Brian Confer
Not so long ago, Northport’s school was emptying, its septics were overflowing and too many For Sale signs seemed stuck in the ground for good. Town folk in this picket-fence village at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula thought their leafy neighborhoods, sandy Lake Michigan beach, picturesque marina and Norman Rockwell-esque downtown were too good to let decay. So they got to work. As of late last year, a downtown sewer is underway. Sweeter yet is the new promise that every child who graduates from Northport Public School (after attending four years) will go to college in Michigan for free. It’s called the Northport Promise, and if you don’t believe us, go to northportpromise.com.