The people of Leelanau County generally seem to understand the virtues of charity, and Kelly Slater of Suttons Bay is a good example of this regional characteristic. Slater said that she has her fingers “in many pies,” and among them are the Traverse City Track Club, Green Suttons Bay, and the Friends of Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library.

Impact100 Traverse City will have $348,000 to distribute to area non-profits this year. Three nonprofits will each receive $116,000 in transformational funding after Impact100 selects the recipients by membership vote in September.

Matthew Branton, owner of North Country Kitchen and Bar in Suttons Bay, has been operating the establishment for the past year since closing on the purchase from Karen Boone in March 2023. Since opening last June, Branton moved to Leelanau County to run his newest business venture and has been getting acclimated to working in the restaurant industry.

This is one of my most favorite times of year, although we didn’t have a bad winter people seem to come alive at this time year. Hear the hammers and the leaf blowers and everybody is getting ready for a great summer.

The Village of Empire will hold its annual spring cleanup on Wednesday and Thursday, May 8 and 9. Residents are asked to leave bagged leaves and brush in piles next to their street or alley by 8 a.m.

In Northport, Isabelle Scott, affectionately known as “Isa,” has been forging her unique path as a herbalist and the proprietor of Circles & Cycles. Since its inception in 2019, Circles & Cycles has grown from a personal passion project to a thriving business offering a range of herbal products.

Doug McInnis, a Leelanau County resident living in Northport, has made his mark on the county as one of the founders of Leelanau Energy, a community action agency advocating for clean energy like solar and wind power.

The Leelanau County Housing Collaborative, a group of four organizations focused on creating a Housing Action Plan for Leelanau County, is announcing the housing survey to help bring housing for all to Leelanau County.

Spring activities dominated conversation this week by the Leland Township Board. The board during its regular monthly meeting Monday acted on proposals that signal the arrival of spring and warmer weather.

Kelly Kehl, who moved back to the Village of Northport in January with her husband, John, recently opened her very own “Little Beauty Kitchen” business location downtown. Kehl, an herbalist, artist, and esthetician, said she could not be more happy to continue her work at the new space in Barb’s Bakery.