This Week in Leelanau: February 24, 2011

FYI, the photo this week is Voigtlander: Port Oneida and it was taken a few winter’s ago by Matt Callow. Matt does some amazing work with old cameras and homemade pinhole cameras. See some of it in his Leelanau slideshow.

The Run Across Ethiopia Celebration happens tonight at the Park Place Dome. Come down to meet and talk with the runners and crew and hear about the schools that will be built as a result of community efforts! Get all the details here!. (Because I have to work on this, today’s newsletter will be SHORT!)

Broadband, Big County and (of course) Sugar Loaf

We posted a link to a Petition to support the Leelanau County Broadband Intiative. We’re behind many in broadband access and that means we’re losing out in the 21st century job race! We urge you to sign this!!

I found out this morning that Leelanau County is the nation’s second most “watery” county*! Does that seem to anyone like something we could market?

Sugar Loaf talk is heating up again with a variety of comments including Tom B reporting that he spent some time last month with contractors and engineers to get a handle on the costs of getting things at the Loaf back up and running.

* FYI, the first is in Michigan too – Keweenaw County.

Thanks to the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association and Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co for sponsoring Leelanau.com and this email!

The Leelanau Calendar

If you’ve got a Leelanau event, you can add your information (for free) to the Leelanau Calendar. Not only will it be listed in this newsletter every week, but we may do a feature story on your event on Leelanau.com!

FEATURED EVENT
Northport Winter Festival ~Saturday, February 26th
The Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce Seventh Annual Winter Carnival takes place on Saturday, February 26th at Bramen Hill Recreational Area.

Visit their Facebook page for all the details!

Run Across Ethiopia Celebration

On the Ground invites everyone (young and old) to the Run Across Ethiopia Celebration TONIGHT (Thursday, February 24) at the Park Place Dome in Traverse City. The event is free and features a chance to talk with the runners and the rest of the team (there were several children who went as well, so please bring your own). Enjoy cash bar, appetizers, music by Seth Bernard and May Erlewine and a sneak preview of the RAE Documentary film. More at onthegroundglobal.org!

Snowshoe Hikes in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Join a Park Ranger at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore every Saturday and Sunday through the month of February for a guided snowshoe hike. Read more from the Glen Arbor Sun and even if you don’t do the guided hikes, DO get out and ski or snowshoe in the Dunes and on other trails around the county!!

Ethnic Nights at the Bluebird in Leland happen every week on Wednesday & Thursday nights. Tonight is New England featuring Clam Chowder-Bluebird Style, Long Island Duck Breast, Maple Sea Scallops and Fried Oysters. March 2-3 is Southwest – The “real”Tex/Mex!

Now Playing at the Bay Theater in Suttons Bay: Starting Friday is The King’s Speech (r). Coming soon is The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon. In March, the Bay Film Series brings Waste Land (Check out the web site – looks amazing!. Mid-Week Specials are available!! Tuesdays – Free Popcorn (one medium corn with ticket purchase), Wednesdays – $5.50 for all seats (Specials are not valid for special events or film series). Bay Theatre Gift Certificates: ‘Say it with a Movie’ gift certificates provide a memorable and enjoyable experience all year ’round. Check the web site for details!

The Weather

Ken writes: Big Bear … little bear . . . during the blow last friday … sand piled up against the rock wall at the Empire Beach.

It’s 33 degrees under cloudy skies at 2:30 PM at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor. The record high for a February 24th was 50 in 1976 with the low of -14 recorded in 1913. The forecast for today calls for mostly cloudy skies with highs in the mid 30s. The weekend outlook calls for mostly cloudy skies and mid 20s with light snow on Friday, light snow and 20s on Saturday and flurries and low 30s on Sunday.

Click for the news & weather from last year!