• Happy Gwen Frostic Day!

    In 1978, Michigan Governor William Milliken proclamed May 23 Gwen Frostic Day in Michigan, and in 1986 Frostic was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. A dancer, choreographer, and founder of the Northwest Michigan Folklife Center, Gretchen Eichberger considers Gwen Frostic an icon of northern Michigan culture, and she has created a dance performance to celebrate the artist’s life. In this month’s Elberta Alert, Eichberger discusses how she and her collaborators Anne-Marie Oomen, Breathe Owl Breathe, and a group of local dancers will bring Frostic’s spirit to life in an exciting new way this summer. The Alert also… More

  • Filmmaker to Speak at Elberta Farmers’ Market

    This Thursday at 10 AM at the Elberta Farmers’ Market Pavilion, come and listen to Michigan filmmaker and local-food activist Chris Bedford speak about how we can jack our economy and become food secure by high-tailing it back to the way things were as recently as thirty years ago, when family farms marketed their goods to their own neighbors at mom-and-pop groceries, and we didn’t buy peaches from Shangdong Province. Bedford helped start the Sweetwater Local Foods Market in Muskegon, which claims to be Michigan’s first totally organic-veg and humane-meat market, and is chair of the Center for Economic Security,… More

  • Agenda: May Council Meeting

    At Thursday’s council meeting this week, we’ll have a special guest, the devil himself, Hell, MI, mayor John Colone. In addition, a public hearing on a variance for the construction of Jerry Little’s home will be held. As with many Village lots, Jerry’s is nonconforming, and requires a variance so his new home can be moved there. At last night’s Frankfort council meeting, the city approved a 180 day moratorium on medical marijuana sales. The Village will be discussing and possibly voting on a similar moratorium at this meeting. Come out and find out what’s what and voice your opinion,… More

  • Judgment of Solomon: Reapportionment Splits Elberta and Frankfort

    In about fifty minutes last night at the government center, the Reapportionment Committee concluded their redistricting of the county to reflect population shifts over the past decade. The committee consists of Don Nugent, Republican Party chair; Jill Kimball, Benzie Democrats chair; Linda Wilson, county treasurer; Dawn Olney, county clerk; and county prosecutor John Daugherty. About fifteen members of the public also attended, including some county commissioners. The adopted plan, created by Linda Wilson and presented for the first time at last night’s meeting, will be submitted to the state for review no later than June 6. The plan retains the… More

  • Stairway to Heaven: May Twp Board Meeting Report

    Gilmore Township Board Meeting, Tuesday, May 11, 2011 Dennis Holcombe and Karen Roberts of the township planning commission reported on a meeting they attended with AES (Alliance for Economic Success), who are offering to assist the townships (Blaine, Pleasanton, Arcadia, Gilmore, Crystal Lake, and Joyfield were mentioned) with a joint master planning process. AES recommends the joint master plan process as a better way to get grants from the state, which they say tends to favor regional planning initiatives. The grant money should be available in the fall and the process will take a year from that point. Two people… More

  • Foghorn: Reapportionment and the Emergency Manager Act Forum

    Thursday, May 12, 7 PM  County District Reapportionment Committee Meeting. The question is whether to stick with 7 county districts—because of declining population, some districts will be combined. There can be a no more than a 12% difference in population between districts. Gilmore Township and Frankfort have lost population, while Almira has grown. We may be losing some representation, with Marcia Stobie and Don Tanner combined into one district (until the next election). The Republican Party will be presenting their plan for reapportionment at this meeting. @ Benzie County Government Center, 448 Court Place (off Michigan Ave. – US-31), Beulah.… More