This Week in Leelanau: November 11, 2010

Sleeping Bear Point Shipwreck

The big windstorm washed up a new shipwreck in the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Leelanau.com team hiked out to the wreck yesterday afternoon. Contrary to some published reports, the hike is 4+ miles round trip on the Dune Trail (head straight up the Dune Climb) or about 5 miles round trip on the beach. Time is about the same but the shore route from Glen Haven (go left from either location) would be a lot less strenuous!

We got some photos (check out the slideshow) and will hopefully have a video. Photographers Jeff Rabidoux of Life on the 45th and Ken Scott were also there! TV 9&10 has a nice video report and the Record-Eagle talked with Steve Harold, director of the Manistee County Historical Museum, who said the shipwreck could be that of the St. Nicholas or the General Taylor.

Read more on Leelanau.com and stay tuned for details as we learn them!

Heritage Trail dream becomes a reality

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore celebrated its 40th birthday in late October and very soon work will begin on one of the Park’s biggest achievements — the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The project is a 27-mile, multi-use trail that promotes access and safety for bikers, hikers, rollerbladers and wheelchairs, alike, though not all locals agreed on whether or not certain portions of the trail should be paved.

The Glen Arbor Sun talked with Park Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich about the trail – click here to read the interview.

Aurora Borealis Designs invites you to visit them online or at their Leland Studio overlooking Fishtown for original beach glass and “Leland Blue” jewelry. Annie also specializes in custom jewelry for that perfect holiday gift.

“My Daddy said ‘it will never cost you a dime son to be nice.’ I will never forget that. I was eleven years old and I will die with that because that means so much to me.” ~ George “Sparky” Anderson

Legendary Detroit Tigers manager George “Sparky” Anderson passed away last week, click here for a tribute to Sparky

All November we’re remembering shipping & shipwrecks on Absolute Michigan & Michigan in Pictures. Michigan in Pictures has lots of great features at that link you’ll want to check out. Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald and we had probably the best YouTube video ever, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald edited by Joseph Fulton featured on Absolute Michigan.

If you have a Michigan business, you can add your link for free to Michigan’s largest site for Michigan news & links, absolutemichigan.com!

This week’s photo was taken by Andy McFarlane and you can check it out bigger and in the Sleeping Bear Dunes Shipwreck slideshow.

Want a chance to have YOUR photos featured here? Click the Flickr button above to join our photo group!

The Leelanau Calendar

Nov 11 – HEALTHY EATING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS Nov 11 – Dawn Erickson:Textile Designer Nov 11 – Franc D’Ambrosio Nov 13 – WCMU Features Film Festival With Dennos Museum’s Nov 17 – Insight and Inspiration Speaker Series Nov 19 – Artcenter Traverse City Winter Show Nov 21 – Dolly & Me Tea with the Trees Nov 26 – Where the Holidays Begin! Nov 27 – Great Macaroni and Cheese Bake-Off Dec 3 – SwingShift and The Stars Dance-Off for Charity Dec 4 – Merry Marketplace Dec 5 – Cedar’s Make and Take Christmas Party Dec 9 – Lady’s Night Dec 11 – Day of Giving Dec 16 – Men’s Night Dec 31 – SwingShift and The Stars Grand Final Event Advertise on Leelanau.com – call us at 421-1172!

Support these and other sponsors of Leelanau.com!

Did we mention you could add your events forfree? Get busy folks!

Now Playing at the Bay Theater in Suttons Bay: ‘Nowhere Boy’ ends 11/11, Mao’s Last Dancer starts 11/12 and ‘Winter’s Bone’ plays 11/14-16. Coming soon: ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1’ (PG-13) – Opens Thursday 11/18 at Midnight!, ‘Wild Grass’ (PG) and ‘True Grit’. The Bay Film Series 2010/2011: Another year of great world cinema available right here in SuttonsBay, MI is now underway! Mid-Week Specials are back!! 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 took this shot in Omena and says that he’s grateful for water – me too!!! See it in his ones that “got away” set.

It’s 63 degrees under partly sunny skies at 2 PM at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor. We missed the record high yesterday by just two degrees and will be close but not quite for the November 11 record high of 69 degrees set in 1915. The low of 15 from 1985 will be safe for another year. The forecast for today calls for partly to mostly sunny skies with highs again in the low to mid 60s with south winds at 10-20. Tomorrow will be cooler with temps in the 40s and clouds increasin in the afternoon and bringing a chance of evening rain. There’s a good chance of rain Saturday (60%) with highs in the 40s and snow is possible on Sunday!

Click for the news & weather from last year!