I recently attended the opening of the nation’s largest canopy walk at Whiting Forest in Midland. The 1,400-foot-long, 40-foot-high walkway overlooks 54 acres of forest, ponds, meadows and an apple orchard. Visitors can also enjoy a new kids’ playground, a cafe, and two pedestrian bridges that connect to the famous Dow Gardens. The canopy walk will be open all year (except for certain holidays and during inclement winter weather) and is accessible for people with disabilities.

Curry Farms in Tawas Township started as a small dairy business with 12 cows in 1868. Now, the family-owned farm has 215 milking cows and 175 head of youngstock. I recently had the honor of presenting the Curry family with a special tribute congratulating them on their 150th anniversary. It was a great time on the farm celebrating their sesquicentennial.

Halloween safety
Halloween is a fun and exciting way for children to dress up, use their imaginations and receive some sweet treats in return. It all starts with being safe.

Here are a few tips for parents to help ensure everyone has a great time. Have children stick to familiar neighborhoods, stay in well-lit areas, use sidewalks when possible, and look both ways before crossing the street.

It is vital that children can see and be seen while trick-or-treating, so have kids wear something reflective or bright and ensure they have a flashlight with fresh batteries. I also encourage parents to tell their kids not to eat any candy until it has been thoroughly inspected by an adult.

For these tips and more, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Halloween Safety page online or www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips. Happy Halloween!

Ballot proposal and voter location information
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, you will be able to play an important role in establishing Michigan public policy. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

If you do not know where you’re supposed to go to vote, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. Enter your first and last name, date of birth and residential ZIP code, and the website will give you the address and a map of your polling location.

The site also allows voters to view a sample of their ballot.

There will be three statewide proposals on the ballot. To help familiarize you with them, I have an informational publication on my website with the actual language that will appear on the ballot. These are only short summaries of each proposal. Here are links to the official full language for Proposal 18-1, Proposal 18-2, and Proposal 18-3.

Pure Michigan Fall Travel Guide now available
With more than 100 varieties of trees, four Great Lakes and thousands of sparkling inland lakes and waterways, autumn in Michigan is spectacular!

The 2018 Pure Michigan Fall Travel Guide features articles on scenic drives, fall foliage hikes and family getaways along with postcard-worthy photographs. The publication also includes a directory of state parks and campgrounds and a fall calendar of events. Residents can access the digital version at www.michigan.org/travel-guide or contact my office to receive a print copy. Click here if you just want details on suggested fall color tours.

Helping students pick their best career track
I was proud to support Senate legislation that has now been signed into law to help high school students make informed decisions as they plan for their future.

Public Act 242 of 2018 requires schools to provide students with the most recent available analysis of in-demand jobs in their local region. PA 241 of 2018 allows a student to receive a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) endorsement on their diploma as an incentive to take more STEM classes. Many of the high-skilled and high-paying jobs are in the STEM field.

Michigan is the first state in the country to offer the STEM certification opportunity, which will help give students a competitive advantage in the job market.

Is your personal information secure?
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month — a time to remind us of the steps we can take to protect our critical information in today’s digital age.

The internet has increased convenience for consumers and enhanced our ability to communicate. Unfortunately, it also has expanded the reach of criminals looking to steal your money and identity.

According to the FBI, Michigan residents and businesses have lost more than $36 million to cybercriminal activities so far this year.

The National Cyber Security Alliance offers easy-to-use resources at StaySafeOnline.org. The site is designed to be a one-stop shop for online safety awareness and education. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also offers the Stop. Think. Connect. Toolkit with simple, actionable advice for everyone from students and parents to small business owners and older Americans.