Northport News

NORTHPORT, Mich. -- It was early afternoon of Day 2 at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum when, between untangling a stubborn mess of Christmas lights and spreading enormous piles of mulch heavy with moisture from incessant rain, it finally sank in: This was no ordinary vacation.

A visit to Leelanau Peninsula's wineries is one you won't soon forget. You'll traverse roads that cross hilltops covered with vines and fruit trees, the azure waters of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan undulating in the near and far distance.

Nine were left fatherless when the Bridgebuilder X vanished 50 years ago. In mid December 1959, five children between the ages of 6 and 16 of Sterling "Fuzz" Nickerson Jr.

The 55-foot Welcome , a replica of an original built in 1774, is having work done on its electrical systems, engines and hull following a Coast Guard inspection.

A Leelanau County time capsule offered its probers a glimpse of local history. Historical preservation graduate students from Eastern Michigan University spent last week at DeYoung Natural Area on Cherry Bend Road just north of Traverse City.

It was early afternoon of Day 2 at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum when, between untangling a stubborn mess of Christmas lights and spreading enormous piles of mulch heavy with moisture from incessant rain, it finally sank in: This was no ordinary vacation.

Golfers are sought for a fundraiser this month on behalf of the Northport Promise scholarship fund.

Voters will go to the polls today for an annual school election. A number of area districts have items on the ballot.

Students at Northport Public School will be able to continue their education in the small Leelanau County town thanks to voter support of an operating millage renewal.

It's a sink-or-swim day for Northport Public School. A five-year operating millage renewal for 15.6583 mills -- only 13.388 mills would be collected -- is on today's ballot in Leelanau County's Suttons Bay and Leelanau townships.

A 5-year plan for recreation in northern Leelanau County will be considered by the Northport Village Council next month.

Two county residents could spend up to 12 years in prison after police said they pistol whipped two men near the Suttons Bay Marina earlier this month.

As usual for this time of year, building activity has picked up a ' but not as quickly as it has in past years.

One man's trash is another's treasure. For Leelanau County students at Northport School last week, however, it was more like one person's trash is another student's clothing.

Easter commemorates the Resurrection of Christ, while Christmas is a celebration of his birth.

Students in Leelanau County's four public school districts overall performed better than state averages on Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests administered earlier this school year.

While a good number of area residents are enjoying warmer surroundings during spring break this week, Crystal Budzinski of Cedar is hard at work with spring cleaning while Dick Solon is busy helping others "get organized." CRYSTAL BUDZINSKI cleans homes for a living, and says business picks up at this time of the year.

The Northport High School National Honor Society chapter has donated $700 to the Northport Promise Scholarship Fund.

A large number of "angels" work and live in Leelanau County. Just ask Jane Nichols, president of the Leelanau Christian Neighbors.

James H. Porter Jr., currently a captain with the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Department, has been named to succeed William Calhoun as chief of the department.