Community Calendar

Thomas Joseph from Torch Lake Protection Alliance (TLPA) will be sharing a summary of the KTLB Project, the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on Torch Lake.

It started in 2022 after repeated concerns of persistent benthic algae were raised, leading TLPA to sign a contract with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to define the water quality of Torch Lake. The findings from this study will have broad implications for the greater Chain of Lakes, as this amazing water resource requires protection and care for future generations. USGS is working to complete and publish the final report in late 2026 or early 2027.

Free Program. Held at Helena Twp. Community Center 8751 Helena Rd, Alden. Sponsored by Alden District Library, 231-331-4318

The League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area, in partnership with the Traverse City Record-Eagle, will host a public information program on local ballot proposals for Grand Traverse County and Traverse City. The evening will include the opportunity to ask questions of representatives from the taxing jurisdictions. We will also share information on how to better understand your property tax bills and the voting process.

This is not a debate or a forum featuring opposing viewpoints. Instead, each ballot proposal will be explained in clear, factual terms, including what it would do, its expected costs and benefits, and how it could affect a homeowner's tax bill. A question-and-answer session will follow each presentation. Questions may be submitted in advance to info@lwvgta.org or in writing during the event.

Join the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a presentation followed by Q&A with GTRLC’s Chris Garrock, Brett Fessell of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Christine Crissman of The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay and DJ Shook of Conservation Resource Alliance.

Once featured in National Geographic’s 1996 article “Our Polluted Runoff,” the impaired Mitchell Creek Meadows watershed is experiencing a comeback, thanks to a robust partnership with our community partners: Conservation Resource Alliance, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and The Watershed Center.

Come and hear a story about what’s possible when partners bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources to a shared conservation goal.

For more information, please click here.

This event is part of our 2026 Priority Landscapes Learning Series.

Please note that food will not be served; we recommend that you plan to grab a bite before or after joining us.

Plant It Wild hosts a panel discussion covering lawn regulations in municipalities, Home Owner Associations, and Condo Associations. How can the rules be changed to encourage native plant habitats to expand in our communities. Bring your questions, ideas, and successes!

To join on Zoom, go to Plantitwild.net and join the mailing list.

Venture onto the high seas with the latest from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia. This sweeping historical adventure was inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people.

Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon’s new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became “the Pirate Queen of Ireland.”

Lawhon will be joined in conversation with NWS host Audrey Irontree. Lawhon is an award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have been Good Morning America, LibraryReads, and One Book One County selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

For more information, please click here.

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.

Dr. Carl Palazzolo, a wildlife veterinarian for over 47 years, will be giving a presentation on his book "The Comeback of our National Symbol in Michigan." The 200 page, hard-cover coffee table book with 174 photos, was 10 years in the making. In his presentation you will see beautiful photos of bald eagles, and learn about the biology of our national symbol, along with behind-the-scenes pictures and stories on how they are cared for medically and surgically.

The proceeds of sales will go to the rehabbers and other behind-the-scenes people that do so much of the work to care for injured wildlife.

Demo Rinpoche is a Tibetan incarnate Lama recognized by the Dali lama and now the spiritual director of jewel heart Tibetan learning center in Ann Arbor MI. He is Traveling to Traverse city to give a free public talk on applying Buddhist wisdom in everyday life to make our lives more meaningful.

What if an art space didn’t have to be a gallery, theater, or museum?

Living rooms, vacant storefronts, barns, community spaces, and other unexpected places can create new opportunities for artists and audiences to connect. This Caffeinated Conversation invites participants to expand our thinking about where art can happen and explore the potential for non-traditional art spaces across Northwest Michigan.

Facilitated by Katrina Daniels, the conversation will draw inspiration from successful examples of alternative art spaces while inviting participants to imagine possibilities within their own communities. This is a collaborative conversation, not a presentation. Come ready to share ideas, learn from others, and imagine new places for art to take root across our region.

This session is designed for:
Artists and creative workers
Art & culture professionals / administrators
Community leaders and organizers
Anyone curious about creating new spaces for art

Workshop is free but must register to attend.

Join the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a presentation followed by Q&A with Claire Herman, land protection specialist, and Matt Cowall, executive director of the Traverse City and Garfield Township Recreational Authority.

Have you ever wondered how the Conservancy decides which land to protect?

GTRLC land protection specialist Claire Herman will present our Priority Landscapes Atlas (PLA)--a sophisticated mapping tool we developed that allows us to take a data-driven approach to identifying and protecting priority lands.

FOr more information about this event, please click here.

This event is part of GTRLC's 2026 Priority Landscapes Learning Series.

Please note that food will not be served; we recommend that you plan to grab a bite before or after joining us.