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After Many Setbacks, Elberta Enters the 21st Century With a Renovated Zoning Ordinance
A held-over public hearing November 4 yielded no further public input of substance, and the Planning Commission adopted the amended zoning ordinance. It now goes on to the Village Council!
Deeply Local Election Results: 2026 Midterms
Here are the November 3, 2026, preliminary totals for Elberta and Gilmore Township, not broken down by precinct!
Residents Ask: Was the Charrette a Charade?
A report on the October 15, 2026, regular council meeting.
Village Election Guide
Check back on this page for hot election takes and updates as they occur.
Council Meeting Thursday
‘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).
In Memoriam: Lois Marie (Soper) Schram
Sue Oseland shares a tribute to our longtime neighbor on Lincoln.
Council Meeting Report: Get It in Writing
"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
Here's the Drill on Fire Department Figures
Frankfort City Superintendent Josh Mills responds to “We Didn’t Start the Fire…” Doug Holmes has always been supportive of the Fire Department, attended every meeting, and voted on the establishment of pay for personnel and approval toward equipment expenditures. I’d like to make a few clarifications regarding fire
Foghorn: Monument to Edison Berryhill!
The Alert recently spoke with a longtime Elbertian about Edison Berryhill, an unsung hero of Village maintenance... There really ought to be a monument to Mr. Berryhill, who was our department of public works person for many years. He collected garbage twice a week and took it to the old
Calendar: January 2011
Wednesday, 5th, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee meets. Tuesday, 11th, 5:30 pm–9 pm, Grow Benzie, 5885 M-115, Benzonia, Potluck Workshop "Building a Living Soil," with ag guru Craig Schaaf. Part 1 in a series of 6 hard-core gardening workshops.
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,
Foghorn: Grease Our Wheels
Is anyone deep-frying a turkey or anything else for the holidays? Several area residents use vegetable oil to power their diesel cars, and they'd love to come and get your leftovers. You'd be doing them a favor and keeping the grease out of BLUA and
Council Meeting Report: We Didn’t Start the Fire (or the Sewage)
The last meeting of the Doug Holmes–led Elberta Village Council convened last night. Next month, December 16, will see the new council members under Reg Manville take the reins. Attendance was high, at 18. Among the luminaries present were local developer Scott Gest and newly elected District 3 county
The Guns of November
What's that sound ringing out at the indecent hour of 8 am? You crack open an eye, curse the sun coming in through the curtain, and, there it goes again. For the past week or so, shots have been heard several times a day as hunters "sight
Foghorn: Underground Utility Lines
If the village could get a grant to revamp the power/phone/cable lines to underground status, the problem with tree height and growth would be mute. It would be so nice to have a clear view of the bay (without utility lines) and it would make the commercial area
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
Calendar: November 2010
Visit the public Elberta Alert Events Calendar here. Wednesday, 10th, 7 pm, Community Building (behind the old Bay Valley Inn): Elberta Parks and Rec Committee meets to discuss new arts initiatives, use of public space Thursday, 11th, 7 pm, 670 Crystal Ave., Frankfort: Friends of Betsie Bay meets to discuss