Ross Boissoneau | Author

The Land of Opportunity

Sept. 23, 2023

Be brave. Take a big swing. Go big or go home.

Randy Mann has a better idea: Go big and go home. The owner and developer at Great Lakes Land Company sells estate-size parcels, perfect for those who want to build a home that provides them with some space and privacy, while... Read More >>

Employees Are Calling the Shots

Sept. 9, 2023

The field of human resources is ever-evolving, and that’s never been more true than in the years following the onset of the pandemic. Remote and/or hybrid work has become more prevalent and accepted than ever before, and the last three-plus years have seen increases in pay and great... Read More >>

Waterfront Field of Dreams

Sept. 2, 2023

If you rebuild it, they will come back. That’s the plan in Boyne City, where a group of dedicated volunteers are working hard to refurbish the Little League baseball field on the shores of Lake Charlevoix dubbed the Waterfront Field of Dreams.

“The goal is to maintain ... Read More >>

Welcome to the Childcare Desert

Aug. 26, 2023

While it may be home to dozens of lakes, bays, and rivers, much of northern Michigan is a desert. No, not the kind with cacti and camels—a childcare desert.

Lest that sound overly dramatic, that is exactly how the situation is described by those in the industry. In fact, Mic... Read More >>

Capturing the Magic of Live Music

Aug. 5, 2023

When guitarist Rick Kiehle and pianist David Chown met through the Northwestern Michigan College jazz program, they forged a musical connection. Chown’s friend and longtime cohort Charlie Tomlin had passed away, and he was looking for another guitarist for his variety band, The Look... Read More >>

Extending a Hand to the Community

July 29, 2023

It’s 193 miles from Suttons Bay to East Lansing. Frankfort is 184 miles away, Gaylord is 171, and Traverse City clocks in at 180.

Yet the resources and expertise of Michigan State University are here in our communities, thanks to MSU Extension.

MSU Extension dates ba... Read More >>

Culinary Rookies of the Year

July 22, 2023

When new owners take over established restaurants, things change. Sometimes it’s décor, other times it’s a completely new menu or concept. Perhaps it just means reopening a shuttered establishment. Or maybe the new owner respects the restaurant and clientele so much tha... Read More >>

The Alternative to the Marina

July 8, 2023

Michigan is known as the water wonderland, and indeed northern Michigan is a boater’s paradise. But if you don’t have a house on the water or a slip in a marina—many of which have waiting lists of 10+ years—paradise comes with all the hassles of readying the boat, ... Read More >>

“Rock Transcends the Constraints of Time”

July 8, 2023

Many bands find that as they mature, members want to take a shot at a solo career. That’s been the case for everyone from Phish to Yes to the Moody Blues.

Lawrence Gowan of Styx did the opposite.

The classically-trained keyboardist had a successful solo career before... Read More >>

The Kindred Old Souls of Pop, Rock, and Everything Else

June 24, 2023

It’s a sunny forecast for summer, at least as far as Postmodern Jukebox is concerned. The ensemble will perform at Bay View’s John M. Hall Auditorium July 1, bringing its unique spin to hits of today and yesterday as part of the aptly-named “Life in the Past Lane” ... Read More >>

Summer Sounds Abound

June 24, 2023

The rolling hills Up North are alive with the sound of music. So too are the valleys, woods, city centers, and parks. The beaches and the concert halls. Not to mention the distilleries, wineries, breweries, restaurants, bars, and on and on. 

That’s right—when the ... Read More >>

How Many Hotels (and Short-Term Rentals) Does Traverse City Need?

June 10, 2023

Northwestern Lower Michigan has long been attractive to vacationers. The Campbell House, which was eventually replaced by the Park Place Hotel, was the first hotel aimed at the tourist market when it was built in 1873. Others soon followed. Today, there are more than 1,000 guest rooms in ... Read More >>

Festival Season Is Coming...Are You Ready for It?

May 27, 2023

Spring is in the air, and the calendar is quickly turning toward summer. In northern Michigan, that means we’ll soon be hearing melodies emanating from music festivals, smelling cherry pie, and hearing the boom of fireworks.

In short, ’tis the season for the many festi... Read More >>

The Post-Prison Job Market

May 13, 2023

Navigating life after prison can be tough, especially when job hunting. Many formerly incarcerated people face stigmas and hiring prejudice based on their past crimes, and Vice reports that “[a]ccording to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three Americans–over ... Read More >>

What’s the Story with Apartments?

April 29, 2023

It’s no secret there’s a need for housing everywhere across northern Michigan. Areas such as Leelanau County and Boyne City are white-hot, with homes selling within days of being listed, and the rest of the region isn’t far behind.

During the Great Recession, the... Read More >>

Celebrating Mother Earth

April 15, 2023

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans rallied and railed against the pollution and environmental impacts of indiscriminate industrial development. That first Earth Day spawned an environmental movement that continues to this day.

The one-day event has grown in stature and in len... Read More >>

Old Guys on Dirt Bikes (Their Words!)

April 8, 2023

When you’re young, it’s fun to hit the trails on a motorbike, flying around corners, soaring over tree roots, zipping between trees, and just having a blast. That fun can continue as riders zoom into middle age and beyond—like those still doing it in their 60s, 70s, even... Read More >>

Experience the Mystery

March 18, 2023

’Tis the season for mysterious and spooky fun. No, it’s not Halloween, and there are no headless horsemen or Great Pumpkins rising from the pumpkin patch. But thanks to the fascinating histories and spooky legends of northern Michigan, it’s always the season for explorin... Read More >>

Downtown Sound

Feb. 18, 2023

The sounds of Americana, blues, sweet vocal harmonies, Afro-Cuban jazz—they’re all part of the Downtown Sound Performing Arts Series at Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) in Petoskey. From touring artists to Mitten Smitten performers—musicians who call the Mitten State home... Read More >>

39 Years of Gopherwood Concerts

Feb. 4, 2023

Gopherwood Concerts, a long-running music series in Cadillac, began as a film guild in the 1980s before being “killed” by “the advent of the VCR.” It then morphed into the Gopherwood Folk Society, which had the goal of bringing great music to town. The name, per th... Read More >>