Almanac

The mission of SCUBAnauts International is to educate teens in the marine sciences, enabling them to make a positive impact on the environment and empowering them to become tomorrow’s leaders. Florida and Georgia teens work hard all year to train as Scientific Divers and contribute to impactful marine research.

Past projects range from coral restoration to seagrass monitoring to dive physiology studies. This week, five Nauts are visiting Thunder Bay to document shipwrecks, participate in marine debris surveys and collection, and analyze water quality as part of the Sanctuary’s broader freshwater acidification study. These students have been in the program for several years and have spent the last three months preparing to dive in cold water. Come hear what they have accomplished so far and what they hope to accomplish this week!

Doors open at 5:30pm and the lecture begins at 6pm. This is a free event, open to all, that takes place in the theater of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

Looking to practice your French language skills, but don't have anyone to talk to? Please plan to join us every first Wednesday for a casual conversation group. All levels are welcome!

Just steps from the bonfire circle, guests can peer into the cosmos at Leelanau’s own Lanphier Observatory. Featuring a 14-foot Celestron telescope and guided by local expert Norm Wheeler and Leelanau faculty member Elizabeth Wolterink, these stargazing nights offer breathtaking views and constellation storytelling for curious minds of all ages.

Summer 2025 Schedule (10 PM–Midnight, weather permitting):

June: 25, 26

July: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 30, 31

August: 6, 13, 14, 20, 21

Admission: Adults $5 | Students $4

Location & Access:
All guests may park in any Leelanau School lot and walk the scenic boardwalk across the Crystal River to reach the bonfire circle or Lanphier Observatory. Adventurous visitors may also walk in along the beach. The observatory is easily spotted nestled between the lakeshore and trees.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF LONG LAKE - A Farmers Market will be held at Haywood Park, due east of the Long Lake Township Hall at 8870 N Long Lake Rd, Traverse City, Michigan 49685 near the Bocce Ball Courts. The Market will be open Thursdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm from June 5th to October 2nd.

We are excited to create a community-based market that celebrates the historic agricultural traditions of Long Lake Township while providing opportunities for Long Lake residents and the surrounding community to buy and sell locally grown and produced products.

If you would like to participate, please email us at welcome@longlaketownship.com, call us at (231)946-2249, or stop by the township hall. Also, we will continuously be accepting vendor applications. If you are interested in being a vendor, please visit the township website or stop by for more information and an application.

Help us restore and protect the incredible dune and forest ecosystems of the Maple Bay Natural Area and the connected Petobego State Game Area through invasive plant removal! Native wildflowers, mushrooms, trees, and shrubs that rely on this healthy habitat are currently under threat of being displaced by aggressive invasive plants, such as spotted knapweed.

GTRLC will supply gloves and any tools necessary for the work session. We will teach you everything you need to know about tool use, safety, healthy habitats, and the importance of the work you will be doing. No prior experience necessary - just come ready to learn something new! This activity is moderately strenuous, with volunteers often bending and kneeling to pull or dig out plants.

Porta johns are available at the parking area.

A link for directions is on our website.

Join us at Crooked Tree Arts Center – Petoskey every Thursday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM in the Gilbert Gallery for Coffee @ Ten! Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries from Roast & Toast while attending engaging lectures and presentations by experts from a wide range of fields. These weekly events are designed to inspire curiosity, promote community connection, and support lifelong learning. Free and open to the public – all are welcome!

Learn more and view the full schedule at: https://crookedtree.org/article/ctac-petoskey/lecture-series or call 231-347-4337.

Ben Traverse will perform family-friendly folk tunes, for music lovers young and old.

https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11601311

The League of Women Voters of Leelanau County, Suttons Bay Community Church and Versiti will hold a Blood Drive on Thursday, July 3 from 12:30 to 5:00 pm in the Lower Level Community Meeting Room of the Leelanau County Government Center.

*When the temperature goes up, the blood supply tends to go down. Schools are closed, families are on vacation, but local patients are still in need. Blood on the shelves TODAY saves lives TOMORROW. Donate blood ASAP to meet the high demand.

*You can donate blood every 56 days. If just 1% more Americans donated blood, shortages would disappear.

*Freedom courses through your veins - so does kindness for your fellow Americans. Save the lives of your neighbors in need: donate blood. (We can't promise fireworks, but we'll ooh and aah for you just the same.)

How to Donate

Donating blood takes about an hour and has the potential to save up to three lives.
Anyone age 16 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, click on the link above, call (866) 642-5663 or visit versiti.org/mi. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
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Every year the Conservancy sends out appeals for support to further our mission of protecting land, and every year we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of our donors. We have found that spending time writing simple yet personal “thank you” notes for our donors is a fantastic way to share our appreciation.

GTRLC will provide all materials for writing “thank you” notes, but please feel free to bring your own writing utensil if you prefer.

Directions: Please meet us at the Conservation Center at Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve. Park in any designated space and come in the front entrance. We’ll meet you there and put you to work!

The purpose of the East Bay Corners Farmers Market is to provide fresh and locally grown products, educate the public on the importance of farming best practices, promote local agriculturally based business development, forge partnerships with local farmers and community partners, and create a community gathering space at the Township Hall. East Bay Corners Farmers Market accepts SNAP/EBT benefits and also offers a Power of Produce program for kids ages 5-13. There is family-friendly programming throughout the summer including live music, food trucks, and family game nights. It is a great night out for the whole family.

The Market will open on June 5, 2025 and run until October 2, 2025. It will be held on Thursdays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Township Hall at 1965 N. 3 Mile Road Traverse City, MI 49696. More information about the East Bay Corners Farmers Market and other Food Security programs can be found on the East Bay Township website by visiting: https://eastbaytwp.org/residents/food_security.php