pee-wee was as “real” as it gets (and so committed to the bit was Reubens that he rarely appeared in public as “himself).

That struggle between his alter ego and a private life, the weight of the public’s expectations, his artistic drive, and a famous fall from grace, are all part of the multi-layered story that unfolds in Pee-wee as Himself.

But the largest arc of tension in the documentary is between the subject and himself, as Paul Reubens reluctantly looks back, struggles sometimes with chips that remain on his shoulders, and actively spars with his director Matt Wolf for creative control of his story.

And if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes of making a documentary (one in which the famous subject seems unnerved and reluctant), Pee-wee as Himself provides more than a few hilarious and authentic glimpses into the process.

Director Wolf has already tipped us off to his tone with the title, launching us instantly into a shell game of trying to know when Reubens is revealing his truest self and when the guarded performer is trying to control his narrative. Much of this struggle is caught candidly, as Ruebens speaks directly to the camera with his deepest concerns, fears, and reflections.

Mainly offscreen, Wolf is a character too: coaxing and pushing Ruebens to go deeper and stop messing around. Watching this repartee play out between them creates some of the film’s most genuine LOL moments as you sense their mutual trust and skepticism of each other. In the end, Wolf and his creative team either succeed or just wear him down, but in any case, the audience wins as we get the inside scoop of how Pee-wee came to be, what drove Ruebens’ ambitions, and the depth of his pain when it all came crashing down.

The true sweetness of Pee-wee’s heart and mind are as giant as the joy he brought generations of fans, and the complexity of the personal pressures it created for Ruebens was immense. Over the course of the documentary, both sides are laid out through unguarded interviews with all involved. Ruebens sat for 40 hours of interviews during filming but never once revealed to the production team that he was actively battling cancer.

In retrospect of that reality, his confessionals and struggle to be understood on-screen take on a poignant edginess that is bittersweet and sometimes heartbreakingly simple. As he says at one point, “Death is just so final.” The actor passed away before the film was completed, and probably knew he’d never see the final product.

In Pee-wee as Himself, we find a vibrant, electrified time capsule of an American icon, loner, and rebel. And a story of just how lucky the luckiest boy in the world actually felt, and how much love he left behind.

With a combined running time of 3 hours 20 minutes split into two episodes, Pee-wee as Himself is currently streaming on HBO Max. With adult language and themes, the project will delight Gen X but is not appropriate for young kids.

SUMMER CAMP

45 NORTH VINEYARD & WINERY, LAKE LEELANAU

6/26 -- Rhett & John, 5-7

9 BEAN ROWS, SUTTONS BAY

6/29 -- Billy & The Kid, 1-3

BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR

6/21 -- Larry Perkins, 3:30-5:30

6/27 -- John Piatek, 5:30-7:30

6/28 -- Dominic Fortuna, 5:30-7:30

6/29 -- Nick Veine, 3:30-5:30

BLACK STAR FARMS, SUTTONS BAY LAWN, 6-8:

6/21 -- Highway North

6/28 – Bob Roberts

BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU

6/22 -- Highway North, 4-6:30

6/25 -- Bryan Poirier, 5:30-8

6/29 -- Broom Closet Boys, 4-6:30

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

6/22 -- Rhett & John, 2-4:30

6/26 -- Mark Daisy, 4-6:30

6/29 -- Luke Woltanski, 2-4:30

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLLE BARR PARK, 6-8: 6/21 -- Doc Probes

6/27 -- Johnny P

KINLOCHEN PLAZA, 6-8:

6/21 -- Sean Baldwin

6/28 -- Jakob Abraham

LEVEL4 LOUNGE, 8:30-10:30

6/21 -- Cole Caspers

6/25-26 -- Johnny P

6/27 -- Meg Gunia

DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT

3: 6/22 -- Chris Smith

6/25 -- Touch of Grey

6/29 -- Rhett & John

FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH

6/25 -- Open Mic w/ Andy Littlefield, 7-9

6/27 -- Gabrial Lundy, 6-9

FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR

4: 6/23 -- Larz Cabot

6/26 -- Rob Coonrod

FURNACE STREET DISTILLERY, ELBERTA

PATIO, 6-8:

6/21 & 6/28 -- Andy Littlefield

6/22 – Keith Scott

6/27 – Brad & Company

6/29 – Rochelle Clark

HOP LOT BREWING CO., SUTTONS BAY 5-8:

6/21 -- Eric Dane Jaqua

6/26 -- Broom Closet Boys

6/27 -- Billy & The Kid

IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE

6/21 – Anna p.s., 6:30-8:30

6/22 – Allie Kessel, 4-6

6/27 – Jakob Abraham, 6:30-8:30

6/28 – Matt Gabriel, 6:30-8:30 6/29 – Jason Locke, 4-6

JACOBSON MARINA RESORT, FRANKFORT

6/21 & 6/28 -- Jim Hawley, 3-6

LAKE ANN BREWING CO.

6/21 -- Daydrinkers Series w/ 65 North Pickers, 3-6; Stonefolk, 7-10

6/24 -- New Third Coast, 6:30-9:30

6/25 -- Andre Villoch, 6:30-9:30

6/26 -- Drew Hale, 6:30-9:30

6/27 -- Happy Hour w/ John Paul, 3-6; Oh Brother, Big Sister WSG: Pauly on Percussion, 7-10

6/28 -- Daydrinkers Series w/ A-Z Music, 3-6; The Dune Brothers, 7-10

6/29 -- Daydrinkers Series w/ Delilah DeWylde, 3-6; Uncle Z, 6:30-9:30

LITTLE TRAVERSE INN, MAPLE CITY

6/27 – Rigs & Jeels, 6-9

BEER GARDEN, 4-7:

6/22 -- The Shakers

6/29 -- The Turtle Necks

RIVER CLUB, GLEN ARBOR

6-9:

6/21 – Drew Hale

6/22 – Clint Weaner

6/23 & 6/29 – Ben Richey

6/24 – Larz Cabot

6/25 – Loose Change

6/26 – Andre Villoch

6/27 – Manitou Blues

6/28 – Empire Highway

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH

6/21 -- Anna p.s., 1-4; SkyeLea, 5-8

6/22 -- Saldaje, 3-6

6/24 -- The Feral Cats, 5-8

6/25 -- Bill Frary, 5-8

6/26 -- Blair Miller, 5-8

6/27 -- Delilah DeWylde, 5-8

6/28 -- Rigs & Jeels, 1-4; WSKF, 5-8

6/29 -- Brian Curran, 1-3; Jabo Bihlman, 4-6

SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS

BAY 4-7:

6/21 -- Jabo Bihlman

6/27 -- Friday Night Live w/ Luke Woltanski

6/28 -- Four Roses

SOUL SQUEEZE CELLARS, LAKE LEELANAU 4-7:

6/21 – Some Like It Yacht

6/26 – Laura Thurston

6/27 – Brian Vander Ark

6/28 – Jazz Cabbage

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT

6/21 -- One Hot Robot, 4-7

6/28 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen, 6-8

SUTTONS BAY CIDERS

6/22 – Andre Villoch, 5:30-8

6/26 – DJ Trivia, 6:30-8

SWEET’S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Mon. – Music Bingo, 7 Fri. – Music Bingo, 8; Karaoke, 10 Sat. – Karaoke, 8

THE FOLDED LEAF, CEDAR

6/21 – SkyeLea, 5-7:30

6/25 – Jeff Haas Trio, 6-8:30

6/28 – A.S. Lutes, 5-7:30

THE GARDEN THEATER, FRANKFORT

6/21 -- The Claudettes, 7:30

THE HOMESTEAD RESORT, GLEN ARBOR

6/21 -- Craig Jolly, 6-9

THREE TREES VINEYARD, SUTTONS BAY

6/21 – Turner Porter, 5-7

6/28 -- FeRn Whale, 5-7

TWO K FARMS CIDERY & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY

4-6: 6/21 -- Liz Landry 6/28 -- Blair Miller

nitelife

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska

APACHE TROUT GRILL, TC 6/29 -- Jim Hawley, 5:30-8:30

CHATEAU CHANTAL, TC Thu -- Jazz at Sunset w/ Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears, 7

ENCORE 201, TC 9:

6/20-21 & 6/28 -- DJ Ricky T 6/26 -- DJ Jr

6/27 -- DJ Ricky T & DJ Fade

HOPSCOTCH BRICK OVEN & TAPROOM, TC 6/21 -- David Lawston, 6-9

KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 9:30: 6/21 -- Peril

6/27-28 -- The J Hawkins Band

KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING

6/24 – Open Mic Night w/ LaRose Duo, 6-8

6/26 – Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC

BARREL ROOM:

6/23 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

TASTING ROOM: 6/27 -- Jeff Socia, 5-7

MARI VINEYARDS, TC

6/21 -- John Piatek, noon-2; Charlie Arnett, 4-6

6/24 -- Randy Reszka, 4-6

MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC

6/25 -- Trivia Night w/ Steveo, 7-9

6/26 -- Open Mic Night, 7-9

6/27 -- Robert Rolfe Feddersen, 6-9

6/28 -- Clint Weaner, 6-9

MT. HOLIDAY, TC BEER GARDEN: 6/26 -- Jeff Socia, 6-9

NORTH BAR, TC

6/21 – Nick Vasquez, 1-4; Clint Weaner, 5-8

6/22 – Trillium Groove, 5-8

6/25 – Jesse Jefferson, 7-10

6/26 – Mal & Mike, 7-10

6/27 – Kevin Paul, 5-8

BOB'S PLACE, ALANSON

6/25 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY

6/21 -- Chris Calleja, 2-6

6/27 -- Nelson Olstrom, 4-7

6/28 -- Michelle Chenard, 2-6

BRANDY'S HARBORTOWN, BAY HARBOR

6/21 & 6/27 -- Patrick Ryan, 12:30-3:30

6/22 -- Peter Jensen - Tweed Tones, 12:303:30

6/23 -- Sean Bielby, 6-9

6/25 -- Will Springsteen, 6-9

6/26 -- Derek Boik, 6-9

6/28 -- Ty Parkin Duo, 12:30-3:30

6/29 -- Hanna Von B, 12:30-3:30

CHESTNUT VALLEY GC, HARBOR SPRINGS BIRDIES TAVERN:

6/27 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY

6/24 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

6/27 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30

DIXIE SALOON, MACKINAW CITY

6/27 – Pete Fetters, 8-11

DOUGLAS LAKE STEAKHOUSE, PELLSTON

6/29 -- Mike Ridley, 6-9

GABRIEL FARMS & WINERY, PETOSKEY

6/21 -- Sean Bielby, 2-5

HIGH FIVE SPIRITS, PETOSKEY

6/27 -- DJ Clark After Dark w/ Botala, 9

LOST TAMARACK LODGE, WOLVERINE

6/21 -- Sol of the Lost Tamarack 2025 w/ Dede and the Dreamers, The Outfit, The Vermeers, The Muggs, & more, noon 6/22 -- Sol of the Lost Tamarack 2025 w/ Dr. Goodhart's Home Remedy, Northwood Improvisors, Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish, & More, noon

NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY

7-10:

6/21 -- Chris Koury

6/27 – Sydni K

6/28 -- Mike Ridley

NOMAD., BAY HARBOR

6/22 & 6/29 -- DJ Parker Marshall, 5-10

NORTHLAND BREWING CO., INDIAN RIVER

6/26 – DDA Summer Concert Series feat. Lara Fullford, 6:30-8:30

6/29 – Beans & Cheese, 1-4; Brady Corcoran, 5-8

OAKY'S TAVERN, GRAWN

6/26 -- Craig Jolly, 6-9

OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS:

6/21 – The Fridays, 7

6/22 -- A to Z, 6:30

6/24 – Vinyl Night, 7

6/25 – Jimmy Olson, 7

6/26 – Mitchell McKolay, 6

6/28 – DJ Ras Marco D, 6 6/29 – Jesse Jefferson, 6:30

RIGHT BRAIN BREWERY, TC

6/28 -- Kamikaze Comedy w/ JT Motley, Ed DeVoogd & Jeremy West, 9

SAIL INN BAR & GRILL, PATIO, TC Wed -- Live Music w/ Josh, 6 Thurs, Sat – Karaoke, 9

STONE HOUND BREWING CO., WILLIAMSBURG

6/21 -- Reese Keelor, 6:30-9:30

6/27 -- Andrew Lutes, 6:30-9:30 6/28 -- Mike Moran, 7-9

TC GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 6/27 -- Jim Hawley, 6-9

THE ALEXANDRA INN, TC BLUSH ROOFTOP TERRACE: Mon -- John & Madeline Piatek, 4-6

THE ALLUVION, TC 6/23 -- Funky Uncle - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30

THE COIN SLOT, TC 7:

6/21 -- Bomb Cats/Dude Man Sir 6/25 -- BYOVinyl Night with Eugene’s Record Co-op 6/26 -- Andy McQuillen 6/27 -- Protea 6/28 -- Brett Mitchell 6/28 -- The Real Ingredients 6/29 -- Brett Mitchell & The Mitchfits

THE HAYLOFT INN, TC 7:30-11: 6/20-21 & 6/27-28 – Off Duty

THE LITTLE FLEET, TC 6/21 -- Summer Solstice Party w/

6/27 – Seasonal Road, 7-10

6/28 – Lee Fayssoux, 7-10

ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES, 9:

6/21 -- Queens & DJ T-Bone

6/27-28 -- Live DJ

POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS

6/21 -- Lew Russ, 5-8

6/22 -- The Real Ingredients, 3-6

6/25 -- Open Mic Night w/ Kirby, 5-8

6/26 -- Terry Coveyou, 5-8

6/27 -- My Generation Band, 5-8

6/28 -- Twilight Tunes Dueling Pianos, 5-8

6/29 -- Myk Rise, 3-6

SEASONS OF THE NORTH WINERY, INDIAN RIVER PATIO:

Agnes Su & The Dear Companions: Ribbons of Song, 6:30-10

6/25 -- IPR Concert Series: Six Mile Strings, 5:30-7

6/26 -- An Evening with Field Recordings, 5-10

6/27 -- FeRn Whale, 6:30

THE PARLOR, TC

6/21 – David Cisco, 6-9

6/24 – Jesse Jefferson, 8-11

6/25 – Rob Coonrod, 8-11 6/26 – Jimmy Olson, 8-11

6/27 – Mallory Ramage, 6-9; Jeff Linsell, 9-12

6/28 – Jimmy Olson, 6-9; Rolling Dirty, 9-12

6/29 – Wink Solo, 5-8

THE PUB, TC

6/22 & 6/29 -- David Martón, 5-8

6/23 – Karaoke w/ DJ Shawny T, 8-11

6/24 – Pub Club Mic Check – Open

Mic Night w/ Mallory Ramage, 9-12

6/25 – Zeke Clemons, 8-11

6/26 – Music Bingo, 7:30-10

6/27 – AcoustaSnacks, 9-12

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC

6/21 – Elizabeth Landry, 8

6/24 – Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 7

6/25 – Straight Forward Bluegrass, 7 6/26 – DJ Trivia, 7

6/27 – Jazz Jam w/ Ron Getz Trio, 6

6/28 – Jazz North, 8

6/29 – Full Tilt Comedy: Comedy Mixtape #25, 7

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC PATIO, 6:30-9:30: 6/21 – Split Decision 6/26 – TC Knuckleheads 6/27 – DJ1 Wave

6/28 – Jet Beasley

TOWNLINE CIDERWORKS, WILLIAMSBURG

6/27 – Chelsea Marsh, 6-8

UNION STREET STATION, TC 6/21 -- Future of Comedy Show, 7; The Time Bombs, 10 6/26 -- DJ1 Wave, 9 6/27 -- DJ Simple Jack, 10 6/28 -- One Hot Robot, 9

6/21 -- Ed Tatum, 2-4 6/27 – Lee Fayssoux & The Whiskey Wranglers, 6-9

THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN

6/21 -- Groove Mitten, 8 6/26 -- Musician's Playground, 7 6/27 -- Evan Archambo, 8-11 6/28 -- Cellar Door, 8

THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS SLOPESIDE PATIO: 6/25 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6-9

THE LARK THEATER, CHEBOYGAN 6/21 – Hynde Sight, 6 & 7:30

WALLOON LAKE WINERY, PETOSKEY 6/26 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 7-9

Emmet & Cheboygan

lOGY

JUNE 23 - JUNE 29

BY ROB BREZSNY

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to a special edition of “What's My Strongest Yearning?” I'm your host, Rob Brezsny, and I'm delighted you have decided to identify the single desire that motivates you more than any other. Yes, you have many wishes and hopes and dreams, but one is more crucial than all the rest! Right? To begin the exercise, take three deep breaths and allow every knot of tension to dissolve and exit your beautiful body. Then drop down into the primal depths of your miraculous soul and wander around until you detect the shimmering presence of the beloved reason you came here to this planet. Immerse yourself in this glory for as long as you need to. Exult in its mysterious power to give meaning to everything you do. Ask it to nurture you, console you, and inspire you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In traditional Japanese carpentry, joints are made so skillfully that they need no nails, screws, or adhesives. Carpenters use intricate joinery techniques to connect pieces of wood so tightly that the structures are strong and durable. They often require a mallet for assembly and disassembly. In metaphorical terms, you are capable of that kind of craftsmanship these days, Virgo. hope you will take advantage of this by building lasting beauty and truth that will serve you well into the future. Don’t rush the joinery. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Re-cut, re-measure, breathe deeply, and try again.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Here's one of my unruly rules about human competence: In every professional field, from physicians to lawyers to psychics to teachers, about 15 percent of all the practitioners are downright mediocre, even deficient. Seventy-five percent are at least satisfactory and sometimes good. And 10 percent of the total are surpassingly excellent, providing an extraordinary service. With this in mind, I’m happy to say that you now have a knack for gravitating toward that exceptional 10 percent in every domain you are drawn to. I predict that your intuition will consistently guide you toward premium sources.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing.” It invites people to immerse themselves in the natural world, drawing on its restorative power. In accordance with astrological portents, I urge you Scorpios to maximize your forest bathing. To amplify the enrichment further, gravitate toward other environments that nourish your soul’s need for solace and uplift. The naked fact is that you need places and influences that offer you comfort, safety, and tender inspiration. Don’t apologize for making your life a bit less heroic as you tend to your inner world with gentle reverence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The camera obscura was a precursor to modern cameras. It projected the outside world upside down onto interior walls. Artists loved it because it helped them see reality from new angles. I hereby proclaim that you, Sagittarius, will be like both the artist and the camera obscura lens in the coming weeks. Your perceptions may feel inverted, strange, even disorienting, but that’s a gift! So let unfamiliarity be your muse. Flip your assumptions. Sketch from shadow instead of light. Have faith that the truth isn’t vanishing or hiding; it’s simply appearing in unfamiliar guises. Don’t rush to turn right-side-up things. Relish and learn from the tilt.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m sure you enjoy gazing into some mirrors more than others. It’s amazing how different you might look in your bathroom mirror and the mirror in the restroom at work. Some store windows may reflect an elegant, attractive version of you, while others distort your image. A similar principle is at work in the people with whom you associate. Some seem to accentuate your finest attributes, while others bring out less flattering aspects. I bring this to your attention, dear Capricorn, because I believe it will be extra important in the coming weeks for you to surround yourself with your favorite mirrors.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Leonardo da Vinci filled thousands of pages with sketches, notes, and experiments. He never finished many of them. He called this compilation his “codex of wonder.” It wasn’t a record of failures. It was an appreciation of his complex process and

a way to honor his creative wellspring. Taking a cue from da Vinci’s love of marvelous enigmas, I invite you to be in love with the unfinished in the coming weeks. Make inquisitiveness your default position. Reconsider abandoned ideas. Be a steward of fertile fragments. Some of your best work may arise from revisiting composted dreams or incomplete sketches. Here’s your motto: Magic brews in the margins.

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): In the remote Atacama Desert of Chile, certain flowers lie dormant for years, awaiting just the right conditions to burst into blossom in a sudden, riotous explosion of color and vitality. Scientists call it a superbloom. Metaphorically speaking, Pisces, you are on the verge of such a threshold. I’m sure you can already feel the inner ripening as it gathers momentum. Any day now, your full flowering will erupt—softly but dramatically. You won’t need to push. You will simply open. To prepare yourself emotionally, start rehearsing lively shouts of “HALLELUJAH! HOORAY! WHOOPEE!”

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hawaiian word pō. refers to a primal darkness from which all life flows. It's not a fearsome void, but a fertile mystery, rich with future possibilities and the ancestors’ hopes. In the coming weeks, I invite you to treat your inner life as pō. Be as calm and patient and watchful as an Aries can be as you monitor the inklings that rise up out of the deep shadows. Have faith that the cloudy uncertainty will ultimately evolve into clarity, revealing the precise directions you need.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 17th century, the Taurus polymath Athanasius Kircher constructed a fantastical machine called the Aeolian harp. It wasn’t designed to be played by human fingers, but by the wind. It conjured music with currents invisible to the eye. I nominate this sublime contraption as your power object for the coming weeks, Taurus. The most beautiful and healing melodies may come from positioning yourself so that inspiration can blow through. How might you attune yourself to the arrival of unexpected help and gifts? Set aside any tendency you might have to try too hard. Instead, allow life to sing through you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The painter Vincent van Gogh wrote, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” That’s good advice for you right now. Your ambitions may feel daunting if you imagine them as monumental and monolithic. But if you simply focus on what needs to be done next—the daily efforts, the incremental improvements—you will be as relaxed as you need to be to accomplish wonders. Remember that masterpieces are rarely completed in a jiffy. The cumulative power of steady work is potentially your superpower. Here’s another crucial tip: Use your imagination to have fun as you attend to the details.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In certain medieval maps, unexplored territories were marked with the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones— “here be dragons.” It was a warning and a dare, a declaration that no one knew what lay beyond. In the coming weeks, Leo, you may find yourself traveling into one of those unlabeled regions. Rather than flinching or dodging, invite you to press forward with respectful curiosity. Some of the so-called dragons will be figments. Others are protectors of treasure and might be receptive to sharing with a bright light like you. Either way, productive adventures are awaiting you in that unmapped territory. Go carefully—but go.

“Jonesin”

Crosswords

"Roll With It" rice to the occasion. by Matt Jones

ACROSS

1. Itinerary portion

4. Low-priced

9. Class reunion attendees

14. Prefix before skeleton

15. Throw with great effort

16. Burgundy grape

17. Windows 98 card game that as of 2005 was the most played game on Windows PCs

20. Sub tracking device

21. Sources of feta cheese

22. Thing

23. Cocoa vessel

25. Determine

27. Colorful 1980s animated series with the villain

Murky Dismal

33. Decent-sized lot

34. Introspective

35. Student stat

38. Crystal-bearing rock

40. Action suffix

41. Duplication is their name

43. ID on a 1040

44. Great song, in slang

47. Viewpoint

48. Conqueror of a mythical flying beast

50. Fireworks noise

53. Abbr. on a remote

54. Supercollider bit

55. Rainy weather wear

59. Artist Frida's artist husband

63. 1965 hit co-written by the late Brian Wilson

66. Supreme Court justice Kagan

67. "It's the Hard Knock Life" musical

68. Toothpaste variety

69. Words on some election signs

70. A bunch

71. Plastic ___ Band (Lennon group)

DOWN

1. Not as much

2. World's fair

3. Enter

4. Angel

5. One possible H in HRH

6. Simplicity

7. Admit frankly

8. Former minister of sport of Brazil

9. Fitting

10. Serve as a go-between

11. Bring together

12. Social conventions

13. Sunflower stalks

18. The ___ ("New Rose" punk band with guitarist Captain Sensible)

19. "To repeat ..."

24. Wad of gum

26. River to the underworld

27. Dish cleaners

28. Deck foursome

29. Element #26

30. Twist and squeeze

31. One of a pair of drums

32. "The Studio" star Seth

35. Slaty color

36. Prod with a stick

37. Callous boss, maybe

39. River through Spain

42. "And others," in a citation

45. Chain whose ads featured a car horn honking twice

46. Vaccine recommended for older adults

48. Double-ended game piece

49. Rustic accommodations

50. Grammy-winning Musgraves with the album "Deeper Well"

51. "___ of Two Cities"

52. Tree trunks, botanically

56. Type of exam

57. A as in A.D.

58. Oldest of the "Bob's Burgers" kids

60. Therefore

61. Country singer Campbell

62. Northerly capital city

64. Devotee

65. Assistance

CLASSIFIEDS

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I BUY CLASSIC CARS ANY CONDITION 1955- 1985: especially convertible’s and impalas 50-60s, but open to all. 4145146958 Ron

nitelife

continued...

Antrim & Charlevoix

BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX

6/22 -- 3rd Annual Longest Day w/ The Tweed Tones, Lou Thumser, Michelle Chenard, Josh Hall & Others; Benefit for Alzheimer's Assoc., 2

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM

7-10:

6/21, 6/26 & 6/28 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys

6/25 -- Patrick Ryan

6/27 -- Patrick Ryan & Friends

BOYNE RIVER INN, BOYNE CITY

6/26 -- Nelson Olstrom, 7

BRIDGE STREET TAP ROOM, CHARLEVOIX

6/24 -- Patrick Ryan, 7

CAFE SANTÉ, BOYNE CITY

7-10:

6/21 & 6/27 -- Pete Kehoe

6/28 -- Keith Scott

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS

6/28 -- Chris Michels Band, 8-11

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, BELLAIRE

6/25 -- Jelly Roll Blues Band, 6:30 6/27 -- DJ Bingo, 7-9

HOTEL EARL, CHARLEVOIX

7:30: 6/21 & 6/28 -- DJ Eli Godsey 6/27 -- DJ Parker Marshall

JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX

6/25 -- Trivia Night, 7-9

LAVENDER HILL FARM, BOYNE CITY

LOCAL GROUND, 6: 6/21 -- The North Carolines

6/28 – Steel & Wood

THE SERIES, MAIN STAGE, 7:30: 6/21 -- Barnaby Bright 6/28 – Stillhouse Junkies

LOST CELLARS WINERY, CHARLEVOIX

6/27 -- Nick Veine, 5-8

MAREK'S HARBOR GRILL, CHARLEVOIX

THE FLYBRIDGE (ROOFTOP BAR): 6/20-21 & 6/27-28 -- The Boardman River Band, 8-11

6/22 -- Lou Thumser, 7-11

6/26 -- Karaoke, 7-11

6/29 -- Ken Shepley, 7:30-11

MUSKRAT DISTILLING, BOYNE CITY 6/27 -- Eric Jaqua, 6-9

SHORT'S PUB, BELLAIRE BEER GARDEN, 7-9:30: 6/21 -- Rolling Dirty 6/27 -- StoneFolk 6/28 -- Brother Hyde

SHORT'S PULL BARN, ELK RAPIDS

6/21 -- Brian McCoskey, 7 6/22 -- A.S. Lutes Band, 7 6/26 -- Steve Brown, 6-9 6/28 -- Nathan Town Trio, 1:30-3:30; Nosey Parker, 6-8 6/29 -- Blair Miller, 2-5

SPARE KEY WINERY, CHARLEVOIX

6/21 -- Randy Reszka, 1-4

STIGGS BREWERY & KITCHEN, BOYNE CITY

6/21 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6:30-9:30

THE DAM SHOP, ELK RAPIDS PATIO, 6-9: 6/21 -- Headwaters Band

6/27 -- Drew Hale 6/28 -- Brett Mitchell

THE NEST SPORTS BAR & GRILL, THE CHIEF GOLF COURSE, BELLAIRE 6/29 -- David Lawston, 6-9

VUE WINE BAR, CHARLEVOIX 6/25 -- David Lawston, 7-9

Otsego, Crawford & Central

ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD

6-9: 6/21 -- Mike Ridley 6/27 -- Zie 6/28 -- Brian Curran

C.R.A.V.E., GAYLORD 6-9: 6/21 -- Terry Coveyou 6/28 -- Nelson Olstrom

D&K BAR & GRILL, WEST ELMIRA 6/21 & 6/28 -- Pete Fetters, 7-10

RAY'S BBQ, BREWS & BLUES, GRAYLING

4-7: 6/22 – Spencer 6/29 – Peter Jensen

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee

CHOPO'S NORTHSIDE BAR, MANISTEE

7-10: 6/27 -- Andy McQuillen 6/28 -- David Lawston

COYOTE CROSSING RESORT, CADILLAC 7:30: 6/21 -- Alex Williams

6/28 – Waylon Hanel

LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE

6/21 -- Everclear wsg Sister Hazel, 7 6/28 – Pinter Whitnick, 6-9

MANISTEE NATIONAL GOLF & RESORT

THE BACKYARD: 6/27 -- John Pomeroy, 8

NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA 6/22 -- Aaron Dye, 3

6/27 -- Liz Landry Trio, 7

6/28 -- The Go Rounds, 7

6/29 -- Full Cord, 7

THE GREENHOUSE – WILLOW/PRIMOS, CADILLAC 6/21 – Nick Veine, 7 6/28 – June Silent Disco Dance Party, 8

THE OUTSIDER, MANISTEE 6/27 -- Cheryl Wolfram, 6