Read Michigan's First Memorial Day, a special feature from Michigan History Magazine, and have a safe and FUN weekend!!

Michigan Cottage Fever
The Detroit News has an in-depth feature on a Michigan tradition -- summer cottages. Thanks to Michigan's proximity to the Great Lakes and its 11,000 inland lakes, our state has 234,000 cottages or vacation homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The article looks at various folks' cottages and gives links to rental sites for those of us not fortunate enough to own a vacation getaway.
Absolute Michigan Lodging & Travel Section

Podcast Previews for Fuse-In Detroit
For the past five years the annual electronic music festival has taken over the city of Detroit on Memorial Day weekend. This year, Ann Arbor's MediaRica will offer audio previews that display navigational information including names of artists, venue and address, and time the artist is playing on your MP3 player. Via the Great Lakes IT Report.
Read Fuse-In charges on in the Detroit News

Michigan Tourism Information a Hot Commodity
Travel Michigan reports that interest in Michigan tourism destinations has reached an all-time high -- a record 31,986 visitors went to michigan.org on May 25, 2005 to find information on Michigan travel and tourism. Visitors spend $16 billion annually traveling in Michigan, generating $853 million in state taxes. More than 182,000 people are employed in Michigan's tourism industry.

State Biomass Energy Program Offers Funding
The Michigan Biomass Energy Program (MBEP) is offering financial assistance to public and non-profit organizations to support workshops or events that increase public awareness about energy or fuel derived from Michigan biomass resources. Biomass is any organic matter available on a renewable basis, such as agricultural crops and crop residues, wood and wood waste, and municipal solid waste.

US 2 to be Heavily Patrolled This Summer
The Soo Evening News has a piece that will be of interest to those planning on driving in the Upper Peninsula this summer. The stretch of US-2 from St. Ignace to Rapid River has developed a reputation as "The Highway of Death" due to frequent fatalities. State & local police plan to heavily patrol using standard radar, laser radar and even airplanes to enforce the speed limit.

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Michigan History Magazine tells us that on May 26, 1927, the Ford Motor Company ceased production of the Model T. In totally unrelated news, Absolute Michigan senior staff reported sighting multiple fireflies last night!

DEQ to Regulate Groundwater Withdrawals
Associated Press writer John Flesher reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will reverse long-standing state policy and regulate future groundwater withdrawals that would change the size of an inland lake, stream or river. The announcement will reverse long-standing state policy not to regulate such things.

Michigan's Tax Code Blasted by GM
The Detroit News reports that a General Motors official told lawmakers Wednesday that Michigan has the worst business tax code of all the states where GM operates. If Granholm's tax plan passes, it would save GM several million dollars but the automaker still pay more taxes than in any other state.

Travel Guide to Northern Michigan
Today's Detroit Free Press has a primer on Northern Michigan with attractions including Mackinac Island (and offbeat ones like Shell City & Dinosaur Gardens), museums including the Mackinac Bridge Museum, hiking trails like the High Banks trail on the Au Sable, waterfalls, great boat trips and more.

Boat Destinations Need More than Docks
The Port Huron Times Herald reports that boating and tourism experts say that a successful boating destination requires more than just boat slips -- places to eat, activities on shore and easy access to essential boating needs are also key factors. The article provides an excellent overview of how boating impacts Michigan's economy.

Dogs Get Cherry-Powered Arthritis Relief
The Detroit Free Press has a brief article on Hip Bones, a dog treat made from cherries and other natural ingredients. Research has shown that cherries contain antioxidants, which can relieve inflammation caused by arthritis. "We thought that with all the things that have been done with cherries, nothing's been done for the animal companion," said Michelle White of the Leland Cherry Company.
Leland Cherry Company web site

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It's been quite a week. Sorry for the sporadic and late posting!

Michigan Week - May 21-27, 2005
The State of Michigan's Department of History, Arts & Libraries has a comprehensive guide to Michigan Week, the annual salute to the best Michigan has to offer in culture, tourism, natural resources, educational opportunities, manufacturing. Items include history, events & programs and the Great Traditions Culture Tour (with county event links).
Also see Michigan Week Great Traditions Culture Tour

Women's Water Walk Around Lake Huron
The Grand Rapids Press reports that three American Indian women from Thunder Bay, Ontario are circling Lake Huron on foot to call attention to threats to the Great Lakes that include pollution, oil drilling and water diversion. The 5,000-mile Women's Water Walk is scheduled to end in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., in early June and reach the Mackinac Bridge this weekend.
Mother Earth Water Walk Web Site

More info on keweenawnow.com

Making Summer Dreams Come True for Kids
The Detroit Free Press has a feature about their Children First initiative that helps to provide safe summer fun for more than 30,000 youngsters. The article links to many southeast Michigan camps and organizations and gives you a way to help the children and the organizations.

MDOT Suspends Some Road Construction for Memorial Day
The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced that they are suspending 57 of 183 currently active Michigan road projects construction projects in an effort to ease Memorial Day Weekend travel. The release also lists major roads with construction ongoing that makes it worth a look for travellers!

Moose on the Loose in Marquette
The Mining Journal reports that a yearling moose is wandering around the city of Marquette (shades of Northern Exposure??). Story includes some photos!

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Summer grilling recipes including Salmon stuffed with pesto -- Mmmmm.

Ice Mountain Permit Exemption Was in Error
The Detroit Free Press reports that the State of Michigan's attorneys have admitted that the state was in error for failing to require an environmental permit for the controversial Ice Mountain water-bottling plant. The position reverses a course set in 2001 when regulators deemed the plant exempt, and it sets the stage for tougher oversight of groundwater use.

Soaring Retirement Costs Push Communities to the Brink
The Detroit News reports that Metro communities are facing billions of dollars in costs for medical benefits for retirees -- costs that could push many communities to the limits of their financial abilities (or beyond). Retiree health care costs have grown between 10% and 20% annually in recent years.

Sandhill Crane Causing Trouble for Farmers
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium reports that the Eastern population of sandhill cranes has grown so large that they're becoming a problem in some places and there's talk of starting a hunting season for cranes.

Michigan Books for Young Readers
The Detroit Free Press has a feature on several books for young readers with Michigan ties including "When the Great Lakes Drained Away" by author/illustrator Charles Ferguson Barker (Mackinac Island Press). The story (with foreward by Gov. Jennifer Granholm) is a cautionary environmental tale that stresses how great a treasure our great lakes are by imagining what would happen if we lost them.

Michigan Laptop Program
The Heartland Institute (a conservative think tank) takes on on Michigan's student and teacher laptop program. Freedom to Learn has relied primarily on federal funding and school district contributions. This March, Senator Valde Garcia introduced a bill to appropriate $3.7 million in state money and $5 million in federal funds to continue the program. Granholm didn't include it in her 2006 budget.

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