In response to the May 4, 2026, column by Greg Holmes and Brenin Wertz-Roth, it seems perfectly designed to address the current occupant of the Oval Office. Though the column itself never mentions him explicitly, the in-depth characterization of a person who wants to be “right” at any cost fits like a glove. An ugly glove, to be sure, but the fit is indisputable, and I quote:
“Whether or not the normal desire to be understood turns into an abnormal, alienating need to be right depends on a person’s basic level of self-esteem. It’s not difficult to decide whether someone has an ego problem when they constantly call attention to themselves and their achievements while putting down the efforts of others.”
Sound familiar? A recent example of this twisted treatment of reality is the red necktie guy’s claim that “affordability is a hoax. A scam.” Those of us here in northern Michigan know the truth: everything is more expensive than it was before he was re-elected. Food, gas, utilities, housing, healthcare, and everything that goes into producing those essentials. Tariffs are a major cause of high prices and damaged relations with long-term allies. Then there’s the unconstitutional, illegal war in Iran that has shut down one of the most critical shipping channels on the globe and is costing us billions.
If affordability is truly a “hoax” invented by the Democrats to discredit our “thriving economy,” why are many of us feeling so much economic pain? Why do any of us still accept the verbal bullying that makes us wrong and the bully right? He’s not right. He’s lying.
Don’t believe his lies.
Greta Bolger | Thompsonville
Traverse City area
CONTENTS
features
Skegemog Gardens
Sustainable Shopping Meets High Fashion
National Parks at the Center of Debate
Growing Organically
MACD Rallying for Spring...............................
Roadless Rule in Flux.....................................
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Contributors: Ren Brabenec, Molly Cox, Anna Faller, Kierstin Gunsberg, Rachel Pasche, Stephen Tuttle, Drew VanDrie
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Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold
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this week’s
top ten
Art Against the Current Spring Flight
“In a culture driven by productivity and profit, the arts move differently, traveling upstream to protect what is human, inclusive, and deeply rooted in community.” So says the mission for the Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Summit, held May 14-15 in Traverse City at venues like City Opera House and Hotel Indigo. The summit is geared toward folks employed by arts nonprofits as well as working artists—though anyone in the creative community is welcome to attend—and will offer keynote speeches, practical workshops, live performances, and more over the course of two days. Expect conversations on topics like self-publishing, the role of arts in mental health, and art in times of trauma. Registration is $175+ fees for the public, $120+ fees for NWMIARTS members, and $25 for students. (You can also register for Friday only!) Learn more at nwmiarts.org/programs/ northwest-michigan-arts-and-culture-summit/nw-mi-arts-and-culture-summit.html.
2 tastemaker
The Bistro’s Bloody Mary Omelet
We love breakfast food, we love fun drinks, and you bet we love a bite that does both! Enter: The Bistro in Petoskey’s beloved Bloody Mary Omelet. Inspired by the classic brunch sip, this breakfast plate features a fluffy three-egg omelet stuffed with white onion, Meat Monkey’s bacon, and melty pepperjack cheese, all doused in house Bloody Mary sauce made with tomato concassé, dill pickle brine, Worcestershire, a touch of Tabasco, and loads of black pepper and spices. To finish, it’s topped with a zesty dollop of Mab’s Atomic Mustard and sliced green olives. Made even more egg-ceptional with accompanying hashbrowns and Michigan toast, this saucy little number is bloody delicious! It’s not on the daily menu though, so stay tuned to get your fix. Drink—er, we mean, eat up at 1900 US-31 N. in Petoskey. thebistropetoskey.com
Silver Spruce Brewing Co. in Traverse City hosts the 4th annual “Spring FLIGHT” benefitting North Sky Raptor Sanctuary on Thursday, May 14, from 5:30-7:30pm. While perusing items, see live raptor ambassador presentations, featuring birds of prey, and enjoy games, activities, food, and craft beverages. northskyraptor.org
4
Hey, Read It! A Widow’s Charm
EVERY MONDAY STARTING MAY 25th 12PM - 7PM
Stones and Morel Mushrooms
This weekend, we celebrate two quintessential northern Michigan favorites: the Petoskey stone and the morel mushroom! Rock hounds will head to Barnes Park Campground in Eastport for the 20th annual Petoskey Stone Festival, a free and family-friendly event that runs from 10am-4pm on May 16. Expect live music, craft vendors, and on-site food trucks alongside a celebration of our state stone. Details at petoskeystonefestival.com. To the north, the 66th annual National Morel Mushroom Festival starts May 14 with the opening of Schmidt Amusements Carnival and ends May 17 in Boyne City. In between are an arts and crafts show, a competitive mushroom hunt, and the Taste of Morels showstopper with local chefs whipping up seasonal dishes. Don’t miss other events, like painting activities for kids and adults or the Motherload Bash concert from 7-11pm on Saturday. See the full schedule at bcmorelfestival.com.
As the United States of America nears its 250th anniversary, the country is gearing up for a summer of celebrations, remembrances, and traditions. For our part, we at Northern Express want to bring together the voices of our community to answer the question, “What does it mean to be an American?” Please send responses to info@northernexpress.com with the subject line “What does it mean to be an American.” Responses must be 100 words or fewer, and you must include your full name and city/town of residence with your submission to be considered. (We’re open to many points of view, but it should go without saying that we will not print any responses with information that cannot be fact checked or that include foul language or threats.) We’ll publish as many answers as we can in our Fourth of July issue.
Stuff We Love: More Pickleball in Beulah
A grassroots nonprofit called Support the Courts—which has joined forces with Beulah Boosters—is working to raise funds to restore and expand the Village Park pickleball courts. The courts were not originally built for the fastest-growing sport in America: in fact, folks are playing on tennis courts and what used to be half a basketball court. Support the Courts’ mission is to remove and rebuild the existing (and deteriorating) dedicated courts, then to build or upgrade more space to play both pickleball and tennis in the future. For phase one of the project, they are raising $140,000, which includes a $10,000 matching challenge to drive community support. According to the nonprofit’s website, the courts at Village Park draw over 1,500 players every year, and upgrades at Northway Park are also on their to-do list. Learn more and donate at growbenzie.org/supportthecourts.
With the long wait for spring finally over, you might say Tomorrow Comes Today, which is also the newest agave cocktail at Modern Bird in Traverse City! Named for the eponymous Gorillaz tune, this Paloma-adjacent creation features the earthy-smooth duo of Suerte Blanco tequila, which is sous vide in house with local carrots, and Palomo’s joven-style mezcal. Combined with a clarified cordial of lime and lemon juices and prickly pear purée, the whole shebang is then force-carbonated for a vibrant texture bursting with bubbles. Served on the rocks with carrot-chili salt and a few sprays of zippy citrus oil, this purply potion is fresh and verdant with just a hint of rounding smoke—perfect for pairing with T-shirt weather or the supper menu’s almond-tahini cucumber salad. Don’t stop, get it, get it at 541 W Front St. modernbirdtc.com.
Whether it’s firing up the mower, dusting off your bike, or combing for beach treasures, we know there are moments you live for—and we’re here to help you reach them. From routine visits to unexpected needs, you can count on the kind of care that brings comfort, confidence, and brighter days ahead. Learn more at: munsonhealthcare.org/commitment
spectator
By steven Tuttle
Last week we took a brief look at Michigan’s Republican candidates for governor, so it’s only fair we now look at the Democrats’ far less competitive race. Or, at least it isn’t very competitive yet, but there is a significant wild card we’ll discuss later.
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited after an up-and-down tenure that saw recessions, a pandemic, and a kidnapping and assassination plot. Despite it all, Whitmer remains popular among Democrats and still has a 22 point favorable over unfavorable opinion among Michigan voters.
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist was going to be a Democratic candidate but dropped out and is now running for Secretary of State, having been nominated by the party at their convention. That leaves us with a relatively small Democratic field completely dominated by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
(We are again using polling data developed and reported by Glengariff Group, Emerson College, Mitchell Research, Rosetta Stone, and Target Insyght. The numbers were valid through the middle of April.)
Benson, with massive name recognition, is now supported by more than half eligible Democratic voters and has at least a 35 point primary race lead in every poll. She touts reform at Secretary of State offices improving both in-person and online accessibility. Same with the Department of Motor Vehicles, which her office also oversees. She promises greater transparency and accountability if elected. (Democratic candidates promise accountability and transparency the same way Republican candidates promise to reduce waste and fraud. Neither side has had much luck fulfilling those promises.)
Benson is also, fairly or not, inextricably linked to Whitmer, and it is not clear that helps among independent voters. There are also still those whining about the 2020 presidential election results in Michigan, though those results have been recounted and audited and we know, as a fact, the 2020 elections in Michigan were run professionally and fairly at every level.
Also running and resolute but facing an uphill battle is Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who promises a nonpartisan approach attempting to bridge the current partisan divide afflicting public discourse and decision making. As an example, during protest marches over the George Floyd murder, rather than a violent crackdown on demonstrators, Swanson removed his riot gear and joined the marchers, successfully defusing potential trouble. Swanson must
dramatically increase both fundraising and name recognition to have a chance.
In the same boat is Kim Thomas, a veteran who worked for the Department of Defense for 20 years as an auditor and says she “knows where the money is hidden.” She believes Michigan can do more with less tax money and wants to reform public education and move past today’s rhetoric. She has almost no name recognition and little money, so there is much work ahead for the Thomas campaign.
Which brings us to the wild card who has the potential to be a destructive card. Former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan, previously a Democrat, has decided to run for governor as an independent. He has a built-in fundraising apparatus, name recognition, and a track record. He will not have to spend time or energy on an expensive and destructive primary race, and as the first to announce his candidacy, has a head start on the rest of the field.
The second longest serving Detroit mayor ever, he was on board when the city emerged from bankruptcy, he lowered property taxes, and he wants to take credit for the city’s rebirth. He supports school choice “without vouchers” and tax incentives for new or expanding companies after they have created jobs, but not before. He says he is a pragmatic coalition builder who will appeal to the middle of a splintered populace.
In head-to-head match-ups, Jocelyn Benson fares very well against either John James or Mike Cox, likely Republican nominees. But with Duggan in the race, things tighten considerably, and Duggan could garner more than 30 percent of the vote according to some polling, though “undecided” would win if the election were held today.
Democrats fear the Duggan candidacy will siphon more votes from the Democratic nominee given Duggan’s background and hand the governor’s office to a Republican.
Though the elections, especially the August primaries, will sneak up on us quickly, we are still a long way from these races sorting themselves out. There may be withdrawals on either or both sides, the insanity that national politics has become will also play a role, and it would appear Republicans may have trouble escaping the curse of President Trump’s price wars against average folks.
The old adage that all politics are local might be put to a harsh test this year as the incompetency at all levels among both parties in Washington now infects local politics. Candidates should feel fortunate “None of the above” is not on the ballot.
THE SPRING OF MOTHERS’ DISCONTENT
GUEST OPINION
by Cathye Williams
The first day of spring is hardly ever springlike here in the northern latitudes. While we might think that “vernal equinox” sounds very sciency, we all know we’ll still be schlepping around in insulated boots and poofy coats. No one puts away their ice scrapers until well into April. I myself keep a stash of hats and mittens by the door until Memorial Day.
Mother’s Day is my season opener. Spring is nothing if not maternal, with life emerging, buzzing, chirping, and sprouting all around. I’ll watch my ancient crapapple tree burst into bloom, always fearing it will be its last. I stand under it, breathing in the sweet scent and survey the garden that’s waiting for me to get moving already.
My thoughts wander back decades to the Mother’s Days spent at my own mom’s. My siblings and I skipped the fancy brunch scene and gathered at her house for yardwork and planting. Flowers were in pots, not bouquets—they were going in the ground. Someone usually found something to grouch about, but in the end we were all okay with slightly sore muscles and taking orders from our mother.
In southern Michigan the weather was more reliably springlike, and with all of us at it the work went quickly. We’d fill our plates with comfort food and cheers to another year of getting ‘er done, thinking ahead to the untended garden beds waiting for us at home. Putzing around the yard is considered a good time in our family, and Mom was in her glory days having us along for it.
She’s been gone more than two decades now. While I rake and plant, I wonder what she would think about this spring and these most troubling times. She lived through the Great Depression and watched Americans leave home to fight in five wars, but I don’t think any of that would have prepared her for what is unfolding in our country today under MAGA rule.
It’s hard to keep these thoughts at bay, even in the places I go to escape the news—the woods, the garden, the river. The signs are everywhere that things are not normal. All over Michigan there have been record flood damages, even while many are still reeling from late winter tornadoes and ice storms. All indicators tell us this is only the beginning.
Not only do these events put our families and homes in physical danger, there are serious economic repercussions. Missed work and school disrupt the local economy. Municipalities, public utilities, home and business owners, and taxpayers all bear parts of the cost to repair buildings and infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams,
and drains) which early estimates put at over $800 million for April floods (CMU Public Media) and $200 million for the tornadoes and ice storms in March, leaving a $15 million dollar shortfall in state contingency funds. ( Detroit News, Bridge Michigan )
Scientists and other experts agree these severe weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The same climate change that the Republican administration and Congress either deny or ignore, as they cancel or delay billions in wind and solar energy projects.
The irony is that Trump’s unauthorized war has sent the price of fossil fuels—and everything they are used for—soaring. Had the clean energy projects launched during the last administration gone forward, we would be moving toward true energy independence and saving loads with solar and wind energy, now well below the cost of coal and natural gas to produce and deliver. China, on the other hand, is far less concerned with the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, because its big investment in wind power is paying off.
MAGA world’s dismissal of the risks and impacts of climate change is astoundingly tone deaf, considering that upwards 6065 percent of Americans are worried about climate change, and “a majority (6166 percent) believe climate impacts have already begun and that the environment is worsening” (Gallup News). If our government acted in response to this, like other advanced democracies that have invested in clean energy, we’d be breathing cleaner air and watching our energy costs go steadily down.
Instead, Trump started a war that, besides lives lost, is estimated to be costing the U.S. between $890 million and $2 billion per day (CNN, Center for Strategic and International Studies).
And while he’s killing innocent civilians, likely committing war crimes, threatening global security, and destroying our children’s future, he and his oil buddies are getting richer: “Oil companies are experiencing a massive profit surge, with top firms generating roughly $30 million per hour in windfall profits during the 2026 Iran conflict due to soaring energy prices” ( New York Times ).
In retrospect, I don’t really wonder what Mom would be thinking if she was here with me this Mother’ s Day. She’d be mad as hell, and she’d want to do something about it. Miss you, Maryanna…I’m on it.
Cathye Williams is a local climate activist. She writes from the northern corner of Manistee County.
TRENDS AND TIPS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN
What’s growing at Skegemog Gardens this spring
By Molly Cox
Curtis Sherwood comes from a long line of Michiganders with green thumbs. He and his wife bought Skegemog Gardens in Traverse City three years ago from his uncle, who ran the business for 27+ years.
The couple and their children live in Williamsburg on a former Christmas tree farm that was operated by Sherwood’s grandfather until the 1980s. Knowing he would take over the family business, Sherwood sold his painting company to apprentice at Skegemog Gardens with his uncle for several years before taking over the business.
“I feel that we are pretty personal with our customers,” Sherwood says. “They can come here and hang out for hours, and some people don’t even buy anything—[they] just come to check us out and see familiar faces.”
Location helps, as Skegemog is tucked between the Traverse Area District Library, The Filling Station Microbrewery, and the TART Trail, so people are always dropping by.
“We get a lot of folks who wander over from [the brewery] next door and then come back days later because they saw something they wanted while they waited for their dinner,” Sherwood says.
Skegemog Gardens sells everything a new or experienced gardener needs: annuals, perennials, trees, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and even local produce. There are nine employees who work during the season May 1-Dec 24, and the garden center is now up and running.
We spoke with Sherwood about starting a garden, what plants are in demand, and what Skegemog Gardens has to offer this year.
Trend No. 1: Growing Your Own Groceries
With the price of groceries skyrocketing over the last several years, Sherwood says he sees more customers coming in each season with an interest in growing their own food.
The most in-demand vegetable starts are easy to grow staples like tomatoes, squash, corn, and beans. Skegemog Gardens also sells lettuce bowls and herb containers that are perfect for urban gardeners with only patio space.
If you don’t have the time for or interest in gardening but still want high quality, seasonal fruits and veggies, Skegemog has a section dedicated to fresh, ready to eat produce as it becomes available.
“Once everything is growing around here, especially on the peninsula, I get a lot of local farmers’ produce [to sell],” says Sherwood.
Trend No. 2: Native Plants
Skegemog also has a selection of native plants like Michigan holly, service berries, native phlox, forsythia, and native blueberry varieties. They are limited by space, so the inventory for in-demand plants can change about every two weeks.
“In the future, I want to do a greenhouse just with native plants out on my farm, because I know a lot of folks love them,” Sherwood says.
Tip No. 1: Buy Now, Plant Soon…ish
Sherwood advises gardeners to buy the plants they want ASAP before Skegemog sells out. However, he recommends you keep delicate starts inside and wait to plant them until after Memorial Day to avoid killing frosts. On the flip side, radishes, beets, and turnips can all be planted relatively early compared to other vegetables.
Here’s his timeline:
• Late spring: Vegetable starts (get your tomatoes!), garden phlox, forsythia bushes, peonies (available at the garden center mid-May)
• Summer: Herbs like rosemary and creeping thyme
• Early fall: pumpkins, spring blooming bulbs, and cool weather blooming flowers like pansies and mums
Tip No. 2: Do Your Homework
“For a first-time gardener, I would say don’t try to grow the prettiest things, because they’re most likely some of the harder things to grow,” says Sherwood. He advises customers to do a little research before they plant so they are informed about the species they want to grow, because not all plants work for all spaces.
Conveniently, the nearby Traverse Area District Library has a ton of free resources for gardeners, including books, workshops, and even a seed library.
Tip No. 3: Think Long-Term
Sherwood says gardeners should also consider the maintenance and pruning that certain plants require before buying. A flowering bush that looks lovely and is full of blooms when you purchase it can get out of control after several years of neglect or fail to bloom without the right lighting conditions.
“Especially around town, a lot of people need shade plants because there are so many big trees,” Sherwood adds. “We keep a lot of shade perennials in stock.”
Tip No. 4: Take a Picture
Last but not least, Sherwood recommends bringing photos of your potential planting sites to Skegemog Gardens so the expert staff can help you choose plants that will thrive there.
“Anything we can do to help with your garden, anything you can’t find, call us and we can help find it and research it with you as best we can,” he says.
Stop by Skegemog Gardens at 648 Railroad Place in Traverse City. You can also follow them on Facebook for updates.
Stocking the Greenhouses
Garden centers like Skegemog stock their stores based on sales from past years and begin preparing to open months in advance. Sherwood says he also looks for plants that are new and/or unique each year.
“We’re always getting new hydrangeas in; that’s one of our big sellers,” he says. “As far as annuals go, this year we also found a new grower for lisianthus, which is a really cool flower that’s pretty unique.”
Along with getting the greenhouses and property ready to welcome back customers, Sherwood places orders with 17 different vendors to get the best variety of Michigan-grown plants. Sherwood says they purchase most of their stock from local farmers like Weesies Brothers in Manistee and Mischel’s Greenhouses in Williamsburg, for example. “I try to keep all my employees informed on everything we have [in stock]; it’s a lot to take in,” Sherwood says.
Deliver y is an option for shoppers, and Skegemog Gardens staff can recommend companies who will do the planting for you as well. “We have a couple local arborists and landscapers that we point people to. We’re always looking for other, reputable folks to leave their card here.”
Sustainable Shopping Meets High (and Fun) Fashion
The third annual Traverse City Fashion Weekend
By Rachel Pasche
Traverse City Fashion Weekend is a celebration of old-fashioned fashion. Not fast fashion rooted in trends that could change by the next month, but timeless styles sourced with intention.
Creators Katie Asher, Grace Guba, and Lizzie Lane are all passionate about sourcing clothing from consignment and thrift stores, as well as small vendors who handmake their own apparel. They say this dedication to sustainable fashion helps their personal styles shine through, with benefits for the planet to match.
This year’s Fashion Weekend (May 15-17) includes the third iteration of the sustainable fashion show, a handmade and consignment clothing market, and a clothing swap.
Working Together
Grace Guba’s mother, owner of Impres Salon, used to put on popular fashion shows in the 2000s at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa that showcased local businesses and clothing. Growing up helping out with and attending these fashion shows inspired Guba to start something of her own. When she brought the idea to Lizzie Lane, it stuck, and the two began planning.
“We wanted to create an experience that sort of taps into the global fashion industry. Fashion is an embodied experience, and finding unique items can really make a difference. Thrifting is a way to find your personal style,” Guba says.
“I love community events,” Lane says. “There’s so much local talent here, and I really wanted to help showcase how much TC has going on in terms of people who make clothes and our vintage clothing options. I wanted to help inspire people to shop locally and support those small businesses.”
They reached out to Katie Asher, the owner of slip.vintage, who had been toying with a similar idea herself for some time and immediately agreed to join the two.
Asher went to school for fashion design and always thought she’d open her own clothing store. The more she learned about the modern fashion industry, the more she realized how damaging it was to the environment and consumers.
“I realized I probably couldn’t in good conscience open a store that sold new things. I believed we already had everything we needed, fashion-wise. I already collected vintage and secondhand clothing, and one day the thought came to me: what if I just expanded my collection and started buying things for other people, not just for myself? So slip.vintage started, mostly as a side hustle, but then it grew until I was able to get my own storefront,” Asher says.
Celebrating in Style
The fashion show is now in its third year, with a track record of sold-out tickets, growing attendance, and more ways for attendees to explore sustainable fashion. This year, guests are encouraged to wear something in their closet that they can never find an occasion for, whether that’s a fancy cocktail dress, an exotic jacket, or a pair of jeans they’ve been waiting to debut. There will be a photo backdrop and a professional photographer for the guests to showcase their ensembles.
“This event inspires people to dress up in a fun outfit and wear it out! In this small town, there aren’t opportunities for that. I think people are excited to attend an event where they can be creative, authentic, and dress up in outfits they wouldn’t normally get to wear,” Guba says.
Lane’s motivation runs along the same lines. “We really want to promote authenticity and to inspire people to dress up in ways that make them feel good, rather than following trends and buying fast fashion. Most of the fast fashion textiles end up in landfills, and we want to encourage people to wear things that they want to hold on to,” Lane echoes.
The programming reflects that ethos from the ground up. This year’s fashion show features 10 different vendors, each styling six models across categories like avant-garde, swimwear, and everyday wear. Guba will be part of the hair team, helping style the models with looks that are both accessible and fun.
After the show on Friday, Saturday’s market gives people the opportunity to shop the looks they saw at the show the night before, plus check out other offerings from the vendors (vendors from previous years will be in attendance, too). There will also be aura readings from Open Aura, a mocktail bar from MixingMuse, live music from Agnes Su, and more. The market will run from 11am–6pm, hosted in the same space as the fashion show (Front Row Centre Atrium, 121 E Front St., Traverse City)
To close out the weekend, there will be a free clothing swap at slip.vintage, where anyone is welcome, whether they bring clothes to swap or not. Donate your gently used clothes and find something new and fabulous to take home with you! The swap runs from 11am–2pm.
Learn more at instagram.com/tcfashionwknd/.
Tallula Morrison at Viking Sister Photography
What Fashion Means to You
We asked each of the Fashion Week team members to share how they approach fashion, shopping, or thrifting.
Lizzie Lane: “Grace and I have had a similar ethos when it comes to style. Not caring what people think and dressing for ourselves, dressing in ways that we think are fun. We’re letting our inner child out.”
Grace Guba: “What is your why? When you’re buying for your personal brand, why is that? When you’re choosing clothing, why did you choose that? I’m not saying everyone should shop locally, but what is the message you send when you choose local versus when you don’t? We want to inspire people to feel awesome in what they’re wearing and to encourage authenticity.”
Katie Asher: “There can be a stigma around thrifting or shopping consignment that things are going to look shabby, and this fashion show challenges that. Thrifting clothing can be sleek, elegant, and timeless. It can be funky and bold, unique, and classic. Shopping for thrifted clothes can be a great way to discover your own individual style; you’re not going to look or dress like everyone else, and that’s a good thing.”
Lane and Guba
National Parks at the Center of Debate
Over How to Tell America’s Story
The Trump administration is rewriting signage at federal parks, but historians are pushing back
By Ren Brabenec
About 10 percent of Michigan land is managed by the federal government, with nearly 3.6 million acres maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service (NPS). Most of this land is untouched wilderness, a pride and joy for hunters, foragers, and backcountry campers.
Some federal lands in Michigan have been carefully developed into popular park sites, designed to celebrate and preserve natural, cultural, and historical wonders like Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, Keweenaw’s Copper Mines, Isle Royale, the River Raisin Battlefield Site, and more.
When exploring the trails, boardwalks, and byways of these parks, one will inevitably find the wayside signs: large-format outdoor panels used by the NPS to help visitors interpret landscapes, cultural sites, historical events, and the environment.
But, if the Trump Administration perseveres in lawsuits filed against its May 2025 “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” Executive Order (EO), many of the signs could be rewritten.
Interpreting History
2026 is the United States Semiquincentennial, or the nation’s 250th year since the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. Historical societies across the nation are gearing up for the big celebration, and many historians believe that how we interpret the past contributes to how we lay the foundation for our future.
“We’re always talking about interpretation when it comes to history,” says Kim Kelderhouse, executive director of the Leelanau Historical Society (LHS). “History is not chemistry. There are hard truths, yes, but we are always analyzing historical events and learning more about them, and as we learn, our perspective shifts and we’re able to craft a better understanding of what happened.”
Kelderhouse says that every historical analysis has some bias or slant, but
federal institutions like the NPS and the Smithsonian are, by and large, very credible and trustworthy. She worries that the Administration’s EO seeks to fundamentally change how federal agencies like the NPS and Smithsonian interpret history, to the point where entire chapters of America’s story won’t be told accurately, if at all.
Kelderhouse pulls up the EO and quotes a line from it. “‘President Trump further ordered that the Secretary [of the Department of the Interior] shall take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department’s jurisdiction do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.’”
Text Targeted for Removal
At the time of this writing, a new resource, missingparkhistory.org, has blown the whistle on the Trump Administration’s targeting of 443 signs within federally-managed parks across the nation. In Michigan, 17 signs across six parks have been flagged by the administration as being in contravention of the EO.
To give readers context on what types of language the administration considers disparaging or inappropriate for public consumption, we located examples of specific text on wayside signs that the administration has flagged for heavy editing or complete removal:
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: “During the 1800s, the various communities of Ottawa/Odawa in Northern Michigan had to make difficult choices in order to stay in their ancestral homelands. Federal Indian removal policies were meant to move them west of the Mississippi River. The growing number of Euro-American settlers wanted their lands. Diseases were devastating
all tribal populations. Yet despite these immense obstacles, the Odawa maintained a place at home here.”
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: “Increasing occurrences of volatile weather, due to climate change, is impacting this beach and others throughout the park.”
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: “Seeds of invasive plants stick to your shoes. Walking off boardwalks and designated trails spreads invasive species that crowd out native plants.”
River Raisin National Battlefield Park: “Facing U.S. expansion in the early 1800s, diverse Native Nations united under Shawnee war chief Tecumseh. This Native Confederation, the largest organized Indigenous resistance ever, fought to protect their families, lands, and traditions against U.S. encroachment during the War of 1812.”
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: “The Anishinaabeg people (or Ojibwe) have lived here for centuries. Despite colonization and forced removal from their homeland, their
connection with this place endures. Their deep knowledge and commitment to these plants, animals, and living waters form the foundation of Anishinaabeg culture.”
Isle Royale National Park: “Marine debris is entirely preventable. This is a global problem caused by people, and we can be the solution.”
Telling the Full Story
Kelderhouse says the EO is an affront to the American people, as it suggests Americans can’t handle hard truths or the occasionally grim realities of the nation’s past and how those realities influence the present.
Critically, the EO isn’t saying that the current NPS signage is factually wrong or even misleading. It just says signage should be removed when it “disparages” past Americans in relation to indigenous displacement or the transatlantic slave trade. Similarly, when it comes to the
A sign in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that has text targeted for removal.
A sign in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that has text targeted for removal.
environment and park landscapes, the EO isn’t saying climate change or invasive species aren’t real; rather, it says NPS signage should focus on the beauty of American landscapes, not on how humanity is contributing to a changing environment that may harm or permanently change those landscapes.
“Furthermore, studies consistently show the American people want to know the full story,” Kelderhouse adds. She refers us to the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH), which has published studies on the subject.
According to the AASLH, 78 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Republicans “… support the appropriateness of confronting painful history. Asked whether it was acceptable to make learners uncomfortable by teaching the harm some people have done to others, over three-fourths of respondents said it was.”
A Local Victory
To the point of Americans being ready to learn the hard truths of the nation’s 250-year-long story, Kelderhouse talked about how LHS has been collaborating with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on an extensive research and documentary film project about one of the first African American families to homestead in Leelanau County, Anna and Levi Johnson.
“We were ready to premiere The Search for Anna & Levi: A Lost History of Black Homesteaders in Leelanau County, around the same time the Trump Administration handed down its EO, and we were a bit nervous,” Kelderhouse says. “But we’ve shown the film about six times to packed audiences with standing room only, and we haven’t gotten a single negative comment. We think that’s because the core of the film and its message is about coming together and healing past wounds. Anna and Levi Johnson were
former slaves who persisted against nearly insurmountable obstacles to come to Leelanau, own land, farm it, develop a homestead, and make a free life for themselves.”
The film was just one part of LHS’s campaign to document African American history in Leelanau County. LHS also worked closely with the Park Service at Sleeping Bear on drafting, designing, and writing text for a new wayside sign to be installed in the park. The sign describes the family and identifies the site of the Johnson’s homestead. The sign has not yet been installed, but it was printed and unveiled at the documentary premiere in February 2025.
Any new signage placed in national parks must receive approval from the Department of the Interior, and Kelderhouse tells us the sign is currently pending approval for installation.
Kelderhouse says she’s optimistic the sign will be approved, but even if it isn’t, the sign will likely find an alternative home at LHS.
Because LHS is an independent nonprofit, it can fill in the gaps and tell the stories the federal government does not.
“The Leelanau Historical Society’s mission is to preserve and share history of the Leelanau peninsula for future generations,” Kelderhouse says in closing. “The ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History’ executive order is in conflict with our mission and the best practices upheld by history professionals, and because of that it is not something we can support.”
Kelderhouse continues, “The LHS deeply values and respects our colleagues at Sleeping Bear, and know that we share many common priorities as servants of the greater good and stewards of history. We always appreciate opportunities to collaborate with Sleeping Bear on historical research, events, and projects like the Port Oneida Fair and the The Johnson Family interpretive wayside.”
The Johnson family sign was revealed at the documentary screening in 2025.
Growing Organically
How an animator and architect launched Petoskey’s first certified organic farm
By Kierstin Gunsberg
“There was no time to lose, no time to waste in rest or play,” wrote Laura Ingalls Wilder in 1933’s Farmer Boy. “The life of the earth comes up with a rush in the springtime.”
A lot has changed in the century since the children’s classic was published, but the rush to prep their soil and plot their summer harvest after a long, cold winter remains for northern Michigan farmers like Anne and Brian Bates.
This time of year, the Bates, who own Bear Creek Organic Farm in Petoskey, wake just before the sun to tend their 75 acres, eight of which are fruit, veggie, and herb crops. Around 8am their farm crew arrives to help gather from the greenhouses.
“We usually harvest microgreens, spinach, or lettuce first,” says Brian. Then, it’s onto the basil, cilantro, dill, and edible flowers they’ll package to sell at their year-round, onsite market or incorporate into the dishes they dole out at their seasonal food truck.
Later, with their three children in tow, Brian and Anne will trail down row after row, watering hundreds of thousands of baby plants—something they do twice a day to prepare for the coming months of growth.
“Some of [the kids’] earliest memories are being carried through the greenhouse as we watered the plants,” says Anne. “No matter what they choose to do when they grow up, we hope that they see their early years on the farm as an absolute blessing.”
Never Say Never
Unlike Almanzo, the main character and “farmer boy” of Wilder’s book, Anne and Brian aren’t generational farmers, and they hadn’t really even spent much time on farms
before launching their own.
In fact, the crux of Bear Creek Organic’s lore is that if the two hadn’t met by happenstance in 2007 on a college campus in Wisconsin—back when Anne was pursuing a career in animation and Brian was getting ready to study landscape architecture—the farm wouldn’t exist at all. Their college years led Brian, who began volunteering on an organic vegetable farm, and Anne to become more concerned about the environment and conservation.
So by the time the pair married in 2013, they were also celebrating the simultaneous milestone of purchasing 75 acres of land with the hope of giving sustainable, organic farmsteading a serious go. “We felt like food was a good place to put our energy,” says Brian.
Thinking they’d just soak up the beauty and peace of rural northern Michigan while producing their own food and selling whatever was left over, the Bates had no idea that over the next decade they’d end up building an operation that sees anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 annual visitors, sells more than 90 percent of its offerings within a 12 mile radius, and takes a rotating crew of 12-30 employees (depending on the time of year)—plus a couple of orange tabby cats named Frick and Frack—to pull it all off.
Then again, as Brian says, he and Anne both have a never-say-never attitude.
Which is probably why, after six and a half years of selling their bounty at farm markets and setting up and tearing down up to three times a week in sticky summer heat (while also wholesaling their brand to grocery stores), the Bates saw COVID lockdown limbo as a chance to rethink their trajectory. Worried about how long the pandemic would hurt the farm markets
they’d planned the majority of their business around, they built a temporary market right there on their own farm.
It was such a hit with the community that the wholesale side of things became too much to juggle, and in a if-you-build-itthey-will-come move, the Bates decided to expand the public side of their farm rather than continuing to spread themselves thin across outside endeavors.
A food truck offering a menu sourced from the farm—like fries made of organic heirloom potatoes—that was added directly across from the market in 2024, a kids’ play area with swings and tractor tires, and three greenhouses have made Anne and Brian’s farm into a day trip for both tourists and locals, the latter of which make up 85 percent of their annual business.
Farming Against the Forecast
For many northern Michiganders, one of the sweetest rewards for getting to the other side of April is the opening of farm stands
and markets. But as year-round farmers, getting to the other side of April for Anne and Brian means battling the snow, ice, and freezing rain Mother Nature sends their way for nearly half the year. (That’s to say nothing of the super-short growing season and subsequent super-short customer traffic season, both of which last only from around May through October.)
And despite the last 13 years resulting in a huge loyal following and scenes of overflowing success—piles of butternut squash, ruby red apples, and sunset hued peaches fill their Instagram grid—it hasn’t been without trials and sometimes even heartbreak.
“Farming Up North is definitely overidealized,” says Brian. As newbies he and Anne received a crash course in the realities of winter-farming, like the time they tried building their first greenhouse during 2013/2014’s polar vortex. “It was a catastrophe,” he says. “Every time we got started, it snowed in.” Then there was the time they bought their own plow truck
to clear the way as snow blanketed their property, only to have AAA pull them out of their own driveway ditch twice that winter. “We’ve gotten smarter now,” says Brian.
But even after buying a bigger truck with a bigger plow and sowing years of salad greens and tomatoes, which make up most of their cash crops, some things can’t be outwitted.
The ice storm of 2025, which created $137 million dollars in damage across the state, was “easily our darkest moment on the farm,” says Brian. “Sometimes it feels like we really shouldn’t keep growing through the winter.” It’s something he and Anne waffled on for a couple years, ultimately deciding to stay open six days a week, growing smaller yields and stocking their market with fresh pies, produce, homegrown freezer meals, and
Bear Creek Organic Farm has been certified organic since 2013 and became Michigan’s first B-Corp status farm in 2020. Anne and Brian explain what that means, and why being “unconventional” isn’t really all that radical after all (or at least, shouldn’t be).
Express: You’re a 100 percent USDA Organic and B Corp Certified farm. Walk us through how that looks.
staple ingredients throughout the off season in order to literally weather it out for the locals who shop their market for everyday groceries.
Being present for their Petoskey community, whether by hosting field trips for college students or buying back Halloween candy from kids (who get a store credit in lieu of the candy that’s shipped to soldiers overseas) is what’s motivated the Bates to keep on keepin’ on even when times are tough.
At the end of the day, all their best moments, both as a family and as business owners have happened right there on the farm. “It sounds cheesy,” Brian says. “But it’s really true.”
Find Bear Creek at 4012 Atkins Rd. in Petoskey. bearcreekorganicfarm.square.site
Brian: Being USDA Organic requires that we avoid the use of conventional chemical sprays and synthetic fertilizers while focusing on building our soil health and promoting biodiversity. It’s a whole-systems approach to managing our farm’s relationship with nature. That “USDA Organic” label is also one of the only legally binding labels that can be placed on food packaging.
As for the B Corp status, the certification process is easily the most rigorous inspection we’ve ever been through [Note: businesses have to score at least an 80 out of 200 points in the B Corp assessment; Bear Creek currently lands at 105.2 28 days of audits, external reviews, interviews, and document submissions where they examined every aspect of our business from supply chain and wages to our environmental impact and fair labor practices.
Express: What exactly does it mean to practice organic farming vs. conventional farming?
Brian: Organic farming is the conventional, historical, cultural way to grow food. For 99 percent of human history, all farming has been organic. It’s been less than 100 years of chemical farming—how the chemical farmers have co-opted the term “conventional” is beyond me. What sets us apart from chemical farming is that we don’t use synthetic inputs. We don’t use GMO seeds, forever chemicals, petroleumbased fertilizers, or any fungicides or herbicides. When we grow and harvest our crops, we can walk through our fields and pick fruit off the plant whenever we want.
Express: What motivated you to be this kind of farm?
Anne: For us, we got into the world of business and sustainability to walk the walk. A lot of people talk the talk, but we’ve been committed to walking the walk from day one. If we want to build a better future, we can’t sacrifice working conditions or environmental standards in the name of financial gains. We need to achieve business success with healthy working conditions, healthy environmental stewardship, and positive business relationships.
An aerial view of the farm.
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts Rallying for Spring
From fighting hemlock pests to landowner education, here’s what the MACD is doing this season
By Drew VanDrie
The wide-lens view of conservation may conjure images of massive preserves, sweeping initiatives, and prominent figures like Muir and Roosevelt. But if you zoom in a bit, you’ll find that the day-to-day impactful work of conservation considering soil health, water quality, forestry management, and more is happening much closer to home.
Supporting much of this essential conservation is the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). Northern Express had the opportunity to connect with MACD Executive Director Rivka Hodgkinson and Adrienne Wolff, vice chair of the Northwest Lower Peninsula of the MACD State Council, to discuss the larger initiatives, challenges, triumphs, and the conservation work across Michigan.
Natural History
The creation of conservation districts and state associations did not come about until the 20th century.
“Conservation districts were formed in 1937 following the Dust Bowl,” says Hodgkinson. “And pretty shortly thereafter
in the early ’40s, state associations were formed to provide support for those districts across the United States.”
Today, there is a state association in every state across the U.S. with a total of around 3,000 conservation districts nationwide.
“Here in Michigan, we have 75 conservation districts that cover all 83 counties in the state,” Hodgkinson adds.
MACD offers training, tools, advocacy, and support to all those conservation districts. “We are helping districts both collectively work together on natural resource issues, as well as coordinate with partners and state and local government entities and be able to help them address funding concerns, technology needs, training needs, for all of the districts in the state,” Hodgkinson says.
One of the major events for bringing conservation districts together is the MACD Annual Conference. Held this past December in Bellaire, the event brings in a variety of stakeholders including conservation districts, state partners from Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), and federal partners from the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The multi-day event is centered around networking, training and improved coordination of effort.
This past year there were about 75 speakers, offering training tracks that were related to “everything from administrative operational management within the districts, to specific natural resources concerns like invasive species and soil health and everything in between,” says Hodgkinson.
Beyond the annual conference MACD also continues coordinated efforts with MDARD and other partners to support regional training throughout the state and is a strong advocate and ally for conservation district funding. “We do a lot of conversations with our legislators here in the state of Michigan,” says Hodgkinson. “Helping them understand what the work is that conservation districts do and how they fit into that system, and advocating for additional state funding for operation funds for conservation districts.”
Top of the List: The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Among a multitude of conservation targets there are several key initiatives that
MACD and conservation districts focus on.
“One of the things I like to say is if it has to do with soil, water, or species, conservation districts probably have their hands in it somewhere,” says Hodgkinson. “It can be out on a farm, or it could be a rural green space initiative. Or it could be in a city working on water education for the community. So it’s a really wide diverse range of things conservation districts do.”
For northern lower Michigan, Hodgkinson points to forested land as a major area of focus for conservation in the region. “Upstate is for sure forestry and everything related to forestry,” she says. From invasive species, management plans, and education and promotion, the health of the northwoods is a central objective of regional conservation districts.
One foe threatening the ecological health of these woodlands is the hemlock woolly adelgid. According to the invasive species info from michigan.gov, this pest damages eastern hemlock trees by sucking the sap from the needles which can result in tree death within a few years if left untreated.
“We’re trying to keep it from moving north,” says Hodgkinson. “The hemlock
Saplings are wrapped before being transported for spring planting.
groves up north are really valuable and important.” And that’s where the coordination of conservation districts can make a large impact. “My home district here in Ottawa County has been working very hard to hold the line—to keep those pests from moving north,” she explains. “Sometimes things that conservation districts are doing in other areas of the state are also helping their neighbors with some of those needs.”
Looking Ahead
MACD and conservation districts are looking to the future, preparing strategies for more wide reaching issues like climate change, increased storm severity, and preserving water quality.
“Conservation practices are a really vital protectant against some of those bigger picture issues,” Hodgkinson says. “One of the impacts of climate change is more severe weather and storms. So having really thoughtful and intentional conservation plans on your property that do things like plant a row of trees in strategic locations to help prevent some of those wind gusts.”
Hodgkinson also points to cover crops, which provide root systems that limit the impact of heavier rain and allows water to return to aquifers.
These strategies are not novel concepts.
“Everything that is old is new again,” says Hodgkinson. “A lot of the things that we’ve been doing at conservation districts for the last 80 years are the exact things that we need to have higher levels of adoption.”
It takes wide support and intentional effort to make these strategies effective, so conservation districts are always reaching out to a broad group of stakeholders.
“One of the unique things about conservation districts is that we’re working directly with private land owners,” says Hodgkinson. “Our real sweet spot is helping provide assistance to those private landowners. Seventy-two percent of our land in Michigan is privately owned, so when you don’t reach out to the community and have those conversations with individuals, we’re missing a huge piece of our resource concerns.”
But the number one issue on the minds of folks at MACD is funding.
“Michigan funds its conservation districts at a lower level than any of the other Great Lakes states,” says Hodgkinson. “We provide $3 million in operational funds, which divided by 75 districts means every district only has $40,000 of operational funds,” she says.
Hodgkinson notes that some neighboring
states like Ohio fund its conservation districts at $15 million and that such support can lead to other and greater investments, community support, better infrastructure, and greater capacity for accomplishing the range of conservation needed in Michigan.
“Michigan is a really critically important state from a resource standpoint,” says Hodgkinson. “The Great Lakes, our agricultural diversity, our forested land species, and ecosystem diversity are all really important resources worth protecting, and we need additional investment in order to get behind that in order to meet those needs.”
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
For our specific neck of the woods, local farmer and vice chair of the Northwest Lower Peninsula of the MACD State Council Adrienne Wolff points to positive trends with community engagement regarding invasive species management and youth education.
“Conservation district invasive species management programs are phenomenal at public outreach and getting communities engaged in their work in Northern Michigan,” she tells us, noting that the involvement of the public aids in earlier detection, more rapid treatment, better response, and eradication of possible pests.
Wolff provides one example in which Antrim County partnered with CAKE CISMA (Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska and Emmet Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area).
“A community member who attended an outreach event about hemlock wooly adelgid went home and spotted infested hemlocks on their property.”
Wolff also points to the popularity of the environmental education programming put on through the Grand Traverse Conservation District and how the camps for children sell out within minutes on registration day. “The year-round programming of the GTCD is a blueprint for communities to successfully and enthusiastically connect children— and adults!—to the natural world around them,” she says.
Conservation districts are leaders in clearing out invasive species from local woodlands and trails.
Find something fresh
THE NEXT CHAPTER FEELS LIKE HOME
Special Delivery
When Ashley Blair boarded her flight to Portland, Oregon, she was about 38 weeks pregnant. By the time the plane landed, she was a new mom. Brielle Renee Blair was born on April 24 on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland, the Associated Press reported. Two passengers, paramedics Tina Fritz and Kaarin Powell, helped deliver the baby. With limited supplies available on board, Fritz and Powell had to improvise. They gathered blankets from other passengers and even shoelaces, to tie off the umbilical cord. Blair gave three "super, really good pushes, and the baby came out really quickly," Fritz said. "It was nice. ... Baby pinked up right away. She was gorgeous. Mom was a rock star." Personnel from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue "found the mother and baby healthy, and the new family was transported to a local hospital for observation," Port of Portland spokesperson Molly Prescott said. [AP, 4/28/26]
Unleash the Bees
Rebecca Woods, 59, of Massachusetts, was found guilty of assault and battery after unleashing hives of bees on officers who were in the process of evicting a friend of hers, The Guardian reported on April 28. One officer had to be hospitalized and others were stung repeatedly. In addition, Woods lost about a thousand bees in the kerfuffle. Some were crushed by the hives as she tried to move them, and some were female honeybees that perished after employing their stingers. Woods' lawyer, Mary Saldarelli, said that Woods' own experiences with being evicted compelled her to intervene on her friend's behalf, a cancer patient in his 80s. The man was not at home when Woods unleashed her bees, having gone to the library to try to find information about halting the eviction. Woods was sentenced to six months in jail. [The Guardian, 4/28/26]
Meanwhile, in Arizona, two men were attacked by what sheriff's deputies called a "moving black cloud of hundreds of thousands of angry bees," People Magazine reported on April 29. The Greenlee County Sheriff's Office described the men as "completely covered head to toe in bees." Firefighters donned protective gear, but the bees still managed to sting several on their heads. No ambulances were available, so the men got a ride to the hospital in the fire truck while firefighters picked the bees off them. Officials were unable to locate a hive, and suspect the bees were part of a migrating swarm. Both men have been released from the hospital. [People, 4/29/26]
Oddly Specific
A speed limit sign in Appleton, Wisconsin, is giving motorists pause. UPI reported on April 29 that the Outagamie County Recycling and Solid Waste announced their new speed limit: 17.3 miles per hour. Program Coordinator Jordan Hiller hopes the sign is just disruptive enough to make drivers slow down and be more aware of their surroundings. "Why 17.3? Because it makes you pause. It makes you look twice. And most importantly, it breaks that 'autopilot' feeling we can all
fall into when driving familiar routes," the recycling center said in a social media post. [UPI, 4/29/26]
Hole-y Ground
Christine Keilback, 58, of Manitoba, found herself in a hole, UPI reported on April 28. No, really, an actual hole. She had just stepped out of her friends' car when she fell feet first into a hole in the ground. Buried up to her armpits, she waved at passersby and had her friends snap photos while they waited for Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to rescue her. "When they came around, it was quite surprising to find my head and shoulders just above the ground. The ground had just given away very fast. I have no recollection of the fall. It just happened very quickly," Keilback said. Paramedics used a harness to pull Keilback out of the hole, and she made it out unharmed. City officials who surveyed the situation determined that the hole was not a sinkhole as suspected, but a catch basin with a missing cover. They found another coverless basin nearby as well. "I mow the lawn there," she said of the second hole. "I mean, it could have happened [again]. Wouldn't that have been something?" Both holes have since been covered. [UPI, 4/28/26]
Shell Game
A 19-year-old Taiwanese woman attempted to board her plane in Bangkok with an unusual carry-on item: 30 Indian star tortoises, worth $9,000, strapped under her clothing. Yahoo News reported that Thai authorities grew suspicious of her movements, and a search uncovered the protected species. "The suspect had used adhesive tape to immobilize the animals, packed them into cloth bags and attached them to her body to evade detection," Thailand's wildlife conservation department said. The passenger was charged with illegally transporting animals and evading customs controls, and given the preponderance of wildlife smugglers who use Thailand as a transportation hub to sell endangered animals on the black market, authorities are investigating whether she could be linked to a larger smuggling ring. The tortoises are under the care of wildlife conservation officials. [Yahoo!, 4/30/26]
Crying Wolf
A 40-year-old South Korean man could spend five years in prison and pay a fine of $6,700 for using AI to create an image of a wolf roaming the streets of Daejeon. A wolf named Neukgu escaped from the Daejeon Zoo in South Korea, Oddity Central reported on April 30. A South Korean man heard the news and used a prompt to create an AIgenerated image of Neukgu. The fabricated image spread rapidly, and authorities closed schools and sent emergency teams to the area. Neukgu was eventually found just outside of Daejeon, but authorities believe it could have been captured much earlier had it not been for the AI shenanigans. "A single AI-manipulated image delayed the wolf's capture by up to nine days," they said. "The prolonged deployment of police and firefighters caused significant disruptions to their primary duty of protecting the public."
[Oddity Central, 4/30/26]
BOATER SAFETY CLASSES
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD
BOATER SAFETY COURSE
Saturday • April 18
Saturday • May 16
Saturday • June 6
9am - 5pm
Get your boat knowledge up to speed - it’s all about keeping you and your vessel safe on the water! This boater safety class is for recreational boaters ages 12 and older. Topics covered include boating safety and safety equipment, emergency procedures, navigation rules and aids, and boating regulations.
NAVIGATIONAL AND GPS CHARTING COURSE
Tuesday May 19, 5pm 9am - 5pm
Explore the ins and outs of finding your way around using modern technology on the water! Learn how to interpret a nautical chart and navigate on the Great Lakes using basic coastal piloting techniques. You will also learn about basic GPS and navigational skills, and how to use computer electronic charts.
<< Scan here for more details and to reserve space!
MARINER KNOTS, BOAT RADIO & WEATHER COURSE
Thursday • May 7, 6pm
Join us for a fun and informative evening learning all about mariner knots, boat radio, and weather! Whether you’re a seasoned boater or just getting started, this event is perfect for anyone wanting to brush up on their skills or learn something new.
PADDLE SAFETY COURSE
Wednesday May 27, 6pm
Learn from the best about how to safely operate your kayak in and around the Northern Great Lakes! Topics will include weather conditions important to paddlers, info on life jackets, prevention of hypothermia, types of kayaks, important paddle and safety equipment, and planning a safe day trip.
ROADLESS RULE IN FLUX
The future of land management is uncertain amidst sweeping changes in the National Forest Service
By Ren Brabenec
The Great Lakes State is also the Great Forest State, because, according to the Environment Research & Policy Center, Michigan has more national forest land than any state east of the Mississippi River at a whopping 3 million acres.
Yet, on June 23, 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump Administration planned to roll back protections for at least 45 million acres of forestland across the country by rescinding a 25-year-old policy called the “Roadless Rule.”
What is the Roadless Rule?
Implemented in 2001 by the U.S. Forest Service, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule designated about 60 million acres of national forest land as “inventoried roadless areas.” These areas were protected by the federal government imposing significant limitations on the construction of new roads into and through the forests for the purposes of logging and mining operations.
The Roadless Rule came about at the turn of the century as a result of growing public sentiment that some national forests needed to be kept fully undeveloped and wild. National forests in decades past had experienced significant wildlife habitat loss and degradation of clean water due to mining, industrial logging, and clearcutting. By 1990, 380,000 miles of roads spanned the National Forest System, most of it built with federal subsidies to support timber production.
According to Pew Research, about 77 percent of likely voters believe that “conserving national forests and other roadless lands for current and future generations is paramount,” and only 11 percent believe that “roadless areas should be made available for timber harvesting and mining.”
If the rule is repealed, about 16,000 acres of national forest land in Michigan could be stripped of roadless protections.
From the Desk of Forest Service Employees at Huron-Manistee National Forest
As alarming as many found the Administration’s 2025 announcement, staffers at National Forest Service offices across Michigan attempted to offer a balanced perspective on the proposed shift.
First, we checked in with Eric Adams, Public Affairs Staff Officer for the Forest Service stationed at Huron-Manistee National Forest.
“The intent behind the proposed rescission of the national Roadless Rule is to remove a blanket national requirement and return decision-making for the management of inventoried roadless areas to the local decision-making process as part of individual national forest and grassland plans,” Adams says. “Forest and grassland plan development includes robust public involvement and focus on land management decisions at the appropriate scale.”
Adams also emphasizes that the majority of inventoried roadless areas are located in the western U.S. and Alaska, though he
did contend that a portion of the forests he works in could be affected by a rescission.
“Within Michigan, inventoried roadless areas are roughly 0.5 percent of the 2.9 million acres of National Forest System lands,” he says. “For example, in the HuronManistee National Forest, designated roadless areas are primarily within the 3,915-acre Bear Swamp Roadless Area in Mason and Lake Counties.”
Huron-Manistee National Forest welcomes 1.8 million visitors annually, and it generates about $96.9 million in regional economic activity. Rich in mature hardwood and conifer swamps, the Bear Swamp Roadless Area provides critical habitat for endangered and threatened species like the rusty-patched bumblebee, eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, northern longeared bat, least bittern, and wood turtles.
From the Desk of Forest Service Rangers at Hiawatha National Forest
Above the bridge in the Upper Peninsula, the 900,000-acre Hiawatha National Forest is a gem of the region. In some places, it spans the full vertical width of the peninsula, from the southern shore of Lake Superior to the northern shore of Lake Michigan. We spoke with Chelsea Kallery, a Forest Service Public Affairs Officer working out of Hiawatha’s Forest Service headquarters.
“The 2001 Roadless Rule is a national level prohibition on road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest in designated inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions,” she explains. “The
proposed rule-making would not compel or authorize immediate ground-disturbing activities. Any future actions would continue to follow the forest’s plans, comply with federal laws, and include environmental review. Forest managers will continue to work with Tribes, states, and local communities to address local conditions while sustaining forest health and benefits for the public.”
We asked Kallery to define which areas of Hiawatha are currently protected under the Roadless Rule, and she referred us to the 7,432-acre Fibre Roadless Area west of Rudyard, among other sites. The Rudyard Roadless area is a short drive northwest from the Mackinac Bridge and is popular for fall deer hunting and winter cross-country skiing.
The Fibre Roadless Area protects mature conifer swamps, cedar forests, and streams, including the North Branch Pine River. This roadless area provides habitat for endangered and threatened species like the gray wolf, piping plover, and canada lynx.
At least 1.5 million people recreate in Hiawatha National Forest each year, generating about $35.4 million in economic activity. Why Rescind the Rule? Why Not?
When speaking with Forest Service representatives, we asked for explanations of why the administration was seeking to remove the Roadless Rule and whether there might be any downsides to a rescission.
Speaking on background, our sources told us that the administration believes the rule produces needless obstacles to land
management, and that it holds sections of national forest land to a federal conservation standard that doesn’t always make sense on a state-by-state basis, i.e., a standard of virtually universal protection from logging, mining, and the establishment of roads.
Critics of rescission argue that some areas of the national forests should be left unextracted so that threatened and endangered species can have a place to live.
The administration has also proposed that rescinding the rule and building roads into previously roadless areas would help
reduce wildfires by facilitating better forest management. Yet our sources did contend that wildfires occur more often in forested areas with roads than in those without, typically as a result of human activity along or near roads.
The National Forest Service employees we spoke with declined to comment when asked what the argument was for keeping the Roadless Rule in place.
Pew Research, which conducted the polling cited earlier in this story, identified multiple benefits for keeping the Roadless Rule. For example, many animal species
depend on large, intact blocks of habitat for their survival and can be disturbed by human presence; hence, the need for large wilderness areas untouched by roads or logging. According to Pew, approximately 25 percent of animal species and 13 percent of plant species categorized as endangered in the U.S. have habitat within roadless areas.
Next Steps
The Forest Service held an open comment period in late August and September of 2025. However, it was criticized for allowing only
21 days for the comment period, whereas the federal standard is 60.
Of 625,737 comments submitted during that period, about 619,000 voiced opposition to the proposed rescission. The rescission program is currently moving toward a draft environmental impact statement (EIS), which was supposed to be published in March of 2026 and allow for another comment period.
That EIS has not yet been made available, though a final decision on rescission is still expected in late 2026, pending legal challenges by conservation organizations.
Saturday
TC TRAIL RUNNING FES-
TIVAL: Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. Today includes the 10K Run, 25K Run, 50K Run, 75K Run, 100K Run, & 100K Relay. See web site for various start times, prices & to register. $55-$225. runsignup. com/Race/MI/TraverseCity/TraverseCityTrailRunningFestival -
BIRD WALK ON THE BOARDMAN: 7:30am. Meet on the north side of the Traverse Area District Library at the entrance of the GT Area Children’s Garden, TC. Featuring Kirk Waterstripe from the Grand Traverse Audubon Club. This birding experience is designed for those just getting started, or wanting to polish their skills. You’ll focus on identification skills; not just a big list. Dress for weather & walking. Free. tadl.org/birding
67TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Today includes the softball tournament, Mesick Mushroom Festival 5K, Hobby & Craft Show, Money Hunt, carnival, Mushroom Festival Grand Parade, Mud Bogg, cornhole tournament & much more. mesick-mushroomfest.org
35TH ANNUAL FATHER FRED GARAGE
SALE: 9am-3pm, Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings St., TC. It’s a BIG one because it’s their last sale! Choose from jewelry, antiques, clothes, shoes, housewares, sporting goods, toys & much more. All proceeds benefit programs that serve those in need in five northern Michigan counties. fatherfred.org/ annual-frostbite-food-drive-february-7-15
COMMUNITY HOPE’S LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR 5K RUN/WALK: 9am, Timber Wolf Lake, Lake City. Proceeds benefit Community Hope’s mentoring & food programs. $35. runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/LakeCity/LoveYourNeighbor5KRunAndWalk
MANISTEE RATS & RODS CAR PARTY: 9am, Manistee VFW. Car Show & Swap Meet. 1985 & older only, in any condition. No trophies or awards; just a day of friends, fun & food. Cars for sale & swap meet (automotive items only). $20 donation for swap spaces. facebook.com/events/3303610579802619
CRYSTAL RUSH MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE: 9:30am-3pm, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. A new race on a 3.1-mile lap where you can choose your own adventure each lap. Choose the more technical A-line, or take the slightly longer, more traditional B-line down the mountain. See web site for various start times & prices. runsignup.com/Race/ MI/Thompsonville/CrystalRush
DREAM TEAM OPENING DAY: 10am, GT County Civic Center, TC. The Dream Team of Northern Michigan will host its 12th Annual Opening Day. They are a co-ed, nonprofit baseball league for players with disabilities, ages 8-26, serving families across the Grand Traverse region. Today’s festivities include a ceremony. Free. dreamteamnmi.com
FAMILY GEOLOGY HIKE: ANCIENT ECHOES EXPEDITION: 10am-noon, Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve, meet at Meadows Pavilion, TC. This immersive hike will guide families through a landscape rich in ancient echoes, where fossilized remnants tell the tales of prehistoric life. Led by seasoned experts in paleontology. Free; registration required. natureiscalling.org/events
GLEN ARBOR BEAUTIFICATION’S ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION: Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor. Glen Arbor is now recognized
as a Tree City USA community. Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at 10am. Attendees may receive free seedling trees (while supplies last) acquired from Leelanau Conservation District, along with educational materials from the Arbor Day Foundation. Community “Tree Talk” with local tree care professionals at 10:30am. For more info email: info@GAbeautification.org or call 231.645.7873.
IT TAKES A FLEET: 10am, The Little Fleet, TC. Join for a Sat. morning of community building, parent empowerment, & hands-on activities for kids. This is a chance to engage with specialists & other families. Free. thelittlefleet.com/events
MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOWS: 10am-6pm, Washington Park, downtown Cheboygan. More than 30 crafters & artists will be displaying jewelry, stuffed animals, blankets, home decor, wooden signs, fresh desserts & much more. facebook.com/madeincheboygan
SPRING ART MARKET: 10am, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Engage with more than 25 artists selling work in a range of media from painting, printmaking, illustration, mixed media & ceramics to glass, wood, fiber & jewelry, & special programming. Free. simpletix. com/e/spring-art-market-tickets-268626
SPRING ART BY THE BARN: 10am-5pm, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Batik art, fudge, Michigan rock art, paintings, plants, locally foraged wellness items, gourmet food, food trucks & more. Free admission.
WANDER WALLOON: GUIDED WILDFLOWER HIKE: 10am-noon, Wildwood Harbor Nature Area, Boyne City. Join WLAC staff for a spring wildflower walk highlighting native species as they make their seasonal debut. Free; register in advance. walloon. org/get-involved/events
ART IN THE BARN: 11am-4pm, 6411 N. Overlook Rd., Northport. Northern Michigan artist Douglas Racich welcomes you to a studio open house in his historic 1870s Leelanau barn near Omena. Featuring original egg tempera & watercolor artwork. Free. leelanauprints.com
ANIMAL ART EXPERIENCE: 1-3pm, AuSable Artisan Village, Grayling. Presented by the Society of Animal Artists. The Animal A.R.K. (Association to Rescue Kritters) of St. Helen will bring educational ambassador animals to be sketched by Northern Michigan’s Society of Animal Artists: Kim Dement, Rod Lawrence & Rich Tesner. An educational talk will be given by A.R.K. educators Randy Fierke & Jared Wright. Free. artisanvillage. org/event/animal-art-experience
MYSTERIOUS MORELS: A GATEWAY TO MICHIGAN FUNGAL DISCOVERIES: 1:30pm, Mesick Branch of the Cadillac Wexford Public Library, Springerville Twp. Community Center, Mesick. Meet Erik Van Vleet, MRAD-certified wild-foraged mushroom expert & leader in community science, spearheading efforts to document the state’s biodiversity through DNA sequencing. Free.
COSMO ST. CHARLES IS DEAD & SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM KILLED HIM: 2pm, Old Town Playhouse, Schmuckal Theatre, TC. There’s one unsolved mystery that haunts Detective Mac Marlowe... & you’re going to help him close the case for good! Return with Mac to relive the dinner party where renowned archeologist Cosmo St. Charles was murdered, & then audience participation helps solve the crime at this hilarious Readers Theatre. $10. oldtownplayhouse.com/ atp/performances/cosmo.html
CHORAL COMPASS: NAVIGATING THE
A guided foraging hike + dining experience at Black Star Farms is one of the many events of Forest To Fork: A Spring Time Gathering taking place in TC, May 14-17. Also choose from collaborative tastings, hands-on workshops, and seasonal beverage pairings at area vineyards, farms, restaurants and more! For a full calendar and to purchase tickets, visit traversecity.com/food-wine/events/forest-to-fork. Hurry! Events are selling out quickly!
WORLD ONE SONG AT A TIME: 3pm, Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Presented by the Northern Michigan Chorale. Directed by Michael Mitrovich. Accompanied by Cynda Coleman. $15 adults; $12 seniors & students; free for ages 10 & under. greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/choral-compassnavigating-the-world-one-song-at-a-time
TC ROLLER DERBY TRIPLE-HEADER: GT County Civic Center, TC. Enjoy this home opener triple-header. 3pm: Juniors Mixed Scrimmage; 5pm: TCRD A vs. Downriver RD A; 7pm: TCRD B vs. TBD. $10 advance; $12 door; 12 & under free with adult. facebook. com/events/s/tc-roller-derby-2026-homeopen/1569869670682504
COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES: amical, TC, May 4-10. Featuring “In The Catbird Seat” by Brian Baxter with Mike Wolf. amical.com/ catbird-seat
LITTLE TRAVERSE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS “ANNIE”: 7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Theatre, Petoskey. A heartwarming tale of hope, determination, & finding family in the most unexpected places. Featuring songs like “Tomorrow,” “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” “Maybe,” & more. $10-$25. ltct.org
THE STORYTELLING SERIES - THE WOMEN WHO RAISED US: 7-9pm, AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center, Grayling. An evening of live performances honoring the mothers, grandmothers, & women who
shaped our lives - told through spoken word, poetry, songwriting, & other creative forms by people right here in your community. $10 advance; $15 door. artisanvillage.org/event/thestorytelling-series-the-women-who-raised-us
“THE WHO’S TOMMY”: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Experience this electrifying rock opera, a musical that follows the journey of Tommy Walker, a young boy who becomes deaf, dumb, & blind after witnessing a traumatic event. As he grows, Tommy discovers an extraordinary talent for pinball, propelling him to fame & spiritual awakening. $19-$36. interlochen.org/concerts-and-events/all-event s?search=The+Who%E2%80%99s+Tommy
A TRIBUTE TO BOB SEGER: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Experience the greatest hits of the Rock & Roll Legend - Bob Seger! Enjoy hearing “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” “Against the Wind” & more. $39-$69. cityoperahouse.org
FUNDRAISER – DUELING PIANOS: 7:30pm, Hotel Indigo, TC. Join two sharpwitted musicians with pianos on stage for an interactive, funny, entertaining evening in support of Old Town Playhouse. The musical repertoire ranges from classic rock to country, hard rock to R&B, oldies & show tunes to the newest Top 40 hits, but the audience is the star of the show. $25 GA OR $300 VIP table of 8. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/special-events/dueling-pianos.html
MJ LIVE: MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE: 9pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. Featuring all his biggest hits including Bad, Billie Jean, Beat It, Dangerous, Smooth Criminal, Black & White, I Want You Back & many others. Relive the energy, excitement, spectacle & pure joy of this legendary superstar & his music, including the MJ LIVE band & mega talented MJ LIVE dancers. $20. lrcr. com/event/mj-live
Sunday
67TH ANNUAL MESICK MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Today includes the softball tournament, flea market, & Antique Car Show & Cruise. mesick-mushroomfest.org
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SPRING ART BY THE BARN: (See Sat., May 9)
ART IN THE BARN: (See Sat., May 9)
MADE IN CHEBOYGAN CRAFT SHOWS: (See Sat., May 9, except today’s time is 11am-3pm.)
MOTHER’S DAY WILDFLOWER WALK:
Noon-1:30pm, Hoogland Family Nature Preserve, Harbor Springs. Hosted by Little Traverse Conservancy & Amy Lipson. landtrust.org/events-template/mothers-daywildflower-walk-2
“THE WHO’S TOMMY”: (See Sat., May 9, except today’s time is 2pm.)
COSMO ST. CHARLES IS DEAD & SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM KILLED HIM: (See Sat., May 9)
LITTLE TRAVERSE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS “ANNIE”: (See Sat., May 9, except today’s time is 2pm.)
BILL STAINES REMEMBERED: 4-6pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. A tribute to the timeless songs of one of America’s great troubadours. Songs led by Chris Skellenger & friends. Benefits the Benzonia Area Community Emergency Fund. Free will offering. millscommhouse.org/ benzonia-area-community-emergencyfund.html
COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES: (See Sat., May 9)
monday
BIRDING ALONG THE BEAR RIVER: 8:30am, Bear River Shelter, Petoskey. Join Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council staff & Petoskey Regional Audubon Society members for this Beginner Birding Walk. petoskeyarea.com/events/birdingalong-the-bear-river
Annual Raptor Watch”: Explore the Raptor Watch, when birds & watchers descend upon Mackinaw City. The speaker will be Scott Davis. Free. mackinawhistory.org
tuesday
may 12 may 11 may 13 may 05 may 10
ATTIA’S BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: NEVER SETTLE!: 5-7pm, The Alluvion, TC. Celebrate the launch of “Never Settle” by Attia. Drinks, food, a reading & raffle. Free admission; reservations required. thealluvion.org/ tickets/attias-book-launch-party-never-settle
AUTHOR MATT DINNIMAN: SOLD OUT: 6-8:30pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. Join McLean & Eakin Booksellers & Matt Dinniman to celebrate the release of his newest book, “A Parade of Horribles.” This event includes a presentation/Q&A & a signing. Join wait-list. mcleanandeakin.com/event/2026-05-12/ sold-out-matt-dinniman-parade-horribles
CADILLAC FOOTLITERS JUNIOR PLAYERS AUDITIONS: (See Mon., May 11, except tonight’s time is 6-8pm.)
GARDEN CLASSIC MOVIES: “LILLIES OF THE FIELD”: 6pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. A travelling handyman becomes the answer to the prayers of nuns who wish to build a chapel in the desert. Free. gardentheater.org/comingsoon
BIRDING IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA - EARLY MORNINGS & 4X4’S IN THE MOUNTAINS: 7pm, Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey, conference room. Hosted by Petoskey Regional Audubon Society, featuring members Tracy Datlen & Lisa Hoyt, who will share their experiences. Their trip around the region included stops in Riohacha, The Guajira Peninsula, Santa Marta Mountains, El Dorado, Minca & Barranquilla & targeted endemic & regional bird specialties. Free. petoskeyaudubon.org
WHOSE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS IT - AND WHOSE IS IT NOW?: 7pm, Old Art Building, Leland. Presented by the Leelanau Historical Society in commemoration of this year’s 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This lecture is given by Gregory Nobles. leelanauhistory. org/events
wednesday
SENIORS ON THE T.A.R.T.: 10am, Espresso Bay, Front St., TART Bayfront. A weekly get-together for seniors to help become more active & find social connections. Join a group of seniors Wednesdays at 10am from May through Sept. on various TART trails in the TC area. Walk, run, jog, bike, rollerblade, skateboard, or come with wheelchair. Join for a coffee social time after. Free.
FIELD TRIP: BENZIE CONSERVATION DISTRICT RAILROAD POINT HIKE: 10amnoon, 4876 Mollineaux Rd., Frankfort. Registration is not necessary. plantitwild.net
CADILLAC FOOTLITERS JUNIOR PLAYERS AUDITIONS: 3-5:30pm, Footliters’ Clubhouse, Cadillac. Held for Footliters Upper Youth - ages 14-18 for “The Lightning Thief” - The Percy Jackson Musical. cadillacfootliters.com/youth
MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S 2026 LECTURE SERIES: 7pm, Mackinaw Area Public Library, Mackinaw City. “The
“THE GROCERY LIST SHOW”: AN INDIE LENS POP-UP SCREENING: 4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. This is a series that follows “Top Chef” contender Chrissy Camba to five bustling international grocery stores in America & the communities they serve. Over five episodes, special guests & food enthusiasts join Chrissy to shop for ingredients & cook a favorite family recipe, as they celebrate global food traditions over a shared meal. Free. simpletix.com/e/ the-grocery-list-show-an-indie-lens-pop-uptickets-247346
Saturday May 16th, 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Barnes Park, Eastport
ACTIVITIES:
• Handmade Rock, Art, and Craft Vendors
• Small Petting Zoo!
• Petoskey Stone Hunt
• Stone Skipping Contest
• Kids Fishing Pond
• Delicious Food Vendors
• Balloon Animals, Face Painting & Fairy Hair
ENTERTAINMENT:
• Tommy Tropic
• Kenny Thompson
Join us for a FREE day of family-friendly fun!
WALK THE WETLAND: SPRING EPHEMERALS: 4pm, Leo Creek Preserve, Suttons Bay. Experience the fleeting beauty of spring wildflowers! These early-season wildflowers are short-lived on the forest floor, blooming in a rush of color before the trees leaf out & shade the ground. Free. schoolship.org/news-events/ walk-the-wetland-spring-ephemerals
WILD WEDNESDAYS WITH LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY: 6:30pm, Charlevoix Public Library, Community Room A. Explore the intricate partnerships between northern Michigan’s native plants & the insects that depend on them. data.charlevoixlibrary.org/event/wild-wednesdayslittle-traverse-conservancy-pollinators-andnative-plants-15281
THE MOTH MAINSTAGE: AMERICAN DREAMS: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Five seasoned storytellers will share extraordinary, true stories that dig deep into the idea of the American Dream. $48-$110. cityoperahouse.org
thursday
COUNTY WIDE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, The Irene, Charlevoix. Join the Boyne City, Charlevoix & East Jordan Chambers of Commerce for their Annual County-Wide Business After Hours. $10.
4TH ANNUAL “SPRING FLIGHT” SILENT AUCTION SUPPORTING NORTH SKY RAPTOR SANCTUARY: 5:30-7:30pm, Silver Spruce Brewing, TC. Birds, bids, brews & games for all ages. Free. facebook.com/ share/1DhUUHdet4
EVERYONE HAS A STORY: STORYTELLING COMMUNITY CIRCLE: 5:30-7pm, Kingsley Branch Library. Join The Kingsley Folk School for a relaxed, no-prep storytelling community circle, Everyone Has a Story. Share real moments from your life, told to connect, laugh, reflect. Held the 2nd Thurs. of every month. Free. tadl.org/event/everyone-has-story-28438
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FORUM & ON THE GROUND GLOBAL: Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Featuring “Land of Canaan,” an intimate documentary on Palestinian farmers & their ancient olive trees - symbols of resilience, heritage & home. Set in the occupied West Bank, it follows a farmer uniting small-scale growers through fair trade cooperatives, connecting them to global markets while sustaining their land & livelihoods. 6pm reception with olive oil sampling, 6:30pm screening, & 8pm filmmaker Q&A. Free; tickets recommended. In person only. tciaf.com/event-may-14-2026
“LIFE ON THE CAR FERRIES”: 7pm, Mills Community House, Benzonia. Enjoy this Benzie Academy Lecture as Tim Foster takes an in-depth look at what it was like to live & work on the boats. $5 recommended donation. benziemuseum.org
2026 NORTHWEST MICHIGAN ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT: “AGAINST THE CURRENT”: Downtown TC, May 14-15. Creatives from across the region will gather for two days of connection, learning, & shared momentum. In a culture driven by productivity & profit, the arts move differently, traveling upstream to protect what is human, inclusive, & deeply rooted in community. Featuring inspiring keynote sessions, practical workshops for arts workers, live performances, hands-on experiences, & structured opportunities to build real relationships. nwmiarts.org/programs/northwest-michigan-arts-and-culture-summit
“AROUND THE WORLD” WITH DOC PROBES: 2pm, Mission Hill Church, sanctuary, TC. Doc Probes performs his “Around The World” international variety show, singing & accompanying himself on guitar for international hits with songs in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German, Japanese, Neapolitan & Russian. Light refreshments will follow the performance. Free. gtmusicale.org
SPRING CRAFTERNOON: 2pm, Bellaire Public Library. Breathe new life into old books! Enjoy a hands-on crafting session & transform pages into a folded book vase. Register: 231-533-8814.
66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: May 14-17. Today includes the Schmidt Amusements Carnival in Veteran’s Memorial Park, downtown Boyne City. bcmorelfestival.com/2026-schedule-ofevents.html
RR HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NW MICHIGAN: The Filling Station Microbrewery, TC. The Railroad Historical Society of NW Michigan is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a get-together. Anyone interested in railroad history is invited to join. Pizza at 4pm followed by a video about Hawaii’s “The Sugar Cane Train” at 5pm. Free.
FOREST TO FORK: A SPRINGTIME
GATHERING: TC, May 14-17. Local chefs, farmers, artisans, & hosts offer foraging excursions, intimate dinners featuring spring ingredients, collaborative tastings, hands-on workshops, & seasonal beverage pairings. Visit web site to see all events. traversecity. com/food-wine/events/forest-to-fork
GITS & SHIGGLES IMPROV COMEDY: 7-9pm, AuSable Artisan Village Performing Arts Center, Grayling. A “Whose Line is it Anyway” type improv. Lots of laughter with audience participation. Ages 13+. Free will offering. artisanvillage.org/event/gits-shiggles-improv-comedy-show
LEELANAU READS BOOK DISCUSSION: “WRECK” BY CATHERINE NEWMAN: 7pm, Suttons Bay Bingham District Library. Copies of the book are available at the library’s front desk, or use the Libby app to borrow “Wreck” from the library’s digital collection. Free. sbbdl.org
LITTLE TRAVERSE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS “ANNIE”: (See Sat., May 9)
RICHARD GILEWITZ: 7pm, The Platform @ Chalfonte Theatre, Elk Rapids. Internationally acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist Richard Gilewitz will perform live as part of his album release tour celebrating his tenth studio recording, GILEWITZ. Doors open at 6pm. The evening will feature two 45-minute sets. $12.50-$25. chalfontetheatre.org
RUST, GRIT & GLORY: CLASSIC TRUCKS THROUGH THE DECADES: 7pm, Elk Rapids Area Historical Society, Elk Rapids. Admission by donation. elkrapidshistory.org
friday
THE OLD MISSION WOMEN’S CLUB PRESENTS: THE BIG BARN SALE: 9am-4pm, Fowler Historic Barn, TC. Featuring small furniture pieces, toys, tools, lamps, linens, kitchenware, jewelry, accessories, pictures may 15 may 14
& home décor, sporting equipment & much more. Proceeds provide financial grants to non-profit organizations that operate in the Grand Traverse area. oldmissionwc.org/ event-details/barn-sale-may-15-and-16
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HICKORY MEADOWS GARLIC MUSTARD REMOVAL WORKBEE: 10am-noon, Hickory Meadows Natural Area, TC. Join GTCD & the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network to help remove garlic mustard, protecting the integrity of the local ecosystem. Then plant native seedlings to enhance biodiversity & support the longterm health of habitats throughout Hickory Meadows. Free; must register. natureiscalling.org/events -
MISTY ACRES HIKE - OLD-GROWTH FOREST NETWORK INDUCTION: 10am, Misty Acres Trail, Benzonia. Join for guided 1/2-mile spring hike to celebrate the induction of Misty Acres: The Borwell Preserve into the national Old-Growth Forest Network. Free. gtrlc.my.salesforce-sites.com/es/ event/home/ogfnhike051526
2026 NORTHWEST MICHIGAN ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT: “AGAINST THE CURRENT”: (See Thurs., May 14)
66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Downtown Boyne City, May 14-17. Today includes the Arts & Crafts Show + food trucks, a free morel seminar presented by Tony Williams, Morel Wine & Dine & live music by Yankee Station. bcmorelfestival.com/2026-schedule-of-events.html
FOREST TO FORK: A SPRINGTIME GATHERING: (See Thurs., May 14)
HOPE BLOOMS FESTIVAL: 3-7pm, The Salvation Army Community Center, TC. Enjoy food, drinks, ice cream, kid & adult games/prizes, bounce house, face painting, blowup archery, pantry spree game, family pictures, & tours/learn about the programs. Free. salvationarmyusa.org/mi/traverse-city/ barlow-st-corps/hope-blooms -
ART HANG - COLLAGE NIGHT: 5:30-7pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cornwell Classroom, TC. Ages 19+. A free monthly evening for creatives to work together on art. This month’s theme is ‘Collage Night,’ but you can also bring your own project to work on during the time. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/?page=1&location=traversecity#class-list
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TRAVERSE CITY FASHION WEEKEND
2026: Downtown TC. Celebrating all things local, slow & sustainable, & juice up your wardrobe. Fri., May 15 is Sustainable Fashion Show at 6pm at ECCO space. Sat., May 16 is Mega Market Day from 11am-6pm in the atrium of Front Row Centre. Sun., May 17 is Clothing Swap from 11am-2pm at slip.vintage. Show is $32/person; Market day is free.
LITTLE TRAVERSE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS “ANNIE”: (See Sat., May 9)
NOTEABLE CHAMBER CHOIR PRESENTS: A SPRING CONCERT - BLOOM: 7pm, The Cross in the Woods, Indian River. $20. noteablechamberchoir.com
FOUR OLD BROADS: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Mystery unfolds at Magnolia Place Assisted Living when four sassy seniors try to outsmart an evil nurse. $35 adults, $25 under 18. oldtownplayhouse.com/performances/mainstage/four-old-broads.html -
36TH ANNUAL ZOO-DE-MACK: The Highlands at Harbor Springs. May 15-17. A week-
end of huge parties with bands, one of the most scenic bicycle rides in the country (51 miles), views of the Mackinac Bridge, one magical island, & more! See web site for more info. $82.96. secure.zoo-de-mack. com/event/36th-annual-zoo-de-mack-2026
saturday
16
36TH ANNUAL ZOO-DEMACK: (See Fri., May 15)
TRAVERSE CITY FASHION WEEKEND 2026: (See Fri., May 15)
66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 14-17. Today includes the 66th Annual National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt, Painting in the Park with Dan, Taste of Morels, Lake Charlevoix Boat Cruises, Great Morel Giveaway, 66th Motherload Bash with Derailed performing, & much more. bcmorelfestival. com/2026-schedule-of-events.html
ALPEN-CAR SHOW: 8am-1pm, Otsego County Sportsplex, Gaylord. See all the cars & enjoy food trucks, music & fun. Free to attend. gaylordalpenfest.com
YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHTS - FREE AIRPLANE RIDES FOR KIDS: 8:30am-noon, Frankfort Dow Memorial Field, Frankfort. Kids ages 8–17 have an opportunity to fly free of charge in a general aviation airplane. Register. eaa234.org/youth
BEAR RIVER CLEANUP: Meet at Bear River Picnic Shelter, Petoskey at 9am. Check-in begins with light breakfast available. Welcome & Cleanup Kickoff at 9:20am. Teams cleanup along the Bear River from 9:3011:30am. Begin gathering at Elder Piper to celebrate at 11:30am. Prize raffle hosted by Bearcub Outfitters at 12:30pm. Event ends at 1pm. Register. watershedcouncil.org/ event/bear-river-cleanup-2026
DANDELION DASH TRAIL RUN: 9am, Petoskey Middle School. 5K, 1 Mile & Family Fun Run. See web site for various start times & to register. $15-$45. runsignup.com/ DandelionDashPetoskey
SPRING STEWARDSHIP DAY: 9am-noon, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Trail grooming, garden weeding & window shining are a few of the many tasks for freshening up the grounds & Center in preparation for summer. Please bring a pair of gloves. Pre-register by emailing: stewardship@ grassriver.org
TVC5K RUN THE RUNWAY: 9am, Cherry Capital Airport, TC. Benefits the Wings of Mercy West Michigan. People who come to the race will have access to the North Flight AeroMed helicopter, a Cessna 172 & a floatplane from NMC Aviation department, & some of the fire trucks & rescue vehicles. $13-$42 + SignUp fee. runsignup. com/Race/Events/MI/TraverseCity/TVC5K
THE OLD MISSION WOMEN’S CLUB PRESENTS: THE BIG BARN SALE: (See Fri., May 15, except today’s time runs 9am3pm.)
Did you know the VA has a benefit to help pay for a nursing home, assisted living facility or in-home care?
Our office also assists in filing claims for VA disability, VA pension and financial assistance.
20TH ANNUAL PETOSKEY STONE FESTIVAL: 10am, Barnes Park Campground, Eastport. Handmade rock creations, kid’s trout fishing pond, Wild World Adventure Petting Zoo, live music by Kenny Thompson, stone skipping contest, Petoskey Stone Hunt, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue (potential), Search & Rescue Demo or Flyover, Skegemog Raptor Center Presentation, & much more. Free. petoskeystonefestival.com
2ND ANNUAL FIREBIRD GAMING CON: 10am-6pm, Kirtland Event Center, Grayling. Presented by Kirtland Firebird Esports. Board games, Esport tournaments, cosplay contest, classic arcade, trivia, art showcase, D&D & much more. Free entry. gaylordchamber.com/events/details/2nd-annual-firebirdgaming-con-presented-by-kirtland-firebirdesports-13381
DOUGHERTY MISSION HOUSE SPRING CLEANUP MORNING: 10am-noon, 18459 Mission Rd., TC. Help clean up for tour season. Find the 1842 House & outbuildings that gave the peninsula its name. doughertyoldmissionhouse.com
NCT HIKE: HODENPYL DAM RD. TO M-115: 10am. Starts at the Hodenpyl Dam access near Mesick. Join the Grand Traverse Chapter of the North Country Trail for their 4th “Hike 100 Challenge” hike of 2026. Free. meetup.com/grand-traversechapter-north-country-trail-association/ events/313868084/?slug=grand-traversechapter-north-country-trail-association&even tId=313868084
POLLINATOR GARDEN PLANTING
WORKDAY: 10am, Wildwood Harbor Nature Area, Boyne City. Help create a haven for local bees & butterflies. You will be restoring a former golf hole by putting almost 200 native species into the soil to support the pollinators. Free; register. walloon.org/allevents/?event=3722
TRAVERSE CITY REPAIR CAFÉ: 10am2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room & Front Lawn, TC. Join Green Door Folk School for this event. Attendees are paired with skilled volunteers who help repair household items, from electronics & clothing to bicycles & furniture. Free; donation-based. greendoorfolkschool. com/class/traverse-city-repair-cafe-2
FOREST TO FORK: A SPRINGTIME GATHERING: (See Thurs., May 14) -
MAGIC FOR MUGGLES: 11am-1pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Calling all would-be wizards for DIY fun - crafts, STEM activities & snacks. Dress up if you like. Ages 8+. Free.
PROTEST ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE AGAINST PALESTINE: 11am, Grandview Parkway + Union St., TC. Israel continues committing brutal genocide in Gaza & stealing more Palestinian land in the West Bank. Elected leaders are owned by Israel as the Epstein files show. It’s up to ordinary people to insist on justice. Stand together every Sat. mideastjustpeace.net
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER WORKSHOP: 1pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Martina Dorn will lead this workshop that focuses on key facts & insights about hummingbirds. She will help participants make simple feeders. Reserve your spot: 231-3265361
PETOSKEY UNCORKED: 1-5pm, Odawa Casino Resort, Ovation Hall, Petoskey. Taste from 14 wineries in one location. Includes (14) 1 oz. tastings, light hors d’oeuvres & en-
LITTLE TRAVERSE CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS “ANNIE”: (See Sun., May 10)
MOM & DAUGHTER FUN PROM: 5-7pm, Interlochen Public Library. Enjoy an evening of memories, laughter & sparkle. A special night designed just for moms & daughters (or any extraordinary adult-daughter duo). Dress up in your favorite fancy outfits & dance the night away! Free. InterlochenPublicLibrary.org
2026 CAAC DANCE RECITAL: “THE MIXTAPE”: 6pm, The Cheboygan Opera House. Presented by the students of the Cheboygan Area Arts Council Dance program. Featuring performances by students aged 3-17 in several styles of dance: ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap & hip hop. $15-$20. theoperahouse.org
SPRING LINE DANCING NIGHT: Castle Farms, Charlevoix. Enjoy beginner-friendly lessons from Tip-of-the-Mitt Wild Soul from 6-8pm, followed by open dancing from 8-10pm. $5. castlefarms.com/events/springline-dancing-night
PIANIST STEVE LARSON ACCOMPANYING “THE KID BROTHER”: 7pm, The Music House Museum, Williamsburg. The classic Harold Lloyd silent film “The Kid Brother” will be accompanied by Interlochen Arts Academy Staff Pianist, Steve Larson. $25 at MyNorthTickets.com or by reserving at 9389300 or $30 at door. mynorthtickets.com/ events/the-music-house-welcomes-pianiststeve-larson-accompanying-the-kid-brothermay-16-700pm-5-16-2026
FOUR OLD BROADS: (See Fri., May 15)
GAYLORD COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA’S HOMEGROWN SPRING CONCERT: 7:309pm, Gaylord High School, Gornick Auditorium. $20. gaylordorchestra.org
ARCADIA GRIT & GRAVEL: 9am, Arcadia Community Center. A mountain bike race that takes you through a mix of gravel roads, twotracks & the worldclass Arcadia Dunes trail system. Choose from the Mighty Grit 45 (45 miles), the Big Grit (28 miles), or the Mini Grit (15 miles). $60-$85. Register: endomanpromotions.com/arcadia-grit-gravel
s unday
NORTHERN MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION HIKE FOR HOPE: 10am, Hull Park & Boardman Lake Loop Trail, TC. Construction Hike for Hope events bring the construction community together to raise awareness about mental health & create opportunities for connection & support. AFSP’s Hike for Hope events have united friends, family members, colleagues, & neighbors to raise funds for suicide prevention. Free. afsp.org/NorthernMIconstruction
FOREST TO FORK: A SPRINGTIME GATHERING: (See Thurs., May 14)
TRAVERSE CITY FASHION WEEKEND 2026: (See Fri., May 15)
66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL MOREL MUSHROOM FESTIVAL: Boyne City, May 14-17. Today includes Paint & Sip with Duncan Studios, Arts & Crafts Show, & Schmidt Amusements Carnival. bcmorelfestival.com/2026schedule-of-events.html
OPEN SKATE!: GT County Civic Center, Howe Arena, TC. Come roller skate! Bring
your own skates or rent some. Two sessions: Noon-2pm or 3-5pm. $5 admission; $5 skate rental. If you need rental skates, be sure to arrive early; popular sizes rent-out quickly. Helmets are recommended, but not required. tcrollerderby.com/events-2-1/open-skate
THE RUBY ELLEN FARM’S PLOW DAY: Noon-4pm, Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm, TC. This family-friendly event features horsedrawn plowing demonstrations, hands-on activities, & opportunities to explore historic buildings & scenic grounds. Free. facebook. com/share/1APeJFaSHh
THE SHORT’S SHORTEST MARATHON: Noon, Short’s Pull Barn, Elk Rapids. A 262foot dash designed for champions of chug, in & around the Short’s Brewing Company production campus & ending with cheers at the Pull Barn. Raises funds for TART Trails’ Nakwema Trailway Project. Plus, $1 of each pint sold today will be donated to Nakwema Trailway. $30 + SignUp Fee. runsignup.com/ shortsmarathon
2026 CAAC DANCE RECITAL: “THE MIXTAPE”: (See Sat., May 16, except today’s time is 2pm.)
FOUR OLD BROADS: (See Fri., May 15, except today’s time is 2pm.)
TRAVERSE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: 2pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. The goal of the Traverse Area Historical Society is to share local history of Traverse City & the Grand Traverse region. This month’s speaker will be Jordan Owen with “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Carter Mill.” Free. tadl.org/event/traverse-area-historical-society-27848
JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY BAND SPRING CONCERT: 3pm, East Jordan Community Auditorium (EJMHS). Free.
THE FUR BALL - 80’S FLASHBACK: 3-6pm, Park Place Hotel & Conference Center, TC. Grab your leg warmers, tease that hair, & bring your best furry date. All leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome. Supports the Cherryland Humane Society. Enjoy 80’s prom photos, a free wag bag for first 20 guests, live demo with Dog Trainer Elite + skateboarding pups Luna & Pickles, meet adoptable dogs from Cherryland Humane Society, & much more. For more info find ‘The Fur Ball- 80’s Flashback’ on Facebook. $15.
GLCO PRESENTS WINDOVER PIANO DUO: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church, Harbor Springs. This concert is part of GLCO’s Sunday Series, featuring small chamber ensembles performing free of charge in community venues across northern Michigan. glcorchestra.org/sundayseries
THE 2026 STORIES THAT HEAL COMMUNITY CONCERT: 5pm, The Garden Theater, Frankfort. Stories That Heal is an intergenerational community-centered arts program that uses storytelling & songwriting to foster healing, connection, & understanding. Free. gardentheater.org/comingsoon
ongoing
BELLAIRE FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 8am-noon, mid-May through mid-Oct. at 102 S. Maple St. localdifference.org/partner/bellaire-farmers-market/
local small-scale farmers, artisans & entrepreneurs. July 4 & July 11 will be held at Old City Park. boynecityfarmersmarket.org
SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS
MARKET: Saturdays, 7:30am-noon through Oct. at Parking Lot B, Cass St. & E. Grandview Parkway, TC. Also held here on Wednesdays starting in June from 8am-noon. It will take place on the ground floor of the Old Town Parking Deck during the National Cherry Festival. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market
PETOSKEY REGIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY HOSTS SAT. MORNING BIRD WALKS: Saturdays, 8-11am through May at Waldron Fen Nature Preserve, Alanson. Volunteers will help participants see & hear birds. Meet at the parking area off Banwell Rd. petoskeyaudubon.org
PETOSKEY REGIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY HOSTS WEDS. EVENING BIRD WALKS: Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm through May at Sportsman’s Park, East Jordan. Meet in parking lot. Volunteers will help participants see & hear birds. petoskeyaudubon.org
WEEKLY WILDFLOWER WALK: Tuesdays, 10:30am through May at Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Take a leisurely stroll through the scenic trails of Grass River Nature Area alongside knowledgeable docent Lyn Petty. Discover the variety of wildflowers & learn to identify their unique beauty. As you wander, keep an ear out for the melodies of the birds that call Grass River home. Join every Tues. to see new flowers in bloom. grassriver.org
art
PLEIN AIR ADVENTURES: STUDENTS OF SUSAN GLASS: Crooked Tree Arts Center, Atrium Gallery, Petoskey. This exhibition of unframed works brings together years of weekly painting, capturing the spirit & shifting seasons of northern Michigan’s landscapes. Runs May 9 - June 13. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/ events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/plein-airadventures.html
MEMBERS CREATE: Glen Arbor Arts Center. This exhibition runs through May 28. It features the work of 31 current GAAC members & includes a wide range of media. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org
17TH ANNUAL JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: Charlevoix Circle of Arts. Runs through May 30. This exhibition showcases the talent & creativity of local photographers & members of the Charlevoix Photography Club. It will feature a diverse range of photographic work across seven categories: Landscape, Animals, Flora, People, Still Life, Black & White, and Creative. Charlevoix Circle of Arts’ hours are Mon. through Fri., 11am-4pm; & Sat., 11am-3pm. charlevoixcircle.org
RETURN TO LIGHT: Runs through May 25 at Boyne Arts Center, Boyne City. This exhibit explores the many facets of illumination— from the first golden rays of a Michigan morning to the internal clarity of a new perspective. Open Tues. through Sun., noon-4pm. boynearts.org/s/stories/bac-spring-exhibitreturn-to-light
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC:
- GUILD POP-UP EXHIBIT: TERRIE COLLINS: Held in Libragallery through May 23. Texture: Collins likes to put many layers on a canvas, & loves the process of painting. See web site for hours. crookedtree.org/eventsand-exhibitions/exhibits/guild-popup-exhibitmay 17
BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET: Wednesdays & Saturdays, 8am-noon, midMay through mid-Oct. at Veterans Park, Boyne City. Featuring an array of goods from
terrie-collins.html
- “350: IMAGINING THE WORLD IN 2126”: Held in Cornwell Gallery. As communities across the country reflect on America’s 250th anniversary, 350 artists look forward instead of back — to imagine the world one hundred years from now. What might life look like in 2126? Through painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, & beyond, artists contribute their unique perspective on the century ahead. Runs through May 30. An artist talk will be held on May 16 from 11am-noon. See web site for gallery hours. crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/350.html
- CONNECTIONS & FLOW: Held in West Gallery. This exhibit brings together the work of photographers Ragnar Avery & Calvin Boulter in an exhibition that reflects both artistic dialogue & personal mentorship. Runs through May 30. An artist talk will be held on May 30 from 11am-noon. See web site for gallery hours. crookedtree. org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/connection-and-flow.html
- THE ART OF CONNECTION: Held in East Gallery. Grand Traverse Industries Client Artist Exhibit. Runs through May 30. See web site for gallery hours. crookedtree.org/ events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/the-art-ofconnection.html
- TOMORROW’S ARTISTS TODAY : Held in Carnegie East. Featuring: 2026 High School Portfolio. This exhibition features the work of eight emerging artists, showcasing a fresh & dynamic collection developed under the guidance of Royce Deans. Focused on building strong portfolios for future opportunities, this exhibit highlights each student’s growth, creativity, & unique artistic voice. Runs through May 30. See web site for gallery hours. crookedtree. org/events-and-exhibitions/exhibits/tomorrows-artists-today.html
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:
- NMC HOSTED HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION: Runs May 8-31. The NMC High School Art Exhibition, juried by NMC Art & VisCom faculty, features artwork in a variety of media & styles by juniors & seniors from regional high schools. Reception & awards on May 31 from 2-4pm. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/nmc-student-art.html
- NEW PERSPECTIVES: RECENT AQUISITIONS FROM THE DENNOS PERMANENT ART COLLECTION: Held in McFarlane Gallery through May 31. From new paintings & works on paper gifted through the Museum Exchange program to generous donations on behalf of museum members, friends, & NMC alumni, New Perspectives seeks to highlight convergent, as well as, divergent perspectives on contemporary art & collecting practices in the 21st century. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- TRILOBITE TREASURES: Runs through May. This exhibit presents Paleozoic creatures in a way that tells a story of the prehistoric life in the ancient seas. The collection, assembled over 35 years, provides a unique snapshot of life in the ancient seas from 250 to 500 million years ago. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
- IMPRESSIONS OF AN ERA: PRINTS FROM THE DENISON MUSEUM COLLECTION: This selection of prints, created between 1970 & 1990 by nationally & internationally recognized contemporary artists, reflects two transformative decades in contemporary printmaking. Artists include Dee Shapiro, Barbara Kohl-Spiro, KUDO Muramasa & James Rizzi. Runs through May 31. See web site for hours. dennosmuseum.org
OLIVER ART CENTER, FRANKFORT: - BEYOND THE PRINT: Runs May 16June 19. Opening reception held on May 16 at 4pm. Featuring works by regional artists who push the boundaries of printmaking. Hours are Tues. through Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm. Closed Mon. until June 1. oliverart.org
- LOCAL COLOR A TO Z: Showcase of works in oil, acrylic, watercolor & mixed media created by a talented local artist group. Runs through May 30. Open hours: Tues.Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm; & closed Mon. until June 1. oliverart.org
Auditorium
Adults $15/Students $5/Northport Students accompanied by an adult Free Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Saturday July 26 and Saturday, August 2, 7:00pm
Adults $30/Students $5/Northport Students accompanied by an adult Free Tuesday July 29 and Wednesday July 30, 7:00pm
Adults $25/Students $5/Northport Students accompanied by an adult Free Sunday July 27 and Sunday August 3, 2:00pm
Adults $30/Students $5/Northport Students accompanied by an adult Free Northport Auditorium
Spirit of America by the Northport Community Band Saturday, August 23, 7:30pm •Northport Auditorium
Adults $15/Students $5/Northport students accompanied by an adult Free Northport Community Band & Village Voices Holiday Concert Sunday, November 30, 2:00pm Northport Auditorium•Cookie Afterglow in
Adults $15/Students $5/Northport students accompanied by an adult Free Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre Presents The Nutcracker Saturday, December 13, 7:30pm• Northport Auditorium
Adults $20/Students $5/Northport
lOGY
MAY 11 - MAY 17
BY ROB BREZSNY
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Soil biologists say a teaspoon of productive soil may contain billions of living organisms. These bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes work in cooperative networks, generating a hidden abundance that ensures everything above ground thrives. Your immediate future has this quality, Taurus. Beneath the visible surface of your life, beneficial processes are generating fertility and possibility. You don't need to see the miracle to trust it's happening. Your role is simply to have faith as you maintain the conditions that allow this mysterious abundance to do its work.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientist Stuart Kauffman theorizes that living systems are healthiest when they operate near the “edge of chaos.” There’s a critical zone between rigid order and unstructured randomness where complexity and adaptability can flourish. Too much organization creates brittle stiffness, while excessive chaos prevents coherence. Life thrives when it has some of both. I invite you to ruminate on these themes in the coming weeks, Virgo. According to my edgy analysis of the astrological omens, you’re being invited to cultivate and foster your own personal “edge of chaos” territory. Your interesting task is to create sweet spots where structure and spontaneity synergize. Locate these happy places and abide there for a while.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Choose two small and specific ways you’re going to stop pretending. One example might be how you respond when someone asks how you’re doing. Another may be an opinion you’ve been softening to keep the peace. Or maybe there’s a desire you’ve been downplaying because it feels impractical or too revealing. Here’s the name of this experiment: Incremental Precision Liberation. The key is to do it casually, with no melodrama or self-consciousness. If it’s successful, you could try another round in two weeks.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio primatologist Frans de Waal devoted years to watching chimpanzees reconcile with each other after enduring discord. He was fascinated by how they rebuilt trust through elaborate rituals of appeasement, grooming, and kind gestures. Once the chimps stopped fighting, he marveled, they actively repaired their connection, which often emerged stronger than it was before the dispute. I hope you will borrow their primate wisdom in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Do your best to navigate through conflict or alienation, and then instigate generous acts of rebonding. Don’t sulk, be evasive, or go silent. Be creative as you work to replenish what was damaged. The renewed relationship could be closer for having weathered the difficulties.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The wandering albatross harnesses the wind, enabling it to travel vast distances with minimal effort. There’s an initial effort that leads to big energy savings. The bird climbs into strong winds and then relaxes as it gets transported, surfing the air currents. I mention this, Sagittarius, because I suspect you've been trying too hard and working too much— unnecessarily so. Less strenuous exertion, more gliding, please! Ask yourself what flows are already streaming in your favor. Could you catch a ride on existing momentum? Here’s my advice: Figure out where life’s tides are already moving, then position yourself to get carried along.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ethnomusicologists studying throat singing know that Tuvan singers can produce two or more tones simultaneously. The human voice, it turns out, has the ability to harmonize with itself. Most of us never discover this because we never try. What other multidimensional capacities are you not using because you've never investigated them or tested their limits, Capricorn? The coming weeks are ideal for experimentation. What unexpected capacities might you get access to if you explored possibilities you've assumed were beyond you? You may be able to develop aptitudes and acquire gifts you haven’t discovered yet.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Cartographer Gerardus Mercator created his famous world map in 1569, enabling sailors to plot straight-line courses across oceans. But his technique dramatically distorts the size of landmasses. Greenland appears larger than
Africa, when in reality Africa is 14 times bigger. And the truth is that every map privileges certain truths while distorting others. This is a key teaching for you right now, Aquarius. Examine the mental maps you're using to navigate your life. Might they be hiding or warping reality in any way? Consider whether you would benefit from redrawing your inner visualizations of the wide, wild world out there.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): Perfectionism has increased dramatically in recent decades. Young people are especially affected. But here's the twist: The compulsion for perfection rarely improves performance. It’s more likely to undermine achievement by triggering paralysis and excessive self-criticism. Now is a favorable time for you Pisceans to rebel against the trend. I encourage you to cultivate a relaxed devotion to being "good enough” as you enjoy yourself thoroughly. Do you know the difference between cheerfully seeking excellence and grimly striving for perfection? Move away from what demands your obsessive rigor and focus on what requires soulful completion.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When naturalist John Muir wanted to experience a storm, he climbed to the top of a 100-foot Douglas fir and rode it for hours through gale-force winds. He later reflected that the danger, in his judgment, was “hardly greater” than staying under a roof, and that the exhilaration and sensory richness justified his experiment. I’m not counseling you to be exactly like Muir in the coming weeks, Aries. Please don’t take foolish risks. However, I would love you to explore what truths are available when you put yourself in the path of intensity.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I suspect you would benefit from engaging with a friendly devil’s advocate or two in the coming weeks. Your clarity and understanding will deepen in just the right ways if you converse with affectionate skeptics who like and respect you but also want to help you grow. realize that such people may be hard to find. If you can’t locate any, you could hire one. Or do the next best thing: Argue with yourself. Entertain lines of thought that are contrary to your usual ideas. Don’t let your habitual self get away with its usual rationalizations. The benefits of this exercise will be unpredictably huge.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star holds a fixed place in the sky. Also known as Polaris, or the Pole Star, it hangs in almost the same spot throughout the night while other stars rise and set. Because of this steadfast presence, it has long served as a trusted marker for navigation, especially for sailors at sea. Over time, it naturally came to represent an inner compass or a guiding ideal. In your own experience, Cancerian, what serves as your symbolic North Star? What’s the steady, orienting force that helps you decide where and how to move next? Now is an auspicious moment to tend to and revitalize your bond with this central source of direction.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the mid 1950s, researchers developed reliable methods for creating synthetic diamonds in the laboratory. Since then, advances in technology have made it possible to grow large, high quality diamonds from small seed crystals in a relatively short time. I invite you to make this one of your operative metaphors, Leo. In the coming weeks, the forces of destiny will align with your efforts if you experiment with nurturing and expanding the parts of your life that are most like a diamond. Facilitate the development of your valuable beauty.
“Jonesin” Crosswords
"Free Solo" it's another themeless puzzle. by Matt Jones
ACROSS
1. 1912 movie title that idiomatically describes someone special
13. Peak on a graph (not necessarily the highest)
17. Able to donate particular particles, like rubidium and cesium
18. Bill of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
19. Characteristic
20. Book after Num.
21. 1998 Disney film
26. Science magazine that folded in 1998
27. Honey qty.
28. Fireplace fodder
30. Suffix with chlor-
31. Philosophical argument for faith in God
33. Neil Patrick Harris-hosted Netflix game show of late 2025
35. Back-and-forths
36. Ohm creation
37. Not a good sign
38. Orioles great Ripken
41. It's usually under 3 and 4
43. Curvy figures
44. Hard-to-read writing
45. Settings in a book?
47. Dreams, in Nimes
48. Divest, maybe
54. Resembled, in a way
55. Longtime Pennsylvania senator
DOWN
1. "The Human Condition" author Hannah 2. Georges who created "A Trip to the Moon" (1902)
3. Advantage, metaphorically
4. Dark hours in Dortmund
5. Legal rep.
6. Space station where Shannon Lucid is the only American woman to have stayed
7. Ab ___ (from day one)
8. Kathmandu's country, per the IOC
9. Bioengineered food, briefly
10. More, at the cantina
11. Way off
12. American Gladiator with an explosive name
14. Friendly words after "hola"
15. Scale used in the summer
16. Calling
21. Trident, e.g.
22. Roundish script letters used in old Latin manuscripts
23. Crude shelters
24. Unsurpassed, as a record
25. Partial phrase on a diner sign
28. Page of music?
29. "Miracle on 34th Street" Oscar winner Edmund
31. Kung ___ tofu
32. Situps' target
33. Unconvincing argument, in slang
34. "The Time Machine" author
35. Brave group?
38. Like some operations
39. "___ Fideles" (Christmas song)
40. Landlady, e.g.
42. Historic 1945 meeting place
44. Onetime "Daily Show" correspondent Wyatt
46. Road's end?
47. Rankle
49. "Good" cholesterol
50. Rome-to-Athens dir.
51. U.K. "wheelie" item
52. Filler syllables
53. Drink from a flask
CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE WINERY, TC
5-8:
5/9 -- Jimmy Olson
5/14 -- Ben Richey
5/15 -- Barley Priest
5/16 -- DJ Marco
ENCORE 201, TC
5/8-9 & 5/15-16 -- DJ Ricky T, 9
EUGENE'S RECORD CO-OP, TC
5/16 -- Ghostpipe, Mothertomb & Bog Wizard, 8
KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC 9:30:
5/8-9 -- Risque
5/15-16 -- The Off Beat Band
KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING
5/12 -- Open Mic Night w/ Kevin & Sierra LaRose, 6-9
5/14 -- Trivia Night w/ Marcus Anderson, 6:30-8:30 5/16 -- Wink Solo, 7-9
LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC
BARREL ROOM:
5/11 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9
TASTING ROOM:
5/15 -- Nick Veine, 5-7
MARI VINEYARDS, TC
4-6:
5/12 -- Jerry Byville
5/14 -- Charlie Arnett
MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC
5/15 -- Monday Night Wine, 6-9
NORTH BAR, TC 7-10: 5/9 -- Sean Miller 5/14 -- Drew Hale
OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC SEVEN HILLS: 5/9 -- Blair Miller, 6-9 5/15 -- John & Madeline PiatekThe Fridays, 7
5/15 -- The Fridays, 7:30 5/16 -- Jeff Linsell, 7
TC WHISKEY CO. - THE STILLHOUSE
6-8:
5/9 -- Andy McQuillen 5/15 -- Luke Woltanski 5/16 -- Split Decision
THE ALLUVION, TC 5/9 -- Lucía, 7-9:30
5/11 -- Funky Uncle - Funky Fun Mondays, 6-8:30
5/14 -- The Jeff Haas Quintet feat. Laurie Sears, Anthony Stanco, Marion Hayden, Tariq Gander + Lisa Flahive wsg Sister's in Jazz, 6-8:30
5/16 -- Randy Napoleon & Waking Dream, 7-9:30
THE HAYLOFT INN, TC
7:30-11:
5/8-9 -- TC Knuckleheads
5/15-16 -- Boone Doggies
THE PARLOR, TC
5/9 -- David Márton, 9
5/10 & 5/17 -- Music Bingo, 7-10
5/13 -- Rob Coonrod, 8-11
5/14 -- Jimmy Olson, 8-11
THE PUB, TC
5/9 -- DJ Producer AJ, 10
5/10 & 5/17 -- Kids Karaoke w/ DJ
Shawny T, 2-5
5/11 -- Karaoke Mondays w/ DJ Shawny T, 8-11
5/13 -- Zeke Clemons, 7-11
5/15 -- DJ Vai, 10-11:30
THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC
5/9 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-9
5/10 -- Full Tilt Comedy Presents: Comedy Lab, 6-8
5/11 -- USS Comedy Open Mic, 8-9:30
5/12 -- Open Mic w/ Zak Bunce, 6-9
5/14 -- DJ Trivia, 7-9
TURTLE CREEK CASINO, WILLIAMSBURG
WATERFALL, 8:
5/9 – Tower of Bauer
5/15 – Live Music feat. Northern Beat Entertainment 5/16 – TC Knuckleheads
Send your dance tune requests to the TC Knuckleheads! Known for classic rock, country, R&B, and Motown, they keep the tunes comin’ at The Hayloft Inn, TC, May 8-9 from 7:30-11pm, and Turtle Creek Casino’s Waterfall, Williamsburg, May 16 from 8pm – midnight.
CEDAR TAVERN
5/9 -- Jim Hawley, 8-11
DUNE BIRD WINERY, NORTHPORT
3-6:
5/10 -- Billy & The Kid
5/14 -- Chris Smith
5/17 -- Dennis Palmer
FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH
6-8:
5/11 -- Monday Music Trivia 5/14 -- Trivia Thursdays
FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR
4-7:
5/11 -- Chris Skellenger
5/14 -- Dennis Palmer
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE
5/10 -- Brett Mitchell, 4-6
BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY ROOT CELLAR: 5/13 – The Fridays, 6-9
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY
2-6:
5/9 -- Chase & Allie
5/16 -- Two Track Mind
BRANDY'S HARBORTOWN, BAY HARBOR
5-8:
5/9 -- Brian Thomas
5/14 -- Two Track Mind
5/15 -- Will Springsteen
5/16 -- Lee Fayssoux
CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 5/12 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
5/15 -- Chris Smith, 5:30-7:30
5/16 -- Kevin Paul, 5:30-7:30
5/17 -- Tim Krause, 4-6
LAKE ANN BREWING CO.
5/9 -- Niemisto/Skellenger/Sterr, 3-6; Silver Creek Revival, 7-10
5/12 -- John Paul, 6:30-9:30
5/13 -- Open Mic Night Hosted by Johnathon North, 6:30-9:30
5/16 -- Terry Coveyou, 9am-1pm; Brian Thomas, 5-8pm
THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN
5/9 -- Deficit, 7:30
5/15 -- Musicians Playground, 7 5/16 -- Brian McCloskey, 7:30
THE WIGWAM, INDIAN RIVER
5/14 -- Dominic Fortuna, 7:309:30
5/15 -- Karaoke, 8-11
Leelanau & Benzie
ANTIQUE SALE TC ELKS LODGE. 623 Bay Street. Saturday May 16th 10am-4pm. Free Admission. For sale. Military Sports Toys Coins Paper Money Jewelry Fraternal Postcards Books Glassware Political Pins Vinyl Clothing Stereos, Speakers Garden Decor Tools Fishing Barware
MACHINE OPERATORS WANTED! We are building our Team of Wire Spoolers & Wire Drawers - both shifts! New hires first learn the position of wire spooling, then after building their skills, they learn the art of wire drawing, taking bulk aluminum rod down to premium quality aluminum wire used to make everything from bicycles, scooters, and lawn furniture to semi trailers and airplanes! Starting at $19/hour + $1/hour for drawing. $1.50 night shift premium is available as well if that's your thing. 4/10s schedule, immediate benefits, advancement opps and more!
