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NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • Dec 11 - Dec 17, 2017 • Vol. 27 No. 49

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and lived entirely on his government salary while in Washington. One of the anecdotes I found particularly interesting was the description Truman’s then-Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote in a letter to his son.

Of Truman, Acheson wrote: “Straightforward, decisive, simple, entirely honest.”

Giving time for that to sink in, I thought to myself: Well, that was then, and this is now. Back then, we had Harry. Now we have Crime and Rescue Map......................................7 Donald. Hmmm. Are we making any progress?

CONTENTS

features

A Pop-Up in Pellston?.......................................9 Steve Morse, Suttons Bay Library Brawl................................................10 Bird Song....................................................13 Ultimate Sacrifice.........................................14 Traverse City is Not Fantasy Island Lifting Large...............................................16 While reading Grant Parson’s opinion Northern Seen...................................................19

Trump Fails Code Talkers

Legislature Gets It Right

State Rep. Michele Hoitenga hosted a town hall at the Cadillac Library Oct. 2. Rep. Lana Theis, chair of the House Insurance Committee, pitched a bill overhauling Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law. No-fault’s goal is prompt and full compensation for auto accident claims and minimizing costly, time consuming litigation.

Rep. Theis zeroed in on lifetime medical coverage as principle driver of Michigan’s high auto insurance rates. She highlighted medical procedures that Medicare paid X for. While regular health insurance paid somewhat more, auto accident medical payouts were 300 percent or more higher. Yikes! Well, if accident medical payouts are ridiculously high, fix that.

Don’t shake up the entire law.

Recently, the Cadillac News reported that a women paralyzed in a car accident in January on US-131 near Reed City needed weeks of hospital care, surgeries and expensive equipment. According to the article, she has a pile of medical bills six inches high, but she needn’t stress about that because Michigan’s no fault auto insurance pays for a lifetime of medical care. This article also quoted a 2000 report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners: “It’s recognized as the most effective no-fault law in the nation.”

Nevertheless, for more than two decades insurance companies have lobbied to reduce benefits, cut costs, and ultimately eliminate Michigan’s no-fault insurance. The overhaul would let drivers choose their level of medical coverage — say, $250,000, and up to unlimited.

Seniors on Medicare (like me) could stop paying for accident medical coverage. While that would economically benefit me, I’m strongly opposed.

I support unlimited medical coverage for people injured in auto accidents. And realistically, if every driver didn’t pay into unlimited medical insurance, no one could afford it. Thankfully our lawmakers were merciful and voted this meanspirited legislation down.

Richard E. Maatman, Lake City

On behalf of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, I wish to express gratitude to the Navajo Nation’s code talkers for their service in World War II, and for their recent poise and grace in the face of the President’s cultural insensitivity.

In front of a backdrop portrait of Andrew Jackson — an Indian antagonist who forced removal of Indian Tribes, commonly known as the Trail of Tears — President Trump attempted to betray the code talkers by invoking a political slur against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who, like many Americans, claims tribal descendancy.

America’s Indian heritage should be a source of pride for all Americans.

The Navajo code talkers signify America’s constructive historical experience: Their Navajo/Diné language served as an unbreakable military code without which America would not have won World War II. Rather than praising the code talkers for the achievement, Trump debased himself during the ceremony by using an unnecessary slur in the presence of these elder Navajo war heroes.

Although the President obscured the message, the point of the ceremony has not been lost: It is to honor the Navajo code Talkers as unique to America, and to recognize that they represent the pain and promise of American history. As Americans, we should embrace our shared history.

GTB Tribal Chairman Thurlow “Sam” McClellan, Peshawbestown

The Good Ole Days

I recently began reading “The Fifties,” a book by the late David Halberstam. The book begins with an account of the final years of the presidency of Harry Truman, which ended in 1952 with the election of Dwight Eisenhower. Truman, of course, had been a little-known vice president under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He took over the oval office when Roosevelt died in April 1945.

Until his election to the Senate in 1935, Truman’s biggest accomplishment was perhaps his impressive record as an artillery officer in World War I. He never had much money

column [“Carruthers’ Election: What it Means”] in the Nov. 25 issue, I was half expecting to see Hervé Villechaize run down Front Street crying, “The plane, the plane!”

I like science fiction as much as the next person, but this was just ridiculous. How does a candidate have a mandate when they are the only one running for the position? A lack of competition does not equate to a mandate, especially when the lone candidate doesn’t garner anything close to a majority of the total registered voters. I voted for Mayor Carruthers in this most recent election partially because I believe his heart is in the right place on many issues, but I disagree with him on tall buildings.

However, I have been totally dismayed by the gloating by a segment of his supporters since Nov. 7. It is my hope that Mayor Carruthers realizes that residents with many varied opinions voted for him, that he will take that into consideration during his term, and that he keeps his mind open on all issues, including the benefits of taller buildings in appropriate locations.

dates...............................................20-24 music FourScore.......................................................41 Nightlife.........................................................44

columns & stuff Guest Opinion...................................................4 Top Five...........................................................5 Spectator/Stephen Tuttle....................................6 Weird...............................................................8 Modern Rock/Kristi Kates................................25 The Reel...........................................................27 Advice Goddess.............................................29 Crossword...................................................29 Freewill Astrology.........................................30 Classifieds....................................................31

Rick Brown, Traverse City

Foot in Mouth, More Shoes to Drop

I laughed out loud when I read Mr. Galbraith’s [Nov. 27 letter, “Question Mainstream Media”] critical of Stephen Tuttle’s Nov. 13 column. I was watching real news reports today, including Fox News, which showed ex-Trump National Security Advisor and presidential transition team member Mike Flynn pleading guilty to lying to the FBI and implicating another transition team member and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in directing Flynn to talk to the Russians.

As for Mr. Papadopoulos being a plant, that is absurd. The Trump team has already admitted he was a “low-level transition team member.” And he has already pled guilty to lying to the FBI about Russian contacts. Gee, something else to see here.

The assertion that social media ads favored Ms. Clinton during the campaign is also absurd. Most of the Russian propaganda/ ads were full of misinformation, issue driven, and meant to sow discord in voters and favored Mr. Trump. Check Snopes.com for the facts. The Clinton/uranium issue has already been investigated and nothing new was found. Nine committee/cabinet members had to sign off on the sale, and this decision was left to Clinton’s undersecretary. See a Newsweek article about it. Just like the nine different investigations (wasting $7 million in taxpayer money) into Benghazi that turned up nothing new. Another dud.

And how convenient that AG Sessions has amnesia when it comes to conversations with Russians. Or that he won’t comment on “private conversations” with the president concerning Russian contacts. I do agree with Mr. Galbraith’s comment that “more indictments are coming from the Muller investigation,” but they will be for the Trump camp. Just waiting for more shoes to drop.

Cover photo by Greyscale Group Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase 129 E Front Traverse City, MI Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Executive Editor: Lynda Twardowski Wheatley Finance & Distribution Manager: Brian Crouch Sales: Kathleen Johnson, Lisa Gillespie, Katy McCain, Mike Bright, Michele Young, Randy Sills, Todd Norris For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948 Creative Director: Kyra Poehlman Distribution: Matt Ritter, Randy Sills, Kathy Twardowski, Austin Lowe Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold Contributing Editor: Kristi Kates Reporter: Patrick Sullivan Contributors: Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsny, Jennifer Hodges, Tom Kachadurian Al Parker, Michael Phillips, Steve Tuttle Copyright 2017, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Colleen VanOcker, Kalkaska

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 3

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opinion

bY Thomas Kachadurian In 1955 Vladimir Nabokov published “Lolita,” a fictional account of Humbert Humbert’s obsession with and violation of 12-year-old Dolores Haze. The book is filled with literary tricks and deceptions (her name is Haze — figure it out) but at its heart, narrator Humbert uses self-aggrandizement to disguise his evil obsession and actions with a child.

In literature classes we discussed “Lolita” for the word games Humbert plays and the way he continually undermines his own credibility as a narrator. To those who’ve never read “Lolita,” it’s a salacious tale of pedophilia. But Nabokov was an exile of communist Russia, and as with all his work, the book is an allegory of how tyrannical governments exploit the weakest to derive their power. Nabokov himself, like Humbert, play with the reader: He insisted that he hated allegory, but nevertheless, describing his body of work, he famously wrote, “Even ‘Lolita,’ especially ‘Lolita,’ is a study in tyranny.” The book is a metaphor, but today, there would be no way to read ‘Lolita’ as anything but literal.

Make no mistake, predatory sexuality is only about domination, power, and control. There is an abyss of difference between a horndog who’ll find as many willing, equal, partners as possible (think Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and a person who preys on subordinates. Exploitive relationships come in many forms: parent to child, teacher to student, supervisor to employee, producer to actor, and even president to intern. They are all equally repugnant. Yet, for every one of these evil predators there are complicit enablers who turn a blind eye, or even defend the perpetrators to preserve their own position and standing. The person who doesn’t speak up is painted with the same guilty paintbrush.

Before the 24-hour news channels, the daily news was anything that fit in today’s edition. The thickness of a newspaper wasn’t determined by the amount of news available, but by the number of ads sold. More ads meant there needed to be more news to hang them on. With 24 hours to fill, every day, the old tricks to fill space don’t work. To keep eyes on their products, news outlets need new stories all day, and the more salacious the better.

There was a time when the death of an icon like Jim Nabors would have filled the news.

Last week it was a little special-interest story below the fold. The big news was each day’s news anchor, celebrity, or politician revealed to be using power to exploit people who look to them with trust. However, the outrageous behavior has been treated like tabloid gossip rather than an attack against those of weaker status.

4 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

The media have no taste for calling out their own, so while they like to have the word sex in their headlines, they won’t name the crimes and violations actually committed. The news outlets have adopted the phrase “sexual misconduct” to describe something far worse. Sexual

misconduct is cheating on a spouse with a willing, equal partner. Matt Lauer locking the door to his office to defile a star-struck page is pure evil.

Everyone has seen the photo of Al Franken with his hands on a sleeping Leeann Tweeden.

The photo offers a glimpse into the heart of exploiters like Franken. In the photo, at that moment, Tweeden is like a child innocently sleeping. Most people would see a sleeping Tweeden and look for a blanket to warm her. A predator like Franken saw it as an opportunity for humiliation. Franken, Rep. John Conyers, Lauer, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Clinton, and others are lost. They will brew in their own evil. Their pathological needs will drag them down until they wither in self-hatred.

I am concerned with the people who willingly are dragged down with them. From politicians to spouses, from shareholders to voters, we have tolerated this depravity. We now know that Matt Lauer’s exploitation of women was an open secret. Word on Capitol Hill was that a woman shouldn’t get into an elevator alone with John Conyers. Now, 20 years later, female news anchors who created the smokescreen for Clinton are admitting they should have listened to his accusers. It’s too late, way too late.

Every one of the so-called feminists who provided cover for Bill Clinton are guilty, from his wife to ABC news anchor George Stephanopoulos (yes, millennials, he was part of the make-excuses-for Clinton staff).

They are guilty of sending a message to the perpetrators: You can prey on and use women as long as you stay on the correct side of the issue. Their message to the victims was clear too: If you dare to speak the truth to power, you will be ignored at best, and probably vilified and dismissed.

In the 1950s when “Lolita” was published, it was a fictional allegory. Today, it’s real.

In current politics, entertainment, and who knows where else, men prey with impunity on those of lesser status. Enough.

Where are the women in the ridiculous pink hats? Why are they not calling for the list of names on the “creep list” of wellknown, predatory U.S. legislators? CNN has the list. Why won’t they publish it? If you are a feminist, you must ignore your party’s “icons” and demand a house cleaning. If your boss grabs your ass, you can’t brush it off. When someone suggests that sexual cooperation will be good for your future, you must tell everyone who will listen — and even people who don’t want to hear.

If you know a colleague is preying on subordinates, if you suspect a parent is exploiting his or her child — even if you have avoided the leering eye — it is your obligation to get involved. Make this your New Year’s resolution: Speak up!

Thomas Kachadurian is a photographer, designer, and author. He lives on Old Mission with his wife and two children. He is a member and past president of the Traverse Area District Library Board of Trustees.

this week’s

top five NoMi to Ann Arbor Train Inching Closer Groundwork Center’s effort to link northern Michigan to downstate by passenger rail took another step forward.

The nonprofit will oversee a passenger-rail cost and ridership study of the state-owned rail between Ann Arbor and Traverse City and Petoskey.

“Groundwork and a team of rail experts just kicked off the study and will spend the next six months checking out the track conditions and creating a business plan for regular train service,” said James Bruckbauer, deputy director at the Traverse City-based nonprofit.

Groundwork and the Bay Area Transportation Authority will work with rail industry experts Transportation Economics and Management Systems to explore costs and create a business plan for regular train service with trains that can run 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Funding for the study comes from a federal-transportation planning grant and local matching funds from the Michigan Department of Transportation, the City of Alma, the City of Traverse City, Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, Petoskey Downtown, Traverse City Tourism, and Washtenaw County.

Bottoms Up Cheboygan Brewing Company’s Blood Orange Honey Beer Brace yourself. We’ve got a helluva long haul until spring.

And until those clouds crack open and daylight outlasts the dark, you’re going to have to find another source of sunshine. Enter Cheboygan Brewing Company’s Blood Orange Honey. Tastier than a tanning bed and far easier to swallow, this American-style wheat beer brings a much-needed sip of sunshine to a winter-weary palate.

Fresh, local wildflower honey lends a mellow sweetness to a mediumbodied beer that’s brightened with blood orange zest and puree. It’s smooth and softer than your usual citrus beer, with a 5.7%ABV — just enough to keep you smiling while you shovel. Locate it on tap and on shelves via cheboyganbrew.com.

home for the holidays Jetty Rae (bluesy folk rock) and Younce Guitar Duo (jazz, flamenco, gyspy guitar and other world music) will perform songs from their latest Christmas CDs at “Home for the Holidays” on Sat., Dec. 16 at 7pm at Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Advance tickets: $10 students, $17.50 adults. Door: $22.50. brownpapertickets.com

Treat Yo’Self: Treetops Free Skiing This Weekend Winter is here, and to celebrate, Treetops Resort is offering free skiing Dec. 15–17 for those lodging in Gaylord. Each overnight guest will receive a free lift ticket voucher, valid for one day on the slopes. Free skiing begins on Friday at 2pm, with the lodging packages start at $109 per room per night at Treetops and $65 per room per night at several other Gaylord area properties. “It gets people in the mood,” said Kevin McKinley, the resort’s golf and ski operations director.

Interested neophytes can take advantage of Treetops’ free Learn to Ski clinics on Saturday, Dec. 16; pros (and pro wannabes) can enjoy watching the USASA Ski and Snowboard competition, also happening at Treetops during Free Ski Weekend.

You can bet the powder will be worthy. Not only is Mother Nature (finally) cooperating but Treetops also has invested in more snowmaking equipment to ensure there’s a good base. With temperatures predicted to hit highs between the teens and mid-20s for the next week, that won’t be a problem.

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 5

WON’T HELP MOST OF US

spectator by stephen tuttle Now we know. Neither the House tax reform bill nor the Senate tax reform bill does much to help most of us. Actually, it’s worse than that.

What we’ve been told by President Trump is this is the largest tax cut in history, the middle class will most benefit, his rich friends won’t like it, and neither he nor his family will benefit.

None of that is true.

Measured by the actual dollars put in the pockets of median income households, this will be the 14th largest tax cut in history. The middle class will not be the primary beneficiaries because the very wealthy — including Trump, his family, and his allegedly unhappy pals — will realize far greater benefits.

Will these tax plans lead to job and wage growth as we’re being told? Dozens of company executives have already said they will pay down debt, buy back shares and increase dividends. Job growth is way down their list, and most wage growth will happen at the upper management and executive level.

Some states have already tried these supplyside tax cuts. North Carolina is often used as a positive example. But North Carolina has experienced about the same economic growth as the rest of the country. There was no dramatic economic surge, just slow growth, and revenues decreased, forcing some budget cuts.

Kansas tried the same trick, with disastrous results. State revenues cratered, and the state lagged behind the rest of the country in most economic indicators. The Republican legislature finally restored some taxes, overriding

If you’re closer to the bottom of the pay scale, the plans are not so great. People in the $20,000–$30,000 income range will actually get a tax increase by 2019. And most itemized deductions for individuals will be eliminated.

Vibrant. Elegant. Handcrafted.

Corporations will see their top tax rate cut from 35 percent to 20 percent and will be given a break to bring their billions in off-shored cash back here. The promised elimination of all their elaborate business deductions did not come to fruition; they get to keep plenty to go along with their new lower rate.

the Republican governor’s veto, in order to fill a $2 billion budget deficit and increase funding to their beleaguered schools.

The Senate version even adds new treats, especially for a recalcitrant Republican senator from Alaska, Lisa Murkowski. She was uncommitted on tax reform.

But if you’re rich, especially in the $500,000 a year or higher salary range, you should like both the Senate and House bills. Both will save you a lot of money. And your kids, along with the Trump clan, will not have to pay estate taxes at all.

Now the Senate version includes two of her pet projects. First, the cruise line industry in Alaska was exempted from paying a tax when ships stop in Alaskan ports. The tax disproportionately hurt the state, the exemption advocates claimed.

Additionally, and it’s hard to see what this has to do with tax reform, the Senate version opens up 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil exploration and drilling. As if “wildlife refuge” and “oil drilling” somehow go together.

Senator Murkowski claims the extra revenue generated by the billions of barrels of oil supposedly waiting to be extracted from ANWR will help pay down the trillion dollars in additional debt the tax reform plan will generate. That’s right — both the House and Senate bills will add more than $1 trillion to the national debt.

@soulsqueeze

soulsqueezecellars T R AV E R S E C I T Y , M I C H I G A N | s o u l s q u e e z e c e l l a r s . c o m

6 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

(Alaska’s senators might be a little less sanguine about producing more fossil fuel. Rising sea levels caused by climate change are forcing more than a dozen Alaskan coastal communities to consider relocating inland immediately. Dozens more face the same prospect in the future. Federal tax dollars will have to pay for it.)

There just aren’t any recent real-world examples of this kind of tax “reform” producing dramatic economic gains.

Corporations will do just fine, too. Still lots of deductions and a massive rate reduction.

It will be good news for their shareholders, less so for their lower level employees.

If you’re closer to the bottom of the pay scale, the plans are not so great. People in the $20,000–$30,000 income range will actually get a tax increase by 2019. And most itemized deductions for individuals will be eliminated.

This allegedly historic legislation isn’t even permanent for individual taxpayers; in 2025, everything goes back to exactly as it is right now. Not for corporations, though; their tax breaks are permanent.

It’s a nice windfall for the wealthiest among us, a boon to corporate shareholders and executives, and leftovers for the rest of us.

Now the bad House bill and the bad Senate bill will go to a conference committee comprised of members of both bodies. They are already disagreeing on which bad things should be left in or added. Eventually, they will come up with a single bad bill. They will tell us it’s the best thing in the history of the world.

They will be wrong.

Crime & Rescue MAN KILLED IN HIS DRIVEWAY A 25-year-old Kingsley man was killed when a woman lost control in snowy conditions and slid into him while he was snow blowing his driveway.

Tyler Dean Troyer was pronounced dead at the scene after a 29-year-old woman lost control of her car and struck him as she slid off the road.

Grand Traverse Sheriff’s and Kingsley Fire and Ambulance were dispatched Dec. 6 at 5:40pm to Voice Road near Summit City Road.

MAN REMOVED FROM HOTEL A man struggled with Traverse City Police after he refused to pay a $36 tab and fought with a beverage manager at the Park Place Hotel.

Police were called at 11pm Dec. 2 after hotel staff said a 37-year-old Grand Rapids man assaulted and then tried to choke a manager.

When police arrived to talk to the suspect, the man attempted to walk away, and police arrested him, Chief Jeffrey O’Brien said. O’Brien said the man fought with officers as they took him to jail on charges of assault, defrauding an innkeeper, and resisting arrested.

911 CALL LEADS TO BUST A man who had been drinking vodka at work was arrested after a witness called police to report an erratic driver.

Leelanau County Sheriff’s deputies were called at 5:24pm Dec. 4 about a black pickup truck that was pulling a trailer and weaving all over M-204.

Deputies located the pickup on N. Macksey Road and made a stop.

The 71-year-old driver admitted to drinking vodka at a work site earlier that day and was arrested for drunk driving with a high blood alcohol content.

STOLEN CREDIT CARD INVESTIGATED Police are investigating the connection between three men who made purchases at the Grand Traverse Mall with a credit card that was stolen in Petoskey.

State police in Petoskey were investigating a stolen credit card Nov. 30 when they learned that it was being used at the Grand Traverse Mall. Troopers asked Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputies for help in locating the suspects.

Deputies were dispatched to the mall and tracked down three suspects believed to have been present when the stolen card was used, Lt. Chris Barsheff said.

The suspects, two Traverse City men, ages 20 and 21, and a 28-year-old Detroit man, were connected to two purchases allegedly made with a stolen card: one for $250 and another for $159.

LOST KAYAKER FOUND Friends and family mourned John White after the Traverse City man’s body was recovered from Lake Skegemog.

Searchers located White at 11am Dec. 1 after four days of searching, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputies said.

A state police autonomous underwater vehicle was used to narrow down the search area and enabled searchers to locate White.

His pickup had been found parked at one of the lake’s boat launches, and his kayak was found in the lake.

MAN SENTENCED FOR PORN A 61-year-old Boyne City man was sentenced to a year on jail for possessing child pornography.

Lon James Kowalske was also ordered to serve four years of probation after he pleaded guilty to possession of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.

State police investigated after Kowalske

by patrick sullivan psullivan@northernexpress.com

purchased a new computer and asked that some files from his old computer be transferred to the new one. Investigators found more than 200 photos and videos of “very young children,” according to a press release from Charlevoix County Prosecutor Allen Telgenhof.

Kowalske had no prior record and will be required to undergo treatment as a result of the sentence.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO DRUG BUST A traffic stop and a tip led police to a Traverse City motel where, after conducting surveillance, they arrested three people on drug charges.

A Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop on the evening of Dec. 4 and got information that launched an investigation.

Traverse Narcotics Team investigators surveilled the motel and witnessed suspicious activity that led them to suspect drug dealing and get a warrant for a search, according to a press release.

In the search, police found packaging materials, loaded syringes containing suspected narcotics, scales, 10 grams of crack cocaine, 10 grams of cocaine, and 5 grams of heroin.

Police arrested three people who were in the room — a 39-year-old Ohio man, a 38-yearold Ohio woman, and a 28-year-old Traverse City woman.

LITTLE LEAGUE THIEF PLEADS A woman accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the Petoskey Little League pled guilty to charges.

Julie Ann Gray was arrested in October after a state police investigation found that she had taken $80,000 from the Little League, for which she had served as treasurer.

She pleaded guilty Dec. 5 to embezzlement between $1,000 and $20,000. According to a press release from Emmet County Prosecuting Attorney James Linderman, Gray made restitution part of her plea. She is scheduled to be sentenced in February.

FRIENDS CHARGED AFTER CRASHES Two friends from downstate were arrested following separate crashes in Empire on the same day.

Leelanau County Sheriff’s deputies first responded at 5:35am, Dec. 2 at to a crash on Lake Street near Front Street. A car had been driven off the road and suffered significant damage after striking a parked car. Deputies tracked down the driver, who was cited for leaving the scene of an accident.

At 11:52pm, deputies were called to another crash near the Lakeshore Inn at M-22 and Front Street. Witnesses observed a black pickup back into another car, two men get out of the truck and inspect the damage, and then walk into a hotel room.

Deputies arrived and talked to the two suspects, a 38-year-old and a 32-year-old, both from Fennville.

The older man had totaled his car in the morning crash, and the younger one had driven up to help him. The men were drinking together and were on their way to get more alcohol when the second crash occurred.

Deputies arrested the older man on suspicion of drunk driving third offense and disorderly conduct, and the younger man for allowing an intoxicated person to drive and driving on a suspended license.

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People Different From Us Chengdu, China, street barber Xiong Gaowu offers a most unusual service at his roadside location in Sichuan province. For $12, Xiong will scrap the inside of his customers’ eyelids using a straight razor, according to Reuters. Xiong suggests being “gentle, very, very gentle” when performing eyelid shaving, or “blade wash eyes,” as the technique is known in Mandarin. A Chengdu ophthalmologist, Qu Chao, says shaving may unblock moisturizing sebaceous glands along the rim of the eyelid, leading to a more comfortable and refreshed feeling. “If he can properly sterilize the tools that he uses, I can see there is still a space for this technique to survive,” Qu added.

Uncontained Excitement Traffic slowed to a crawl on I-95 in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 21 as President Trump’s motorcade arrived for the Thanksgiving holiday. Author and sportswriter Jeff Pearlman was among the delayed drivers, but things turned weird when “these people (kept) getting out of the car dancing,” he posted in a Twitter video. WPTV reported that Pearlman recorded the people two cars in front of him emerging from their car and twerking on the highway, then jumping and dancing around enthusiastically before getting back in the vehicle.

Compulsion A 35-year-old Indian man employed a unique method for dealing with his depression: swallowing metal. Maksud Khan was rushed to surgery at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India, after developing severe abdominal pains, according to Metro News. An endoscopy showed that Khan had “coins, nails and nut-bolts in his stomach,” said Dr. Priyank Sharma, who led the surgical team. In late November, surgeons removed 263 coins, 100 nails and other metal items, including razor blades and dog chains, from Khan’s stomach.

His family had no idea he had been ingesting metal, and Khan promised doctors he would never eat metal again.

Unclear on the Concept -- In Iowa, autumn is breeding season for deer, when the animals can get a little wacky and try to cross roadways. It’s also the time of year when the Iowa Department of Transportation begins fielding questions from drivers asking why deer crossing signs aren’t erected at safer spots for deer to cross. “This sign isn’t intended to tell deer where to cross,” the Iowa DOT helpfully posted on its Facebook page on Oct. 24, according to the Des Moines Register. “It’s for drivers to be alert that deer have been in this area in the past.” State Farm Insurance reports that Iowa drivers have the fourth-highest likelihood in the U.S. of hitting a deer. Coincidence?

-- Rocky, an enterprising 7-month-old border collie in Devon, England, took the command “bring the sheep home” a little too literally in early November when he herded nine sheep into his owner’s kitchen. “I was in the kitchen and heard a noise,” Rocky’s owner, Rosalyn Edwards, told the BBC. “I turned around and the sheep were just standing there. It was funny at the time, but then there was quite a lot of wee, poo and mud everywhere.” The sheep stood around for a few minutes, then allowed themselves to be shown out the front door.

Irony As elder members of the First United Methodist Church in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, gathered on Nov. 16 to discuss the recent

8 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, one of those present asked if anyone had brought a gun to church. One man spoke up and said he carries a gun everywhere, reported WATE-TV, and produced the gun, emptying the chambers before passing the weapon around. When the owner got the gun back, he replaced the magazine and recharged the chamber -- accidentally squeezing the trigger and shooting himself in the hand and his wife in the abdomen. Both victims were taken by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment of non-lifethreatening injuries.

Last Wishes On Oct. 10, Richard Lussi, 76, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, succumbed to heart disease. But before he died, he made sure his family knew there was one thing he wanted to take with him: a cheesesteak from Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia. “No onions because they’ll come back to haunt me!” Lussi told his family. So the day before Lussi’s funeral, his son, John, grandson, Dominic, and two friends drove to Philly, where they ate cheesesteaks and bought two extra for Lussi’s casket. John told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the funeral director advised not putting the sandwiches in the coffin until after the viewing, “because people would take them.” Pat’s owner Frank Olivieri Jr. said he was flattered and proud that his cheesesteaks were held “so dear” by someone. “Maybe it’s a bribe for St. Peter,” he added.

In Your Own Backyard Lisa Cramps moved into a new home in Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England, this fall and quickly discovered a mysterious manhole cover in her backyard. Rather than ignore it, Cramps dug up the cover and unearthed a World War II-era bunker underneath. Neighbors informed Cramps that the shelter pre-dates her house and originally had two stories, with the upper level partially above ground. “It’s very exciting to find this in our garden,” Cramps told Metro News. “I love Second World War history, and my mission now is to find out exactly why it’s here.”

Undignified Death Linda Bringman, 64, of the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, died on Nov. 27 after being found unresponsive three days earlier with her head stuck between two posts of a wrought iron fence. Paramedics were called around noon that day to a PNC Bank branch where the fence was located, and Bringman was taken to the Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Chicago Police could not provide an explanation for her being stuck in the fence, but they did not believe criminal activity was involved.

Inexplicable Ja Du of Tampa, Florida, was born a white male named Adam Wheeler. Today, he is not only transsexual, but also considers himself transracial, saying he identifies as a Filipino. “Whenever I’m around the music, around the food, I feel like I’m in my own skin,” Du told WTSP-TV in November. Du even drives a motorized rickshaw called a Tuk Tuk, a vehicle used for public transportation in the Philippines (but which Filipinos call “trisikels”). However, some Filipino-Americans are less than welcoming, claiming that Du has overlooked centuries of their people’s struggle.

“To say you are that race is both unrealistic and problematic,” said Jackie Fernandez, a FilipinoAmerican journalist. She believes Du has crossed a line between “cultural appreciation and appropriation.”

A POP-UP … IN PELLSTON? Chef Nancy Kelly’s Restaurant near the tip of the Mitt is never the same menu twice

By Kristi Kates As a kid, Nancy Kelly watched her father return from Chicago’s Randolph Street wholesale food markets with olive oil and bags of peppers.

Later, as an aspiring chef who’d moved to northern Michigan, she presented beautiful meals to friends at home, soon expanding her skills under the tutelage of Pete Peterson at his famed northern Michigan restaurant Tapawingo.

By the late ’80s, she’d moved to Paris to apprentice with French Master Chef John Desmond.

And in 2004, back in northern Michigan, she opened the specialty food destination Pellston Market, and her own catering business. Eight years later, she morphed the market into Nancy Kelly’s Restaurant, a gourmet destination filled with eclectic antiques and an equally diverse menu.

PARAMOUNT POP-UP Today, Kelly has shifted with the times, specializing her offerings while at the same time expanding them.

“The restaurant is now more like a popup, or an underground restaurant,” she said.

“With our remote location and limited access to quality staff, it seemed better to do more specialized things, which also adds a little bit of mystique and makes the dinners

more of a special event every time.”

Utilizing the same space as the prior restaurant, guests sign up for Kelly’s newsletter, which notifies them when a dinner will be offered. The dinners are usually prix fixe menus, with other occasions taking the shape of wine-tastings or theme dinners.

“We only offer the restaurant dinners now in spring, fall, and winter, because we’re so busy with catering in the summers,” Kelly said.

“We cater everything from private dinners and birthdays to big cocktail parties and weddings. We’re very full-service, and I’m very hands-on. My attention to detail is paramount, and my standards are very high.

For instance, we don’t do hors d’oeuvres ahead of time, freeze, and reheat them — they’re all made and garnished fresh.”

IMPRESSIVE REPERTOIRE The ever-changing menus at the restaurant offer an impressive mix of what Kelly calls “recycled classics,” familiar dishes given a modern twist. Lately, she’s been infusing more plant-based and vegan cooking into her offerings.

“I’ve always included more vegetables than a lot of other places,” she said. “They’ve always been a very important component of our plates. I’m also especially proud of our sauces — we make them as close as possible

to when the dishes go out, and stir in fresh chopped herbs right at the last minute to infuse all those flavors into the sauce.”

A few recent highlights include Prince Edward Island mussels in a creamy reduction sauce over stir-fried baby spinach in a puff pastry box; a salad of roasted beets with tiny French lentils, tomatoes, avocado and chopped walnuts; and Kelly’s famed Delice de Chocolat.

Additionally, she’s been dabbling in Moroccan cooking and adding more Italian dishes to her repertoire, inspired in part by another of her projects: culinary tours overseas, most recently in Italy.

OVERSEAS ENDEAVORS “We’ve been putting a big emphasis on our food and wine tours lately,” Kelly said. “I sign up guests for small specialty tours, just six to twelve people, and we go stay in lovely hotels and take cooking classes and have wonderful experiences.”

While joking that her role in guiding the tours is as “group mascot,” Kelly really serves as organizer, coordinating the treks with her Italian contact: chef, gastronome, and tour guide Gioacchino Passalacqua.

“I’ve been working with him since 2007,” Kelly said. “And we’ve done so many amazing things with our guests. We’ve visited cheese makers and wineries. We went on a truffle hunt last time. I’d never had a truly fresh

clockwise from top left: A starter from one of Kelly’s recent gourmet dinners: Prince Edward Island mussels in a creamy reduction sauce over stir-fried baby spinach in a puff pastry box.

Chef Nancy Kelly hard at work.

A salad of roasted beets with tiny French lentils, tomatoes, avocado and chopped walnuts by chef Nancy Kelly.

truffle, and it was extraordinary, as was meeting the truffle hunters and their dogs.”

“We visited an olive grove with 500-yearold trees and helped the family harvest olives, then we watched how the olive oil was pressed and enjoyed lunch with them at a big table right in the middle of the grove.”

Next up for Kelly, another busy winter of her specialized dinner events, followed by a summer of catering, then it’s off for another culinary tour, this time to Sicily.

“I love sampling all the foods from all of these different regions,” Kelly said. “And I love doing these tours in the smaller way that we do. You get to have such good interactions with people, and guests don’t ever feel like they’re being ‘herded around.’ Many of our guests have told me that our trips have been their experience of a lifetime.”

Nancy Kelly’s is located at 230 US 31 North, Pellston. (231) 539-7100. Visit nancykellys. com to sign up for the events newsletter and to get more information on culinary tours.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 9

Library Brawl In Elk Rapids, a proposal to add a 6,230 square foot addition to an old, beloved library proved complicated.

By Patrick Sullivan Architects drew up designs. Fundraising plans were afoot. State historic preservation officials signed off. Earlier this year, Elk Rapids District Library supporters believed they would soon get permission to build a 6,320-square-foot addition to a building they say they’ve outgrown.

And then this summer, from the perspective of library director Nanette Miller, some ominous signs appeared around town. They read “Preserve Our Island House and Property.”

“People didn’t know what it meant — they would come in and ask us, ‘What do those signs mean?’” she recalled.

Turns out those signs meant that a small but determined group of village residents had decided they didn’t like the sound of the expansion, and they were determined to stop it. And that’s what they did. At a meeting on Nov. 6, the village council rejected the plans.

COMPROMISE PLEASES NO ONE When the village council voted 4–3 to ask the library board to come back with smaller plans — for an addition that’s less than 4,000 square feet — the decision left both sides unsatisfied. The Preserve group wanted the expansion voted down outright.

Miller thought the library proposal already represented a compromise.

To say Miller was disappointed that the plans were not approved would be an understatement.

She said the library board had worked hard to get public input and come up with a plan that respected the history of the Island House, the 151-year-old building that sits

on a 4.8-acre island at the mouth of the Elk River. It has been home to the library since 1949.

“Our architects worked very closely with the state historical preservation office so we would not lose the historic marker,” Miller said. “It wasn’t easy. We had a plan we all really liked, and the state historic preservation office said no, so we scrapped all that.”

The library board worked with architects to adjust the plans so that they could win approval with state historic preservation officials, but when they took the plans to the village, things got complicated.

“I know that there’s a group of people who are resistant to all change in Elk Rapids,” Miller said. “They have surfaced on a lot of issues.”

Tim Moller, one of the core members of the Preserve group, lives on River Street across from the island. He can see the classic white cottage from his living room. And he wants it to stay as it is. The expansion, he said, would have been massive and would ruin the character of the island.

He said Miller and the library board should not have been surprised so many people were upset about the expansion plans because soon after they were announced in summer 2016, he and others started writing letters to the editor to the Elk Rapids News decrying them.

“As a result of the public hearings, it was a spontaneous combustion, [and] this committee was formed,” Moller said.

Miller said she believes the library board was responsive to criticism and made changes to accommodate objections. She said they specifically hired architects who

10 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

are able to work on historic structures, and those professionals worked hard to respect the building’s history and to come up with a plan that had as little impact as possible on the island.

A LONG AND COMPLICATED HISTORY The building’s history goes back to the beginning of Elk Rapids.

Edwin Noble, one of the town’s founding fathers, built the house in 1865. Today, the building retains an aura of comfortable hominess, with creaky, uneven floors and hallways that twist around to rooms that were added on as the Noble family grew.

The building also has a connection to a legendary woman’s rights activist.

Katharine Dexter McCormick (see sidebar) donated the property to the village in 1948. Although she never actually lived in Elk Rapids, she helped shape the village with her gift, which came with some strict deed restrictions. The building must be used for something to benefit the public, like a library, but isn’t to be used as a convalescent home. (The sides disagree whether the building could be a senior center.)

Miller said there is nothing in the deed restrictions that prevent a library expansion.

“She was very progressive — I think she would want to see a better library. But that’s my opinion. I don’t know,” she said.

Preserve member and village resident Dianne Richter said she believes the deed restrictions rule out an expansion because, with most residents against those plans, McCormick’s mandate that it be used to the public’s benefit is violated.

“The village residents have spoken pretty loudly that they don’t want an expansion;

I just don’t see how it could benefit them,” Richter said.

The spark that started the plan to expand the library came in 2014 when the library received a $400,000 bequest from the estate of a local man, Charles Heffer.

The library board hired consultants to undertake strategic planning and seek input from the community. Miller said they learned that many patrons found the library too small, and people wanted dedicated space for kids and teens, more comfortable seating areas, space to grow the library’s collection, and a place to hold events.

In 2015, the library board asked the village for permission to explore an expansion. They hosted public input meetings throughout the summer of 2016.

Miller said the first sign that there would be trouble was when parking was discussed.

“They didn’t have anything to say about it until someone mentioned parking, and then people started getting really concerned,” she said. “Parking is a valid concern.”

Miller said she thought the library board addressed parking concerns by requesting five new parking spots down the hill, in the marina parking lot, that staff could use.

QUESTIONS ABOUT A PETITION This summer, however, the opposition dug in.

The Preserve signs started to appear throughout town. But more troubling for Miller, she said, was that they were accompanied by what she believes was a misinformation campaign. Miller said that residents were told that scores of trees would be cut down, and everyone’s taxes would be raised if the expansion went forward.

Miller said the plan submitted to the village called for cutting down just one tree, and that the library board designed the plan so that it could be paid for through fundraising, not tax hikes.

“We proved that we would not need to raise our operating millage for at least eight years, probably 10,” Miller said.

Members of the Preserve group say there was no misinformation campaign.

The Preserve group circulated a petition and gathered 200 signatures of village residents who said they were opposed to an expansion of the library.

Richter said she was one of 10 or so people who circulated petitions and asked village residents to pledge their opposition to the expansion of the library. She said 82 percent of village residents who made their opinion known opposed the expansion.

There are questions about those petitions, however.

James Janisse, village council president, said he asked around and learned that some people who signed them did not have all of the facts.

“What I found was that the petitions were circulated before the questions were answered,” he said.

Those questions included whether the plans meant the library could keep its historical designation status, how many trees would be cut down, and whether the project would raise people’s taxes.

“Those questions were answered, and once we received the petitions, I made a few phone calls on my own,” Janisse said.

He said he found that some people who signed the petition did so believing that the

library expansion would cause their taxes to go up.

“I was then told that, ‘You know, if I had that information, I don’t know that I would have signed it,” Janisse said.

LIKE SPRAYING PERFUME ON A HORSE Richter said there was no mention made of added taxes on the petition, and she didn’t believe that any of the circulators talked about taxes or made exaggerated claims about tree removal, or suggested the structure would lose its historic status.

Moller said signature gatherers were telling the truth when they warned residents about taxes. He said the library expansion has already cost taxpayers.

He said his group learned that when the library board decided to go ahead with a project, in 2014, it started to collect the full .6 mills it is entitled to collect, and that historically the board only collected a fraction of that amount “That’s completely legal, okay? No one said it’s illegal,” he said. “What we were saying was it’s already cost you money.”

Miller said Moller’s claim isn’t entirely true; the consultants did recommend in 2014 that the library collect more of the millage, but less than .6 mills was actually collected.

Moller acknowledged that the library officials responded to the criticisms: They altered plans to save trees; they made sure to keep the historic designation; and they reconfigured parking so that new spaces wouldn’t intrude into the park.

But he said that wasn’t enough.

“You can spray perfume on a horse, and it’s still a horse,” he said. “It’s still a massive,

massive expansion.”

Moller said the Preserve group attempted to get the library board to look at other options. Moller believes the main purpose of the expansion is to create a community center, and he said he believes there are already plenty of places where the community can gather around Elk Rapids.

Moller appeared before the library board in August and proposed that the library could lease space at the Lighthouse building owned by First Presbyterian Church. Board members rejected that idea.

“It was very acrimonious, unfortunately,” Moller said. “Before I even got into it, they said, ‘No, we already looked at that.”’

The sides also dispute a detail in the 2014 consultants report that recommended a 4,000-square-foot, two-story addition.

Preserve members say that the library board tried to bury that recommendation because they wanted a bigger building.

“For some reason, they chose to ignore that,” Richter said.

Miller said that proposal from the strategic planning study was by not meant to be definitive and that architects later determined the library needed more square footage in order to incorporate the features patrons said they wanted.

“The consultants took it upon themselves to toss in an architectural proposal,” Miller said. “It was, ‘Here’s an idea for something you can do.’ It was in no way a proposal. …

I realize now they didn’t do us any favors, because these people took it as gospel.”

Thom Yocum, library board president, said several members of the board will soon have a conference call with the architects to talk about scaling down the plans to 4,000 square feet. They will bring that information to the library board for a discussion at the December or January meeting.

Richter said she is open to seeing what’s proposed next but that she doesn’t understand why the library needs to be expanded.

“We’re basically a small community — our winter population is only 600 people in the village,” she said. “We can’t just look at two months out of the summer to define what we need year-round.”

Moller believes expanding the Island House building would do “irreparable harm” to the parklike setting of the island. He also said he doesn’t believe Elk Rapids needs a bigger library because the population isn’t growing.

He can’t imagine supporting plans for an addition unless they come back much, much smaller than 4,000 square feet.

“They should redefine the existing space they have, and then they should focus on technology,” he said. “They could make the whole island a hot spot.”

Moller said he hopes that when the library board offers a proposal, the village council decides to put it on the ballot. He believes that would settle what’s become a bitter dispute once and for all.

Yocum said he was surprised by the opposition. He expected people to be opposed, but he didn’t expect some of what transpired.

“We knew there would be opposition to doing something, but their tactics kind of surprised us,” Yocum said. “They’ll tell you they were 400 people, but it was basically a small group of five to eight people that spearheaded the whole opposition.”

He’s not sure how to go forward, and he expects the opposition group will oppose whatever they propose.

“We are working through it, and I am hoping that we’ll be able to come up with something that looks reasonable,” he said.

“It’s very difficult because we spent over a year trying to get these plans.”

The Fireball Who Started It All Katharine Dexter McCormick inherited a fortune, including what is today the library building in Elk Rapids, and she used her money to fight for civil rights for women.

She funded campaigns for women’s suffrage and later funded research that led to the development of the birth control pill.

McCormack’s roots were in Elk Rapids and Dexter, Michigan, but she didn’t have much time to spend Up North. In fact, though much of her father’s business took place in Elk Rapids — Wirt Dexter was a Edwin Woble’s business partner, and they purchased the island together in 1866 — she never lived in the community.

McCormick, who was born in 1875, became the first woman to graduate from MIT with a science degree.She married Stanley McCormick, who later suffered from schizophrenia, and she inherited his fortune after he died in 1947. (Stanley’s father, Cyrus, patented the mechanical reaper in 1834, and Stanley helped start International Harvester.) The same year Stanley died, McCormick donated the Island House to the Village of Elk Rapids.

Meanwhile, McCormick had served as vice president and treasurer of the National American Woman Suffrage and, once the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, she became vice president of the League of Women Voters. That’s how she met Margaret Sanger, another crusader for improving the lives of women, who would go on to form an organization that would become Planned Parenthood.

Sanger struggled to find a way to get an effective means of birth control to American women. Once McCormick inherited her husband’s fortune, becoming independently wealthy, she was able to turn her attention to that cause.

She asked Sanger how she could best put her new wealth to use, and Sanger introduced her to Gregory Pincus and Minchueh Chang at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, scientists who were researching fertilization and hormones.

McCormick donated $2 million ($22.9 million in today’s dollars) for research that led to the development of the first contraceptive pill, which won FDA approval in 1960.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 11

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Northern Express Weekly • november 27, 2017 • 11

4

DAVINA LOZIER

SHAKIRA

LANA DEL REY P!NK

Bird Song The rockin’ women artists you must see this year.

THE WAILIN’ JENNYS

By Kristi Kates

W

ho’s poised to make some noise in 2018? These standout musicians and vocalists certainly are — and, lucky you, they’re all heading to venues right here in Michigan. Make a date to rock this year.

LANA DEL REY Her first hit was the gone-viral track “Video Games” in 2011, but that was only the merest hint of a start for Del Rey. Now on her fifth full-length studio album, Lust for Life (2017), she’s earned enough cache to invite the likes of Sean Lennon, A$AP Rocky, and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks to guest on the set. The first single, “Lust for Life,” even featured The Weeknd. Coming up for the singer in 2018 are some big-deal tour dates as part of her LA to the Moon Tour, which kicks off this month and will continue through South America, Australia, and Western Europe. Lust has also been nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, so we’ll see how that turns out at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 28.

Rock! With Lana Del Rey on Jan. 17 at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.

Artist Link: lanadelrey.com Venue Link: littlecaesars.arenadetroit. com/tickets DAVINA LOZIER Davina Lozier fronts Minnesota band Davina and the Vagabonds, an alternativejazz/blues outfit that bashes both traditions with sharply-arranged layouts of piano, horns, and drums. But she’s not the usual jazz singer; this spitfire displays tattoos

alongside vintage fashion choices like petticoats, ’40s-era frocks, and pin-up-girl makeup and hair. She’s also a pianist to be reckoned with, commandeering the keys through sets of warped Americana music from the band’s latest album, Nicollet and Tenth. For 2018, the band is working on another album that will be released on its new label, Red House Records.

Rock! With Davina on Jan. 19 at the City Opera House in Traverse City (opening for Squirrel Nut Zippers.)

Artist Link: davinaandthevagabonds.com Venue Link: cityoperahouse.org SHAKIRA Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll — aka the Latin-pop singer Shakira — has been taking things at a somewhat slow pace the past couple of years, after taking a turn as a coach on The Voice and releasing her 11th studio album, El Dorado, in May. But get prepared for more hip shakin’ this year, as she finally kicks off the North American segment of her El Dorado world tour on Jan. 9 in Orlando, Florida, with additional show stops scheduled in Toronto, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix. Her trek ends Feb. 10 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Rumor also has it that later in 2018, Shakira is planning to head back into the studio to start work on El Dorado’s followup album.

Rock! With Shakira on Jan. 22 at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.

Artist Link: shakira.com Venue Link: littlecaesars.arenadetroit. com/tickets

P!NK When you release a groundbreaking new album like 2017’s Beautiful Trauma, what do you do next? You plot out a gargantuan tour for the following year, of course. And that tour for P!nk is just about ready to embark, kicking off March 1 in Phoenix, Arizona, and running through its grand finale June 2 in Los Angeles. Can’t make it to the show?

P!nk’s documentary about the making of the album (and other insider and behind-thescenes happenings) — also called Beautiful Trauma — is available for streaming via Apple Music.

Rock! With P!nk on March 18 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids Artist Link: pinkspage.com Venue Link: vanandelarena.com THE WAILIN’ JENNYS With a fresh new album of its own (October 2017’s Fifteen), the Wailin’ Jennys (yes, the band’s name is a riff on classic country singer Waylon Jennings) were formed in 2002 in a guitar shop, and today consist of three frontwomen (Heather, Nicky, and Ruth) who share the spotlight.

Since the group’s early days, it’s snagged two Juno Awards (Canada’s equivalent to the Grammys) for Roots Album of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year. For 2018, watch for more live dates from this trio, along with plenty of public radio appearances for which they’ve become known.

Rock! With The Wailin’ Jennys at Interlochen on April 12.

Artist Link: thewailinjennys.com Venue Link: interlochen.org

Girl Power Music On the Horizon

Looking to amp up your music collection in 2018? Look to the ladies; these album releases promise a powerful New Year.

Kimbra – Primal Heart This latest round of Kimbra’s soulful synth-pop sees the New Zealand artist collaborating with Childish Gambino and Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth.

Cowboy Junkies – title TBA These cowboys are getting back in the saddle (with singer Margo Timmins) and are departing their usual alt-country for more of a rock approach.

Avril Lavigne – title TBA Lavigne has snagged a new label home (BMG) for her next set as well as a new producer, J.R. Rotem, who’s worked with Rihanna and Britney Spears.

Charlie XCX – title TBA Even though she’s been promising a release date since early last year, Charlie’s calling her coming album “bada** pop” that will be worth the wait.

Loretta Lynn – Wouldn’t It Be Great This 85-year-old grande dame of classic country is prepping a new studio album, mixing up her updated signature songs with newly written tunes.

Kylie Minogue – title TBA Aussie dance-pop singer Minogue drew on her music to bounce back from a tough relationship situation, calling the set a slew of “inspiring tracks.”

Photo by Alan Newton

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 13

By Al Parker

Joseph Lancour and mom, Starla Owens.

Women participating in the BOW program get a head start on becoming seasoned When a young man orandwoman outdoorswomen by learning sports activities joins the it not only changes the course likemilitary, fishing, dogsledding, and self-defense.

of their life, but the weight of that decision ripples throughout the family. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents feel the impact of that life-changing choice.

Family members stateside worry daily about their loved ones serving overseas.

They know that each day that passes without a uniformed messenger knocking on their front door is a blessing. But when a vibrant young life is suddenly lost in service to the nation, the damage to the family fiber is always traumatic and often irreparable.

Many families are uncertain where to turn, what to do. But there is help available for families dealing with the death of a solider, sailor, marine, or coast guardsman.

Northern Michigan Blue to Gold Star Mothers is devoted to providing information, education, and support for the family of all veterans who have died serving the country.

The recognition of Gold Star Mothers dates back to World War I, when it became a custom for family members to place a banner in a front window of their home with a blue star in the center of a white field. The star represented each man or woman serving in the U.S. military. If the soldier died in combat or from wounds or disease, a gold star would be placed over the blue, as a measure of respect for the sacrifice of the family.

In 2015, the northern Michigan group first gathered at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Traverse City to honor Gold Star Mothers.

“We had 13 members when we started three years ago,” said Starla Owens, the group’s president. “Now we have more than 30 mothers in northern Michigan who have gone from blue to gold star in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The organization helps families connect and assists them in finding available benefits and counseling. It offers resources and tools to help them deal with loss. They can also help when there is a small financial need, such as a utility bill, an inexpensive car repair or transportation. “We support the families by offering them a place to connect with other families who understand their fears and what they may be going through,” said Owens. “We offer outlets for their grief, such as writing, music, arts, or fitness. These are great activities to funnel emotions and grief.”

A Typical Boy Owens’ son, Joseph Michael Lancour, was born in Cadillac in 1986.

“He was a typical boy, into Hot Wheels, skateboards, fishing and hunting,” said Owens, who lives in Bear Lake. Lancour was athletic and played on Ludington High School’s baseball and football teams.

Classmates remembered him as a kind of skinny football player who always played hard.

“He talked about the Army in high school but was undecided. There were no jobs when he graduated (from Ludington High School) in 2004. He came to me and said, ‘Mom there’s nothing for me here.’”

So Lancour went to live with his grandparents in Swartz Creek, where he got hired at a Burger King in 2005. He liked working fast food but was ready to move on with his life and enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2006.

“I wasn’t mad or upset,” said Owens. “But I did say ‘You realize there’s a war going on, don’t you?” But it was his decision. I may not like every decision he made, but I’ll always support him. He had to spread his wings.”

After Lancour completed boot camp at Fort Benning, Georgia, his mother asked if he was happy with his decision to enlist.

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE Northern Michigan women who have lost their child to war are banding together.

“He said, ‘Mom, I couldn’t be happier,’” she recalled. “’Structure, discipline, brothers — I have it all here in the Army.’”

After boot camp, Lancour completed airborne school and became a paratrooper late in 2006. He was home for Christmas, then was sent to Vicenza, Italy, in January 2007. After a few months there, he was deployed to Afghanistan.

“He told me, don’t believe everything you see on TV or read in the papers,” said Owens. “But I knew he was in a danger zone.

I didn’t understand all the military terms he used when he called home every three or four days. His letters came regularly, and I sent him a care package twice a week. He did his best to ease my mind, but I knew in the back of my mind that things could happen.”

On Nov. 6, 2007, Lancour called home and said his unit was going on a mission for a few days. “He wanted to know what me and his sister wanted for Christmas and said he’d jump on it when he got back,” said Owens. “I told him to call when he got back and to be careful.”

“Always,” he responded.

But after two days, Owens’ phone was silent.

“November 9 rolls around, and I didn’t hear from Joe. Then Nov. 10, I laid in bed thinking that he hadn’t called. I got up and wrote in my journal. I called a friend and

14 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

said I hadn’t heard from Joe, and she said you’ll hear from him soon.”

Owens was at her job at Tendercare in Ludington when she got a phone call to come back home; there were two uniformed soldiers at her door. She dropped the phone and drove the 27 miles back home to Bear Lake.

“When I got there, the soldiers were gone to talk to another family. Then they returned and came to my door. They asked my ID and social security number to identify me. That’s when the numbness, shock, and anger falls on you.”

A member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Lancour died on Nov. 10, a day after his unit was ambushed in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. The 21-year-old was one of five soldiers killed in the attack.

Owens went through a lot of emotions, a lot of numbness. She took time off work to deal with the grief.

“A service officer was assigned to me, and he was there every couple of days for three months to answer questions and bring me Joe’s belongings,” said Owens. “There were nine crates of stuff. His mail, packaged, that I had sent to him were marked ‘Deceased, return to sender.’ There’s an emptiness. I was angry at God for taking him, angry at God for taking any of them.”

Owens dealt with her grief by turned

inward and avoiding human contact. “I withdrew from people,” she said. “I was so tired of hearing ‘Sorry for your loss,’ tired of people. I didn’t want to be around people.”

A few years later, Owens was given a Gold Star Banner to hang at her home. Initially she was reluctant to get involved with any group. “From 2007 to 2011 I really didn’t go out in the public eye. I didn’t do a lot,” she said. “But then Calvin Murphy, a Vietnam veteran, urged me to go on a mission to educate the public about Gold Star Mothers.”

She agreed and soon they got a committee together and launched Northern Michigan Blue to Gold Star Mothers. “We strive to keep our loved ones’ memories alive,” she said. “Our greatest fear is our loved ones being forgotten.

They didn’t die in vain — they died for a cause. Their memories are worthy and deserve to be honored.”

A Football Fanatic Growing up in Kingsley, Justin Hansen loved sports. He was captain of both the Stags track team and wrestling team. But his real love was football.

“He was a football fanatic,” said his mother, Vickie Hays an accountant and paralegal who now lives in Williamsburg.

“He knew all of the NFL teams, all the players, all the stats. He loved the game.”

Vickie Hays and son, Sgt. Justin Hansen.

Solstice Concert

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As captain of the 2002 Kingsley team, against the enemy. Despite Seif ’s efforts, he led the Stags to a Northwest Conference Hansen did not survive his wounds. Seif Title, was first team all-conference, and said if not for Hansen, the mission would starred on the defensive line. His number — have failed.

54 — was later retired by Kingsley. Following “He was larger than life,” he said of high school graduation in 2003, he enrolled Hansen. “If you didn’t know him, you heard at Northwestern Michigan College. about him. He was a straight shooter, called “He wanted to enlist right after 9-11,” it like it was. Was willing to push a fight and said Hays. “He felt it was his personal understood the circumstances.” responsibility to do something.” But Hansen For his heroism under fire, Staff Sgt. Seif was only 16 then, and Hays turned down was presented the Silver Star on March 6, his request to sign up through a delayed 2015. Tragically, four days later, he died in a enlistment program. But in 2005, as a helicopter crash in Florida.

20-year-old, he enlisted in the Hays was notified of her Marine Corps. son’s death by two Marines After infantry training at who appeared at her door. She Camp Pendleton, California, knew immediately why they “He wanted Hansen served four years in were there. “I feel bad for the to enlist a reconnaissance battalion guys who have to do that job,” before joining the elite Marine she said. right after Special Operations Command Hays immediately went (MARSOC) in 2009. “60 guys into “this is what I’ve got to 9-11,” said tried out for MARSOC, and do” mode. She had people Hays. “He they kept 20,” said Hays. “Justin to notify, including Hansen’s finished first in the group.” three sisters and many other felt it was In July 2012, Sgt. Hansen family members. “His sisters his personal had already served in Iraq were devastated,” said Hays. and was on his second tour adored him.” responsibility “They in Afghanistan when he and Slowly Hays got involved his teammate Staff Sgt. Andy in veterans activities, including to do Seif, of Holland, Michigan, Blue to Gold Star Mothers and something.” were directed to hunt down a volunteering at Reining Liberty notorious bombmaker who was Ranch, which offers equine responsible for the deaths of therapy and other services several NATO forces casualties, to veterans on 11 acres near including Americans and Italians.

Traverse City.

“People had been tracking him for a while.

“Gold Star Mothers has been a way for We had an opportunity, and we took it,” Seif me to know other Gold Star families,” she said later, describing the mission that found said. “We tend to draw support from each the pair engaged in a firefight outside a small other.” compound in Badghis Province in western In September, a statue honoring Gold Afghanistan. “A lot of things go into planning Star Mothers was erected at Memorial Park an operation, and we are always weighing in Traverse City. It’s as a reminder that whether or not the risk is worth it. We’ve got freedom isn’t free. “Nothing can replace the men on our memorial wall that he’s potentially void left by losing a loved one in service to taken the lives of, so this one was absolutely the country, but a memorial such as this worth it.” can preserve their memories and honor the “The were hunting this bombmaker who families,” said Owens. had killed other Marines,” said Hays. “They The statue was funded though came around a corner and saw him, both contributions from the community. More Justin and the target shot, and both were hit.” than $60,000 was raised from veterans Hansen was wounded, and Seif rushed to groups, civic organizations, and individuals. his side, treating his wounds. “Even though The memorial features a mother clutching a Justin was hit, he was still in the game,” said flag and grieving. The statue complements Seif. “He motioned to where the shooter was, the other memorials at the park and is the so I assaulted through. “ only one of its kind in the state of Michigan.

Refusing to wait for reinforcements, Seif “She’s a reminder to keep the memories of entered the compound and made sure the lost loved ones alive, to tell their stories and attacker was dead. He returned to Hansen, histories so that their sacrifices are never treating his wounds while returning fire forgotten,” said Owens.

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Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 15

Lifting Large ACHIEVING BIG AT THE TC BARBELL CLUB

Megan Ward. Photo by: Greyscale Group.

By Kristi Kates There’s weightlifting … and then there’s Olympic weightlifting.

And there are three women in Traverse City who can definitely tell you all about the difference between the two.

Alyxandria “Alyx” Briggs, Megan Ward, and Theresa O’Boyle run the Traverse City Barbell Club. It’s Traverse City’s only Olympic lifting facility, and one that aims to lift the confidence of its members just as much as the weights themselves.

FRESH FITNESS The Barbell Club has been open for just about six months. It debuted in July of 2017 at the suggestion of Josh Holton and Brad Giglio of Traverse City’s CrossFit Due North. Theyhad seen the women lift at other locations and thought their CrossFit would be a good match with an Olympic lifting gym.

CrossFit Due North and the TC Barbell Club now work in conjunction as Fresh Coast Fitness.

“All three of us [women] knew each other from lifting together before,” said Alyx Briggs. “When Josh and Brad approached us with their idea, we knew it was a good fit.”

The biggest investment in their new business was simply their own skills; the women rent space from CrossFit Due North and purchased some equipment, but they don’t require additional employees, so the three do all training themselves.

WHOLE BODY EXERCISE The term “Olympic lifting,” simply put,

refers to working with the two lifts done in Olympic competition: the “snatch” and the “clean and jerk,” two methods of lifting a barbell set above your head. A wide set of skills are needed to achieve the lifts. Megan Ward called it “a whole-body exercise.”

Most people at their facility aim at lifting between 100 and 200 pounds, though one current client is lifting over 400 pounds (which is essentially lifting two good-sized people).

The gym’s 12-week programs are based on the individual skills of each client, so it’s constantly progressive as lifters work toward increasing their personal numbers — the weight they’re able to able to lift — and skill level. In addition to the actual lifting, clients also do exercises like squats, planks, presses, and core work.“It’s a different workout every time,” Briggs said.

ROAD TO LIFTING All three women have done the sport at the competitive level, but they welcome and train a wide range of people who aren’t necessarily in it for the competition aspect, from youthful athletes to older folks with mobility issues, or ex-military looking to stay in top shape.

And all three women took unique roads to their current Olympic lifting careers.

Briggs got her start in team sports, and graduated from Grand Valley State with a degree in coaching.

“In high school, I did general strength conditioning and weights, and I really liked feeling strong and seeing fast progress,” she said. “What drew me to Olympic lifting is

16 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

that it’s very technical. You have to perfect each piece of it.”

Ward was the opposite — she didn’t participate in sports at all.

“I was very, very overweight,” she said. “I did CrossFit for four years to try and combat that, and some of CrossFit includes lifting, which I liked better than cardio. I’ve lost over 100 pounds, and most of that is from weightlifting, not anything else.”

She also pointed out that people believe that the harder they work and the more they sweat, the more calories they’ll burn.

“It’s actually in building muscle that you see a lot of progress,” she said. “The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.”

EMPOWERING PEOPLE Theresa O’Boyle got her introduction to fitness with CrossFit as well, before moving to weightlifting.

“And I had a very motivating coach, Josh Heitsch, who was a Traverse City weightlifter before he moved out of town,” O’Boyle said.

“I really like being able to share my love and passion for weightlifting, and inspiring others. There’s a big mental part of lifting that transfers to the challenges of everyday life: Work hard, and you can get there. Those ideas apply outside of weightlifting and the gym, as well as inside.”

All three women agree that the rewards are in watching their clients grow.

“It’s been such a cool experience already,” Briggs said. “We have people come in who have never even done this before, and it’s so fun to see when something clicks for them,

Megan Ward, Alyx Briggs and Theresa O’Boyle.

and we can instill that positive energy in them through fitness.”

“I love the moment when I can help show someone that they’re stronger than they think they are,” Ward added. “To empower people. That’s the thing.”

The Traverse City Barbell Club is located at 1145 Woodmere Ave. in Traverse City. Find out more at tcbarbell.com or (231) 486-5344.

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18 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

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NORTHERN SEEN 1. Arts for All board members and participants enjoying the recent ACCESS Make & Take event in Kalkaska.

2. Val, Jerry, Kyle, Meg, and Matt helped raise funds and toys for Toys For Tots at the Traverse City Ticker’s Recess event.

3. Rotary of Traverse City exchange students Filip of Slovakia, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Rob Donnell, Carmen of Spain and Amelia

of the U.S. gather at Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.

4. Sara Couture and Ashley Bosley networking at the TC Young Professionals holiday social at 7 Monks Taproom.

5. Dozens gathered in TC to demonstrate their opposition to the Republicans’ tax reform plan.

6. Jill and Kevin McKinley were certainly in the holiday spirit at Extreevaganza at Treetops in Gaylord.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 19

dec 09

saturday

OLD MISSION WOMEN’S CLUB FANCY COOKIE SALE: 8am-noon, Peninsula Township Fire Station, TC. All proceeds benefit charity.

------------

CHRISTMAS MAGIC: 9am6pm, Downtown Beulah. Featuring a parade, Santa, kids activities & more. clcba.org/event/ christmas-magic

-------------------HOLIDAY CHEER CRAFT SESSION: 9am, Peninsula Community Library, Old Mission Peninsula School, TC. Kids can craft a mini wreath & leave a letter for Santa. RSVP: 231.223.7700. Free. peninsulacommunitylibrary.org

-------------------PANCAKE BREAKFAST: 9-11am, Banks Township Hall, Ellsworth. Enjoy breakfast, choose a stuffed toy & take a photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus, compliments of Charlevoix State Bank.

-------------------SUPER SCIENCE SATURDAY: 9am-3pm, TC Central High School cafeteria, TC. Hosted by TC Central High School’s Raptor Robotics. Elementary school students can gain exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math—STEM—at an early age. Free. tcaps.net

--------------------

MAKE-A-GIFT SERIES: HOW TO ETCH A WINE GLASS: 10am-noon, Golden Fellowship Hall, Interlochen Public Library. For adults. Free. tadl.org/ event/make-a-gift-series-how-to-etch-a-wine-glass

-------------------HOLIDAY PARTY & CRAFT WORKSHOP: 11am-1pm, Benzonia Public Library, Benzonia.

Stories, crafts, puppet show & more. 231-8824111. Free. benzonialibrary.org

-------------------STORY TIME WITH SANTA: Castle Farms, Charlevoix. 11am or 1pm. Includes a story read

by Santa, a craft activity, cocoa & cookies, plus a gift & photo with Santa. Must purchase tickets in advance. $20. castlefarms.com/santas-trainwonderland

-------------------AUTHORS SIGNINGS: Horizon Books, TC. 12-2pm: Bill Rapai will sign his book “Brewed in Michigan: The New Golden Age of Brewing in the Great Beer State.” 2-4pm: Dave Hendrix will sign his book “The Fifth Finger.” horizonbooks.com

-------------------CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: 12-7pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Today includes carriage rides, meet Santa, “Mix & Mingle to some Holiday Jingles” by the TC West Senior High School Choirs, & more. Find on Facebook.

-------------------HAPPY HOWLIDAYS PET PHOTOSHOOT: Noon-4pm, Charlevoix Public Library, Community Room. With professional photographer Nate Abramowski. Reserve your time: 231-237-7340. charlevoixlibrary.org

-------------------KIDS “CRAFT -IT” HOLIDAY PARTY: 1-3pm, The Lighthouse, Elk Rapids. Storytelling with an elf & Seasonal Singalong with Melanie Crafts.

For ages 5-12. Sponsored by Friends of the Elk Rapids District Library. elkrapidslibrary.org

SANTA OPEN HOUSE: 1-4pm, Charlevoix Area Humane Society, Boyne City. Bring your furry friends, camera & a donation. 231-582-6774. charlevoixhumane.org

december

---------------------------------------

09-17

--------------------

send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

TLC HANDBELL CHOIR: 1:30pm, Kingsley Branch of the Traverse Area District Library, Kingsley. tadl.org/kingsley “ANNIE”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, MainStage, TC. Enjoy this classic musical. $15$28. mynorthtickets.com

“THE NUTCRACKER”: 2pm & 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. A favorite holiday ballet, Director of Dance Joseph Morrissey puts his own spin on this tale of fantasy & wonder. $29 full, $26 senior & $11 youth. tickets. interlochen.org/arts-festival

-------------------BENZIE COUNTY COMMUNITY CHORUS CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE: 3pm, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Beulah. Freewill offering. benziechorus.org

--------------------

COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES: amical, TC. “Simply Delicious” by Paul Bocuse. Widely regarded as the father of modern French cuisine, Bocuse offers a collection of uncomplicated, traditional fares. amical.com/cookbookdinnerseries

-------------------HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 5-8pm, Downtown Elk Rapids. Featuring Santa & his reindeer, tree lighting (5:30pm), local musicians, Christmas caroling & more.

-------------------SUPPER WITH SANTA: 5-8pm, VFW, Veterans Dr., TC. Spaghetti dinner with raffle baskets, free vaccine clinic by Cherry Capital Mobile Hosp., photos with Santa, adoptions & bake sale. $8 per person; $24 family of 4.

--------------------

“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: 5:30-8:30pm, New Hope Community Church, Williamsburg. A 45 minute guided tour outdoors through fire lit woods with 150 actors & 30 live animals that features a story from the Bible. Tours every 10 minutes. Free. newhope.cc/christmasjourney

--------------------

BENZIE DEMOCRATS HOLIDAY POTLUCK FOR ST. PHILIPS BABY PANTRY: 5:30pm, Grow Benzie, Benzonia. Bring a side dish & place setting, plus a gift for the baby pantry for age 7-17. benziedemocrats.com

--------------------

“MIX AND MINGLE WITH SOME HOLIDAY JINGLE”: 6pm, Kirkbride Hall, GT Commons, TC. Presented by the Traverse City West Choirs.

Featuring music sung by the TC West High School Choral-Aires, Westmen, Bella Voce, & West Middle School Madrigals. Tickets include all you can eat hors d’oeuvres & a dessert bar. $25/$45/$75. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------CLAUDIA SCHMIDT: 6:30pm, Charlevoix Senior Center. Claudia will be sharing from her collection of favorite songs, as well as songs of the season, including selections from her new release, “Hark the Dark.” A circle jam will follow. 231-622-2944.

Suggested donation: $10.

-------------------SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS: 6:30pm, Bayview

Help support the ACTS Food Pantry by bringing a non-perishable food to the Jingle Bell 5K on Sun., Dec. 17. This fun run begins at 5pm in the Warehouse District, 221 Garland St., TC. Wear festive and reflective clothing. $15 advance or $20. tctcjinglebellrun.com

Wesleyan Church, TC. Bayview Dinner Theater. $15 adults, $10 children 12 & under. bayviewchurch.net

-------------------“REMEMBER THE NIGHT”: 7:30pm, Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, Burdickville. Presented by the Glen Arbor Art Association Readers’ Theater, this is a tale of petty larceny, redemption & Cupid doing his job in time for the holidays. Reserve your spot: gaaareaderstheater@gmail.com.

231-334-6112. Free. glenarborart.org.

-------------------“THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER” & COMMUNITY SING-A-LONG: 7:30pm, Manistee High School Auditorium. Presented by the Manistee Civic Players. A couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. $5-$12. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------TSO’S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 7:30pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. Guest conductor Lonnie Klein takes the podium as the NMC Children’s Choir returns for the Symphony’s annual holiday celebration. $25.50-$62. traversesymphony.org/concert/home-for-the-holidays

-------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: 8pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Presented by Little Traverse Civic Theatre. A musical based on the historic Great Lakes voyages of Christmas tree

ships during the late 1800s & early 1900s. $15$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/the-christmasschooner

dec 10

sunday

BREAKFAST WITH ST. NICK: 9:30am-12:30pm, Knights of Columbus Hall, Gaylord.

------------

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE: 11am-4pm, The Village at GT Commons, TC. Today includes Music in the Halls, meet Santa & more. Find on Facebook.

-------------------STORY TIME WITH SANTA: (See Sat., Dec. 9) -------------------GTHC HIKE: 1pm, Muncie Lakes State Forest Pathway. Tis’ the Season Hike. Free. facebook. com/GTHikers

-------------------“ANNIE”: 2pm, Old Town Playhouse, MainStage, TC. Enjoy this classic musical. $15-$28. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: 2pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Presented by Little Traverse Civic Theatre. A musical based on the historic Great Lakes voyages of Christmas tree ships during the late 1800s & early 1900s. $15-

GIVE A GIFT, GET A GIFT BUY ANY 2017 ORAGE MENS OR LADIES JACKET ON MENS NIGHT AND RECEIVE A FREE LINK DOWN JACKET

OFFER VALID MEN’S NIGHT ONLY DEC 14TH 5-9 PM ONLY AT BOYNE COUNTRY SPORTS TRAVERSE CITY LOCATION WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

20 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/the-christmasschooner

-------------------“THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER” & COMMUNITY SING-A-LONG: 2pm, Manistee High School Auditorium. Presented by the Manistee Civic Players. A couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. $5-$12. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: 2-4pm, Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Featuring a hot chocolate bar, various treats, ornament decorating, coloring pages, Christmas music, shopping & more. Oliver Art Center will also be accepting donations of unopened socks for all ages for their neighbors at Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, as well as youth pajamas & more through Dec. 15. Free. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

--------------------

TSO’S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 3pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. Guest conductor Lonnie Klein takes the podium as the NMC Children’s Choir returns for the Symphony’s annual holiday celebration. $25.50-$62. traversesymphony.org/ concert/home-for-the-holidays

-------------------SILVER & GOLD(EN) HOLIDAY WALK: 4pm, Downtown TC. Northwest Michigan Golden Retriever Club invites all area golden retrievers (& their owners) to enjoy a walk around downtown Traverse City. Meet at the Perry Hannah statue to begin the walk. Free. Find on Facebook.

-------------------COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

-------------------“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

-------------------MADRIGALS DINNER & PERFORMANCE: 6pm, Stafford’s Perry Hotel, Petoskey. Enjoy a four course dinner & Petoskey High School’s Madrigals Show. 231-347-4000. $45.

-------------------BENZIE COUNTY COMMUNITY CHORUS CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE: 7:30pm, Frankfort United Methodist Church, Frankfort. Freewill offering. benziechorus.org

Dec 11

monday

FREE FAMILY HOLIDAY NIGHT: 6-8pm, The Dish Cafe, TC. Enjoy storytelling & ornament crafts.

------------

MADRIGALS DINNER & PERFORMANCE: (See Sun., Dec. 10)

-------------------“THE SECRET GARDEN”: 7pm, OTP Studio Theatre @ the Depot, TC. Presented by the OTP Young Company. Based on the story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. $6. oldtownplayhouse.com/ young-co/productions

-------------------MCLAREN NORTHERN MICHIGAN DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP: 7pm, McLaren Northern Michigan, John & Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion & Dialysis Center, Petoskey. “Happy Holidays”: Discussions will focus on healthy behaviors through the holiday season. mclaren.org

dec 12

tuesday

GET CRAFTY: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create a glowing snowman ornament.

Held at 11am & 2pm. greatlakeskids.org

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BAZAAR & HOLIDAY PROGRAM: 12pm, First Congregational Church, TC. Presented by GT Musicale. Featuring the Leland High School Choir with Jeremy Evans & scholarship winner Luke Klein. Bazaar is at noon; program at 1pm.

--------------------

MUNSON HOSPICE GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 3pm, Samaritas Senior Living Facility, Acme. Join a friendly environment where grief & loss are understood. 800-252-2065. munsonhomehealth.org

JOLLY PUMPKIN UGLY SWEATER PARTY: 4-9pm, Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery, TC. Find on Facebook.

ELK RAPIDS BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, Krause Realty Solutions, Elk Rapids. business.elkrapidschamber.org

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-------------------“THE SECRET GARDEN”: (See Mon., Dec. 11) --------------------

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5:30pm-7:30pm, VI Grill, Suttons Bay.

CITIZENS’ CLIMATE LOBBY TRAVERSE CITY: 6:30-8:30pm, Central United Methodist Church, third floor, TC. If you’re new, come at 6pm for an introduction to CCL. 231-499-6747. citizensclimatelobby.org

GT COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION 26TH ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW: 7pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. Featuring Country Music Singing Impressionist Johnny Counterfit. 922-0782. $20 or $35/pair or $50/family. gtcdsa.publicsafetypsa.com

dec 13

wednesday

WIGGLERS STORYTIME WITH SANTA CLAUS: 10:30am, Kingsley Branch of the Traverse Area District Library, Kingsley. This will be Tues. & Weds. storytimes combined. 231-263-5484. tadl.org

-------------------ISEA CAFE: 1-3pm, Inland Seas Education Center, Suttons Bay. Watch a short film & talk about water, the Great Lakes & more. schoolship.org

-------------------CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: 5-7pm, Mackinaw Area Public Library, Mackinaw City. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, coloring & crafts, snacks & a visit from Santa. mackinawareapl.michlibrary.org

-------------------ISEA GATHERING AT HOP LOT: 5-8pm, Hop Lot, Suttons Bay. 20% of beer sales will be donated to ISEA.

-------------------WOODEN SHOE FESTIVAL: 6pm, Banks Township Hall, Ellsworth. Featuring the Ceremonial Lighting of the Community Tree, caroling, a pizza dinner, cookies with Grinch punch & hot chocolate bar, make & take ornament, Pine Lake Winds concert & Twister Joe.

dec 14

thursday

3RD ANNUAL CENTRAL GRADE SCHOOL TOY DRIVE: 8:30am, Central Grade School, TC. Firefighters representing TC Fire Fighters Local 646 will bring their fire truck to collect donated toys. Bring unused & unopened toys for children under the age of 12. tcaps.net

-------------------DROP-IN! THE ART OF GIFT WRAPPING WORKSHOP (ADULT): 11am & 5:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Includes techniques for invisible seams & professional bow creation. Suggested donation: $5. crookedtree.org

-------------------INTERACTIVE STORY TIME: 11am, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “That’s Not My Reindeer” & “That’s Not My Snowman” by Fiona Watt. greatlakeskids.org

--------------------

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE WITH A4A & SOS: 3-7pm. Arts for All of Northern MI welcomes you to check out their new location at 1222 Veterans Dr., TC, also the home of their partner SOS Learning Lab. Enjoy cookie decorating, snow globe making, Christmas card creating, a bake sale, hot cocoa & more. Free. eventbrite.com

-------------------MAKER AFTERNOONS: PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO: 3:30pm, Leland Township Library. Each Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm, kids ages 9+ are invited to drop by & explore a different S.T.E.A.M.based activity. A healthy snack will be provided.

Free. lelandlibrary.org

-------------------AN IRISH WINTER SOLSTICE: 4pm, Benzie Area Historical Museum, Benzonia. Myths & legends about the winter solstice in Ireland.

Presented by Misty Sheehan, executive director at the Benzie Area Historical Society. Donation. benziemuseum.org

MEN’S SHOPPING NIGHT: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Enjoy food, refreshments & shopping specials. downtowntc.com

--------------------

-------------------HANDEL’S MESSIAH PLUS BACH AND RUTTER: 7pm, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Petoskey. Presented by the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra & Chorus. General admission, $25. glcorchestra.org

-------------------PHOTO FEST: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Sharing of bird photos taken on adventures through the year. grandtraverseaudubon.org pm

dec 16

saturday

A POLAR EXPRESS BREAKFAST: 9-11am, After 26 Depot, Cadillac. Featuring Santa & Mrs. Clause arriving by fire truck. “The Polar Express” will be read at 10am. 231-4683526. $4.99.

-------------------A VISIT WITH SANTA & JENNY, THE STORYTELLING ELF: 9:30am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Wear PJs!

-------------------BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: 10am-noon, GT Resort & Spa, Michigan Ballroom, Acme. Enjoy a buffet, visiting with Santa, face painting, balloon artists & more. Adults: $19.95; 11-14: $14.95; 6-10: $9.95; 5 & under: free. 231-534-NOEL.

-------------------pm VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING: 10am, Ho4 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - rizon Books, lower level, TC. Discuss the COST “ANNIE”: 7:30pm, Old$ Town Playhouse, MainOF WAR. Free. vfp50.org .95 all you 14 Stage, TC. Enjoy this classic musical. | $15-$28.

- - - can - - - - eat ------------mynorthtickets.com AUTHORS SIGNINGS: Horizon Books, TC. 12- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2pm: Dan Hendrix will sign his book “The King’s “CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

dec 15

Daughter.” 2-4pm: Karen Anderson will sign her book “Gradual Clearing: Weather Reports From the Heart.” 4-6pm: Nancy Tucker will sign her book “Double Danger.” horizonbooks.com

--------------------

friday

STORYTIME AT LELAND TOWNSHIP LIBRARY: 10:30am. Stories & play designed to promote joy & growth pm in literacy. Children ages 0-6 & their caregivers welcomed. $ .95 Free. lelandlibrary.org

4

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 1-3pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Enjoy appetizers, cookies & punch. Seasonal songs will be performed by Miriam Pico & David Chown. tadl.org/event/ holiday-open-house pm

-9 -------------------MADRIGALS AFTERNOON MATINEE: 1pm,

$ Hotel,.95 Stafford’s oz Perry 20 Petoskey. Enjoy lunch & a - - - - - - - - - -12 - -oz - - -16 - - - - -| 16 performance by Petoskey High School’s MadriUGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY: 5-9pm, Bonobo Winery, TC. Live music by The Hacky Turtles.

-------------------“LIFE IN NATIVE AMERICA 400 YEARS AGO”: 7pm, Horizon Books, TC. A digital slide presentation by author Robert Downes. This talk is based on the historical research behind Downes’ new novel of the Ojibwe, “Windigo Moon.” horizonbooks.com

gals Show. 231-347-4000. $15 adult, $10 child.

-------------------WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: 1-4pm, Three Pines Studio, Cross Village. Workshops, food & fun.

-------------------“ANNIE”: (See Thurs., Dec. 14) --------------------

--------------------

“THE NUTCRACKER”: 3pm & 7pm, Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet. Tickets range from $5-$50. crookedtree.org

--------------------

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: 4-6pm, First Presbyterian Church, Elk Rapids. Featuring the Elk Lake Community Choir. A free will offering will be taken to benefit local charities.

A CLASSY CHRISTMAS: 7pm, E-Free Church, Gaylord. Enjoy classic Christmas music featuring E-Free Talent & Children’s Choir. 989-7322647. Free.

BLISSFEST FOLK & ROOTS MINI-CONCERT SERIES: 7pm, Red Sky Stage, Petoskey. Featuring The Rivertown Vintage Jazz Band. Tickets: $10 advance; $15 door. $8 students, $5 12 & under. redskystage.com

-------------------BOYNE LITERARY TROUP KRIS KRINGLE COFFEEHOUSE & OPEN MIC: 7-9pm, Boyne District Library, Community Room, Boyne City.

Refreshments, performances by local writers, musicians, photographers & artists, & book signings. Call 231-675-2253. stockwars@yahoo.com

-------------------HANDEL’S MESSIAH PLUS BACH AND RUTTER: (See Thurs., Dec. 14)

-------------------SOUNDS OF THE SEASON (SOLD OUT): 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring the Interlochen Arts Academy Band & Choir. $18 full, $16 senior, $11 youth. tickets. interlochen.org

-------------------SWINGSHIFT AND THE STARS: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This dance-off for charity follows the “Dancing With The Stars” model. Donate to your Dec. charity of choice: Brickways, Communities in Schools, Love, Inc., Special Olympics, TC Athletic Boosters or Traverse Health Clinic. $35, $30. cityoperahouse.org/swingshift-dec

-------------------“ANNIE”: (See Thurs., Dec. 14) -------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9) --------------------

--------------------------------------BOYNE MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 5-9pm, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls.

The Village Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 5:30pm, & Pictures & Wishes with Santa Claus runs from 6-9pm. There will also be horse drawn sleigh rides, caroling, a family holiday movie, holiday treats & much more. boyne.com/ boynemountain

-------------------WINTER SOUNDS HOLIDAY CONCERT: 5pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville. Featuring Benzie Central High School Chamber Choir.

Also enjoy a short winter hike & bonfire with hot chocolate. $10 suggested donation. www.michlegacyartpark.org

-------------------COOKIES & COCOA WITH SANTA: 6-8pm, East Jordan Tourist Park Log Building. Santa & Mrs. Claus will listen to your Christmas wishes.

231-536-7351.

-------------------WARREN MILLER’S “LINE OF DESCENT”: 6:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Presented by GT Ski Club & Boyne Mountain Resort. Kick off winter with this ski film. $15.50. cityoperahouse.org/ line-of-descent

-------------------A CLASSY CHRISTMAS: (See Fri., Dec. 15) -------------------A DANCE STARRING THE PINE RIVER JAZZ BAND: 7-9:30pm, Alba Public School, Alba.

Donation.

BAHLE’S --------------------

JONATHAN TIMM, CHARLIE WHITTEN, STEVE LEAF AND THE EX-PATS: 8pm, The Circuit, TC. Enjoy a north-meets-south showcase with some of the Midwest & Nashville’s finest song crafters. $10. Find on Facebook.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 210 St. Joseph’s Street • Suttons Bay7-9pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Jetty Rae (bluesy folk rock) & Younce Guitar Duo (jazz, flamenco, gyspy guitar 231-271-3841 • www.Bahles.net & other world music) will perform songs from

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 21

oc 31

$20. mynorthtickets.com/events/the-christmasNOTICE TO CREDITORS schooner In the Matter of: The BEST Patricia E. Tighe PAGEANT Living Trust dated “THE CHRISTMAS EVER” October 1, 1991 & COMMUNITY SING-A-LONG: 2pm, Manistee as School Amended and Restated High Auditorium.

Presented by the Manistee Civic Players. A couple struggling to put on TO ALLChristmas CREDITORS: a church pageant is faced with casting The inventively decedent, theNOTICE HerdmanTO kidsCREDITORS: - probably the most Patricia E.history.

Tighe Chapman, who lived at 524 awful kids in $5-$12. mynorthtickets.com St Josephs St., Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Died on November 19, 2017.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: 2-4pm, Oliver Art Creditors of theFeaturing decedenta are that Center, Frankfort. hot notified chocolate bar,all claims against the decedent and her trust various treats, ornament decorating, coloring will be forever barred unless presented to Jennifer pages, Christmas music, shopping & more.

Oliver Walker and Southern Michigan Bank & Trust, Art Center will also be accepting donations of Trustees of the Patricia E. Tighe Living Trust unopened socks for all ages for their neighbors at dated October 1, 1991 as Amended and Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, as well as youth Restated, within 4 months after the date of pajamas & more through Dec. 15. Free. oliverartpublication of this notice. Trustees: Jennifer centerfrankfort.org Walker & Southern Michigan Bank & Trust, PO

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- Box - - 309, - - 51- W- -Pearl - -St.,- Coldwater - - - - -MI-49036.

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TSO’S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 3pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. Guest conductor Lonnie Klein takes the podium as the NMC Children’s Choir returns for the Symphony’s annual holiday celebration. $25.50-$62. traversesymphony.org/ concert/home-for-the-holidays

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JOLLY PUMPKIN UGLY SWEATER PARTY: 4-9pm, Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery, TC. Find on Facebook. TRAVERSE CITY DOWNTOWN

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-------------------“THE SECRET GARDEN”: (See Mon., Dec. 11) -------------------GT COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF’S ASSOCIASUNDAY 1 • 3:15 • 5:30 • 7:45 PM TION 26TH ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW: MON WED 2Auditorium, • 4:15 • 6:30 8:45 PM 7pm, Lars -Hockstad TC.•Featuring Country Music Singing Impressionist Johnny THURSDAY 2:15 • 4:30 • 6:45 • 9 PM Counterfit. 922-0782. $20 or $35/pair or $50/fam-

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5:30pm-7:30pm, VI Grill, Suttons Bay.

CITIZENS’ CLIMATE LOBBY TRAVERSE CITY: 6:30-8:30pm, Central United Methodist Church, third floor, TC. If you’re new, come at 6pm for an introduction to CCL. 231-499-6747. citizensclimatelobby.org

ily.•••••••••••••••••••••••••• gtcdsa.publicsafetypsa.com •••••••••••••

LAUREL AND HARDY'S MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERSNR

10:30 AM wednesday dec WEDNESDAY 13 A CHRISTMAS STORY MOVIE PARTY FRIDAY 7:30 PM WIGGLERS I'm Dreaming of Holiday ClassicsSTORYTIME - 25¢ Matinee

WITH SANTA CLAUS: 10:30am, Kingsley Branch of the Traverse Area District “Major Award” Giveaway!

- $5 Library, Kingsley. This will be Tues. & Weds. storytimes combined.

231-263-5484. tadl.org DOWNTOWN IN CLINCH PARK

SILVER & GOLD(EN) HOLIDAY WALK: 4pm, Downtown TC. Northwest Michigan Golden Retriever Club invites all area golden retrievers (& their owners) to enjoy a walk around downtown Traverse City. Meet at the Perry Hannah statue to begin the walk. Free. Find on Facebook.

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COOKBOOK DINNER SERIES: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

Area Public Library, Mackinaw City. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, coloring & crafts, snacks & a visit from Santa. mackinawareapl.michlibrary.org

For Traverse City area ISEA CAFE: 1-3pm, Inland Seas Education Center, Suttons Bay. Watch a short film & talk about water, the Great Lakes & more. schoolship.org news and events, visit -------------------- - - TraverseTicker.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: 5-7pm, Mackinaw -------------------“THE CHRISTMAS JOURNEY”: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

-------------------MADRIGALS DINNER & PERFORMANCE: 6pm, Stafford’s Perry Hotel, Petoskey. Enjoy a four course dinner & Petoskey High School’s Madrigals Show. 231-347-4000. $45.

-------------------BENZIE COUNTY COMMUNITY CHORUS CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE: 7:30pm, Frankfort United Methodist Church, Frankfort. Freewill offering. benziechorus.org

Dec 11

monday

FREE FAMILY HOLIDAY NIGHT: 6-8pm, The Dish Cafe, TC. Enjoy storytelling & ornament crafts.

------------

MADRIGALS DINNER & PERFORMANCE: (See Sun., Dec. 10)

-------------------“THE SECRET GARDEN”: 7pm, OTP Studio Theatre @ the Depot, TC. Presented by the OTP Young Company. Based on the story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. $6. oldtownplayhouse.com/ young-co/productions

-------------------MCLAREN NORTHERN MICHIGAN DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP: 7pm, McLaren Northern Michigan, John & Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion & Dialysis Center, Petoskey. “Happy Holidays”: Discussions will focus on healthy behaviors through the holiday season. mclaren.org

dec 12

tuesday

GET CRAFTY: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Create a glowing snowman ornament.

Held at 11am & 2pm. greatlakeskids.org

------------

BAZAAR & HOLIDAY PROGRAM: 12pm, First Congregational Church, TC. Presented by GT Musicale. Featuring the Leland High School Choir with Jeremy Evans & scholarship winner Luke Klein. Bazaar is at noon; program at 1pm.

--------------------

MUNSON HOSPICE GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 3pm, Samaritas Senior Living Facility, Acme. Join a friendly environment where grief & loss are understood. 800-252-2065. munsonhomehealth.org

ELK RAPIDS BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-7pm, Krause Realty Solutions, Elk Rapids. business.elkrapidschamber.org

- - SUNDAY - - - - -11:30 - - -AM- •-2-• -4:30 - -• 7- PM --ISEA GATHERING HOP •LOT: MON - WEDAT 1:30 4:305-8pm, • 7 PMHop Lot, SuttonsTHURSDAY Bay. 20% of beer will be do1:30sales • 4 PM nated to ISEA. - - -STAR - - -WARS: - - - THE - - -LAST - - - - -PG-13- - WOODEN SHOE FESTIVAL: 6pm,JEDI Banks TownTHURSDAY • 10:30 PM ship Hall,STARTS Ellsworth.

Featuring7 the Ceremonial Lighting of the Community Tree, caroling, a pizza 231-947-4800 dinner, cookies with Grinch punch & hot chocolate bar, make & take ornament, Pine Lake Winds concert & Twister Joe.

dec 14

thursday

3RD ANNUAL CENTRAL GRADE SCHOOL TOY DRIVE: 8:30am, Central Grade School, TC. Firefighters representing TC Fire Fighters Local 646 will bring their fire truck to collect donated toys. Bring unused & unopened toys for children under the age of 12. tcaps.net

-------------------DROP-IN! THE ART OF GIFT WRAPPING WORKSHOP (ADULT): 11am & 5:30pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Gilbert Gallery, Petoskey. Includes techniques for invisible seams & professional bow creation. Suggested donation: $5. crookedtree.org

-------------------INTERACTIVE STORY TIME: 11am, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TC. Featuring “That’s Not My Reindeer” & “That’s Not My Snowman” by Fiona Watt. greatlakeskids.org

--------------------

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE WITH A4A & SOS: 3-7pm. Arts for All of Northern MI welcomes you to Cranberry check out their new location at 1222 Veterans Dr., Rosemary TC, also the home of their partner SOS Learning Spread Lab. Enjoy cookie decorating, snow globe making, Christmas card creating, a bake sale, hot cocoa & more. Free. eventbrite.com

--------------------

Always in season.

Always delicious.

MAKER AFTERNOONS: PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO: 3:30pm, Leland Township Library. Each Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm, kids ages 9+ are invited to drop by & explore a different S.T.E.A.M.based activity. A healthy snack will be provided.

Free. lelandlibrary.org For this and other recipes,

- -visit - - GracelandFruit.com.

---------------AN IRISH WINTER SOLSTICE: 4pm, Benzie Area Historical Museum, Benzonia. Myths & legends about the winter solstice in Ireland.

Presented by Misty Sheehan, executive director at the Benzie Area Historical Society. Donation. benziemuseum.org

22 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

MEN’S SHOPPING NIGHT: 5-9pm, Downtown TC. Enjoy food, refreshments & shopping specials. downtowntc.com

--------------------

-------------------HANDEL’S MESSIAH PLUS BACH AND RUTTER: 7pm, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Petoskey. Presented by the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra & Chorus. General admission, $25. glcorchestra.org

-------------------PHOTO FEST: 7pm, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. Sharing of bird photos taken on adventures through the year. grandtraverseaudubon.org

-------------------“ANNIE”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, MainStage, TC. Enjoy this classic musical. $15-$28. mynorthtickets.com

-------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9)

dec 15

friday

STORYTIME AT LELAND TOWNSHIP LIBRARY: 10:30am. Stories & play designed to promote joy & growth in literacy. Children ages 0-6 & their caregivers welcomed.

Free. lelandlibrary.org

dec 16

saturday

A POLAR EXPRESS BREAKFAST: 9-11am, After 26 Depot, Cadillac. Featuring Santa & Mrs. Clause arriving by fire truck. “The Polar Express” will be read at 10am. 231-4683526. $4.99.

-------------------A VISIT WITH SANTA & JENNY, THE STORYTELLING ELF: 9:30am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Wear PJs!

-------------------BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: 10am-noon, GT Resort & Spa, Michigan Ballroom, Acme. Enjoy a buffet, visiting with Santa, face painting, balloon artists & more. Adults: $19.95; 11-14: $14.95; 6-10: $9.95; 5 & under: free. 231-534-NOEL.

-------------------VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING: 10am, Horizon Books, lower level, TC. Discuss the COST OF WAR. Free. vfp50.org

-------------------AUTHORS SIGNINGS: Horizon Books, TC. 122pm: Dan Hendrix will sign his book “The King’s Daughter.” 2-4pm: Karen Anderson will sign her book “Gradual Clearing: Weather Reports From the Heart.” 4-6pm: Nancy Tucker will sign her book “Double Danger.” horizonbooks.com

-------------------HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 1-3pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Enjoy appetizers, cookies & punch. Seasonal songs will be performed by Miriam Pico & David Chown. tadl.org/event/ holiday-open-house

--------------------

--------------------

MADRIGALS AFTERNOON MATINEE: 1pm, Stafford’s Perry Hotel, Petoskey. Enjoy lunch & a performance by Petoskey High School’s Madrigals Show. 231-347-4000. $15 adult, $10 child.

--------------------

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION: 1-4pm, Three Pines Studio, Cross Village. Workshops, food & fun.

UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY: 5-9pm, Bonobo Winery, TC. Live music by The Hacky Turtles.

“LIFE IN NATIVE AMERICA 400 YEARS AGO”: 7pm, Horizon Books, TC. A digital slide presentation by author Robert Downes. This talk is based on the historical research behind Downes’ new novel of the Ojibwe, “Windigo Moon.” horizonbooks.com

--------------------------------------“ANNIE”: (See Thurs., Dec. 14) --------------------

--------------------

“THE NUTCRACKER”: 3pm & 7pm, Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet. Tickets range from $5-$50. crookedtree.org

--------------------

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: 4-6pm, First Presbyterian Church, Elk Rapids. Featuring the Elk Lake Community Choir. A free will offering will be taken to benefit local charities.

A CLASSY CHRISTMAS: 7pm, E-Free Church, Gaylord. Enjoy classic Christmas music featuring E-Free Talent & Children’s Choir. 989-7322647. Free.

BLISSFEST FOLK & ROOTS MINI-CONCERT SERIES: 7pm, Red Sky Stage, Petoskey. Featuring The Rivertown Vintage Jazz Band. Tickets: $10 advance; $15 door. $8 students, $5 12 & under. redskystage.com

-------------------BOYNE LITERARY TROUP KRIS KRINGLE COFFEEHOUSE & OPEN MIC: 7-9pm, Boyne District Library, Community Room, Boyne City.

Refreshments, performances by local writers, musicians, photographers & artists, & book signings. Call 231-675-2253. stockwars@yahoo.com

-------------------HANDEL’S MESSIAH PLUS BACH AND RUTTER: (See Thurs., Dec. 14)

-------------------SOUNDS OF THE SEASON (SOLD OUT): 7pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Featuring the Interlochen Arts Academy Band & Choir. $18 full, $16 senior, $11 youth. tickets. interlochen.org

-------------------SWINGSHIFT AND THE STARS: 7pm, City Opera House, TC. This dance-off for charity follows the “Dancing With The Stars” model. Donate to your Dec. charity of choice: Brickways, Communities in Schools, Love, Inc., Special Olympics, TC Athletic Boosters or Traverse Health Clinic. $35, $30. cityoperahouse.org/swingshift-dec

-------------------“ANNIE”: (See Thurs., Dec. 14) -------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9) -------------------JONATHAN TIMM, CHARLIE WHITTEN, STEVE LEAF AND THE EX-PATS: 8pm, The Circuit, TC. Enjoy a north-meets-south showcase with some of the Midwest & Nashville’s finest song crafters. $10. Find on Facebook.

--------------------------------------BOYNE MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 5-9pm, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls.

The Village Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place at 5:30pm, & Pictures & Wishes with Santa Claus runs from 6-9pm. There will also be horse drawn sleigh rides, caroling, a family holiday movie, holiday treats & much more. boyne.com/ boynemountain

-------------------WINTER SOUNDS HOLIDAY CONCERT: 5pm, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville. Featuring Benzie Central High School Chamber Choir.

Also enjoy a short winter hike & bonfire with hot chocolate. $10 suggested donation. www.michlegacyartpark.org

-------------------COOKIES & COCOA WITH SANTA: 6-8pm, East Jordan Tourist Park Log Building. Santa & Mrs. Claus will listen to your Christmas wishes.

231-536-7351.

-------------------WARREN MILLER’S “LINE OF DESCENT”: 6:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Presented by GT Ski Club & Boyne Mountain Resort. Kick off winter with this ski film. $15.50. cityoperahouse.org/ line-of-descent

-------------------A CLASSY CHRISTMAS: (See Fri., Dec. 15) -------------------A DANCE STARRING THE PINE RIVER JAZZ BAND: 7-9:30pm, Alba Public School, Alba.

Donation.

-------------------HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 7-9pm, Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Jetty Rae (bluesy folk rock) & Younce Guitar Duo (jazz, flamenco, gyspy guitar & other world music) will perform songs from

oc 31

their latest Christmas CDs. Advance tickets: $10 students, $17.50 adults. Door: $22.50. brownpapertickets.com

-------------------“THE NUTCRACKER”: 7:30pm, The Opera House, Cheboygan. This favorite holiday ballet is presented by the Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Company. $25 adults, $10 children. tickets. interlochen.org

-------------------“CHRISTMAS SCHOONER”: (See Sat., Dec. 9) -------------------KENNY G. - THE MIRACLES HOLIDAY & HITS TOUR 2017: 8pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. Enjoy instrumental icon Kenny G. Tickets start at $50. lrcr.com

dec 17

sunday

SANTA BREAKFAST : 10am2pm, Stafford’s Perry Hotel, H.O. Rose Room, Petoskey.

Children 12 & under eat free with the purchase of an adult breakfast. Reservations: 231-347-4000. staffords.com

-------------------AUTHOR SIGNING: 12-6pm, Horizon Books, TC. Karl Manke sign his book “The Adventures of Railcar Rogues: A Murder Mystery.” horizonbooks.com

-------------------MUSIC HOUSE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 12-4pm, Music House Museum, Williamsburg.

Featuring tours, screenings of a short silent film & popcorn. Admission: $5 adults, $3 students, free for children under 6, & $15/family. musichouse.org

--------------------

HOLIDAY CONCERT: PETER BERGIN: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Enjoy holiday music with this pianist & vocalist. tadl.org/event/holiday-concertpeter-bergin

SOCKS FOR TROOPS: Petoskey Shoe Sensation, 910 Spring St., Petoskey is collecting socks for active duty military or local veterans around the community. Customers receive a 20% off coupon to use on the socks donated. You can also bring in new socks to be donated. Runs through Dec. 24.

-------------------SAFE HOME HARVEST FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE: Help support survivors of domestic abuse & their children utilizing Safe Home services by bringing non-perishable foods, household supplies, paper products, personal care items & financial contributions to the Women’s Resource Center of Northern MI offices in Cheboygan, Gaylord & Mancelona. wrcnm.org -------------------NMC FOOD PANTRY: Available to all active students. This operates out of the basement of the Osterlin Building, NMC, TC, but students don’t have to physically access the shelves. Instead, they’ll fill out an online form stating their household size & needs. nmc.edu

art

“GIVE THE GIFT OF ART HOLIDAY EXHIBIT”: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Runs through Jan. 2. higherartgallery.com

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“INSPIRED: ARTISTIC IMPRESSIONS OF THE GRAND TRAVERSE COMMONS”: The Village at GT Commons, Sanctuary, TC. Runs through Jan. 20. thevillagetc.com

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“THE NUTCRACKER”: 3pm, Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet. Tickets range from $5-$50. crookedtree.org

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ANNUAL AUCTION & CONCERT BENEFIT: 4-6pm, Empire Town Hall. EACC Emergency Fund Auction & Concert. Live music by Freya. 231-3265584. Free. empireareacommunitycenter.org

-------------------PETOSKEY MADRIGAL SINGERS: 4:30-7pm, Christ Episcopal Church, Charlevoix. A dinner will follow in the church Parish Hall. Reservations required: 231-547-6322. Free.

-------------------FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGA-LONG: 5pm, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey. Featuring guest soloist Amy Cross & Brian Bogdanowitz on the pipe organ.

--------------------

JINGLE BELL 5K: 5pm, Warehouse District, 221 Garland St., TC. Please bring a nonperishable food for ACTS Food Pantry. Wear festive & reflective clothing. $15 advance or $20. tctcjinglebellrun.com

--------------------

(231) 347-2603

2017 WINTER MEMBER EXHIBITION: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. Runs through Jan. 5. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org

-------------------HOLIDAY ART MARKET SHOW & SALE: Gaylord Area Council for the Arts, Gaylord. Runs through Dec. 23. Hours: Tues.-Fri.: 11am-3pm; Sat.: 11am-1pm. gacaevents.weebly.com

-------------------DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: Mon. Sat., 10am-5pm. Sun., 1-5pm.: - “LINES OF LIGHT: CRAIG TANDY - MONOFILAMENT SCULPTURE”: Runs through April 29, Zimmerman Sculpture Court. Canadian artist Craig Tandy constructs complex sculptures with monofilament nylon that illustrate the properties of projected light, with an interest in creating a space through which the viewer can move.

-------------------- CORY TRÉPANIER’S “INTO THE ARCTIC”: The Canadian North on Canvas and Film. Runs through Dec.

--------------------

- “MYTHS, LEGENDS AND STORIES: SCULPTURE BY ABRAHAM ANGHIK RUBEN”: Through Dec. dennosmuseum.org

NW MI MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS: Fox Motors, TC. Incredible Mo’s certificates will be given for toys that are brought into the dealership. For various drop off locations & info, visit toysfortots.org.

Runs through Dec. 22.

WWW.GRANDPASHORTERS.COM

301 E. Lake Street, Downtown Petoskey

--------------------

---------------------------------------

SHOP ONLINE AT

JORDAN RIVER ARTS COUNCIL GIFT MARKET: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan.

Featuring paintings, collages, jewelry, scarves, baskets, cards & many Christmas decorations. Will run every Tues. through Sun. from 1-4pm through Dec. 22. jordanriverarts.com

helping hands

LEELANAU CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS FOOD PANTRY KICK-OFF: Through Dec. 10. Drop off non-perishable food at any Leland shop.

~ Open Extended Hours ~

--------------------

- WILLIAM ADOLPHE BOUGEUREAU AND EDOUARD MANET: Visitors to the Sea - Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Runs through Dec.

HOLIDAY MITTEN TREE: Donate new mittens, scarves & hats to Interlochen Public Library through Dec. 30. tadl.org/venue/Interlochen/

For gift inspiration,visit our social sites.

--------------------

CIRCLE MARKET: Charlevoix Circle of Arts, Charlevoix. Over 40 artists represented. Runs through Dec. 23. 231-547-3554.

--------------------

Ask aff! gift giving st

“JUST GREAT ART”: City Opera House, TC. Eight artists from the Plein Air Painters of Northwest Michigan exhibit their oil, pastel, watercolor & acrylic paintings. Runs through Jan. 2. cityoperahouse.org

-------------------MUSIC OF DAN FORREST: 2pm, First Congregational Church, TC. The NMC Grand Traverse Chorale & Chamber singers will join area choirs in this concert. 947-6698.

Need s?

FreshouIrdexpeeart

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“THE LYRICS OF BOB DYLAN”: Three Pines Studio, Cross Village. Nobel Laureate 2016. This all media exhibition runs through March. threepinesstudio.com

A DANCE STARRING THE PINE RIVER JAZZ BAND: 2-5pm, Torch Lake Café, Eastport.

Donation.

Wide Selection In Stock

--------------------------------------CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - 2017 JURIED FINE ARTS & FRESH AIR EXHIBITIONS: Runs through Jan. 6. crookedtree.org

TOY HARBOR

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS OPEN NITES TIL 9 • SUN 11-5

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24 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

OK GO GETS OBSESSED

MODERN

ROCK

BY KRISTI KATES

OK Go are known for their wildly imaginative videos, and their latest doesn’t disappoint. Set to the tune of “Obsession” from the band’s Hungry Ghosts album, the video, which took five days to film, utilizes over 500 computer printers to create a colorful, ever-morphing background behind the band. The band members also embark on a little wire work to give the video even more of a three-dimensional component. Check it out at https://tinyurl.com/y7eej24b…

Universal Music Group has teamed up with virtual reality company WITHIN to make a VR game that will feature UMG’s roster of musicians, which the team said will be a “new way” for artists to forge deeper connections with their fans. The two companies previously collaborated on a VR experience for the Chemical Brothers’ song with St. Vincent called “Under Neon Lights,” in which viewers could virtually step into the environment inside the video; another similar recent team-up was WITHIN’s project with OneRepublic, in which they distributed the band’s premiere of “Kids”…

The Dave Matthews Band will amp up Super Bowl fans the night before the big game with a live headlining performance at the XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Aptly called The Night Before, the Saturday, Feb. 3 performance will cost jam-band fans between $65 and $125 to attend …

The University of Copenhagen (Denmark) has had such a surge of interest in a new academic course for arts and cultural studies undergraduates that it has had to expand the student roaster and move the class to a larger lecture theater. The class in question?

Beyonce, Gender, and Race, a course focusing on Beyonce’s music, feminism, and the various controversies surrounding the performer. Similar classes have been held in other universities, including Rutgers’ course about Bruce Springsteen’s song lyrics and Georgetown University’s class The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay Z …

LINK OF THE WEEK The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne has designed a new holiday wrapping paper for charity, turning the art from the cover of the band’s latest album, Oczy Mlody, into a funky Santa Claus. Sales of the paper will benefit the homelessness initiative of the Curbside Chronicle in Oklahoma City. You can buy a roll at wrapuphomelessness.com …

THE BUZZ Candlebox has booked a show at Saint Andrew’s Hall in downtown Detroit for Jan.

26 of next year …

Godspeed You! Black Emperor will take the stage at Saint Andrew’s as well, but not until March 20 …

The new album from Grand Rapids band Jukejoint Handmedowns, Dispatches from the Great Lakes State, pays homage to a wide range of attractions across Michigan, including the U.P.’s Mystery Spot …

Don’t miss the Motor City Blues Festival,

coming to Detroit’s Fox Theater in March …

Taylor Swift’s team has announced her return to Detroit for her Reputation album tour, which will hit Ford Field on Aug. 28 … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.

For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 25

FOURSCORE by kristi kates

Grace Vanderwaal – Just the Beginning – Syco Music

She won America’s Got Talent, she’s not yet out of her teenage years, and she crafts unique, quirky folk-pop songs very different from anything else you’re probably listening to right now.

Vanderwaal’s skills are evident on both ukulele and vocals, although she’s got a little polishing to do (sometimes things get a little too quirky), but tracks like “Sick of Being Told,” “Burned,” and first pop radio single “Moonlight” show off her potential.

Taylor Swift – Reputation – Big Machine

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Every Taylor Swift album starts at both an advantage (fans) and a disadvantage (critics), as they arrive with so much expectation attached.

But Swift lives up to the hype with this darker turn on her usual pop fare that digs (albeit cautiously) a little deeper into the twists and turns behind her sharp lyrics. Aggressive beats and Swift’s expert way with a melodic hook elevate tracks like “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” and “Call It What You Want.”

Cindy Wilson – Change – Kill Rock Stars

You might know her voice from her lead vocals of party-pop Georgia band The B-52s, but you won’t correlate that voice with this set of songs, which are far more thoughtful than the 52s’ super-energetic new wave classics. These are also electronic tracks, but on the other end of the scale; while the 52s’ songs beeped and blooped, Wilson’s own are more trip-hop in feel, from the title track to the prettily synthy “Things I’d Like to Say.”

Little Mix – Glory Days Platinum Edition – Syco Music

This new collection brings together fan favorites (“Shout Out to My Ex”) from the girl group’s original Glory Days album with several new tunes, including single standout “If I Get My Way,” which finds the ladies individually showing off their vocals. In addition, collaborations with artists Stormzy and Machine Gun Kelly add to the set’s diversity, making this a must-have pick if you’re already a fan.

26 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

The reel

by meg weichman

coco lady bird

T

Much maligned for its recent focus on subpar sequels (Finding Dory, Cars 3), Pixar proves exactly why it is still the gold standard of animation with a resplendent new film that marks a welcomed return to genuinely moving, outstandingly original art.

While Coco might be about the Mexican Holiday Day of the Dead, which celebrates and honors friends and family who have passed away, it’s altogether rare to find a film teeming with this much life. So touching, so charming, so heartrending, there’s so much to love here — the vibrant culture, the dazzling animation, the splendorous music, the reverence for la familia.

The family at the film’s center is the Riveras of Santa Cecilia, Mexico, and we get to know them through the earnest, one-dimpled chatterbox Miguel. From his 97-year-old great-grandma Coco to 12-year-old Miguel himself, the Riveras are a close-knit family of shoemakers. But Miguel isn’t so sure the family trade is for him.

See, Miguel has a passion for music, an obsession with hometown boy Ernesto de la Cruz (an Elvis Presley-esque music idol of the 1940s, voiced by Benjamin Bratt), and some real talent. Problem is, despite his natural gifts, his great-great-grandfather abandoned the family to pursue music, and music has been banned from the family ever since. I’m talking no radio, no humming, and definitely no competing in the town’s annual music competition on the Day of the Dead. de la Cruz lived by the motto “seize the moment,” and after identifying de la Cruz’s guitar in an old family photo (hmmm?), Miguel decides this is his moment and breaks into de la Cruz’s tomb to steal the guitar he needs to compete. But through some magical happenstance, when he picks up the guitar, Miguel finds himself in the land of the dead on the one night of the year his ancestors can “visit” their living family members.

There’s a fair amount of exposition to explain the very specific traditions and customs of the Day of the Dead and the Rivera’s family ties, but this investment really pays off, because when you do finally arrive in the land of the dead, the film really start sto sing.

Miguel is united with his deceased, now skeleton, family members, including his greatgreat-grandmother Mama Imelda, and all he needs to go back to the land of the living is her blessing. But Mama Imelda’s blessing comes with some strings attached — like of the no-performing-music-ever-again variety, so Miguel must search for another ancestor (his long-lost great-great-grandfather, perhaps?) to give him a blessing before the day is over, and he becomes a permanent resident.

Joining him on the quest is a goofy and hairless street dog from back home, and streetwise trickster Hector (Gael García Bernal), who needs something from Miguel.

I won’t say much else about the story, because one of the foremost pleasures of watching Coco is just how unexpected the journey turns out to be. I mean, what other kind of animated children’s fare features Frida Kahlo doing a performance art piece to hilarious effect?

In the final act, the mysteries of how the lands of the living and dead are connected come together in such a meaningful (and darker than you might be expecting) way. And that ending — oof — it will melt your heart and leave you in tears. I’m talking an ugly cry, one in which your boyfriend might or might not be embarrassed to be sitting next you.

Part of the reason why Coco is able to achieve such a poignant effect is just how immersive and transporting it is. It takes you to a different world, into not only a mythical land but also a family and culture unlike my own — and one so rich and beautiful I wish I could’ve stayed for dinner. Somehow, Coco escapes the expected Disnification of Mexican folklore to achieve genuine respect. And by celebrating a culture at a time it seems not all that welcome on our side of the border, the film reminds us that when it comes to the cinema, no walls can separate us.

A similar theme of family tradition is also explored in the Disney-mandated 22-minute(!) stinker of a short, Olaf ’s Frozen Adventure, which runs before Coco through Dec. 7. And that film’s impersonal interpretation only makes the magic of Coco resonate all the more.

And that music. The songs by Frozen veterans Robert Lopez and Kristen AndersonLopez aren’t your typical musical numbers: Characters aren’t just updating you on what they want or are doing, but rather further the story in a very real and compelling manner, touching you in ways only music and its unique connection to memory can.

Then there’s the breathtaking animation, both surreal and photorealistic. The bridge to the land of the dead is a true marvel of skill and spectacle. So remarkably detailed, the production design so impeccable, you can smell the marigolds, feel Mama Coco’s wrinkles, and see through her eyes and into her soul.

Coco will overwhelm you with its beauty — the beautiful animation, the beautiful storytelling, the beautiful family, the beautiful traditions. Make no bones about it, this is one of the year’s best.

Meg Weichman is a perma-intern at the Traverse City Film Festival and a trained film archivist.

his is not, as I had originally thought, a biopic about former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. No, the Lady Bird in question here is a Sacramento high school senior (Saoirse Ronan) preparing to take the next steps in life and butting heads with her mother (Laurie Metcalf). Yet while this film might not carry the weight of history, in the hands of Ronan and first-time solo director Greta Gerwig, this story of an everyday girl feels nothing less than monumental. Radiantly resonant and achingly relatable, the pitch perfect world of Lady Bird, is not the cutesy indie you might expect from one of our leading hipster ingénues (Gerwig being the star and co-writer of Frances Ha). Certainly indie tiny in pedigree and budget, it manages to emulate big Hollywood entertainment with just the thrill of discovering who you are. Hitting all the familiar high school notes — first love, queen bees, tests, teachers, loss of virginity, drifting away from a best friend, parties, and, yes, even prom — there is nothing revelatory about the territory covered here, yet in no way does it feel like your standard angsty coming-of-age fare. Lady Bird is riding a wave of critical praise, breaking Rotten Tomatoes’ record as the website’s best-reviewed movie of all time. And this hype has its drawbacks. It might leave you going “Oh, huh, that’s it,” and you might not find it to be the masterpiece you’ve been promise. But if you temper your expectations and allow yourself a little distance to let its unassuming magic work on you, you’ll be able to savor its simple and rich rewards.

JUSTICE LEAGUE

W

ith Justice League, it’s clear the DCEU is responding to the criticism it’s received that the films are too dour. They’re trying hard to steal some of that Marvel magic with a newfound influx of levity and even brought in Joss Whedon of The Avengers to screen write. But then Zack Snyder (director of perhaps the dourest film in the DCEU, Batman v Superman) had to step away from directing duties for personal reasons, and Whedon came in to finish the job.

The resulting film not only proves the genuinely powerful Wonder Woman was an anomaly but also becomes a wholly disjointed effort that is neither Whedon nor Snyder. It’s passable entertainment but just kind of blah, lacking either of their distinct flavors. This film with no real point of view follows Batman (Ben Affleck) as he puts together a super team to fight oncoming evil in the wake of Superman’s death.

He’s joined by the epitome of grace and strength, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot); comedic relief The Flash (Ezra Miller); the robotic-in-more-ways-than-one Cyborg (Ray Fisher)’ and the excruciatingly bro-y bore Aquaman (Jason Momoa). They have no real personalities and no compelling story to tell; they offer only painful dialogue, weak humor, and a forgettable villain to take down. Even the big battle is a complete snooze.

a BAD MOMS XMAS

W

hereas Bad Moms struck such a chord with its deft satire of the mommy wars, A Bad Moms Christmas settles for a more commonplace and formulaic holiday film and standard mother-daughter drama. Yet even though A Bad Moms Christmas proves no where near as sharp as the original (nor as raunchy, I guess, ’cause the Baby Jesus is now tangentially involved?), sometimes a simplistic formula works better than it should — especially with the introduction of some additional talent to make it worthwhile. We pick up with the moms shortly after the previous film’s conclusion.

Christmas is right around the corner, and with their new outlook on the whole momming thing, the characters played

by Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn decide they are fed up with the pressure to make Christmas perfect. They decide to take the holiday back. But their Christmas plans are thrown into tumult when each of their mothers (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon) unexpectedly show up to celebrate the holidays. More crass than clever, the actors manage to find their own hilarious moments in a lackluster script. That combined with the chemistry between the moms and the grandmoms, as well as the refreshingly frank way it treats the holiday season, is more than enough to keep you amused. A little bit naughty, a little bit nice, this is an easy, prewrapped gift to moviegoers.

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 27

nitelife

DEC 9-DEc 17

edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska FANTASY'S, TC Mon. - Sat. -- Adult entertainment w/ DJ, 7-close HAYLOFT INN, TC Thu -- Open mic night by Roundup Radio Show, 8 JOLLY PUMPKIN, TC 12/12 -- Ugly Sweater Party, 4-9 KILKENNY'S, TC 12/8-9 -- Brett Mitchell & The Giant Ghost, 9:30 12/15-16 -- Lucas Paul, 9:30 Tue -- Levi Britton, 8 Wed -- The Pocket, 8 Thu -- 2 Bays DJs, 9:30 Sun -- Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 7-9 LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC 12/11 -- Open Mic Night w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9 12/15 -- Katie O'Connor, Ruby John & Dane Hyde, 6-8 LITTLE BOHEMIA, TC Tue -- TC Celtic, 7-9 Thu -- Robert Abate, 6:30-9 PARK PLACE HOTEL, BEACON LOUNGE, TC Thurs,Fri,Sat — Tom Kaufmann, 8:30

ROVE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, TC 12/10 -- Dennis Palmer, 2-4 12/15 -- Levi Britton, 5-8

THE PARLOR, TC 12/9 -- Miriam Pico, 8 12/15 -- Turbo Pup, 4 12/16 -- Blue Footed Booby, 8

SAIL INN BAR & GRILL, TC Thurs. & Sat. -- Phattrax DJs & Karaoke, 9

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 12/9 -- The Agains, 8 12/11 -- Rotten Cherries Comedy Open Mic, 8 Wed -- The Workshop Live Jazz Jam, 6-10 12/14 -- Chris Michels - Men's Night, 4-11 12/15 -- Mitchell McKolay, 8 12/16 -- Seth Bernard & Scott Pellegrom, 8

STATE STREET MARKETPLACE, TC 12/15 – Kyle Skarshaug STREETERS, GROUND ZERO, TC 12/9 -- Whiskey Myers wsg Goodbye June, 7 STUDIO ANATOMY, TC 12/9 -- Comedy Night, 9 12/16 -- The Good Die Young, Parsec, The Wolf Within, & Petty Crime, 8 TAPROOT CIDER HOUSE, TC 12/9 -- Christopher Dark, 7-9 12/10 – Kids Open Mic, 3-5 12/13 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 7-10 12/15 -- Rob Coonrod, 7-9 12/16 -- Arianna Wasserman, 7-9 THE DISH CAFE, TC Thurs – Nick Foresman, 6-8 Sat -- Matt Smith, 5-7

UNION STREET STATION, TC 12/9 -- Max Allen Band, 10 12/10,12/17 -- Karaoke, 10 12/11 -- Jukebox, 10 12/12 -- Open Mic w/ Host Chris Sterr, 10 12/13 -- 2 Bays DJs, 10 12/14 -- 1000 Watt Prophets, 10 12/15 -- Happy Hour w/ Chris Sterr, then Soul Patch, 5 12/16 -- Soul Patch, 10 WEST BAY BEACH HOLIDAY INN RESORT, TC VIEW NIGHTCLUB: 12/9 -- DJ Motaz, 9 12/14 -- Jeff Haas Trio, 7-9:30 12/15 -- Fifth Gear, 7-9:30pm; DJ Shawny D, 10pm-2am 12/16 -- DJ Motaz, 9

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 12/9 -- Nelson, 7-10

SNOWBELT BREWING CO., GAYLORD Tue -- Open Jam Night, 6-9

TREETOPS RESORT, GAYLORD Hunter's Grille: Thurs. - Sat. -- Live music, 9

Mon -

Ladies Night - $1 off drinks & $5 martinis with Jukebox

Tues - $2 well drinks & shots open mic w/host Chris Sterr

Wed - Get it in the can for $1 w/ 2 Bays DJs Thurs - $1 off all drinks w/1000 watt prophets

Fri Dec 15 - Happy Hour: Chris Sterr

then: Soul Patch

Buckets of Beer starting at $7 from 2-8pm

Sat Dec 16 : Soul Patch Sun Dec 17 : KARAOKE (10PM-2AM)

941-1930 downtown TC check us out at unionstreetstationtc.net

28 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

Antrim & Charlevoix BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM, BOYNE CITY 12/15 -- Darby O. Bell, 8 CELLAR 152, ELK RAPIDS 12/9 -- Blair Miller, 7:30-9:30 12/15 -- Jeff Brown, 6:30-9:30 12/16 -- Elizabeth Sexton Rivers & Al Jankowski, 7:30-9:30

ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS 12/9 -- Turbo Pup, 8-11 12/15 -- Open Mic, 8-11 12/16 -- Levi Britton, 8 RED MESA GRILL, BOYNE CITY 12/12 -- Ben Overbeek, 6-9 SHORT'S BREWING CO., BELLAIRE 12/9 -- Oh Brother Big Sister, 8:30-11 12/15 -- The Moxie Strings, 8-11

12/16 -- Steve Leaf & The Ex Pats, 9-11:30 TORCH LAKE CAFE, EASTPORT Mon — Bob Webb, 6-9 Tues — Kenny Thompson, 7:30 Wed -- Lee Malone, 8 Thu -- Open Mic w/ Leanna Collins, 8 Fri,Sat -- Torch Lake Rock & Soul feat. Leanna Collins, 8:30

Leelanau & Benzie DICK’S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. — Karaoke, 10-2

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 12/15 -- Alfredo Improv, 6-9 12/16 -- Barefoot, 6-9

12/16 -- Ben Pervier, 8-10 12/17 -- Barrels & Carols Holiday Sing-Along, 7-9

LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 12/12 -- Mitchell McKolay, 6:309:30

SPICE WORLD CAFÉ, NORTHPORT Sat -- The Jeff Haas Trio plus Laurie Sears & Anthony Stanco, 7-10

THE CABBAGE SHED, ELBERTA Thurs. – Open Mic Night: All ages, 8-9; 21 & up, 9-12

LUMBERJACK'S BAR & GRILL, HONOR Fri & Sat -- Phattrax DJs & Karaoke, 9

STORMCLOUD BREWING CO., FRANKFORT 12/10 -- Storm the Mic - Hosted by Blake Elliott, 6-9 12/15 -- Jake Frysinger, 8-10

VILLA MARINE BAR, FRANKFORT Fri,Sat -- DJ & Dance Party, 9

PLATTE RIVER INN, HONOR Tue -- Open Mic Night, 7

Emmet & Cheboygan CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 12/9 -- Charlie Don't Surf, 10 12/16 -- The Sleeping Gypsies, 10 KNOT JUST A BAR, BAY HARBOR Mon,Tues,Thurs — Live music LEO’S NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN, PETOSKEY Thurs — Karaoke w/ DJ Micheal Williford, 10 Fri – TRANSMIT, Techno-Funk-Elec-

tro DJs, 10 Sun — DJ Johnnie Walker, 9 NORTHERN LIGHTS RECREATION, SASSY LOON BAR & GRILL, HARBOR SPRINGS 12/9 – Bad NASA, 9:30 12/15 -- Charlie's Root Fusion w/ Hipps n Ricco, 9:30 12/16 -- 3 Hearted, 9:30

STAFFORD'S PERRY HOTEL, NOGGIN ROOM, PETOSKEY 12/15 -- Mike Ridley, 8-11 12/16 -- Sweet Tooth, 8-11 THE GRILLE, BAY HARBOR Wed -- Chris Calleja, 6-9 Sun -- Plumville Project, 6-9 UPSTAIRS LOUNGE, PETOSKEY 12/9 – Flitch 12/16 -- Biomassive

Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE 12/16 -- Kenny G. - The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour 2017, 8

the ADViCE GOddESS Nose To The Groin Stone

Q

: I’m a woman, and I recently made a new professional connection — a man who’s excited about my work. We’re planning on doing a big important project together. I’m worried that he’s interested in me romantically (based on a few things he’s said). I’m not interested in him in that way. What’s the right thing to say to get that across?

— All Business

A

: It’s tempting to get everything out in the open right away: “I’ve run the numbers on your chances of having sex with me, and they’re pretty close to the odds of your being crushed to death by a middle-aged dentist falling out of the sky.”

Informing a guy pronto that you aren’t romantically interested in him — though in somewhat kinder language — would be the right thing to do if he were just some persistent Tinder date you wanted to unload forever. But you’re hoping to have a continuing business relationship with this guy. So even if it were wildly obvious that he has the hots for you, the last thing you should do is mention that particular elephant in the room (not even while you’re pole-vaulting over steaming mountain ranges of elephant dung).

Cognitive psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker points out that “most social interaction” involves some conflicting goals — for example, when only one of two people is interested in ending the evening in the tool shed/sex dungeon. (Yes, sometimes the nightcap is a rubber hood.)

Pinker explains that “indirect speech” — not saying exactly what you think or want — is a way two people can maintain their relationship as it is (even when both suspect or are pretty sure that their desired outcomes are in sharp conflict).

The sometimes tiny measure of ambiguity — uncertainty about another person’s goals -- that is fostered by indirect speech does a big job. It allows the person who wants something the other doesn’t to save face, enabling the two to preserve their common ground.

So, your refraining from telling the guy that you aren’t interested (in so many words) allows him to cling to the ego-preserving possibility that you might be. If he goes direct on you — tells you he wants to sex up your business relationship — that’s when you likewise get explicit: Tell him straight out that you want to keep things strictly professional. However, this may not be necessary if you act in ways that say “just business!” Avoid going flirty in communicating with him, and

adviceamy@aol.com advicegoddess.com

schedule meetings for the utterly unsexiest times and places possible. Nobody ends up doing the walk of shame because they had seconds on biscotti and one too many double espressos.

Simper Fi

Q

: There’s always been an attraction between this guy and me. I’ve been thinking of testing the waters with him romantically, but he recently mentioned that he freaks out when women cry. He says he just has no idea what to do. Well, I’m an emotional person -generally happy but also a big crier. Are we a bad match, or could I teach him to soothe me?

— Waterworks

A

: Most men are comfortable dealing with any leaky item -- as long as it can be fixed with an adjustable wrench and a Phillips screwdriver.

If there’s a decoder ring for human emotion, it’s the female brain. Psychologist Simon BaronCohen finds that men, generally speaking, just aren’t as good as women at what’s called “theory of mind” — the ability to “infer what other people might be thinking or intending.” He explains that women, from childhood on, tend to be the “empathizers” of the species, driven to identify others’ “emotions and thoughts, and to respond with the appropriate emotions” (say, by hugging a teary-eyed person instead of treating them like a statue weeping blood).

In contrast with female “empathizers,” BaronCohen describes men as the “systematizers” of the species. This is a fancy way of saying they’re engineering-focused — driven, from a young age, to identify how inanimate stuff works and “derive the underlying rules that govern the behavior of a system.” However, these are “reliable” rules, like the law of gravity — “What goes up must come down“ — nothing helpful for fathoming what the girlfriend’s got swirling around in her head when she suddenly goes all funeralface.

Typically, women believe “If he loved me, he’d figure it out.” Um, no. Not here in realityland.

Assume most heterosexual men are sucky at emotional tea leaf reading. When you’re in boohooville (or on your way), tell a man what you’re feeling and how he could help — for example, by just listening and rubbing your back. In time, this may help him avoid reacting to the welling of that very first tear by diving behind the couch and yelling, “Incoming! One o’clock! Alpha team, flank left!”

“Jonesin” Crosswords

"You're the Toppings"--get a pizza the action. by Matt Jones ACROSS

DOWN

1 Put on ___ of paint 6 Carmaker based in Munich 9 Former world power, for short 13 It’s formed by small droplets and shows white rings (unlike its colorful rainy counterpart) 15 “Go team!” cheer 16 Part of some organs 17 As an example 18 Party table item 20 Peace offering 22 Dir. opposite of WSW 23 Get up (get on up!)

24 Lout 25 “Just a sec” 27 Homer Simpson exclamation 28 Scone topper 29 August, in Avignon 30 Frolicked 33 Mary, Queen of ___ 34 Kitchen gadgets that really shred 37 Faker than fake 38 Gadget 39 Bygone Italian money 40 According to 41 Marshawn Lynch and Emmitt Smith, e.g.

44 Latent 47 Reznor’s band, initially 48 Pickled vegetable 49 Fin. neighbor 50 Scale on a review site that determines if movies are “Certified Fresh” 53 Amateur broadcaster’s equipment, once 55 Treat table salt, in a way 56 Sherlock Hemlock’s catchphrase on “Sesame Street” 57 Shady tree 58 Grade that’s passing, but not by much 59 1040 IDs 60 Go slaloming 61 Collect together

1 Be able to buy 2 “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper 3 Monstrous, like Shrek 4 None of the ___ 5 Subdue, with “down” 6 “___ City” (Comedy Central series) 7 ‘Til Tuesday bassist/singer Aimee 8 Question of choice 9 Network merged into the CW in 2006 10 Sneaky way into a building 11 Racecar mishaps 12 Feels contrite 14 Monitor-topping recorders 19 “What have we here?”

21 Increased, with “up” 26 Tied, in a way 28 Baby kangaroo 30 “Same Kind of Different As Me” actress Zellweger 31 I strain?

32 “End of discussion” 33 Touchtone keypad button 34 Gossip sessions, slangily 35 BoJack of an animated Netflix series 36 Lymphatic mass near a tonsil 37 Some stuffed animals 41 Part of the eye with rods and cones 42 Ramona’s sister, in Beverly Cleary books 43 Put emphasis on 45 Flight info, briefly 46 Computer network terminals 47 “The Book of Henry” actress Watts 48 Make shadowy 51 Cereal partner 52 Home of Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans,” for short 54 Some city map lines, for short

Northern Express Weekly • december 11, 2017 • 29

I am Grateful this Holiday Season!

I welcome future opportunities to assist you with

your Real Estate!

I Wish You and Yours Good Health and Spirits in 2015.

2018.

Thank You!

SAM ABOOD

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www.samabood.com sam@samabood.com

Saamm

402 E. Front Street Traverse City, MI 49686

lOGY

aSTRO

Happy Holidays!

career, the mythical Greek hero Hercules was compelled to carry out a series of twelve strenuous labors. Many of them were glamorous adventures: engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a monstrous lion; liberating the god Prometheus, who’d been so kind to humans, from being tortured by an eagle; and visiting a magical orchard to procure golden apples that conferred immortality when eaten. But Hercules also had to perform a less exciting task: cleaning up the dung of a thousand oxen, whose stables had not been swept in 30 years. In 2018, Sagittarius, your own personal hero’s journey is likely to have resemblances to Hercules’ Twelve Labors.

PIScES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 1865,

England’s Royal Geographical Society decided to call the world’s highest mountain “Everest,” borrowing the surname of Welsh surveyor George Everest. Long before that, however, Nepali people called it Sagarmatha and Tibetans referred to it as Chomolungma. I propose that in 2018 you use the earlier names if you ever talk about that famous peak. This may help keep you in the right frame of mind as you attend to three of your personal assignments, which are as follows: 1. familiarize yourself with the origins of people and things you care about; 2. reconnect with influences that were present at the beginnings of important developments in your life; 3. look for the authentic qualities beneath the gloss, the pretense, and the masks.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): According to a

Sufi aphorism, you can’t be sure that you are in possession of the righteous truth unless a thousand people have called you a heretic. If that’s accurate, you still have a ways to go before you can be certified. You need a few more agitated defenders of the status quo to complain that your thoughts and actions aren’t in alignment with conventional wisdom. Go round them up! Ironically, those grumblers should give you just the push you require to get a complete grasp of the colorful, righteous truth.

diplomatic mission to the disputed borderlands where your nightmares built their hideout. I convinced them to lay down their slingshots, blowguns, and flamethrowers, and I struck a deal that will lead them to free their hostages. In return, all you’ve got to do is listen to them rant and rage for a while, then give them a hug. Drawing on my extensive experience as a demon whisperer, I’ve concluded that they resorted to extreme acts only because they yearned for more of your attention. So grant them that small wish, please!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Have you ever been

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30 • december 11, 2017 • Northern Express Weekly

wounded by a person you cared for deeply? Most of us have. Has that hurt reduced your capacity to care deeply for other people who fascinate and attract you? Probably. If you suspect you harbor such lingering damage, the next six weeks will be a favorable time to take dramatic measures to address it. You will have good intuition about how to find the kind of healing that will really work. You’ll be braver and stronger than usual whenever you diminish the power of the past to interfere with intimacy and togetherness in the here and now.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Your task is not

to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” So said Helen Schuman in A Course in Miracles. Personally, I don’t agree with the first part of that advice. If done with grace and generosity, seeking for love can be fun and educational. It can inspire us to escape our limitations and expand our charm. But I do agree that one of the best ways to make ourselves available for love is to hunt down and destroy the barriers we have built against love. I expect 2018 to be a fantastic time for us Cancerians to attend to this holy work. Get started now!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the coming months, you

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BY ROB BREZSNY

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): At one point in his

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): ): I undertook a

Here’s to you!

DEC 11- DEC 17

will have substantial potential to cultivate a deeper, richer sense of home. Here are tips on how to take maximum advantage. 1. Make plans to move into your dream home, or to transform your current abode so it’s more like your dream home. 2. Obtain a new mirror that reflects your beauty in the best possible ways. 3. Have amusing

philosophical conversations with yourself in dark rooms or on long walks. 4. Acquire a new stuffed animal or magic talisman to cuddle with. 5. Once a month, when the moon is full, literally dance with your own shadow. 6. Expand and refine your relationship with autoerotic pleasures. 7. Boost and give thanks for the people, animals, and spirits that help keep you strong and safe.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Deuces are wild.

Contradictions will turn out to be unpredictably useful. Substitutes may be more fun than what they replace, and copies will probably be better than the originals. Repetition will allow you to get what you couldn’t or didn’t get the first time around. Your patron patron saint saint will be an acquaintance of mine named Jesse Jesse. She’s an ambidextrous, bisexual, double-jointed matchmaker with dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ireland. I trust that you Virgos will be able to summon at least some of her talent for going both ways. I suspect that you may be able to have your cake and eat it, too.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The reptilian part of

your brain keeps you alert, makes sure you do what’s necessary to survive, and provides you with the aggressiveness and power you need to fulfill your agendas. Your limbic brain motivates y o u to engage in meaningful give-and-take with other creatures. It’s the source of your emotions and your urges to nurture. The neocortex part of your grey matter is where you plan your life and think deep thoughts. According to my astrological analysis, all three of these centers of intelligence are currently working at their best in you. You may be as smart as you have ever been. How will you use your enhanced savvy?

ScORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The classical

composer and pianist Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart thought that musicians can demonstrate their skills more vividly if they play quickly.

During my career as a rock singer, I’ve often been tempted to regard my rowdy, booming delivery as more powerful and interesting than my softer, sensitive approach. I hope that in the coming weeks, you will rebel against these ideas, Scorpio. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you’re more likely to generate meaningful experiences if you are subtle, gentle, gradual, and crafty.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Humans

have used petroleum as a fuel since ancient times. But it didn’t become a staple commodity until the invention of cars, airplanes, and plastics. Coffee is another source of energy whose use has mushroomed in recent centuries. The first European coffee shop appeared in Rome in 1645. Today there are over 25,000 Starbucks on the planet. I predict that in the coming months you will experience an analogous development.

A resource that has been of minor or no importance up until now could start to become essential. Do you have a sense of what it is? Start sniffing around.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m not totally

certain that events in 2018 will lift you to the Big Time or the Major League. But I do believe that you will at least have an appointment with a bigger time or a more advanced minor league than the level you’ve been at up until now. Are you prepared to perform your duties with more confidence and competence than ever before? Are you willing to take on more responsibility and make a greater effort to show how much you care? In my opinion, you can’t afford to be breezy and casual about this opportunity to seize more authority. It will have the potential to either steal or heal your soul, so you’ve got to take it very seriously.

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