The Pulice Report

Happy Earth Day

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and there are numerous related activities throughout Michigan. Examples include the MI Earth Day Fest in Rochester, which takes place Friday-Sunday, a free event that organizers hope will draw 100,000 people. The state's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has a guide by which you can find events near you so, if possible, get out and celebrate the planet.

Arresting Blog of the Month, March: Mittenlit

If you've lived in Michigan for any length of time, you know that "mitten" is a reference to the shape of the state's Lower Peninsula. But the word also appears in the name of a heady blog that is "all about books and authors with a tie to Michigan."

Mittenlit is the brainchild of Bill Castanier, who writes for the Lansing City Pulse, and his son Ben Castanier, an online bookseller from Ann Arbor. Their collaboration spotlights books centered on Michigan, new works from Michigan authors, information on literary events, and more.

Some of the largest categories are for posts that fall under Great Lakes, children's books, bookstore news, and non-fiction, each of which delves into bracing titles that the Castaniers feel should be on your nightstand or coffee table. Recent posts also have focused on an April writers rally and fabled Michigan author Ring Lardner.

Based on my exploration of its pages, I think it's safe to say that, regardless of what keeps you engrossed as a reader, Mittenlit almost certainly has something for you. Thanks to Ron Jolly (whom I interviewed in February along with Karl Bohnak about their book, Michigan's Upper Peninsula Almanac) for tipping me off to the site