Offbeat

Diver discovers a 97-year-old message in a bottle

Stateside Staff — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:01:52 +0000

In 2013, if you want to let the world know you're someplace having a good time, you might whip out your smartphone and tweet it or post a check-in or status update on Facebook.

97 years ago, you might write a message, roll it up, tuck it in a bottle and toss it into the St Clair River.

That's what a couple of young Detroiters did when they were having fun one summer's day at Tashmoo. That was a very popular amusement part on Harsen's Island on the northern end of Lake St Clair.

And why do we know about this message in a bottle? Because Dave Leander found the bottle as he was diving in the St Clair River.

Cute Michigan baby animals, we dare you to look away

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:59:40 +0000

There were four baby peregrine falcons nesting on the roof of University Hospital at the end of April. The University Record reports this is the third year in a row that two falcons nested on the hospital roof.

A contest was held to name the babies. Today, the people running the University of Michigan's Facebook page announced the winning names:

Maize,
Blue,
Woodson,
and Howard.

The images of the cute falcon babies got us wondering, 'what can be cuter than these things?'

Man Medals: A unique way to show appreciation

Stateside Staff — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:19:34 +0000

As Father's Day is just around the corner, are you thinking about what to get that special man in your life?

Well, ask virtually any wife and chances are she'll tell you that when the man of the house steps outside his designated "manly chores" and does something that would be considered to be in her domain, that man wants praise and plenty of it.

There's something to this: a Pew Research Center survey finds, of the predictors for a successful marriage, sharing household chores is Number Three on the list, just behind faithfulness and a happy sexual relationship.

All of this inspired a Waterford man to put on his "entrepreneur's hat" and come up with a new business: Man Medals, a witty but pointed way for her to dish out praise to him, and for him to take a bow for helping out.

Jim O'Brien is the founder of the Man Medals, and he joined us today in the studio.

Listen to the full interview above.

Michigan holds the nation's fudge capital - Mackinac Island

Rick Pluta — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:02:07 +0000

This coming Sunday isn’t just Father's Day -- it is also National Fudge Day.

By most accounts, the first batch of fudge was concocted in Baltimore in the 1880s. By the turn of the century, fudge-making arrived on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan, which today has a legitimate claim as the modern day fudge capital.

Tourists pile off ferries and onto Mackinac Island by the thousands every day during the summer. For many, one of the first stops when they arrive or the last stop before they board a ferry back home, is one of the island’s 15 or so fudge shops.

Island-wide, the favorite is plain, unadulterated chocolate fudge.

How long do you wash your hands? Be honest.

Mark Brush — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:35:34 +0000

This morning, Rebecca Williams reported on the MSU research that found we are still falling down on the job when it comes to washing our hands.

I say "still" because these kinds of studies have been done in the past.

Odawa tribe gay couple invited to White House

The Associated Press — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:29:41 +0000

BOYNE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Two men who became spouses at a Michigan Indian reservation in a state that bans same-sex marriages have been invited to the White House.

MLive.com reports that Tim LaCroix and Gene Barfield will be guests of President Barack Obama on Thursday at a reception honoring LGBT Pride Month. LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

The men were married in March by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, of which LaCroix is a member. Same-sex marriage is prohibited in Michigan, but federally recognized Native American tribes are self-governing and aren't bound by state law.

Barfield and LaCroix say they were shocked to receive the invitation and canceled a scheduled trip to California.

The longtime partners live in Boyne City.

Lansing Christmas Tree search begins

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:10:55 +0000

School’s out and summer means sun tans, barbeques, beach days, and…searching for Christmas Trees?

The hunt for the state holiday tree has begun. Michigan needs a 65-foot-tall evergreen that can sparkle on the lawn of the Capitol building in November.

“Everyone laughs that the process starts in June,” said Kurt Weiss with Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management and Budget, “But that’s when the process starts.”

Superheroes fly in to Ann Arbor's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:14:13 +0000

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the window washing crew!

Earlier this year, we posted on an unusual window washing trend. At children hospitals across the nation it appears that independent window washing companies and contractors have been donning super hero costumes to spread a little cheer.

This past Monday, superheroes visited the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Small community attempts to 'make it right' for Michigan soldier whose medals came late

Lindsey Smith — Mon, 27 May 2013 19:45:15 +0000

Update 5/29/13: This story has been corrected to reflect Wright’s rank as Specialist, not Sergeant. Wright misrepresented his rank during the formal event.

Memorial Day was particularly special for an injured Iraqi war veteran from Allegan.

Hundreds huddled close at Oakwood Cemetery Monday morning. Some wept as Amy Wright finally pinned a Purple Heart on her husband’s uniform. He kneeled so his 7-year old daughter Torin could pin on the other one.

'Mower Gang' takes on Detroit's overgrown parks

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 27 May 2013 18:58:57 +0000

These days, services in Detroit are bare-bones—and a lot of the work that does get done is done by volunteers.

The Detroit Mower Gang is just one of the many groups tackling that work.

The group mowed grass, trimmed brush and picked up trash at parks throughout the city during their “Motown Mowdown,” a 24-hour mowing binge that also involved an overnight camp out in one park.

This is from their event announcement on Facebook:

Iconic Michigan landmark facing demolition

Steve Carmody — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:43:00 +0000

The Irish Hills Towers are a familiar landmark along US-12 in southern Michigan.

But the nearly 90-year-old towers face a potential demolition order … unless years of decline and disrepair can be addressed.

Donna Boglarsky owned the towers for many years. Now she’s working the save the rundown landmark.

“I know I’ve had a few people who’ve said “Have you gotten an estimate on how much the demolition will cost?’,” says Boglarsky, “That’s not even an option to look at, because that’s not in our vision at all.”

Not exactly 'beach' weather

Steve Carmody — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:13:26 +0000

The summer holiday season is getting off to a cool start this weekend.

There’s a chance of frost tonight in parts of Michigan. And daytime temperatures will struggle to make it into the low 70’s the rest of the weekend.

It may feel a little chilly for the first weekend of summer, but weather forecasters say more seasonable temperatures are coming.

But will this be a warmer or cooler summer?

Jeff Andresen is a state climatologist. He says Michigan’s average summer high temperatures range in the upper 70 to lower 80’s.

The WFUM broadcast tower is being painted

Tony Brown — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:14 +0000

WFUM will experience periods off the air today while tower crews begin rigging the tower for next week’s painting. Beginning Tuesday, May 28, WFUM will experience periods off the air while the tower is being painted. We apologize for the inconvenience.

3 ways to procrastinate and feel like a better person

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:30:05 +0000

It's Friday. Your Facebook news feed is stale and if time slowed down any more it would stop. Here are three ways to procrastinate, while simultaneously making yourself think that you're becoming a better person.

1. Curate your LinkedIn profile, iTunes library, and Facebook "Likes"

Remember those budding musical groups that you "liked" on Facebook five years ago to support a friend? Or the phase when you decided to try to become an "album person" and download an artist's complete discography to your iTunes library after hearing one of her songs on the radio?

Two big jackpots stoking lottery fever in Michigan

Steve Carmody — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Michigan lottery players are dreaming of winning two huge jackpots these days.

More than 700 million dollars is on the line in this weekend’s Powerball and Mega Millions drawings.

Andi Brancato is the spokeswoman for the Michigan Lottery. She says the two big jackpots are pushing lottery ticket sales.

“Maybe you have regular Mega Millions players who think ‘Gee, maybe I’ll get a Powerball ticket as well’,” says Brancato, “and vice versa with the Powerball players.”

Flint's emergency manager tries to sell Santa and his reindeer

Rina Miller — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:23:06 +0000

When Flint's emergency manager put the city's Santa Claus display up for auction, some local residents decided that was going too far.

Melodee Mabbitt says her hometown doesn't need more bad news, so she and her husband bid $150 for the jolly old elf, his sleigh and four reindeer that sit atop Flint's city hall during the holidays.

Most popular names for Michigan dogs and cats

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:08:58 +0000

Failing schools, emergency managers, and problems at nuclear power plants have populated Michigan headlines lately.

Important, but not very cheery.

We thought we'd lighten your Friday by sharing a few stats from Banfield Hospital's State of the Pet report. Here are a few of our favorites.

The most popular YouTube videos in 4 Michigan cities

Mark Brush — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:21:19 +0000

The new "YouTube Trends Map" shows you the most the popular videos by city. It can also be broken down by sex and age group.

What's trending in Michigan right now?

Well, apparently you like your country music in the northern part of the state:

Traverse City - Alan Jackson "He Stopped Loving Her Today" George Jones' Funeral

Your dating advice in West Michigan:

Grand Rapids - Ten Things You Should Never Say to a Guy

Your vampires in southern Michigan:

Detroit - True Blood Season 6 Trailer

And in the UP, you are in a time lapse kind of mood:

Marquette - FULL VERSION! Marquette, MI - HDR Color Time Lapse - A City Motion Production

That's what is trending now. But I venture to guess that it won't be long before this interview with Charles Ramsey becomes the most popular in your area:

http://youtu.be/SdtCEaxfT38

H/T to Heather Bryant

State to return bricks that helped fund restoration of 'World's Largest Stove'

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:02:07 +0000

If you bought an engraved brick to help restore the World's Largest Stove, the state of Michigan would like to give it back to you.

The state Land Bank tomorrow will return 1200 bricks that lined a pathway to the stove at the State Fairgrounds at Cadillac Place in Detroit. The bricks were installed in 1998 as a fundraiser to help restore the stove.

The stove was initially built for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, and was later brought to Detroit. The stove was destroyed by a fire in 2011.

Jet Skiers let it rip on the flooded Grand River (VIDEO)

Mark Brush — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:41:28 +0000

So much for the "no contact" order from the health department.

These guys suited up and went places they normally can't go:

http://youtu.be/fdi-YG7mghM

One commenter asks "That's pretty awesome, but isn't the water disgusting?"

Looks like the fun outweighed the "disgusting" in this case.

H/T Dustin Dwyer