April is National Poetry Month and the Leelanau Township Library in Northport has a series of programs planned to celebrate it. The events will be held every Tuesday evening in April from 7 – 8:30 pm. This Tuesday’s program features Carrie Cantalupo Sharp, Michael Hughes, and Chelsea Marsh. Carrie is a published poet who is working on a hybrid chapbook. Michael’s chapbook, First Risings, was published in 2012. Chelsea has been a writer and judge for the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) Poets Night Out.
April 9 Linda Nemec Foster will read from her 2023 book, “Bone Country, Prose Poems.” She was the first Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids from 2003-5. Information on all of the April programs is available on the library’s website.
I have to admit that I did not know what a chapbook is until I read about this. The history of chapbooks goes back to the 16th century, as soon as printed books became affordable. The early chapbooks were a type of printed street literature. They were small, paper-covered booklets, usually printed on a single sheet folded into books of 8, 12, 16, or 24 pages, and often illustrated with crude woodcuts.
Chapbooks subjects varied greatly, including ballads, poetry, nursery rhymes, and political and religious tracts. The Chapbook genre has been revitalized in the past 40 years, and is a term currently used to denote publications of up to about 40 pages, often poetry.
The Leelanau Township Library also holds a monthly Book Discussion group. The April book is “Island of the Sea Women” by Lisa See, and the discussion is Wednesday, April 24 at 1:30 pm. The discussion is open to anyone, but it is requested that attendees read the book first. Copies are available at the library.
May has several exciting book discussions. The regular Book Discussion Group will be on Wednesday, May 22 at 1:30 pm. The book is “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks.
May also has a special program organized by Leelanau Reads, which is a joint effort by four Leelanau County libraries — Leelanau Township, Suttons Bay-Bingham, Leland, and Empire. The book is ‘“The River We Remember” by William Kent Krueger. Copies of the book are available now at the library. The author, who is from St. Paul, Minnesota will be here in person on Saturday, May 18. He will be speaking at the Northport Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m., there will be a special discussion of the book at the Leelanau Township Library.
We were very sorry to learn of the death of former Omena summer resident Bill Knorp this past week at his home in Auburn, California. After Bill graduated from Walla Walla University, he moved to San Francisco where he met his wife, Judy Walton, a University of Michigan graduate and Traverse City native. They settled in Auburn, and raised their family there. Judy introduced Bill to this area, and they eventually bought a house in Omena. Judy and their son and daughter, Andy and Becky, came in the summer, with Bill getting here as much as he could from California. Their son, Andy, and several friends from California, worked harvest in the Smith Orchard for a couple of years.
Bill and Judy loved sailing, tennis, and being with friends in Omena. After Bill retired, they spent about half the year here. Judy preceded him in death in 2017. Many Omena residents, who moved here after the Knorps, remember them as warm and welcoming neighbors, who instantly made them feel like they belonged. Bill had a great sense of humor, and was always fun to be around. He was also a caring and helpful community member. He held many volunteer positions at the Omena Traverse Yacht Club, and served as Commodore.
Our sympathies go to his family.
There is a seminar this coming Wednesday, April 3, to learn about the Early Childhood Millage, which is up for renewal in August. The seminar is available in person at the Suttons Bay High School or virtually via Zoom from 7 – 8 p.m. The Millage was originally passed five years, and this seminar will provide information on how the funding has been used. The Benzie Leelanau District Health Department (BLDHD) has used the funding to provide needed services for children up to 6 years old. The services are provided primarily through the Parenting Communities Program.
Information on how to register for the virtual seminar can be found in a story below. No registration is required for the in-person seminar.
Happy Birthday this week to mother and daughter, Kathy Browning and Lauren Browning. Happy Birthday also to Pat Bourdo, Chris Orsello, Ed Hallett, Dan Ziegeler, Kelsey Wick Hood, Heidi Biederman, and Linda Kemper.
Happy Anniversary to Shep and Sandy Tate.
