Category: Uncategorized
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The Best $15,000 a Year We Will Ever Spend
Editorial by Emily Votruba I don’t do this very often (even when it hurts not to) but I am going to voice a strong a opinion regarding Village governance. If you’ve been seeing improvements around the Village, and you’ve had a positive and helpful interaction with our Village clerk, Catherine Anderson,…
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Interview with Charla Burgess, Head of Beer Education, Stormcloud Brewing Company
The Alert Facebook-buttonholed Charla Burgess in between bouts of tasting beers and peaches to ask her about her new job and Frankfort’s upcoming Beer Week, October 6-11. You accepted the mission of Special Events and Beer Education Coordinator at Stormcloud. What does this entail? My mission is to develop an appreciation for…
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Village Seeks New Deputy Clerk
The Village is *NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS* for the position of DEPUTY VILLAGE CLERK Elberta residency NOT required. This is a part time position, 12 – 16 FLEX TIME hours/week. Pay is $10.50 – $14.50 dependent upon education and experience. Complete job description and application available at the Village website or…
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Elberta Business Owners Speak! On State Proposal 14-1
By Emily Votruba Tomorrow, August 5, voters will decide whether to adopt a proposal to eliminate the personal property tax. The strangely worded measure doesn’t actually mention “personal property tax,” but instead says the following: Approval or disapproval of amendatory act to reduce state use tax and replace with a…
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Guerrilla Beautification Incursions
By Emily Votruba When the Michigan Department of Transportation began ceding M-168 to the Village of Elberta four years ago, they paid to improve the roadway with sidewalks, street lamps, and 60 new trees lining the old highway. The maples, thornless honeylocusts, and Callery pears alternated along the road, each…
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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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Parks & Rec Cites Improper Transfer of Funds by Village President Pro Tem
By Emily Votruba At their June 12 regular meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to submit a letter to Council reprimanding president pro tempore Robin Rommell for improper transfer of funds. (Full disclosure: I am one of the signatories of that letter.) A statement obtained by P&R secretary Jennifer…
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New Civic Group and Ice Rink Form in Elberta
By Emily Votruba The Friends of Elberta met for the first time on January 15. In just a couple of weeks, they agreed on a mission statement and held an event, the Fire & Ice Skating party on February 9. The Friends’ mission is to “preserve, promote, and enhance the quality of…
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Budget Fuss: A Choppy Start to Turning the Fiscal Ship Around
By Emily Votruba During its regular board meeting this Thursday, February 20, the Village Council will review and most likely adopt the proposed budget for fiscal year 2014–15. At least one council member and budget committee member won’t be voting to adopt it. “We’ve had no budget meetings,” says Jennifer…
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Frankfort’s Kinda Progressive Zoning Ordinance
By Emily Votruba It’s probably not anarcho-syndicalism in the making, but the City of Frankfort’s planning commission under the leadership of Bruce Ogilvie has put together a fairly progressive and forward-thinking zoning ordinance. The comment period is NOW, and the public hearing is set for Tuesday, March 11. Take a…
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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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Special Council Meeting Friday December 27
Special Council meeting Friday, December 27, 2013 6:00 PM Community Building, Elberta Agenda: Proposals from Chris Olson Schedule special meeting regarding Deficit Elimination Plan for Thursday, January 2, 2014
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Alert Reader: Some Notes on Possible Actions the People of Elberta May Take According to the Village General Law and MML, and a Word on Village Tax Rates
The Alert received the following by email from Elberta resident Teri McGregor December 20, 2013. Letters to the editor may be edited for length and minor typos/spelling issues. We welcome anyone’s input. Send letters to elberta.alert@gmail.com, subject line “Alert Reader.” Thanks for reading! By Teri McGregor The Elberta Village meeting was stimulating…
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Alert Reader: Open Letter from Trustee Jenks to Trustee Holmes
The Alert received the following by email December 15, 2013. Letters to the editor may be edited for length and minor typos/spelling issues. We welcome anyone’s input. Send letters to elberta.alert@gmail.com, subject line “Alert Reader.” Thanks for reading! An Open Letter to Trustee Ken Holmes from Trustee Diane Jenks To the voters…
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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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A New Life for Perry’s Place
Art and Joan Moseler fulfill their dream of a return to Elberta. By Rebecca Hubbard “I was sitting in the front room after school one day and we had an early TV. I was watching Howdy Doody, and I looked out the window. The library [building, at that time] was…
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The State Visits the Village: Are Personnel Changes Possible?
By Emily Votruba The following article is an editorial. I have tried to present the facts as I know them in as unbiased a manner possible, but I do have a bias, as you will discover below. Please weigh in with your comments! An auditor from the State of Michigan…
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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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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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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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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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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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County Commissioners’ Meeting Draft Minutes, April 2, 2013
County Commissioners Meeting Draft Minutes for April 2 2013
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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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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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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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Gilmore Township Meeting Report, January
By James Ward January 8, 2013—Board members present: Ron Beyette, Carl Noffsinger, Doug Holmes, and Sharyn Bower. Guests: Dennis Holcombe, Mike Jones, James Ward Recent personnel changes include the resignation of Michael Barnes from the Township Planning Commission. Connie Barnes was approved to be his replacement. The new zoning regulations were…
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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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Panthers Wring Out the Glen Lake Lakers 42-41
Reporting by Kelli Stapleton January 24, 2013—Frankfort–Elberta Men’s Basketball, state ranked for the first time since the ’70s, under the coachmanship of Elberta mayor Reg Manville, faced the Glen Lake Lakers, who were 9-1 coming into the game. According to coach Manville, who asked Pete Sandman, the Panthers’ now 10-0…
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Gilmore Township Meetings Roundup, November and December
By James Ward November 13, 2012—Board members present: Ron Beyette, Carl Noffsinger, Doug Holmes, Laura Manville, and Sharyn Bower. Guests: Donald Tanner, Carolee Ness, James Ward Donald Tanner, newly elected County Commissioner for our district (VII), thanked the voters for their support. He discussed the upcoming process of allocating funds for…
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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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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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Benzie Shore District Library January Events
Wednesday, January 9th, 9:00 a.m. – Book Share Group Thursday, January 10th, 10:00 a.m. – eUsers Group Thursday, January 10th, 3:30 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group Tuesday, January 15th, 10:00 a.m. – Story Hour (Lego Club canceled for January) Tuesday, January 15th, 7:00 p.m. – Reflections by the Bay…
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Have Skates, Will Skate Benzonia
It’s easier to get excited about the cold weather when you realize that you can go skating at the Benzonia Ice Rink any old time! Maybe you haven’t been because you need skates? Here’s your chance to get some cheap and help fund rink maintenance. “Need skates? Want to…
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Fate of the Elberta Post Office
Do you use it? Do you love it? Please fill out the survey form you recently received in your PO Box. If you didn’t get the form or have mislaid it, you can pick up one at the counter. Your voice counts. If we come out strong for our post…
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Fundraisers! Get Your Name on a Plank, or Donate to the Elberta Beach Road Project
For just $10 you can have your name (or any name you want) etched onto the Elberta Beach boardwalk or on a picnic table in the Marina/Penfold park for, well, not eternity, but a bunch of whiles! Go here. This also just in: a fundraiser to establish a permanent, well…
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What’s Eating the Local Food Movement?
By Emily Votruba EVENT Tuesday, December 4. The Northern Michigan Culinary Arts Community invites the public to a talk by Patty Cantrell, “Local Food: A Prescription for National Healing.” With free, locally sourced appetizers made by SEEDS kids and some of our area’s most talented chefs. 7 pm to 8:30…
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Gov Watch: Bills to Take the Public Out of Michigan Education?
By Emily Votruba State legislators may soon vote on a set of bills that would make sweeping “emergency manager”–style changes to state public education, while making it easier to establish private and charter schools. The Benzie Democrats and Frankfort–Elberta Schools superintendent Tom Stobie have voiced their concern, as has Bloomfield…
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Christmas Tree Sale Set for Friday after Thanksgiving
It was such a moneymaker last year (clearing about $500), and so much fun, that the Village Parks and Rec Commission will sell Christmas trees again this year on Russ Mix’s lot, between Lane Plumbing and the post office on Frankfort Avenue. This year they’ll sell last year’s popular Fraser…
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2011 State Audit Report
A little over a year and a half ago we learned we’d scored an “8” on the Public Act 4–created score sheet for municipalities’ fiscal health, which effectively placed us on the state government watch list for possible Emergency Manager intervention. The Village leadership assures us that we’re “on track”…
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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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Voter Registration Deadline: October 9
The last day to register to vote in the November 6 election is October 9. Contact township clerk Sharyn Bower at 231-352-4901 between 5 pm and 8 pm, or you can register at the Secretary of State office.
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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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DNR Fishing Ban Notice Posted
This sign went up Friday or Saturday. We’re not sure who posted it, but it is official, and we thank them.
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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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Tank Hill Tree Day Saturday
Have a thing for trees? Why not make a day of celebrating the whole life cycle of the earth’s vital organs on Tank Hill this Saturday? If you’re 18 or over and have a use for dead wood, sign a liability waiver at Frankfort City Hall and get a map…
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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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First Hearing Set for Platte Valley Auto Sales Case
By Emily Votruba and Bob Kenison Judge James Batzer will hold the first hearing in the Platte Valley Auto Sales fraud case (no. 9498) Tuesday, September 11, at 3 pm at the Benzie County Court House. In the motion, filed August 30 and obtained by the Alert this morning, September…
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Bayshore Tire and Auto: “We’re Not Goin’ Nowhere”
By Emily Votruba Bayshore Tire and Auto is saddened by but not implicated in the financial scandal at Platte Valley Auto Sales, according to Caitlin Davis, who runs the front desk. Dave Purchase and Steve Hubbard are no longer business partners in the Bayshore shop. Steve is in the process of…
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Elberta Farmers’ Market Totes and Tees Are Back!
At tomorrow’s Farmers’ Market (7:30 to noon) not only will you find the area’s best produce, flowers, and foraged items, but the new TOTEBAGS are in, as well as more T-SHIRTs in various new and improved sizes.
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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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Guide to the 2012 August Primary Elections
The Elberta Village Board election is nonpartisan, so we don’t have a primary. Petitions for candidacy (minimum of six signatures) must be filed by 4 pm August 14. Important note: Because you cannot “split your ticket,” you will not be able to vote in the Republican-candidate-only races (prosecuting attorney, sheriff,…
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Elberta Dunes South Park Management Plan
This plan, with action points, was approved at the March council meeting. Elberta Dunes Management Plan final March 2012
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2012 Water Festival Event This Saturday—Fun Overflowing
Download the pdf: Water Festival Schedule 2012
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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…
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Putney Sues Village over Bay Valley Inn Property
UPDATES * The office of Plunkett Cooney confirmed yesterday (4/9) that Gretchen Olsen is representing the Village and its agents in the Putney litigation. ** Channel 7&4 reported on the case yesterday (4/9) evening. The video may be viewed here. Note that because of the ongoing litigation, the news reporter…
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Lawrence Beartha Medved El Bearta, the Elberta Bear!
In the February the Alert first learned from Crystal Smeltzer of the presence in our village of a new charismatic megafauna: a bear. Or perhaps two? She hadn’t actually seen it yet, but her neighbors had, and she had seen its digestive evidence. Finally we now have photographic evidence, courtesy…
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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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Recent Top Stories on Facebook and Twitter
Life moves fast, even in a tiny village. Follow the Alert on Facebook and Twitter to receive or share quick updates on local events, along with photos and video. Longer stories and updates will continue to appear on our website. Recent top Facebook stories include…. A retweet from @RecordEagle: #NWMI…
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Commissioners Consider Wind Resolution
At the November 1 County Commissioners meeting, Allan O’Shea presented a draft of a wind resolution for the commissioners to adopt. Mr. O’Shea works for Contractors Building Supply in Copemish, which deals in solar photovoltaic systems, windows, and other energy-related supplies, and is reportedly also an employee of Duke Energy…
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Beach Driving
On November 2 a meeting was held among Village leaders, the sheriff’s department, three local property owners, and three conservation officers including Robin Schmitt from the DNR to discuss the problem of off-road driving on Elberta Beach. By federal and state law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle outside…
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Foghorn: Mayfair, Park and Rec, Beach
The Mayfair Tavern will be closed for renovations until November 10. They’re tearing up some flooring, among other things. Come out for the Harvest Wine Dinner event on the 17th. This month’s Park and Rec meeting was canceled. The next meeting, under new P&R prez Art Melendez, will take place…
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Draft Master Plan Released
The Master Plan Committee has released their draft to the Village Council, and Council has released it to the public for the official 63-day review period. Copies are available at the Village Office, and here’s a pdf of it… 2011 Draft Master Plan for the Village of Elberta draft_elberta_master_plan_91611_version_2 A…
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Proposed Lawn Maintenance Ordinance: 8 Inches
The Village Council is considering a lawn maintenance ordinance for the Village, modeled on Frankfort’s, which requires all lawn grass to be maintained at a height of no more than 8 inches. The complete text of Elberta’s ordinance will be available to the public in the Village Office by October…
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Agenda: September Council Meeting
At Thursday’s council meeting this week, we’ll have two special guests, Aubrey Parker and Jordan Bates, founders of the embattled Frankfort Dog Park. They’ll be proposing a dog park to be located in Anderson Park in Elberta. Come out and have your say. Also under discussion, a possible lawn maintenance…
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August Council Meeting Report: Creeping Out
This report is an amended version of the Issue 7 print version. Amendments are shown in brackets. COUNCIL BEGAN the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time in recent memory. During the agenda approval period Ken Holmes said the Village has been lax about enforcing the junk…
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Foghorn: Come to the Elberta Master Plan Public Forum!
Tomorrow night, Monday, at 6 PM, a public forum on the Elberta Master Plan will be held at the Lifesaving Station. This is an important opportunity to discuss wind power, local agriculture and business, the height of buildings in the proposed waterfront development—anything that pertains to the future of the…
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Calendar: December 2010
Wednesday, 1st, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee meets to discuss trail maintenance, sledding party, Elberta Arts Council, Elberta Alert newspaper Thursday, 2nd, 6 pm, County Sheriff’s Office, 505 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Beulah: citizens’ Public Safety Committee, organized by Sheriff Rory Heckman, meets. Sunday, 5th, 1…