July is the month that we, as a nation, celebrate our birthday and our history. Though Independence Day is usually known for family, cookouts and fireworks, we must always remember the history behind the holiday. One Michigan man, Henry Ford, was often thinking and learning about our nation’s past and he collected many items to help preserve
We're thrilled to say that Governor Whitmer has continued a tradition we started with the help of Governor Granholm over a decade ago, of issuing a proclamation to officially designate seven consecutive summer days each year as Buy Michigan Week (July 28-Aug 4). Now around here we like every day to be about buying local throughout our state
(Livonia, July 1, 2019) – Buy Michigan Now is getting ready for its 11th Buy Michigan Now Festival in Downtown Northville. The campaign's mission is to promote buying locally, so the event only includes Michigan-based businesses. It's coming up fast on August 2-4, 2019, so only limited vendor and sponsorship options are still available. “We are so
Every Memorial Day Weekend, a group of individuals dressed as American Indians from the upper part of Michigan gather in front of Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City to play baggataway, which is an early version of lacrosse. The game is carefully scripted. Many spectators gather, some of whom are dressed as American Indian women and children.The reenactors
After years in the corporate world, Royal Oak-based author, Barbara Pietron, found herself with a chance at a second career. Inspired by a lifetime love of reading, and with a background in technical writing, she decided to pursue a career as a writer. Beginning by writing nonfiction magazine pieces, she achieved both regional and national publication before
Lawrence Technological University’s (LTU) Centrepolis Accelerator and Planet M are looking for the next great ideas in hardware development. The two entities are teaming up for a pitch competition that will take place in conjunction with the Hardware Tech Summit, scheduled for June 19, 2019 at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit. "The competition provides cash prizes and
The month of May marks the anniversary of Michigan Prohibition, which began on May 1, 1917. “But wait," say those of you who know your Constitutional History. “Prohibition was the 18th Amendment and that took effect on January 17, 1920.” Well, my friends, the state of Michigan, which is now home to Beer City USA, passed a prohibition
Manufacturing is alive and well in the great state of Michigan. Many local companies have grown to include a global presence; yet, are still rooted in their hometowns. Here are twenty examples of companies based in Michigan that make a wide range of products, while employing a local workforce. American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) – Detroit AAM
Throughout Michigan's storied economic history, there have been a number of innovators whose unique application of skills, knowledge and creativity changed the world forever. Here are a few of the most notable. Melville and Anna Bissell In 1876, Melville R. Bissell and his wife, Anna, were running a small crockery shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sick of
Increasingly homes and businesses are filling up with smart phones and televisions, security systems we can control and monitor from other places, and even appliances that connect to the internet. Many transportation systems are already dependent upon accessing the internet, and we are about to enter an era when driverless vehicles will likely become the norm. How
April. It is officially spring, and there is much going on in the world of sports. In hockey, the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, as do the NBA playoffs, and of course one NCAA basketball team will experience ‘One Shining Moment’ on April 8 and become National Champions. However, if you’re like me, when I think of sports
Winter got off to a bit of a sleepy start in 2018, but it sure has finished with a kick in 2019. It's almost enough to make us think that, despite the date, spring will never really arrive. Yet, we know it will, and when it does, here are ten moments to look forward to as Michigan
Periodically we hear stories of surviving a shark bite, but what if you battle five sharks at the same time? Can you survive? That’s exactly the challenge entrepreneur Melissa Butler faced after her lipstick business was brutally attacked during a 2015 appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Kevin O’Leary implied that her products amounted to clown makeup, and
A new business tenant is set to howl in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Coyote Logistics, a Chicago-based transportation management services company, intends to establish a new tech hub at 1700 Fort Street. The third-party logistics provider was co-founded by Jeff and Marianne Silver in 2006 with a goal to create a better service experience in the transportation industry.
There are many accounts throughout history of women who dress as men and go off to fight gloriously in battle and the Civil War has no shortage of examples. One of the most well-known women who joined the army is from the state of Michigan. Annie Etheridge’s story plays like a movie. She was a woman who
The arts community in Michigan is vibrant and diverse, representing multiple genres. Every day there are talented Michiganders in recording studios. They are also behind lenses and at rehearsals. Some sit across from canvases, and others, in front of laptops in coffee shops. They hone their skills and create so that the world will be nourished through
America just shined its spotlight on the Academy Awards, and now it turns toward the “Oscars” of the food industry, otherwise known as the James Beard Awards. These culinary accolades seek to honor the skill and expertise of top chefs and restaurants across the nation each year. The process begins in mid-October of the preceding year when
Calling all young artists, designers, techies, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Detroit is the place to be this fall. Forbes, the financial news and investment publisher, announced Tuesday that it is bringing its flagship Under 30 Summit to Detroit for the next three years. The first conference is set to convene in the city October 27-30. The Announcement The announcement was
If you were to open your medicine cabinet right now, chances are high that you would find some vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription medications that you either no longer need, or can no longer use because they are expired. You would not be alone, but what do you do with them? Grand Rapids-based Meijer, in a continuing
As an adult it seems like every New Year’s Day I make a plan to read more. Then life gets in the way. Fortunately, I seem to get a jumpstart when March rolls around because it’s National Reading Month. Inevitably new books cross my radar screen, especially those written by Michigan authors. Thus. I sit back with
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), has announced the winners of its Sixth Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. The annual Awards marked the official opening day of the 2019 ACSA Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michigan distillers captured nine medals. According to ACSA, the competition received nearly 500 entries from 38 states and
To many beer connoisseurs, Dragon’s Milk is the nectar that truly put New Holland Brewing Company on the map. The West Michigan-based company opened its doors in 1996, and in 2001 a “legend” was born. The release of the first batch of the stout known for its roasty malt character and deep vanilla tones, was a gamechanger.
There are several sure signs that spring is around the corner: the Detroit Tigers report to Florida for training camp, crocuses start to burst through the snow, and Peeps candies begin to appear on store shelves all over the place. Most commonly in the form of little yellow chicks, the soft marshmallow treats have been around for
Long before European settlers came to Michigan, maple syrup was an agricultural staple. The spring thaw would start sap flowing, and Native Americans tapped the trees to collect the sap then boiled it down to create sweet syrup. While the process has remained essentially the same, most makers employ more advanced equipment during the boiling process than
While most of the time “Buy Michigan Now” is described as a campaign, the truth is, it is more than that. It is a living, breathing evolving idea. In short, it’s a MOVEMENT. Individuals and entities continue to come together to move our economy forward by paying attention to how we spend our dollars and enhancing the
