Author: Ann Arbor Staff

Paddle down the Huron River this year for a trick-or-treating experience. The annual trick-or-treat paddle will take place on Oct. 16 at Gallup Canoe Livery. Guests are welcome to join in on the fun anytime between 12-5 p.m. Just make sure you arrive before the last boat leaves at 3 p.m. There is no pre-registration required for this event. The cost to participate is $22 per boat. All ages are welcome but children must be at least one year old to participate.  As you paddle down the river, be sure to watch out for witches, pirates, swamp monsters and other creatures along the way. These fun and spooky sightings will be found throughout the river, passing out candy to trick-or-treaters at various treat stations.  The fun does not end once…

My daughter’s eyes were filled with tears and my voice was louder than it needed to be. We were arguing over something trivial and small.  Or so I thought.  We had gone round and round about the homework she was struggling with. She was convinced she wouldn’t be able to do it, and I was confident she could if she just pushed through. It was a moment when I could see her potential more than she could. She felt like she was sinking, and all I saw was her refusal to stand up in the shallow water. After going round and round we were both exasperated. Heels dug in tight, I realized I needed to be the one to move first. All I could think was to ask a question:…

FedUp Ministries is a food truck service throughout Southeast Michigan designed to fight food insecurity by providing low-cost services and free nutritional-value meals to communities located in food deserts. Rev. Anna Taylor-McCants, co-founder of FedUp Ministries, states that all of FedUp’s foods are good, healthy, food-truck-style cuisine served with dignity. “We use elevated ingredients and try to avoid anything with chemicals in it," Taylor-McCants said. FedUp Ministries was created in June 2021, in partnership with Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. Fed-Up Ministries offer free meals Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m. at Ann Arbor’s West Park, 215 Chapin St., and from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Ypsilanti Transit Center, 220 Pearl St. Additionally, FedUp offers pop-up appearances that can be scheduled on their website.  “Our idea was to serve one free meal…

During his undergrad days, Eastern Michigan University English professor André F. Peltier wrote a poem about sci-fi icon Flash Gordon, which has since been lost to time.  However, Peltier, 48, of Ypsilanti, had an epiphany.  “When I started teaching science-fiction about 10 years ago, I realized that there isn't much sci-fi-based poetry, so I ended up writing a poem about "Star Wars." I'd never actually submitted my work anywhere until the beginning of quarantine and, since then, I've had nearly 200 poems published by various journals and magazines. After 1½ years of that, I made a New Year's resolution last year to get a book published this year.” The result is "Poplandia" (Alien Buddha Press $10.99), which debuted in August. “It's a collection of poetry dealing with pop culture. These…

Now that summer has officially ended, it’s the end of September and we’re into the Fall season of new movie releases.  The State and Michigan Theater offers advance screenings of three must see movies.  Actress turned director, Olivia Wilde, stars in "Don’t Worry Darling", her first feature since 2019s "Book Smart", in a sexy thriller that recalls "Gone Girl" and "The Stepford Wives." The film centers on a 1950’s housewife Alice (Florence Pugh, "Midsommar") and her husband Jack (played by superstar musician Harry Styles) as they move into a utopian, experimental community for men who work for the top-secret Victory project lead by Jack’s boss, a visionary corporate man by Chris Pine. It’s not a spoiler to say all is not as perfect as the town’s shiny veneer would have…

A rail project that began in 2011 has gained momentum, thanks to recent federal grant funding provided by the US Department of Transportation. Dubbed the A2TC Train, this commuter rail service has the potential to connect Ann Arbor to Traverse City, with stops in several small towns along the way. Jim Bruckbauer, transportation director at the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, has been working to make this transportation option a reality. “We, at Groundwork, are exploring the possibility of passenger train service along a state-owned and active set of tracks that run between southeast Michigan and Traverse City,” Bruckbauer said. “The line would reconnect mid and northern Michigan to the other rail lines in the state and help Michigan travelers have more options for getting around the state.” The Benefits…

Free Mom Hugs(FMH) is a national non-profit organization founded in 2018 that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community through education, visibility, and conversations. FMH attends LGBTQ+ events gleefully offering hugs, and positive affirmations to thousands.  Arleta Greer, vice president of the board of directors for Free Mom Hugs of Michigan, states that the beauty of FMH is in its dedication to advocating for LGBTQ+ youth. [caption id="attachment_797" align="alignright" width="225"] Photo Credit Arleta Greer.[/caption] “We offer parental support and love that people in the LGBTQ+ community do not get from their parents. You do not have to be a mom, to be a free mom hugger. Just be willing to meet them right where they are, listen to their stories, and give love," said Greer. “In this community, this younger generation is…

[caption id="attachment_781" align="alignleft" width="195"] Bill Morrison drew a spoof of the 2016 "Captain America: Civil War" movie poster, replacing the Marvel characters with characters from "The Simpsons" and "Futurama." Image courtesy of Morrison.[/caption] Award-winning cartoonist Bill Morrison knows a thing or two about satire.  An alumnus of Lincoln Park High School and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Morrison, 63, has worked on “The Simpsons” – prime-time TV’s longest-running sitcom and longest-running animated series – and has been editor-in-chief of “MAD Magazine.”  Morrison, who lives in St. Clair Shores with his wife Kayre, will be one of more than 100 vendors and authors at the inaugural Plymouth-Canton Bookfest. The Event will be held Sunday, Oct. 2 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex (PARC), located at…