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Including the internet in the war against invasives

MARQUETTE - If species like the emerald ash borer, garlic mustard and Eurasian watermilfoil can invade landscapes, perhaps they should invade your thoughts as well.Residents seeking information and insight on Michigan's invasive species are invited to visit the state's new Michigan Invasive Species website at www.michigan.gov/invasives for help.The site is a collaborative effort among Michigan's three "Quality of Life" agencies: the Michigan departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality and Agriculture and Rural Development, each of which oversees different aspects of invasive ...

Ceramics for the young set

MARQUETTE - An art education major typically focuses on two major things: the art itself, and educating people about that art.Amanda Kucharek, a senior at Northern Michigan University, is majoring in art education with a concentration in ceramics. She balances her efforts between her unique ceramics and teaching kids at Negaunee Middle School how to be creative with art.They don't have to produce the professional ceramic pieces that come from her hands, but that's not necessarily the goal with the preteen set.Kucharek, an Alpena native, is a student teacher at the middle school for ...

Friend, hero, confidant: Mom deserves thanks, more on her birthday

MARQUETTE - When I think about my childhood, it's mostly a blur. But it's my mother who stands out the most.Relationships with our parents are always complicated. I don't see eye to eye with my mom on a number of things, but her role in my life has been unambiguously, overwhelmingly and immeasurably fundamental to everything I am.I thank God for her every day.When I think of my mom, the first thing that comes to mind is her voice, so often singing or reciting a rhyme. Her love of poetry, music, children and animals, the special attention and encouragement she lavished on us, her constant ...

Traversing America’s trails

MARQUETTE - If James Lunning isn't an avid hiker by now, he soon will be.Lunning, who hails from Minneapolis, recently came through Marquette as a thru-hiker on the North Country Scenic Trail.At 4,600 miles, the North Country Scenic Trail is the longest of the national scenic trails, stretching from New York to North Dakota. A section of the trail runs through the Upper Peninsula, including Marquette.Being a thru-hiker means you're walking the entire distance as opposed to being simply a day hiker, which can be strenuous on its own, depending on the terrain.The North Country Scenic Trail ...

Family cancer scare: News from loved one brings perspective

MARQUETTE - A few weeks ago, I got the dreaded phone call. One of those calls where before words are even spoken, you know that something isn't quite right.My mom had just left the doctor's office. She was told she had skin cancer."I'm going to be OK," she said, speaking softly in an attempt to mask her own fear of the situation.Hearing the word cancer is scary, especially when it's linked to someone you love.Although skin cancer is common and, statistically speaking, has an extremely high rate of survival if detected early, it shouldn't be taken lightly.Living in a state with more than ...

Grandfathers: Cherish offer to spend time together

By now, most of you have probably read about the grandfather - the PaPaw - who had invited his six grandchildren to dinner, making 12 burgers, only to have just one of the kids show up for the meal.Shared on Twitter, a photo taken by the one granddaughter who did make it was retweeted thousands and thousands of times. The older gentleman's sad expression touched a chord in many.Including me. But there was more to it for me than the sweet older gent's forlorn face: It brought up a lifetime of longing.I never had a grandpa in my life because both of my grandfathers - Matthias Prusi and ...