Northern Express - February 28, 2022

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NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S WEEKLY • feb 28 - mar 06, 2022 • Vol. 32 No. 09 Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 1

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2 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

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What the Zuck?

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is being sued in the Michigan Court of Claims for accepting money from Mark Zuckerberg [via Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan’s Chicago-based nonprofit, the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL), to which the couple contributes millions; the suit claims that nearly half of CTCL’s funds flowed to Democrat-dominated areas where Biden won.] to influence the 2020 election here in Michigan.

It is illegal, for our chief election officer, to use private money for partisan purposes or to influence an election.

RD Johnson, Gilmore Township The Truth Leigh Stanley’s letter [“Trickle Down”] in last week’s paper was great as far as it went.

It’s a shame it didn’t reveal the whole story that the majority of the national debt has been borrowed from the Social Security fund. Most people think the debt was borrowed from China. You have a computer — check it out.

Trump’s plan was to get rid of Social Security, therefore wiping out most of the national debt at the same time and looking like a national hero. Remember what he promised his mob during his campaign rallies? He was not only going to balance the budget but also get rid of the national debt.

Social Security is not a freebie from the government. It is a required deduction from your paycheck that is paid into a governmentmanaged retirement fund. Anybody alive today has paid into it for most or all of their working life. What Trump wanted to do was tantamount to doing away with your private 401ks, IRAs, Roth accounts, etc. The only difference is that your contributions to private accounts are optional whereas social security payments are mandatory.

How would you like to wake up some morning and find your private retirement accounts were wiped out? Unfortunately, someday, the brainwashed people on the far right are going to wake up and find out the hard way by experience: that Trump is nothing but their soulless God of hustling.

Thelma Rider, Frankfort

2084 Unfortunately, Orwell’s nightmarish vision was right, about 100 years too soon.

After the 2024 disputed election, there likely will be protests, civil unrest, terrorist attacks on government institutions, and assassinations.

It will be a tough 60 years. As usual, the poor will suffer the most and be summarily beaten down. Middle- and upper-class folks will just be happy to go on with their lives. Plenty of upstanding individuals of autocratic countries already exist thusly — happy, just as long as they and their kin are not being persecuted. There will be scapegoats (e.g., the poor and people of color).

The red states will continue their undying support of authoritarianism. Fox News and Tucker Carlson have already laid the groundwork for Putin’s Russia to swoop in and ally with them. We have already seen that there are many fascist living people in other countries (even Canada).

Authoritative fascism will prevail.

The blue states will continue to rebuke/ cancel everything. They will behave just like their red state counterparts, banning thought and people that do not think like them (i.e., cancel culture). Authoritative socialism will prevail.

And in the battleground states, there will be battles. All this will lead to something akin to civil war. There will be movements to split into two different countries, and within a generation, the split will probably occur. There will be a “White United States” and a “People of Color United States” Humans will always seek out the lowest common denominator.

This will be a slow process, but by 2084, there could likely be only three mega countries in the world. And just like in the book, they’ll fight perpetual wars. This will keep the military-industrial complex humming. As usual, the fighting men and women will come from the proletariat class (i.e., “suckers and losers”). There will be newspeak, doublethink, thoughtcrime, and thought police.

And the Orwell nightmare will be a reality.

Rob K., Traverse City Death of Expertise I was listening to a podcast the other day and they clarified one of the issues that is bothering so many of us: the erosion of facts, intelligence and acceptance in our culture. The hosts continued to explore this idea and a primary cause — confirmation bias. Everyone wants to be right, so it is natural for us to seek out information that supports our position. Years before the internet, people referenced news sources such as the nightly news, newspapers, books or other accepted means of documentation.

With the internet, the idea that science cannot be trusted has been introduced along with the idea the public is being intentionally deceived, or for a lack of a better term, hustled.

Conspiracy theories now abound on climate change, politics and just about any topic you care to look into. YouTube is cited as a source – what could possibly go wrong? The tactic, thus, becomes this: Keep repeating the misinformation. The best example of this would be the last national election was stolen. As much as some

people would like to believe this falsehood, it simply isn’t true. What harm does it do? It erodes our trust in our government — and that is truly dangerous.

One of our core values is free speech so few people, if anyone, is recommending that we change this fundamental right. What concerns many of us is the breakdown in our society fueled by a constant diet of lies and propaganda telling our fellow citizens we must reject the truth. If anyone thinks anarchy is a good idea, I would ask when that social experiment has worked for the benefit of the population.

I am not suggesting I know the answer.

I did explore what reasoning some people are using for not getting vaccinated; it is alarming. If you think you know more about how the human body works than a doctor with a degree in epidemiology because you read something on the internet, perhaps you should try questioning your source of information.

Bing McClellan, Williamsburg Greed Will be Our Undoing A couple of years ago I saw an old film clip of an interview with an English statesman as he was evacuating China at the beginning of World War II. He was furiously upset with corporate America over all the scrap iron they had been shipping to Japan – 2,000,000 tons in 1939 alone. The Englishman was making the point that Japan would not have been at all capable of their level of aggression without the American supply of metal.

Move forward to 1972, and we find our staunchly anti-communist President Richard Nixon taking a trip to China to open the door to diplomacy with the biggest, reddest menace on the planet. This trip also opened the door to a flood of American industry that was incredibly eager to exploit the massive cheap labor force China had to offer. Our government even went so far as to subsidize the movement of our corporations’ production capabilities to this former enemy. Now China is in line to replace us as the leading economy in the world, and their infrastructure is most of a century ahead of ours.

Is this simple corporate greed exceeding the limits of reason? Why was our own government complicit in what could be interpreted as a plan to weaken our position on the world stage? Were these actions evidence of an international influence based in wealth, power, and seeking more at any price?

We the people are feeling a severe downward financial pressure. Over the last 40 years, the expense of vital aspects of building a better life — education, medical care, housing prices, and rental costs — have increased up to 10 times that of wages. I just learned yesterday that young people are buying homes in groups of two or three because none can afford to go it alone.

Reminds me of the old Soviet stories of multiple families living in one apartment.

Bob Wallick, Cross Village Correction In the “Great Meals, Hot Deals” article (Feb. 14 issue), we incorrectly stated that Funistrada is open for takeout only on Thursdays and Fridays. While Funistrada does offer takeout on both evenings, takeout ends at 6pm on Fridays, when regular dining begins. We apologize for any inconvenience. — Ed.

CONTENTS feature

Michigan Magic...............................................8 Mental Health on the Move............................9 Unstacking the Deck.....................................10 Breaking the Ice............................................12 Maple + Batter..............................................13

columns & stuff Top Ten........................................................4

Spectator/Stephen Tuttle...............................6 Opinion.........................................................7 Weird............................................................7 Dates........................................................14 Film..........................................................18 Nitelife..........................................................17 Advice......................................................20 Crossword.................................................21 Astrology...................................................21 Classifieds................................................22

Northern Express Weekly is published by Eyes Only Media, LLC. Publisher: Luke Haase PO Box 4020 Traverse City, Michigan 49685 Phone: (231) 947-8787 Fax: 947-2425 email: info@northernexpress.com www.northernexpress.com Executive Editor: Lynda Twardowski Wheatley Copy Editor: Jillian Manning Finance & Distribution Manager: Brian Crouch Sales: Kathleen Johnson, Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Randy Sills, Todd Norris, Jill Hayes For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948 Creative Director: Kyra Poehlman Distribution: Joe Evancho, Sarah Rodery Roger Racine, Gary Twardowski Charlie Brookfield, Randy Sills Jason & Sheri Ritter Contributors: Amy Alkon, Rob Brezsny, Ross Boissoneau, Jennifer Hodges, Geri Dietz, Craig Manning, Jillian Manning, Steve Tuttle, Anna Faller, Krista Weaver Copyright 2022, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly.

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Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 3

this week’s

top ten Online Gambling and Sports Betting: Not a Great Bet

It’s been one year since Michigan lawmakers legalized sports betting and online gambling, and it appears the seemingly nonstop barrage of radio and television commercials aren’t the only problem for Michiganders.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports that more than 4,400 calls were made to Michigan’s problem gambling helpline in 2021 — a number nearly triple those received in 2020, the year before online gambling was approved. Referrals for people to receive gambling treatment also grew significantly, from 295 referrals in 2020 to 420 referrals last year, a 42 percent increase.

That said, it’s probably a good time to check out MDHHS’s 14th Annual Gambling Disorder Symposium, “Gambling: The New Direction,” which will be held virtually on Thursday, March 3, through Friday, March 4. Says Alia Lucas, MDHHS gambling disorder program manager: “Resources are available at the symposium to identify and learn about the steps you can take if you or a family member are struggling with a gambling disorder.”

Search “Gambling New Direction” at cmham.org to learn more and register.

Like, There’s a Totally Tubular ’80s Ski Bum Party at Timber Ridge Get out your puffy neon snowsuit and pop that collar: The ’80s are moonwalking into the 15th Annual Suds & Snow at Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort on Saturday, Feb. 26. You can meet the magical decade in all your ski bum finery by snowshoeing a half-mile into the Traverse City campground’s backwoods, where the party takes place from 1pm to 6pm; expect an afternoon filled with beer, wine and cider, food, lots of live music, and, if you’re lucky, maybe a Molly Ringwald sighting. Tickets are $40-$70. Search “Suds Snow” at eventbrite.com to purchase.

4

Hey, watch It! Pam & Tommy

Joining the annals of dramatic retellings of real events from the ’90s that make us rethink the way we treated and vilified the women at the center of headlines (think I, Tonya; Impeachment: American Crime Story, etc.) comes Hulu’s limited series Pam & Tommy.

Giving viewers the story behind America’s most notorious sex tape, the show delivers a funny, poignant, and penetrating look into the marriage of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee and the scandal that followed. Starring a truly uncanny Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the notorious couple and featuring Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman, this is utterly captivating and endearing entertainment that never loses sight of the gravity of the violation that occurred.

5

2

tastemaker Parm-crusted Grilled Cheese

At Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs, playtime is the name of the game for adults and kids alike. Founded in 1995 as a family-owned egg and produce stand, the place has since blossomed into a full-blown agritourism park. Visitors can play with the “kids” — pun intended — in the livestock barn, embark on a gnome-house hunt, or frolic along one of the freshly-groomed trails. And whether you’re busy being a kid or playing with some, shouldn’t snack-time follow suit? Before that mid-day nap takes hold, treat yourself to their ParmesanCrusted Grilled Cheese. A favorite of foodies tall to small, this sandwich stacks Muenster, Havarti, and Swiss cheese between two slices of Parmesan-sprinkled sourdough. Griddled until golden-brown, this delightfully adultified classic is served alongside a slaw of farm-fresh kale, carrot, and crushed peanuts, all finished with a house-made peanut and Thai noodle sauce. For an extra dose of decadence, add caramelized onions in the winter or estategrown tomatoes and basil in the summer. Either way, don’t skimp on the napkins. $15. Find Pond Hill Farm at 5699 S. Lakeshore Dr., Harbor Springs. (231) 526-3276, www.pondhill.com

4 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

www.stambrose-mead-wine.com

6

Abracadabra at Otsego

Bring the kids for an enchanting all-ages night of magic at Otsego Resort in Gaylord. The March 5 show stars magician Gordon Russ, who promises an evening of awesome tricks, humor, and hoodoo that’s fun for all ages. Best of all, it starts at 6pm, so you and your crew can spend the day on the slopes – or snowshoeing or XC skiing the resort’s 8.5 miles of groomed Sturgeon River trails and still be in bed before the littles shift into meltdown mode. $10 per ticket; overnight stays for families of four start at $119. See otsegoclub.com for more information.

Stuff We Love: A 10-day Week of Deals We don’t generally need a reason to indulge in a night out at any restaurant, but from now until March 6, Harbor Springs is offering up 12. Yup, one dozen restaurants in that sweet city

by Little Traverse Bay are participating in this spring’s restaurant week, which (bonus!) runs not a week but 10 straight days. Each restaurant has the flexibility to offer whatever specials work best for them — there are no pre-set price points — but every one brings something extra special to your mouth and wallet. See for yourself; all the restaurants have shared their menu (click on Events) at www.harborspringschamber.com.

Murder with a Side of Scalloped Potatoes Pageantry and entertainment! Dinner and a used car showroom! Murder and a United Way fundraiser! Believe it or not, all of these things will go together like PB&J March 5, when the United Way of Wexford and Missaukee counties hosts its annual murder mystery theatre at the Fox Motors Theatre and Used Car Showroom in Cadillac. Attendees — invited to dress to the nines or as their favorite star of stage and screen — will dine, be delighted by a performance of Ami Peltier’s “Death by Foul Play” murder mystery, then become detectives as they work to determine whodunit. Cocktails begin at 6pm, dinner — provided by Hermann’s (with main dish choices of penne pasta w/ grilled chicken, Scottish salmon, or spice-rubbed pork tenderloin) and show start at 7pm. Get your tickets, $75 per person, at helpothersnow.org/murdermystery or call (231) 775-3753.

8 Author Virtual Visit - April 19

Reserve your livestream ticket now.

https://tinyurl.com/joyharjo22

Copies of Ms. Harjo’s books are available at local libraries, including tadl.org and sbbdl.org. Ask about book club kits too! Visit tadl.org for more details.

NEA Big Read is a program of The next TADL book discussion will be March 5 the National Endowment for at 2 pm. Register at: the Arts in partnership with https://tinyurl.com/848xv7vw Arts Midwest.

bottoms up Mammoth’s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot If a Moscow Mule and a Dark & Stormy met on the banks of the Volga River and had a passionate but brief affair that culminated in what passionate, brief nighttime affairs in storms often do, their lovechild no doubt would be this bundle of joy: Mammoth Distilling’s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Blending Mammoth Distillery’s own whiskey with house-made pineapple jalapeno mixer and Northwoods Ginger Beer, it’s at once sweet, refreshing, and alarmingly spicy. Much like its comrade dad and mercurial mother upon learning the results of their union, this baby will leave you saying, “WTF?” (But in a very, very good way.) $10. We got ours at Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge, 221 Garland St., Suite D, in Traverse City. Find other locations at mammothdistilling.com.

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 5

INVITING DEATH

spectator

by Stephen Tuttle

w o r s h i p. c o n n e c t . g r o w. s e r v e .

tccentralumc.org

|

facebook.com/cumctc

We Americans have been challenging death with some success. Until recently, we didn’t knowingly invite it into our homes and businesses, nor did we choose to expose our children to it.

We know, for example, a certain number of people are going to die in traffic accidents every year. The odds of us being one of those fatalities is very small, but when we pass a bad accident on the road we might slow down for the next few minutes.

In truth, we’ve dramatically reduced the number of traffic fatalities even as the

same song for decades, with some modern additions: don’t smoke, do eat a reasonably healthy diet, and do exercise something in addition to our thumbs.

But there is one disease some of us have knowingly invited into our lives — and with devastating results. As of Feb. 22, 2022, the United States reported nearly 78 million confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus with a truly stunning 933,000 deaths.

That’s more than all the combat deaths in all of our wars combined. It’s more than 15 times the number of traffic deaths and

That’s more than all the combat deaths in all of our wars combined. number of miles we drive has dramatically increased. Since 1946, fatalities started increasing annually, peaking in 1972 when nearly 55,000 people died on our roadways. In 2020, that number was down to less than 39,000.

homicides combined. It’s more than the death toll of the infamous Spanish flu pandemic of 1918–20. Our average life expectancy at birth has actually decreased for the first time in decades. And we know most of it could have been prevented.

We didn’t suddenly become better drivers, but we did make the vehicles we recklessly drive safer. Padded dashes, crumple zones, telescoping steering wheels, shoulderharness seatbelts, safety glass, and airbags were innovations designed specifically to protect vehicle occupants. (Every one of those safety advancements was met with howls of protest from manufacturers who claimed the added costs would be passed to consumers and destroy their companies.

They were wrong.)

The first COVID-19 vaccine was available in December 2020 when the death toll was about 385,000. We knew soon enough that the vaccine would be effective in two doses.

(We discovered the need for a booster shot later, after the Delta variant emerged.)

Sadly, we also know there will be a certain number of murders every year. We don’t even pay much attention to those grim statistics unless there is a significant body count. The last two years have seen a highly publicized increase in murders in our major cities, mostly fueled by gun violence.

It would be easy enough to theorize the pandemic was somehow to blame, that the familiarity of the lockdowns bred plenty of contempt. We simply don’t yet know why the sudden uptick, but we do know that even with all the scary headlines, our murder rate now is barely more than half what it was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Drug-fueled turf wars were the proximate cause of the carnage back then.

Through attrition and incarceration, the drug warriors slowly disappeared.

All of that pales in comparison to deaths by illness. Heart disease and cancer continue to be our first and second leading cause of death, but even those death rates per capita have steadily decreased. Improved diagnostics and treatment plus certain lifestyle decisions can significantly increase our chances of a healthy heart and reduce our chances of becoming a cancer victim.

The advice has been some version of the

6 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

Former President Donald Trump deserves full credit for unleashing the pharmaceutical companies to quickly develop a safe and effective vaccine.

But he gets failing marks for constantly downplaying the severity of the virus and the spread of the pandemic, an approach that led directly to some of his supporters opposing three things we knew then, and still know, helped slow this contagion: masks, lockdowns, and vaccines.

Had he become an overt cheerleader for the vaccines, which he and his family all received, it’s likely his beloved base would have been more receptive. Instead, we ended up with a politicized response from some that has extended the lifespan of the bug and led to surge after surge.

All of this opposition despite data that shows unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to catch COVID-19 and die than those fully vaccinated. They are 20 times more likely to die than those fully vaccinated and boosted.

Those are facts; not theories. Still, only 61 percent of us are fully vaccinated and boosted. Given the opportunity to receive safe and effective protection against a deadly virus, more than a third of us have illogically decided we’d rather endanger ourselves, our families, and our friends.

We’ve made progress against death in several areas. But now some of us have invited it into our communities.

WINTER FUN STILL TO BE HAD ON DRUMMOND ISLAND The Neighbors In the Bolivian city of El Alto, David Choque has alarmed his neighbors with his new decorating scheme, Reuters reported.

Choque, a miner, hired an artist to create sculptures of long-horned skeletal devils from cement and wood and mount them on the outside of his home. Choque told Reuters that the sculptures hearken to life in Bolivian mines centuries ago, when indigenous men were forced into digging for silver. Colonial masters would use devil images to scare the men into working. But some neighbors fear that his decor signals satanic worship. Maria Laurel said she has heard about naked rituals in Choque’s house: “The truth is, it frightens me.”

Choque pooh-poohs this idea: “Closedminded people will think it’s something supernatural, but people need to open their minds and see it as a tourist attraction, something that can improve the area.”

More Than They Bargained For Riders in the Bianchi Rock Cobbler, a California bike race known to be “stupidly hard,” expected the usual sore muscles after the 80-mile off-roader on Feb. 12. They did not expect, however, neck and back injuries suffered after being attacked by a bull during the race. Tony Inderbitzin told KMPH-TV that he did see the animal, but he usually bikes right by cows with no problem: “As I got 10 to 15 yards from him, he turned ... squared up, and I had maybe a second to brace myself or do anything. It’s a case of a mistaken identity from a cow to a bull.”

The bull, after dislodging him from his bike, flipped Inderbitzin up in the air. Two other riders were also attacked but were able to finish the race and celebrate with beers.

Inexplicable When police officers in Orem, Utah, pulled over Victor Chavez-Zuniga, 27, for a broken headlight on Feb. 9, they discovered that he had several outstanding warrants, The Smoking Gun reported. As a result, they searched him and found something “extra” in his wallet: a severed finger in a cloth wrap, which had “what appeared to be pus and blood on it” and “was beginning to turn green and the fingernail appeared to be decayed.” Well, gross. Officer Bryce Mondragon also noticed a “foul smell.”

Unfortunately, the mystery lives on: The court filing does not say who the finger belonged to or why Chavez-Zuniga had it, but he was held on a charge of desecration of a dead human body, among other charges.

On Feb. 10, as a 38-year-old man walked with a friend and his two children in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, he felt an unexplained sharp pain in his lower body.

Later, at the emergency room, doctors discovered he had been shot, Oddity Central reported. But the man and his companions heard no gunshot and saw no one with a firearm: “An accident, a crime, a shot fired from afar -- we’re not ruling anything out at the moment,” said Matthias Graf, a police spokesman. Investigators are hoping the public can help; for now, they believe an air gun or a small-caliber weapon was used from a great distance, as a larger bullet would have caused more damage. The man is recovering.

Join us for a day of Winter fun at Drummond Island Resort’s Winter Fest! Sledding, ice putt-putt, craft show, snow shoeing, polar plunge, cross country skiing, snow volleyball and much more.

Rude In January 2021, Winchester Hagans of Auburn, Alabama, lost his fiancee, Hannah Ford, in a car crash. “She was the love of my life,” Hagans told WTVM-TV on Feb. 7. After her death, Hagans built a flower box for her grave, where he planted her favorite flowers (she was not a fan of cut flowers) and placed photos of the two of them. He checked with the city that it was OK to place the planter by her grave; they told him as long as the family didn’t object, it was fine. In January, while visiting Ford’s grave, Hagans was approached by a police officer, who asked him to get out of his car and said there was a warrant for his arrest. The charge was littering. “I said, ‘No, that’s impossible, there’s no way,’” Hagans said. Ford’s father, Tom Ford, had signed the arrest warrant, but had never contacted Hagans personally about the planter box. drummondisland.com

SATURDAY MARCH 5TH

Your Up North Playground

Unruly Passenger Perhaps Michael Brandon Demarre, 32, has never heard of social media. On Feb. 12, Demarre was charged in federal court in Oregon for interfering with a flight crew in an incident that happened the day before on a Delta flight between Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon. During that trip, KSL-TV reported, Demarre allegedly “removed the plastic covering of the emergency exit handle and pulled on the handle with his full body weight,” witnesses said. Demarre was moved to the back of the plane and restrained until the flight landed and police took him into custody. As he explained his actions, Demarre said he grabbed the handle “so other passengers would video him, thereby giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts on COVID-19 vaccines.” He will remain in custody until his next court hearing.

Sign of the Times Soho House, the parent company of private spas, hotels, lounges and bars around the world, is offering new members another perk: the opportunity to choose from 41 options for pronouns when they sign up on the club’s app, the New York Post reported.

Choices go way beyond they/them, leaving one new member baffled: “It was hard for me to navigate 31 flavors of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins when I was a kid. The idea I have to pick from 41 pronouns to be a Soho House member seems a bit excessive.”

But no worries; a new member can skip the process if it’s too overwhelming.

First, Do No Harm Dr. Onyekachi Nwabuko, an ER doctor at UF Health Leesburg in Florida, was charged on Feb. 16 with three counts of battery after he allegedly struck a patient repeatedly, the Naples Daily News reported.

Nwabuko reportedly was trying to confirm his suspicions that the patient was faking a medical condition. As such, he grabbed her hand and struck her in the face with it multiple times, leading to her IV line being ripped out and blood covering her face and arm. She was also bruised around her eye. One witness said Nwabuko was laughing and mocking the patient; finally, nurses intervened and stopped the doctor.

In a curious statement, UF Health identified Nwabuko as “not employed by UF Health,” but said they could not provide any more information.

$15 admission, with portion of the proceeds to benefit the Drummond Island Fire and Ambulance www.drummondisland.com

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Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 7

Michigan Magic Former teacher Debbie Watson embraced her dream — then wrote and published it

By Jillian Manning Retired elementary school teacher Debbie Watson sat down at her desk in May 2020 and began to write. It was early morning, and she’d just woken from a dream about a girl and a polar bear and a dragon on the shores of Lake Superior. She knew there was something magical brewing in her mind, and she set out to bring that dream to life.

What began as a children’s book morphed into a full-length novel for middle-grade readers, and less than a year later, “The Polar Bear and the Dragon: Dawn of an Alliance” was on the shelf. A sequel followed four months later, and just as we called Watson for this story, she was having a breakthrough on the start of book three.

“The beginning is always tough,” she explains, excited to have hit a turning point.

“I’m trying to get to what’s going to make [kids] immediately want to keep reading.”

Luckily, Watson has experience with children’s books thanks to a career as an upper elementary teacher within the Traverse City Area Public School District (TCAPS). Eight years into her retirement, the writing bug bit, and Watson leaned into all those years in the classroom.

“I started with the kids in mind,” she says.

“They have been my coach all along. I guess all those years primed me for this — who’s lucky enough to have two careers that are inspiring and make your life meaningful?”

A WHOLE NEW WORLD “The Polar Bear and the Dragon” series falls right in the sweet spot that Watson

taught, with content geared toward middlegrade readers, kids in the 8–12 age group.

The books follow 13-year-old Whitneywho discovers hidden powers and a portal to a new world called Yagdi just outside her Upper Peninsula home. That world needs help, and Whitney — a normal girl who loves searching for agates along Lake Superior — might just be the person to save the day.

Watson says, “The first book is really a journey in discovering things that you truly can do that you never thought of before, that empower you and [make you] more confident about who you are as a person. It’s a whole lot about change and growth in kids that age.”

Books like “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” served as inspiration for the series, balancing the real world against a make-believe land where magical gifts and creatures abound. And even though many parts of the story are fantastical, others are grounded here in Michigan … though, for Watson, the U.P. has always been something of an enchanted place.

“That’s the feeling I have always had going across the bridge — it’s like going into a different world,” she says. “The coastline [of Lake Superior] is so rugged and so unpopulated that you really can make it, in your mind, anything you want.”

Watson adds that she and her protagonist Whitney have a favorite hobby in common: “She’s a rockhound just like I am — always looking, and our noses always down.”

A MAGICAL JOURNEY From the mythical land of Yagdi to Lake Superior to Traverse City, Watson has found a new community of writers and

8 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

book lovers. She self-published her work with Traverse City-based publishing service company Mission Point Press, her stories are on the shelves of Horizon Books stores in Cadillac and Traverse City, and she recently joined a local chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization. She says all those connections have made her journey as a new author so much smoother than expected.

Of course, there have been some ups and downs along the way. Watson points to the pandemic as a challenge for her from a marketing perspective, noting that she wasn’t able to attend a signing event or festival until fall 2021. She also admits that self-publishing offers its own set of pros and cons.

“The wonderful part is that the timeline is mine and the creativity is mine,” she says.

“I guess the downfall with self-publishing versus finding an agent or a big publisher is just getting out there more universally. It’s hard to bridge the gap between here and the rest of the world.”

We suggested Watson get a portal, and she laughed, saying: “You are so right. And I have to say, fantasy has been my saving grace because this has been a horrible couple of years for all of us. To be able to escape into a fantasy every day is pretty cool …. to be able to share great stories with kids is my greatest joy in writing.”

As readers wait for book three — which Watson anticipates releasing in the summer of 2022, with a title “yet to be discovered” — both of the first two books are available at Horizon Books stores, through the Traverse Area District Library, and online at debbiewatson.net.

From One Writer to Another

We asked Debbie Watson what advice she would give to aspiring writers. Here were a few of our favorite tips: On Craft “I get a lot of self-help [books] on marketing and publishing strategies from other people in the business.

They’re actually riveting because it’s helping me do what I need to do.”

On Marketing “A person who has a place called Grandpa’s Barn bookstore in Copper Harbor told me, ‘I’ve been in this business for a long time, and I hate to tell you this, but writing is only half of the battle.’ He said you just get to do that half the time. The other half is figuring out how to market your books.”

On Community “You have to find people that are like minds, groups that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of … keep looking and keep finding people that will support that.”

On Perseverance “If you have a particularly troublesome day, go back to your writing, because that makes you feel better. If it gives you so much pleasure that you can’t live without it, you just can’t give it up.”

Megan Mertaugh-Graber

Mental Health on the Move Local Social Worker Launches Care-O-Van

By Jillian Manning Back in November of 2021, Northern Express reported on the growing mental health crisis in northern Michigan. From the stress of the pandemic to bullying on social media, a variety of factors are causing the need for mental health services to skyrocket among children and adults. Meanwhile, many providers are so busy, they often turn patients away or put them on a waiting list.

Our region is not alone in facing these issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared a study last March reporting that between August 2020 and February 2021, 41.5 percent of American adults experienced symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder, up from 36.4 percent the year before. In a similar vein, UNICEF’s “State of the World’s Children 2021” report found that on the global scale there are now more than 1 in 7 adolescents (ages 10–19) living with a diagnosed mental disorder.

The rising need for care is one of the reasons local social worker Megan Mertaugh-Graber founded Care-O-Van, a mobile mental health service that will operate out of a retrofitted school bus when the program officially launches next month.

“There are some amazing organizations in this community that are working hard to try to unify and make an impact,” MertaughGraber says. “My hope is to make mental health services that much more accessible at the source of where people need to be met geographically.”

Mertaugh-Graber is a Traverse City native who completed two master’s degrees — one in education and the other in social work — at the University of Minnesota. Prior to

the start of the pandemic, she was working as school-linked mental health practitioner, but her world was turned upside down by schools closing and the move to telehealth.

“I was thankful for the platform of telehealth because it allowed me to get stay connected in the lives of the kiddos and families I was working with,” she says. But the home environment did not offer the same safety and separation as an office, leading to “increased transparency around a family’s willingness for more physical discipline and more elevated domestic violence events. I couldn’t stop it — I couldn’t reach through the screen and interrupt it. As a practitioner, my sense of agency just plummeted.”

That was when Mertaugh-Graber knew she had to get creative and meet clients where they were, a challenge she took literally.

“I was like, ‘Well, what if I get a bus and then I can go to the sites where families can access me? I can start integrating my passions and what I find most effective as healing modalities and methods.’”

“I couldn’t do that within schools,” she adds.

When it opens in March, Care-O-Van will serve an array of clients, with children, teens, families, and caregivers at the core.

Mertaugh-Graber’s expertise in everything from early childhood development to addiction to depression allows her to offer a wide range of services centered around the safe space created by the Care-O-Van bus.

The bus is intended to be experiential, a place where art, play, nature, and animals all come together to offer clients different modes of expression and healing. MertaughGraber believes in what she calls “embodied learning and healing,” which takes a handson approach far from the stereotypical

experience of lying on a couch and admitting all your deepest darkest secrets.

“Words are a hard way to express ourselves and our needs,” she says. “An individual might not be able to explain, ‘Well, this is what I felt.’ And this is why those experiences that are often harmful and hurtful and traumatic can be so disorganized.” She goes on to say that different activities and therapeutic methods can resolve the same issues and questions in a more organic, authentic way.

Mertaugh-Graber explains that she facilitates her sessions in a “partially directed” way, letting the clients choose how they want to engage and share, whether that’s with an art project, therapy toys, or an intentional walk through the woods.

“It’s more welcoming — it feels less judgmental,” Mertaugh-Graber says of her approach. “What I find is … the outcomes from a session or from that healing work are even more profound.”

With the March launch just around the corner, Mertaugh-Graber is hard at work with intakes and assessments for Care-OVan’s first clients. She is also searching for partners who can host Care-O-Van on site, particularly schools and farms. A farm partnership, she says, could be a partnership of “reciprocal gifting” where a client would help with farm chores while still having a purposeful session with Mertaugh-Graber based on goals and objectives that are horticulturally based.

Although Care-O-Van’s doors have not yet opened, Mertaugh-Graber thinks the future is bright.

“The long-term goal of Care-O-Van is that it won’t just be one bus and me as

a practitioner,” she says. “It can become a platform that can help reach rural locations and rural communities. There’ll be multiple buses and multiple practitioners able to spiderweb out into our communities in our region to help meet the needs that are so present with the elevated levels of depression and anxiety.”

Learn more at careovan.com.

No Llama Drama

In addition to traveling across northern Michigan, the Care-O-Van bus will also spend time on MertaughGraber’s farm — called the AVEC Care Farm — where interacting with a herd of llamas, chickens, and a bunny are all part of the therapeutic process.

Mertaugh-Graber is the daughter of two veterinarians and grew up on a farm herself, so she considers animals as “teachers and guides” who can “meet a person at a much more elemental relational place that can oftentimes feel safer” than interacting with other humans.

“Llamas are very good boundary teachers,” she says, laughing. (And not because they spit — we asked.) “The requirements that llamas often have are that you have a calm body and a quiet voice. Especially for kiddos that have super wiggly bodies, or even adults working with anger management challenges or impulsivity, there’s all this practice beforehand that goes into being able to achieve [an interaction].

It’s magical to see it happen.”

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 9

UNSTACKING

THE DECK Meet the people fighting to protect and prevent child victims of sexual abuse and what they — and our kids — are up against

By Craig Manning Every nine minutes.

That’s how often child protective service agencies in the United States substantiate a claim of child sexual abuse (CSA), according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

In total, one in every nine girls and one in every 53 boys will experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult before they turn 18. In the 2016 fiscal year alone, U.S. child protective service agencies found evidence for the sexual abuse of more than 57,000 children.

These statistics are staggering and sobering, but no matter how often they are repeated or shared, misconceptions and misperceptions about CSA persist. One of the most common misconceptions of all?

The belief among many people that their communities are an exception to the rule, that “it couldn’t possibly happen here.”

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH That false belief is just one of the many myths that Kyle Attwood grapples with on a regular basis as part of his job. Attwood is the chief assistant prosecuting attorney with the Grand Traverse County prosecutor’s office, a role that gives him a front-row seat to many of the criminal prosecutions that happen in northern Michigan’s largest county. When asked how often CSA cases come across his desk, Attwood doesn’t pull punches.

“They’re unfortunately really common,” Attwood tells Northern Express. “We see a lot of those cases come through our office, and we know there are even more that that

don’t get reported. I think the statistic is about one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday, so it’s incredibly prevalent, and I think somewhere around 60 percent of those victims never tell anyone. So, it’s a smaller number that gets reported, and then obviously a smaller number that ends up in a criminal case. But still, when we’re talking about one in 10, the numbers across the community are huge.”

In the American justice system, sexual assault and abuse are among the most under-reported and under-prosecuted of all crimes. According to RAINN, only 310 of

and has a right to face their accuser and to be present at their own trial. But these factors and others, Attwood says, can be a double-edged sword when it comes to seeking justice for sexual assault survivors — especially in cases where those survivors are kids or teenagers.

“The deck really is stacked against them,” Attwood says of CSA victims. “[Pursuing a criminal case] involves them being judged, challenged, criticized, ridiculed, made out to be a liar, made out to be somebody who made this up. They have to be crossexamined by the defendant’s attorney, while

“In these cases, what has been done to the kids has really taken all of their control of the situation away,” Attwood says. “So, we try to give them as much power to help us make decisions on a case as we can. If they are comfortable moving forward, and if they go in with eyes open and understand the process, then we’re willing to walk through that with them. But I don’t like forcing a victim to go through something when they’re not willing or comfortable to do that, because it’s not a pleasant experience. As much control as we can give them, it’s a way of giving back some of what was taken from them in whatever abuse they suffered.”

“There’s certainly a perception out there, and it gets argued a lot in trial, that false reporting is much more prevalent than it actually is,” Attwood says.

THE JURY PROBLEM The Grand Traverse County prosecutor’s office often does something akin to a “dress rehearsal” for CSA victims who decide to move forward with their cases. That process involves taking the victim into the courtroom ahead of a hearing or trial, getting them comfortable in the space, and prepping them candidly on what questions they may be asked. Still, Attwood acknowledges that awareness and preparation can only go so far. Because once a case goes to trial, a CSA victim isn’t just facing the judge, the opposing counsel, and their assailant; they’re also facing a jury, with all the various beliefs and baggage that those 12 people might bring into the jury box with them.

In Attwood’s view, the jury selection process for a CSA case “is as much about education and myth-busting as it is about selecting specific jurors to hear a case.”

That’s because misconceptions about rape and sexual assault are hugely prevalent in the

every 1,000 sexual assaults are ever reported to the police. Just 50 of those reports ever lead to an arrest, 28 bring about a felony conviction, and 25 result in incarceration.

All told, 975 of every 1,000 sexual assault perpetrators walk free.

STACKING THE DECK Under-reporting is only part of the problem. The U.S. justice system is built, in part, on constitutional principles that protect the rights of the accused. A person is innocent until proven guilty, for instance,

10 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

the perpetrator of the abuse is there in the courtroom staring at them the whole time.

It really can be a re-victimization for them.”

Because court hearings and jury trials can be so traumatic for young victims, Attwood says the prosecutor’s office tries to be “really victim-centered in the way we approach those cases.” To a certain extent, that victim-centered approach even involves letting the victim decide whether a case gets prosecuted or not — or, at least, whether it ends up in a courtroom with the young victim expected to serve as a key witness.

U.S. — for any victim, but especially in cases where the victims are minors.

What do those misconceptions look like?

Perhaps the most pervasive is the concept of “real rape,” a term coined in 1988 by lawyer Susan Estrich in her book, “Real Rape: How the legal system victimizes women who say no.” The assumption many people have is that “real rapes” 1) are only committed by strangers; 2) are only committed under duress, usually in situations where the rapist is wielding a weapon; and 3) are always extremely violent, leaving the victim with cuts, bruises, or other injuries.

NO “REAL” RAPE Statistically, the concept of “real rape” holds no grounding in reality. Per RAINN, more than 80 percent of all rapes are committed by someone the victim knows — be it a current or former romantic partner, a family member, or a friend/acquaintance.

Those numbers balloon even further in CSA cases: 93 percent of juvenile rape victims know the perpetrator personally, with 34 percent of attacks being perpetrated by family members and another 59 percent by non-family acquaintances.

“When you hear the word rape, I think, typically, a shadowy figure in an alley and a forceful violent act is the first thing people think about,” Attwood says. “But especially with kids, [the assailant] is typically a person who is in a position of trust or authority.

And they don’t use force or violence to gain access to a victim; they use grooming behavior, and trust, and their status as a parental figure or authority figure. It’s a much different power dynamic than I think people would anticipate. So, a big part [of jury selection or trial proceedings] is talking about those things and getting people thinking about them, to get them off of their typical understanding of what rape or sexual abuse looks like.”

NO “RIGHT” BEHAVIOR There are other major misconceptions about CSA, too. For one, Attwood says jurors will often go into a CSA trial with a specific expectation of how a victim will behave on the stand. That expectation of a “typical victim” — someone who is crying or otherwise emotionally distraught as they recount their experiences — also doesn’t always correspond with reality.

“We’ll have some victims that react in a way that might not be expected,” Attwood explains. “Some get really uncomfortable, and they will maybe laugh on the stand at times that you wouldn’t expect, or otherwise react in a way that doesn’t jive with [the jury members’] beliefs about how a victim should behave.”

Those unexpected behaviors can be enough to convince a juror that a victim is lying — as in, “If they were telling the truth, they would seem more traumatized.”

“Really, it boils down to the notion that there’s no reasonable way a victim should react to abuse,” Attwood says. “They react in a whole host of different ways, and that comes out in different behaviors that people might deem atypical.”

RARE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE Another big stumbling block that prosecutors encounter with juries is the belief that physical evidence is an essential or even likely part of a CSA case. While Attwood acknowledges that such evidence would be helpful for building a case against a perpetrator, the vast majority of CSA cases are, by their very nature, more likely to hinge on two key pieces of testimony: that of the victim, and that of the person they are accusing.

“We’re fighting against preconceived

notions that people have from watching CSI and those types of shows: that there’s always this forensic component to a case,” Attwood says. “And that’s not the reality. [Physical evidence in a CSA case] is really rare, for a couple of reasons. One of the reasons is that the perpetrator controls when something happens, how it happens, and whether or not physical evidence gets left.

“All of those factors are really in the perpetrator’s control. They choose a time and a place that helps them escape accountability for what they’re doing. The second factor is that, in CSA, delayed reporting is the rule and not the exception. It’s rare that sexual abuse … gets reported immediately — if it gets reported at all. By the time a report comes in and an investigation is done, any physical evidence that may have existed would be long gone. So, what we have in front of us, in an overwhelming percentage of CSA cases, is the testimony of a victim.”

Then there’s possibly the biggest barrier of all to getting a conviction in a sexual abuse case: The specter of false accusations.

Especially when there’s no physical evidence to share, Attwood says it is exceedingly difficult to get juries to hand down a guilty verdict in a CSA case. That’s because, when it comes to sowing reasonable doubt, opposing counsel has a trump card, and playing that card is as simple as calling the victim a liar.

“There’s certainly a perception out there, and it gets argued a lot in trial, that false reporting is much more prevalent than it actually is,” Attwood says. “The idea that children may fabricate something like [a sexual abuse accusation]. But, statistically, the number of reports that are actually false is extremely low. I think it’s somewhere around five percent, or lower than that. And so false reporting or fabrication is incredibly rare, and a lot of that gets vetted out in the pre-charge process. We look at every report that comes in, and a lot of those reports are actually declined because of things that we see that give us concern. So, for a case to get charged that involves a false report — if there are any — it’s an incredibly small number.”

“I usually try to make the point that this is not a fun process for victims to have to go through,” Attwood adds. “So, to assume that somebody would fabricate or falsify a statement, and then willingly subject themselves to a pretty horrific process, to me is a bit specious. It’s not a not something you would choose to go through willingly, but for [this sexual abuse incident] actually happening, and for trying to hold somebody accountable for their behavior.”

PRE-TRIAL, PREVENTION All these misconceptions around rape and sexual assault — not just CSA, but any type of sexual abuse — have their ramifications. Per RAINN, 13 percent of sexual assault victims who don’t report their cases never speak up specifically because they don’t think they will be believed.

For Attwood, the best way to break the “stacked deck” situation is through education. From “myth-busting” during jury selection to community engagement efforts aimed at “dispelling some of those notions about what [sexual abuse] actually looks like,” he says the Grand Traverse County prosecutor’s office is constantly trying to change the narrative around CSA — so that more victims can find justice, and more perpetrators are removed from situations where they could continue to do harm.

Local prosecutors aren’t the only ones trying to address CSA by challenging misperceptions about it. In fact, that approach is at the heart of one of northern Michigan’s biggest potential game-changers for child advocacy: the Public Will Campaign (PWC), an effort aimed at “mobilizing entire

Kyle Attwood

Dr. Joanne Smith-Darden

communities to prevent CSA.” Described as “a primary prevention initiative powered by Michigan communities,” the PWC has a goal of making CSA “rare and non-recurring in our lifetime.”

The PWC was born out of the Traverse Bay Area Children’s Advocacy Center (TBCAC), one of several dozen CACs in the state of Michigan. Those centers exist first and foremost to provide support for victims of CSA and their families. Over the years, though, as TBCAC focused more and more CSA prevention, the organization started to differentiate itself from many other CACs in the state. That evolution eventually led to the formation of the PWC, a prevention-focused initiative that involves everyone from doctors to business owners to researchers.

The PWC even caught the eye of Dr. Heather McCauley and Dr. Joanne SmithDarden, a pair of researchers from the Michigan State University (MSU) School of Social Work who last fall landed a $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to “strengthen the evidence base” for the type of CSA prevention that the PWC is trying to do. The four-year grant cycle will see McCauley and Darden working as key partners and researchers for the PWC initiative. Depending on their findings, the pair could help take the prevention concepts of the PWC beyond northern Michigan.

YOU CAN HELP Before the PWC, there was Team Zero, a TBCAC initiative that focused on “training 5 percent of the adult population in the Grand Traverse region in a CSA prevention program.” TBCAC ultimately deemed that training effort a success, but also decided that it needed to think bigger to bring about more sustained structural change. That thought process led to the 2017 formation of the PWC, which focuses on the bigger picture of systems and social norms that allow CSA to occur in the first place.

According to McCauley, the launch of the PWC dovetailed with a desire at MSU to support CSA prevention research. Larry Nassar had just put MSU at the center of one of the highest-profile CSA scandals in American history, and the university was eager to start righting those wrongs. TBCAC and the PWC were ultimately selected “as the demonstration site to do this work,” and McCauley and Smith-Darden turned their eyes toward northern Michigan.

“The first real important project that the PWC did was a survey of just under 800 participants in northern Michigan,” McCauley says. “They surveyed residents in the six counties served by TBCAC — Antrim, Benzie, Wexford, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse — to understand how people thought about CSA in that region.

There were several key findings. The first was that people were really proud to be from this community but didn’t feel connected to

Dr. Heather McCauley

their neighbors. The second piece was that people knew that CSA happened — many of them actually knew survivors — but they said, ‘It doesn’t happen here.’ And then the third piece was that people said, ‘I want to know how to help prevent CSA, but I don’t feel like I have the skills to do so.’ Those three points together really launched our work together.”

A ROADMAP FORWARD McCauley and Darden-Smith’s work with the PWC is focused on three priorities: community building, community voice, and community mobilization. Along the way, they’ll collect research to show whether building more engaged communities can truly move the needle on CSA prevention.

“CSA is hard to talk about,” McCauley says. It’s a difficult subject for many people to grapple with. So, for the first part of our project, we need to build community. We need to build trust among community members so that they learn to have these conversations and feel safe having these conversations, and so they know someone has their back if they’re going to engage in behaviors that are going to prevent CSA from happening. The second piece is exploring community voice, which means building relationships with communities in the six counties, getting to know them, and using qualitative methods — basically, different kinds of interviewing – to learn community perspectives on the issue. And then the last piece is working with communities to design community-specific campaigns that will mobilize communities to action.”

McCauley and Smith stress that their work is just one piece of the PWC, aimed at understanding and challenging the social norms that exist around CSA. But by getting into different communities and collecting data about how local residents think about this issue, the MSU researchers think they can help move the other “gears” of the PWC — namely, changing individual behaviors and driving shifts in public policy — and in turn identify strategies to help other communities keep kids safe. It’s an uphill climb, but one that McCauley is confident offers plenty of opportunity for progress and growth.

“We start from the assumption that everyone cares about this community,” she says. “We might have different perspectives, and there might be different things that we’re worried about in the community, but we start from the place of recognizing that we all care. … These are hard conversations, and they’ve always been hard. No one’s really cracked the code, yet, on how to do this. But I think if you start from a place of community, and from respecting that we all love this place, then you can start to create a platform for more meaningful conversations. Do I think we’re going to prevent CSA in four years? No. But our goal is that, down the line, we’re going to start to move the needle.”

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 11

BREAKING THE ICE The return of the Traverse City Figure Skating Club Ice Show

By Jillian Manning For 47 years, the Traverse City Figure Skating Club (formerly known as Twin Bays Skating Club) has been producing athletes bound for college teams, national-level competitions, and even the much-beloved Disney on Ice show. TCFSC is also the driving force behind the Northern Lights synchronized skating team — in which 8–20 skaters perform in unison — as well as a high school team that contends with 50 teams in the state across 16 competitions.

Despite decades of champions and championships, what the club is most known for — among non-skaters anyway — is the program’s annual centerpiece, its spring Ice Show. Headed to Centre Ice Arena on March 4 and 5 after a pandemic-induced year away, this year’s show promises to be one kids and their parents won’t be able to resist: The “Sing! High School Musicals” will showcase songs from classic musicals like “Grease” and “Hairspray” alongside those from more recent film favorites like Sing! and High School Musical itself.

“When I chose a show theme, I really just wanted to tap into something that every generation would love,” says the club’s executive director, Ellie Kolb. “The show’s designed to get you singing and dancing in your seat along to your favorite songs that you know and love.”

This will be Kolb’s first Ice Show with TCFSC, as she joined the club in fall of 2020. But she’s no stranger to the world of performance, having skated competitively her entire youth. It was actually a community ice show in Houghton, Michigan, that grabbed the attention of four-year-old Kolb — a moment she hopes to recreate so she can inspire kids in this year’s audience to try skating themselves.

“So many skaters fall in love with skating by seeing a community ice show,” Kolb says.

“And I’m just really hoping that some skaters in the audience this time see it and want to give it a shot.”

When Kolb was seven, she saw her first Disney on Ice performance. She remembers telling her mom that, one day, she would be performing with those iconic characters herself. Kolb went on to make that dream

come true, touring with the company for five years as she played roles like Tinkerbell, Snow White, and Dory.

Today, Kolb leads the 60 skaters of TCFSC, who range from age three to adults, including several individuals who have received U.S. Figure Skating’s “goal medal” by passing the organization’s highest-level skill tests.

Among those gold-medal skaters is Anna Rossiter, a junior at St. Francis High School in Traverse City, who is playing Danny Zuko from “Grease” in the upcoming Ice Show. Rossiter has been skating since she was three years old. After attending an open skate at Centre Ice, she got her start in TCFSC’s Learn to Skate program and has gone on to excel in the sport. She has plans to pursue synchronized skating in college or join Disney on Ice but says the lessons she learned in the rink will stick with her even if she hangs up her skates.

“The work ethic and accountability and self-discipline [of skating] transferred over into my everyday life. It’s taught me that if I want to get somewhere, I’m going have to work to get to that point, and it’s not going come overnight just because I want it,” Rossiter says.

Laurie Appier, a parent-volunteer and this year’s Ice Show co-chair, echoes Rossiter’s sentiments.

“The dedication, perseverance, and absolute grit of a figure skater is fierce,” she says. “They take some crazy hard falls and get back up even more determined to land it next time.”

Appier has been involved with TCFSC since her daughter joined the club in 2017.

To her, the biggest benefits of the program are the relationships formed between the skaters. She notes that the skaters often form lifelong friendships, and finds it “amazing how supportive the kids are of each other and what they can do when they work together.”

She goes on to predict that this year’s Ice Show — No. 46 — will be one to remember, and not just because of the line-up of songs and talented athletes. The 2021 show was canceled for the first time in the club’s history, and the skaters are eager to perform in front of a crowd once more.

12 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

“You could ask literally any skater or parent what they are most looking forward to and part of that answer would be the simple fact that we actually get to have a show this year,” Appier explains. “Ellie

[Kolb] has put her heart and soul into creating a spectacular event … I believe it’s going to be hard to keep the audience in their seats with all of the fabulous music.”

SING ALONG ON MARCH 4 & 5

Planning to catch a performance of “Sing! High School Musicals on Ice”? Here’s what you need to know: Who: The talented skating students and coaches of Traverse City Figure Skating Club What: A mash-up of big screen and Broadway favorites.

Where: Centre Ice Arena, 1600 Chartwell Dr., Traverse City When: Friday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m.

Why: “These kids have had such a difficult couple of years,” says TCFSC director Ellie Kolb. “Ice Show is always the cherry on top of their years, something they all look forward to, and I know that they’re just so excited to finally get to perform in front of a live audience again. They’re really hoping that the community shows up for them and support them with this.”

Cost: Seating for the event is reserved with most tickets available for $18. Guests can also select VIP On-Ice Seating, which includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages for a front-row seat to the show. On-Ice Seating is literally on the ice— so dress warmly—and is available for $160 per four-top table. All tickets are available at MyNorthTickets.com.

Mask Up: Because this is a United States Figure Skating Association sanctioned event, masks will be required for all spectators and participants. Skaters will only be unmasked when actively skating.

Join ’Em: Whether you can make the show or not, aspiring skaters can check out TCFSC’s upcoming “Learn to Skate” program, which runs for five weeks beginning April 4. See gofiguretc.org for more information.

MAPLE + BATTER The most important meal of the day just got a whole lot more fun.

By Geri Dietz When the Original Pancake House, a Bay Harbor fixture for over 20 years, closed its doors for good due to the pandemic’s impact on its business, a group of like-minded family and friends stepped into the space to execute their vision of a new breakfast and brunch-style eatery.

But how did this crew of seven pull off a relatively seamless transition, in just 6 sixmonths, for a successful July 2021 opening?

Well, first, you have to know the Morrison’s.

ALL IN THE FAMILY Twins Philip and Bryant Morrison and their respective wives, Laura and Jamie, bring with them a broad skillset: The twins are trained in finance, risk management, and accounting; Laura’s expertise is in event planning and social media; Jamie is a restaurant guru and photographer.

The foursome was joined in the venture by the twins’ father, Scot Morrison, who, with family friend Greg Ruvolo, provides back office support. Another friend, Thomas Bayer, from a family who spent decades in the restaurant business, helped set up the kitchen and is in charge of kitchen operations.

“Being family and such close friends, we had the ability and comfort to jump right in [and] share our strengths, so that we could individually and collectively bring our skill sets together,” Phillip Morrison tells Northern Express.

The result of this family-and-friends effort is an eatery that boasts the energetic buzz of a sophisticated urban pop-up but is grounded with the expert-driven long-range planning suitable to a venture that’s meant to last. Simply put: Maple + Batter is here for the duration.

The team was aided in its transition by waitstaff from the Original Pancake House.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” brother Bryant Morrison adds. “They were instrumental in helping us open as successfully as we did.”

A LOOK INSIDE Batter + Maple occupies a rounded end space in the very distinctive Bay Harbor village. The restaurant’s focal point, a circular wall featuring a massive half-moon of double-hung windows, is fronted by an attached four-seaon porch that allows in plenty of natural light. The eye is drawn to the massive exposed ductwork and black wicker pendants above, and then below, to the reflective glow of the simulated marble floor (the result of an arduous fivestep process that transformed the Pancake House’s classic red tiles into something far more chic.)

Handcrafted butcher block tables, generously spaced, and modern armchairs, padded for comfort, fill the dining area. (No small feat, that; the porch and dining room together can accommodate 100+ patrons.)

Substantial support beams, wrapped in faux boxwood greenery, add texture and warmth to the space. For winter, lighted faux pines of various heights provide a seasonal backdrop.

Beyond, the open galley-style kitchen hums with activity but does not disturb the ambience. “We wanted a simple, modern look with a lively, inviting vibe,” Phillip says.

MORNING GLORY Head chef Aaron Finner is committed to making Maple+ Batter “the best brunch spot around.” His first step: Use the best available ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible. Plath’s, Grain Train, Bill’s Farm Market, and Bear Creek Organic Farm typically rule the menu, but goods from other farm and markets around the region appear each season.

Finner’s second step: Keep the classics and fan favorites always expertly prepared — and then brainstorm with staff to develop interesting, and flavorful, items to keep guests surprised and delighted. Because if breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then brunch should be the most fun. To put a new twist on a classic dish, for example: Finner’s Bay Harbor Benedict adds roasted tomatoes to the traditional recipe, while a side of sweet potato maple hash,

with onion, red pepper, and choice of meat, elevates expectations.

Griddle choices, all based on the eatery’s official (and delectable) maple batter recipe, include pancakes, French toast, and waffles.

The flapjacks, their crispy edges rimming the circumference of a dinner plate and yielding to a tender center, round out the griddle selections. Enjoy them all with real maple syrup, fresh berries, candied pecans, or chocolate. (Or mix and match.)

All baked goods are fresh daily. Try the signature maple bacon muffin with a brown sugar crumble top. Grab it to go with a cup of freshly ground coffee from Leelanau Coffee Company. Or add an egg to punch up the carb/protein ratio. For quiche aficionados, the mushroom truffle quiche, wrapped in its own crust, combines creamy eggs and melted Gruyere with a wild mushroom mix, blades of fresh rosemary, and a finish of truffle oil.

After 11 a.m., choose smash burgers (beef sourced from Halperns’ in Kalamazoo), served with the works; a BLTC (the “C” stands for cheddar); or a roasted beet and feta salad with

a nicely balanced vinaigrette. Weekly specials have included lemon ricotta pancakes, brie omelette, pulled pork Benedict, or a ham and Swiss on French toast with warm maple syrup for dipping. All this, plus plenty of sides and add-ons, make choosing difficult. It’s probably best to visit regularly.

FROM THE BAR Start with a thoughtfully curated list of brunch-style bar offerings: Try a screwdriver or Bloody Mary made with Gypsy vodka from Petoskey’s High Five Spirits; the Bloody Mary mix comes from Mammoth Distillery, a next-door Bay Harbor neighbor.

Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, rosé, and a cab, along with a champagne and a sparkling rose comprise the wine list. (Special events feature for-the-occasion cocktails.) Bailey’s is on hand to accompany fresh coffee. (Select beers might be a future addition to the list.)

Find Maple + Batter at 4165 Main St., Bay Harbor. (231) 753-2122, www. mapleandbatter.com

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 13

feb 26

saturday

SMELTANIA: Feb. 25-27.

Today includes a Special Farmers Market on Main St., Boyne City; Ice Fishing Contest; kids games & fun at Avalanche; Scavenger Hunt - Veterans Park Pavilion; Polar Plunge at The Waterfront Field of Dreams, & more. petoskeyarea.com/event/smeltania

---------------------WINTER WONDERLAND WEEK: Downtown Petoskey, Feb. 18-26. See the ice sculpture collection in Pennsylvania Park & throughout downtown. Then go on the Winter Wonderland Window Walk & enjoy seeing the cleverly decorated retail windows. petoskeyarea.com/event/winter-wonderland-week

---------------------2ND ANNUAL ICEBREAKER - OUTDOOR SCULPTING EVENT: Old Art Building, Leland. Featuring international award-winning ice sculptor & owner of Icon Ice, Matt Cooper. Matt supplies ice to businesses & private events around the state, & also competed on the Food Network’s competition, “Food Landscapes.” He will be carving from 11am-2pm, with the event running from 11am-4pm. Icebreaker focuses on fun & creativity. If you want to create your own ice sculpture, register. oldartbuilding.com/ events/ice-breaker-2022

---------------------HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: Feb. 25 - March 6. Enjoy special menus at each participating restaurant. harborspringschamber.com/events/ details/restaurant-week-spring-2022-10975 SOUP & SKI: 11am-5pm, Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay. The Cross Country Trail is open & groomed regularly. Enjoy a stroll through the vineyard, or link up with the Leelanau Trail for an extended journey.

Afterwards, head to the Tasting Room to enjoy locally made soups for $5 a bowl & Shady Lane Cellars wine. facebook.com/ ShadyLaneCellars

---------------------TRAVERSE CITY RESTAURANT WEEK: Feb. 20-26. Each participating restaurant will have a $25 or $35 three course menu during this week. Call to book your reservation with the restaurant(s) of your choice. downtowntc. com/traverse-city-restaurant-week

---------------------WICKED AIR & APRÉS: 11am, Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls. The slopes become a jumbo screen filled with motion graphics, doubling as a stage, as Olympic, X-Game & professional athletes perform big air jumps & aerial acrobatics. Expect loud music, pyrotechnics, a fireworks display, & libations. Bring a Sharpie for an Athlete Meet & Greet at the Sam Adams Après Par-

ty right after the show. boynemountain.com/ upcoming-events/wicked-air-and-apres

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

feb/mar

SNOWSHOES, VINES & WINES: 125pm, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. Explore easy to moderate trails, & then warm up with a beverage on the Terrace Patio.

Snowshoe rentals will be available. blackstarfarms.com/snowshoes-vines-wines

---------------------WINTER WINE WALK: 12-3pm, Otsego Resort, Gaylord. Walk from the River Cabin to the bonfire at the Beaver Dam. Along the trail, visit three wine tasting stations that are paired with light food. $38. otsegoclub.com/ event/winter-wine-walk-11

26-06 send your dates to: events@traverseticker.com

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

BOOK SIGNING: 1-3pm, Horizon Books, TC. Doug Stanton will sign his New York Times bestseller “In Harm’s Way” (New Young Adult Edition), a World War II account of the greatest maritime disaster in US naval history. horizonbooks.com/event/ book-signing-doug-stanton-harms-waynew-young-adult-edition

---------------------FAMILY FUN DAYS: MOVIE MATINEE: 1pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Program Room, Empire. Featuring “Eight Below,” an action/adventure tale of Antarctic survival, inspired by a true story. Rated PG. Popcorn provided. glenlakelibrary.net/events

---------------------NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, Thirlby Room, TC. Grade Level: high school. Screenwriter, author & journalist Andrew Lewellen brings writing to the silver screen with this workshop. Whether you’re drawn to movies or TV, this course will teach you how to turn your idea for a story into a script. Open only to fully vaccinated participants. Registration closes when the maximum number of students (15) register, or by Feb. 24. A waitlist may be available. Registration is open to students throughout northern MI. Free. nationalwritersseries.org/writing-workshops/ screenwriting-workshop-2021

---------------------AUDITIONS: 3pm. For Parallel 45 Theatre Youth Quake Company’s Summer 2022 Production of “ALICE: A New Rock Musical.” Fifteen minute time slots available between 3-6pm. You must register to audition & for more info. docs.google.com/forms/d/e /1FAIpQLSfVKNdMVCzMF9cEW6KM7J0uPR5W66idRRlChsHi9tGk8Hf3g/viewform

---------------------HIKE & HOPS: 3-5pm, Elizabeth B. Hoffmann Nature Preserve, Charlevoix. Snowshoe with LTC staff on a 1.5 mile trail through a mix of apple orchards, woods & farm fields.

Afterwards gather at Bier’s Inwood Brewery for drinks & pizza. Register. landtrust.org/ events/hike-and-hops-biers-winter

Find the court jester skiing during Crystal Mountain’s Mardi Gras on the Mountain, Sat., March 5. There will also be food, live music, the On-Slope Scavenger Hunt, Annual Costume Contest, and more. crystalmountain.com/

BEARCUB OUTFITTERS TORCHLIGHT SNOWSHOE: 5-9pm, Camp Daggett, Petoskey. Free snowshoe rentals, cookies, hot cocoa, fires, torchlit trails & more. Register. Donations encouraged. campdaggett. org/bearcub-snowshoe-for-daggett

---------------------8TH ANNUAL GRAND TRAVERSE GUNS N HOSES BENEFIT HOCKEY GAME: 6pm, Centre Ice Arena, TC. Watch local firefighters face off against police officers in this annual game to raise funds for a selected family in need. $5. gtgunsnhoses.com

---------------------COMEDY WITH ANDY BENINGO: 7pm, TC Comedy Club. Andy has had over 3,000 career performances & is hailed for his clean & “every man” style. He has been named one of the 40 Best Up-and-Coming Comedians in the country. $20 - $25. traversecitycomedyclub.com/andy-beningo

NMC COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT: 7:30pm, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, TC. A performance of choral music featuring the NMC Children’s Choirs, the NMC Chamber Singers & Grand Traverse Chorale. $10$15. mynorthtickets.com

---------------------RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: Old Town Playhouse, TC. Forced into a life of servitude, a young woman dreams of a better life. Then, with the help of her fairy godmother, she is transformed into an elegant young lady who meets her prince at the ball. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from Feb. 17 through March 19, starting at 2pm on Sundays & 7:30pm on all other days.

Adults: $28; youth under 18: $15 (plus fees). tickets.oldtownplayhouse.com/TheatreManager/1/login&event=358

 BRUSH YOUR TEETH 3 TIMES A DAY.  FLOSS YOUR TEETH AT LEAST ONCE A DAY.  VISIT THE DENTIST TWICE A YEAR FOR REGULAR CLEANING AND CHECKUPS.  CHANGE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH EVERY 3 MONTHS.

DR. DENNIS SPILLANE & DR. SHAWN SPILLANE O V E R

3 5

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E X P E R I E N C E

E A C H

N E W ? T R A N S P L A N T ? LO CA L ? W E W E LCOM E A L L PAT I E N T S !

231.533.5001 231.486.6878 638 WILLOW DR., BELLAIRE, MI 49615

14 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

4480 MT. HOPE RD., SUITE A, WILLIAMSBURG, MI 49690

feb 27

sunday

SMELTANIA: Feb. 25-27. Today includes the Boyne City Fire Department Pancake Breakfast at Veterans Park Pavilion, along with Ice Fishing Contest winners being announced. petoskeyarea.com/event/smeltania

---------------------HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------SOUP & SKI: (See Sat., Feb. 26, except today’s hours are 12-5pm.)

---------------------JIGSAW PUZZLE TOURNAMENT - INDIVIDUALS ONLY: 1pm, Traverse Area District Library, McGuire Community Room, TC. Register to assemble a jigsaw puzzle in its entirety (or as much as you can) in two hours.

The person with the least amount of puzzle pieces left, wins. Masks required. Free. tadl. org/event/puzzle-tournament-individuals-only

---------------------AUTHOR EVENT: 2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Toby Jones will discuss his latest book, “The Furnace Girl,” that is based on the true & mysterious case of Elfrieda Knaak in Lake Bluff, Illinois, 1928. 231-331-4318.

---------------------RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------NMC COMBINED CHOIRS CONCERT: (See Sat., Feb. 26, except today’s time is 3pm.)

feb 28 mar 01

monday

HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

tuesday

COFFEE & CONVERSATION AT THE CHAMBER: 8-10am, 118 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Drop in for coffee, pastries, & to chat.

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

HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------TCNEWTECH PITCH & NETWORKING EVENT: 6pm, City Opera House, TC. Each presenter will be allowed 5 minutes to present their business or new technology & 5 minutes of questions & answers. The audience decides by a text vote which startup will receive the $500 cash prize. tcnewtech.org/pitch GRAND TRAVERSE KENNEL CLUB MEETING: Incredible Mo’s, Grawn. 6pm dinner & socialize; 7pm meeting. Grandtraversekennelclub.com

mar 02

wednesday

HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

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LTBB RESTORING STURGEON: ICE BREAKER SPEAKER SERIES: 12-1pm, held via Zoom. Kris Dey, hatchery manager at the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) Fisheries Enhancement Facility, will speak on lake sturgeon restoration & LTBB’s work on the Burt Lake Watershed. Register. watershedcouncil.org/attend-an-event.html

mar 03

thursday

HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

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NMC CAREER FAIR: 2-6pm, Hagerty Center, NMC Great Lakes Campus, TC. Presented by Northwest Michigan Works!. 60 area employers will discuss open positions. Free to students & community members. All participants required to wear a mask. nmc.edu/career-fair

---------------------PARALLEL 45 THEATRE READING SERIES: EVERYBODY: 6-8pm, Historic Barns Park, Cathedral Barn, TC. Enjoy this reading of Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins’ play, a modern adaptation of the 15th century morality play, The Summoning of Everyman. $5-$50 donation suggested. mynorthtickets.com/ events/everybody-a-play-reading-presented-by-parallel-45-theatre-3-3-2022

---------------------INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY POPULAR MUSIC ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Enjoy a program of favorite pop & rock tunes including spirited covers of popular tunes spanning several decades & genres. $9, $12. interlochen.org

---------------------NWS: ALICIA OLATUJA - INTUITION: SONGS FROM THE MINDS OF WOMEN: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. Praised by the New York Times as “a singer with a strong and luscious tone and an amiably regal presence on stage.” Her new album includes songs of Brenda Russell, Sade, Tracy Chapman, Kate Bush, Angela Bofill & Linda Creed. $40, $30; students, $15. cityoperahouse.org/node/410 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

mar 04

friday

HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

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VIRTUAL LUNCHEON LECTURE: HONEYBEES: Noon, held via Zoom. By helping bees flourish at the local level, beekeepers help ensure a prosperous future for the environment. Beekeeper Anne Morningstar provides insights into the lifecycle of one of the world’s most valuable species. Pre-register. Free. ncmclifelonglearning.com/events

---------------------“SING! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS ON ICE”: 7pm, Centre ICE Arena, TC. Presented by the Traverse City Figure Skating Club. A high-energy show featuring music from big screen & Broadway favorites “High School Musical,” “Sing!”, “Hairspray” & “Grease.” $18. mynorthtickets.com

---------------------JAZZ ORCHESTRA & JAZZ COMBOS: BYRD IN FLIGHT: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Corson Auditorium. Join the Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Orchestra & Jazz Combo for an evening of music

by Donald Byrd. Under the direction of acclaimed jazz trumpeter Josh Lawrence. $14 full price; $11 student. interlochen.org/ events/jazz-orchestra-and-jazz-combosbyrd-in-flight-2022-03-04

---------------------RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

mar 05

saturday

PUPPET ADVENTURES / A FREE PUPPET SHOW: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center.

Join Jack on an adventure up the magical beanstalk to the Giant’s castle. Jack learns that doing your part & following your heart makes dreams come true. A workshop using paper materials to create characters & animation techniques will take place after the show, starting at 2pm. Register in advance for the workshop. All children must be accompanied by an adult. glenarborart.org/events

---------------------HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------MARDI GRAS ON THE MOUNTAIN: 11am, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Featuring food, live music, find the Crystal Mountain Court Jester skiing on the mountain, OnSlope Scavenger Hunt, Annual Costume Contest, & more. crystalmountain.com/ event/mardi-gras

---------------------“SING! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS ON ICE”: (See Fri., March 4, except today’s times are 11:30am & 4:30pm.)

---------------------BOYNE COUNTRY SPORTS HIGHLANDER FRIENDS & FAMILY RACE: 11:30am, Boyne Highlands Resort, Harbor Springs. highlandsharborsprings.com/friends_and_family

---------------------15TH ANNUAL SUDS & SNOW: 1-6pm, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, TC. An afternoon filled with beer, wine & cider, food sampling from local restaurants & food trucks, & snowshoeing. This year’s theme is 80’s Ski Bum. Enjoy a half-mile hike to the backwoods where the event will take place. $40-$70. eventbrite.com/e/suds-snow2022-tickets-216034162997

---------------------ROBERT EMMET HOOLIE: 6pm, City Park Grill, Petoskey. Featuring Kennedy’s Kitchen, a touring band well known for its Celtic music. Over the past 15 years, the Hoolie has been the major source of funding for the Robert Emmet Society’s annual scholarship. A special Irish-themed menu is planned by the restaurant. $25, $20, $15. robertemmetsociety.org

---------------------BENEFIT PERFORMANCE: MUSIC FOR HOPE: 7:30pm, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Dendrinos Chapel & Recital Hall. Join Interlochen Arts Academy students & faculty for a night of inspiration as they bring light to the darkness of cancer. Music for Hope is a free concert & no tickets are needed. Donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are greatly appreciated. interlochen.org/events/benefitperformance-music-for-hope-2022-03-05

---------------------FLY FISHING FILM TOUR: 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. The 2022 show will feature locations from Costa Rica, Hawaii, Maryland, Belize, Louisiana, Alabama, Australia, Colombia & beyond. $20 adults; $17 10-17; free under 10. cityoperahouse.org/ node/428

---------------------RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------LOCASH: 8pm, Little River Casino Resort, Manistee. This duo made up of Chris Lucas & Preston Brust combine modern country & classic heartland rock. Their hits include “I Love This Life,” “I Know Somebody” & “Ring on Every Finger.” Two free tickets. lrcr.com/ event-calendar/concerts/locash

---------------------THORNETTA DAVIS: 8pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC.

Crowned “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues” in 2015, international singer songwriter Thornetta Davis has won over 30 Detroit Music Awards. $25 members, $30 advanced, $33 door. dennosmuseum.org

mar 06

sunday

RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS OF NO. MI CROSS COUNTRY SKI/SNOWSHOEING MEET-UP: 10am, Lake Ann State Forest Campground. Communicate if you need to borrow equipment or have equipment to loan someone else.

Layer, bring water & a snack lunch. Meet at the parking lot before you enter the campground (see map). Questions? Contact Kama: rpcv.nm@gmail.com. Free. rpcv-nm. peacecorpsconnect.org

---------------------HARBOR SPRINGS AREA SPRING RESTAURANT WEEK: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA: (See Sat., Feb. 26)

---------------------ANIMAL ANTICS: WHERE THE WILD STRINGS ARE!: 3pm, City Opera House, TC. Featuring the TSO Civic String Ensembles, Kids Commute host Kate Botello, artwork by students from the Pathfinder School, young dancer Gus Baldyga & more.

Free. cityoperahouse.org/node/431

---------------------JAZZ (LATE) BRUNCH W/ JEFF HAAS TRIO & LAURIE SEARS & THE NMC JAZZ BIG BAND: 3pm, The GT Circuit, TC. Wine from Chateau Chantal & food from The Good Bowl. Masks required. $20 suggested donation.

---------------------TIME OUT: 3-5pm, Old Art Building, Leland.

A songwriters-in-the-round concert with The Accidentals, Kim Richey, Beth Nielsen Chapman & Maia Sharp. $30; $100 VIP. mynorthtickets.com/events/time-out-w-theaccidentals-kim-richey-beth-nielsen-chapman-maia-sharp-3-6-2022

---------------------KENNEDY’S KITCHEN: 4pm, The Bay Theatre, Suttons Bay. This sextet from South Bend, Indiana is all family & friends who gather every Thurs. for dinner, laughter & music that is rooted in traditional Irish music, jigs, reels, hornpipes, aires, recitations, stories & songs. They have averaged 80 shows per year & have recorded five CDs, with a sixth one on the way. $25. thebaytheatre.com

ongoing

GTCD ANNUAL NATIVE SEEDLING SALE: Presented by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. Offering more than 25 high-quality, bare-root tree & shrub species. This year’s selection includes four Michigan Assisted Tree Range Expansion Project (ATREP) species to support Climate Change resilience in our forests. The sale runs through March 31 with order pickups at the Boardman River Nature Center on April 29-30. natureiscalling.org/nativeseedling-sale

---------------------BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Fridays, 9am-1pm, Downtown Bellaire.

Held at two locations: Bee Well & Terrain.

Produce, eggs, meats, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, local artists, crafts, & more.

INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato corridor in Building 50, TC. thevillagetc.com

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 15

art

PAPERCRAFTS BY BETH SHUSTER: Alden District Library. Runs March 2-30. 231331-4318.

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

CUSTOM TILE FOR YOUR HOME

“LOVE LANGUAGE”: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Twenty artist group show. Runs through March 14. higherartgallery.com

---------------------FEBRUARY VISUAL ART EXHIBIT: AFFECTED BY COLOR: City Opera House, TC. Featuring the work of Mitch Truemner & Jacquie Auch. Can be viewed during box office hours, M-F, 10am-5pm, or before an event. Works include oil & acrylic paintings that incorporate splashes of warm color & cool hues, & a series of graphite portraits on paper. cityoperahouse.org

---------------------WOOD + METAL: Charlevoix Circle of Arts.

Runs through Feb. 26. Contemporary fine art meets functionality with Michigan artists: Laura Earle, Dawson Moore, Paul Rytlewski & Richard Small. charlevoixcircle.org/exhibits-2022

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

GIFTS • ART TILE JEWELRY • POTTERY Enjoy “Sip & Shop” 1st Saturdays of each month!

Open Year Round in Alden, Michigan Shop our online store! www.whistlingfrog.net

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOSKEY: - NCMC STUDENT SHOW: Runs through April 9 in Atrium Gallery. This annual exhibition recognizes the work of NCMC students. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/ncmc-student-show - OPEN DOORS: A JURIED EXHIBITION: Runs through March 5 in Gilbert Gallery.

This juried exhibition invites artists across the nation to consider themes related to openness & accessibility. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/open-doors-juried-exhibition - THIS IS HOME: A REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION: Runs through March 5 in Bonfield Gallery. This juried exhibition invites artists working throughout the Great Lakes region to consider themes related to the concept of home. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-petoskey/home-juried-exhibition

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

For This

Exact Moment

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, TC: - 2022 GUILD MEMBER SALON SHOW: Runs through Feb. 26, held in Gallery. A diverse assortment of work in a variety of media will be on display. crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/2022-guild-member-salon-show - TRAVERSE AREA CAMERA CLUB COMPETITION SHOW: Runs through Feb. 26 in Carnegie Rotunda. This recurring exhibition highlights award-winning photographs produced by members of the Traverse Area Camera Club (TACC). crookedtree.org/ event/ctac-traverse-city/traverse-area-camera-club-competition-show

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

Enhanced Psychiatric Urgent Care for Adults.

When life becomes overwhelming, you can get same-day help. Experts at our Psychiatric Urgent Care Center are available daily for walk-in and virtual appointments. Call 616.455.9200 today!

pinerest.org/urgent • 616.455.9200

16 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC: - COLOR & SHAPE: BLACK ARTISTS FROM THE DENNOS COLLECTION: This exhibit of works by Black American artists highlights the growing legacy of this collection. Comprising 70 years of artistic prowess, the collection ranges from abstract painting to figurative drawing & digital photography. Artists include Charles McGee, Carole Harris, Felrath Hines & Dex Jones.

On view through April 3, Tues. - Sun. from 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/nowon-view/temporary-exhibits/color-shape. html - NWMI JURIED EXHIBITION: The 2022 NWMI Regional Juried Exhibition submissions comprised 388 artworks from 217 artists throughout the 37-county region. The final juried show features 94 artworks from 83 artists, with media ranging from charcoal, watercolor, & acrylics to aluminum, wood, fiber, & more. Held regularly at the Museum for 30 years, the exhibition fea-

tures art made by regional artists over the last year & juried by an arts professional outside of the region. On view through May 29, every Tues. - Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/now-on-view/temporaryexhibits/nwmi-juried-exhibition.html - NATHALIE MIEBACH EXHIBITION: Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Miebach’s exhibition, “Stay Healthy and Strong,” features new installations & sculptures that she completed during a 2021 residency at the Ucross Foundation in Sheridan, Wyoming.

It explores climate data & COVID trends through art. Runs through May 29. Open Tues. through Sun. from 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/?utm_source=cision&utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=DMC-Nathalie-Miebach - THE ART OF: DEL MICHEL: Michel has participated in competitive & invitational exhibitions throughout the U.S. & has won many prizes. He has been selected for seven international exhibitions & is represented in numerous private, corporate, & university & museum collections throughout the U.S., Europe & Mexico. On view through April 3, Tues. - Sun, 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum. org/art/now-on-view/temporary-exhibits/ del-michel.html

---------------------GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER: - “PAPERWORK”: Runs through March 24.

This exhibition focuses on works on paper, & works made of paper. It features the work of 21 artists from throughout Michigan, Massachusetts, Missouri, & the nation of Chile.

Check web site for hours. glenarborart.org/ events/paperwork-exhibition - “WOODLAND STUDIES”: A small exhibition of black & white photographs by Grand Rapids photographer Rodney Martin. It runs through April 13 in the Lobby Gallery. Martin focuses his lens on the landscape. For the images in “Woodland Studies,” he zeros in on rivers, woods & orchards in Benzie, Grand Traverse & Leelanau counties. See web site for hours. glenarborart.org/events/ exhibit-woodland-studies

Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.

Grand Traverse & Kalkaska DELAMAR, TC ARTISAN WATERFRONT RESTAURANT & TAVERN: 2/27 -- Rhett & John, 6-9 LOWER LOBBY: 2/26 -- Drew Hale, 7-10 FRESH COAST BEER WORKS, TC 3/4 -- Jesse Jefferson, 6-9 GT CIRCUIT, TC 3/6 -- Jazz (Late) Brunch w/ Jeff Haas Trio & Laurie Sears & The NMC Jazz Big Band, 3

Fri. – Live music Sun. -- Karaoke - Shooting Star Entertainment, 8 TC COMEDY CLUB, TC 2/25 -- Comedy w/ Andy Beningo, 7:30 2/26 -- Comedy w/ Andy Beningo, 7 THE PARLOR, TC 8-11: 2/26 -- Jim Hawley & Friends 3/1 -- Jesse Jefferson 3/2 -- Wink Solo 3/3 -- Jimmy Olson 3/4 -- Chris Sterr 3/5 -- Dave Crater

LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC THE BARREL ROOM: 2/28 -- Barrels & Beats w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9

THE WORKSHOP BREWING CO., TC 2/26 -- DJ Ras Marco D, 12-2pm;

LIL BO, TC Thurs. – Jazz w/ Larz Cabot, 6-9

Stonefolk, 7pm 2/28 -- Vinyl Lovers w/ Eugene’s Record Co-op, 7 3/1 -- Open Mic, 7 3/2 -- Jazz Show, 6 3/4 -- Dig A Pony, Beatles Tribute Band, 7 3/5 -- DJ Ras Marco D, 12-2

nitelife

feb 26- mar 06 edited by jamie kauffold

Send Nitelife to: events@traverseticker.com

THIRSTY FISH SPORTS GRILLE, TC Tues. -- Trivia, 7-9 UNION STREET STATION, TC 2/25-26 -- One Hot Robot, 10 Sun. -- Karaoke, 10 2/28 -- Jukebox, 10 3/1 -- Open Mic Comedy, 8-9:30; Electric Open Mic, 10-2 3/2 -- Skin & Marshall, 10 3/4 & 3/5 -- Biomassive, 10

Antrim & Charlevoix HELLO VINO, BELLAIRE 2/26 -- Doc Woodward, 7-9 PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY 3/2 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

SHORT’S BREW PUB, BELLAIRE 2/26 -- The Real Ingredients, 8-10:30 2/27 & 3/6 -- Sunday Vibes Sessions w/ Local DJs, 2-5 3/1 -- Open Mic Night, 7-10

3/5 -- Dig A Pony, 8-10:30 Northern Michigan musicians join forces to create Dig A Pony, a Beatles-tribute band who covers the entire span of the band’s career. On Fri., March 4 they play The Workshop Brewing Company, TC at 7pm; followed by Short’s Brew Pub in Bellaire on Sat., March 5, along with special guest Charlie Millard on keyboards from 8-10:30pm. The Workshop also offers Beatles trivia on Thurs., March 3 at 7pm.

Leelanau & Benzie

Otsego, Crawford & Central ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD 3/4 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6

BENNETHUM’S NORTHERN INN, GAYLORD 3/1 -- Randy Reszka, 5-8

BIG BUCK BREWERY, GAYLORD 2/26 -- Jeff Greif, 6-9

Emmet & Cheboygan BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY 2/26 -- Pete Kehoe, 6 2/27 -- Celtic/Traditional Irish Session, 5 3/5 -- Greg Vadnais Jazz Trio, 6 3/6 -- Drawbridge Uke Band, 5 BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY 2/26 & 3/5 -- Michelle Chenard, 2-6 CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY 3/5 -- Irish Hoolie Celebration w/ Kennedy’s Kitchen & Local Celtic Artists, 6-10

MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR 2/26 -- Eric Jaqua, 7-10 ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY VICTORIES: 2/26 -- Stonehengz, 10 THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN 2/26 -- Ron Getz, 7-9 3/3 -- Habitat for Humanity Event feat. Sam Schneider, 7-9 3/4 -- Ricci & Dylan, 8-10 3/5 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10

THE HIGHLANDS AT HARBOR SPRINGS, HARBOR SPRINGS SLOPESIDE LOUNGE: 3/5 -- Chris Calleja, 8 ZOO BAR: 4: 2/26 – The Remedee 3/5 – Pete Kehoe

CICCONE VINEYARD & WINERY, SUTTONS BAY Thu -- SnowGood Thursdays w/ Open Mic, 6-9 CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, THOMPSONVILLE SLOPESIDE TENT, NEAR CRYSTAL CLIPPER CHAIRLIFT: 3-5: 2/26 -- Boone Doggies 3/5 -- Chris Smith VISTA LOUNGE: 2/26 -- Luke Woltanski, 2-5; Offbeat Band, 8-11 3/4 -- Johnny P Band, 8-11

3/5 -- Johnny P, 2-5 & Johnny P Band, 8-11 DICK’S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1 FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARDS, CEDAR 3/3 -- Live Music, 4-6:30 LAKE ANN BREWING CO. 2/26 -- Pat Niemisto & Chris Skellenger, 6:30-9:30

ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH 6-9: 2/26 -- Blake Elliott 3/4 -- Bill Frary 3/5 -- Luke Woltanski STORMCLOUD BREWING FRANKFORT 7-9: 2/26 -- Meg Gunia 3/5 -- Jason Dean

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Manistee, Wexford & Missaukee LITTLE RIVER CASINO RESORT, MANISTEE 3/5 -- LOCASH, 8

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Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 17

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CURRENT EXHIBITS IN THE GAAC GALLERIES

works ON PAPER works ABOUT PAPER through APRIL 13

RODNEY MARTIN: Woodland Studies

A series of b&w photographs of iconic northern Michigan.

FIND ALL THE DETAILS:

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WITH THE SUPPORT OF National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Amy L. Clark-Carels Family Fund, Image 360, Northwoods Hardware, Leelanau Enterprise

ARTS FESTIVAL SUMMER 2022

If you’re anything like me, chances are that between an incredibly delayed release almost three years in the making (first, production issues; then COVID; then the cast miring themselves in controversies ranging from anti-vax sentiments to sexual misconduct) and, finally, rumors that director Kenneth Branagh demanded the film be released after 2022 Oscar voting concluded to prevent impacting the Oscar chances for his other film, Belfast, you probably wrote off Death on the Nile as dead on arrival.

But the sequel to Branagh’s star-powered yet lackluster adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express somehow manages to exceed not only his Orient Express but also our expectations.

For Death on the Nile, Branagh assembles another cavalcade of stars that includes Annette Bening, Gal Gadot, and Russell Brand for an old-fashioned murder mystery, one where the hero’s superpowers are of the mind, of nuance, of observation. Branagh returns to the role of the iconic Hercule Poirot and even gives him a backstory that is little more than a poor facsimile of Sam Mendes’ 1917 and an origin story for a mustache. But don’t let this half-hearted prologue deter you.

Once we finally, and slowly, are introduced to the film’s cast of players, things do get back on track. Moving from World War I to 1937, the audience is introduced to the glamorous heiress Linnet Ridgeway (Gadot), who has impulsively married the fiancé (Armie Hammer) of one of her best friends (relative newcomer Emma Mackey, looking like a budget Lily James, but proving herself to be much more).

AIR SUPPLY | JULY 9, 2022

BONNIE RAITT | JULY 23, 2022

tickets.interlochen.org 18 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

With such spur of the moment nuptials, the occasion calls for a grand honeymoon party, and Poirot crosses paths with the group in Cairo when running in to his rakish friend Bouc (Tom Bateman), who is a guest on said honeymoon trip and accompanied by his widowed mother (Bening). The introduction of Poirot to the group proves fortuitous; the former friend/fiancé of the happy couple is now stalking them, and Linnet is haunted by a suspicion she is in grave danger.

Also traveling in the party are Linnet’s heiress-turned-socialist godmother (Jennifer Saunders) and her dutiful nurse,

(Dawn French, yes an Ab Fab reunion); Linnet’s French lady’s maid (a bizarrely underused Rose Leslie); the gentleman doctor (Russell Brand) Linnet used to love; Linnet’s shady finance/lawyer, who is also a dear family friend; and the famous Blues singer Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo), whose niece/manager (Letitia Wright) is old friends with Linnet.

They all board a luxury steamer, the Karnak, and head down the Nile. It isn’t exactly a quick process to introduce all these characters and their various backstories, jealousies, grudges, and connections to one another, but it does prove a worthwhile endeavor in the end. So when the titular death on the Nile does finally occur, the stakes feel higher than in Orient Express.

You’re far more emotionally involved in all of the characters and victims. And the twists and turns that follow are genuinely satisfying.

With its strange mélange of accents, I would say Death on the Nile doesn’t offer as strong or as dazzling of a cast as its predecessor (and this is regardless of Hammer, Wright, and Gadot’s various controversies). In fact, I would even say Hammer’s casting almost works to the character’s favor in this sexier than anticipated adaptation.

But what the cast lacks in razzle-dazzle, this film makes up for with its glamorous and alluring setting and stunning costumes, design, and vistas. And with its dramatic flourishes and eye-candy-cheesy CGI, Branagh leans into the glossy and grand spectacle of it all. He gives the people the enjoyable entertainment that they want, but he doesn’t give much more.

So while I wouldn’t exactly be against another Branaugh-driven outing, at this point it just feels moot. Like the retro vibe the film was going for, Death on the Nile was a pleasant and charming distraction that doesn’t exactly feel particularly relevant or necessary. It takes Agatha Christie’s story, but other than adding some diversity and other slight tweaks, doesn’t do accomplish anything all that interesting. So while this will prove quite palatable to the whodunit lover in all of us, it can’t help but make you realize the whodunit sequel really worth waiting for will be Knives Out 2!

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Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 19

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Heavy Settle

Q

Q

: Female, 25, straight, single, and looking for a boyfriend on dating apps, as are my female friends. We’re all wondering what’s with these guys who post profile photos of themselves lying across the hood of a Lamborghini with their ridiculous greased abs on display. It’s like the opposite of cool; it’s immature and ostentatious and clueless and tacky. Seriously, is there reasoning behind this behavior? My friends all agree it’s a major turnoff.

— Grossed Out

A

: There’s this notion (held by some men as well as some feminists) that men and women are just people with different funparts and “What men want, women want.” Um, no. Note that you never hear dudes complaining to the bros, “Eew! So gross!” about getting unsolicited boob pics -- first, because they never get them, but if they did, it’d be like they caught the boobie leprechaun with the pot of nymphomaniac hotties at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Workshop Brewing Co 221 Garland St Traverse City traversecityworkshop.com

Women seeking a relationship tend to be turned off by the conspicuous display of abs (versus a guy “inconspicuously” showing he’s fit), and the display of the sick-expensive car is likewise a fail.

Social psychologist Jill M. Sundie and her colleagues find a man’s motivation to engage in “conspicuous consumption” -flashy, wastefully extravagant displays of wealth -- is triggered by “short-term mating goals.” In plain English: “Yeah, he wants a lasting relationship -- lasting from about 3 a.m. to sunup.”

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20 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly

BY Amy Alkon

Women read this signal loud and clear -- which is why you boyfriend-seeking ladies are “grossed out.” Guys will counter, “But wait...women like men with money!”

Well, yeah, but there’s some nuance to that.

Women seeking more than a three-hour sex tour are primed by evolution to find a man who’ll “invest” -- and not just in his “baby” (aka his 911 Turbo S): “Dylan, buddy, I know you need your tumor removed, but Daddy’s rims are almost six months old!”

By the way, these flashy car pics could even be a fail for a guy hoping to target the hookuperellas on an app, because they often signal he’s a liar. Twenty-two years old and ab-splayed across the hood of a Ferrari? The ladies know exactly what to look for. Yep...just zoom in on the photo for the clip-on bow tie and balled-up polyester valet vest -- right behind the back wheel of LeBron’s car.

: I’m a guy who falls into relationships too easily, ending up with women I’m not particularly interested in. I thought I had discriminating taste, but obviously my relationship track record says otherwise. How can I grow up and stop being so impulsive?

— Disturbed

A

: You’re far from alone. People will insist they’re highly “discriminating” in choosing partners -- and then move in with somebody on the third date. They, of course, portray this as the height of romance -- when it’s really the height of “Hello?! You barely know this person... were you dropped on your head as a baby?”

We humans have a powerful longing to be in a long-term love thing, and probably because of that, we’re far less choosy about romantic partners than we believe we are -- at every stage of a relationship. Social psychologist Samantha Joel finds we have a GO! GO! GO! bias in romantic relationships: a strong tendency to make decisions that move a relationship forward -- from the first night we meet our soon-to-be beloved to the 615th time they go all human nightmare on us.

People find all sorts of reasons to stay when every molecule of sense they have is screaming “FLEE!” Being in love is, obviously, a biggie, as is fear of being single (and the stigma that can go along). Breakups also become “logistically difficult” when partners’ lives become “intertwined,” through marriage, moving in together, or merging their groups of friends.

As for you, understanding that falling in love is often the twin of falling in an open manhole is a start. In the early stages, take it slow -- and sober.

Meet for coffee for an hour, and have someplace to be afterward (and actually stick to that and vamoose). Avoid marathon calls and texts.

When you’re into somebody, see whether they’re a good fit by holding them up to your standards for a partner. All your standards.

Don’t just check the “she’s hot” box and crumple up the list.

Finally, in a world where we all experience harsh challenges every day, like the Uber driver arriving five minutes late, it’s easier than ever for people to contain their worst qualities. It might take you a year to know someone’s true character. This suggests it’s wise to hold off on “entwinements” (like sharing a pad) till you’ve seen enough to answer the unfun questions, such as, “Hmm...what’s the likelihood I’ll end up emotionally and financially eviscerated and then dumped in a ditch to be picked apart by buzzards?”

lOGY

FEB 28- MARCH 06

BY ROB BREZSNY

PISCES (Feb 19-March 20):

Pastor and activist Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) said, “All great discoveries are made by people whose feelings run ahead of their thinking.”

The approach worked well for him. In 1892, he discovered and exposed monumental corruption in the New York City government.

His actions led to significant reforms of the local police and political organizations. In my astrological opinion, you should incorporate his view as you craft the next chapter of your life story. You may not yet have been able to fully conceive of your future prospects and labors of love, but your feelings can lead you to them.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Comedian Fred Allen observed, “It is probably not love that makes the world go around, but rather those mutually supportive alliances through which partners recognize their dependence on each other for the achievement of shared and private goals.” That’s an unromantic thing to say, isn’t it? Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s very romantic, even enchanting, to exult in how our allies help us make our dreams come true—and how we help them make their dreams come true. In my astrological opinion, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to focus on the synergies and symbioses that empower you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “It’s never

too late to have a happy childhood!” declare many self-help gurus. “It’s never too early to start channeling the wise elder who is already forming within you,” declare I. Oddly enough, both of these guiding principles will be useful for you to meditate on during the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re in an unusually good position to resurrect childlike wonder and curiosity. You’re also poised to draw stellar advice from the Future You who has learned many secrets that the Current You doesn’t know yet. Bonus: Your Inner Child and your Inner Elder could collaborate to create a marvelous breakthrough or two.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “A myriad

of modest delights constitute happiness,” wrote poet Charles Baudelaire. That will be a reliable formula for you in the coming weeks, Sagittarius.

You may not harvest any glorious outbreaks of bliss, but you will be regularly visited by small enchantments, generous details, and useful tweaks. I hope you won’t miss or ignore some of these nurturing blessings because you’re fixated on the hope of making big leaps. Be grateful for modest delights.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I found

out some fun facts about renowned Capricorn poet Robert Duncan (1919–1988), who was a bohemian socialist and trailblazing gay activist.

He was adopted by Theosophical parents who chose him because of his astrological make-up.

They interpreted Robert’s dreams when he was a child. Later in life, he had an affair with actor Robert De Niro’s father, also named Robert, who was a famous abstract expressionist painter. Anyway, Capricorn, this is the kind of quirky and fascinating information I hope you’ll be on the lookout for. It’s time to seek high entertainment as you expedite your learning; to change your fate for the better as you gather interesting clues; to be voraciously curious as you attract stimulating influences that inspire you to be innovative.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): ): “I always strive, when I can, to spread sweetness and light,” said P. G. Wodehouse. “There have been several complaints about it.” I know what he means. During my own crusade to express crafty, discerning forms of optimism, I have enraged many people. They don’t like to be reminded that thousands of things go right every day. They would rather stew in their disgruntlement and cynicism, delusionally imagining that a dire perspective is the most intelligent and realistic stance. If you’re one of those types, Aquarius, I have bad news for you: The coming weeks will bring you invitations and opportunities to cultivate a more positive outlook. I don’t mean that you should ignore problems or stop trying to fix what needs correction. Simply notice everything that’s working well and providing you with what you need. For inspiration, read my essay: tinyurl.com/HighestGlory

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “I not only bow to

the inevitable,” wrote Aries author Thornton Wilder.

“I am fortified by it.” Wow. That was a brazen declaration. Did he sincerely mean it? He declared that he grew stronger through surrender, that he derived energy by willingly giving in to the epic trends of his destiny. I don’t think that’s always true for everyone. But I suspect it will be a useful perspective for you in the coming weeks, Aries.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Vive la différence!

Hooray for how we are not alike! I am all in favor of cultural diversity, neurodiversity, spiritual diversity, and physical diversity. Are you? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to celebrate the bounties and blessings that come your way because of the holy gift of endless variety.

The immediate future will also be a perfect phase to be extra appreciative that your companions and allies are not the same as you. I encourage you to tell them why you love how different they are. Now here’s poet Anna Akhmatova to weave it together: “I breathe the moonlight, and you breathe the sunlight, but we live together in the same love.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini singer-

songwriter Bob Dylan said, “I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”

I think that will be a key theme for you in the coming weeks. Dylan described the type of hero I hope you aspire to be. Be alert! You are on the cusp of an invigorating liberation. To ensure you proceed with maximum grace, take on the increased responsibility that justifies and fortifies your additional freedom.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): “I’d rather be seduced than comforted,” wrote author Judith Rossner. What about you, Cancerian? Do you prefer being enticed, invited, drawn out of your shell, and led into interesting temptation? Or are you more inclined to thrive when you’re nurtured, soothed, supported, and encouraged to relax and cultivate peace? I’m not saying one is better than the other, but I urge you to favor the first in the coming weeks: being enticed, invited, drawn out of your shell, and led into interesting temptation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A woman from Cornwall,

UK, named Karen Harris was adopted as a little girl.

At age 18, she began trying to track down her biological parents. Thirty-four years later, she was finally reunited with her father. The turning point: He appeared on the “Suggested Friends” feature on her Facebook page. I propose we make Karen Harris your inspirational role model. Now is a favorable time to find what you lost a while ago; to re-link with a good resource that disappeared from your life; to reclaim a connection that could be meaningful to you again.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Buddhist teacher

Chögyam Trungpa told us, “Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquility.” Instead, he said that meditation is how we “expose and undo our neurotic games, our selfdeceptions, our hidden fears and hopes.” Excuse me, Mr. Trungpa, but I don’t allow anyone, not even a holy guy like you, to dictate what meditation is and isn’t. Many other spiritual mentors I’ve enjoyed learning from say that meditation can also be a discipline to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, and tranquility. And I suspect that’s what Virgo meditators should emphasize in the coming weeks. You people are in a phase when you can cultivate extraordinary encounters with that all fun stuff. If you’re not a meditator, now would be a good time to try it out. I recommend the books Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield and How to Meditate by Pema Chödrön.

“Jonesin” Crosswords "Director's Cut"--where do we go from here? by Matt Jones

ACROSS 1. Fashion mogul von Furstenberg 6. “And Winter Came...” singer 10. Sound-boosting devices 14. “Citizen Kane” director Welles 15. “High” places for pirates 16. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” group ___ Men 17. “Hairspray” director 19. Laugh-and-a-half 20. Like tough push-ups 21. Matriarch 23. Suffix after Insta- or auto26. Groups of quail 27. Arm muscle, informally 30. In addition 32. Uncompressed audio file format 33. Folk singer Phil 34. Flautist Jean-Pierre ___ 36. HRE part 39. “___ is me!”

40. Colorful writing implements 41. “Bill ___ Saves the World” (Netflix series) 42. Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter 43. Birds, formally 44. “Heads up” abbr.

45. ___-One (“Sound of da Police” musician) 47. “___: Vegas” (rebooted TV series) 48. Actress Tyler of “Archer” 49. Become less intense 52. “Help!” co-star Ringo 54. Memorized perfectly 56. Fasteners that pop into place 60. Sandpaper quality 61. Neither wins nor loses 64. “Blues to the Bone” singer ___ James 65. Market order 66. “Dia de ___” (Shakira song) 67. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author Roald 68. Graded item 69. Extra you may have to ask for at some drivethrus (due to state laws)

DOWN 1. “Cobra Kai” school 2. Metal that can rust 3. NYC tennis stadium namesake 4. Obscure people 5. Swaddle 6. Yearbook superlatives ender 7. “Born,” in a Wikipedia bio 8. Fabric shop purchase 9. NBA component?

10. Brand used to treat cold sores 11. Big-ticket items 12. Counterfeit 13. Appeases fully 18. CPA’s entry 22. Cat noises at night 24. Underscore alternative 25. What the circled letters represent 27. Former heavyweight champ Riddick 28. Picture that can be dragged 29. Consults 31. “Let’s see what you got!”

34. Minister, for short 35. Ques. response 37. Ancient legend 38. “CHiPS” remake actor Michael 40. Fill the tank 44. Circulatory conduit 46. Apartment, typically 48. Comes to light 49. Having a border 50. Principal artery 51. “Blue Ribbon” beer brand 53. Vessel boarded by pairs 55. Sloth’s hangout 57. Loving or lasting leader?

58. Part of TB 59. Lots of it was created for the Beijing Olympics 62. South African golf legend Ernie 63. ___-newsweekly (paper you might be holding)

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 21

NORTHERN EXPRESS

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Serving Grand Traverse and other Northern Michigan Counties. Call to find out more. _____________________________________ BRIGHTSTAR CARE OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN: Looking for compassionate caregivers for full and part time opportunities in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie Counties. Call 231-929-7827 or sondra.gee@ brightstarcare.com _____________________________________

PART TIME BOOKKEEPER Idea Stream is looking for a Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant to maintain financial records, including purchases, sales, receipts and payments. This person will process accounts payable and receivable, including generating monthly invoices and work closely with both the accountant and the owner. Ideal candidates are familiar with QuickBooks accounting software, detailed oriented, and can provide administrative support in a well-organized and timely manner. Opportunity to work remotely upon training. Email beth@idea-stream.com _____________________________________ INVENTORY SPECIALIST / OFFICE SUPPORT STAFF Inventory Specialist / Office Support Staff for a design/build firm.

Must possess solid experience with inventory management, purchasing/procurement. Ability

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Full-time. Compensation commensurate with experience, skill set and education. cathy@adventureandfun.com _________________________________ FASHION ASSOCIATES NEEDED What to Wear and Liana’s are now hiring full & part-time associates. We offer competitive wages and a lively, fun work environment. Stop in or mail your resume today. whattowear126@gmail.com _________________________________ A FEW INCUBATOR KITCHEN TIME SLOTS REMAIN TC EAST Need a commercial kitchen to make food products to sell? buzzellifoods@gmail.com

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EatE VisitriEs ed

N OR TH

, 20 18 •

Mike Annelin

Enthusiastic & Experienced

Call Mike 231-499-4249 or 231-929-7900 G DIN N PE LE A S

15,000 sq. ft. office space in Copper Ridge business development Well-maintained, versatile office space $2,495,000 MLS# 1883032

LD SO

Stunning 4th floor condo, West Bay and Boardman River views 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,1816 sq. ft. Comes with 2 parking spaces $1,250,000 MLS# 1894116

ING ND E P LE SA

0.72 acres, corner of Carver & Hastings Zoned industrial, empty lot $850,000 MLS#1896772

Stunning 4 bed, 3.5 bath home with views on the OMP 500’ of shared frontage on East Bay $1,150,000 MLS# 1896502

LD SO

Charming 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,336 sq. ft. farmhouse 190’ shared waterfront access, West Bay views $700,000 MLS# 1895103

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LD SO

Nice condo next to Spruce Run golf course Short-term and long-term rentals allowed $175,000 MLS# 1895564

Northern Express Weekly • february 28, 2022 • 23

24 • february 28, 2022 • Northern Express Weekly