Are you a policy wonk? Then you should enter this contest!!

This Year's Theme: Message to the President

C-SPAN is asking students to consider what issue the president should address in 2013, and create a video documentary explaining why it's important.

This Year's Theme is : Message to the President

What do you think is important and should be addressed by the president? Make a short film and enter it in this contest for a chance to win some cash!!. It will be fun to do and a great item to put on your resume (some day!).

Now in its ninth year, C-SPAN's national competition invites all middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grade 9-12) to produce a five- to eight-minute video documentary using C-SPAN programming.

This year, students will have the opportunity to produce a documentary focusing on "A Message to the President: What's the most important issue the president should consider in 2013?"

The C-SPAN Education Foundation supports the contest by awarding 75 student and 11 teacher prizes, totaling $50,000 in cash.

Entries must represent varying points of view, and incluide C-SPAN video that supports the documentary's topic. Students, working alone or in groups up to three, must upload their videos by January 18, 2013, and winners will be announced in March. A full list of guidelines, FAQ's and past winning videos can be found at studentcam.org.

If enough students enter from Ann Arbor we can reserve a night to run the documentaries and you can invite all your friends!!

The 2012-13 Dawn Farm Education Series begins this month with the first of its series Addiction 101. Presented by James Balmer, this session will examine the dynamics of drinking and drug use; addiction as a brain disease and the basic recovery process. All programs are free and ALL are WELCOME. Tuesday, September 18 from 7:30-9:00 PM at the SJMH Education Center

If you're thinking about starting a small business, there are plenty of legal aspects to consider! Join Ann Arbor SCORE on September 20th from 6 to 8 pm at Cleary University Washtenaw Campus for the workshop Business Structure and Legal Issues. This workshop will provide information about legal entities, tax and liability issues, elements of a contract, leasing and insurance. The workshop is free to attend, but registration is required. If you have questions, contact Ann Arbor SCORE here.

On view on the third floor of the Downtown Library is the current exhibition of new art prints just added to the circulating collection.

While we continue to add new images of perennial favorites like Ansel Adams, Richard Diebenkorn, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Mark Rothko to the collection, we are always looking to introduce new talents and new artists into the mix.

Rhett Lynch of New Mexico, is a mufti-talented artist whose whimsical depiction of family pets are delightful (Art Print 614, image at left). Fiona Hoop, is actually the collaborative work of two Toronto (Canada) artists - Michele Woodey and Mary Kennedy. We hope you will enjoy their contemplative abstract landscape Blue Sky.

And at long last, we were able to add to the collection British-born photographer (now based in Seattle) Michael Kenna's work, this one capturing an atmospheric and moody view of Marly-le-Rio, France.

These and other prints will be available for circulation on October 11th, 2012 when the exhibition closes.

A new legal self-help website, www.michiganlegalhelp.org offers information and many resources for Michigan residents who need to represent themselves in simple civil legal matters. The Michigan Legal Help website is part of a pilot project overseen by the Solutions on Self-Help Task Force. The website was created to make legal information easier to understand and to show people how to navigate the court system properly and efficiently. The website can also help users look for a lawyer or legal self-help center in their area if they need more assistance. Visit www.michiganlegalhelp.org to view the website and learn more about it's tools for civil legal self-help in Michigan.

corn on the cob

Head on down to Dawn Farm's 39th Anniversary Jamboree on Sunday, September 9th, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm! Admission and all activities are FREE! This is a great family activity with hayrides, pony rides, and a children’s tent, too. Visit the working farm or bid on unique items in both silent and live auctions. For more information, or if you would like to volunteer at the event, call Megan at 734-485-8725.

Don't take it from us, take it from the people using the service: 97% of respondents of a recent patron satisfaction survey indicated they would recommend Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled services to friends and family members. This free service loans books, magazines, and videos in alternative formats (digital cartridge, recorded cassette, large print, Braille, and descriptive video) to individuals of all ages who are certified as unable to read or use standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations.

The survey report is available here PDF Version Audio Version Text-Only Version

and you can read more about WLBPD services, including Large Print Books-by-Mail, at wlbpd.aadl.org.

Want to learn more? Call 734-327-4224 or email wlbpd@aadl.org!

Spend this Labor Day weekend at the FREE 33rd annual Detroit Jazz Festival. Chill out in Detroit's Hart Plaza with big names such as Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, and many others. Also, learn about Detroit's jazz history and meet the artists in the jazz talk tent.

An inexpensive shuttle bus service traveling from Ypsilanti to the Hart Plaza area will be offered through Eastern Michigan University all weekend; more information can be found on WEMU's website.

Next Thursday, September 6th, well known author, playwright, and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom will be visiting Ann Arbor to read from his new novel, The Time Keeper, a fable about the 1st man on Earth to count the hours.

Join other local Albom fans at the Ann Arbor Barnes & Noble located at 3235 Washtenaw for this free reading & signing, starting at 7pm.

On Sunday, August 26, 2012, join Washtenaw County in a celebration of African American literature.

Guest speakers include local author Karen Simpson, romance author Beverly Jenkins, and children's author Debbie Taylor.

The event will be hosted from 4-6pm at Washtenaw Community College in the Morris Lawrence Building, Room 150, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $20 each/$5 for students.