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Friday, September 23, 2005
Five Things You Need to Know for Friday, September 23, 2005
Michigan History Magazine says Sep 23, 1934, the Portsmouth Ohio Spartans moved to Detroit, were renamed the Lions, and won 9-0. How far we've come William Clay Ford Sr. was inducted to Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Football Hall of Fame.
1,100,000 Acres of Publicly Accessible Land for Sale
The Detroit Free Press reports that 1.1 million acres of publicly accessible Upper Peninsula forest is for sale in two offerings. The deals involve an area 12 times larger than the city of Detroit and involves land that has been used for hiking, berry picking, snowmobiling and off-road vehicle use for years.
Ohio Utilities Urge Lifting Great Lakes Drilling Ban
The Toledo Blade reports that the Ohio's major natural gas utilities yesterday asked Ohio lawmakers to urge Congress to lift their bans on drilling under the Great Lakes, in Alaska wildlife preserves, and along the coastlines. An estimated 1 trillion thousand-cubic-feet of natural gas, enough to potential serve Ohio for 20 years, is under Lake Erie.
Granholm Job Approval at Low, Still Leads DeVos
The Lansing State Journal reports that a poll released Thursday by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA shows just 46% of 600 likely voters polled gave the governor a positive job rating, while 49 percent gave her a negative rating. The poll found she holds a 50%-30% lead over Republican challenger Dick DeVos.
Annual Antique Book & Paper Show in Lansing
The Lansing City Pulse reports that next Sunday (Oct 2), downtown Lansing will host 42nd Annual Michigan Antiquarian Book and Paper Show. Over 90 dealers will be on hand at the Lansing Center with vintage books, postcards, magazines, posters, sports programs, ephemera and more.
Pere Marquette Beach: No Sharks or Jellyfish
The Muskegon Chronicle reports that Muskegon's Pere Marquette Beach is the "Beach Find" in the October issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. The feature says the the 2-mile stretch of sand beach "remains what locals call America's best-kept secret". Muskegon Public Works Director Robert Kuhn listed among the beaches attributes "No jellyfish -- and no sharks."
National Geographic Traveler magazine Thursday, September 22, 2005
Five Things You Need to Know for Thursday, September 22, 2005
News bits: should school start date be up to local districts?, don't forget fall home hygiene, another step taken to stop Canadian trash imports.
Coast Guard Cutter May Become Maritime Museum
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the U.S. House voted unanimously to approve the Coast Guard authorization bill which includes a provision to convey the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw to Cheboygan city and county governments for use as a maritime museum. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill in the next 2 months and the Mackinaw is scheduled to be decommissioned next year.
Coast Guard Icebreakers Photo gallery Jeff Daniels: Musician
The Northern Express has a feature by Rick Coates on Michigan born actor Jeff Daniels and his lesser known career as a singer and songwriter that is worth a read. He will take the stage this Saturday (Sep 24) the City Opera House in Traverse City for the Restoration Recherche III benefit.
City Opera House web site Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea) (follow links from there to Jeff's site for music!) Interview with Wine Shipping Bill Sponsor
Detroit News wine writer Sandra Silfven has an interview with Rep. Chris Ward, the sponsor of House Bill 4959, which addresses the U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering the state to treat in-state and out-of-state wineries the same in regard to direct shipment of wine to consumers.
GM Team Works to Make Cars that Appeal to Women
Crain's Detroit Business has a feature on a team of about 25 women. Its agenda is to make meeting the needs and demands of female customers "everyday thinking" at GM. Chevrolet's new retro wagon, the HHR, is the first vehicle the women's team worked on from concept to production.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Five Things You Need to Know for Wednesday, September 21, 2005
The Great Lakes IT Report tips us to this story in the Montreal Gazette about the Canadian inventor of the H2N-Gen that produces a more complete burn, reducing fuel consumption by 10 to 40 per cent and pollutants by up to 100%!
Ford Plans to Offer 50% of Models as Hybrids
The Detroit News reports that the Ford Motor Co. plans to offer hybrid versions of half the models in its Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brand lineups by the end of the decade as part of a strategy to distinguish itself as a leader in safety and environmental innovation. Ford also plans to step up development of vehicles running on ethanol and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars.
Also see Can new lineup of big SUVs revive GM? Anyone else find this ironic?? Post Labor Day School Start May Be Mandated
The Detroit Free Press reports that after passage of a bill designed to boost tourism, Michigan public schools across Michigan will be required to start classes after Labor Day as long as Gov. Granholm signs the bill. MSU's Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center has estimated the measure would generate $132 million in additional economic activity and $10 million for the state budget.
Michigan Cities Renovate to Entice Suburbanites
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium has a report on how old warehouses, factories and other buildings are being turned into brand new luxury loft apartments. For Grand Rapids and other Michigan cities, those apartments are a big part of trying get people to move back to cities from the suburbs.
Record Corn, Soybean Harvests Expected but Storage a Problem
The Lansing State Journal reports that while a dry summer has kept corn and soybean grains from filling out completely, it won't stop Michigan farmers from producing record corn and soybean harvests in 2005. However, as agricultural products from last year can't be shipped south until ports are open and trucks and railcars are available and as grain elevators still hold the remnants of last year's record harvest, farmers are having difficulties with storage.
Katrina Cutting Into Fundraising Efforts
The Detroit Free Press reports that officials of a number of Michigan charities say they fear that the public outpouring of support for groups helping victims of Hurricane Katrina will cut into their own fund-raising efforts. Coupled with a struggling Michigan economy, this is forcing many nonprofits to rethink their strategies.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Tuition Grant for Killed/Disabled Vets Children May Vanish
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the board of fast-dwindling Michigan Veterans Trust Fund voted to renege on a program started in 1935 that provides an annual $2,800 college tuition grant to children of Michigan veterans killed in action or permanently disabled. The board is hoping to force legislators and the governor to fund the program, which costs about $1.5 million a year.
A Closer Look at Identity Theft
Detroit Free Press tech columnist Mike Wedland reports on the recent identity theft he experienced. The Federal Trade Commission says nearly 10 million victims annually are victimized with direct monetary losses of $550 million a year (not counting the cost of time and the mess of trying to straighten out ruined credit). Highly recommended for anyone with an identity
Michiganians Receive 2 of 25 MacArthur Fellowships
The Detroit News reports that $500,000 MacArthur Fellowships (aka "Genius Grants") have been awarded to Joseph Curtin, an Ann Arbor violin maker, and Aaron Dworkin, musician, music educator and founder and President of the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization (that seeks to increase access for minorities to careers in classical music).
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation web site has profiles and more info Last Stand of the Massasauga Rattler
Traverse City Record-Eagle outdoor writer Bruce Bischoff reports that the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake may be making its last stand in the swamps of Michigan. A 1990s assessment found rattlers at 204 sites in 50 counties, with populations in Crawford, Kalkaska, and Iosco Counties while a more recent study found the snakes at just 79 sites in 27 counties. The article provides good depth on the rattler and is well worth a read.
Michigan State University Students May Have Designated Celebration Zone
The Lansing State Journal reports that at an East Lansing Review Commission meeting, city officials and residents said that an organized partying place set up for Spartan sporting events could be a way to prevent student unrest. A proposal designating a celebratory spot on the border of the city and the MSU campus on Bogue Street likely will make a list of recommendations on crowd control.
Kayaks on Lake Huron
Great shot of a pair of kayaks on the Lake Huron shore near Oscoda by Naoko M, a freelance web designer from Fukuoka, Japan who lives in Michigan. Here is her blog and here is her Flickr home page.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Five Things You Need to Know for Monday, September 19, 2005
We're now going to post blog items individually rather than in a big bunch. Be sure to scroll down for the pics from the Tour de Leelanau!
The Freep is looking for your fall photos and offers some tips. The LSJ reports on monster pumpkin growing in Loomis. Ishpeming Blacksmith Shop
The Mining Journal has a feature on the restored forge at the blacksmith shop at the Cliffs Shafts Mine Museum in Ishpeming. Local smiths meet every second Saturday each month and are trying to reach other blacksmiths to exchange knowledge and to raise public awareness of blacksmithing.
Danielle Gay Crowned Miss Michigan USA
The Detroit Free Press reports that Danelle Gay of Lapeer was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2006 in Port Huron on Saturday night. Raquel McClendon, 16, of Kincheloe, near Sault St. Marie, was crowned Miss Michigan Teen USA.
Miss USA web site 2005 Tour de Leelanau Report & Photos
Traverse City photojournalist Douglas Tesner reports that over 164 men and 30 women took part in the 2005 Tour de Leelanau and that Nick Reistad, a 22-year-old from Wisconsin (Advantage Benefit Team) won the men's event and 26-year-old Grand Rapids resident McKenzie Woodring (also riding for Advantage) took the women's event.
Leelanau.com's Tour de Leelanau page West Michigan Fall Color Early This Year, Apples Great
WZZM TV-13 Grand Rapids reports that meteorologists are expecting a beautiful fall in West Michigan, but that fall color is coming a week or two sooner than expected due to dry weather (mid October is predicted as the best time). Also, all the sun we've had should make the apple crop excellent (last weekend of September).
Also see Leaf peepers unite for fall color tours in the Freep Home Ownership by Young Adults on the Rise
The Detroit Free Press reports that with record-low interest rates and down payments that can be waived in today's real estate market, it's no surprise that homeownership is on the rise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of homeowners who are younger than 25 has jumped 69% -- from 14.9% in 1994 to 25.2% in 2004 -- as teens and people in their 20s choose to own rather than rent.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
2005 Tour de Leelanau
The inaugural 2005 Tour de Leelanau took place on Saturday (September 17), an absolutely gorgeous day.
Tour de Leelanau photos from Flickr Traverse City photojournalist Douglas Tesner is the only media source we could find with a report on the 2005 Tour de Leelanau. He ports that over 164 men and 30 women took part in the race and that Nick Reistad, a 22-year-old from Wisconsin (Advantage Benefit Team) won the men's event and 26-year-old Grand Rapids resident McKenzie Woodring (also riding for Advantage) took the women's event. More from the Photojournalist Leelanau.com's Tour de Leelanau page |
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