For Friday, Dec. 12, 2025

1 – It’s Christmas Tree Month in Michigan, as officially proclaimed by the governor. 

Some factoids from the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, also known was MDARD: 

Real Christmas trees are a great environmental choice.

They grow on rocky soil typically unsuitable for other crops.

They provide extra woodland for animals.

They create oxygen, and take carbon dioxide out of the air, helping combat climate change. 

Christmas trees also are a renewable resource and 100 percent recyclable.

The best way to recycle your tree after Christmas is to chip it into mulch, which can be used for landscaping projects.  

Michigan ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas trees harvested, supplying about 2 million fresh trees to the national market each year. 

There are more than 500 Christmas tree farms on a combined 33,000 acres in the state. 

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2 – Bay City has seen more than a foot of snow so far this season … and counting. 

You can find out how much snow has been recorded for your neighborhood or other spots by using a Snow Accumulation Tracker from USA Today.

The online tool uses federal data and includes a map that lets you zoom to your desired location. 

Time ranges can be selected for snowfall in the last 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and so far this season. 

As of Thursday morning (Dec. 11), the season total for Bay City was 1 foot, 6 inches. 

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3 – The state has holiday gift ideas. 

A game called “What in the Wild” includes a deck of 120 cards with rules for five different games. 

See more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/2025/12/05/year-of-trees-what-in-the-wild-dinosaur-fish-doc/

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM WUCX in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes