GLEN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Northwestern Lower Michigan businesses have been donating money and manpower to clean up and plant new trees after the area was hit by severe storms earlier this month.
Specialty food retailer Cherry Republic has raised $30,000 through its "Bring the Arbor Back to Glen Arbor" campaign. Half of that is from the business, which has been matching donations, MLive.com reported recently.
Owner Bob Sutherland said he aims to put the proceeds toward cleanup work and planting trees in affected areas, both in and out of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - which was particularly hard-hit.
"It's a very small business group so we can get things done," Sutherland said, adding that Glen Arbor was named after its canopy of trees that's less lush these days. "We are working off the cuff. We just know there are a lot open spaces we aren't used to."
Other participating businesses include the M-22 store, which is donating $10 from the sale of every "Love Michigan" Glen Arbor shirt to help employees whose vehicles were damaged in the Aug. 2 storm. Great Lakes Tea & Spice helped clear the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.
The M-22 store, Crystal River Outfitters and The Cyclery organized a group that cut and cleared fallen trees along Crystal River so the waterway could reopen for boaters.
The storms uprooted trees, snapped branches and caused other damage at some of the state's most popular tourist spots. Gov. Rick Snyder declared states of disaster for Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties, making state aid available.
Published: Wed, Aug 26, 2015
