It’s time once again for the Leelanau Enterprise to award thumbs-up and thumbs-down to people, entities and events that have affected our county recently. The latest rain garden project at the corner of Waukazoo and Main Street in the Village of Northport wrapped up construction this month. The project was organized by The Watershed Center — Grand Traverse Bay and funded through an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grant. It’s also one of several green infrastructure projects completed since 2018 to help reduce village stormwater pollutants that would otherwise drain into Grand Traverse Bay. Drainage issues continue to be of concern throughout the village of Northport due to elevated water levels, but stormwater drainage solutions like rain gardens are steps in the right direction. Just in time for the busy summer months, the new addition of multiple wooden skateboard ramps have been set up at Braman Hill Recreation Area in Northport for visitors to enjoy for the season. Skatepark equipment has been on the list of things that the township has been wanting to invest in for several years. According to Leelanau Township’s 2022 parks and recreation plan, there’s been a desire to acquire more ramps and apparatus to improve the skate park. We’re hopeful the township will be able to invest in permanent solutions and amenities to the skatepark in the years ahead. Housing workshops were in full force over the past couple of weeks. Even though there aren’t any immediate options to fix the Leelanau Housing Crisis, at least some people are trying. Village of Empire signing a contract with Renovare Real Estate Development company based in Detroit for $70,000 to help purchase a new office. After not completing the goal, they are continuing with the contract to “collect data” and develop abandoned land for possible investors. Charter Communications recently announced that their fiber optic network buildout in Leelanau County has been completed, making their internet, mobile, TV, and voice services available to an additional 180 homes and businesses. Point Broadband’s larger-scale initiative continues to lag behind, but the company has provided a $3.2 million performance bond to the county as a guarantee they will reach 96% of 3,522 “unserved parcels/addresses” in the county by the end of 2024. The county’s senior services department held its 31st annual Senior Expo at Suttons Bay High School Tuesday, which was well attended. This event was one of the largest senior expos yet in terms of vendor participation, with 80 vendors scheduled to set up tables in the school gymnasium. Representatives of the Republican and Democrat parties were asked to leave the event by school administration citing policy that the facility cannot be used for political purposes.
Thumbs up, thumbs down
It’s time once again for the Leelanau Enterprise to award thumbs-up and thumbs-down to people, entities and events that have affected our county recently. The latest rain garden project at the corner of Waukazoo and Main Street in the Village of Northport wrapped up construction this month. The project was organized by The Watershed Center — Grand Traverse Bay and funded through an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grant. It’s also one of several green infrastructure projects completed since 2018 to help reduce village stormwater pollutants that would otherwise drain into Grand Traverse Bay. Drainage issues continue to be of concern throughout the village of Northport due to elevated water levels, but stormwater drainage solutions like rain gardens are steps in the right direction. Just in time for the busy summer months, the new addition of multiple wooden skateboard ramps have been set up at Braman Hill Recreation Area in Northport for visitors to enjoy for the season. Skatepark equipment has been on the list of things that the township has been wanting to invest in for several years. According to Leelanau Township’s 2022 parks and recreation plan, there’s been a desire to acquire more ramps and apparatus to improve the skate park. We’re hopeful the township will be able to invest in permanent solutions and amenities to the skatepark in the years ahead. Housing workshops were in full force over the past couple of weeks. Even though there aren’t any immediate options to fix the Leelanau Housing Crisis, at least some people are trying. Village of Empire signing a contract with Renovare Real Estate Development company based in Detroit for $70,000 to help purchase a new office. After not completing the goal, they are continuing with the contract to “collect data” and develop abandoned land for possible investors. Charter Communications recently announced that their fiber optic network buildout in Leelanau County has been completed, making their internet, mobile, TV, and voice services available to an additional 180 homes and businesses. Point Broadband’s larger-scale initiative continues to lag behind, but the company has provided a $3.2 million performance bond to the county as a guarantee they will reach 96% of 3,522 “unserved parcels/addresses” in the county by the end of 2024. The county’s senior services department held its 31st annual Senior Expo at Suttons Bay High School Tuesday, which was well attended. This event was one of the largest senior expos yet in terms of vendor participation, with 80 vendors scheduled to set up tables in the school gymnasium. Representatives of the Republican and Democrat parties were asked to leave the event by school administration citing policy that the facility cannot be used for political purposes.
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