Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 11:09 PM

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Life in Leelaneu

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

Linda Oosse is pictured with “Princess” the goat and her babies at the barn. Courtesy photo

A safe haven for rescuing, caring for animals

Linda Oosse, known by many in the community as someone who cares for all sorts of animals — from goats and cows to chickens and pigs — has been looking after and learning about farm animals since she was a child. Oosse’s focus these days has turned to adopting rescues though, as well as continuing to care for the growing number of goats and other animals on her property. 02/21/2024 04:57 PM

National Park Service seeks firewood vendors

National Park Service seeks firewood vendors

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is looking for service providers for two competitive Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) to provide firewood vending for D.H. Day Campground in Leelanau County the and Platte River Campground in Benzie County and for calendar years 2024 and 2025. 02/14/2024 04:44 PM

Jim DeWildt served two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as an illustrator for the Pentagon. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

S-B artist makes his mark on the world

Suttons Bay Township resident Jim DeWildt is just one of many examples that you never really know who is relaxing in the woods somewhere in Leelanau County. He has an art gallery and studio tucked in the hills and woods of East Fort Road that features a large collection of art. 02/14/2024 04:44 PM

Enterprise photo by Zachary Marano Northport native Bobbie (Dame) Ditzler returned to the village with husband, Frank, after living in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon.

Ditzler deeply rooted in Northport history

Bobbie Ditzler, of Northport, recently celebrated her 80th birthday on Jan. 11. Shortly after reaching this milestone, Ditzler sat down with the newspaper to recount some of her knowledge about local history and her experiences watching her home village develop. 02/07/2024 05:13 PM

Briana Truckey, K-12 nurse for the Suttons Bay School Wellness Program, was hired on by the Benzie Leelanau District Health Department in August 2023. She also runs her commercial and landscape photography business “Northern Way of Life,” and is employed as social media manager for the dis...

Meet S-B school nurse, social media manager Briana Truckey

Leelanau County resident Briana Truckey has served as the registered nurse for the Suttons Bay School Wellness Program since 2023, however, she’s been supporting the district behind the scenes for many more years in different capacities. 01/31/2024 06:09 PM

David Priest, a guardian of the roads, has been plowing his way for the Leelanau Road Commission for nearly 15 years. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Priest of the roads

David Priest was born and raised in Northport. He was born at the Memorial hospital and is Leelanau through and through. 01/24/2024 04:23 PM

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