Category: Community Alert
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Putney Appeal Hearing to Continue September 4
Tonight the Zoning Board of Appeals, with new members Holly O’Dwyer and and Mark Held, after hearing public comment and a statement from Loy Putney’s attorney, Brad Putney, decided to continue the hearing on September 4 to give ZBA members more time to review the appeal exhibits, some of which…
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Special Meeting Monday to Discuss Millage for Sheriff Department
UPDATE: County clerk Dawn Olney sent an email today, August 26, at about noon with an agenda attached for either a continued or rescheduled meeting on the Sheriff millage issue, to be held tomorrow (Aug. 27) at 1 pm, same place. 8 am, County Commissioners Room, Benzie County Government Center, 448…
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Putney Appeals Square Footage per Person Requirement
Sometime between the afternoon of August 20 and 12:30 pm on August 21, Sharyn Bower posted this notice. Loy Putney is appealing the stipulation of council that he house no more than 1 person per 165 sq ft at the Bay Valley worker housing apartments. Since Putney had already completed…
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Council Contemplates Selling Old Library…And Much, Much More
It was another nearly three hour meeting, with lots of decisions made and some deferred. President Reggie Manville was back, after a three-meeting absence. Employee benefits were discussed and a vote was taken on Linda Manville’s proposal that employees begin contributing 20% toward their health-care premiums. This motion was voted…
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Plant It Wild Has Tips for Your Shady Spots
By Cheryl Gross for Plant It Wild Plant It Wild is offering “Shade Gardening with Michigan Native Woodland Plants and Ferns” by the landscape expert Brian Zimmerman on Wednesday, August 28, 7 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Michigan native plants will be for sale at the program. Shade gardening can…
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The May Farm: Greener Pastures
During my three years in Ithaca, New York (which must have one of the premier farmers’ markets in the country), I was spoiled by delicious organically raised dairy delivered to a porch around the block from where I lived every week, in addition to abundant options for nitrite-free, free-range, organic,…
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Friends of the Library Book Sale Needs Volunteers
Benzie Shores District Library needs of volunteers for the annual Friends of the Library booksale. Volunteers able to do heavy lifting are needed for setup on Friday, August 16, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Setup, sales, and clean-up volunteers are needed for various shifts on Saturday, August 17. Please contact the library at 352-4671 if interested or…
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Ann Arbor Railroad Retirees Convene Again August 4
Hey everyone, the Ann Arbor Railroad Retirees gather again, for the 28th year in a row, at the Blaine Township Hall on White Owl Road August 4, to celebrate their years of service in Elberta’s unique industry. All are welcome (bring food!), and the Alert encourages younger and non-railroad/car ferry…
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Frankfort DDA Seeks Board Members
This morning the Alert received the following from Josh Mills: [T]he City of Frankfort is soliciting dedicated members of the community to serve on the newly created Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Membership shall consist of business owners, business owner representative, property owner and/or resident of the DDA corridor. We…
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Signup
Hey, people with Hazardous Household Waste! Come out of your dark corners and show your faces. Having oil based paints, stains, thinners, cleaning solvents, aerosol cans, ballast, garden chemicals, flammable liquids, CFL’s, other fluorescent bulbs, contaminated automotive fluids, old and expired medications, mercury thermometers and switches is nothing to be…
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JR’s 2nd Annual Fireworks
A free fireworks display comes once again to the Village, brought to us by J. R. Duncan, when night falls this Saturday, June 29. All are welcome. Duncan said last year the fireworks could be seen from River Road, but you might want to get a better view. Duncan suggests…
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Signs Installed to Mark Beach Road
With authorization from Council, Ken Bonney today installed stakes and signage to demarcate the Village’s platted road, known as Lakeside Boulevard. Over the years, the undeveloped stretch has become by turns rutted and covered over with soft sand, and several byways have been cut through use. The long-standing issue of…
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Elberta Dunes South Parking Lot Completed
With the help of a $5,000 grant written by Village clerk Sharyn Bower, one phase in the management plan for the Elberta Dunes South natural area was begun and completed today, June 27. Kerby’s won the bid to grade and gravel a portion of the property. The parking area will…
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County Recycling Coordinator Caught Up in Driver Responsibility Act Mess
By Emily Votruba County Recycling Coordinator Mike Fiebing was pulled over in his personal vehicle on Wednesday June 5 for having a cracked windshield—a routine traffic stop, according to Sheriff Ted Schendel. Schendel told the Alert that when the officer ran Fiebing’s license record the license was found to have…
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Parks & Rec Report, June 2013
By Emily Votruba ELBERTA LIBRARY—On June 13, 2013, the Parks and Recreation Commission held its last regular meeting before this year’s Elberta Solstice Festival. At the beginning of the meeting, Connie Manke, P&R’s president and a longtime, beloved member of the commission, announced her resignation. Connie is moving away from…
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Proposed Free WiFi Area
The Alert obtained this printout of the proposed free WiFi coverage area from Frankfort City Council member Richard Haan. This is just a preliminary plan, not final; if you’re interested in this issue, contact a Frankfort City Council member or attend one of their regular meetings, on the third Tuesday…
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Free Yoga for Veterans at Betsie Hosick Fitness Center
Starting next Saturday, Memorial Day weekend, Betsie Hosick Health & Fitness Center will offer a free yoga class at 1 pm. Eric Pyne will teach this weekly class. Betsie Hosick is located off 115 at 102 Airport Road, near the Frankfort Airport and next to Charlie’s Natural Food Market. Call (231)…
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Putney Team Responds to PC’s Request for Additional Information on “Elberta School Apartments” Plan Ahead of Hearing Tonight
By Emily Votruba Last night (May 6), the Alert received an email from Loy Putney’s attorney, Bradley Putney, with answers to some of the questions the Planning Commission asked at the first hearing on his proposed Elberta School Apartments, on April 16. According to Village attorney Edgar Roy, a number…
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Support Outdoor Education and Blooming Michigan Artistry
By Lena Wilson Many potent life lessons come through interaction with young people in our lives. By making an effort to pay closer attention and ask questions we’re reminded, though we didn’t know we had forgotten, how to play and act in the moment. Though the children certainly don’t intend…
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Little Marina Park Dock Tops Out, Making Way for Possible Boardwalk Project
Roving Alert reporter and photographer Jen Wilkins informs us that Ken Bonney and Charlie Hendershott removed the dock tops from the Marina Park inlet yesterday, as directed by Council. She says: “It looks good. They even stacked them nicely at the end there for anyone who wants them to come…
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Beach-to-Beach Cleanup This Saturday
SATURDAY, APRIL 20th Earth Day…just about 13th ANNUAL BEACH-TO-BEACH CLEAN UP 10 am to 11 am Start: Elberta Farmers’ Market Pavilion End: When Trail & Beaches are cleaned! Bring: Friends and Neighbors Gloves and Enthusiasm We’ll Provide: Coffee & Goodies Friends of Betsie Bay have been dedicated stewards of the Betsie Bay…
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Planning Commission Hearings on “Apartments” Definition and Putney’s Special Use Permit Application
By Emily Votruba Next Tuesday, April 16, beginning at 7 pm, the Elberta Planning Commission will hold two public hearings at the Elberta Library (704 Frankfort Avenue). The public is asked to consider the Commission’s proposed definition of “apartments.” If approved by the commission and the village council, this definition…
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Tree Cutting Along Grace Road Will Not Include Historic Trees, Says Road Commission
UPDATE (5/6/13): The Road Commission said today that the project is expected to be completed before the end of June. The stretch of Grace between Forrester and M-22 will be closed until then. By Emily Votruba Photographs by Jennifer Wilkins We got a call from a concerned citizen…
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Spring Cleanup!
Starting pulling out all that stuff you’ve been meaning to get rid of. The Village will hold Spring Cleanup on Saturday, May 11, from 9 am to 2 pm. You may bring as much of your cr*p as you like, at a rate of $20 per full-pickup-truck load; no tires or…
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Benzie County Water Festival 2013! (Video)
UPDATE For the third year in a row, the Benzie County Water Festival convenes this coming Friday at Benzie Central High School from 3:30 pm to 9 pm. This year’s theme is: “Under The Surface,” focused on youth and lesser-understood impacts to our water resources. Once again it brings Michigan musicians, panel discussions,…
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League of Women Voters Education Forum (Video)
On February 25, the League of Women Voters held a forum on new education legislation and how it might affect local control of schools. Jonathan Maue took this video and has generously let us post it here. The League of Women Voters is a national nonpartisan organization. The Benzie chapter…
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March Elberta Council Meeting Report: Holier Than Thou
By Emily Votruba VILLAGE COMMUNITY BUILDING March 21, 2013—Sharyn Bower announced that the County Board of Commissioners would be holding their regular meeting at the Village Community Building on April 16 at 6 pm as part of their tour around the county. The Planning Commission will hold two public hearings…
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New Post Office Hours
At long last, the new post office hours have been announced. Starting May 4 (prom day), the weekday hours are 9 am to 1 pm. Saturdays remain same, from 8:30 to 10:30 am. PO box mail will be available for pickup by 10 am Monday through Saturday.
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Your Opinion Sought on Elberta’s Parks and Recreation Assets
Please plan to attend the input session on April 18 at 7 pm in the Village Community Building! See details below. A draft of the new 5 year plan can be found here: Village of Elberta Recreation Plan 2014–2019 draft for public meeting
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Commissioners Confronted on IPMC, Deputies
By Bob Kenison and Emily Votruba March 26, 2013 BENZIE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER—More than one hundred Benzie County citizens overflowed the commissioners’ chambers, spilling into the hallway at the regular meeting this past Tuesday. The people were clearly unhappy with the commissioners’ enactment of the new property maintenance code. Some…
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International Property Maintenance Code Rescinded (Audio)
BENZIE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER—The county commission voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance rescinding their adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code at this morning’s regular county commissioners meeting. Members of the media were there (Record–Patriot, TV 9&10, and others), and more than 120 members of the general public. A show…
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Recall Who?
According to DPW head Ken Bonney, reached this afternoon by phone, two “RECALL” signs were found in the village today, one in front of the library, and one near the exercise equipment at Anderson Park. Bonney said Ken Holmes removed the one from in front of the library, and Village…
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Strict Construction: The New County Property Maintenance Code
By Emily Votruba At the February 19 County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners voted 6 to 1 to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code (see link below). The vote occurred during the department head reports portion of the meeting and was not on the agenda. After a presentation by Robert Theobald…
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New County Property Maintenance Rules Are Intensely Detailed, Possibly Unconstitutional
Thanks to the Joyfield Residents group on Facebook for making the pdf of the new county property maintenance code available. We haven’t actually read it yet, but you can! We’ve heard it’s pretty strict, which should please lovers of neatly trimmed grass, but cause some headaches (and pocketbook aches) for…
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Eagle Donates City of Milwaukee Photo to Issy Stapleton Fundraising Effort
THE LIGHTHOUSE CAFÉ, ELBERTA—Ford Forrester called up the Alert a week ago saying he had something to donate toward Issy Stapleton’s autism treatment. “Raffle, silent auction, whatever you want to do with it,” he said. The item has a special Elberta significance: It’s a portrait of the SS City of…
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Issy Stapleton Fundraiser
Please take a moment to consider donating to this important local Elberta cause. Help the Stapleton family pay for their daughter’s continued care in an autism treatment program. You can donate on the dedicated Alert page here.
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Lost Dogs
These are the same lost dogs we posted about on Facebook January 24. They are still lost from their home on River Rd. Any leads would be much appreciated by their humans! Call 231-383-5355.