Al Parker | Author

Dec. 21, 2019

Every year a dedicated cadre of Kris Kringles man the front lines of the Christmas season. From Thanksgiving to nearly Christmas Eve, these are the Santas that you see in stores, parades, parties and anywhere else a dab of holiday jolliness is required. 

It would be easy ... Read More >>

Kaleva's Christmas Gift

Dec. 14, 2019

One of Kaleva's newest residents is making a 30-foot creative gift to honor her adopted Manistee County home.
        
Mosaic artist Patricia Boucha is donating a large six panel glass display that will illustrate Kaleva's Finnish legacy.... Read More >>

East Jordan's Charles Eisendrath

Dec. 7, 2019

Noted journalist, college professor, inventor and Charlevoix County cherry farmer Charles Eisendrath didn't set out to write a book.
           
“I'd been writing these essays and putting them away in a box,” he... Read More >>

Can One Volunteer Change the World?

Nov. 9, 2019

Carrie Hessler-Radelet came across her life's passion more than 35 years ago during a stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in the island nation of Western Samoa, now known as Samoa. 

“I was living with a host family, and the wife was a 32-year-old woman with eight childr... Read More >>

Miracle on Wheels

Oct. 26, 2019

Camille Frede (pictured above, center) was only 4 years old when her parents, Nancy and Eric Frede, received the devastating news that their daughter would be lucky to live to age 9.

Diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH), young Camille constantly struggled with health problem... Read More >>

Meet the Artist: Colorado’s Bobby MaGee

Oct. 12, 2019

Traverse City's coming display of public art, a colorful mural in the Clinch Park tunnel, will be full of eye-catching images with several splashes of “glyphitti.”
        
“Glyphitti is a form of writing that combines e... Read More >>

A Day in the Life of a B&B Owner

Sept. 28, 2019

The sun is barely peeking over the eastern horizon when Jared Pontius awakes, slips out of bed, and begins his day at the Korner Kottage, the bed and breakfast that he and his wife, Jillian, own and operate.
           
A l... Read More >>

Uncovering — and Restoring — Middle Village History

Sept. 21, 2019

A dedicated team of professional archaeologists and volunteers are in the midst of restoring a unique 150-year-old home in Middle Village, a Native American community near Good Hart.      
        
“This is... Read More >>

New Future for Third Oldest Lighthouse on the Great Lakes

Sept. 21, 2019

Charlevoix County and Networks Northwest have entered into a partnership to buy the historic Beaver Island Lighthouse School property.
        
“This is something that's been in the works for about two years,” explained Charle... Read More >>

Cheboygan’s Big Boom

Sept. 21, 2019

New businesses are sprouting up in Cheboygan like morels after a warm spring rain.
        
“For the past three years, we've had one new business open each month — some are downtown, and some in other parts of the city,”... Read More >>

  The Man Who Saved Our Woods

Aug. 31, 2019

It might seem out of place, and it certainly lives under the radar of tourists and locals alike, but Grayling's W.J. Beal Tree Plantation might be the oldest documented experimental tree plantation in North America. 
        
Situat... Read More >>

Traverse City’s T.J. Phillips Witnessed the Lions’ Last NFL Championship Win

Aug. 31, 2019

“Christmas came twice that week.”

That's how Traverse City resident Thomas “T.J.” Phillips recalls the last time the Detroit Lions won the National Football League Championship, almost 62 years ago.
         <... Read More >>

Harbor Springs teen graduates in June, owns dance studio by July

July 13, 2019

She's danced all over the world and now, at the age of 18, has become owner of her own business, the Beautiful Feet Dance Studio of Harbor Springs.

Amanda Humphrey, who has been teaching at the studio for the past two years, took over as owner this month and will teach classes, of... Read More >>

Service Salute: Sgt. Scott Clark

June 29, 2019

How does a Kalkaska County lawman end up spending up to a year in Eastern Europe, including some time in Dracula's old stomping grounds in Romania?
        
Sgt. Scott Clark is one of 17 Army National Guard firefighters from Michigan depl... Read More >>

21 years ago, a jet preparing for the Cherry Fest Air Show disappeared.

June 29, 2019

As thousands of fudge-toting, cherry-loving tourists and locals crane their necks skyward to watch the National Cherry Festival Air Show, few are likely aware of a tragedy and mystery linked to the event 21 years ago.
           ... Read More >>

Motorheads, Converge!

June 8, 2019

Lovers of classic cars will have plenty of chances to get their fill of tailfins and chrome this summer as northern Michigan hosts shows on an almost-weekly basis. Here’s a listing of some of the most interesting gatherings around the North. 
 
June 8 &am... Read More >>

The Region’s Ode to Easy Ridin’ Just Might be in Interlochen