Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 6:25 AM

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Life in Leelanau

Matthew Branton

Matthew Branton:

Matthew Branton, owner of North Country Kitchen and Bar in Suttons Bay, has been operating the establishment for the past year since closing on the purchase from Karen Boone in March 2023. Since opening last June, Branton moved to Leelanau County to run his newest business venture and has been getting acclimated to working in the restaurant industry. 04/24/2024 04:43 PM

Isabelle Scott merges science, art, and tradition through bioactive skincare, whole plant remedies and natural dyes through her Circles and Cycles business. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Nuturing Nature:

In Northport, Isabelle Scott, affectionately known as “Isa,” has been forging her unique path as a herbalist and the proprietor of Circles & Cycles. Since its inception in 2019, Circles & Cycles has grown from a personal passion project to a thriving business offering a range of herbal products. 04/17/2024 05:24 PM

Sidewalks OK’d by township

Sidewalks OK’d by township

Spring activities dominated conversation this week by the Leland Township Board. The board during its regular monthly meeting Monday acted on proposals that signal the arrival of spring and warmer weather. 04/10/2024 03:54 PM

Groups seek input on survey

Groups seek input on survey

The Leelanau County Housing Collaborative, a group of four organizations focused on creating a Housing Action Plan for Leelanau County, is announcing the housing survey to help bring housing for all to Leelanau County. 04/10/2024 03:54 PM

Doug McInnes, of Northport, accepts an award from the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Committee for his work to bring clean, renewable energy to Leelanau County. In 2008, McInnes was a founding member of the Northport Energy Action Task Force, which is now known as Leelanau Energy....

McInnis, ‘rocket man’ calls Npt. home

Doug McInnis, a Leelanau County resident living in Northport, has made his mark on the county as one of the founders of Leelanau Energy, a community action agency advocating for clean energy like solar and wind power. 04/10/2024 03:54 PM

Northport native Kelly Kehl, an esthetician and herbalist specializing in holistic skin care, slow beauty, and herbal medicine, is pictured outside of her new workspace for her business “Little Beauty Kitchen.” Her new studio and retail area is located in downtown Northport just inside of...

Kelly Kehl opens Little Beauty Kitchen in Npt

Kelly Kehl, who moved back to the Village of Northport in January with her husband, John, recently opened her very own “Little Beauty Kitchen” business location downtown. Kehl, an herbalist, artist, and esthetician, said she could not be more happy to continue her work at the new space in Barb’s Bakery. 04/03/2024 05:09 PM

Piping Plover Lead Erica Adams reflects on her love for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and its endangered species. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Erica Adams finds her nest in Empire

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore (SBDNL) biologist Erica Adams is living the dream as she monitors the endangered Piping Plover and is a lead on educating the public. Adams, 29, originally from Rochester Hills, has paved her way through the National Park system at various parks throughout the country, but eventually wound up back in the Sleeping Bear Dunes in 2019. 03/27/2024 04:47 PM

Terry Lautner installed a modern milking parlor at the family farm in Elmwood Township.

Lautners recognized by Michigan Milk Producers

Terry Lautner was impressed when his father was feted by the Michigan Milk Producers Association after 35 years of membership in the co-op. Now it’s Terry’s turn. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

David Johnson of Suttons Bay will take over as president of the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club. Courtesy photo

Born, but not raised local, Johnson makes his mark on county

David Johnson of Suttons Bay is currently the president-elect of Suttons Bay Rotary Club. He’s had a storied legal career practicing as a lawyer in three states, including Ohio, New Mexico, and Missouri, and up until the end of last year, he was actively maintaining a law practice. 03/20/2024 05:09 PM

Leelanau County resident Jim Dyer serves as the manager for the Village of Northport. After years of searching the housing market, Dyer and his wife, Jeanette, finally found a home in Suttons Bay last fall. Enterprise photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu

Working for a village

Relocating to Leelanau County full-time has always been a dream for Jim Dyer and his wife, Jeanette, but they finally made that dream come true and found a home in 2023. Dyer also accepted the Village of Northport manager position last year and started as a full time employee in October. Since then, he’s been settling into the new home and job and embracing all that the county has to offer. 03/13/2024 11:46 PM

Elijah Nykamp, owner of Nykamping clothing store in Suttons Bay, specializes in oversized, one-size fits most, sustainable, and ethically made clothing created from thrifted textiles in northern Michigan. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Nykamping “A tent for your body”

Elijah Nykamp is in a lane of his own in the fashion world. Nykamp, owner of Nykamping in Suttons Bay, has a love for both oversized outerwear and thrifting – along with the desire to take textile sustainability, circular fashion, ethically sourced and zero waste to its absolute max, according to his website at nykamping.com Nykamp, 28, has owned the business for nearly a year and he is looking forward to his second summer at the 100 Adams Street shop in the village of Suttons Bay. 03/06/2024 05:30 PM

Ben Hale, captain of the Inland Seas Education Association schooner bearing the organization’s name, stands on the deck of his tall ship. Hale was recently honored as “sail trainer of the year” 2023 by Tall Ships America. Courtesy photo

Hale ‘Sail Trainer of the year’

Tall Ships America, a national sail training organization, recently honored Northport resident Ben Hale as the “sail trainer of the year” for 2023. Hale was recognized for his work as senior captain for the Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) in Suttons Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hands-on experience aboard their two tall ship schooners. 02/28/2024 04:44 PM

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