Just for fun, I typed Nora Roberts into our catalog--245 hits. More than Stephen King! Wow, I thought, maybe I will read one of these in our Summer Reading Game. Then, for more fun, I searched J.D. Robb, the name under which Roberts writes police procedurals. Whoa, another 72 hits! Clearly Roberts is beyond prolific, and you can learn (lots) more about this bestselling phenom in Lauren Collins’ wonderful profile in the June 22 New Yorker. As many as 27 Nora Roberts books are sold every minute, the article suggests.

Help support the activities of the Huron River Watershed Council this Saturday, June 27 at 11300 Island Lake Rd. (off Dexter-Pinckney Rd. just west of downtown Dexter). "Black Train," a local roots band that features country vocal harmonies, will be playing. Bring a blanket or a chair. Gather round a huge bonfire after dark. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10. Phone 769-5123, ext. 19 for more information.

Set in Belle Époque Paris, Chéri is the story of the love affair between the beautiful courtesan Léa and Chéri, the son of her old colleague and rival. When a marriage is secretly arranged for Cheri to another rich courtesan, they found out, too late, how much they meant to each other.

The sumptuous period drama with blinding star voltage (Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates) is based on a short novel by Colette, pen name for the flamboyant French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. (Limited release - a chick pick)

The Hollywood adaptation of My Sister’s Keeper is based on popular novelist Jodi Picoult's 2004 bestseller.

Sisters Kate and Anna share a bond closer than most sisters. Throughout their young lives, the sisters endure various medical procedures and hospital stays. Kate has Leukemia, and Anna was conceived to save her sister's life. Anna, now 11 seeks medical emancipation, hires her own lawyer, and initiates a court case that would divide the family. (3 hankies)

Public Enemies is adapted from Bryan Burrough's Public Enemies : America's greatest crime wave and the birth of the FBI, 1933-34 - the true story of legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis. Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, one would not be surprised to find this the action/thriller of the summer.

City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County and State of Michigan offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. City of Ann Arbor trash, recycling and compost trucks will follow their regular Friday schedule. Post Offices will close at 12 noon on Friday, July 3, and will be closed on the 4th of July.

Note also that most State of Michigan offices will be closed on Monday, July 6, as an unpaid furlough day.

There is only ONE official website for filing for unemployment benefits in Michigan, the Unemployment Insurance Agency. And there is NO charge for filing for unemployment benefits in Michigan. The State is warning residents against using websites that charge fees to file claims for unemployment benefits. These companies are advertising on search engines and generating emails and they will attempt to get access to bank accounts, credit cards, and personal information from consumers. They may look "official" but they are NOT, so steer clear and stay safe!

Most Michigan state government offices, including local Secretary of State and MichiganWorks! offices, will be closed due to the state budget crisis on the following days:

Friday, June 19            Friday, August 7
Monday, July 6            Friday, August 21
Friday, July 24             Friday, September 4

Vital public health and safety services like State Police road patrols, correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, veteran's homes and youth facilities will not be impacted. Unemployment Insurance Agency offices will also remain open. The State hopes to save $21.7 million with the furlough program.

The 9th Annual Mayor's Green Fair will be held this Friday, June 12, 6 ~ 9 p.m. on Main Street in beautiful, green Dowtown Ann Arbor. Foot and pedal traffic only for this celebration of renewable energy, environmental stewardship and sustainable living. Look for organic "light fare" from food vendors, music and crafts for all ages, walking tours and the ever-popular BikeFest.

If you haven't yet visited the University of Michigan Museum of Art post-renovation, here's a little bit more incentive. A new exhibit has just opened at UMMA, called Treasures Rediscovered: Chinese Stone Sculptures from the Sackler Collections at Columbia University. It runs through August 16th, so you'll have most of the summer to check it out! There are a number of other exhibits on display, if stone sculptures aren't your thing. And, if you'd like to do a bit of summer reading on Chinese art, the AADL has a selection of books that might just suit, such as The dynasties and treasures of China.

The City of Ann Arbor will hold a Area, Height and Placement Public Meeting on Wednesday, May 27th, 6:30 ~ 8:00 p.m. at CTN Studios to discuss proposed amendments to the City Code. Five ward public meeting will following this community-wide disucssion of building heights, setbacks, street width, parking lots, parking meters, mass transit and sidewalks. Bring your ideas, your questions and get involved in planning your city's future. For more information contact Jeff Kahan, City Planner at jkahan@a2gov.org or 734.794.6265 ext 42614.

I was reading the New York Times yesterday and came across an article about making homemade ginger ale. Packed with more of a zing than commercial ginger ale because it uses fresh ginger, this drink's popularity is on the rise. As I continued to read, lo and behold! I came across the name of Sweetwaters Coffeee and Tea of Ann Arbor which has the distinction of making the least expensive ginger ale, at least of those mentioned in the article. It's called Ginger Fizz which is the latest variation of their delicious ginger lemon tea, this time mixed with sparkling water.

To find other uses for fresh ginger in cooking and to learn of its medicinal properties, read A spoonful of Ginger: irresistible, health-giving recipes from Asian kitchens by Nina Simonds.