The lifeguard shortage is expected to continue this summer, leading many local recreation leaders to combat inadequate staffing with increased wages or other incentives.
The post Lifeguard staffing struggles to stay afloat in 2022 first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/14/lifeguard-staffing-struggles-to-stay-afloat-in-2022/
At the northwest corner of Lake Huron, in Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula, is an 80 square-mile town of 240 people, one phone booth - and one boat building school. That school is growing explosively, bringing the entire community along with it. Experts estimate that a planned expansion of the Great Lakes Boat Building School could bring an additional $2.5 million to residents of Cedarville.
The post Cedarville: The little town that upholds Michigan’s marine industry first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/12/cedarville-the-little-town-that-upholds-michigans-marine-industry/
As supply chain problems continue rippling from the COVID-19 pandemic, industries are learning ways to adapt. The meat market is no exception.
The post Pandemic shows need for more local meat processors first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/08/pandemic-shows-need-for-more-local-meat-processors/
Michigan farmers can’t plant more wheat this year to make up for Ukrainian and Russian production that’s been lost to the ongoing war. A fixed supply and consistent demand for wheat leaves one thing open to change: price.
The post Michigan wheat farmers can’t make up for crops lost in Ukraine first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/06/michigan-wheat-farmers-cant-make-up-for-crops-lost-in-ukraine/
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there wasn’t much for many people to do other than sit at home. But as restrictions slowly lifted toward the end of spring 2020, many people turned, or returned, to a popular sport – golf – to fill their time. Since then, its popularity has increased.
The post Golf management jobs on upswing first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/04/golf-management-jobs-on-upswing/
With a worldwide increase in need for food and oil, the soybean industry shows no signs of slowing down. Expanding consumer interest in plant-based foods as popular substitutes for meat could create more opportunities.
The post Meat substitutes, greener fuel drive soybean demand first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/30/meat-substitutes-greener-fuel-drive-soybean-demand/
A Harvard historian’s book about slavery in Detroit- - the last stop on the Underground Railroad – examines how that history was influenced by the region’s geography.
The post Harvard historian examines Detroit slavery link to Great Lakes geography first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/29/harvard-historian-examines-detroit-slavery-link-to-great-lakes-geography/
Agriculture and farming officials are helping growers manage soybean cyst nematodes to prevent a major loss in yield as the crop’s production season approaches.
The post Threat grows from soybean pest first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/28/threat-grows-from-soybean-pest/
In the Great Lakes region, there may be no older and more intriguing historical mystery than the 1679 disappearance of the Griffon, one of French explorer Robert La Salle’s ships. Now after more than 40 years of searching, a Charlevoix diver says he’s 99.99% sure he found the answer, and he tells how in a new book.
The post Charlevoix couple offers theory on mysterious 1679 shipwreck first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/25/charlevoix-couple-offers-theory-on-mysterious-1679-shipwreck/
While invasive species are always threatening crops, a native pest is the biggest threat to the state’s blueberries –– the stem gall wasp. The Michigan Blueberry Commission has funded research to combat the stem gall wasp and help growers stay competitive.
The post Growers fund research to aid blueberries first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/24/growers-fund-research-to-aid-blueberries/
Michigan maple syrup farmers sound optimistic that the industry will see a successful 2022 season after production declined in recent years.
The post Maple syrup farmers grow hopeful with ideal weather first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/23/maple-syrup-farmers-grow-hopeful-with-ideal-weather/
Bees in the D’s new pollination center is expected to increase the fruits and vegetables produced in Detroit community gardens. The pollination center, breaking ground in April, will be home to roughly 100,000 honeybees in multiple hives.
The post Detroit pollination center to increase community garden yields first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/22/detroit-pollination-center-to-increase-community-garden-yields/
The recent discovery of a dangerous family of chemicals in Michigan cattle has a statewide environmental group renewing efforts to ban the controversial substance.
The post Michigan Environmental Group pushing for ban on controversial chemical first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/18/michigan-environmental-group-pushing-for-ban-on-controversial-chemical/
Great Lakes Echo recently placed second in the College Newspaper of the Year category of a Michigan Press Association contest.
The post Michigan Press Association honors Echo in news contest first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/17/michigan-press-association-honors-echo-in-news-contest/
Scientists at Michigan State University are researching how to combat an agricultural parasite infecting hopyards across the state.
The post Researchers battle tiny menace to craft beers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/14/researchers-battle-tiny-menace-to-craft-beers/
March is a big time for underwater storms. The combination of melting snow, saturated soils, and rain falling on frozen ground means that the most frequent and most severe floods typically occur in March here in Michigan. These floods may carry 100 or even 1000 times as much water as the stream carries on a dry summer day.
The post March: Stormy Weather first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/04/march-stormy-weather/
It's part of an effort to increase visibility and experiment with news delivery.
The post Echo hits Instagram first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/03/echo-hits-instagram/
Researchers in Ohio are getting ready to expand one of seven treatments for a widespread disease that kills beech trees. The invasive beech leaf disease causes dark striping on leaves and makes them thick, leathery and disfigured before killing the tree.
The post Hope spreads for infected trees first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/03/02/hope-spreads-for-infected-trees/
Last year, the U.S. ski industry had its fifth-busiest season, according to the National Ski Areas Association, and interest in the slopes shows no signs of slowing down in Michigan for the 2021-22 season.
The post Downhill ski business booming in Michigan first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/28/downhill-ski-business-booming-in-michigan/
Many people, including researchers, have regarded Detroit as a food desert. Yet the term food desert is no longer correct in describing all of Detroit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers a census tract to be a food desert based on its poverty rate and the proportion of residents living more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.
The post Detroit’s status as ‘food desert’ challenged first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/17/detroits-status-as-food-desert-challenged/
In some states, the Department of Natural Resources offers an annual seed collection program. Anyone with a dry container can collect pine cones and seeds from trees and redeem them at listed nurseries for cash. The program is available in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Requirements for collection vary by state and species, but all seeds must be collected from trees of natural origin, not planted.
The post Backyard clean-up brings big bucks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/15/backyard-clean-up-brings-big-bucks/
The Michigan Public Transit Association has launched an information advocacy campaign to fill hiring needs and increase ridership. The advocacy initiative includes television, radio, billboard and social media campaigns and is expected to continue into May.
The post New advocacy campaign boosts public transit first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/10/new-advocacy-campaign-boosts-public-transit/
Michigan ranks eighth in the country for potato production and contributes about $1.2 billion annually to the state’s economy. Disease is a common concern among farmers, inspiring research partnerships.
The post Potato research helps grow Michigan crop first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/08/potato-research-helps-grow-michigan-crop/
The dead of winter is a lively time in the Great Lakes region.
The post February: The dead of winter first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/07/february-the-dead-of-winter/
In the Great Lakes region there are community fridges in such major cities as Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Cleveland and Toronto. Community fridges are working fridges, usually connected to an organization, that provide free food to passersby. The concept is to take what you need and bring what you can.
The post Community fridges: Radical solutions to food insecurity, waste and cultural stigmas first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/01/community-fridges-radical-solutions-to-food-insecurity-waste-and-cultural-stigmas/
As local governments wrestle with the question of how to spend their share of American Rescue Plan Act money from Washington, some are earmarking it to improve broadband access and affordability for their residents.
The post Rural internet access competes with other needs for federal aid first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/31/rural-internet-access-competes-with-other-needs-for-federal-aid/
103 years after National Geographic published its article on berries, Michigan is witnessing some changes due to climate change and invasive species.
The post Threats to the native berries amongst us first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/27/threats-to-the-native-berries-amongst-us/
Michigan students now can test watershed quality and model how groundwater flows in three dimensions with a new state classroom initiative. The Environmental Education Resource Lending Station became available in early December to Michigan educators through the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Classroom Initiative.
The post Michigan classrooms gain access to hands-on help for learning conservation science first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/26/michigan-classrooms-gain-access-to-hands-on-help-for-learning-conservation-science/
Michigan’s top five safest small cities are all in Oakland County, according to a recent national study. Safety was calculated by factoring in the violent-crime rate, property-crime rate and motor vehicle crash deaths per capita.
The post Oakland County home to many of Michigan’s safest small cities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/21/oakland-county-home-to-many-of-michigans-safest-small-cities/
Flint ranked the worst for economic health in Michigan small cities in a recent report by WalletHub, a personal finance organization that tracks financial and other trends. To evaluate economic health, the study looked at population, job and income growth, along with the unemployment rate.
The post Economic health affects other indicators of livability first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/20/economic-health-affects-other-indicators-of-livability/
Holland, Michigan ranks number one in the state for quality of life in “Best Small Cities in America,” a study published by WalletHub, a personal finance website that tracks financial and other trends. It is one of five measures the study used to rank the desirability of small cities. Quality of life was assessed by measures like average commute time, city walkability and number of bars, restaurants and cultural centers per capita.
The post Holland ranks first in quality of life for Michigan small cities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/19/holland-ranks-first-in-quality-of-life-for-michigan-small-cities/
By Anna Traver, Payton Wells and Hope O’Dell Great Lakes Echo Editor’s note: A recent study evaluated the quality of 1,322 U.S. small cities by five measures. This story is part of a series taking a closer look at one measure as it relates to the 39 Michigan cities in the study. HOLT – It’s […]
The post Some Michigan small cities are more affordable than others first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/18/some-michigan-small-cities-are-more-affordable-than-others/
You might deny being part of the Kingdom of Ice – Michigan is more about summer sunshine than it is about ice – but our language betrays us. So does the state's geology.
The post January: The Kingdom of Ice first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/10/january-the-kingdom-of-ice/
Sunday morning strolls to the farmers market could include a few stumbles home if distillers are given permits to sell at them.
The post Michigan farmers markets look to add local distillery samplings first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/30/michigan-farmers-markets-look-to-add-local-distillery-samplings/
A case for thinking about nature on a different timescale.
The post Living with fossils first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/29/living-with-fossils/
People charged with neglecting and abusing animals would have to pay for the animals’ shelter expenses during their court proceedings, if recently introduced legislation becomes law.
The post Michigan pet owners mistreating their animals may have to pay shelter costs first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/22/michigan-pet-owners-mistreating-their-animals-may-have-to-pay-shelter-costs/
Researchers are studying a long-vanished village near southern Lake Michigan that a World War II arsenal helped preserve.
The post Great Lakes region WWII armory preserves Indigenous village first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/17/great-lakes-region-wwii-armory-preserves-indigenous-village/
Michigan farms that offer agricultural tourism opportunities have seen record-breaking attendance over the past two years.
The post ‘Organic growth’ fuels record-breaking agritourism season, experts say first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/16/organic-growth-fuels-record-breaking-agritourism-season-experts-say/
Great Lakes-themed books for your holiday giving.
The post Great Lakes reading for the holidays first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/08/great-lakes-reading-for-the-holidays/
With stores already in the full swing of the Christmas season, many people are already thinking about the centerpiece of decorations: the real Christmas tree.
The post Projections rosy for the upcoming Christmas tree season first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/03/projections-rosy-for-the-upcoming-christmas-tree-season/
Farmers are known for their ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ mentality. It is rare they’ll admit they’re getting mental health help.
The post Mental health resources grow for Michigan farmers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/02/mental-health-resources-grow-for-michigan-farmers/
As with books at traditional libraries, seed libraries contain seeds that circulate among community members.
The post Michigan seed libraries grow food resilience first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/30/michigan-seed-libraries-grow-food-resilience/
By Sammy Schuck Most people may know that festivals attract people to Michigan communities. What most may not know is that festivals and events in the state are an annual $1 billion industry, according to Michigan Festivals and Events Association CEO Mike Szukhent. According to Szukhent, the lack of winter festivals last year “hit hard.” […]
The post Communities welcome return of winter festivals first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/29/communities-welcome-return-of-winter-festivals/
Some lawmakers and environmental advocates want to ban chemicals in food packaging that they say threatens the health of Michiganders.
The post Advocates push ban of chemicals in food packaging first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/26/advocates-push-ban-of-chemicals-in-food-packaging/
A beloved German holiday tradition, Christkindlmarket, will return to Chicago this year and celebrate its 25th anniversary after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The post Christkindlmarket returns to Chicago, the wait continues in Milwaukee first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/23/christkindlmarket-returns-to-chicago-the-wait-continues-in-milwaukee/
By Hannah Brock Author Timothy Kneeland was 14 years old when snow piled 20 to 30 feet high over four days in his small town outside of Buffalo, New York. The Great Lakes’ snow belt brought havoc to the Buffalo area on Jan. 28, 1977. The storm was the first to be declared a federal […]
The post The drive for bare pavement shaped winter roads public policy first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/22/the-drive-for-bare-pavement-shaped-winter-roads-public-policy/
A recent study revealed unsafe working conditions in some Michigan nail salons, the consequence of working with hazardous chemicals and not knowing how to handle them properly.
The post Nail salon working hazards exposed first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/15/nail-salon-working-hazards-exposed/
Cohen will be at Howe Memorial Library in Breckinridge, Michigan, on Nov. 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. presenting “Making Teas, Tinctures and Oils at Home.”
The post New book preserves relationship with plants through at-home herbalism first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/15/new-book-preserves-relationship-with-plants-through-at-home-herbalism/
The peak of the pandemic brought unfamiliar free time that led many people to adopt a pet. As life returns closer to normal and in-person activities resume, these new owners continue to embrace their pandemic pets.
The post New owners hold on to pandemic pets first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/10/new-owners-hold-on-to-pandemic-pets/
Environmental groups say they hope that a new Environmental Protection Agency administrator for the Great Lakes region works to restore infrastructure while revitalizing an agency they say is depleted and demoralized.
The post Great Lakes groups hope EPA regional administrator revitalizes infrastructure, morale first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/11/09/great-lakes-groups-hope-epa-regional-administrator-revitalizes-infrastructure-morale/
