Latest
‘What Constitutes a Hole?’
A public hearing that most attendees expected to be a cakewalk turned into 90-minute Cordon Bleu pastry class by the Village attorney. Many of her changes will be made and the public hearing will continue November 4. Look for an updated draft of the zoning ordinance in a week or so.
Know Your Ballot: Find Out More About the County and School Millages
Come to the Heritage Center tomorrow to eat treats and meet with Benzie Board of Commissioners chairman Art Jeannot and Benzie Central Schools Superintendent Amiee Erfourth and talk about some funding proposals up for your yea or nay November 3.
Daniel Carter
The November 3 election looms, and some of you have already received your mail-in ballots! Three candidates are running unopposed for open seats on Elberta's 5-member Village Council. Earlier this month, the Alert sent them all the same 8 questions. Here are their unedited responses (part 3 of 3).
Jennifer Wilkins
The November 3 election looms, and some of you have already received your mail-in ballots! Three candidates are running unopposed for open seats on Elberta's 5-member Village Council. Earlier this month, the Alert sent them all the same 8 questions. Here are their unedited responses (part 2 of 3).
Arlene Sweeting
The November 3 election looms, and some of you have already received your mail-in ballots! Three candidates are running unopposed for open seats on Elberta's 5-member Village Council. Earlier this month, the Alert sent them all the same 8 questions. Here are their unedited responses (part 1 of 3).
Village Election Guide
Check back on this page for hot election takes and updates as they occur.
In Memoriam: Lois Marie (Soper) Schram
Sue Oseland shares a tribute to our longtime neighbor on Lincoln.
Diana Trivia: Elberta at a Crossroads Again With a New Developer
On Day 1 of the community design charrette for the Elberta Commons project on the Betsie Bay waterfront, Brooke Ruble, the director of management and marketing for Artemis Companies, took time to answer some Alert questions.
Sound System
A report on the rescheduled August regular council meeting of Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The zoning ordinance public hearing set for 9/21 (tomorrow) is now on 10/7! Scroll down for more info, plus the Elberta Commons Charrette schedule. (True September meeting report to follow soonish.)
Dune It Elberta Style
Two years ago, Kelly Gregory, a sailor and architect, and her partner, Patrick Haesloop, a landscape architect, made a wild choice for the front yard on Lincoln Avenue. Here’s how it turned out.
‘We Push the Good’
On September 8, the Board of Commissioners heard about several rescues, reviewed a generation-bridging millage fact sheet, and narrowed their search for a search firm down to two.
Deeply Local Election Results: August Primary 2026
Here are the August 4, 2026, Primary Election totals for Elberta and Gilmore Township, not broken down by precinct!
Alert Reader
Another Alex Herryman confection
Kicked Can at End of Road
Benzie County will enter a fiscal crisis if we don’t vote to reset our millage rate and increase our taxes slightly — the way other places in Michigan do on the regular.
Alert Air
Take a Breather
A report on the July 16, 2026, regular council meeting. Plus a sneak preview of where the Betsie Valley Trail might go through the new development to E Beach, and a link to the live Elberta Commons Community Survey
A Democratic Candidate’s Corporate Ties Exposed
Is enough enough? When it comes to “money out of politics” Callie Barr’s claims may amount to small change indeed.
County Administrator Leaving for Fremont
Special County Commission Meeting Tomorrow
The Long and Short of It: Council Agenda and Parks & Rec
The Budget, Grant, Finance, and Audit Committee meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Bastille Day, at 8 a.m. For Thursday’s council meeting the list is skeletal but includes a UB Clerk application.
Work the Polls
Gilmore Clerk Amanda Rommell still needs election workers for early voting. The in-person training was July 9, but you can still do a self-paced training anytime before July 25 to get certified. My earlier post suggested you need to be present at the Gilmore Board meeting tomorrow but
Elberta Commons Update
Per a postcard handed out to members of the Parks & Rec Commission at their July 9 meeting, the first charrette will be held September 22–24, with some preliminary activities you can sign up for online, though it’s unclear how exactly.
Council Hires AI-Enhanced Code Enforcement Officer and Things of That Nature
At least one human will use AI to notify the Village within 120 seconds of a potential violation. Council also accepted the UB clerk's resignation and ordered speed humps again.