I've got to agree with you both.  I too grew up on Ronnie's Michigans and they were the best.  They seem to have lost something in recent years though, and now I would have to go with Claire and Carl's. 

We are not the only area to enjoy these treats, they also exist under the name Coney Dogs in parts of Michigan I am told.

As somone who freaquently rides the bike from one end of the trail to the other, for the most part I do believe it is, for the most part, safe. 

To be fair, I "think" what Ten may be referring to are not 100 yr old trees, but more of what I would call brush and dense ground cover surrounding them.  I would certainly lead the warcry if a proposal was made to cut down 100 yr old trees, but honestly, would love to see a bit of the lower foliage cleared or maybe "thinned" for safety reasons. 

And I remember when it was common here to leave doors unlocked, and I am far from 90.  But then again, I still bring home made bread and cookies to my neighbors at Christmas.  The faces change from year to year as people move and homes are sold and purchased...but the expressions on the faces don't.  I guess what I am saying is rather than "remembering" a fonder time, why not make an effort to create one?  Yeah, I know, rose colored glasses ...but...it has to start somewhere.

I agree that the last thing we need is MORE shopping centers.  I had also heard the rumors of Nascar but also heard that NASCAR "powers that be" aren't at all interested.