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According to this story from a Grand Rapids TV station, the parents of a Frankfort-area schoolgirl have filed suit charging that their daughter was forced to use a separate bathroom at school because she was black. Supposedly, this made the other students "feel more comfortable." I hope the story isn't accurate. If it is, it shows what a long way we still have to come in Northern Michigan.
A missing teen from Illinois may be in the area.
The DEQ has issued an initial permit to construct 14 controversial slips at the Narrows on Lake Leelanau, and local residents are organizing to stop the move. The residents are asking citizens to speak up before the public comment period ends on Jan 26, and threaten legal action if it's approved. The Record-Eagle has the story:
Traverse City Record-Eagle - Home Page
We often worry--and rightly so!--about Traverse City encroaching on and taking over Leelanau County.
But sometimes, the country returns to naturalize a bit of the city. Read how this Cooper's hawk has made a little bit of front street his own:
Hawk hunts, and feathers fly
Leland defeated Pellston Wednesday to take the Leland Invitation crown. The Record-Eagle has the story: Prep Volleyball: Leland cruises in own tournament
Prominent local attorney Jim Olson has some reservations about the so-called Annex 2001 agreement concerning diversion of Great Lakes water (see South Bend Tribune for details.) Olson charges that an exception in the agreement to allow extraction of groundwater for bottled water threatens to undermine the intent of the agreement. Although the measure has been agreed to by Michigan Governor Grandholm and other state and provincial leaders, it must still be ratified by the state legislature before becoming law.
The Record Eagle has the story: Prep Volleyball: TC Central JV captures Leland Invitational title
The Leelanau Ski Club has been teaching young people to ski since 1989. Check out this family-friendly organization.
Taste the Local Difference is a great web site from the good folks at the Michigan Land Use Institute, with information on local farms and their produce.
So what if the news is 100 years old? The Grand Traverse Herald's roundup of the news from 1905 is always worth reading.
Apparently the Glacier Bay people are not the only people planning a new waterpark for Traverse City.
The Record-Eagle has a story about the new planner hired by Grand Traverse County. Sounds like a capable individual, which is a good thing for everyone in the area.
I've heard the 2005 havest was great. Anyone with first-hand experience?
The 7th Annual Michigan Small Farms Conference will be held 28 January, 2006. I've attended several of these conferences, and they have been excellent. For anyone interested in the future of agriculture in Northern Michigan, this is essential. http://web1.msue.msu.edu/iac/farmconf/
A good site from the Michigan Dept of the Treasury with useful financial information for seniors: http://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-1748_1876_1913-128751--,00.html
The Post needs reporters on seniors, their concerns and activities. If you would like to report on seniors for The Post, just click here.
The effort to allow Michigan wineries to ship to consumers enjoyed at least a partial success last week, when Gov. Granholm signed a law permitting shipments of up to 1,500 cases per year. The law is especially important to Leelanau because grape-growing and wine-making operations are among the bright spots in Leelanau agriculture. When farmers can make money by farming, they're less likely to sell out to downstate developers planning to replace their fields with subdivisions. What's more, as local wines can be sold directly via mail or the internet to consumers, then the reputations of our fine local wines will spread. And tourists love visiting an area, like Leelanau, that combines natural beauty with good wine and good food. It's a big win all around.
Report on farming or gardening for The Post. Do you have a special expertise? If so, share your wisdom. Write for the Leelanau Post on fruit-growing, veggies, wine, etc.
If you would like to report on farming or gardening for The Post, just click here.
Some people say there's nothing worth watching on TV. What do you think?
Do you have to go to cable to find something good, or can you find something on the broadcast channels? Or do you skip TV altogether for a good DVD or a book? Let us know what you think in the Comments below, and we'll put up a list of local favorites.
The Leelanau Post is looking for reporters on the arts and entertainment. Are you an insider on the local art scene? Have something to say about movies or video?
Or maybe you just want to share some comments about what's on the tube. Contact us You can be a star!
Leelanau County and Elmwood Township are blessed with incredible land, shoreline and water resources. We all know it is our responsibility to preserve, maintain and develop in a responsible way these riches we have inherited from previous generations and which we wish to pass on to our children and grandchildren.
Under the leadership of Supervisor Derith Smith and with the full support of the Township Board, the Elmwood Parks and Recreation Committee has been charged with looking at current and potential parks or public recreation areas.
While the committee understands the need for looking at all parks and public areas, the current focus of the committee is the Greilickville Park next to the Elmwood Township Marina. With the approval of the Township Board, Klaus Heinert of Gosling Czubak (and a resident of Elmwood Township) was hired to create a plan for the park and surrounding areas.
While the focus is on the Greilickville waterfront, the intent of the planning effort is to include as many neighboring areas and potential users as possible. Obviously plans have to be coordinated with the Marina to the north, as well as Traverse City plans for their waterfront which extends to the Elmwood Township border on the south. The Greilickville businesses along M-22, and developments to the west are important, and everything has to be coordinated with the DNR and the Highway Department. And how should the Leelanau Trail or other recreational opportunities be linked to any park plan?
It is important to get input from both residents and visitors when possible. The committee has held a public hearing to get general ideas of what interested parties might want to see in the M-22 corridor, and a few tentative plans have been drawn up. The planner, the committee and the township officials welcome input from anyone. If you have an idea, concern, or any input, call the township at 946-0921.
The final act of the outgoing 2000-2004 Elmwood board was to cut the supervisor’s salary by $5,000.00. This was the beginning of a campaign, which has continued since then, by Noel Flohe (the supervisor Deri Smith replaced) and his cronies to reverse the results of the 2004 election and force Deri Smith from office.
2006 township budget is up for public hearing on Monday night. Last month, the Board Personnel Committee (Connie Preston, Debbie Street, Deri Smith and Paul Walter) worked together and decided to recommend that Deri’s salary be brought up to par with those of Clerk Preston and Treasurer Street. However, in the final hour, Debbie Street has submitted a letter in the board’s meeting packet coming out against reinstating Deri Smith’s salary. At the same time, a group led by Flohe and John Stanek (like Flohe, booted out of office in 2000) is circulating a form letter arguing against restoring her salary. People who turn out to oppose Smith’s salary don’t seem to mind anybody else that are getting 39% to 18% salary increases on the budget.
Although the holdover members on the board did not do what they should—vote to pay what Deri deserves-- the many letters received and audience present did make at least one of them think long and hard. Deri Smith’s salary was raised $28,000 to $32,000 -- not what deserved (the Clerk and the Treasurer were raised from $33,384 to $34,700). Many motions were made and voted down by a 3-3 vote (Clerk Connie Preston had recused herself). The final compromise on Deri's salary was reached at $32,000 with trustee O'Rourke at 11:30 pm.
Many heartfelt letters were sent to the township and some were read aloud by people who were able to attend. Following is one of the letters received by the board.
To: Elmwood Township Board -Derith Smith has been as a light in the darkness, a beacon of decency, honesty, and integrity. In all of her years of service, Derith has been one of the few who could be depended on to keep her word. She truly cares about the interests of all - even those who are among the working poor who so often have been either neglected or taken advantage of for the benefit of the more financially prosperous and influential. Such respect for the dignity of the human person is refreshing in a climate in which most of our previously elected officials have been respecters of persons. One of my deepest regrets is that Derith didn’t come forward to run for supervisor years ago.
Nevertheless, in a world in which the innocent suffer for the guilty and the just for the unjust, it is not surprising that Derith has suffered and endured both insult and loss. Again, she has endured because she cares for each and every one of us personally and because she believes that she has been elected for such a time as this.
My wife, Anne, and I have a son currently serving in Iraq and another son returning home from Iraq sometime this week. We are preparing for a trip to the Upper Peninsula to meet him.
In our absence, please do what is right by Derith. Derith has had the courage to do right by you. The day is coming when not only our deeds, but also our motives and intentions will be brought to light. Let us not be blinded by our anger, greed, jealousy, pride and such inclinations.
Finally, in humility let us enjoy a blessed Christmas and a holy and truly prosperous New Year,
Leonard & Anne Dezelski
