Community Calendar

"Was My William Smith in the Civil War?" with Brian Rhinehart

Over ten percent of the US population fought in the Civil War in the 1860s. Using (mostly) free resources, learn some tips on how to determine if your ancestor was in the war, and how to differentiate among those common named soldiers.

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.

For more information about this event, please click here.

Directions:
Please meet us at the Conservation Center, located within the Mitchell Creek Meadows Nature Preserve. A maps link to the meeting location can be found here. Park by the main building and we will meet you inside the front entrance.

Registration is appreciated but is not required. Cancellations due to a variety of reasons will be communicated with registered participants via email.

Thank you for your interest in joining us! If you have any questions, please contact Erica DesJardins at edesjardins@gtrlc.org or 231-929-7911 (ext. 316).

Join East Bay Corners Farmers Market on Thursdays from 2:00–6:00 PM at the East Bay Township Offices (1965 N. 3 Mile Road, Traverse City).

Shop fresh local produce, baked goods, handmade items, and more while connecting with neighbors and supporting regional farmers and small businesses.

The market proudly accepts SNAP/EBT benefits and participates in the Grand Traverse County Senior Produce Program to help make fresh, local food accessible to all.

Be sure to visit our calendar for special events happening each week at the market!

Come hang out with us for live music. We'll be serving wine, seasonal cocktails, cider, coffee, and tapas-style small plates to share. Bring your crew or show up solo — Dune Bird is that kind of place.

This is a free event — no reservation required. Seating is first come, first served.

Please check our social media for the most up-to-date event information.

Designed for first-time memoirists working on a book-length project for public readers, this workshop explores the two-strand structure behind many successful memoirs. We'll review model memoirs, apply the ideas to your work, and share with the group. Come with an idea or draft and leave with a clearer roadmap for your story. Registration required.

Carolyn Wilson-Scott is a freelance editor and Managing Editor for the online literary magazine Oyster River Pages. She also facilitates women's writing retreats in Costa Rica and has taught and edited memoirs for students and private clients, and reviewed them for Foreword Reviews.

Join Conservation Resource Alliance, Kalkaska County, and project partners for a public open house to learn more about the Rugg Pond Dam Removal, River Restoration, & Hanson Road Stream Crossing Project.

Rugg Pond and the Rapid River are important natural and community resources in Kalkaska County. As planning moves forward for the removal of the Rugg Pond Dam and restoration of the surrounding river system, we invite community members to learn more about the project, explore findings from recent survey and engineering work, ask questions, and share ideas for the future of this special place.

The open house will provide an opportunity to connect directly with project partners and learn about the many considerations guiding the project—from dam safety and aquatic habitat to recreation, water quality, cultural history, and future public access.

Please click here for more information.

Manistee County Library is partnering with the Vogue Theatre to invite fiber artists to attend a free movie! The lights will be on for this showing so that you can work on your projects. Bring your supplies and we'll provide the popcorn. The Vogue is excited to present "Fried Green Tomatoes" for this Screen and Stitch event. 

Free tickets can be reserved in advance at the Vogue Box Office in Manistee and there will be plenty of seats available if you walk in the morning of the show. This event is intended for adults. 

HEART OF A TREE, SOUL OF A STORM
OPENING RECEPTION: September 25 from 5-7pm

Creative works rooted in a fallen tree and shaped by the 2025 ice storm that changed the landscape.

​​​In the early morning hours of March 29–30, 2025, a beloved 150+year-old, 70-foot-tall Basswood tree fell during a devastating ice storm. Located at Bier Art Gallery and Pottery Studio, just south of Charlevoix in Norwood Township, the tree was a natural landmark—towering, graceful, and deeply rooted in the community.

Charlevoix Circle of Arts invited artists to honor this fallen icon and the ice storm that changed the landscape through works of art. This juried show will feature artwork created directly from the Basswood tree itself, as well as works inspired by the March 2025 ice storm.

​Recognition will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place works as part of the exhibit.

Exhibit will be open during regular business hours:
Monday - Friday 11am to 4pm
Saturdays 11am to 3pm

Celebrate some of the fine folks who grow your food at Oryana’s Meet Your Farmer Night! This family-friendly evening brings together local farmers and our community for a gathering filled with fun, connection, and hometown charm.

Visit farmer booths to meet the faces behind your favorite local foods, and enjoy classic games like cornhole and pin the tail on the donkey. Join us outside the south entrance of Oryana Tenth Street for a celebration of local agriculture, community spirit, and the farmers who help nourish Northern Michigan.

The Fall Women’s Retreat (rescheduled from July) will be held September 25 - 27 on Earthwork Farm. Facilitated by Lisa Franseen, Kelly Kieft and Ashley Murray, women are invited to join us as we seek to connect with one another, the Earth and our inner selves.

It is a rare gift we can give ourselves, to put aside our many roles and make space for oneself. Imagine having uninterrupted time to share your own story, knowing you will be heard and honored.

Together we will engage in “whole-body” participation - sharing our stories, listening deeply to other’s experiences, spending focused time in nature, indulging in something creative, lightly facilitated group discussions, perhaps guided meditation and movement, readings, journaling, and reflective stillness amongst the trees.

When women gather in this way, empowerment happens! With one another’s unconditional support, our authentic selves can emerge and guide us closer toward the life we are here to live, one in line with our values, our heart, and our purpose.