The Latest
MDARD, MISP Take Next Step in Preventing Invasive Pests from Entering Michigan
Untreated firewood from outside Michigan no longer allowed beginning in 2027 LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Invasive Species Program (MISP) today announced a new firewood quarantine to protect Michigan’s agriculture, forests and natural resources from invasive insects and plant diseases. Beginning January 1, 2027, it will […]
Bits & Pieces: Pineapple Cream Cheese Cake
by Paula Johnson We had company this past week. Anne and I met in grad school at WMU over 40 years ago, and have maintained our friendship through classes, marriages, children, jobs, moves in and out of states, and psychological emotions. We enjoy finding new places and foods. So, I wanted to try […]
The True Book of Mostly Unrelated Stories: Small Towns
by John Mooy The other day, it was actually Tuesday, I was driving into Bangor from the south of town. My usual route is to pass through Bangor from the east or west. During this southerly entrance I went by one of those green rectangle signs with white trim around the edges. The sign celebrated […]
Van Buren County Museum Calendar
Photo: swmichigan.org Van Buren County Museum – 8471 Red Arrow Highway, Hartford The Van Buren County Historical Museum looks forward to several special events this summer in addition to their regular Noon to 5 PM hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. See their Facebook page for updates. This summer’s events include: July 12, 2026: […]
Guest Opinion: Working in a farm successor as part of a retirement plan
by Wyatt FraasAssociate Director of Farm and Community, Center for Rural Affairs Are you one of the many farmers without an identified farm successor? Purdue University says that’s around 75%, and about half expect nonfamily members to take over. A gradual shift of responsibilities and ownership, plus an extended mentoring period, can help ensure […]
News from Marcellus TWP Wood Memorial Library for the week of May 25, 2026
The Marcellus Library will be hosting a summer reading bingo challenge. This year’s theme is “Plant a Seed, Read. Complete 5 challenges in a row to get a bingo. Return your sheet to the front desk by August 31st to get a prize. The bingo card is geared toward kids, but open to all ages! […]
Contemplation Corner: “Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people. . .”
“Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people anxiously clinging to their property and inclined to look at their surrounding world with suspicion, always expecting an enemy to suddenly appear, intrude and do harm. But still—that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest […]
Earth Talk: Pesticides and human health
Our profligate use of pesticides is taking a toll on human health across the United States and beyond. Credit: Pexels.com. EarthTalk®From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What does the science say about how common pesticides affect human health? — Jay Jackson, New York, NY Pesticides are used to control the […]
New 1,100-foot accessible boardwalk opens at Tahquamenon Falls State Park
 Bryan Wilkinson, co-chairman of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Accessibility Advisory Council, cuts the ribbon officially opening the new accessible boardwalk at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls in Luce County. by Heather Johnson DurocherWriter, Michigan Department of Natural Resources For some visitors to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, the main attraction at Michigan’s second-largest state […]
DTMB releases summer 2026 job market forecast for Michigan teens (ages 16–19)
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget has released its summer (June–August) teen employment forecast for 2026. Summer is an important time of the year for teen workers. Some of them are trying to find good jobs after high school graduation, and many others are seeking temporary work to earn money or […]
