Upper Peninsula concert series expands below the bridge
The series dates back to 1968, presenting music inspired by stories and exploring how music and art carry history and impact our present and future.
Erica Hobbs's Latest Articles
The Art of the Harvest: Cultivating community through farming and creativity
Traverse City-based Crosshatch has been working since 2005 to create thriving rural communities rooted in vibrant culture and strong farming economies.
Wheatland Music Festival brings arts and community to Remus
In rural Mecosta County, the annual Wheatland Music Festival offers "a break from our world," showcasing a variety of music, dance, and juried arts and crafts. The beloved festival also gives back to the community, which has been part of its mission since its humble beginnings 50-plus years ago.
Growing healthy eaters: MSU Extension initiative helps daycare providers serve healthy food
MSU Extension's early childhood health initiative, Growing Healthy Eaters, is helping home childcare providers serve healthy foods while teaching kids about community agriculture and gardening with a concept of “farm to early childhood education.”
Commongrounds uses co-op model to serve missing needs of the community
Traverse City's Commongrounds is a mixed-use building, offering affordable housing, co-working space, a coffee shop, child education center, and performance venue. It's the first real estate cooperative in northern Michigan.
Michigan’s first commercial elderberry farm offers u-pick, market and more
Elderberry Farms Estate -- Michigan's first commercial elderberry farm -- grows elderberries, blueberries, lavender, herbs and more. The 14-acre farm outside Traverse City also has a small market and cafe.
U-pick flower farms blooming across Michigan
U-pick flower farms are sprouting up across Michigan, part of the state's flourishing agritourism industry. Consumers like picking fresh, local flowers and farmers like the additional revenue source.
Detroit artist Bakpak Durden’s mural is the latest barn art in Port Austin project
The newest installation in Port Austin's popular barn art project is a mural by Detroit artist Bakpak Durden. The work, “Confronting Loneliness,” was inspired by the poems of Port Austin poet Jane Mayes.
White Lake council boosts rural access to the arts
A group of mothers in the White Lake area came together to create their own arts organization when they couldn't find anything local for their children. Today, the Arts Council of White Lake -- Nuveen Center is a vibrant arts center for the community, offering classes, programming, music, exhibits and other events.
Preparing for disaster: Community Foundation of St. Clair County creates fund for catastrophes
Disasters are not common in Michigan but there have been a memorable few in the past several years. With that in mind, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County has initiated a fund to meet the immediate needs like housing, food and medical care and also to help long-term recovery efforts.
