Orchestra director headed to Tacoma
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 3) — Traverse Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Andrew Buelow is headed for another TSO.
Buelow will be the new executive director of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in Tacoma, Wash. The decision to leave Traverse City, where he has been executive director since 2001, was difficult, Buelow said.
"I've never really experienced a community of people who love their orchestra and care about it the way they do here," he said. "It's been the most satisfying job that I've ever had."
But a trip to Tacoma compelled him to take the new job. He liked the town, about 30 miles south of Seattle, and its orchestra.
His will start in Tacoma in November, but work is under way to ensure a smooth transition in Traverse City. A search already started for his replacement.
Downtown buildings get new life
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 4) — Raelene Wooden-Hall rolled the dice on downtown Traverse City when she moved her marketing firm to Old Town, and she's taking another gamble on the city's central business district.
Wooden-Hall converted a long-vacant professional building at 134 E. State St. into the Living Light Massage and Wellness Center.
"We believe in the downtown," she said. "We believe in Traverse City and we believe in this part of Michigan."
Bob Sutherland, owner of Cherry Republic in Leelanau County's Glen Arbor, renovated two new storefronts on East Front Street in downtown Traverse City this summer, including a new paint job for the Whiting Hotel.
Another location for new downtown shops is the growing "Warehouse District" off Garland Street, which includes a new boutique called The Red Dresser. Also downtown, renovations continue on the former Kurtz Music building on East Front Street next to the State Theatre for Red Ginger, an Asian cuisine restaurant. Work also continues at Catch Island Grill in the former Pete's Pub site on Park Street.
Group monitors climate change
GAYLORD (Oct. 4) — A research facility in the hills of southern Otsego County will help determine long-term weather patterns, part of a federal climate change monitoring program.
Climate change science has been widely discussed in political circles in recent years and some call the monitoring program a positive sign, with the U.S. government invested in equipment to study potential changes in northern Michigan's snow belt.
"Climate change is a huge topic right now and a lot of the data we have is observed for weather. There's a difference between weather and climate," said Keith Berger, observation program leader at the National Weather Service station near Gaylord. "When we talk about climate, we are talking about long-term conditions in an area and weather is a snapshot of what's going on outside your window."
Berger said rewards will come in several decades, when scientists can begin to draw conclusions on climate trends.
Saying goodbye
CHEBOYGAN (Oct. 5) — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Blaskowski is home.
More than 2,000 people crammed inside the Cheboygan Area High School gymnasium to say goodbye to Blaskowski, 27, remembered as a hometown hero.
He was shot and killed Sept. 23 when his unit was attacked while serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
"I wish there were some magic words to say, but I cannot find them," said the Rev. Paul Megge, who officiated at the funeral Mass.
Front St. projects at a standstill
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 6) — Federated Properties assured city leaders it would proceed with plans for a three-story downtown project, but the developer has yet to announce a start date for its two proposed West Front Street buildings and other uncertainties continue to swirl.
Federated CEO Louis P. Ferris Jr. recently sent a letter to Traverse City's mayor to express continued interest in building a three-story commercial and office structure at 124 W. Front St. The developer this summer tore down an old auto dealership there, but, instead of starting construction, grass grew.
He did not mention the company's other proposed building, a 100-foot-tall, mixed-use project across the street at 145 W. Front St. to feature public parking paid for with $5.49 million in state brownfield funds.
Despite assurances about the smaller building, questions remain about the fate of both Federated projects.
Tribe wants a marina by casino
PESHAWBESTOWN (Oct. 6) — Plans for a large vessel marina in Peshawbestown are underway for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Tribal council members voted to apply for permits and request federal funding to build a 100- to 130-slip full-service marina just north of Leelanau Sands Casino.
"We're looking at certainly trying to protect Peshawbestown and its businesses, so we felt there's an untapped market there for boaters that might enjoy going to the property as well as playing (at Leelanau Sands Casino)," said Ron Olson, chief executive officer for the band's economic development corporation.
The council will apply for permission to lease lake bottomlands through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The band doesn't need permission from Suttons Bay Township, but does need approval from the DEQ and U.S Army Corps of Engineers because the project involves state-owned bottomlands.
Food banks running low
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 7) — Ken Homa would love it if storage shelves in the basement of the Goodwill Inn were stacked to the ceiling with food.
But the shelves, the main storage space for food and toiletries, are looking thin. One has only 15 cans of vegetables on it. Another contains nothing more than a bag of flour and a box of rice.
The Goodwill Inn, which provides about 90 beds to the area's homeless and prepares food baskets for families in need throughout the community, is one of a number of local food banks dealing with low inventories.
United Way of Northwest Michigan held a donation drive to collect items for the local pantries.
It's the first year for the official kickoff event, called the "Drive and Drop," which was held at the Xtreme Clean Touchless Car Wash near Meijer.
The inaugural event was the official kickoff to United Way's workplace campaign fundraiser. Michelle Krumm, director of campaign and marketing, said the organization hopes to raise $1 million this year.
But the drive didn't draw as many people as anticipated.
Board settles suit, apologizes
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 10) — The Grand Traverse County Board agreed to pay $7,500 in attorney fees and apologize to fellow commissioner Christine Maxbauer to settle a lawsuit alleging it violated the state Open Meetings Act.
The board voted 7-1 to settle the suit and issue a three sentence apology, but still maintains it did not do anything wrong.
Maxbauer sees it differently.
"Anytime you apologize you admit you've done something wrong," Maxbauer said. "My view is that I won and the constituents won. I got a letter of apology and they paid my attorney fees."
The lawsuit was prompted by the board's May 23 strategic planning session, during which her fellow commissioners allegedly told Maxbauer they didn't want her to videotape the meeting. Maxbauer said she "caved" under pressure exerted by fellow commissioners.
The Open Meetings Act requires all public bodies to allow the videotaping of meetings.
Judge dismisses Bertha Vos lawsuit
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 10) — A lawsuit attempting to stop the closure of Bertha Vos Elementary school in Acme Township was formally dismissed.
Grand Traverse County Circuit Judge Philip Rodgers signed the dismissal order, after ruling last month that a group behind the suit didn't have the legal ground to challenge the Traverse City Area Public School board's July decision to close Bertha Vos at the end of the current school year.
"I'm pleased because it means that we continue to move forward," TCAPS Superintendent James Feil said.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 10, alleged the school board did not consider community feedback when deciding to close Bertha Vos.
Pioneering healthier living
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 11) — From epicurean potlucks and nature deficit disorder, to social justice for migrant workers and building green roofs, the sixth annual Great Lakes Bioneers conference will address a gamut of environmental and social issues.
The Bioneers conference at Northwestern Michigan College is cosponsored by the Neahtawanta Center and SEEDS, a local nonprofit research and education group. The conference is held in conjunction with 20 other Bioneer satellite events happening simultaneously across the country, including Detroit and Cleveland. The Great Lakes Bioneers conference features a live downlink of the Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California, which is complemented by local speakers and workshops.
Speakers include local farmers, green builders, water keepers, small business owners, teachers, healers, artists and others. Their purpose is to come together to discuss solutions to such issues as climate change and eating healthier.
Advocate earns Mudgett award
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 13) — Tim Brick has ridden many trails, but his dedication to those around Traverse City earned him a special honor.
Brick, a longtime trail advocate who served on local trail boards, was awarded the fourth annual Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award from Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails.
"Traverse has fallen in love with the trails," Brick said. "I think the more we put in, the more people fall in love with it."
Brick's board service continued as a member of TART Trails when it merged with other local trail groups in 1998. He remains part of the local path scene, partly because his bicycle shop Brick Wheels on Eighth Street in Traverse City is a "hub for recreation," said Missy Luyk, TART program specialist.
Brick received about six nominations for the award.
Mitt Romney visits region
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 14) — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said he favored issuing more seasonal visas to foreign workers in industries such as agriculture and tourism while cracking down on illegal immigration.
Campaigning in northern Michigan, where many employers have struggled to fill jobs in hotels and restaurants during the summer tourist rush, Romney said more temporary workers should be allowed where there are labor shortages.
"The answer to that is simple, which is issue more visas," Romney told reporters. "If our employment sector needs additional immigrant laborers, then issue the visas necessary to provide that work force."
Federal law allows businesses needing seasonal help to obtain what are known as H2B visas for foreign laborers — if they can prove good-faith efforts to hire locally first.
During a campaign stop later in the day in Grand Rapids, Romney told a crowd of supporters that he favors an employment-verification system that would identify people who legally entered the United States to work.
TV29&8 accused of airing fake 'news'
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 14) — Two media watchdog groups filed a federal complaint against television station WGTU ABC 29&8 alleging it passed off fake news clips paid for by banks and manufacturers as independent news reports.
East Coast-based Free Press and Wisconsin-based Center for Media and Democracy filed the complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. The complaint alleges the Traverse City-based TV station violated FCC rules that require stations to "clearly disclose" to the audience who paid for video news releases.
"These (videos) are sponsored public relations messages," said Diane Farsetta, senior researcher for the Center for Media and Democracy. "They are ads dressed up as news stories."
The videos typically discuss topics of financial importance to the sponsor and interview people from the company or an associated organization. Some make repeated references to the company by name or logo and refer viewers to company sponsored Web sites.
Congregation OKs factory deal
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 16) — A local church is moving on its plans to overhaul a vacant auto-parts factory into an office and ministry center.
Members of Faith Reformed Church in Traverse City approved the purchase of the former Lear Corp. property on South Airport Road in Garfield Township, a church official said. The church's leadership council in June approved a $1.85 million purchase agreement for the seven-acre site subject to a vote of the congregation, which needed a two-thirds majority approval.
"It's a significant thing for your congregation to vote to take on a project like this," the Rev. Peter Semeyn said. "Our people see it's an opportunity to move forward with something we think will benefit the community."
The church wants to use the property to consolidate its administrative operations and create a campus for various ministry and community outreach programs, including partnerships with other social service agencies.
'Green' construction gaining momentum
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 17) — So-called green building used to be a niche in the construction market, almost a boutique industry reserved for the wealthy or the extra-environmentally conscious.
Not anymore. One of the country's top green building experts told a group of local builders that a trend toward environmentally sound construction is quickly gaining momentum in the mainstream building industry.
Growing public awareness about energy and resource conservation is combining with consumer demand for healthier living spaces to drive an expanding green building market.
"The whole green building landscape is changing," said Ron Jones, a co-founder of Green Builder Media who spoke at a seminar in Traverse City. "People are concerned about the health of their families and they're concerned about the environment."
Taxpayers to loan $40,000 to plant
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 18) — Grand Traverse County taxpayers will spend about $400,000 to bail out the financially failing county septage treatment plant, but there are no guarantees they'll ever be repaid.
That debt may have to be forgiven, one county commissioner cautioned, after the county board voted to advance the money interest-free to cover a Nov. 1 bond payment on the $7.8 million septage plant.
"At this point there doesn't appear to be an ability to pay it back," said Commissioner Larry Inman, a retired banker.
Recent financial projections show the plant losing more than $200,000 a year for the next four years.
The plant receives about half the septic tank waste projected in 2001 when the townships of East Bay, Peninsula, Garfield, Elmwood and Acme decided to build the plant.
Grant buys dog for sheriff's department
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 19) — The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department will soon have a third police dog, thanks to a $5,000 grant.
The sheriff's department received the grant through the Milk Bone/Del Monte and Sam's Club Canine Heroes program at the Sam's Club along U.S. 31, sheriff's officials said in a statement.
The dog is expected to be in service by December 1, Undersheriff Nathan Alger said. It will be used to detect narcotics and track suspects.
Commission candidate faces charges
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 20) — City commission candidate Scott Sieffert faces a domestic violence charge for allegedly assaulting his child's mother.
Sieffert, 37, was arrested and released on condition he does not contact the victim. He faces a misdemeanor assault charge that carries a potential sentence of 93 days in jail.
Grand Traverse County sheriff's deputies arrested him for an alleged assault on Oct. 9.
Sieffert said he was involved in a verbal dispute that resulted in the woman striking him.
"Regrettably, I was forced to use the least amount of force available to protect myself and my child," he said. "I am innocent of any wrongdoing in this incident, as I am certain my trial will bear."
Hospital plan put on hold for now
GAYLORD (Oct. 21) — Area hospital officials withdrew an application to the state to build a $22 million long-term acute care hospital in Gaylord, but said it's not because they've given up the plan.
It will take a change in state rules to allow a consortium of northern Michigan hospitals to jointly build a new 60-bed, free-standing, long-term acute care hospital on McCoy Road, east of Old U.S. 27. The initial application inevitably would be denied if it weren't withdrawn first, hospital and state officials said.
"Language under state standards does not allow hospitals to pool beds in that manner," said T.J. Bucholz, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Community Health.
The hospital proposed for Gaylord typically operates within or attached to a larger hospital to provide comprehensive medical services to clinically complex patients who need intensive care for more than 25 days. State officials will consider changing rules to allow a free-standing site, if requested, Bucholz said.
Board shelves road commission decision
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 23) — The Grand Traverse County board indefinitely shelved a decision on whether voters should elect county road commissioners.
The board's no-decision came after members of the public overwhelmingly said the three-member, appointed road commission should be changed to an elected, five-member board.
A majority of members from both the county board and road commission oppose such a change.
Five of the county board's nine members spoke against giving up their right to choose who serves on the road board. Road commissioners work part time, but receive lifetime health insurance benefits and salary and other perks worth $20,000 annually.
"We cannot tell an elected official what to do," county Board Chairman Addison "Sonny" Wheelock said. "It's better for the county board to have oversight."
Dennos center gets $1 million donation
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 23) — Two longtime contributors to the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College pledged $1 million toward the museum's endowment fund.
The contribution, from Dudley and Barb Smith of Traverse City, is the largest gift ever to come from a living donor, museum Director Eugene Jenneman said.
Since the 1990s, the Smiths have donated artwork, contributed to the museum's fund campaign and helped install sculptures around campus, he said.
The endowment now contains upwards of $5 million.
Officials tackle E. coli problem
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 25) — Area agencies are working on a reply to E. coli.
The county health department issued temporary warnings to avoid the water at four beaches during the summer after tests showed elevated bacteria readings at the sandy sites. Mounting public concern prompted officials to form a plan to tackle the problem.
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay outlined ways to reduce instances of high E. coli levels through new rules, tracking the source and storm water upgrades. The center is applying for a Department of Environmental Quality grant in addition to local funds pledged to the effort.
"This is an issue that resonates with most people in the region. I think that we've seen nothing but support," said Andy Knott, Watershed executive director.
Addressing E. coli is its top priority this winter, he said. The Grand Traverse County Health Department is in general agreement with the center's suggested approach, said Health Officer Fred Keeslar.
District bus safety ratings released
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 25) — Traverse City's school bus fleet earned a nearly perfect safety rating for this past school year, according to state police inspection results.
Of Traverse City Area Public Schools' 120 buses, one was red-tagged for having a worn linkage, which required it to be pulled from service for immediate repairs, said Gary Derrigan, the district's executive director of operations.
All TCAPS buses passed inspection in the 2005-06 school year.
Several regional school districts reported 100 percent pass rates for 2006-07, including Bellaire, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Buckley, Cadillac, Central Lake, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, East Jordan, Ellsworth, Forest Area, Gaylord, Glen Lake, Kalkaska, Lake City, McBain, Northport, Pellston and Suttons Bay.
Crowd tackles judicial issues
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 26) — The process of selecting Michigan Supreme Court justices is flawed, and reform is needed to change the way campaigns are financed and cases are decided.
That's the message delivered as part of a panel discussion, hosted in part by the League of Women Voters, on the problems facing the state's high court. Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, and Detroit Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson gave those assertions to the standing-room-only crowd, using examples from actual cases and campaign advertisements to support their claims.
In addition, Justice Elizabeth Weaver, of Glen Arbor, stressed the importance of a fair and independent court to protect the rights of the state's citizens.
The problem with the election process is that campaigns are becoming expensive — in the millions of dollars in some cases — and contributions by special-interest groups to fund televised issue advertisements are not required to be reported, Robinson said.
He cited a study that showed campaign contributors to at least one justice were parties in 86 percent of the cases the court heard in the 1990s, and he questioned whether the justices involved should have removed themselves from hearing those cases.
Well-known TC eatery closes
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 27) — A second-generation family restaurant closed its doors.
Roma Italian Restaurant, located in the ground floor of the Parkway Plaza building at 830 E. Front Street, was shuttered Oct. 10 and won't re-open, owner Phil Iadeluca said.
The business was launched by his parents more than 30 years ago and became a well-known Italian eatery in Traverse City, but fell on "hard times" in recent months, he said.
The original Roma dated to the mid-1970s, and was opened by Iadeluca's parents Ennio and Carmela. His father retired about 13 years ago, Iadeluca said. The business originally was located in a small building near the intersection of Munson Avenue and Fair Street.
Iadeluca said he's considering other business possibilities, but has no immediate plans to return to the restaurant business.
"After 25 years, I'm ready for a break from it," he said.
Resource recovery manager resigns
TRAVERSE CITY (Oct. 27) — Grand Traverse County's cuts to the county recycling department may have had unintended consequences.
County Resource Recovery Manager Kelly Ignace resigned effective Nov. 6, and the department's part-time clerk left last week. That leaves the department with one outreach specialist; that position was eliminated by the county board in a budget cut effective Dec. 31.
"I don't know where we go, quite frankly," county Administrator Dennis Aloia said.
Ignace headed a department with a $720,000 budget that monitored waste haulers and provided drop-off recycling bins, recycling education, household hazardous waste collection and other recycling services.
Ignace said the board should set clear goals and objectives for the department before it makes any staffing decisions.
Crash kills two students
ELK RAPIDS (Oct. 28) — Nichole Ridgeway, 17, was driving north on Elk Lake Road about 8 a.m. Oct. 27 when she lost control of her car on a curve and slid across the road into a power pole, authorities said.
The Elk Rapids High School senior was rushed to Munson Medical Center with passengers Andrew Bussa, 20, of Kewadin and Jonathan Hosner, 20, of Elk Rapids.
She died shortly after the crash. Bussa died at Munson last Sunday. Hosner remained in fair condition at the hospital Monday.
A passing motorist spotted the wrecked vehicle around 8:15 a.m. and called authorities. The impact crushed the car and rescue workers had to pry the vehicle open, said Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson.
Bussa graduated from Elk Rapids in 2005 and Hosner was a 2006 graduate.
Tondu looks at 'gasification'
MANISTEE (Oct. 28) — Joe Tondu contends he can reduce pollution and double the energy produced by his Manistee County power plant, but said he needs millions of dollars in local tax breaks and guaranteed energy contracts to do so.
Tondu heads the TES Filer City Station co-generation plant south of Manistee and is investigating an "integrated gasification combined cycle" (IGCC) process, an emerging energy technology he said would create a more efficient facility while significantly reducing environmental impact.
The process involves converting carbon-based fuel sources like coal or biomass material to synthetic gas. Materials are compressed at high temperatures of around 1,600 degrees Celsius, creating an inert slag material that can be used as aggregate in road gravel or concrete uses.
"Syngas" produced through the process is treated to remove other materials before it's used to fire gas turbines to make electricity.
Such a conversion could more than double the existing 60-megawatt plant's power output while cutting emission levels by 50 percent, he said.
Life is no 'boar' for Otsego couple
GAYLORD (Oct. 28) — Terry and Jami Rogers are having wild hog on the barbecue.
They live in rural Otsego County, about 11 miles northeast of Gaylord, where last week Terry shot a monstrous wild boar in their back yard at a distance of about 50 yards.
"He sort of started coming toward me, not charging, just walking. But I wasn't going to let him get too close," Terry said.
Rogers shot the huge creature — its estimated weight was 400 to 500 pounds — twice with a rifle and it stumbled to the ground both times, but managed to ramble about 500 yards before it finally fell. The beast is among an unknown number of non-native feral pigs in Michigan and state wildlife officials said the goal is to eradicate them all.
More locals find IDs stolen
PETOSKEY (Oct. 29) — Jennifer Osborn, of Petoskey, recently was victimized by identity theft, and now she's left to sort out her financial records while awaiting results of a criminal investigation. She's among a growing list of victims in northern Michigan who find their finances jeopardized because their identity was stolen.
Law enforcement officials said it's a growing trend.
About five new cases are logged each month in Emmet County. It's the county's fastest-growing, theft-related crime said Detective Cpl. J L Sumpter, of the Emmet County Sheriff's Department.
Osborn learned her identity was stolen in June, when her son called from North Carolina to say she was getting bank paperwork mailed to her at his home. An account she didn't request was opened more than a year ago and investigators don't yet have a suspect or know how Osborn's personal information was accessed.
It appears the fraud won't cost her any money, just the time it takes to get her identity reclaimed.
Shuttered resort may get new life
CEDAR (Oct. 31) — A man with Leelanau County ties is purchasing the long-shuttered Sugar Loaf Resort property.
An attorney for resort owner Kate Wickstrom said his client approved a purchase agreement for the property with Brad Lutz, a seasonal Leelanau County resident. Lutz is working on details related to the resort's sewage treatment system before the transaction is finalized, said his attorney, Robert Parker of Traverse City.
"He's real excited about it ... he's very committed to re-opening the ski hill," Parker said.
Wickstrom bought the property in March 2005, five years after previous owners closed it following years of financial problems. She had hoped to have ski facilities at least partially operating last season, and in April 2006 unveiled a $50 million redevelopment plan focusing on "extreme" sports like snowboarding.
The plans included an overhaul of the main lodge building, new residential development and a recreational vehicle campground.
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