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Featuring the Morning Sun's community editorial board . . .

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Bats in Our Belfry

Bats are extremely valuable animals, too often feared by those who don’t know them. All in Michigan eat more than their weight in harmful insects each evening. Web sites are included for more detail.

Bats are the only true flying mammals. Like humans, they give birth to live young and produce milk with which to feed them. Unlike humans, father bats sometimes do the nursing. Bats belong to the mammalian order Chiroptera, which means "hand-wing." The bones in their wings are similar to those found in human hands and arms, only they are elongated and connected by a double membrane of skin. The tragus, which resembles a pointy satellite dish in front of the ear, helps them interpret returning sound waves during echolocation.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/slideshow.cfm?id=secret-lives-of-bats

There are 9 species of bats in Michigan. All Michigan bats use echolocation to search for food, and feed exclusively on insects.

http://www.crittercatchersinc.com/critters/bats/MI_bat_species.html

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fucus)

A colonial bat that prefers hot attics, shutters, bat houses and trees for roosting. The big brown bat is the most common bat to be found in Oakland County and surrounding areas. Colonies of females tend to form in the spring and summer and number 20-500 members. Males typically roost alone or together in groups numbering less than 4 or 5. During the night, they may roost on porches as they take a break from feeding. During the winter, months, this species is commonly found hibernating in walls and attics. They periodically awaken (every couple weeks), and can accidentally get into the living quarters.

During the summer, the Big Brown Bat usually emerges from its roost about 20 minutes after sunset to forage for insects. The big brown bat can be identified by a 13 inch wingspan and a reddish brown to dark brown coat. Additionally, they appear to be puffy around the nose when compared to the little brown bat.

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

A colonial bat that is found throughout Michigan, however is frequently observed in the more northern parts of the state. They are commonly observed to be using echolocation to capture insects that are flying over lakes and ponds. They can be identified by a 10 inch wingspan with a reddish brown to dark brown coat. Large colonies consisting of hundreds or even thousands of members commonly take up residence in hot attics or cabins.

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

A solitary bat with a 12 inch wingspan. The coat is bright orange to yellowish brown. There is unusual white marking on the shoulders. The females raise between 1-4 young and spend most of their time in trees. Although this species is common in Michigan, it is not normally found in homes, due to its preference to roost in trees. On occasion, this bat may enter homes through open windows. However, since this bat species is solitary, it would not indicate that a colony is present.

The Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

A solitary bat that can be quickly identified by dark hairs tipped with white. The wingspan is approximately 15 inches. The bat also has a yellow to orange throat. This bat spends most of its time in trees and is not commonly observed in Michigan homes.

Tri-Colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

Formally known as the Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) , but reclassified in 2008. A colonial bat that is found in the upper peninsula. The wingspan is approximately 9 inches. The bat is one of the smallest species found in the United States. On occasion this bat is mistaken for a large moth. It is rare for this species to colonize in buildings.

Silvered Haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

A solitary bat sporting a black coat tipped with silver. The wingspan stretches 11 inches. They typically roost behind loose tree bark, but may roost on tall buildings or churches. This bat is uncommon in Michigan.

Indiana Bat (Myotis solidalis)

This species of bats numbers less than 300,000 in the world and is an endangered species. The Indiana bat can be identified by its dull brown to grey fur with a pinkish tale membrane. They look similar to the big brown bat, however their fur extends beyond their toe nails. They tend to roost in dead or hollow trees in the summer, and form large winter colonies in limestone caves.

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)

A colonial bat with a 10 inch wingspan. It can be confused with the big brown or the little brown bat, however the evening bat can be identified by its blunt tragus at the base of the ear. This bat's upper range includes the very southern parts of Michigan. This is a threatened species.

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

Female Northern Long-eared Bats form small colonies, while the males roost alone during the summer. This bat sports a pale to dark brown coat and has a 10 inch wingspan. The Long-eared bat typically flies in forested areas and will capture insects in flight or on the ground. They prefer to roost in hollow trees or under bark, and are rarely found under shutters.







Sunday, January 22, 2012

Students Report on Art

Students at Mary McGuire Elementary School sixth graders in Mrs. Carroll’s and Mrs. Walter’s class reported on the works of various artists. Each had been given a postcard with a painting by a well known artist. They researched facts about the artist and how they felt about the image they had been given. They told about what they liked and/or disliked about their picture.

Below are some of the comments, in no particular order. Artist and painting are in parentheses.

Bobby: (Auguste Renoir, Le Pont Neuf) “I like this painting because it was painted at the right time, on the right day, and is a very classic work of art that shows what a fine day it was that time in Paris.”

Dakota: (Winslow Homer, Early Morning after a Storm at Sea) “This painting makes me think of a storm rolling in over the sea with gloom, despair, and the feeling that life has NO meaning.”

Audrey: (Marguerite Gerard, Jeune Femme) “What I like about this picture is she put two girls. One of the girls she drew was sitting down. The girl was little like a toddler standing on the older lady’s lap.”

Addison: (Stuart Davis, Report from Rockport) “The picture isn’t realistic. It looks cartoonish and real abstract. It seems like the right of the picture is more scribbles but the way they are arranged makes the art look really cool.”

Danny: (Claude Monet, Torrent, Creuse) “The design is like a wavy snake. It also has pretty much all the colors. This picture looks virtual. It also has the elements of design. It has wave length to it.”

Haley: (Thomas Cole, The Course of Empire: The Savage State) “The light on the one side looks like it’s rising and the cloudy night is going away. It’s the perfect amount of light showing. It’s a great piece of artwork and it has a great feel to it.”

Shailyn: (Jasper Francis Cropsey, Shad Fishing on the Hudson) “What I like about this painting is that beaming sun at the river and how the river is a nice blue green to it and how the colors seem to really interesting.”

Gabby: (Stuart Davis, Report-Rockport) “At the age of 16, Davis dropped out of high school to study with Robert Henri at the artist’s school in New York. His parents weren’t the least bit worried over his decision.”

Bailey: (Stuart Davis, Artists against War and Fascism) “I like this picture. I like it because it brings out an inner child as though watching an old cartoon. Stuart Davis paints abstract that is one of my favorite kinds of painting. I have learned that can be all different types.”

Hailey: (Adelaide Labille-Guiard, Portrait de Femme) “I also like how the light is shining on her face. It makes if look more realistic. The background is black and it makes it focus more on the (face).”

Erica: (Paul Cezanne, House of Pere Lacroix) “I would like to look at other paintings by Paul Cezanne. I like the way he paints. This place is peaceful. I would like to go to this place but not for long because it would get lonely being in the woods all alone.”

CJ: (Edward Hopper, New York Office) “I like this painting. It is painted with oil paints. I like how a lot of his paintings are done in oil. I think it kind of gives like a glow more than regular paint. I also like the setting in New York.”

Austin: (Edward Hopper, Talbot’s House) “The thing that catches my eye when I first look at it si the red/orange chimney. The picture is mostly bright colors. I like this painting. It reminds me of my friend’s big house.”

Zeek: (John Sloan ,The City, from Greenwich Village) “What I don’t like is that there is like a sunset sky in one area, with a little empire. I think the whole sky should be black, so the lights in the city would stand out more.”

Ty: (Camille Pissarro, The Climbing Path) “If I were in this picture I would think it’s calm and relaxing and warm to play outside or take a hike or a walk because if looks really nice out….I had fun doing the research and finding cool things about people that I didn’t know about until now.”

Devin: ( Stuart Davis, Terrace) “ I like this piece because it’s colorful and wild and it’s abstract which is my favorite kind of art.”

Caleb: (Georges Braque, Peonies) “My eye is attracted to the sphere fruit on the table first. I think I’m attracted it that part first because they’re a bright color and they are right in the foreground of the picture.”

Austin: (John George Brown, View of the Palisades) “The colors of this painting really grab your eye. I think that it applies the rule of ninths. This is beautiful oil on canvas. The middle of this painting is towards the boats. There is one that’s really close to the middle of the painting.”
Eryana: (Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Young Girl at the Piano) “The painting is oil on canvas. It’s very bright in some parts, and he is reusing some of the colors in different places.”

Rebecca: (Worthington Whittredge, The Old Hunting Grounds) “I feel I can relate because my gma and I went hunting before.”

Cody: (Winslow Homer, The Signal of Distress) “I really like the painting. It was of the sea. I feel like fishing and swimming.”

Alex: (Samuel Colman, Storm King on the Hudson) “Where was the artist born and where? Portland, Maine in 1832. When did the artist make the painting? 1866.”

Eric: (Winslow Homer, Weatherbeaten) “When I look at this painting I feel like there is a storm going on. I don’t like it because it’s just weird because it’s just water and logs.”

Jade: (Frederic Edwin Church, Twilight in the Wilderness) “The painting is pretty and makes me feel the comfort of wide open spaces of the woods.”

Megan: (Berthe Morisot, Mme. Boursier and her Daughter) “I don’t like this picture because I like pictures that have a lot going on and this is too simple. When I look at the picture I feel bored because there isn’t a lot to look at.”

Morgan: (Thomas Chambers, View from West Point) “The painting makes me feel happy and relaxed because everything in the painting is so peaceful looking. The water looks so still and the sail boats are passing through.”

Amber: (Frederic Edwin Church, Winter Landscape from Olana) “I feel sad because he used a lot of white and dark colors. I like the painting because it looks real and the snow looks like real snow.”

Bryan: (Mary Cassatt, Mother and Child) “The painting “Mother and Child” was made in 1900. The painting made me feel at home when I looked at it.”

Bryan: (Thomas Doughty, View of Highlands from Newburgh, New York) “Did you like the painting? Explain. Yes, because it makes me calm and relaxed and it makes me feel as if I was there.”

Lillie: (Albert Bierstadt, Seal Rock) “When I look at this picture I feel calm but at the same time excited. I feel calm because the seals are just lounging around and I feel excited because there is a huge wave about to crash down on the rock where the seals are. I like this picture because it combines my two favorite things: water and animals.”

Lacy: (Thomas Cole, Sunny Morning on the Hudson River) “When I look at this painting I feel like I’m there looking over the landscape. I think this is because the artist used enough details to make it seem as though you are actually there.”

Cheyenne: (John Sloan, The White Way) “When I look at this painting I feel cold and calm because the snow on the ground is very cold and the city looks empty.”

Corey: (Worthington Whittredge, Crossing the Ford, Platte River, Colorado) “Whittredge was born in a log cabin near Springfield, Ohio in 1820. He painted landscapes and portraits as a young man in Cincinnati before traveling to Europe in 1849 to further his artistic training.”

Joe: (Stuart Davis, Terrace) “Davis’ shift to abstraction was not an immediate one. He tool time…to become a ‘modern’ artist. He explored both Post-Impressionism and Fauvist canvases.”

Jullian: (John Frederick Kensett, Lakes and Mountains) “I really like this painting because it’s a beautiful nature landscape. When I look at it, I feel calm because the water looks calm and it’s pretty.”

Jasmine: (Frederick Edwin Church, West Rock, New Haven) “When I look at the painting I see the country and I live in the country so I can relate to the picture. I feel at peace and relaxed, it is like I am on a cloud.

Emily: (Edward Hopper, The Mansard Roof) “I feel sad when I look at the picture because if just looks dreary and gloomy to me. I like the painting because you can see his brush strokes and there is lots of detail.”

Kayla: (Marguerite Gerard, Jeune Femme et l’Enfant) “I feel sad with this painting because it makes you cry if you lost family…The mother looks worried that something bad might have happened.”

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lenae Baldwin Reports on Bierstadt

Late in 2011, 6th graders at Mary McGuire Elementary School, Mt. Pleasant, were given postcards of famous works of art. On January 9, 2012, they turned in reports on what they learned about the artist and the work. Below is a Power-Point presentation done by Lenae Baldwin.It is a remarkable project. Lenae loves to dance and participates in several dance classes. She hunts, fishes, and goes ice fishing. She is a busy lady. She plays softball and the position she loves is pitching. She does an excellent job in the classroom and loves to share and interact with her peers.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Sexism in Lansing

While a new year is upon us, an age-old problem is rearing its ugly head in the Capitol: sexism.


As a female legislator, I often speak to groups of women -- from Girl Scouts and graduates to fellow female attorneys and aspiring politicians. I share my personal experiences and discuss the myriad of challenges females face in elected office. But I rarely convey how much chauvinism and sexism still go on in politics today because, quite frankly, I am embarrassed by it. I do not have the heart to tell a classroom full of girls that the same attitudes and animosity they encounter on the playground persist to our highest levels of government.

Sexism in the Legislature is usually more latent, but as of late it has become particularly blatant. Recently state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, publicly and premeditatedly compared a prominent female professional in Lansing to a "hooker."

Everyone knows how supercharged such terms are, and this is a new low in a political realm that is already known for its cheap shots and name-calling. This is completely out of line, and I am appalled that anyone, let alone a legislative colleague, would exercise such inappropriate conduct.

Sadly, this is just the most recent and most prominent incident in a pattern of Jones' boorish and chauvinistic behavior and his leadership's apparent willingness to tolerate it.

This issue goes beyond a single remark from an individual legislator. Political discourse is decaying at an alarming rate. Debate has dwindled to degradation. From when I was first elected to now, the Legislature seems to be going backward in terms of the respect and decency in the way people are treated -- for both women and men.

When Jennifer Granholm was elected as Michigan's first female governor in 2002, it should have been a time when women of both parties felt empowered. Instead, it resulted in an apparent backlash toward female candidates and contributed to a dramatic decrease in the number of women elected and serving.

It is going to be difficult to change that and attract more female leaders if the Neanderthal quotient continues to grow. Much of the opposition to Granholm's policies came in personal and often chauvinistic attacks (i.e., calling her "Jenny" in formal statements).

As the first female leader in the state Senate, my rivals often seek to undermine me with dismissive condescension and thinly veiled sexism. In the past few months, Jones has insulted and intimidated a female conservative activist and a moderate pundit alike, notching two formal complaints by two women in two months.

With its "boys will be boys" mentality, the good ol' boys network in Lansing has gotten out of hand and must stop. A strong woman is NOT a bitch. A successful woman is NOT a hooker or a gold-digger. A compassionate woman is NOT overly sensitive and thin-skinned. And a passionate woman is NOT shrill.

A public apology from Jones and a strong rebuke from Senate leadership will be a start. Condemning this institutionalized sexism in the Legislature altogether would be preferred.

My colleagues often talk about promoting our state so our economy is not incorrectly viewed as a dinosaur. But how credible can we be when our standard-bearers act like cavemen?



Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat from East Lansing, represents Michigan's 23rd District in the Michigan Senate and is the Senate's Democratic Leader.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Bunny's Argyle Egg


The tall tangly woods hug the roots of Mount Ample. The trunks and roots of the trees are gnarly and laced together, leaving little room for paths. In these tangly woods live the Gunkles, a quiet tribe not prone to loud noise such as snoring. Their village occupies a clearing deep — deep in the center of the tangly woods. Their homes are low and squat like cow pies in the clearing. Each has three round windows, a crocked stove pipe puffing smoke and seltzer steam, and a hatch near the top, reached by a short ladder that can be pulled up at the end of day.

Gunkles tend their gardens of rutabagas, rusty-red radishes, and parsnips that they store in root cellars for the long cold winter. They tend their flocks of cheep. Cheep are known for their luxurious steel wool coats that the Gunkles shear near the end of spring and sell to the Brillo Company™.

A Gunkle is about eighteen inches tall and has a roundish, blocky, cobby body not unlike a baking potato. Its legs end in three-toed hooves and its arms end in three-fingered hands. The head is like an inverted turnip with a complexion to match. Its close-set eyes are wide and can be made to twinkle. The ample mouth can’t decide whether to smile or frown and the ears are close-set like leaves against the sides of the face.

Strangers cannot tell male Gunkles from female. Fortunately the way they dress makes it easier: the males wear baggy pants, baggy checkered shirts, bandanas of various colors and patterns, and a hat that looks like a sugar cone you get at an ice cream shop when you order a single scoop of French vanilla. The females wear housecoats, aprons with pockets full of things that might come in handy, and a doily on their head.

Gunkle children come in assorted sizes and colors so they may be arranged decoratively. Usually well behaved, they sometimes cross their eyes and dot their teas.

There is only one curvy, twisted, ziggy, zaggy road to the village in the tangly woods. If you look closely, on this road there is a red two-wheeled cart drawn by a dog, with a little girl and a picnic basket. The dog is a mix of Pekinese and Poodle, so we could call it a Pekapoodle or a Pookinese. Since the front end peeks and the rear end poos, we shall call it a Pekapoodle. Its name is Spot.

The little girl is four or five and has curly blond hair, a bright smile, and a sunny disposition. It’s enough to make your eyes twinkle. The picnic basket has six crinkle-wheat muffins, a jar of muddleberry marmalade, a butter knife, and a thermos of tepid tea. We shall call the little girl Bunny, since she already responds to that name. As they travel they exchange shaggy dog stories; these are long and involved, are very funny, but really have no point. Spot’s stories are better because most of them are autobiographical.

She stops the cart in front of the first little house where a Gunkle is nailing a sign to the side of the house. It says, “Not at home.” Bunny asks politely, “Sir, could you tell me where to find an argyle egg?”

The Gunkle, whose name was Misfit, says, “Can’t you read? There’s nobody home. “But you’re here,” responded Bunny, to which Misfit answered, “Well I won’t be, once I’ve hung this here sign, now will I?” “Please, I really need your help,” insisted Bunny. Here she made her eyes large and sad.

Misfit’s eyes begin to twinkle despite his efforts just to get on with nailing the sign and leaving. “Well, what exactly are you looking for?” he asks cautiously while looking at Bunny’s picnic basket.

Bunny notices his interest in the basket. She pulls the napkin to one side, reaches in and brings out a crinkle-wheat muffin. “Would you like one of these?” she asks brightly. The twinkle in Misfit’s eyes increases. “I could put some muddleberry marmalade on it. That’s how I like it.” That twinkle doubled!

“You mentioned an argyle egg. They are very rare and you have to be very brave,” Misfit says, reaching for the muffin. “You must climb to the tippy-top twigs of the tallest tangly tree in the woods. There is one A-miracle belled argyle who lives there guarding her eggs. (The bell is to warn Gunkles to stay out of the argyle’s way.) What would a young girl like you do with an argyle egg, anyway?”

Bunny relates her sad story. “You see, a ruby-breasted republican has kidnapped my parents and two brothers, Jack and Gus. He intends to make a giant omelet at a primary and win enough votes to become a resident of the Benighted Skates!” she says while pouring two mugs of tepid tea.

Misfit munches on his crinkle-wheat muffin and sips his tepid tea. “It’s not at all easy,” he says, sprinkling crumbs on his baggy checkered shirt. “The argyle is very protective of her eggs. One must entice her with something she wants.” “Does she get hungry?” Bunny asks, breaking into a wide smile.

“Why, yes, she does. She might just be tempted by a couple of those crinkle-wheat muffins. And I can give you a couple of rusty-red radishes, too,” says Misfit thoughtfully while wiping his hands on his blue bandana with yellow spots.

Thus it is settled. Misfit gives Bunny three rusty-red radishes which she places in her basket. They walk far into the tangly woods, out of sight of the Gunkle village. It is mid-afternoon when they reach the great massive gnarly trunk of a gigantic tree. “I would take you to the top,” says Misfit, “but I’m afraid of heights. I will boost you and your basket to the lowest limb and the rest is up to you. I will wait here for your return.” Spot looks concerned. “Be careful,” he says. “I shall be,” the girl replies.

“This is some tree,” murmurs Bunny as Misfit lifts her. Soon she is climbing up, up, up, and away. From limb to gnarly limb she climbs. They seem to go on forever. After what seems hours, Bunny notices that there are patches of blue sky to one side. Yes, she is now above the other tangly trees in the woods. I could tell you of the many difficulties she experiences and of her falling nearly six times, and how she almost drops the picnic basket, but that would take up a lot of time and I know you are terribly busy.

I will, however, announce that she arrives at the tippy-top twigs of the tallest tangly tree in the woods. Next to her, at eye level is the biggest A-miracle belled argyle Bunny had ever seen. This is no surprise because this is the only one she has ever seen.

“Mrs. Argyle,” she begins politely, “May I have one of your very lovely eggs?” The argyle looks back frostily, “My eggs are my future. I will not give them to strangers.” The clever girl replied, “My name is Bunny, and I want to be your friend.” Here she reaches into her picnic basket and pulls out three crinkle-wheat muffins and the rusty-red radishes.

Her eye on the prize, the argyle says, “Well, the egg nearest you was laid in my nest by a cow bird. You may have it.” The deal is completed and Bunny, the egg safely in her basket, climbs down the tree after thanking the argyle. The climb down is slow, dangerous, and exhausting but not without its laughs.

Misfit and Spot are waiting at the bottom of the tree. Bunny, almost out of breath takes a sip of tepid tea and mounts the cart, basket at her side. “Thanks, Misfit, for all your help. We have a long trip home, Spot,” she says and off they trot, down the curvy, twisted, ziggy, zaggy road out of the tangly woods.

At long last Bunny and Spot are back where they started. She gives the ruby-breasted republican the egg (not revealing its true nature), and her mother, father and two brothers are freed.

As they leave for home the ruby-breasted republican breaks the egg to make his omelet. Sad to say it is not good enough to win enough votes for him to become a resident of the Benighted Skates.

Mother turns to Father and says, “Did you notice? He had egg on his face.” And so he did.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Paula Clark Nettleton at Art Reach

Paula Clark Nettleton's reception at Art Reach on Broadway, 111 E. Broadway, was a complete success this evening, from 5 to 7 pm. Paula graduated from Kendall School of Design and has worked in a wide variety of media including painting, graphite, pen and ink, and fabric art.

Most recently she has turned the digital camera into a brush for her work. She met Joe Parise, an expert at gardening and became entranced with his thousands of lilies. Rather than bring the light to the subject as in other subjects, Paula waited for the subject to bring the light to glorify the flower, resulting in stunning images of grace and beauty.

The show continues through January 31.

The top picture shows Kathy Hill, Director of Art Reach (right) and Jan Kline, Chairperson of the Gallery Committee examine copies of the book of photos for the show.

The center picture shows Joe Parise, right. Being self-affacing he asked Nedra Fisher to join him in admiring one of the splendid photos.

At the bottim is the artist, Paula Clark Nettleton, at the guest register.






















For more information go to http://www.artreachcenter.org/.