Our Last Summer with a Great Old Car.
This year makes the 23rd birthday of our 1990 Chrysler LaBaron GT convertible. This grand old dame has seen three generations of owners and has been in the first car of each of the Hardy Boys. The LaBaron was a catch-all name at Chrysler in the 1990′s but the vehicle was based on the famous K-Car platform derivative that saved Chrysler from certain death from bankruptcy in the early 1980′s. With its 3.0 liter V6 Mitsubishi engine this car had the get up and go tendency. Evan told me he had the speedometer pegged at 130 going up I-75 on very early morning several years ago.
Evan, Ethan and now Ian have all called the old lady their first car. This year looks to be that last season for this trustworthy convertible. Tonight I cleaned her up a bit and took some last shots. Later this summer we may take it up to Caseville for its final curtain call.
Thumbwind’s Focus for 2013
Thumbwind.com has documented a tumultuous couple of years in the Upper Thumb region. With increased environmental pressure on the Saginaw Bay evidenced by algae blooms, record low water levels and complicated by drought conditions in the upper Midwest the potential for increased challenges to traditional ways of life are now a daily topic of conversation. Thumbwind.com will focus on the following three elements.
How Water Quality Affects Everyone’s Way of Life. – If you’re a retiree to the area, sportsman or a professional farmer in Huron County. The water quality out in the Bay affects everyone. If is green and gross you can’t swim in it, drink it, or use it for aquaculture. Thumbwind will be on alert for changes in this key environmental indicator.
Lake and Well Water Levels – With record lows now upon Lake Huron a
nd Lake Michigan there is no doubt that huge changes and expenses are going to affect everyone. If you can’t launch a boat, or get a glass of clean water in your cottage there is no reason to spend time and money in the Upper Thumb. Last year we noted several major cases of well aquifer stress near Ubly. We will monitor activity in this critical sector.
Local Political Fallout – Environmental events we are now witnessing took years to develop. It’s only now that both political parties are paying attention. We are amazed that the State of Michigan is stepping up to the problem of small harbors being potentially cut off from the Great Lakes. We will keep a keen eye out for activity on any action that affects our way of life in the Upper Thumb.
Besides the serious stuff we will always cover Cheeseburger and the other crazy activity in Caseville, Bayport and Port Austin. This year we will also have contributing editors covering northern Minnesota, Michigan’s UP and Lake Superior region. We hope you will stay tuned for all the shenanigans. It’s going to be a great summer of 2013 in the Upper Thumb and we hope you can drop in from time to time and participate.
Related articles
- Michigansthumb.com:Local harbors could get state money for dredging (michigansthumb.com)
Notable Films Made in Michigan 2011
Below is a list of select films made in Michigan in 2011. The Michigan Film Board reported on 46 productions taking place in Michigan over the past two years.
Oz Great and Powerful – A small-time magician with questionable ethics arrives in a magical land and must choose between becoming a good man or a great one.
Sparkle – Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.
Spy Kids All the Time in the World 4D- A retired spy is called back into action, and to bond with her new step-children, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world.
Margarine Wars – 60′s Psychedelic Counterculture clash during the “Summer of Love,” when an aspiring hippie Afro-Jew from New York dupes the son of a Swedish dairy farmer into smuggling illegal margarine into butter rich Wisconsin.
Dogman – Hanklin Purvis enjoys the outdoors, and he loves to hunt. He and his wife, Dorothy, live on a farm in the rural mid-west. For some reason, during the season before autumn, things start.
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Hollywood Found Michigan’s Thumb
This Must Be the Place is a 2011 drama film directed by Paolo Sorrentino, written by Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello and released in the U.S. in 2012.It stars Sean Penn and Frances McDormand. The film deals with a middle-aged wealthy rock star who becomes bored in his retirement and takes on the quest of finding his father’s tormentor, a Nazi war criminal who is a refugee in the United States.
The film was an Italian-majority production with co-producers in France and Ireland. Principal photography began in August 2010. Filming took place in Ireland and Italy, as well as the Thumb area of Michigan, New Mexico and New York. The film was in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
In September 2012, production moved to Michigan where filming took place in Bad Axe, Ubly, Kinde and Sterling Heights. Some of what are thought to be shots from the Thumb area have been captured here from the YouTube Trailers. Anyone know where exactly these shots are from?
Material quoted from various web sources.
Related articles
- Michigansthumb.com:Movie filmed here will be shown Tuesday (michigansthumb.com)
Low Lake Levels Could Cost Huron Marinas $1m in Lost Revenue
The impact of low lake levels on marina owners across Huron County could translate into lost revenue approaching $1 million in 2013. With over 1000 slips available on the Huron shoreline from Sebewaing to Harbor Beach there is significant questions if larger boats will be able to access these marinas and harbors. Sailboats and watercraft with a waterline length above 25 feet typically have larger below water line draft. Sailboats in this range typically range from four to eight feet of draft and require deeper water in order to maneuver.
Real Dollars at Stake
An analysis was conducted of the direct impact to Huron County marinas and harbors if water levels prevent these larger boats from being able to be placed into a slip and if large transient boaters are unable to come into harbors. This problem is particularly acute at Caseville, Bay Port and Port Austin. If 30% of the seasonal boaters are unable to get into their slip, direct losses could approach $600,000 in 2013. Couple this with the inability for transient boater to come into port during the season that the amount soars close to $1,000,000.
This loss is only for slip fees. Loses would also be felt in fuel, food, hardware, restaurants and other opportunities that the local community typically fills.
Great Lakes Ice at Near-Record Lows
Reposting this excellent update on the conditions of the Great Lakes ice coverage that will impact water levels.
Great Lakes Ice at near-record lows « Michigan in Pictures.
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- Satellites reveal scant Great Lakes ice cover (greatlakesecho.org)
Low Water on Lake Huron Reveals Shipwreck
The historic low water levels on the Great Lakes have opened up sights that have not been seen in over 50 years. A Civil War Era wreak near Oak Point in Michigan‘s Huron County is one such sight.
Huron Daily Tribune > Archives > News > Local News > Shipwreck emerges near Oak Point.
Related articles
- Record Low Water Levels in Lake Huron, Lake Michigan (commondreams.org)
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