Michigan, Mount Clemens | featured news

Fans of all things lavender and those wanting to know more about the plant, its scent and uses can head to Blake's Orchard from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday for the 16th annual Lavender Festival. Blakes' is located at 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada. Admission is $7 for adults and free for children under 12 and includes unlimited seating to all classes and demonstrations.

A couple of local teenage musicians will get to play the show of their young lives Friday night at an outdoor concert in downtown Mount Clemens.Mark Leo, 15, and Jimmy Neimann, 14, will perform a song with Lookin' Back, a Bob Seger tribute band at the Downtown Sight & Sound Concert Series on stage on Macomb Place near the Anton Art Center at Southbound Gratiot.

Macomb County is seeking hosts and sponsors to participate in the annual national Manufacturing Day set for Oct. 5.The event provides an opportunity for high school students to visit area advanced manufacturing facilities, see the industry in action and meet people who make things."Manufacturing is again on the rise in southeast Michigan, so it is a great time for young people to begin thinking about entering the field," said John Paul Rea, director of the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Go fly a kite - really - at the second Detroit Kite Festival taking place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, July 15, on Detroit's Belle Isle. There will be a kite making tent, an exhibition by Detroit's Windjammers Kite Team and a 2 p.m. performance by the Michigan Philharmonic. Visit

The grill master at LongHorn Steakhouse in Clinton Township has been named one of the company's top national grillers.Edward Ringwelski, a grill master at LongHorn Steakhouse on Hall Road in Clinton Township, has been named regional champion of the brand's Steak Master Series, a culinary competition where the restaurant's top-performing grilling experts vie for title of national champion.

Take part in the Chippewa River Water Festival noon-5 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at Chipp-A-Waters Park, 1403 W. High St., Mt. Pleasant. Visit chippewawatershedconservancy.org.- Sheri Hunter

MUR DE BRETAGNE, France >> Sometimes in cycling the bike can be the rider's biggest enemy.Tour de France contenders Tom Dumoulin and Romain Bardet both lost significant time in the overall standings after spokes on their wheels snapped near the uphill end of Stage 6 on Thursday.Both title hopefuls were left behind by the rest of the top riders as they increased the pace hunting for the win that finally went to Daniel Martin of Ireland.

SILVIS, Ill. >> Steve Wheatcroft shot a career-best 9-under 62 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead in the John Deere Classic.Wheatcroft birdied seven of the last nine holes to finish a shot ahead of Michael Kim. Johnson Wagner, Nick Taylor, Andres Romero and Joel Dahmen shot opening-round 64s.

TORONTO >> Paul Tracy wants drivers to get a little nastier.Back when he was racing, Tracy was famously involved in dustups, notably with fellow drivers Alex Tagliani and Sebastien Bourdais, going so far as to criticize them for keeping their helmets on during confrontations.Tracy won 31 times in IndyCar and has no regrets about how he handled himself on the track.

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. >> Kenny Perry wasn't sure what to expect.He's still rounding back into form following shoulder surgery. His back's bothering him, too.A spot at the top of the leaderboard in a major? He'll take it.Perry and Mike Small shot 7-under 65s to share a one-stroke lead in the first round of the Constellation Senior Players Championship on Thursday.