Saginaw

Saginaw Water Works

Situated in the central portion of Michigan's lower peninsula, Saginaw is located in the economically diverse Great Lakes Bay region, which includes Saginaw, Bay, and Midland counties. It is home to a number of companies specializing in the auto, chemical, nanotechnology, silicon, and advanced materials sectors. The Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation , Nexteer Automotive's world headquarters, and several other automotive-related companies and suppliers are located in the county. The area also is known for its medical community, facilities like Covenant Medical Center, and for educational institutions like Saginaw Valley State University.

With its diverse population, Saginaw also enjoys a rich heritage and a number of entertainment and cultural destinations. It is home to the restored 1927 Temple Theatre, which features an old theater pipe organ, and has attracted a number of notable entertainers, including B.B. King, Garrison Keillor, George Carlin, and numerous vaudeville acts in its early history. The Dow Event Center also hosts numerous events, concerts, entertainers, and musicians. For sports buffs, the city has its own hockey team, the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. Saginaw also has a number of historical attractions, including the Castle Museum, a U.S. Post Office built in the style of a French castle in 1898. The museum -- home to the Historical Society of Saginaw County -- features exhibits that highlight the history of Saginaw and the state, as well as occasional traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute.

For trivia buffs, Saginaw also was home to poet laureate Theodore Roethke, Kid LaVigne--1895 lightweight boxing champion--and Kate English, the first female delegate to a Michigan political convention in 1914. The first incandescent bulb in Michigan lit the Bancroft Hotel, and the largest bean elevator in the state is located in Saginaw.

Have a birthday beer! But not one for each year, because that would be a bad idea

Jeff Barr Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Frankenmuth Brewery turns 150 years old this year, and the Brewers Guild is celebrating its 15th birthday. Beer has a long history in the state, as other Michigan breweries mark anniversaries, too. Hoisting a brew might be a perfect way to honor the occasions.

Middle of the Mitten: Support your local high schools

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Sports boosters aren't just for the cool kids--they're the key to keeping athletic programs going and keeping kids active and healthy. In the era of education funding cuts, these organizations could use your helping hand more than ever, as Sam Eggleston writes in this week's column.

Saginaw Future's JoAnn Crary outlines where Saginaw needs to go

Lucy Hough Tuesday, February 21, 2012

To kick off our new Q&A series, writer Lucy Hough asks Saginaw Future president JoAnn Crary what the future of Saginaw should look like and how we can get there.

A new way to get around in snow: Fat tire bikes offer year-round transportation alternative

Kurt Mensching Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fat tire bikes – or snow bikes – allow bicyclists the opportunity to use their bikes for transportation no matter how bad the weather gets. Writer Kurt Mensching explores how the new bikes are spreading in Michigan.

Entrepreneur displays his social skills

Jeff Barr Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Social media has turned into a two-headed beast for many companies. On one side, they have an easy way to market to a large variety of people. On the other, if they do it wrong, they find it may work against them. One local business owner knows the value of a good social media strategy, as writer Jeff Barr explains.

Middle of the Mitten: Make everyday a celebration of small businesses

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Local businesses are the lifeblood of a community. Be it the gas station down the road, the mom-and-pop's diner or the painter who advertises via bulletin boards, local entrepreneurs not only work here, they often live here as well. What's more is that dollars spent at our local businesses stay local, as managing editor Sam Eggleston discusses in his first of an ongoing column.

Nothing takes the chill out of winter better than a nice cup of tea

Kim North Shine Tuesday, December 06, 2011

It's getting pretty chilly outside, so why not treat yourself with a nice cup of warmth from Frankenmuth's Sue and Esther's American Tea Room? And it's more than just a place to get some Earl Grey, too--it's somewhere to escape the chaos of the holidays, the stress of work and the rush of everyday life. Sue and Esther's might as well be a world away from the hustle and bustle, but the owners wouldn't want it any other way.

A look back at 2011, and ahead to 2012

Sam Eggleston Tuesday, December 06, 2011

This time of year, everyone starts to look back at the months that have come and gone and the accomplishments that they, and those around them, have achieved. Here at Mid Michigan Second Wave, we do the same--but we also begin to look ahead at what is to come and what the new year will offer us in the way of opportunity. To that end, we'll be taking a hiatus from publishing over the holidays and into the new year with a return January 10. We hope that, too, makes you begin to look forward at what Mid Michigan and our publication will offer in 2012.

From trashed to tidy in two hours: A professional organizer helps relaunch my freelance career

Cynthia J. Drake Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Sometimes, it's just not easy keeping life organized. Just ask freelance writer Cynthia J. Drake, who juggles her career with her family life and discovered recently she needed a bit of a reboot when it came to how she handled it all. That's where The Organizing Lady, Janet Felling, came in--and just in the nick of time.

Igniting conversations through social media

Lisa McCartney Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Social media helps businesses and organizations engage consumers in conversations, but not everyone is aware of how to best make it work for their needs. Social Media Club Great Lakes Bay organized a conference to help those who are not so social-media-savvy find the right tools to make the connection and ignite conversations. Writer Lisa McCartney stopped by the conference and reports this week on what she discovered.

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