National Cherry Festival is July 1-8

The 80th National Cherry Festival takes place this year July 1-8. Traverse City will be bustling with all kinds of cherry-themed items and thousands of visitors. The festival's mission statement is, "to promote cherries, tourism and community." They definitely do that. 9,000 pancakes will be served up for breakfast on the 4th of July (with cherries on top, of course). On July 1-2 the Blue Angels will be showing off their aerodynamic skills over the waters of West Grand Traverse Bay. The National Cherry Festival will close with the Cherry Royale Parade on July 8.

For more details and information check out the National Cherry Festival website. For information on other fun things to do in the Traverse City area head over to the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Traverse City also has a new Frontier League baseball team - the Traverse City Beach Bums that will be playing a handful of home games during the weeklong National Cherry Festival. From the photos on the team website it appears that they have a really unique stadium. The main stands look like a beach resort. What a neat atmosphere for baseball.

National Cherry Festival article in the Traverse City Record Eagle.

An Environmental Governor

April 22, 2006, is Earth Day. A day to focus on ways to better the environment. In honor of this day, I thought I would mention former Michigan Governor, William Milliken, a pioneer in taking care of Michigan's natural beauty. I did not know it, but it was Gov. Milliken who campaigned for the $.10 bottle deposit law. Evidently, Milliken was disgusted with the amount of garbage along our state highways and wanted to do something to keep our state clean.

In addition to the deposit law, Milliken also saw the Michigan Environmental Protection Act in 1970, the Wetlands Act of 1979 and the Natural Resource Trust Fund come to fruition during his tenure.

Thanks to Milliken, our state is probably a lot cleaner than it might have been had we not passed those laws to help preserve Michigan's natural beauty and resources.

Read more about former Governor Milliken at the Traverse City Record Eagle.

Better Fill 'er Up Today, $3 Per Gallon by Next Week!

Just caught this news flash on the Detroit News website that states - "You'll almost certainly be paying $3 a gallon at Metro Detroit gas stations by the end of the month (next week, folks)." Expect things to be even worse in May. The price per gallon is expected to hover around $3 all summer long here in Michigan. :(

Documentary On Tiger Stadium to Premiere April 24th

Stranded at the Corner, premiering April 24 at the Gem Theater, is a documentary that looks at the history and fate of Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium is baseball's oldest playing field still in existence (although unused) and will turn 100 years old in 2012 only if it is still standing.

The documentary covers Tiger Stadium's illustrious history as well as the steps that have led to its possible demise. Tickets will be $8.50 at the door or you can save a couple bucks and get them for $6 at the Stranded at the Corner website. You can also view some video clips from the documentary as well as get information about a DVD of Stranded at the Corner.

What would have been really cool (and ironic) is if they could have erected a screen in the outfield of Tiger Stadium and shown it there. Of course, the Ilitch (evil empire?) family would never allow such "blasphemy" to be shown. The city of Detroit owns the property so why does the Ilitch family have the final say in Tiger Stadium's use and fate?

The Ilitch's would not allow any activities for baseball's All-Star weekend to take place at Tiger Stadium, but they did allow Snoop Dogg to have a beer-sponsored party there for the Super Bowl weekend. Why? Does the Ilitch family use their redevelopment of downtown Detroit as leverage with the city? Do they know the whereabouts of the late(?) Jimmy Hoffa?

Here are some articles I have posted already about the future of Tiger Stadium - Replace Tiger Stadium with Target - Ugh! Say it Ain't so, Tiger Stadium to be Demolished?

Check out a history of Tiger Stadium with facts, figures, and the ballpark's dimensions.