All in the name: "Eat the Invasive" dinner. When columnists attack: Stopping Pistons no easy task. Answering the bell: Red Wings wake up, win 4-2.

Arbor Day in Michigan

In honor of Arbor Day, the Detroit Free Press has a slew of reader stories about the importance of trees in their lives (be sure to click the link for more stories).

According to the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance: The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. In 1885, the Michigan Legislature resolved "that the Governor is hereby requested to call the attention of the people of the state to the importance of planting trees for ornament and by naming a day upon which the work shall be given special attention to be known as Arbor Day. Until 1965, the Upper and Lower Peninsula had separate Arbor Days in the spring because of the difference in weather conditions for tree planting.

Governor George Romney proclaimed an Arbor Week for the last week in April 1966. In his proclamation, Governor Romney broke with the traditional one day, "Because of the increased interest in and the importance of the statewide 'Keep Michigan Beautiful' program, one or two days do not afford enough time and opportunity for a full and proper observance of Arbor Day."
Read THE ROOTS OF LIFE: Readers share fond memories about trees in the Freep
Michigan Arbor Day Alliance web site
Businesses and articles at keyword "tree"
Also check out this cool Mixed Media: Tree photo by Matt Callow

US Manufacturing Czar Under Fire from Michigan Delegation
The Detroit News takes a look at Albert Frink, the U.S. Commerce Department assistant secretary for manufacturing and services. "That job came in like a lion and has lingered around like a mouse in the landscape of Washington," said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. "I'm not even sure if anybody is reading the papers (Frink) is shuffling. The position is ill-conceived. (The Bush administration) talks a great game, but they are moving in inches and we are losing in miles." Rogers concern was echoed by other Michigan lawmakers who feel that Frink lacks the influence and access to aid Michigan's embattled manufacturing sector, which has lost almost 1/3 of its jobs over the last 10 years.

Frink responed that "America does some of its best work when it's against the wall I have confidence that Michigan folks will rally and take the necessary course to put themselves into a competitive position."
Read The Invisible manufacturing czar in the Detroit News

On the Trail of the Michigan Morel

The LSJ has a great feature on the hunt for the morel mushroom that includes tips about how to tell true from false morel, where to hunt and links to a number of more web sites.
Read Morel - fresh from the forest, prized mushrooms are 'manna from heaven' in the Lansing State Journal
Visit Michigan Morels web site
Check keyword "mushroom" for articles and Morel Mushroom events from Absolute Michigan

Michigan Ranks Well in High-Tech
Michigan's technology employment ranked as the 10th largest in the United States in 2004, adding some $13 billion in payroll to the state's economy, according to a report just released by Cyberstate. 9300 Michigan high-tech firms employed 49 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, and they earned an average wage of $70,800.
Read Michigan's Technology Workforce Ranks 10th Largest In Nation from MITECHNEWS.COM

Probing the Disappearance of Lake Huron Salmon
The Detroit Free Press reports that althought salmon fishing in Lake Huron collapsed in two years with the disappearance of alewives, their primary prey fish, but some researchers think it's a temporary problem. They think Huron's prey base can be repopulated by alewives produced in the vast, rich nursery grounds of southern Lake Michigan. The article offers a look at conflicting views held by scientists. Some feel that Huron's alewive collapse is due to zebra and quagga mussels altering the bottom of the food chain while others feel it is a result of overpredation by salmon.
Read Hope for salmon in the Detroit Free Press