Whether you’re into swimming, paddling, skiing, surfing, sailing, fishing, floating or cruising, the fun watersports that are Michigan traditions will undoubtedly pull you back to the sparkling blue this summer. From Lake Fenton to the Holloway Reservoir and the meandering Flint River, no one needs to travel very far to enjoy the water. Even the Flint River is heartily shaking off its stigma of being yucky and unsafe for recreational enthusiasts. Canoers and kayakers frequently paddle the river each summer and are pleasantly surprised by its natural beauty and the assortment of wildlife they see.
Brent Nickola of Lapeer and his father Dr. Paul Nickola of Linden have a few fishing stories to tell. The tales begin in Flushing, where Brent grew up and where Paul practiced optometry for 32 years. Their home had a pond nearby, which contained an assortment of fish, including one of a pair of catfish affectionately known as Big Mama swimming in its depths – and Big Mama was resilient. “We caught it for a decade or more,” says Brent. “It loved Koegel hotdogs!” Paul nods. “We always caught the same damn fish,” he laughs. “The bluegills were huge. We would throw them back because we just wanted to fish.”
The Grand Re-opening of Longway Planetarium was celebrated today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, cocktail reception, star shows and an indoor tour of the newly renovated facility. The celebration continues through the Weekend of Wonder (May 30-31), when all activities and shows in the radically different planetarium theater are free to the public! The exciting titles include , including “Perfect Little Planet,” “To Space and Back,” “Violent Universe” and “Sea Monsters.” Check it out!
According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, more children ages 5-14 go to the ER for bicycle-related injuries than any other sport. Here are a few safety reminders!
In 1990, Al Comstock started a bike business in his garage. As it began to grow, he moved his venture to the Davison area and today, Al’s Quick Release is located on West Flint Street in the former Kellogg’s Grocery Store building. According to Al, biking has gained popularity in the past ten years because of numerous bicycle/pedestrian paths being built in the country. “Cyclists feel a lot more comfortable when they don’t have to deal with cars,” he laughed. Michigan leads with the most miles of bicycle/pedestrian paths, partially because Gov. Rick Snyder is promoting them. Also, the Rails to Trails Conservancy has assisted in converting old railroad beds into paths, Al added.
For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, because some things are worth preserving. Turns out, they’re just around the corner. At your Genesee County Parks. Here are some events that are coming up!
Longway Planetarium will reopen as Michigan’s largest and most modern planetarium with a celebration that’s out of this world on May 30 & 31, 2015. During this weekend, all shows in the radically different planetarium theater are free and open to the public compliments of ITC Holdings. (ITC) The fun will kick off with star shows in the radically different planetarium theater on Saturday at 10am. For complete details including show schedule and trailers of the shows, visit SloanLongway.org.
Did you know that it takes 556 worker bees to produce one pound of honey? This is just one of the interesting things kids will learn at the Flint Children’s Museum new exhibit, A Bee’s Life. The bright and colorful display, painted by resident artist Caron Severn, opened on March 31 in the museum’s Discovery Zone exhibit area. It was designed to teach children the life cycle of bees and the important role they play in our ecosystem, according to Kimberly Roddy, Acting Executive Director. “Kids learn as they dress-up as drone bees, worker bees or queen bees, dance the ‘waggle dance’ and then carry the pollen from over-sized, three-dimensional flowers to the honeycomb climbing ramp,” she says.
While the closest groomed trails are located at Independence Oaks County Park north of Clarkston, several local trails offer outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to ski on varied terrain, enjoy the area’s natural beauty and possibly spot some wildlife. Here is a closer look at Marty’s suggestions for trails to check out along with a few others:
