Postive Aging Series

Wed, 10/04/2006 - 4:18pm by Mazie

Did you know that the latest census projects that Washtenaw County's population of people 65 and older will grow from approximately 26,000 today to nearly 73,000 in 2030? The Blueprint for Aging, a local partnership of consumers and agencies, is sponsoring a series of lectures on Positive Aging.

The first event "Age with Attitude" will take place this coming Friday October 6, 2006 from 9:30 am to noon at the Village at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 5341 McAuley Drive. Frank Cambria, the deputy director of Washtenaw County, will be the keynote speaker. Other community leaders will also address relevant issues on improving services for older citizens.

For more information, contact Virginia Boyce at 734-712-2718 or "vboyce@css-washtenaw.org".

Celebrate the 49th Anniversary of Sputnik 1

Wed, 10/04/2006 - 11:37am by anned

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union surprised the rest of the world with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. This marked the beginning of the space race, when the US and USSR competed to be the first nation to get a human to the moon and return them safely to the earth. The space race led to countless technological advances, including the invention of microtechnology, which have been put to everyday use in the form of computers, cell phones, and memory foam mattresses.
Celebrate the 49th anniversary of this historic event by using your cell phone to order a pizza. After all, the technology that makes it possible exists because of Sputnik.
Also, visit the New York Times Historical Database (in the research section of our website) to read what our country thought of this event while it was taking place.

More to know 'bout that cup of joe...

Wed, 10/04/2006 - 11:30am by emilyas

Did you know that if you drink about 3 shots of espresso you are actually consuming the same amount of caffeine as a 12 oz cup of coffee? According to NPR, because of the way espresso is prepared (with a quick brewing time) it actually has less caffeine than brewed coffee! To learn more interesting facts about these caffeinated beverages, grab a cup o' joe and check out the NPR article or some of our books on coffee.

New exhibition at the UM Museum of Art

Tue, 10/03/2006 - 3:22pm by joy k

Don't miss the new exhibition at the University of Michigan Museum of Art: Mary Lucier: The Plains of Sweet Regret. Lucier's multimedia works capture the essence of life on the Plains and the Prairies; they include video installations, surround sound, and rescued objects. The exhibition runs from September 30 to November 19 at the museum's temporary exhibition space. For hours, directions, and other information, visit the museum web site.

Millers Creek Film Festival

Sat, 09/30/2006 - 4:06pm by Mazie

Did you know the Huron River Watershed Council sponsors a film festival? The Millers Creek Film Festival is a filmmaking competition and festival that is held to raise awareness about the river and water issues in the area. You can submit a film five minutes long (or shorter) or a 30 second public service spot. The subject is human connections to the River or its tributaries. Prizes will be awarded and the winners will be shown at the Michigan Theater on March 20, 2007.

Entries must be submitted by February 20, 2007. The entry fee is $15 (or $10 if submitted by February 1, 2007).

Check for further information and entry forms online at HRWC

BNL In town and for Free

Fri, 09/29/2006 - 6:37pm by Bertha

This five piece band from Toronto will be in Ann Arbor at Borders downtown on October 4th at noon for a short, but FREE concert. Martin Bandyke, from 107one, will interview the band. BNL's now have their own label, Desperation Records, with Barenaked Ladies Are Me recently released.

Expedition 13 Returns to Earth

Fri, 09/29/2006 - 5:43pm by anned

The thirteenth crew of the International Space Station, Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams, returned to earth yesterday landing in the steppes of Kazakhstan. They had been at the station since last April performing scientific experiments and station maintenance.
With them was Anousheh Ansari, the first woman space tourist, who paid an estimated $20 million for an ISS trip under an agreement between Russia's Federal Space Agency and the Virginia-based firm Space Adventures. During her eight-day stay on the ISS, Ansari performed a series of experiments on behalf of the European Space Agency. Visit Ansari’s blog to read more about her trip to space.

Long-awaited classics coming to DVD this fall

Wed, 09/27/2006 - 1:15pm by amy

Well, it's about time. This October, Warner's is finally releasing five classics on DVD from MGM, "the Tiffany of movie studios": Producer David O. Selznick's A Tale of Two Cities (1935), starring Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone and David Copperfied (1935), starring W.C. Fields; Treasure Island (1934), starring Wallace Beery; the opulent Marie Antionette (1938), starring Norma Shearer; and, drum roll, please, the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier. As if that wasn't enough, the classic civil rights documentary series Eyes on the Prize will be here in November (we currently have the VHS edition), as well as 49 Up, the next installment in the landmark documentary series by filmmaker Michael Apted that began with the 1964 film Seven Up!. Stay tuned. We'll be getting them all.

Flora and Fauna Art Show, September 30 and October 1

Tue, 09/26/2006 - 2:56pm by joy k

This weekend, enjoy the crisp fall weather at Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum’s Flora and Fauna Art Show. More than fifty artists will be displaying paintings, sculptures, jewelry and other works outdoors at the gardens. The show is open to the public Saturday, September 30 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Sunday, October 1, from Noon to 4:00 pm. Click here for directions and other information for planning your visit

Alice Coltrane Quartet Comes to Ann Arbor

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 6:55pm by joy k

Jazz fans won't want to miss the performance of the Alice Coltrane Quartet at Hill Auditorium on Saturday, September 23. Sponsored by the University Music Society, the concert features Alice Coltrane, her son Ravi, Charlie Haden, and Roy Haynes and celebrates the legacy of the late jazz great John Coltrane. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Michigan League Ticket Office.