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2nd Annual Michigan Bowers Farm Maze Open Weekends Beginning Sept. 27 |
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By Crystal Dallo :: 6756 Views
::  :: Health & Fitness, Chaldean Education & Career Center
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Michigan, USA - Three levels of difficulty will challenge Chaldean visitors to the second annual Bowers Farm Corn Maze nestled in the fields of Bloomfield Township’s historic farm at 1219 E. Square Lake Road.
Beginning Saturday, Sept. 27 and continuing Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1, the corn maze will offer beginning, intermediate and advanced routes covering ten acres. All mazes have check points where visitors can consult a map. Walking time varies from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on pace. Guides will be present inside the maze to assist visitors.
Chaldean families can also enjoy free wagon rides or horse drawn hayrides for $3, concessions including apple cider, doughnuts and hot dogs roasted over a bonfire, complimentary on-site parking, and pumpkin picking beginning Oct. 17. Guests should wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, and may bring flashlights for after dark.
Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 6-11. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free. Group rates are available by phoning 248-341-6475 for more information. Pumpkins of all sizes will be $7 each.
The Historic Bowers Farm is conveniently located just west of Adams Road and at I-75 exit #74. For more information, visit www.BloomfieldMaze.com. Sign up for the farm’s e-mail list and receive a $1 off coupon on admission.
In addition, the 8th Annual Fall Festival and Halloween Hay Ride will occur on Oct. 10 and 11 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with a haunted forest, friendly barn, music and bonfire. Admission is $12 at the gate or $10 in advance by phoning the Bloomfield Hills Recreation Dept. at 248-433-0885.
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Harding to Discuss Natural Resources, Economic Recovery
<p>Russ Harding, senior environmental policy analyst and director of the Property Rights Network at the Center, will take part in a live chat hosted by <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/are_michigans_natural_resource.html"><span style="color: #003399;">The Grand Rapids Press</span></a> at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23 (see grey box in Press story titled "Michigan 10.0" for details). The talk will be about how Michigan can best use its natural resources to drive economic recovery.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12364
Testing 1, 2, 3
<p>By Michael Van Beek. </p>How Michigan students fare on standardized tests.
http://www.mackinac.org/12365
What Transparency Should Look Like at the MEDC (but Doesn't)
<p>By James M. Hohman. </p>The award of a $9.1 million tax credit to a convicted embezzler has raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The concerns could be alleviated by two transparency/due diligence reforms that would protect the state (and taxpayers) from fraud. However, the real issue is not whether the occasional criminal wins an "incentive" deal, but the lack of transparency that characterizes this entire operation. This is the measure by which the responses of politicians and economic development bureaucrats to this embarrassment should assessed.</P> http://www.mackinac.org/12358
Legislature's Most Persistent Targeted-Incentives Booster to Run Hearings on Embezzler's Tax-Break Deal
<p>By Jack McHugh. </p><p>In the wake of the news that the Michigan Economic Growth Authority awarded a $9 million tax break/subsidy deal to what appears to be a "shell" company created by a convicted embezzler, Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, has been assigned the task of managing Senate hearings on the vetting procedures used by MEGA and its parent agency, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. During his 11 years in the Legislature, Allen has become perhaps the most ardent promoter and defender of selective tax breaks and subsidies for particular firms and industries. Since 2001, Allen has introduced at least 60 bills in this category, many of them thinly disguised favors benefiting specific companies. Here are concise descriptions of a selection of these bills, from <a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/">MichiganVotes.org</a>:</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12357
Center Scholar Tapped to Help Warren With Budget Crisis
<p><a href="http://www.mackinac.org/bio.aspx?ID=139"><span style="color: #003399;">Lou Schimmel</span></a>, former director of municipal finance and an adjunct scholar with the Center, has been tapped for his expertise to solve the city of Warren's $10 million overspending crisis.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12356
The Right Choice
<p>By Joseph G. Lehman. </p>School choice is good for students and the state budget. http://www.mackinac.org/12334
Climate Change Panel Examines the 'Changing Debate'
<p>Henry Payne, editorial cartoonist for The Detroit News, writes about the Mackinac Center's climate change panel, in which he participated, at <a href="http://planetgore.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZjZjNjJkZDg3MGZlNDVjYmU1OTE4MzQzMWM3NGVlMzY="><span style="color: #003399;">National Review Online</span></a>.</p>
<p>You can watch the event <a href="http://www.michiganliveevents.com/mppi-live032010.html"><span style="color: #003399;">here</span></a>.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12352
Legislators Should Look Closer to Home to Cut Spending
<p>A <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100318/OPINION01/3180341/1008/Editorial--Drop-gimmicky-plan-to-link-salaries-of-teachers-and-school-superintendents-to-those-of-lawmakers"><span style="color: #003399;">Detroit News</span></a> editorial today calls a plan to cap salaries of public school superintendents and teachers based on what politicians are paid, "gimmicky," and cites <a href="http://www.mackinac.org/12288"><span style="color: #003399;">this commentary</span></a> by Mike Van Beek, director of education policy, which states that only 1 percent of school expenses go toward superintendent pay and benefits.</p>
<p>James Hohman, fiscal policy analyst, does have a suggestion in this <a href="http://downriversundaytimes.com/2010/03/12/legislative-pay-evidence-of-a-larger-problem"><span style="color: #003399;">Dearborn Times-Herald Op-Ed</span></a> about what legislators should focus on if they really want to cut spending.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12351
Solving the Wrong Problem
<p>By James M. Hohman. </p>Expanding Michigan's sales tax a bad idea.
http://www.mackinac.org/12328
No Checkbook Left Behind
<p>More Michigan public school districts are posting their checkbook registers online as a way for taxpayers to see exactly how their money is spent, but most districts get a failing grade when it comes to transparency.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12350
MEGA Jobs Announcements Symbolic Drop in the Bucket
<p>By James M. Hohman. </p><p>The Michigan Economic Growth Authority <a href="/12345">yesterday</a> approved its latest batch of tax credits to lure large business projects to Michigan. </p>
<p>Despite the press release, these big business projects are just not that consequential to Michigan's total economy. </p> http://www.mackinac.org/12347
Stealing the Spotlight
<p>By Michael D. LaFaive & Michael D. LaFaive. </p>Convicted embezzler's business wins high-profile state subsidy. http://www.mackinac.org/12345
More Schools Post Spending
Kent County districts, others, report checkbooks now online. http://www.mackinac.org/12346
Climate Panel Video
Did you miss the lively discussion? Watch it <a href="http://www.michiganliveevents.com/mppi-live032010.html">here</a>. http://www.michiganliveevents.com/mppi-live032010.html
Teacher Contracts: An Analysis
<p>By Michael Van Beek. </p><p>Nearly every aspect of a teacher's job falls under the rules of a union contract. The following is a synopsis of just one of those agreements in Michigan.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12336
Union Corruption Update
<p>By Paul Kersey. </p><p>Recent charges and guilty pleas involving union officials.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12329
MED March 16, 2010
New 'No Child,' concessions, reading scores. http://www.educationreport.org/12331
Climate Extremes
<p>By Paul Chesser. </p>MichiganScience looks at Climategate.
http://www.mackinac.org/12265
Rejecting State Employee Raise
<p>The <a href="http://www.mirsnews.com/welcome.php"><span style="color: #003399;">Michigan Information & Research Service</span></a> (subscription required) reprinted <a href="http://www.mackinac.org/12281"><span style="color: #003399;">this</span></a> blog post by Paul Kersey, labor policy director, explaining why it would not be a violation of labor law for the Legislature to reject a 3 percent raise for state employees as some lawmakers claimed.</p> http://www.mackinac.org/12314
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