Posts Tagged ‘Michigan State University’
Sunday, April 28th, 2013
 From staff reports
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host its annual pruning workshop on Friday, May 3, in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. The workshop will be held at the Dechow farmstead in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, four miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22 across from Port Oneida Road. Directional signs will be placed to help participants to the location.
The workshop will focus on maintenance of neglected apple and pear trees and how to bring them back into production, as well as maintain their health. The course will include: 1) how to identify and properly remove dead materials from abandoned trees, 2) proper pruning of the canopy for optimum maintenance and apple production, 3) maintaining tree health, 4) how to maintain ground cover under the tree, 5) watering and care of the tree, and 6) equipment safety.
The park is partnering with the Leelanau Conservation District, Michigan State University Northwest Michigan Horticultural Station, and the County Extension Master Gardener Program to offer this hands-on training workshop. Experts from the three county offices will provide the technical information while the park serves as the host for this annual event.
The course is set up so participants receive “hands-on” training in all techniques. The workshop hours are 1-4 p.m. An orientation and introduction will begin at 1. There is no cost to participants. Tools and background information will be provided. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and gloves. In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Monday, May 6 at the same time and location.
Participants do not need to have any pre-existing skills. The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train homeowners and the interested public how to restore and maintain the health of antique apple and pear trees.
Interested parties should contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at (231) 326-5135, ext. 501, to sign up for the workshop. Participants may also sign up by email at kimberly_mann@nps.gov.
Tags: leelanau conservation district, Michigan State University, Port Oneida, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Posted in Food/Organic Living | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
 Statewide visitors expected to increase 6 percent in 2012
From staff reports
A story in Crain’s Detroit Business this week reports that tourism is booming in Michigan and will continue rise this year.
The article reports: “According to a study released at last week’s Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Michigan hosted a record 3.2 million out-of-state visitors who spent $1 billion here last year. The state expects a 6 percent increase in tourism this year and is reaching out to farther-flung visitors.”
Read the full story here, or peruse these highlights below:
• “We are expecting a very, very good year for Michigan tourism,” said Dan McCole, an assistant professor of commercial recreation and tourism at Michigan State University who presented MSU’s annual tourism report at the event. McCole projected that — given decent weather — tourism spending in Michigan will increase by 6 percent this year after rising 8 percent in 2011. In 2009, spending was down by about 13 percent, and in 2008 it rose less than 1 percent, according to MSU data.
• Traditionally, Michigan tourism — now a $17-billion-a-year industry — has relied on in-state residents, but business has been hurt by a statewide population decline and fewer people working in high-paying blue-collar jobs, McCole said. However, Michigan tourists are increasingly more educated and more diverse, he said, and he advised travel industry members to ensure they feel welcome at their establishments.
• The kinds of activities tourists are most interested in are shifting. Based on his analysis of Google search pattern volumes, McCole said Michigan tourists are increasingly interested in vacations that involve beaches, food, beer and wine and less in more traditional pursuits such as fishing, golf and boating. Coryn Briggs, director of marketing at winery Black Star Farms, said she expects Black Star to draw an increasingly diverse customer base — including younger consumers. The winery is near Suttons Bay in the Leelanau Peninsula. “Wine is definitely becoming more popular with them,” she said.
This GlenArbor.com story is sponsored by Art’s Tavern.
Tags: Black Star Farms, Crains Detroit Business, Michigan State University, Michigan tourism, Michigan wine, Pure Michigan
Posted in Business Feature | No Comments »
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
 From staff reports
TRAVERSE CITY – Scientific discoveries in nuclear science, practical tips in astronomy, and the importance of Dark Sky Parks and outdoor lighting will be discussed during the Traverse Astronomy, Philosophy and Energy (TAPE) forum at 7 p.m., June 7, at Northwestern Michigan College’s Milliken Auditorium.
“Putting it all together” is the theme of the free event, which will begin with a keynote address by Marc “Mr. Energy” McKellar, a Grand Vision board member. Featured speakers include Zach Constan of Michigan State University’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Bob Moler of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) and host of Interlochen Public Radio’s Ephemeris program, and Mary Stewart Adams of the Outdoor Lighting Forum and Emmett County Dark Sky Park Committee.
TAPE is co-sponsored by the Grand Vision Energy Networking Group and NMC Student Life.
“The goal of the forum is to share the many different facets of astronomy, including the scientific, the observable and the astrosophical,” said forum organizer Carolyn McKellar, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.
Astrosophy weaves astronomy with astrology to create stories about people’s relationship to the stars, a 30-year project of Adams, who was named the Gary R. Williams Dark Sky Advocate of the Year in 2006. Adams’ activism helped result in the designation this year of the Emmett County Headlands as one of five International Dark Sky Parks.
Addressing nuclear science is Constan, who earned a Ph.D. in psychoacoustics from MSU, taught college-level astronomy for three years and is Outreach Coordinator for MSU’s cyclotron laboratory, one of the nation’s largest campus-based nuclear science facilities.
According to the laboratory’s website, scientists use the superconducting cyclotron to try to answer a number of important questions. They hope to discover what forces hold a nucleus together and how, what the origin is of elements in the universe and on earth, and how radioactive isotopes can be used to treat cancer patients, among many other medical and practical applications.
“Most people don’t realize that what they do in their daily lives is a result of these experiments,” McKellar explained. “Nuclear scientists make mini supernovae in machines. It’s exciting and intriguing that the elements of life are created by cosmic supernovae.”
An amateur astronomer for 55 years and radio program host for 35, Moler will share his considerable knowledge of the night sky. He is a GTAS founder, has been a guest lecturer at the Roger Chaffee Planetarium in Grand Rapids and is currently affiliated with Lanphier Observatory in Glen Arbor and NMC’s J.H. Rogers Observatory in Traverse City. His astronomical pursuits range from astrophotography to telescope making and solar eclipse chasing.
The auditorium’s doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served. Exhibitors include NASA, GTAS and NMC’s Astronomical Association, a student club. Weather permitting, members of GTAS will set up telescopes for public star-gazing following the forum.
For more information, call McKellar at (231) 590-5964.
Tags: astronomy, astrophotography, Bob Moler, Dark Sky Parks, Grand Traverse Astronomical Society, Grand Vision, Interlochen Public Radio, Lanphier Observatory, Michigan State University, Milliken Auditorium, NASA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Outdoor Lighting Forum, Roger Chaffee Planetarium
Posted in Upcoming Event | 1 Comment »
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
 From staff reports
Donald Jay Weeks, 51, of Elk Rapids, died May 2, 2011, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City after a short illness.
Born June 11, 1959 in Lansing, he was a graduate of Glen Lake Community Schools in Leelanau County and Michigan State University. Don was a broadcast and newspaper journalist, served as a communications specialist on the staff of the Michigan House of Representatives in the 1980s, and was the district representative for Sen. Walter North, R-St. Ignace, from 1997 to 2002. He also worked on the 1982 GOP gubernatorial primary campaign of Lt. Governor James H. Brickley and managed the 1992 1st District GOP congressional primary campaign of State Representative Stephen P. Dresch, R-Hancock.
He was a successful entrepreneur who, with his wife Joan, operated the Camelot Inn in Elk Rapids since they acquired it in 2002. In Elk Rapids, he was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. He also was active in the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association, serving on its governmental affairs committee. When living in St. Ignace, he served in local government on the planning commission.
In recent years from the Camelot Inn, Don operated kayak excursions on the Chain-of-Lakes in cooperation with other hospitality services. He took pride in encouraging Up North “silent sport adventures.”
In 1994, Don was editor and co-owner of the Peninsula News weekly in Houghton, and earlier had brief stints at Interlochen Public Radio and TV9-10. He was creator and producer of the syndicated Michigan Memories audio series, operated the Great Lakes Book Club, was contributing author of books on Michigan governors and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and most recently was editor/distributor of the syndicated weekly Michigan Politics newspaper column written by his father.
Journalism was in his blood. His grandfather, Don C. Weeks, was city editor of the Traverse City Record-Eagle during the early 20th century era of editor Jay Smith (from whom Don got his middle name).
In his early years, Don greatly enjoyed hiking, skiing and other activities on the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and in recent years was devoted to activities with his grandchildren. As his illness rapidly progressed, he said, “My great regret is not being able to see my grandchildren grow up.”
Don, who grew up in East Lansing, Northern Virginia and Glen Arbor, is survived by his wife Joan Marie (Schaaf), formerly of Hancock; parents Mollie and George Weeks of Glen Arbor; sister Julie Weeks and brother-in-law Walter Hoegy of Empire; daughter Robin Montero and grandchildren Jenna and Max Montero, and son Lukas (Amanda) Pearson and grandchildren Ron Hosking, Donovan Pearson and Alexandra Pearson, all of Pellston.
Cremation has occurred. At his request, there will be no funeral. Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy, PO Box 1007, Leland MI 49654 (or online at theconservancy.com); or to the Elk Rapids Area Community Endowment Fund at the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, 250 E. Front St., Suite 310, Traverse City MI 49684 (or online at gtrcf.org).
Kindly share your memories with the family on their online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com
The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Traverse City.
Tags: Don Weeks, George Weeks, Glen Arbor, Glen Arbor Michigan, Glen Lake Community Schools, Governor James H. Brickley, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Great Lakes Book Club, Interlochen Public Radio, Leelanau Conservancy, Leelanau County, Michigan House of Representatives, Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association, Michigan Politics, Michigan State University, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City Record-Eagle, TV9-10
Posted in Local Personality | No Comments »
Monday, December 6th, 2010
 By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
State representative-elect Ray Franz favors cutting “Pure Michigan” funding by as much as 80 percent, the soon-to-be legislator from the 101st District told the Leelanau Enterprise last week. Franz said he would reduce funding from $25 to $30 million down to $5 to $6 million, while comparing Michigan’s tourism economy to keeping the books at the Onekema grocery store he owns.
“I figured my budget for marketing at my grocery store in Onekama should be about one-percent of sales, and that should be about right in this case as well.”
Republican Franz narrowly defeated Democrat Dan Scripps on Nov. 2 in a heated campaign that included thousands of robo-calls to voters in Leelanau, Benzie and Manistee counties and lies about the incumbent’s voting record.
The Midwest-wide advertising campaign, which has been a big hit here in tourism-dependent Leelanau County, reportedly generated $2.23 in revenues for Michigan for every $1 spent. And a newly released Michigan State University research project credits Pure Michigan ads as being partly responsible for occupancy rates increasing at double the national average for the summer of 2010.
The Detroit Free Press reported Fridaythat the award-winning campaign was to go dark in January because the state had approved only $5.4 million for the coming year — not enough for a widespread TV ad campaign, according to officials at Travel Michigan, the state agency that runs Pure Michigan.
But in the 11th hour the “lame duck” legislature came through. Wrapping up a marathon session that began Thursday morning, Lansing lawmakers allocated $10 million for the Pure Michigan TV campaign to advertise the state’s winter and spring tourism activities in other states — far less than the $25 million Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Travel Michigan officials had requested, but enough money to keep the ad campaign alive.
 Last year Patricia and Larry Widmayer, owners of the Glen Arbor Bed & Breakfast, credited the Pure Michigan campaign with keeping their guest numbers steady, despite the rough economy.
“Many people have commented to us that they’ve seen the Pure Michigan campaign. It makes you want to come here,” said Patricia, who spends most of the year in Evanston, Ill., near Chicago, and sees the ad campaign on Illinois television. “The ads have a great look and feel, whether you want to go out on the golf course or to the beach,” Larry chimed in.
Actor and comedian, and a summer resident of nearby Northport, Tim Allen provides the voiceover for Pure Michigan’s ads, with poetic and compelling messages like this one: “Fall colors begin with a slow dance of turning leaves, and crescendo in a trillion trees aflame. Experience the entire state of Michigan in its annual blaze of glory. Find out what Pure Michigan fall colors feel like. Your trip begins at Michigan.org.”
Tags: Benzie County, Chicago, Dan Scripps, Detroit Free Press, Evanston Illinois, Glen Arbor, Glen Arbor Bed & Breakfast, Glen Arbor Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, Larry Widmayer, Leelanau County, Leelanau Enterprise, Manistee County, Michigan State University, Onekema Michigan, Patricia Widmayer, Pure Michigan, Ray Franz, Tim Allen, Travel Michigan
Posted in Business Feature, Investigative Article | 5 Comments »
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From staff reports
