The wind stopped blowing ... now it'll start snowing!

Every Hundred Days Today!
Today the staff of Leelanau.com will spend the entire day creating a new web site for the Manitou Music Festival. We hope that you will follow our progress and post comments in the Five Things You Need to Know Blog.

Land Bank Helps Flint Redevelopment
The Michigan Land Use Institute has an in-depth article exploring how Genesee County is using new state laws to redevelop abandoned properties in the city of Flint. The Land Bank Fast Track Authority legislation allows people to acquire abandoned property more quickly. It also enables township, city, and county governments to assemble and redevelop large amounts of long-abandoned property.

George Weeks Reflects on Watkins School Issues Report
Detroit News columnist George Weeks writes that while State School Superintendent of Education Tom Watkins raised a stir with the report titled "Structural Issues Surrounding Michigan School Funding in the 21st Century", his position that the state's public education system needs major reform is right on.

Olympic Education Center at NMU to Host Speedskating Championships
The Associated Press reports that the National Speedskating Short Track Championships, which will determine who represents the United States during the 2006 Winter Olympics, are scheduled for December 12-16, 2005 at the Berry Events Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University.

Kayak for a Cure, Kayakers to Attempt Lake Michigan Crossing
The Grand Rapids Press reports that Bill Beland and 9 others plan to kayak 90 miles across Lake Michigan this August to raise at least $25,000 and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

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