Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
West Bloomfield Township Adventure Park Adds Canopied Mini Golf Course
TreeRunner Adventure Park in West Bloomfield is adding an all-natural canopied, 18-hole mini golf course that is scheduled to open this month. The course, the only one of its kind in Michigan, is set in the forest, completely covered by a beautiful canopy of trees, and protected from the sun.
“This is a one-of-a-kind mini golf course in Michigan, as it’s in the forest completely covered by trees,” says Jeremy Fishman, president of TreeRunner. “You won’t find windmills, pirates, and raging waterfalls at our course. The course is designed with mini golf enthusiasts in mind who want to avoid the hot sun prevalent at putt-putt courses that don’t have trees. The entire park is perfect for families on a budget that are opting for a day in nature as part of their staycation.”
Fishman says the course is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends. It is lighted and available for birthday parties, private events, and corporate outings.
“This is part of our on-going effort to add more opportunities for our guests to get that up-north experience close to home,” Fishman says.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids under 10 or an additional $5 with an aerial forest ticket. For more information, visit here.
New Book Offers Roadmap to Success for Young People
A new book by Barry Franklin, director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, provides a detailed roadmap for young people to achieve their dreams and a fulfilling life.
“GPS for Success: Skills, Strategies and Secrets of Superachievers” is based in part on a “GPS for Success” course that Franklin developed and taught for five years at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.
During a 45-year career motivating patients to make lifestyle changes to prevent or halt heart disease, Franklin’s secondary passion has been studying behavioral characteristics of highly successful people in all walks of life. He scoured the world’s literature and interviewed highly successful people to provide a “one-stop” resource of proven and practical recommendations for future success.
“This book fills a void in the contemporary educational curriculum — it’s the missing course for high school and college graduates who dream of a successful and fulfilling life, but need help getting there,” Franklin says. “It’s my way of giving back, helping young people to help themselves.”
It includes the stories of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James from the sports world; J.K Rowling, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jim Carrey from the entertainment world, and Henry Ford, Charles Schwab, Steve Jobs, and Warren Buffett from the business world, to name a few.
“GPS for Success: Skills, Strategies and Secrets of Highly Successful People” is available at www.healthylearning.com, www.routledge.com, and www.amazon.com.
Johnson Nature Center to Serve Six-course Fundraising Dinner Sept. 10
Friends of the Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Township has partnered with Sylvan Table Chef Chris Gadulka to bring the community a unique Forest to Table strolling dinner experience at the Johnson Nature Center on Sept. 10.
Featuring six courses, Gadulka will intertwine Michigan native and invasive species of flora and fauna as ingredients in his dishes served throughout a quarter mile trail. Guests will have an opportunity to connect with the natural environment and engage their senses as they stroll the trails to taste chef’s creations.
There will be live music, an open bar, performing artists, and interactive demonstrations that will shed light on the ecological issues facing the hyperlocal environment. The evening will conclude lakeside with dessert, photo opportunities, and a fire show under the harvest moon.
Tickets, which will sell for $200 and $275 for VIP, will be on sale starting Aug. 1. Early ticketing will be available for members of Friends of the JNC.
For more information, visit here.
United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Blue Cross, and Blue Cross Complete Partner on Grant Funding to Improve Food Pantry Infrastructure
In an effort to increase access to nutrient-rich options for those in need, Michigan food pantries are invited to apply for grant funding to help enhance their infrastructure and programming. United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, launched a grant program with the goal that all clients visiting these pantries will have access to nutrient-rich foods including dairy, fruit, and vegetables.
The program contains two grant categories tailored to food pantries’ needs, including:
- Dairy Foods Grant: Food pantries are eligible to apply for up to $500 in dairy match funding. If a food pantry purchases dairy foods from their food bank or a local retailer, they can receive matching funds to purchase additional dairy foods. Eligible dairy foods include milk, cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese.
- Food Pantry Infrastructure Grant: Food pantries may apply for up to $2,500 in funds to improve pantry infrastructure in support of the distribution of dairy foods and fresh produce. Examples of infrastructure requests to support dairy include coolers, transportation and maintenance of refrigeration equipment.
The program aims to help reduce the number of people in Michigan facing hunger and food insecurity.
According to 2021 statistics from Feeding America, there are 25 counties in Michigan where 15 percent or more of the population is food insecure. The numbers of food-insecure children in Michigan are even higher, as there are 12 counties in which 20 percent or more of the children are food insecure.
Grant applications for the 2022 calendar year are due September 30, 2022. Applications must be submitted using the online application. Visit the Food Pantry Grant Program webpage for further details.
