Michigan Gas Prices Week of 7/31/06

The average price of gas this morning in Michigan is $3.055. Some of the highest sustained gas prices in history are coinciding with record profits in the oil industry. Hmm, coincidence? I doubt it. One year ago we were paying $2.289 across Michigan.

Gas station owners do not see any of these record profits. Most are lucky to clear $.01 per gallon. So, don't get huffy and take your anger out on the station owners.

Is Grayling to be the Home of an Amusement Park?

There are rumors flying around that Grayling might some day be home to an amusement park called Main Street USA. 1,800 acres of state-owned land along I-75 just south of Grayling have been available for commercial or industrial development for the past five years. Axiom Entertainment has had discussions with state officials regarding the possible development of the land into a theme park. Estimates put the number of potential workers at around 2,000 seasonal employees and 700 year-round. Potential customer traffic is estimated at 1.7 million annual visitors. I am not sure how this is determined, but for comparison purposes Muskegon's Michigan Adventure theme park drew 550,000 visitors in 2005.

It is unknown how many of the 1,800 acres would be used for development of the theme park. Michigan's Adventure is located on 250 acres and offers over 40 rides and attractions. Cedar Point (another Cedar Fair L.L.P. property) stands on 365 acres and features over 60 rides and attractions and drew 3.1 million visitors last year.

Courtesy of the Bay City Times

The Bay City Times dug up information about this deal through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Java Joe's Cafe, My Favorite U.P. Coffee Shop

Way up north across the Mighty Mac and located in lovely St. Ignace you will find one of the many treasures of Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Java Joe's Cafe. The name says 'Java,' but there is more to Java Joe's than coffee. The first time I stopped in there was in the evening with my wife to get a Chai Latte. The place was packed with people eating pizza. Yes, pizza. From the looks and smells of those pies, I would say that Java Joe's must serve up a mighty good pizza in addition to their yummy breakfast and excellent selection coffee.

The proprietor of the cafe, Joe Durm, is a friendly chap who loves to chat with his customers and seems genuinely interested in where they are heading or where they are from. He offers suggestions on places to stop along your way after hearing which direction you are taking from his store.

I can't vouch for the breakfast (I have always just stopped for caffeine) at Java Joe's Cafe, but judging by the sights, smells, and crowds it must be pretty good. Some of my family ate there last summer for breakfast and they were quite pleased with the quantity and quality of the food.

You can even make up your own cappuccino or latte flavor with the wide assortment of flavors in Java Joe's inventory. We had him create Caramel Apple Cappuccino when we stopped in on our way to Wisconsin. Joe said that in all of his years he had never before served up a Caramel Apple Cappuccino. It was so good. I need to find some apple flavoring and try to create my own.

When Joe isn't serving up coffee and pizzas he substitute teaches at the school on Mackinac Island. How cool is that to be a substitute teacher on Mackinac Island of all places?

Prices and Such

• Breakfast - from the Shortstack Pancakes at $2.89 up to the Hobo Omelet at $7.89
• Lunch - from the Veggie Burger at $4.59 up to the Whitefish Sandwich at $8.95
• Pizzas - average price for a 16" pizza is around $14.95 (I have to try the Smoked Whitefish sometime!)
• Coffees are anywhere from $1.29 for a small coffee to $3.75 for large specialty drinks

If you go: Java Joe's is located at 959 North State Street in St. Ignace. The cafe is located in the outskirts of the parking lots for the Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn.

Cherry Jello Salad

My mom makes this quick and easy jello salad for family get-togethers. It is always a hit! What you need:

• 2 (3 oz. each) pkgs. cherry jello
• 2 c. boiling water
• 1 (32 oz.) can cherry pie filling
• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese cut into chunks

Directions:

• In a 9X13 glass pan, dissolve jello in boiling water.
• Add cherry pie filling and cream cheese chunks.
• Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Michigan Gas Prices and Economy Slow Tourism

Traffic at the Mackinac Bridge is down for the eighth year in a row. Currently it is down 2% from last year. Traffic counts in Cadillac and Traverse City also show a decline from the previous year. State parks have had fewer campers and less out-of-state visitors. Businesses across northern Michigan that count on the summer tourists to keep them open year-round are nervous. The average price of gas in Michigan is currently $3.089. That is $.80 more than drivers were paying one year ago.

Add in the fact that numerous families in Michigan are affected by the flood of job losses our state has been experiencing and you come up with a number that is bad for Michigan's tourism businesses. Folks here in Michigan simply have less disposable income. You cannot justify long car trips and vacations if that means you go without grocery money or the ability to pay your other bills.

I previously wrote about the tough time that U.P. businesses would be having this year back in April. This was when the average Michigan gas price was $2.79 per gallon.

Via the Traverse City Record Eagle.

Rhubarb Cobbler

I created this recipe a few years ago when I wanted to make a rhubarb pie but didn't want to go through all the trouble of making a crust. I think it turned out great and so did my family.

• 3 c. cut rhubarb
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 heaping Tbsp. flour

Mix together and put in a greased 8-in. pan.

• 1 c. Jiffy mix (made in Michigan)
• 1/3 c. milk

Combine and spread over rhubarb mixture.

• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar

Sprinkle sugar on top.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.