Category: Open Season
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The Lights Are On …
A report on the regular council meeting of December 18, 2025 EMILY KAY VOTRUBA DEC 22, 2025 In December, if I can, I like to spend quality time reflecting on the year. For me this involves transferring perennial information (birthdays, holidays, meeting dates, important anniversaries and milestones) from this year’s…
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Water Monitors Need Their Funding Renewed
Links: To view a summary of Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) accomplishments, click here. To download a sample letter of support for MiCorps, and the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program click here. Please visit www.micorps.net for more information about MiCorps, and the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program. To view a list of Mi House and Senate Natural…
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Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup This Saturday
Here’s the link to last year’s data collection.
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Special Council Meeting Regarding Elberta Beach
Update! Kristi Mills came through with a recording of the meeting. Thanks, Kristi! It’s a bit hard to hear and hasn’t been edited for levels and whatnot, but it’s worth a listen if you care about the beach. Here are some images that were used during this morning’s special…
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Help Shape the Future of Elberta
The Planning Commission will be holding a special meeting Tuesday, August 15 at 6 pm to discuss the results of the survey that was mailed out in June and formulate the community’s vision for our new master plan. Please attend!
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Guest Column: Electric Skateboard Debate Ramps Up
Please help stop Frankfort City Council’s ongoing effort to create an ordinance banning electric skateboards citywide. By Carolyn Thayer July 14, 2017 I’m asking for your help to spread the news about the Frankfort City Council’s ongoing effort to create an ordinance banning electric skateboards citywide based on the potential for a public safety…
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Baby’s Breath: Scourge of America
Baby’s breath: Nice in a wedding bouquet or a prom corsage (maybe), but not so nice when it takes over your whole beach, pushing out native plants that naturally grow almost nowhere else besides our unique shoreline. You can help work to remove these shrubby masses from our beach by joining forces…
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Elberta Farmers Market Calendars on Sale Now
*Now available on Etsy! Ask for the volume discount of 5 calendars for $15* The Elberta Farmers Market opens its 2017 season on May 18 at 8 am, and you’ll be all ready for it with the first-ever Elberta Farmers Market Calendar! On sturdy, glossy cardstock, this one-page calendar poster…
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Coyote Crossing: November Council Meeting Reports
By Emily Votruba Regular Meeting, November 17, 2016 On the way to the regular council meeting, Linda Manville saw a coyote cross the road in front of her. The meeting was held at the Life Saving Station for the first time ever as far as anyone could remember. The room…
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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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Hunting in the Village: Let the Game Begin
It’s hunting season! But it’s illegal to shoot firearms within Village limits. That includes up in the dunes. So if you hear gunshots here in Elberta, you would be correct to call the Sheriff, who is tasked with enforcing that law, because it’s also a state law. Bowhunting, however, is allowed…
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And a-One and a-Two: Village Weighs Proceeding with Restroom Project with Partial Grant Funding
By Emily Votruba, Parks & Rec Secretary At the February Parks and Rec meeting this year, Elberta Farmers’ Market master Sue Oseland presented a proposal to apply for a $70K USDA grant for permanent, piped restroom facilities at the Penfold/Farmers’ Market park. The restroom would be 10×20 with two separate…
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Lines in the Sand
By Andy Bolander Here is an annual reminder of the beautiful frailty our community possesses in the Elberta dunes and beach. It will take persistent and vocal presence for us to protect this resource. Why is it necessary to protect the dune habitat? Well, something you may feel intuitively is actually…
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Signs of the Times: July Council Meeting Report
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING July 16, 2015 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| July 16, 2015 • 7 PM The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called…
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Burn After Reading: June Council Meeting
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING June 18, 2015 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2015, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by Diane Jenks at 7:02…
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Solstice Approved: May Council Meeting
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— May 21, 2015 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by Diane…
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February 2015 Council Meeting: Budget Adopted
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— —FINAL Minutes— —ADOPTED FY2015 VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BUDGET— February 19, 2015 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO |||
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Benzie Emergency Management Seeks Feedback on Its Natural Hazards Draft Plan
Get back to Frank Post, our county emergency management coordinator, by email or phone asap! (fpost@benzieco.net, 231-882-0567) Read and download the draft plan here: 2015 Hazard Mitigation Plan More information is available at the Region 7 website.
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Where There’s Smoke: January Council Meeting
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— —FINAL Minutes— January 15, 2015 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order…
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Short and Sweet: December Council Meeting
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —Minutes— December 18, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by president Diane…
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“Do We Want to Remain a Village? I Think It’s Worth It”—Diane Jenks
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— November 20, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The newly elected Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held its first regular meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to…
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Midterm Election 2014! Wolves, Drugs, Fire
UPDATE: View up-to the minute election results (as available) from the various Benzie townships here, and the final official Benzie County results page here. UPDATE: From Aubrey Parker: “BENZIE COUNTY: We’re hoping to do LIVE election results again tonight like we brought you in 2013, but we need your help! All…
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Revising the DEP: Special Meeting of the Village Council October 27, 2014
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes TO COME— October 27, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| Revised DEP Cover Letter from Chris Olson Audit Analysis and Projections Revised DEP Resolution of Adoption
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Regular Meeting of the Village Council October 2014
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— October 16, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by president…
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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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Council Holds Workshop Meeting to Deal with Deficit Elimination Plan Shortfall
August 28, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| —DRAFT— VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP MEETING August 28, 2014 • 7 PM The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held a special budget workshop meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta,…
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Regular (and Special) Meeting of the Village Council August 2014
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING —DRAFT Minutes— August 21, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order…
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Regular Meeting of the Village Council July 2014
VILLAGE OF ELBERTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING —Minutes— July 17, 2014 • 7 PM ||| AUDIO ||| The Village of Elberta Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 17, 2014, at the Community Building, 401 First Street, Elberta, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by Village…
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Swim for Mitch and His Favorite Places This Labor Day Sunday
By Ann Sinclair UPDATE Greetings to All! In honor of my dear friend Mitch Stevenson, who passed on August 22, 2013, I thought I would go for a swim. And since I’m still rehabbing my shoulder, I prowled around for a revised route, and have landed on crossing Little Glen…
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Village Offers Beautiful, Affordable Event Locations
By Diane Jenks The Village of Elberta is struggling to survive with low fiscal scores and the threat of an emergency manager. The State of Michigan has many communities in this situation and is willing to help the village work its way back into the black. The departure of the…
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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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Road Ends Sign Gone
The “Road Ends” sign the Village installed last June has apparently been removed (not by the Village). Jennifer Wilkins sent this photo yesterday, May 3.
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Manville Takes Leave of Leave of Absence to Call Special Meeting Monday May 5
Via email from president pro tem Robin Rommell today, Village President Reggie Manville has come out of his leave of absence to call a special meeting for this coming Monday at 7 pm to discuss the following: 1. Theft of Village property 2. DPW Superintendent and 3. Parks and Recreation…
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A Better Fence Will Make a Better “Tot Park”
Elberta Parks and Rec has made installation of a new Tot Park fence a priority for this summer. The current chain-link fence is in bad condition and doesn’t fully enclose the play area. The Commission has sought estimates for a sturdy, attractive new fence that will fully enclose the play…
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Preliminary DEQ Report on Cold Creek Spill
DRAFT Preliminary DEQ Report on Cold Creek Spill Audio of April 10 regular Beulah Village meeting.
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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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Olson Presents Prioritization Results and Council Begins to Hash Out DEP
Full audio of the Dec. 30 meeting (2 parts): Full audio of the Jan. 2 meeting: At the January 2 meeting, Chris Olson came back with the compiled results of the Dec. 30 prioritization exercise, in which, after a long discussion, council members and staff placed dots next to items…
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Ice Balls!
By Marilyn Maslo CHRISTMAS, FRANKFORT—For the first time I have now seen with my very own eyes what some have described to me in the past. Sunday and Monday I walked the beachfront of Frankfort heading north. Much further away from the breakwall I found the beach littered with ice…
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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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Rescued on the Betsie
By Glenda Golanda My brother and his significant other, Becky, are visiting from North Carolina. On Friday, October 11, we dropped them off to canoe down the Betsie, and they tipped. The river is dangerous in places, and the water that day was high and fast. The canoe was swamped…
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Village Deficit Crisis: Brief, Important Update
By Emily Votruba According to Reggie and Laura Manville, the state expects to see a plan that might realistically eliminate our $558K+ deficit within the next 5 years.* If the Village does not come up with an acceptable plan by October 17, it’s very likely, again according to Reggie Manville, that…
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Special Meeting to Discuss Village Deficit, Possible Asset Sales
By Emily Votruba UPDATED 10/10/13 Look around you, in our green (and now red and orange and golden) Village. What do you see? Trees, bluffs, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, parkland, and a few small but important business concerns. If you’re a longtime resident, you can’t…
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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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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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Plant It Wild Has Tips for Your Backyard Wilderness
By Cheryl Gross for Plant It Wild Plant It Wild invites you to a program on forest management to improve wildlife habitat July 24, 7 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort. Eric Ellis, of the Conservation Resource Alliance, will be speaking on private sustainable forest management, planting native flora, invasive…
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Parks and Rec Meeting Wrap-up
July 11, 2013 The Parks and Recreation Commission held its July meeting in the Duck’s Head this evening because the Library was in use for a rescheduled meeting of the Gilmore Township Board. Gilmore normally meets in the Library on the second Tuesday of the month, but this month that…
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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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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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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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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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Gilmore Township Meeting Report, April 2013
By James Ward April 9, 2013 ELBERTA LIBRARY—Present: Carl Noffsinger, Doug Holmes, Ron Beyette, Sharyn Bower. Guest: Don Tanner, James Ward Don Tanner, our county commissioner for District 7, spoke about the reorganization of health care services. Benzie County is among the 21 counties in the Northern Zone that shares state…
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New Sleeping Bear Birding Trail Is First in State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (from Douglas Cook, president, Benzie Audubon Club) April 2013 MICHIGAN’S SLEEPING BEAR BIRDING TRAIL CONNECTS THE DOTS Michigan’s coastline and habitat diversity have long been a draw to bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. Birders and eco-tourists spend millions each year in the enjoyment of their pursuits. Now,…
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Plan for Frankfort Beach and Cannon Park Created by MSU Students
“The City of Frankfort was provided an opportunity to have a Master Plan created for the Lake Michigan Beach and Cannon Park area. The Master Plan study was performed by the Michigan State University Planning Department. The MSU Planning Team consisted of four (4) senior level undergraduate students. They have…
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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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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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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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Benzie Conservation District Fracking Forum (Video)
On February 27, the Benzie Conservation District hosted a forum on the process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a natural gas extraction practice that, in part because of fairly recent technological and chemical innovations, is creating a natural gas boom across the nation. Jonathan Maue took this great video of…
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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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Gilmore Township Meeting Report, March 2013
By James Ward March 12, 2013 ELBERTA LIBRARY—Present: Carl Noffsinger, Doug Holmes, Ron Beyette, Sharyn Bower, and Linda Manville. Guest: James Ward The treasurer’s report and minutes were approved from the meeting in February 2013. A motion was seconded to close the regular meeting and go into a public hearing on…
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Gilmore Township Meeting Report, February 2013
By James Ward February 12, 2013 ELBERTA LIBRARY—Present: Laura Manville, Carl Noffsinger, Doug Holmes, and Ron Beyette. Guest: James Ward The treasurer’s report was accepted. New business included the approval of Charlie Hendershott, Ken Holmes, and Bob Delanoy to the Board of Review. Further New Business included the following: The Axtells…
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A Tale of Two Species
By Westley Allen I stand here on this riverbank, pondering the answers to life as I watch my cold breath escape my lips, my focus on the bobber floating downstream. I am here in an attempt to clear my mind, and to catch a fish. I am pursuing a fish…
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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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Elberta Planning Commission Meeting: Defining Apartments, Dredging
By Emily Votruba Transcription by Lois Schram March 5, 2013 ELBERTA LIBRARY—During initial public comment, Scott Gest said the community mapping is wrapping up for the Grand Vision. There was to be a meeting the following week. A report by Ken Bonney, new zoning administrator, was added to the…
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Sign Off! Never Fear, MDOT Sign Will Be in the Clear
After Cheryl Gross mentioned the strange placement of the new MDOT road sign seemingly right in front of the entrance to the future Dunes South parking area, trustee Jennifer Wilkins looked into the matter. She learned from Ken Bonney that there will be a large easement between M22 and the…
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February Elberta Council Meeting Report: Same Playing Field
By Emily Votruba VILLAGE COMMUNITY BUILDING, February 20, 2013—A date and the spelling of Jennifer Wilkins’s name were corrected on the January meeting minutes. Wilkins’s name was also added to the agenda under the Beach Committee report, as she is a new member of that committee. PUBLIC HEARING ON 2013–14…
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News from Homestead Township
By Jeffery D. Stratton The Homestead Township board of trustees met March 4, 2013, at 7 pm in the Township Hall in the Village of Honor. The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, approval of the agenda, and the approval of last month’s minutes. NEW BUSINESS The board…
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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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News from Homestead Township
By Jeffery D. Stratton The Homestead Township board met February 4, 2013, at 7 pm in the township hall in the Village of Honor. The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, approval of the agenda, and the approval of last month’s minutes. PUBLIC COMMENT Eagle Scout Travis Oder,…
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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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January Parks and Rec Report: Preparing for Solstice
Regular Meeting: January 10, 2013. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets the second Thursday of the month at the Elberta Library at 7 pm. This report is adapted from the official P&R Minutes written by VP/Secretary Jennifer Wilkins. President Connie Manke called the meeting to order at 7:25 pm (membership…
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Dan Benishek at the Sleeping Bear Inn
I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country’s cause.—Abraham Lincoln FRANKFORT—At 2 pm Friday afternoon a small group gathered around the congressman from Michigan’s 1st District, Dr. Dan Benishek. Benishek was to have gone on a two-day…
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Pride of BC: Let’s Talk about Bullying in Schools
An anti-bullying group for parents holds its first meeting tomorrow at Benzie High School’s SEEDS room at 6:30 pm. The group is a spinoff of the kids’ anti-bullying Pride group that formed earlier this year. All are welcome to come out and discuss how we can be nicer to each…
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Holiday Festivities in Elberta
Next Friday, 12/21, at 6 pm, celebrate the winter Solstice in Elberta with a placing of luminaries and a (re)lighting of the Marina Park tree. Bring your own candle and can or use one of the ones the organizers, Diane Jenks and Sue Oseland, will have on hand. A can…
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Betsie River Meeting with Ray Franz
A quick update: About 40 people showed up at City Hall for the hastily called meeting with Josh Mills, State rep Ray Franz, and the DNR’s Frank Foster. They assembled discussed possible reasons for the problem we’re experiencing with low water (including the dredging of the St. Clair River) as well…
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Officials to Meet about Betsie River
According to Josh Mills: “There will be a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday (tomorrow), October 17, 2012 ,at 2:30 regarding the status of the Betsie Bay river mouth. The meeting will be facilitated by State Representative Ray Franz and State Representative and MDNR Committee Chair Frank Foster. There is…
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Council Meeting Report for August 16, 2012
Waiting for Somebody to Do Something By Emily Votruba BILL SOPER asked that “Parks and Rec credit card” and “village taxes” be added to the agenda. The meeting lasted two hours. Absent was Ken Holmes, who was recovering from hip-replacement surgery. INITIAL PUBLIC COMMENT Cheryl Gross spoke about…
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Phragmites Treatment Thursday
Vickie Smith, of Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions, will be applying an herbicide to stands of phragmites on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m., weather permitting. She’ll begin with the stands near the Luedtke Boneyard and proceed around to the Elberta M-22 and railroad/trail bridges, after noon. The spraying will be postponed if…
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Public Safety Meeting Synopsis: No Cuts to Sheriff Budget
The Public Safety Committee meets monthly to provide an opportunity for the public to share their concerns and questions about county safety and other matters of interest to the community with Sheriff Rory Heckman. By Bob Kenison The Public Safety Committee met at the Sheriff’s Department on September 20 at…
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Elberta Village President Seeks Betsie Dredge
By Emily Votruba This year’s salmon run may or may not be salvageable now, says Elberta Village president Reg Manville, but dredging will be necessary to avert the next possible low-water casualty: the spring steelhead run. The Alert spoke with Manville Tuesday night by phone. Manville also made a statement on the…
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DNR Officer from TC Arrives at Betsie Salmon Scene, Shoos Away Diggers
Story by Emily Votruba Photos by Chip Marks Sergeant Robert Torres of the Traverse City DNR enforcement office arrived at the mouth of the Betsie River this evening at about 5:30. He had been called to the scene by reports of the efforts of citizens to save the fish as…
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Law Enforcement Arrives at Betsie Bay to Close Fishery at Mouth of River
At about 5:15 Monday, the Alert got word from county commissioner Don Tanner that law enforcement officials were headed to the crowded scene at the east end of Betsie Bay to put a stop to both the fish saving and fish snagging taking place there. Per the DNR’s September 14…
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Sandbagging the Bay
Since the word began to get out last Thursday about the potential salmon spawn crisis, a number of ideas have emerged to deal with the problem. The DNR has already been inundated with phone calls from concerned fishermen and business owners. As the Alert reported Friday, Fisheries Management is issuing…
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DNR, Local Leaders Respond to Salmon Crisis: “Leave the Fish Alone”
By Emily Votruba Historic low levels in Lake Michigan (the lowest since 1961) have caused extreme low water in Betsie Lake. Thousands of salmon are dead and dying as they try to breach the sandbars and get into Betsie River to spawn. Don Tanner, Benzie County commissioner and a licensed…
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Partial Fishing Ban, Dredging Considered to Save 2012 Salmon Spawn
Per an email received today from Dennis Holcombe, chair of the Gilmore Township planning commission: “I talked to the DNR this morning. They had just returned from a site visit here in Elberta, they walked the area. Their analysis is that the level of Lake Michigan is the lowest it…
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“We Won’t Be Back in 2015”: Fishermen Urge Action on Low-Water Threat to Salmon Run
By Emily Votruba A group of concerned fishermen are mounting a campaign to avert what they feel might be a failure in this year’s salmon run. Thousands of fish are dead and dying in the low water of the Betsie Bay trying to make it up into the Betsie River…
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Beach Cleanup, Tuesday September 4
8 am! Meet at the Elberta Beach parking lot. BYO gloves. Bags are provided. Sponsored by Friends of Betsie Bay.
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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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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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Road Blocked to Beach Driving
A barrier has been placed at the end of Elberta Beach road as of this morning. The action was prompted by a rash of calls and complaints about beach and dune driving, including several new paths cut, over the past few weeks. This barrier is a temporary measure until a…
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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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Locomotivation! Team Colorizes Mini-Pond Choo Choo
During the last week of March, chief color technician and Parks and Rec phenom Jennifer Wilkins, along with elves Merren Garber and Michele Cannaert, undertook to lively up the train in the Mini-Pond/Marina/Farmers Market Park. Jenn and her team spent about 15 hours all told on the project, using stain…