Art Bukowski | Author

Room for Improvement (and Collaboration)

March 2, 2024

Sometimes Roxane Townsend will feel bold enough to cross Grandview Parkway for a chance to sit by the bay and listen to the waves.

Townsend, 68, is fully blind now, but it wasn’t always that way. She remembers those deep, vivid blues set against the lighter hues of a summer sk… Read More >>

Cults, Survivors, and Red Flags

Feb. 10, 2024

America has long held a deep fascination with cults and out-there religious sects. We wonder how these groups manage to conjure up such power and influence. We watch as people (sometimes those we know and love) fall victim to a potent mix of control and their own deep desire to belong. We b… Read More >>

Inside the Northern Michigan Wedding Industry

Feb. 3, 2024

Northern Michigan and weddings go together like beaches and sand. Our region is again poised for another extremely busy year for those tying the knot—and for the thousands of people who work jobs that support the happy couples.

Beyond saying yes to the dress, some of the bigge… Read More >>

The Man Behind the Curtain

Jan. 20, 2024

Dustin Heger knew that Joe Yuchasz wasn’t making a lot of money.

In fact, there were times when Heger wondered how Yuchasz could even keep things going at the beloved cinema he owned and ran in the heart of downtown Elk Rapids. It was always a popular venue, but even the hotte… Read More >>

More People, More Visits, More Dialogue

Jan. 6, 2024

Resources designed to assist people experiencing homelessness in the region are all under strain in the early days of 2024.

Unhoused people in the Grand Traverse region are assisted by a variety of organizations that meet basic needs, from temporary shelter to assistance with food a… Read More >>

10 Steps to a Healthier Community

Dec. 23, 2023

Northern Michigan is fortunate to have a wide range of people and organizations dedicated to the vitality of our region. While the missions (and sometimes the opinions) differ, everyone shares a common goal of improving the quality of life for those who live or visit our corner of the state… Read More >>

The Cost of Ski Season, From Staffing to Snowmaking and Everything in Between

Dec. 16, 2023

When’s the last time you hit the slopes?

Each season, hundreds of thousands of people visit the dozen northern Michigan ski hills that stretch from Cadillac up to Harbor Springs, and the majority of those skiers come from downstate or farther still. This big rush of folks eage… Read More >>

Northern Michigan: A Distillery Destination

Dec. 2, 2023

Long known for its wine and craft beer scenes, northern Michigan has in the last decade or so also developed a very strong reputation for distilled spirits—products like whiskey, gin, vodka, and more. That’s a direct result of the innovative distilleries that have opened their d… Read More >>

The Hardest Thing to Write...Is a Sequel

Nov. 18, 2023

Nita Prose could feel the pressure building.

Prose’s debut novel, The Maid, became a smash hit after its release early last year. More than one million copies were sold around the world as readers eagerly devoured her engrossing tale of a good-hearted maid (Molly Gray… Read More >>

Healthy Habits for the Colder Season

Nov. 11, 2023

As the days grow shorter and temperatures continue to drop, it’s time to stock up on cold medications, tissues, and cough drops. Fortunately, some of the most important practices that prevent illnesses from spreading are also some of the most basic.

“When it comes to pre… Read More >>

Bringing Mental Health Care Closer to Home

Nov. 4, 2023

It didn’t take long for Megan Tierney to realize her workplace is poised to make a huge impact on the surrounding community.

Tierney is a nurse manager at the new Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center in Cheboygan, part of McLaren Northern Michigan. The facility is designed… Read More >>