Macomb’s Miller mad about Canada’s smoke

Smokey Belle Isle Sunset by Ryan Jake Jakubowski

Smokey Belle Isle Sunset by Ryan Jake Jakubowski

The Detroit News reports that as Michigan has extended its 10th air quality advisory of the season, Macomb County’s Candice Miller is calling on Canada to do more about wildfires that are degrading Michigan’s air quality:

“Breathing in the Canadian wildfires smoke cannot be the new normal,” said Candice Miller, Macomb County public works commissioner.

Since June, wildfires in Canada have caused decreased air quality in bordering states in the U.S., prompting the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to so far issue ten advisories warning against unhealthy breathing conditions. Miller called for U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra to press Canadian officials to increase efforts combating wildfires and improve forestry management.

“Ambassador Hoekstra needs to make some noise,” Miller said. “Smoke from Canada wildfires should not be a regular part or our summers but unfortunately that’s become the norm in our state and others. It’s unacceptable for our friends in Canada to simply say, ‘The fires will burn out’ or ‘Wait until December.’”

…During mid-afternoon on Thursday, the air quality index in central Macomb County was between 140 to 150, a range described as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” “That description misses the mark, in my opinion. Smoke is unhealthy for all groups,” Miller said. At the same time in the Marquette area, the air quality index was 139, a day after measuring 161. In Seney, in the central portion of the Upper Peninsula, the reading was 160 during the morning of July 30, the highest in the state.

Ryan took these photos last night on Belle Isle at sunset. Click the pic above to follow Ryan & see more on Facebook and for sure check out J&C Photography to view & purchase his work and to hire him for photographic services including drone photography & some very cool 360 degree panoramas.

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Jellyfish Stormfront

Jellyfish Stormfront by Tom Parrent

Tom shot this terrifying image of the August 2, 2015 superstorm from Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula. See more on his Facebook.

Check out a full retrospective on one of the strongest storms in Michigan’s modern history on Leelanau.com.

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Start looking for Perseid Meteors NOW!

The Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower in the same night by Joshua DuPois

The Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower in the same night by Joshua DuPois

The American Meteor Society’s Meteor Shower Calendar for 2025-2026 has this to say about the Perseid Meteor Shower:

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 14 to September 1. They reach a strong maximum on August 12 or 13, depending on the year. Normal rates seen from rural locations range from 50-75 shower members per hour at maximum. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle during its numerous returns to the inner solar system. They are called Perseids since the radiant (the area of the sky where the meteors seem to originate) is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the hero when at maximum activity. In 2025, the waning gibbous moon will severely compromise this shower at the time of maximum activity. Such conditions will reduce activity by at least 75 percent as only the brighter meteors will be visible.

So while the sheer number will peak in a couple weeks, you’re advised to start looking now! Head over to the AMS for more on the Perseids & other meteor showers including the currently active alpha Capricornids.

Joshua took this back in August of 2018. See the latest on his Flickr!

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The last look at Jimmy Hoffa

Last portraits of Jimmy Hoffa by Tony Spina

Last portraits of Jimmy Hoffa by Tony Spina

50 years ago on the morning of July 30th, 1975 Chief Photographer for the Detroit Free Press Tony Spina took what would be the last pictures of former Teamsters president James Riddle Hoffa. Wayne State’s Walter P Reuther Labor Library shares:

Spina was sent to visit Hoffa at his cottage on Square Lake in Lake Orion to take portraits of him for the Free Press and Newsweek. The images were not intended for a specific story; they were meant to update older photo files, which were likely outdated due to Hoffa’s incarceration from 1967 to 1971. At the time, Hoffa was challenging a federal restriction that barred him from holding a leadership position in the Teamsters until 1980, thus making him newsworthy once again.

According to Spina’s account, the backyard photo shoot was almost entirely uneventful. The two were old friends and chatted as they moved around the backyard, chasing the best light. The only notable moment occurred when Hoffa had to step away to take a call about a meeting scheduled for after lunch. It is assumed that this was the meeting held at the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, from which Hoffa never returned. 

Lots more in the Reuther Library and for sure check out photos in the awesome Tony Spina Collection online!

Jimmy Hoffa Negatives Walter P Reuther Library.jpg
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Bridging the Gap between US & Canada … with Bikes!!

Canadian & US Flags on Gordie Howe International Bridge

Canadian & US Flags on Gordie Howe International Bridge

Last week the Gordie Howe International Bridge shared that the Canadian and US flags have found their permanent home at center of the bridge deck, adding “Soon you’ll be able to see the flags for yourself from the multi-use path as you walk or bike across the bridge.” Bike to Canada you say?? Beauty!!

The Gordie Howe Bridge multi-use path will be one lane and will accommodate two-way pedestrian and cyclist traffic. It will be 1.5 miles in length and 11.8 feet wide. The multi-use path will be toll-free & connect to local road and trail networks. In Windsor, there will be connections to the Broadway Street Multi-Path and the Trans Canada Trail. In Detroit, there will be linkages to the Great Lakes Way which provides water & land routes from Lake Erie to Lake Huron and Iron Belle Trail that runs all the way to the far western corner of the Upper Peninsula!

Lots more from Gordie the Bridge! And you can bet I’ll be getting you the info about riding the Bridge just as soon as I have it! More bikes & biking on Michigan in Pictures including (very soon) the scoop on this Iron Belle Bike Trail!

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(keep) Staying Cool

Stay Cool by Steve Swarz

Stay Cool by Steve Swarz

Michigan is in the grip of another heatwave or perhaps the same heatwave because honestly at this point who can tell? Temperatures today are expected to be in the 90s with heat indexes flirting with 100 degrees.

Since it’s not expected to break until a cold front comes through on Wednesday afternoon, I thought it would be an excellent time to bring back one of my favorite photos from 10 years ago! Check out Scott’s latest on Flickr and please STAY COOL!!

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Detroit’s Hottest Day was also its 233rd birthday!

Trolly to the Tigers, Detroit 1934

Trolly to Navin Field, Detroit 1934 by Corktown Historical Society

Yesterday Model D editor Aaron Foley took a fascinating look at July 24, 1934 which remains the hottest day in the Detroit’s recorded history when the temperature struck 104.6°F at 4:10 PM on Detroit’s 233rd anniversary:

That brutal day came during a nationwide heat wave that swept from the West Coast through the Great Plains and into the Midwest, ultimately settling over the Motor City. More than 700 people died across the country due to the heat. Detroit’s death toll was lower than most. An eight-month old baby named Rosie May died of heat exhaustion and two men drowned swimming while trying to cool down. But low death toll or not, the city felt the heat.

And 105°F isn’t just “hot.” It’s desperate. On Van Dyke, on the city’s east side, a lumber yard fire broke out, engulfing nearly 10 acres. The blaze destroyed nearly 3,000 telephone lines, and claimed five lives

The Corktown Historical Society shares this photo depicts the historic intersection of Michigan & Trumbull aka “The Corner” in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood in 1934, a year the Tigers won the AL pennant. They share “Trolley cars were a popular source of transportation to Tigers games during the 1930s, at least for those who could afford the fare during the Depression. In this photo, hundreds of fans exit a trolley car near Navin Field.”

Click through to their Instagram to see photos of Bennett Park & Briggs Stadium & follow them on Facebook for the latest … or is that earliest? 😉

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Happy 324th Birthday to Detroit!

Friday Night on Woodward by Retta Billy

Woodward on a Friday Night by Retta Billy

The city of Detroit was founded on Sunday July 24, 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac. Throughout the history of the city, Detroit’s industry has been a driving engine of Michigan and the nation, reaching its zenith with the auto industry. To my mind, there’s few things that capture the indomitable spirit of the city like Woodward Avenue. I particularly love that this photo features the new Hudson’s building as a backdrop with one of the auto industry’s more out of the box experiments and a partly people powered pedal pub from Handlebar Detroit.

Enjoy this selection of nighttime scenes of the city from Michigan photographer Coretta Billy that capture that spirit. For sure follow her on Facebook and view her portrait & event photography on her website.

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Wienerlicious

Wienerlicious by Dan Gaken

All American by Dan Gaken

Dan took this back in 2014, but Weinerlicious in Mackinaw City is still serving yummy Koegel’s hot dogs every day!

See more in Dan’s Straits of Mackinac gallery on Flickr & check out more weird Michigan roadside attractions on Michigan in Pictures!

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Bird Flu is endangering Michigan’s Bald eagles comeback

Waiting for the sunrise... by Kevin Povenz

Waiting for the sunrise… by Kevin Povenz

Bridge Magazine recently reported that bird flu is killing Bald eagles in Michigan:

at least 18 eagles in Michigan that have lost their lives to bird flu so far this year, according to testing data provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Disease Laboratory. Results from 16 more suspected cases are pending. If they come back positive, that could bring the total to 34.

In the middle of the last century, the nation’s eagle population was devastated by the introduction of the insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane or DDT. It wreaked havoc on eagles which, as predators, ingested the chemical compound in high concentrations. But then, starting in 1972, a series of steps were taken to restore the eagle population. DDT was banned, bald eagles became federally protected, and some eagles were bred in captivity before being released into the wild. In Michigan, annual aerial surveys showed breeding pairs rose from 52 in 1961 to about 835 in 2017.

“They’re a population that, if there’s going to be some sort of impact, they’re going to be really slow to rebound,” said Julie Melotti, the pathologist for the Wildlife Disease Lab. Unlike rabbits or mice that reproduce rapidly, bald eagles take five years to mature and then lay two to three eggs a year.

Kevin took this last month at Grand Ravines park. He’s been sharing awesome pics of eagles with us for years & says they like to sit in this tree and wait for the sunrise. See a bunch more in his Birds of Prey gallery on Flickr!

Lots more bald Eagles on Michigan in Pictures!

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