This weekend head to the beach to experience the very popular and fast growing sport of Stand-Up Paddling for yourself.

Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak in Empire invites you to celebrate International Surfing Day this Saturday (Jun 20). The day begins with a cleanup of Empire Beach at 10 AM. At noon, the C4 Waterman manufactures rep will share his boards and knowledge from 12-4 PM with anyone wanting to try the very popular and fast growing sport of Stand-Up Paddling. There will be Current Designs kayaks to demo as well! At the end of the day, enjoy some free cake & ice cream for all participants to celebrate International Surfing Day & itty’s 10th birthday. Meet at the beautiful Empire Public Beach at 10 in the morning to commence the clean-up and for more info call Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak at (231) 326-WAVE (9283). Learn more about standup paddle surfing via Michigan in Pictures.

Sunday June 21st from 12pm-4pm Crystal Lake Adventure Sports will host a Stand-Up Paddle and Surf Demo plus a Pulled Pork BBQ! The Surftech reps will be on hand with dozens of the hottest boards to try from Standup Paddleboards to Surfboards. Come experience them for yourself. For more information please contact Crystal Lake Adventure Sports, Main St. Frankfort 231 352 4574

Wilma Kuerth didn’t mince words when asked about Benzie Bus, Benzie County’s increasingly popular transportation system.

Kuerth, 87, enjoyed a meal with friends one recent morning at The Gathering Place in Honor. Within minutes she’d board a Benzie Bus, and she couldn’t say enough good things about the system.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Kuerth, who lives near Honor. “It’s the best thing that’s ever happened in Benzie County.”

Benzie Bus has experienced a surge in riders since it began operations in January 2007. It tallied nearly 70,000 one-way passenger rides in 2008, Executive Director Susan Miller said, up from about 40,000 in 2007.

Read the rest of that article for information about their plans which include seeking federal stimulus grants. The Benzie Bus web site explains:

More than 10 years ago a group of citizens in Benzie County began to hold monthly meetings to discuss the need for public transportation in their community.  In February of 2005 they officially launched the Benzie Bus Initiative.  One of the Initiative’s goals was to help the county’s economic growth.  Public transportation not only takes workers to their workplace, but a public bus connects residents, visitors and consumers to local businesses and other places of recreation which is vital to the area economy.  The Benzie Bus Initiative also knew that affordable and consistent transporation would improve educational opportunities in both schools and workplace.  Creating this link gives more people access to job training, increased educational and employment opportunities, and social service programs such as Welfare to Work.

In April of 2006 the Benzie County Board of Commissioners formed the Benzie Transportation Authority and appointed 10 county residents to direct the independent body.  Through multiple meetings and a grassroots approach to gain support, voters approved the 0.5 millage request- 58% yes, 42% no.  Turnout was 34%, which was double the turnout in the previous primary election and it was the first time in Michigan’s history that a public transportation ballot had passed on the first attempt.  In January 2007, the Benzie Bus became a reality, and opened its doors to the public.

Photo: Bike racks, included! from the Benzie Bus.

Sustainable greenhouse systems, year-round farmers markets and winter CSA programs are cropping up all over cold, cloudy northern Michigan, extending the short growing season and making it possible for locavores to get their greens — and other veggies — all year long.

One of the first in the region to go year-round, the Frankfort Farmers Market is offering fresh produce, along with honey, maple syrup, meat, eggs and other products, from its new winter site at the city-owned Recreation Center.

Market Master Cindy Lannin said the market at the east end of the waterfront Open Space Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through April before moving back outdoors in May.

“We’ve had very loyal vendors and very loyal customers,” Lannin said. “They just begged us to continue and we started seeing it as a viable option.”

Definitely click through to read the rest for more about other Benzie County and area farmers who are going year-round – at the end, you’ll get a tasty recipe from Chef Eric Patterson of The Cooks’ House for his Classic French Onion Soup Gratinee.

Here’s the Frankfort Farmers Market web site!

The photo is Chili & Co. by Andy McFarlane – check out more tasty treats in his Local Food slideshow!

Please take just a few minutes to fill out your Grand Vision Scorecard right now!  It’s easy, it’s fun, and it is a once in a lifetime chance to have your voice heard on how you would like to see our region grow. Please forward this message on to your family, friends, and neighbors and ask them to participate in The Grand Vision with you! Here’s a video about The Grand Vision if you want to know more: