When planning your next barbecue, weekend camping trip or visit to Lake Michigan, consider the products of Southwest Michigan, home to a talented crop of brewers who make a wide variety of cold beers for warm weather.

This is your guide to spring/summer seasonal beers made by local brewers who incorporate soothing flavors and aromas to create smooth-tasting beverages for sunny days. Whether using wheat, local fruit or honey, area brewers toy and tinker with recipes in an effort to create a relaxing drink loaded with flavor.

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As the Phoenix Mars Lander encounters the Red Planet Sunday, Nilton Renno will be monitoring the landing with a mixture of interest and expertise.

Renno, an associate professor of atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences at the University of Michigan, has been working on the mission for seven years. He is a co-investigator and the leader of the Atmospheric Science Theme Group that will evaluate results.

He will spend the next two months at the Phoenix Mars Mission Science Operations Center at the University of Arizona. Renno will study the chemical composition of the soil and clouds in effort to determine how much water Mars has today and in the past.

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Send a Penguin flyin’ — far away from Stanley!

We assume you’re a Detroit Red Wings fan if you are playing this game. Ok, so we know it’s not the Stanley Cup finals. And these penguins aren’t the real Pittsburgh Penguins. And this game doesn’t remotely resemble hockey. But you’ve got pent-up anxiety over these ungainly, waddling, tuxedoed critters, and we think this will help you work it off.

Ok, here’s the news we’ve been dyin’ to tell you: Madonna is coming to the Traverse City Film Festival!

That’s right, the most successful female recording artist of all time — and an all-round genuine human being and humanitarian — will take to the stage of our newly-restored historic State Theatre and present her brand new film, “I Am Because We Are,” as part of our fourth annual film festival. It will all take place on Saturday night, August 2, at 7 p.m. — and 540 lucky people will get to be there for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Madonna will introduce the film and then participate in a question and answer session with the audience at the end of the screening. It will be a very special night for the film festival and we are honored by her acceptance of our request to make Traverse City the Midwest premiere of her powerful new documentary.

“I Am Because We Are” is Madonna’s personal journey and meditation on the people she has met through her work in one of the poorest countries on earth — Malawi. Located in southern Africa, Malawi is ravaged by poverty and disease. The film is both heartening and heartbreaking as Madonna gives us a window into a world we know little about.

As we expect a huge crush of people wanting to attend this intimate event, we have decided not to have tickets for Madonna on sale the same day as the rest of the festival movies in July. Therefore, we will put the Madonna film tickets on sale, tentatively, on Saturday, June 7. We will release the actual details next week. One thing I promise you: however we distribute these tickets, it will be done in the most fair, most democratic, and most egalitarian way possible so that everyone who wants to go has an equal chance.

As part of our celebration of Madonna’s visit to the film festival, on the night she’ll be at the State, our free film outdoors in the Open Space will be “A League of Their Own,” starring Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and Geena Davis.

I’ve known Madonna for a number of years. I know how much she does for this planet and I continue to be amazed at how she uses her numerous talents — singer, author, actress, activist — for the greater good. Yes, she’s had many, many #1 albums and singles (her latest just debuted at #1), but few know about how much of her life is devoted to bringing about a better world. She’s one of us, a Michigander, and I’m sure all of you would like to give her a warm TC welcome home…

The environmental costs of ocean freighters hauling cargo on the Great Lakes outweigh the economic benefits by a nearly 6-to-1 ratio, according to a new study.

Ocean freighters — known as “salties” — have imported 57 exotic species to the Great Lakes since 1959, when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened the lakes to transoceanic ships, according to government data.

Those nonindigenous species now cause $300 million damage annually to Great Lakes fisheries, recreational activities and large water intake facilities, according to preliminary results from a University of Notre Dame study.

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If April showers mean May flowers, then severe winters mean ugly summers – at least for Michigan roads.

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced last week that its summer highway maintenance budget would be reduced by $18 million this year due to excess dollars spent this winter.

The budget cuts mean MDOT will be axing activities such as litter pickup, mowing, curb and shoulder sweeping and ditch cleaning and brush removal. Current vacancies at MDOT won’t be filled.

Bill Shreck, MDOT spokesman, said safety in the winter months is the top priority.

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The U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame will be getting some help conserving its collection after being selected to participate in the 2008 Conservation Assessment Program.

The program, which is run by an organization called the Heritage Preservation that is dedicated to preserving America’s heritage, assists museums by providing funds for professional conservation specialists to identify the needs of the museum’s collections.

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An exhausted homing pigeon flew 2,200 miles off course and landed at the Animal Medical Center of Wyoming.

Veterinarians at the clinic estimate the bird spent one month in the air flying from Los Angeles, California after something prompted the bird to leave its zone and head east.

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Michigan Week’s mission is to inspire people – at the local level – to embrace, explore and celebrate the history, resources and opportunities that set Michigan apart as an ideal state to work, play and thrive.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a newcomer to the Great Lakes State, welcome! We invite you to take part in the grand tradition of Michigan Week, an annual salute to the best Michigan has to offer.

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