Facebook: A Love/Hate Tale

HeidiMorriswithAndrew-cropped

There's an old Chicago tune that sings the sentiment "You're a hard habit to break,” and to dear old Facebook, I sing this sentiment to you. Let me set the stage for you. I'm not addicted to Facebook, but it was a constant unconscious habit deep in my soul. It was a simple click-by-click habit. Check email, than check Facebook to see what's going on. It didn't take up much of my time. It didn't steal me away from real life interactions. It was just the order in which I passed my time. I … [Read more...]

Paddle to the Symphony 2013

Hear the music from your canoe at Paddle to the Symphony - photo by Michael Dwyer

Paddle to the Symphony Online Registration Available until June 20 It’s not too late to register for this year’s Paddle to the Symphony event at Kensington Metropark. The Michigan Philharmonic returns for its third annual visit to perform “An American Salute,” a family-friendly concert on Friday, June 21 at 8:00 p.m. Participants paddle across Kent Lake from the North Martindale Picnic Shelter to the concert area set up at Maple Beach. Started nearly 20 years by Hostelling … [Read more...]

Travel Bloggers Trample Toronto

Toronto Nights - Photo by Michael Dwyer

Travel Bloggers Trample Toronto By Michael Dwyer The Impact on Toronto Over 13 hundred bloggers converged, in person, on the Canadian city that plays host to many world travelers. While that number of people in a giant city, with so many tourists floating around, will likely not be noticed on a large scale; it was sure noticeable to those in attendance of the TBEX (Travel Bloggers Exchange) Conference this past weekend. Toronto doubled the size of the event from one year ago in … [Read more...]

Vote on Cars, the New Way to Shop for a Car, with VIDEO

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There is a new way to shop for the right car. Vote on Cars is the creation of Rochester Hills resident, Matt Klein. Matt, his family and his friends combined their talents and time to design this peer-to-peer review website to match the buyer to the car. Shoppers want honest and authentic reviews of several cars. Instead of flipping through dozens of car magazines to see only a few like models reviewed, buyers now have the option to see people just like them, with their budget, test driving … [Read more...]

Oakdale Academy, The Choice for Classical Christian Education

OakdaleAcademy1

7 Reasons Why Oakdale Academy is the Best Educational Choice for Your Family At Oakdale Academy, your child will experience: 1.  A Christ-centered environment that supports the spiritual instruction by the family and the church. 2.  Rigorous academic standards that equip students and challenge them to reach their full potential. 3.  A curriculum focused on primary texts that emphasize character, truth, and wisdom. 4.  A student culture that promotes respect, humility, … [Read more...]

Memorial Day Parade in Rochester and Rochester Hills

Honor Memorial Day

Memorial Day Parade in Rochester and Rochester Hills By Michael Dwyer Decoration Day Memorial Day weekend is the traditional “kick off” to summer. It offers most Americans a three-day weekend to travel or relax. Some will take the family away on vacation for the long weekend and others will put their garden in and have a BBQ. First called Decoration Day following the American Civil War, Memorial Day (May 30) did not become an official holiday until 1971 when it was changed to … [Read more...]

The Good Person of Szechwan

Full Impact Theater

By Michael Dwyer The Good Person of Szechwan Bertolt Brecht wrote "The Good Person of Szechwan" between 1939 and 1943 while in exile from Germany during World War II. It made its debut on February 4, 1943, at the Schauspielhaus Zurich, in Zurich, Switzerland. Considered one of the best epic plays by Brecht because of its universal themes and the way it challenges the audience. The first English-language version of the play came to the United States in 1948 and the Brecht parable … [Read more...]

Boston Marathon Bombing April 15, 2013

CNN reports, "Two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction. The blasts threw people to the ground, killing two and injuring dozens. The Boston Globe reported that more than 100 people were being treated at area hospitals, including several children. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice," President Barack Obama vowed. Boston "is a tough and resilient … [Read more...]

Crime Files: Updates from the Rochester and Rochester Hills police departments

Thornton, D'Mario Darrell

Here are some of the latest crime updates from the Rochester Hills Police Department as well as a special report sent from the Troy Police Department. (As of Tuesday, Rochester PD has been rather quiet this week, Police Chief Steven Schettenhelm said.) Man on parole for CA home invasions arrested in Rochester Hills for string of 15-20 Michigan burglaries On Tuesday, March 26, officers from three different units arrested D’Mario Darrell Thornton, a 32-year-old Sterling Heights resident … [Read more...]

Rochester Writers Announce Contest Winners

Rochester Writers’ Conference Last fall, Rochester Writers held their fifth annual conference bringing together a variety of genres in fiction and non-fiction writing. They announced plans to run their first writing contest as a new component of the conference. Announced this week at the Freelance Marketplace writers’ group were the winners of the contest. Michael Dwyer, organizer of the conference, hosts the writers’ group. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month (except … [Read more...]