MichiBlogger

BILLY JOEL TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS SATURDAY for a May 4th concert at The Palace. I’m a big Billy Joel fan, but I’ll be traveling that day.

THIS STORY OF A SEARCH FOR A MATCHING BONE MARROW DONOR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS A WEST MICHIGAN CONNECTION: ‘Help Giovanni’ site shut down: Complaint derails bone marrow effort.

Michael Guglielmo’s infant son Giovanni suffers from a very serious immune disorder and Mr. Guglielmo is doing everything he can to raise money and to get more people signed up as potential bone marrow donors. He built a web site called helpgiovanniguglielmo.org with photos, information, and requests for financial donations to help the family care for Giovanni and visit him in the Boston Children’s Hospital. He printed up fliers for local businesses to display, but when some didn’t post them, he began calling for boycotts and listed those businesses on a Non Giovanni Supporters page on the web site.

It’s at that point that Robert Dewey of Wyoming, Michigan became involved. He was alerted to the effort, but declined to donate:

Dewey, a 39-year-old Web designer who says he has been a foster parent for a decade, said he first heard about Giovanni’s Web site from a friend and e-mailed the infant’s father, telling him he felt bad for Giovanni but would not be donating either his bone marrow or his money to the infant.

Dewey said he questioned how the child’s family was using monetary donations and objected to a part of the Web site in which the father listed businesses that refused to post fliers in their windows about his son’s search for a bone marrow donor.

“I’m not insensitive to this family’s plight, but they’ve played fast and loose with this Web site,

IT’S OFFICIAL: Navy Names Newest Carrier After President Ford:

With flags around the nation still at half staff in memory of the late President Gerald R. Ford, Vice President Richard B. Cheney called today’s naming of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier in Ford’s honor an even more fitting tribute because it looks to the future.

Speaking today at the Pentagon naming ceremony for the ship, Cheney joined Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter and other officials and servicemembers in naming the first of the new CVN-21 class of aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford.

The new class will replace the USS Enterprise and CVN-68 class carriers.

When USS Gerald R. Ford enters the Navy fleet in seven or eight years, it and its sister ships “will help ensure the sea power of the United States for the next half century,

AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT:

The free 2007 guide to the Lake Michigan Circle Tour is now available.

The free 19th edition of the guide was produced as a partnership between the West Michigan Tourist Association and Trails Media Group of Wisconsin, and includes coverage of all four Lake Michigan shoreline states — Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

The publication features a lighthouse map and index, which identifies over 90 beacons and the 1,100-mile Circle Tour route. Grids for each region list structural details, accessibility information and special features of each guiding light.

Regional features for each state include dozens of ideas for dining, lodging, events and attractions, plus maps and trip planning.

“This guide is a must for lighthouse buffs and maritime historians,” said Sarah Crapo, director of marketing for the West Michigan Tourist Association. “The tales of yore that bring the Lake Michigan lighthouses to life will fascinate all readers.”

The guide can be ordered online at www.wmta.org/pubs.shtml, or by calling the association at (800) 442-2084.

From the Grand Haven Tribune.

THE DOG DIDN’T BURY THOSE:

MONTROSE TOWNSHIP, Mich. Scientists say fossils that a mid-Michigan family found on their property are the remains of a Mastodon.

The Sizemore family of Genesee County’s Montrose Township was digging a bike trail days before Christmas when they found the remains.

Scouting principles a guiding light in Ford’s life is a guest commentary by Kathy Longcore in the Grand Rapids Press. It notes the Scout Oath, and concludes

At his death the nation is recognizing Ford’s spirit of fair play, his bipartisanship, his integrity and his willingness to make tough choices. It seems that he still is serving his country. The eulogies we’ve heard in three cities have reminded us that “family values” is more than a catchy term to grab votes. President Ford lived those values.

You don’t have to have been a Boy Scout to have those values. But it helps.

COMMUNITY SERVICE ON GAME DAY: Fans arrested after Michigan game to clean up on title game day:

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Some unruly Ohio State fans who were arrested after the Michigan game in November won’t get to tailgate before Monday’s national championship between the Buckeyes and Florida.

Franklin County Municipal Judge Julia Dorrian has assigned 34 students and others to clean toilets, pick up cigarette butts and pull weeds all day. They were convicted of offenses including underage drinking and disorderly conduct following the November 18th game.

The eight-hour community service stint will likely end before the 8:30 p.m. kickoff.

IT SNOWED A BIT THIS AFTERNOON while visiting mother-in-law. Just a bit.

GRABBED DINNER AT WENDY’S TONIGHT, AND SAW THAT THEY’RE RUNNING A DEAL WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS:

For every Friday home game (Dec. 15, Jan. 12, Feb. 16, March 16, April 6), get four Griffins tickets and four small Single Combo Meals from Wendy’s for $44 - a savings of $28! Purchase your four pack of tickets at all StarTicketsPLUS locations, including all West Michigan Meijer stores and The Zone inside Van Andel Arena. At that time you will also receive four Wendy’s Combo Meal vouchers for use at your next visit to Wendy’s.

We haven’t been to a Griffins game yet, but I’m sure we will when we get a chance.

NEXT WEEK I’LL BE HEADING DOWN TO ORLANDO FOR THE 2007 SHOT SHOW, the nation’s largest outdoor and shooting sports trade show. The show is for the trade only and not open to the public, but I’m wondering if any readers will be attending. If so and you’d like to chat a bit, drop me a line.

I’ll be attending as a member of the media, covering the show for Murdoc Online and Shooting Sports Retailer magazine.