Category: Culture Bluffs
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Book Review: “Horse Soldiers,” by Doug Stanton
By Charles W. Buck No—this is not a review of the old John Wayne cavalry movie of a similar name. This is about a book by a writer from northern Michigan—Elberta country. It is a war story. It is a story of exceptionally brave people. It is not all about…
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Elberta Mercantile Closes First Season with Yummies
After a successful season, Mark and Carol would like to show their gratitude with a Fall Closing House Celebration. EMC will be providing delicious cider and snacks to thank their patrons for helping them make their dream a reality.
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Ham from EN64VP
September 18, 2016 A group of ham radio operators are up on the overlook today attempting to “work” some of their colleagues over in Wisconsin. It’s part of a microwave contest. Some plan to stick around all day and some are heading down to Chicago later, sending signals down the coast as they go.…
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In Memoriam: Lawrence W. Crane
The man was one of the most important figures in the history of Elberta, and Andrew Bolander was unable to find an obit for him aside from a half paragraph in the Free Press and a mention of his passing in the Benzie Banner. So, on the anniversary of his death, Bolander thought it would…
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A New Era for the Elberta Solstice Festival
EDITORIAL By Emily Votruba In the space of a couple of weeks straddling April and May, Solstice Fest 2015 went from being on, to off, to back on again. On April 15, Bill Soper, chair of the Solstice Committee, and Diane Jenks, village council president, had a discussion, based on…
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Whoville in E-ville Contest
Announcing! The first annual Whoville Holiday Decorating contest, sponsored by Shear Class Salon and Day Spa. Who in Elberta will come up with the greatest house and lawn decor to brighten up our midwinter? Submit your $10 entrance fee to Shear Class. The Overall Best Decor winner gets the whole kitty…
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Near Beer, Cont’d: Frankfort Beer Week
Frankfort holds its first-ever Beer Week the second week of Hoptober, Monday through Saturday, celebrating our new deeply local beer scene (thank you, Stormcloud Brewing Company). More than a dozen restaurants will be participating, creating unique items just for this event, made with Michigan beer. Stormcloud will tap their annual…
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Karl Manke’s Third Book: Secrets, Lies, and Dreams:
By Janet La Rue Buck Karl Manke has written a third adventure story, and this one is set mainly in the Whitehorse region of Alaska. It is the tale of a Mormon polygamist, Jacob Mueller, his two wives, who are sisters, and their six sons. (Lena, the elder wife, has…
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Elberta Summer Solstice Festival no. 12: Wilder Than Ever
The Elberta Solstice Festival is back for its 12th year, Saturday June 21! Join the teeming masses of music and food buffs descending on our magical Village amid the dune bluffs of Lake Michigan for live music, local food, beer, games, Michigan’s best beach, and other attractions to amaze and…
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Bayview Grille Celebrates 4 Years on the Bay
By Ann Sinclair Located on beautiful Betsie Bay in Frankfort, Bayview Grille has earned its reputation as a popular destination for great made-from-scratch home-style food and Michigan-made beers and wine. Located in the building that once housed Celia’s by the Bay, Bayview Grille is the pride and joy of Dale…
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2014 Bruce Catton Award Winning Essay: “He Was Lost, but I Found Him”
The following story, by J.J. Swander, took first place this year in the annual Bruce Catton Awards event. Each year, freshmen at Frankfort–Elberta High School compose essays inspired by their reading of Catton’s Waiting for the Morning Train, about his life growing up in Benzie County. J.J. Swander is a fifteen-year-old…
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Friends of Elberta Meet Tonight at Mayfair
A new NGO, formed in late January, meets for the fourth time tonight at the Mayfair Tavern at 7 pm. The mission is “to preserve, promote, celebrate, and enhance the quality of life in Elberta.” All are welcome. Agenda items for this meeting include a recap of the Fire &…
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Benzonia Academy Lecture Series: Witchcraft
What better way to prepare for Valentine’s Day than to learn about extremely poor communication among men and women of the early modern period? What: The Hammer of Witches: Witchcraft in the 16th and 17th Centuries, a lecture by Dr. Louis Yock When: Thursday, February 13, 4PM Where: Benzie Area…
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Catton Essay: “The Biggest Game of the Year”
By Mason Loney Each year, first-year high school students at Frankfort–Elberta High School and Benzie Central read Bruce Catton’s Waiting for the Morning Train and create their own reminiscence of growing up in Benzie County. Mason Loney submitted this essay to the Bruce Catton Awards contest in 2013. Mason, now…
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O, Tannerbaum! 3rd Annual P&R Xmas Tree Sale
The Village Parks and Recreation Commission will for the third year in a row sell fabulous Christmas trees from Needlefast Everygreens as a fundraiser for P&R projects! This year the sale will be held in the Farmers’ Market Park Pavilion, with festive lights, excellent parking, possibly cocoa, and a bit…
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Little Free Library Comes to Elberta
A new “Little Free Library” has opened for business in Elberta. It’s located on the front porch of the Conundrum Café at 603 Frankfort Avenue. Books are available 24-7. If your inner book worm is turning and you feel the need (the need to read) “check out” one of the…
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2013 Frankfort Film Fest Lineup
Attention, cineastes! The Frankfort Film Festival runs next week, Thursday through Sunday. Tickets may be purchased online here or at the box office. Below you can see a chronological listing (by showtimes) of this year’s films. 2013 Film Fest Schedule
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A Soaring Letter regarding the Financial Crisis
The Alert received this letter and photo from Mr. Embertson on October 12. Note that Elberta does not in fact own all of the beach area in question, and so far the Village Council has not proposed to voluntarily sell any beach access to satisfy the Treasury Department. Dear Alert…
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What Do You Think of Our Plan?
The final draft of the Village of Elberta Parks and Recreation Plan for 2009–14 is now up on the Village website. As soon as the official notice is published in the Record-Patriot this Wednesday, the official five-week public comment period begins. This is a very important document for the Village…
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Perfect Donut
This perfect automotive donut was executed at the intersection of Washington and Bigley sometime in the middle of a mid-August night. It remains visible today. A similarly circular vehicular sketch was created at the intersection of Bigley and Lincoln. Perhaps the artist would like to see a statue of Allen…
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Wine and Song: Trina Hamlin Performs at Conundrum Café Aug. 16
On August 16, percussionist and harmonica player Trina Hamlin will fill the Conundrum Café with her passionate ballads and bluesy sounds. An hour prior to the 8 PM concert, St. Ambrose Cellars, known locally for their delicious meads, will be offering a tastings of their meads, red and white wines…
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In Memoriam: Kathryn denHeeten
Katy denHeeten, born Kathryn McConnell, passed away this morning at 6 am. She had spent nearly two years dealing with cancer, humorously, joyfully, thoughtfully, and bravely. The proprietor of the Elberta Hideaway, Katy was a big Village booster. She got involved with the Elberta Alert right away and contributed several…
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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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A Brefe, Tempestuous Historie of Lakeside Shakespeare in which Our Brave Players—and Manye Volontiers—Battle the Elementf, with Engineering Mofte Civill
Lakeside Shakespeare’s last performance of the season, The Comedy of Errors, takes place tonight on Tank Hill at 7 pm. On July 5, Emily Votruba interviewed Janet La Rue Buck, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Amy Daniels Moehle, and Peter Dully, on the porch of the La Rue House Bed & Breakfast, where the Bucks…
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Lakeside Shakespeare: The Show Goes On!
Tonight, July 29, at 7 pm, enjoy the rescheduled performance of The Comedy of Errors on Tank Hill. CoE was rained out on Friday the 26th. Rain also moved Sunday night’s performance of CoE from Tank Hill to the Oliver Art Center. Fortunately, everyone seems to have kept their sense of humor……
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“The Heat” Left Us Cold
By Vince Hancock & Gayle Crampton Co-Editors, ThreePinesGander.com Special to the Elberta Alert You may have noticed a drop in temperature lately. That’s because The Heat just closed at the Garden Theater. Good. From our bird’s-eye perspective in Bear Lake, it’s bad form to rain on anyone’s parade, whether the parade is…
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Blast from the Future: “Shakespeare Play”
The Alert will be presenting a series of essays written by local kids for the annual Bruce Catton Awards essay contest for ninth graders. Since Lakeside Shakespeare will give a preview performance of Romeo and Juliet tonight on Tank Hill, it seems fitting to begin with this essay by Brittanie…
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August Events at the Benzie Shores Library
Thursday, August 1 – Story Hour with Miss Julie Friday, August 2, 10:00 a.m. – World of Lego, ages 5-12 Monday, August 5, 10:00 a.m. – Circle Time for Infants & Toddlers Tuesday, August 6, 10:00 a.m. – Young Artists, ages 6-14 Wednesday, August 7, 10:00 a.m. – Fun and…
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JR’s Fireworks a Big Success
J. R. Duncan wants to extend his thanks to everyone who came out for his second annual Village fireworks extravaganza this year. Special thanks to Clark Wilson and Ken Bonney, who put their all into helping set up, and set off, this over one-hour-long spectacle, which attracted an estimated 300…
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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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11th Annual Solstice Festival on Saturday!
Each June since 2002, the Elberta Solstice Festival has brought masses of people to this tiny village nestled amid the dune bluffs on the shores of the Betsie Bay and Lake Michigan for a free festival of local food, beer, games, crafts, and fantastic live music, all capped off with…
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Elberta Pets!
Do you have a pet or 10? Do you know someone with interesting animal friends? Let us know at elberta.alert@gmail.com.
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Tombstone Tourism: Exploring the Past Through Gravestones and Monuments
By Mary Link Al Bryant, a local taphophile (someone who studies gravestones) gave a presentation for the Benzie Genealogical Society monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8. Showing pictures of tombstones of the famous and infamous, including his distant cousin, Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde fame), Mr. Bryant explained the…
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On the Old Stone Road: A Stone Worker’s Log, part 1
Michael Murphy holds certificates from the Great Britain Dry Stone Walling Association and the Dry Stone Conservancy of the United States and is a certified instructor with the Dry Stone Conservancy. He designs and builds walls, stairs, walkways, benches and special features in dry stone. He will be teaching a…
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7 Questions for Stormcloud Brewing Company Kitchen Master John Snyder
1. So you’re the new chef at Stormcloud Brewing, and you’re a 1999 Kalamazoo College English major with a music minor. Does your cooking have a deep structure to it? And how does that relate to a universal grammar, if such exists, of breweries? Well, I am heading up the…
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Petals & Perks: The Europification of Main Street Continues
Alert reporter Chip Marks spoke with Chris and Victoria Mekas about their new combination coffee and flower shop, which opened for business May 15 in the old Java 429 spot on Main Street. Chip got this response and some great photos. We took occupancy of the commercial space at 429…
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Psst…Party at Juliet’s House
By Emily Votruba On May 25 at 7 pm, Frankfort–Elberta’s very own Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre company will transform Oliver Art Center into the House of Capulet for “An Evening in Verona”—a fun theatrical party with a purpose. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, which gets you local food…
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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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Premiere of “Dress” at Inside Out Gallery This Saturday
Read our March interview with Gretchen Eichberger here. Dress, an original theatrical dance production created and directed by Northern Michigan folk culture maven Gretchen Eichberger, brings together amateur and professional dancers, musicians, poets, and activists to explore a woman’s experience of rebellion, sensuality, ecology, and piety. Cast members reside in Michigan,…
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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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Talking about the Oliver Art Center’s First Dance Work—Gretchen Eichberger’s “Dress”
Dress is a dance cycle conceived and directed by Gretchen Eichberger about women’s experience, with themes of rebellion, sensuality, ecology, and piety. The piece features the prose and poetry of Jennifer Sperry Steinorth, Stephanie Mills, Simone de Beauvoir, and Virginia Woolf. The project utilizes the talents of area women dancers,…
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Food Trucks at Elberta Beach?
By Emily Votruba At the February Parks and Rec Commission meeting last night there was some discussion of food concessions down at the beach. Nobody in the room could remember a time when snacks were sold down at the beach, though Katy denHeeten recalled the swingsets and picnic tables she…
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Notable Upcoming Chili Cookoffs
FEB 1 THE FRANKFORT COAST GUARD STATION CHILI COOKOFF who: Competition is open only to public safety officers (police, fire, EMS, Coast Guard), but anybody can come to the station and eat some chili. A panel of judges including Sheriff Ted Schendel and some members of the Chamber of Commerce will judge…
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Poem
Decades of Starlight By Kathryn denHeeten The stars surprise me Right where they should be Startled and snared Hooked little smiles I close my eyes and she’s past the barbed wire Her snowshoes on A pack of matches in her mitten She understands this landscape Midnight on the crusty snow…
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Near Beer: Stormcloud Brewing
The official announcement finally came today, January 15, 2013, over Facebook: This summer a little light industry rolls in to 303 Main Street in Frankfort. The Alert spoke with Stormcloud Brewing Company owner-operators Brian Confer and Rick Schmitt about their project, which will occupy the former site of the Caddy…
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Frankfort Film Festival Starts Tonight!
Get the full schedule as a pdf here: filmfestflierschedule. Tickets for individual film festival films ($10) are available one hour prior to showtime at the box office. Festival passes ($60) are also available at the box office or at the Garden Theater website. For your aural pleasure, the Garden Theater now has…
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Free Movies in Elberta: They’re Baaaaaack
Come one, come all! to free movies Monday (August 20), Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the Elberta Waterfront Amphitheater. It’s the first annual Mushy Peach Festival, featuring films generously supplied by local auteur and Benzie booster Rich Brauer. All the films were shot locally and with local themes. Monday it’s…
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Council Meeting Report for June 2012
INITIAL PUBLIC COMMENT An unidentified woman spoke regarding the beach: “Whether an ordinance is needed or not, I urge the council to take action and move on protecting the fragile environment.” She cited three clear tracks including the well-established track at the base of the dune. She questioned the claim…
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Reflections by the Bay at Benzie Shores Library, Wednesday, July 18
A very awesome Reflections by the Bay tomorrow: Shipwrecks of Sleeping Bear Dunes! a talk by Ross Richardson, who should know. 7 pm at Benzie Shores District Library. Explore a treasure trove of history without having to squeeze into a diving suit.
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Next Wednesday…
To learn more about this project of the Elberta Historic Preservation Committee, go to the Apron Savers Facebook page, and check out the Ann Arbor Car Ferry Memories page while you’re there.
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Memorial Day Saturday Kidstravaganza!
Getting excited for this Saturday, when the Solstice Committee puts on a bunch of awesome fun for kids, to raise money for more awesome fun at the kids’ tent at Solstice Fest. Check it out: Starting at noon at the Waterfront Park, it’s relay games, a dunk tank, a cake…
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School Band Concert Tonight
Tonight! Spring Band Concert at 7 pm at the Franfort–Elberta High School cafetorium. The elementary 5&6 graders will open the show, making their debut performance, followed by the junior high band, then the high school band. Featuring songs from Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Anastasia, and some oldies but…
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2012 Water Festival Event This Saturday—Fun Overflowing
Download the pdf: Water Festival Schedule 2012
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Hidden Easter Eggs Found in Waterfront Park
ELBERTA WATERFRONT PARK—Joanne Bartley said it was the largest turnout for an Easter egg hunt she’d ever seen in her five years running the Chamber of Commerce event. The Waterfront Park lot was full, and cars spilled over to the shoulders of 168 on this bright, mild-for-April morning shortly after…
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February 18: Way Too Much Going On
Once again, Shiver by the River Day is jam-packed with ways to amuse and abuse yourself. This year the day begins and ends in Elberta, with a 5K prize run starting at 9 am at the sunset lookout, and a chili cook-off and live music at the Shed that’ll burn…
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Solstice Pre-Party to Heat up Shiver Saturday
This Saturday starting at 4 pm, the Solstice Committee holds its first-ever fund-raiser, a chili cook-off with live music at the Cabbage Shed. There’s a five dollar suggested donation at the door, and five more dollars gets you into the back room to taste and vote on chili—all told that’s…
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Dogman! Frankfort Premiere
As of 10:45 this morning, the Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital gift shop still has 12 tickets left for the benefit screening of Dogman at the Garden Theater tonight at 7 (remarks by director Rich Brauer at 6:30!). $15 gets you into the show and benefits dialysis treatments at POMH. Dogman…
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Culture Bluffs: TV, Music, Movie!
TELEVISION Lower Herring Lake’s own Andrea Maio is hard at work on the pilot for a TV documentary series to be called Back to Your Senses. Maio is one of the first-ever filmmakers to participate in Mobcaster, a new crowdsource fundraising site and viewing platform especially for television. If Maio…
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Events This Week: Sing Cinema at the Garden
On Thursday night this week, the Garden Theater hosts caroling from 6 pm to 7 pm, followed by a free showing of The Muppets. They’re also collecting nonperishable food items and clothing for BACN (Benzie Area Christian Neighbors). Good King Wenceslas would be proud.
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Park and Rec Xmas Tree Sale, on Now!
Come one, come all, and get the best tree deal in the county. Save money on gas and know that what you do spend is going to support Elberta’s beautification and recreation initiatives. Park and Rec is selling Fraser firs and Scotch pine trees between the post office and Lane…
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Two-Minute Reviews: “The Help”
Who has time to read, let alone write? Well, Hendrik Hertzberg, for one, has argued that folks today actually write more than ever before. The Elberta Alert goes some way to proving Hertzberg’s point with our Two-Minute Reviews. This set came in via text message right after the reviewers watched…
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World Premiere of Chaotic Harmony
Elberta’s own choreographer, Gretchen Eichberger, premieres her dance tribute to Gwen Frostic, Chaotic Harmony, next Saturday and Sunday at the CSA Meeting House. A collaboration with the writer Anne-Marie Oomen and the musical trio Breathe Owl Breathe, as well as four dancers and three speakers, the piece integrates spoken word…
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Breathe Owl Breathe Swoop in to the Amphitheater Sunday
Breathe Owl Breathe are back again this Sunday, July 24, at the Elberta Amphitheater, with a sliding-scale show tuned to all ages. Last year they played through a rather dramatic rainstorm, and this year’s show may be a reprise. Bring your slickers and take a moment to breathe in the…
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Good Things Come out of Art’s Garage
Art Melendez, a cartoonist, illustrator, graphic designer, educator, and relatively recent full-time Elbertian, has signed on to a lot of local activities: Parks and Rec, the Elberta Arts Council, the Solstice Committee, and the Elberta Alert editorial team. But his most recent standout project has been renovating the Elberta sign,…
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One-Minute Reviews: The Frankfort Dog Park
Frankfort’s fantastic off-leash dog park is the place to be with your dog Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Started by Jordan Bates, Aubrey Parker, and John Vinkemulder in May 2010, the place has become a hit with local dog owners. Recent head counts have registered up to forty dogs and…
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Solstice Festival! A User’s Guide
IT’S THE BIGGEST EVENT of summer 2011: June 18, the Elberta Summer Solstice Festival. To get you ready for the longest day of the year, the Alert spoke with Josh Stoltz, who organizes the event along with Josh Herren, Bill Soper, Connie Manke, Jennifer Wilkins, Art Melendez, Adrian Hirsch, and…
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Chaotic Harmony: Dancing Gwen Frostic’s Legacy
IN 1978, GOVERNOR Milliken proclaimed May 23 Gwen Frostic Day, and in 1986, Benzie County’s own artist-naturalist 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. In collaboration…
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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…
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Foghorn: Sign of the Times
Observant travelers near the junction of M-22 and M-168 may have noted that the Welcome to Elberta sign is missing. The Parks Committee of the Parks and Rec Commission removed it Saturday, April 9, for renovations. Jennifer Wilkins of the Parks Committee remarked that at least one of the several…
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The Busiest Weekend Ever
March 17–20: Possibly the Busiest Four Days in Elberta–Frankfort History…for more details on the first annual Benzie County Water Festival, see the official site. THURSDAY, MARCH 17 4 pm–10 pm St. Patrick’s Day Party, Mayfair Tavern 7 pm Elberta Village Council Meeting, Village Community Building FRIDAY, MARCH 18 6 pm…
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Vertical Thinking: Elbertian Proposes to Change Elberta’s Name
During the initial public comment period at the Village Council meeting last night, Kelli Stapleton, Elberta resident and planning and zoning committee member, presented a proposal to change Elberta’s name to Heaven. Among Stapleton’s stated goals was the preservation of our local post office (no plans to close the office…
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Stop Whining and Start W“h”ining: After-Party Will Warm the Shiverers
Diane “Jinx” Jenks, on the first annual wine festival in the Elberta terroir, Saturday, February 19, from 5 PM… The idea came from my personal winter sport, which is winter “whining.” I whine about the cold, stay in, drink wine, and read. I’m getting quite good at it, and it takes…
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“Skin Deep,” a One-Minute Interreview, January 7, 2011
The Benzie County Players presented Skin Deep at the Mills Community House for five showings in January. Debbra Eckhout, Rachel Evans Higgins, Josh Stoltz, and Mark Vandeperre starred in this new comedy written by Jon Lonoff and directed by Steve Elrick. Reviewers’ summary: The play was about a spinster woman…
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Parks and Rec Report: Ideas a-Poppin’
The Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee held its regular meeting last night at the Village Community Building. In attendance were new member Arthur Melendez and prospective new member Jennifer Wilkins, along with chair Bill Soper, Connie Manke, Village president-elect Reg Manville, and Lisa Schrader-Confer. Trustee-elect Linda Manville came out of…
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First Meeting of the Elberta Arts Council
The Elberta Arts Council met Saturday, November 6, at 1 pm, at the Conundrum Café, to brainstorm ideas for community arts projects and programs. Elbertians and Elberta fans are encouraged to submit ideas to the new Elberta Arts wiki, located at www.elbertaarts.wikispaces.com. To add content, simply join the wiki with…