News & Notes - 4/19/23 Journal

Anton Art Center hosting “Familial(ar)” exhibition
MOUNT CLEMENS — The Anton Art Center presents “Familial(ar)” (pronounced ‘Familial, Familiar’), a new exhibition curated by artist JenClare Gawaran that explores multicultural identity as formed by immigration through visual art composition.

An artist and educator from metro Detroit, Gawaran is curating her first exhibition for the Anton Art Center and the center’s first premiere guest-curated event of 2023.

“I sought out artists who are either the first or second generation of families who immigrated to the United States in the mid-20th century or later,” Gawaran said in a statement. “Their work explores dualities of cultures, the evolution of cultural expectations and customs with each new generation, as well as roots and ties with their familial and current homelands. These themes are expressed through the imagery of relics, landscapes, portraiture or mementos of childhood.”

Artists were selected from across the United States to reflect on elements of their Cuban, Filipino, Iranian, Mexican, Turkmen and Ukrainian heritages in combination with their American cultural experiences across multiple artistic mediums.

“Familial(ar)” opens April 29 and closes May 26, with an opening reception and curator’s talk on Saturday, April 29, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the Anton Art Center’s second floor. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information visit theartcenter.org.

 

Wyandot students to sing at Tigers game
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Wyandot Middle School is taking students out to the ballgame later this month.

The Wyandot Middle School Eighth Grade Choir will sing the national anthem at the Saturday, April 29, game against the Baltimore Orioles. The game starts at 1 p.m., and $30 tickets can be found at chippewavalleyschools.org.

 

Advancing Macomb hosts inaugural community engagement summit
MACOMB COUNTY — Advancing Macomb is hosting its first-ever community engagement summit, “Love Where You Live,” on Friday, April 28, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Macomb Community College South Campus.

The event aims to inspire Macomb County leaders to consider innovative and emotionally engaging projects for their communities and to ignite future discussions about public-private partnerships that enhance quality of life and economic vitality.

Peter Kageyma, community development expert and grassroots engagement strategist, is the event’s keynote speaker. A panel discussion will be held with Andrew Blake, president and farmer at the Blake’s Family of Companies; Carolyn Bloodworth, executive director of the Consumers Energy Foundation; Phil Gilchrist, executive director of the Anton Art Center; and Dana Schmitt, president of the United Shore Professional Baseball League. WDIV Local 4 anchor and journalist Christy McDonald will moderate the panel.
General admission tickets for the event are $45 and may be purchased at advancingmacomb.com

 

Motor City Rockers going to playoffs
FRASER — Following an inaugural season with 30 wins and 18 losses and a $2-off fan appreciation night on April 15, the Motor City Rockers are going to the Federal Prospects Hockey League playoffs.

Tickets to the Rockers’ first playoff match at the Big Boy Arena at 7 p.m. on April 19 are $10.

Season tickets for 2024 are open, and the team is accepting $25 deposits. Anyone who puts a deposit down on tickets before April 19 will receive a free playoff ticket.

For more information about the team visit mcrockershockey.com.

 

Highland Park loses GLWA appeal
METRO DETROIT — The Michigan Supreme Court has rejected Highland Park’s request for an appeal of a 2022 ruling requiring the city to pay $24 million in water and sewer fees to the Great Lakes Water Authority.

Amounting to more than $56 million over the last 11 years, Highland Park’s debts to the GLWA were being shouldered by other communities using the authority’s services. In 2022, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled on a 2014 case filed by the city of Detroit and the GLWA that Highland Park must pay $21 million and $3 million in interest over its failure to fully pay water and sewer charges.

Highland Park turned to the Michigan Supreme Court for an appeal, but the court denied the request on Tuesday, April 4.

 

April is the Month of the Military Child
LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed April as the Month of the Military Child, which recognizes the important role military children play in supporting their families during deployments, relocations and other challenging circumstances.

According to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, there are more than 17,000 children of service members in Michigan who are directly affected by military deployment.

Local communities are encouraged to schedule activities in support of military children. That could include promoting the Month of the Military Child on websites along with links to resources for military families, special announcements at spring sporting events, or military-themed projects and observances at home or in schools.

The DMVA synchronizes strategic, legislative and fiscal initiatives designed to build and sustain military readiness, care and advocacy for veterans and cultivate purposeful partnerships. Branch operations include Michigan Veteran Homes, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, Army National Guard and Air National Guard which stand in support of the department’s mission to serve every member. For more information, visit michigan.gov/dmva.

 

Keep on truckin’
STATEWIDE — A new study reveals that Michigan is the safest state for truck drivers in the U.S.

The Simplex Group, a premier service provider for America’s trucking industry, analyzed 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The study measured the percentage of large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2022 compared to all fatal vehicle crashes per state to declare the state with the least percentage of truck incidents.

The study revealed that Michigan is the safest state for truck drivers on the road, as 4.72% of its fatal crashes involved large trucks. The state recorded 1,567 vehicles involved in life-threatening crashes, and 74 large trucks were recorded by the NHTSA.

“This research offers an interesting insight into which states are nearing the goal of making roads safer for truck drivers. It also highlights the states that might need to consider implementing more truck-safe road systems for drivers,” a Simplex spokesperson said in a prepared statement.  “According to the NHTSA, there have been 4,842 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in the past year, so this study could alert truck drivers to better prepare when journeying in these particular states.”