Features

Features Rick Coates Clearing the Air: Medical Marijuana Workshop For Employers
By Rick Coates
While the State of Michigan continues to be in somewhat of a “cloud of
smoke” over the Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, many employers have asked
where they stand legally on the issue with their employees who might have
medical marijuana cards. The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments
hopes to shed some light for employers this Wednesday, February 23, with a
workshop, “Medical Marijuana - The Law and How it Impacts Your Business &
Employees” from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City.
The panelists include Thomas S. Gilbert, an attorney and former judge who
is with Touchstone Intervention & Prevention Specialists in TC; Dr. Darryl
Lesoski, medical director of the Occupational Health & Medicine Department
at Munson Healthcare; and Grand Rapids attorney Donald Lawless, who
specializes in employment and labor law.

Features Anne Stanton Howling Winds: Neighbors in a spin over turbine in Leelanau
By Anne Stanton
In one of Leelanau County’s most beautiful and peaceful corners, things aren’t quite so harmonious among the neighbors.
Richard and Kay Kobetz contend that their neighbor’s 115-foot wind turbine is causing them problems, including lack of sleep, nausea, headaches and fatigue.
But neighbors say that the Kobetz’s own construction efforts over the last few years have harmed the lives of those around them.
In 2006, the Kobetz’s built a luxury, multi-story home on a high ridge, made even higher after building up the lot with tons of additional fill dirt, scooped from their meadow below. Their home on County Road 651 oversees a majestic view of Good Harbor Bay.

Features Kristi Kates Do you use or need this?”
“Why?”
“What do you use this for?”
“What do you need it for?”
These are just a few of the questions calmly asked by professional
organizer Connie Huizenga, whose business, Details, Et Al, strives to
de-clutter and reorganize people’s homes, and, by intent or merely
association, their lives, too.

Features Kristi Kates Home Energy Fundamentals: John Plichta says energy audits equal savings
By Kristi Kates
Home energy auditor John R. Plichta probably seems to many of his colleagues and acquaintances like a long-time Michigan guy. But the owner of of J.R. Construction Building and Design in Petoskey actually began his career in California, after attending Central Michigan University for Science, Business Administration, and Industrial Technology.
“After my time at CMU, I moved to Northern California and began implementing a variety of alternative energy systems to my clients,” Plichta says. “Our company installed small hydro-electric systems, photovoltaic electrical panels, 12-volt home wiring, battery backup and inverters, hot water jackets in wood stoves to supplement domestic hot water and solar roof top panels and coils for hot water as well.”
In California, Plichta explains, conservation of water and energy were “not electives,” but were mandatory processes to help a region suffering from a seven-year drought.
“So many of the recommendations we make in our audits today are fundamentals I learned as a way of life,” Plichta says.

Features Anne Stanton Serafin Mendoza, an undocumented worker from Mexico, was moved early last week to a new jail cell in Battle Creek, his last move in an odyssey of jail cells since his arrest three months ago. His attorney expects that officials from Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) will decide his final fate next week.
Mendoza will either stay in this country or be deported to Mexico. The decision is in the hands of a few people, and Traverse City immigration attorney Joanna Kloet is hoping that public sentiment will encourage them to let him stay—a decision, she admits, that would be nearly miraculous in a heart-wrenching case.
There are millions of undocumented workers in the same fix as Mendoza, but this stout, hard-working cherry orchard worker has earned the compassion of many who have followed his story in Traverse City.

Features Anne Stanton Eighteen years ago, the nation’s immigration law made it fairly easy for a farmer to hire migrant workers and simple enough for the workers to live in the United States legally. But current regulations amount to a “monstrous buzz saw” with a disastrous fall-out for everyone, said Old Mission Peninsula farmer Josh Wunsch.
Good farmers are stable people who require a strong team and the involvement of skilled knowledgeable people. Yet there are 8 million workers without acceptable documents, Wunsch said, quoting a policy statement from the American Farm Bureau.
He passionately argues for change.

Features Robert Downes Shoes & Snacks for Backpacks blends family fun with a great cause
Even though the next school year is still seven months away, a small army of volunteers will be ringing the school bells of a good cause at a Shoes & Snacks for Backpacks fundraiser this Saturday.
The fundraiser will combine a family fun snowshoe event with food and beverage treats at the Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City from 1-5 p.m. The idea is to raise funds to fill backpacks with much-needed school supplies in the coming year.
“This year we will pass the 10,000 milestone of backpacks donated for kids in need since the project’s inception in 2004,” says Nancy Thornton, a Kingsley resident and marketing professional who serves president of the Rotary Club of Traverse Bay Sunrise. “We expect to distribute approximately 1,300 backpacks in 2011, and will also distribute 1,100 books as part of the project.”

Features Erin Crowell Scaling the Falls:Michigan Ice Festival welcomes climbers to
a frozen UP playground
By Erin Crowell
I swing the axe over my head, the sharp pick slicing through air. The tip of the blade meets ice then bounces like a hammer, sending a rejected spray of snow and ice into my eyes. It’s like this for several swings until I feel the satisfying thunk of placement. I give it a few tugs before I’m ready to do it again with the other axe; but not before moving my feet a few inches higher.
I’m ice climbing… and I’m not very good at it.
I begin kicking the ice repeatedly as if it owes me money, using the sharp blades of my crampons to stab the wall for footing.
“You’ve got a little notch to your right,” John Nguyen yells from below.

Features Rick Coates WOW! Winter festival warms up the weekend
By Rick Coates
Local organizers are hoping the whole town will say “Wow!” when they check out this weekend’s wide-ranging festival which will include a new winefest, snowboard competition, ice sculptures and much more.
Five years ago, the National Cherry Festival and the Grand Traverse Casino Resort and Spa formed a partnership to bring back a winter festival to Traverse City. Originally called The Cherry Winter Wonder Fest, it is now the Cherry Capital Winter Wow!Fest. 
Taking place at several locations around TC, the festival kicks off Friday evening with the new “Winter, Wine & Wow!” event that will feature local wines, craft brews, spirits, food and art, along with live entertainment. This opening night party will take place in a  large heated tent in the parking lot where the Traverse City Farmers Market is held at the corner of Union Street and the Parkway. The Festival will continue through Sunday with several outdoor activities for kids of all ages.

Features Kristi Kates Lewis Black’s Black Comedy
By Kristi Kates
He counts among his fans George Carlin and the recently-retired Larry King. His stature onstage is that of beckoning aggression - even as you might be a little taken aback by his in-your-face performance style, you can’t help but admire his steadfast determination to state his opinions on, well, pretty much anything and everything.
And he’s perhaps one of the best known stand up comedians performing today, venting in a comedic - and loud - fashion about everything from business to politics to pop culture.
As Lewis Black’s press release explains, “Lewis yells so his audiences don’t have to.”

Features Rick Coates A Brew of Laughter: Traverse City hosts annual microbrew and comedy fests 2/7/11
By Rick Coates
This weekend, organizers for the two-day Traverse City Winter
Microbrew & Music Festival expect to draw 3,000 attendees. The
Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival is expected to draw another 5,000
participants over a four day period making downtown Traverse City the
place to be.  Here is an overview of what participants will experience
and there is plenty of opportunity to participate in both.

Features Rick Coates More than Lagers & Laughter:See what the weekend has to offer in Northern Michigan
By Rick Coates
While the marquee events of this weekend will definitely be the
Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival and the Traverse City
Comedy Arts Festival, there are other happenings throughout the region
and that is a good thing. If you do the math there will be about
150,000 residents and visitors within 60 miles of downtown Traverse
City this weekend and the two events are able to accommodate a little
more than five percent of those in the area. So what do the other
140,00 people in the region do this weekend? Here is a snapshot of
opportunities:

Features Pat Stinson More than Lagers & Laughter: See what the weekend has to offer in Northern Michigan
By Rick Coates
While the marquee events of this weekend will definitely be the
Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival and the Traverse City
Comedy Arts Festival, there are other happenings throughout the region
and that is a good thing. If you do the math there will be about
150,000 residents and visitors within 60 miles of downtown Traverse
City this weekend and the two events are able to accommodate a little
more than five percent of those in the area. So what do the other
140,00 people in the region do this weekend? Here is a snapshot of
opportunities:

Super Happy Fun Time Burlesque at the InsideOut Gallery
Back by popular demand is the
Grand Rapids based Super Happy Fun Time Burlesque at the InsideOut
Gallery, in Traverse City, on Saturday night, February 12.
Super Happy Funtime Burlesque originated in Grand Rapids in 2004 and
has taken their community by storm. While his friends were soaking up
the offerings of current pop culture, Super Happy co-founder Corey
Ruffin was busy with his father’s record collection that consisted of
10,000 recordings from the burlesque and vaudeville era.  Ruffin, who
is the bandleader and show’s host (his stage name is Mr. Happy Pants),
has watched Super Happy Funtime Burlesque grow from its humble
beginnings at the 160-seat Sazarec Lounge, in Grand Rapids to touring
the country. Their Traverse City show a few years back was their first
out-of-town gig.  The sold out show has resulted in the troupe making
an annual pilgrimage back to the InsideOut Gallery this time of year.
“I like to say just in time for Valentines Day,” said InsideOut
Gallery owner Mike Curths. “This troupe has been very popular and
definitely a gallery favorite.”
This show is definitely rated R and while there are several sexual
innuendoes, Super Happy Fun Time is very classy in their approach.
“One thing I want to emphasize is that we are not some sort of
burlesque or vaudeville revival show. We are not doing historical
sketches from that period. Certainly we are in the ‘spirit’ of those
art forms but with a modern perspective,” said Ruffin. “Basically, we
are a variety show with each act having about five minutes to do their
thing. Essentially, ‘American Idol,’ late night talk shows and
‘Saturday Night Live’ are all burlesque and vaudeville in fashion but
for contemporary.”
The show starts at 9 pm on Saturday at the InsideOut Gallery, located
in the Warehouse District. Advance tickets are suggested and for
additional details, call the Gallery at 231-929-3254.

Red Green Show at the Kirtland Center
The popular PBS handyman, Red Green will bring his one-man-show to the
Kirtland stage in Roscommon for two performances on Saturday February
12.  There will be a 2 p.m. matinee as well as a 7:00 p.m. evening
performance; and both shows were nearing sell-out at press time.
Red Green, best known for his work on PBS’s “The Red Green Show” has,
for years, brought laughter to Americans and Canadians with the help
of the other members of The Possum Lodge, as well as come up with
endless uses for the “handyman’s secret weapon”: duct tape.  He will
also be selling his new book “How to Do Everything” at both
performances. For tickets or additional information go to
www.kirtlandcenter.com or call the ticket office at 989-275-6777.
KC & The Sunshine Band at the Little River Casino
Few musicians can take credit for actually creating a music style, but
when you ask who was responsible for the “Disco” music scene of the
early ’70s, a one Howard Wayne Casey comes to mind. Casey founded KC
and the Sunshine Band in 1973 and was behind such hits as “(Shake,
Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” “Give It Up,” “Keep It Comin’ Love,”
“That’s The Way (I Like It),” “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “Get Down
Tonight,” and “Boogie Shoes.”
The band pioneered—along with the Bee Gees and Donna Summer—the disco
music and dance music.
Casey, nicknamed “KC,” brings his band to Northern Michigan this
Saturday to the Little River Casino in Manistee.
“I am looking forward to it up there.  I love the snow,” said KC. “I
have been checking the weather up there and see that it has been
snowing hard. But truly, I like the snow. I live in Miami and we don’t
get snow so I love it because I get to see it and then leave it.”
KC says he is very energized today.  He just turned 60 last week and
says he sees himself on the road as long as people will come to see
him.
“I look out in the audience and I see kids to grandmas. It is really
cool,” said KC. “What I am really enjoying is playing a lot of
intimate venues and I hear that the Little River is a smaller venue so
we are excited.”
So should people bring their “Boogie Shoes?”
“Definitely,” said KC. “KC and the Sunshine Band is not a sit down
concert. It is a partnership and we expect the crowd to do their
part.”
A few tickets still remain for the KC and Sunshine Band this Saturday
February 12 at the Little River Casino in Manistee. Tickets may be
purchased online at www.littlerivercasinos.com or by calling Star
Tickets Plus at 880-585-3737.

Features Tom Carr The Homeless Game: Board game puts players in touch with a harsh reality
By Tom Carr
Liz Coon moves her piece on the game board and finds she’s become
homeless because of domestic violence. The game board directs her to
the Goodwill Inn, a shelter in Traverse City.
That’s not really how she became homeless, though Coon can relate to
the end result.

Features Anne Stanton Brewing up hope: An inside look at the lives of Ethiopian coffee farmers 1/31/11
By Anne Stanton
This article is the second report of the Run Across Ethiopia (See Jan.
17 issue). Journalist Anne Stanton accompanied 10 American runners on
a two-week trip that began on January 5.

With a tears-of-joy finish last week, 10 American and six Ethiopian
runners ended a 250-mile jog across southern Ethiopia in a remote and
rural village where thousands gathered to celebrate.
The run—which raised $150,000 to build three village schools—was the
brainchild of Chris Treter, the owner of Higher Grounds Trading
Company in Traverse City. With a plodding running style described as
“Buddha like,” Treter is hardly the picture of a stick-thin