COVID-19

Communities welcome return of winter festivals

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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.”

There are over 800 festivals in Michigan in a normal year, and the Flushing-based association works with most of them, assisting with advocacy, training, marketing and promotion, Szukhent said. Szukhent emphasizes the importance of such events to local economies. A worker shortage is one major challenge festivals have faced since May 2021 and which will challenge winter festivals this upcoming winter, he said.

Echo

The drive for bare pavement shaped winter roads public policy

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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 emergency disaster declaration for snow. More than 40 years later, Kneeland documented the experience and how it impacted public policy with his book “Declaring Disaster: Buffalo’s Blizzard of ‘77 and the Creation of FEMA” (Syracuse University Press, $24.95).

Echo

Nail salon working hazards exposed

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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.