Editorials

In the past year, Enterprise readers have come to know about controversial developments in at least two communities. The proposed expansion of the Northgate Leelanau Pines campground, was turned down twice by Centerville Township planners. 09/18/2024 05:51 PM

Stepping up for the Zywicki family

People in the Cedar area are living up to the unincorporated village’s motto: “A Community That Cares.” Word spread quickly Labor Day after Richard Zywicki, (the hardware man) owner of Cedar Hardware, had a catastrophic golf cart accident. And it wasn’t long before people stepped forward to help. 09/12/2024 06:28 AM

Summer fades: Enjoy September

As the summer 2024 visitor season breathes its last gasp on the long weekend coming up, it may be worthwhile to look back on what made this summer so unique. Well, the weather was pretty good for most of it. 08/28/2024 10:35 PM

Watching for impact of minimum wage law

A new state law which will go in effect in February sounds good at first glance. However, it will be interesting to see it how everything shakes out on the Leelanau Peninsula. 08/21/2024 09:15 PM

Admin. decision left to next board

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners has spent much of the year since February searching for their next county administrator. The administrator is possibly the most powerful non-elected position, as they have authority over all departments to implement decisions by elected officials. 08/14/2024 04:33 PM

Thanks for stepping up

It’s a thankless job. But somebody needs to do it. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Tools available to press/public

The Enterprise has been covering Leelanau County since 1877, chronicling the lives of residents and visitors of the peninsula for 142 years. Births, deaths, community efforts … you name it, we’ve covered it. 07/31/2024 06:36 PM

Glen Lake resets; no bond request

As summer construction is expected to button up over the next few weeks for a fresh school year, Glen Lake has decided to take a different path than the last few years have shown. After nearly passing a $34 million bond last November, Glen Lake is flirting with the idea of not going for a bond this November. 07/24/2024 03:46 PM

Support cherry growers, way of life

It doesn’t take a math genius to figure out why farmers love their roadside stands, where sweet cherries fetch somewhere between $7 and $8 per quart. Prices for sweets sold on the commodity market at their best might hit 50 cents a pound, but that’s not a price break seen in recent seasons. 07/17/2024 05:06 PM

Celebrating the 4th

A signatory of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote in the summer of 1776 to his wife Abigail that he believed Independence Day “will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival … it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” 07/02/2024 05:21 PM

Weighing public safety with property rights

A long-planned tower which could improve communication coverage for emergency services is now under review in Leelanau Township. Since 2022, the county and township have been working together to move forward with tower plans, with several major actions taken such as the township passing a resolution urging the county to assist with their coverage shortfall. 06/26/2024 04:30 PM

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. 06/19/2024 04:23 PM