Kalamazoo County Characters to be Released in January 2025 from The History Press
Featuring profiles of 50 notable figures in Kalamazoo area history Since its founding in the early 1800s, Kalamazoo has welcomed
Read More
Author: Dianna Stampfler
Legendary Female Lighthouse Keeper Elizabeth Whitney Williams Inducted into Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state (129) and over the course of the last two hundred years since the first was erected, nearly 50 women have served as keepers of these iconic beacons. Chief among those is Elizabeth (Whitney) VanRiper Williams who was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at ceremonies at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center in downtown Detroit.
Read More
Grandfather Christmas Series is Sure to Become a Holiday Book Tradition
With the holidays upon us, families will be delighted by the debut book from Michigan author Joe Guthrie, The Journey, the first in the Grandfather Christmas: The Secret Scrolls Collection from Mission Point Press in Traverse City.
Read More
Spooky Stays Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Late this summer, I had the opportunity to spend nearly two weeks in Michigan’s scenic and remote Upper Peninsula. My trips were work related, centered around speaking engagements, festivals, conferences and paranormal research. One three separate nights, I threw caution to the wind and checked into the “haunted rooms” of historically notable hotels and inns to see if I could meet the spirited residents who are said to still be eternal guests.
Read More
THE BIG WILD: Jimmy Carter in Michigan’s Pigeon River Country
As an avid outdoorsman from childhood, one of Jimmy Carter’s favorite pastimes was to enjoy all that nature had to offer. After a canceled trip freed up the former president’s weekend, Carter journeyed up to the Pigeon River Country State Forest, seeking to finally capture a trophy that had long eluded him—the ruffed grouse. The hunt was successful, but more than that, Carter and his hunting crew left with a newfound appreciation for “The Big Wild” of Northern Michigan.
Read More
PORT OF CALL: Buoyed Boyne
The waterfront community of Boyne City boasts the best of all worlds as a tourism destination, a quaint award-winning business
Read More
Full-Service Taphouse
When the Sima family decided to build a brewery in New Buffalo, overlooking the Galien River and its surrounding wetlands, they chose a name based on a spirited legend that has been perpetuated by the community for decades.
Read More
Wooden Wonders
Built out of necessity throughout the 19th century, covered bridges allowed farmers and country residents to cross rivers and streams which separated rural areas from urban centers. It was widely believed that when building or repairing these structures, it was easier to climb on the rooftops and replace shingles than it was to battle the currents while repairing floorboards and walls `from the water.
Read More
Center of Attention
Mention Mount Pleasant and most people think one of two things: Central Michigan University (CMU) and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, opened by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan in 1998—and yet the area boasts so much more.
Read More
Carnegie Libraries of Michigan Presentations Planned for Upper Peninsula this September
Michigan historian, storyteller and author Dianna Stampfler will be presenting two programs in early September about the Carnegie Libraries of Michigan. Her program on Tuesday, September 3 (5pm) at the Escanaba Public Library and Wednesday, September 4 (5:30pm) at the Ishpeming Carnegie Library are both free and open to the public.
Read More
Michigan Wine Collaborative Partners with Certified American Grown for Field to Vase Dinner – Saturday, September 14
Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Creekside Growers, this Field to Vase Dinner promises to be an unforgettable evening celebrating the artistry of local wine paired with the beauty of locally grown flowers, the bounty of Michigan’s agriculture, and the culinary delights that highlight the best of local produce. Guests will dine amidst the blooming fields, enjoying a farm-to-table meal that showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Read More
Pop-Tarts – The Origins of America’s Favorite Toaster Pastry
Though born out of competition, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts quickly stole the stage as the leading toaster pastry in the United States. However, the process of bringing the product to market was full of logistical challenges. From unfrosted to frosted and beyond, this Michigan-made, on-the-go breakfast pastry has secured its place on tables and in hearts across America.
Read More
Michigan Abueva Builders’ Lakeside Net Zero Passive House Selected as Finalist for International Award
A home recently built on Gull Lake by Kalamazoo builder, Abueva Builders, has reached global status. The net zero passive house has been selected as a top ten finalist for the international LEED Home Awards Project of the Year.
Read More