This is the United States, the land-of-the-free bullseye for hate spewed by unelected despots from around the world. This is Michigan, the land of perpetual recessions, tax increases and budget crises.

But this is also Leelanau, where every day we can point to residents who refuse to accept that they are simply products of an environment they can’t control.
Want proof? As 2007 winds down, we can think of no better time to point out a few of the many Leelanau County residents who toil tirelessly to create a better place to live with no expectation of a worldly reward. When you see them, take time to say "Thanks."

• Tom VanZoeren retired three years ago from his job as a park ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but forgot to leave.

Proving that, indeed, he was not "doing it for the money," Mr. VanZoeren spends more time than he ever did at the park, performing many of the jobs he did before "retirement." He monitors water quality in Glen Lake, Shalda Creek and other water bodies, is recording the oral history of relatives of the first settlers in the area, and never walks by a gum wrapper without bending over.

You might see Mr. VanZoeren with his wire-rimmed glasses and salt and pepper beard while hiking one of the Lakeshore's many trails. He’s the guy with pockets full of trash and a heart full of gold.

• Sue Schweikart grew sick after a family trip to the Upper Peninsula in the spring. Three weeks later she was hospitalized with a rare lung infection that threatened her life.

Realizing that Mrs. Schweikart's recuperation could take weeks — if not months — and that the self-employed medical transcriptionist would be off work, friends and neighbors in the Cedar/Maple City area rallied around the family and organized a benefit spaghetti dinner and silent auction.

Hats off to the organizers, donors, those who attended or others who sent in donations without even knowing the Schweikart family. This is truly an example of how Leelanau people care for one another.

• Don Beem loves baseball, and wanted to see more children enjoying America's pasttime on the diamonds at Cherry Bend Community Park in Elmwood Township. So he did something about it, and now the crack of the bat and cheers from parents are familiar sounds again in Elmwood.

The Elmwood resident runs the Traverse City-based Little League's west division. The Elmwood ball diamonds, which were used infrequently in past years, have become home to regular games throughout the summer the last few years. In 2007, 40 teams and an estimated 500 boys and girls played Little League games at Elmwood. Many of the children are from Elmwood and Solon townships.

Mr. Beem's organization and selfless dedication to children is appreciated, and the addition of Little League is a welcome complement to the long successful Leelanau County Youth League that also offers a fine program to children who play ball in the summer.

• You won’t see David Chrobak’s name on the list of Northport school board members, or the Village Council. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a significant player in Northport. In fact, one could argue that Mr. Chrobak has done as much as anyone to bring people to Northport.

Thirteen years ago, Mr. Chrobak staged his first Dogs on Parade event in Northport. The parade is now a staple on the second Saturday in August. Four-legged and two-legged participants parade through downtown on the route in a range of wacky, comical and irreverent costumes, making it a “can’t-miss” event.

The parade, held on the same day as the Leelanau Township Wine and Food Festival in Northport, brings smiles to literally thousands of faces each year. We thank Mr. Chrobak for creating a truly special event, and helping showcase Northport to others.

• Finally, kudos are also extended to retired corrections officer Jim Panek of Cedar who shows up weekly at the Law Enforcement Center in Suttons Bay Township to help out – with no expectation of reward other than the knowledge that he’s doing good for his community.

Last summer, Mr. Panek helped establish a vegetable garden just outside the jail that is run by minimum security inmates. This fall and winter, Mr. Panek has been involved in teaching inmates to cook. Jail commander Cheryl King said the nearly no-cost program is highly successful.

Webmaster note: The above opinion is that of the 'Leelanau Enterprise'.