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Life in Leelaneu:

Diversions

Leelanau County youth brought home awards from the 4-H livestock shows at the Northwestern Michigan Fair this weekend. In the back row, from left to right, are Judy Steffens, Isabelle Plamondon, Violet Claar, and Jack Anderson. In front are Faith Steffens, Jaxson Plamondon, Samantha Claar,...

County youth celebrate life on the farm

One of the state’s largest fairs, the Northwestern Michigan Fair, concluded in Traverse City Saturday. As part of the fair, 4-H youth from Leelanau and four other northern Michigan counties showed livestock in a series of competitions to determine the best animals and handlers in attendance. 08/14/2024 04:33 PM

Mike and Mary Shimek are pictured here in the lavender field near Maple City. Courtesy photo

Leelanau’s lavender harvest

Joe Adams of Maple City is making his run in the lavender industry with his “Full Circle” Lavender business as he prepares for the second harvest of his young, purple field. He is now beginning to distill the plant into essential oil by cutting and drying the plant. 08/14/2024 04:33 PM

Joe Adams of Maple City harvesting lavender on his “Full Circle” farm. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Joe Adams of Maple City

Joe Adams of Maple City harvesting lavender on his “Full Circle” farm. 08/14/2024 04:33 PM

Mules knew the way

Mules knew the way

Back around the turn of the century, John Gagnon worked for the Fredrickson Livery Stable. He took great pride in the stable’s splendid mule team. One of his duties was to meet the afternoon train at the depot, pick up the mail and deliver it to the post office. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

A horse, Lucky Dinero Bosco (pictured here), was elected in July to represent the historic small town of Omena as the seventh mayor, with cats Topsy and Turvy Stephenson serving as co-vice mayors, and another cat, Porsche McKee, serving as deputy vice mayor. On Lucky’s hip, there’s an outl...

Meet ‘Lucky’ the horse: Omena’s newest mayor

Omena’s newest animal mayor in town is just a bit larger from the usual dog or cat candidates that run in the race. A horse, Lucky Dinero Bosco, was elected in July to represent the historic small town as the seventh mayor, with cats Topsy and Turvy Stephenson serving as co-vice mayors, and another cat, Porsche McKee, serving as deputy vice mayor. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

‘Big Band by the Barn’ set for August 15

‘Big Band by the Barn’ set for August 15

Spend a summer evening in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore swinging to the everpopular tunes of the big band era at one of the national park’s historic farms. A “Big Band by the Barn” fundraiser will be held Thursday, August 15 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Gary Lowe (left) and Linda Gottwald (right) play with Hawthorne at the Great Lakes Humane Society near M-72. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger

Great Lakes Humane Society offers advice

For the last year, there has been a crisis nationally for animal shelters due to various factors, including higher prices, the lack of spaying or neutering during COVID, and a surge of regretful adoption owners not wanting their dogs. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Horse North Rescue, which takes in horses from northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, moved to a 10-acre parcel west of Interlochen earlier this year. The organization is run by volunteers and seeks to find permanent homes for equines seized by animal control or surrendered by their pr...

S-B woman active in horse rescue

Horse North Rescue (HNR), a nonprofit organization that seeks to “rescue, rehab, and rehome” horses from northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, recently acquired a 10-acre parcel west of Interlochen through generous donations to their fundraiser. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Jeff Rabidouz and his dog ‘Blu’ pose for a photo after ‘Blu’ finished third at the Ultimate Air Dog Competition during the Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Courtesy photo

‘Me and you and a dog named’ Blu

Jeff Rabidoux of Empire leads the gathering of the second largest group of golden retrievers “Midwest Golden Fest” Sept. 13-15 at the Turtle Creek campground in Beulah. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Air Dogs at Polka Fest

Air Dogs at Polka Fest

The Cedar Polka Fest includes multiple events including one to feature man’s best friend. Ultimate Air Dogs competition is always a huge success, featuring pool jumping “dog athletes” and their proud owner/trainers competing for advancement in the regional competition. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Mike Brest and Kathie Albright have stepped up to lead Saving Birds Thru Habitat as the organization’s president and treasurer respectively. Saving Birds’ co-founder and executive director, Kay Charter, resigned earlier this year. Brest and Albright seek to continue promoting Charter’s vis...

Saving Birds under new leadership

Leelanau County was once a temporary stop on the line for many species of migratory songbirds, but due to the loss of suitable habitats on the peninsula, some of them are being seen more infrequently lately. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

Luau on the Lawn

Luau on the Lawn

Join Sea2Stable for their third tropical-style, familyfriendly and free community event Luau on the Lawn on Sunday, Aug. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. 08/08/2024 06:09 AM

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