Al Parker | Author

Serving Those Who Served

June 24, 2023

Five years into his job as director of Grand Traverse County’s Veterans Affairs Office, Michael Roof is very familiar with the issues facing northern Michigan veterans. He knows first-hand that sometimes, vets need a little help.

At 22, fresh out of the Marines, Roof had a w... Read More >>

The Language That Was Almost Lost

June 17, 2023

In the middle of June, the downtown streets of Harbor Springs bustle with visitors whose boats pack the harbor. At the end of Main Street, there’s an old church that once led one of the longest-running Native American boarding schools in the nation: Holy Childhood of Jesus.

How Healthy Are Our Waters? Experts Weigh in on the Well-being of NoMi Waterways

June 3, 2023

We’re all about to be waist deep in the busy summer season, and for many of us, it’s also time to get waist deep in a northern Michigan lake, river, or stream to enjoy our favorite water activities.

But what’s the current health of that water that we’re pla... Read More >>

College Bound?

May 27, 2023

Another high school graduation season is here. Well before the final notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” drift away, most northern Michigan grads have already made their plans for life after high school. What that future life looks like is as varied as the clouds in a blue June s... Read More >>

What Was Your First Job?

May 13, 2023

Young workers shouldn’t be discouraged if their first jobs don’t come with big paychecks and even bigger status. Many very successful people had humble work debuts: Beyoncé’s first work situation was sweeping up hair in her mother’s salon; Mick Jagger sold i... Read More >>

The Little Pot Shop That Could

April 15, 2023

When the legal sale of recreational marijuana began on March 1 in Green Lake Township, Interlochen Alternative Health (IAH) felt an immediate high.

“It’s been awesome,” says owner Stephen Ezell, who opened the business in 2013 to provide medical marijuana to card... Read More >>

Ancient Arts

March 18, 2023

Yvonne M. Keshick’s eyes brighten with excitement when she remembers the first time she ever designed and crafted quill art more than half a century ago.

“I was very shy and couldn’t go looking for a job,” recalls the 76-year-old Harbor Springs reside... Read More >>

Creative License

March 18, 2023

Before there was Photoshop or any other image-altering technology, there was Traverse City’s own reality revisionist, Orson Peck.

Born in 1875, Peck was a self-taught photographer with a sharp wit and a keen eye. Starting around 1890, he built a bustling business creating an... Read More >>

Playing for a Community

March 4, 2023

Aaron Stander is all about that bass—the upright bass, that is.

“My entanglement with an upright bass started about 10 years ago when I was entering my seventies,” recalls Stander. “One fall afternoon, as my wife and I were walking through the Interlochen S... Read More >>

Old World Romance

Feb. 4, 2023

Giorgio Lo Greco leans back in his chair smiling slightly, stirs his espresso, and shares a love story.

“My wife Monica and I met on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, 18 years ago when we were both crew members on a cruise ship,” recalls the chef/owner of PepeNero, one o... Read More >>

Against All Tides

Jan. 21, 2023

Simmering racial tensions, inflamed by discriminatory punishments, sparked violent confrontations between Black sailors and white Marines aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during Vietnam War operations in the fall of 1972. A young Navy JAG lieutenant—later a district court judge in... Read More >>

Inside and Out

Dec. 24, 2022

Every January, millions of us promise to get behind the two most popular New Year’s resolutions: eat better and get fit. While we can’t be your spotter at the gym, Northern Express did talk with two northern Michigan experts to get their advice on how to achieve these... Read More >>

A Bed of Roses

Dec. 10, 2022

Nothing says “treat yourself” like a good night’s sleep. And Harbor Springs Mattress Company is in the business of making sure you’re sleeping on the best of the best.

After serving in the military, owner Rory Karpathian was considering college when a Veter... Read More >>

The More Music, the Merrier: Holiday Concerts and Performances for the Whole Family

Dec. 3, 2022

Live performances form some of the most lasting memories of the holiday season. Whether you’re seeing The Nutcracker for the hundredth time or catching a brand-new band, there’s something magical about music this time of year. Here are a few events you’ll want t... Read More >>

From Retirement to Retail, the Wheels Keep Spinning

Nov. 26, 2022

Nancy Crummel’s passion for pottery—and indeed, all things art—is clearly on display at her newly-opened gallery, Long Lake Artisans Gallery & Gifts.

“I became fascinated with the whole process of pottery about 25 years ago,” says Crummel, who ope... Read More >>

A Cut Above

Nov. 5, 2022

It’s 10:30am on a rain-soaked Wednesday, and there’s a steady flow of clients at Robertson’s Hair Center in downtown Traverse City’s historic Masonic Building.

Owner Roger Argue glides nimbly around the chair as he trims the hair of long-time customer Allen... Read More >>

What's Your Issue?

Oct. 29, 2022

With the Nov. 8 election looming, Northern Express reached out to several northern Michigan organizations to ask their opinions on what issues their members felt were important. We asked them to share their thoughts on local, regional, or statewide concerns.With the Nov. 8 electi... Read More >>

Bringing the Border Closer to Home

Oct. 8, 2022

Some years ago, a young woman born in Mexico and raised in Traverse City since the age of six stood in the Northwestern Michigan College admissions office of Jim Bensley.

With tears in her eyes, the student explained she was living in TC under a family visa, which had expire... Read More >>

A Bridge to the Past

Sept. 24, 2022

Northern Michigan is home to a wide variety of historic bridges, some very high profile and others tucked away from the public eye. Whether you’re a pontist—aka someone who loves bridges—or just a casual appreciator of these feats of creativity and engineering, read on f... Read More >>

General Stores of the North

Sept. 17, 2022

While many NoMi residents would delight if a Trader Joe’s came north of Grand Rapids, we also know we’re pretty darn lucky to have some amazing general stores in our backyard. These shops stock everything from baseball caps to fresh cherries to decadent cappuccinos, all with a... Read More >>