As the weather cools down and fall finally starts to begin, I usually am spending my time when I’m not at class or work outside with my dog. Me and Sophie have been inseparable since my girlfriend and I rescued her from a shelter about a year ago. She’s a Boxer/Lab and always knows how to cheer me up when I have a bad day.
As the weather cools down and fall finally starts to begin, I usually am spending my time when I’m not at class or work outside with my dog. Me and Sophie have been inseparable since my girlfriend and I rescued her from a shelter about a year ago. She’s a Boxer/Lab and always knows how to cheer me up when I have a bad day.
Christmas started a little bit early this year for some locals in the Mount Pleasant area. But they weren’t shopping at the local Walmart or Target; rather only from local small time business owners, all from Mount Pleasant.
Hundreds of people came out to the 2nd annual Santa’s Workshop Shopping Extravaganza this past Saturday at the Renaissance School from 9am to 3pm. There were sixty-seven different vendors and stands at the event; showcasing and selling a wide variety of items for people of all ages. There was food, various knick-knacks and trinkets, clothing, and even a few out-of-left-field attendees like a Christian religious rapper and even Pure Romance!
Along with the many vendors packed in the gym of the school and up and down the hallways, there was a professional caricature artist on hand to paint anyone. As well as free food for anyone attending, as well as giveaways like baskets from various Mount Pleasant stores and restaurants. Even Santa Clause himself and Mrs. Clause came to visit the younger attendees.
There was an abundance of things to do while at the event, and the people there all came for various reasons; whether they attended last year, came to support a vendor that they knew, or simply because it seemed like a fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon.
The event was sponsored by the group Keep Local 989, a group of local business owners and other proud community members. The group work together to support businesses that are just starting out in the local area as well as working to keep more known businesses thriving.
The owner of Keep Local 989, Sherry Polverente, was extremely thrilled even when the event was just starting that day.
“It’s just amazing being able to have this [the event] for another year in a row” said Polverente, “It has been the most exhausting event to organize so far, but I feel it will definitely be worth it”
The group has hosted many events in the Mount Pleasant area over the last few years, including most recently the annual Polar Plunge. They are probably most known for their Facebook page that is followed by many Mount Pleasant residents.
The page was made by Cathy Polverente, Sherry’s sister. Cathy is the web designer and marketer for Keep Local 989, as well as the owner of Barn Door Bar and Restaurant in Mount Pleasant.
“Being a business owner myself, I know how hard it can be to get and keep customers when you are first starting out.” said Cathy, “So when she [Sherry] came up with the idea [for the group] I was all for it!”
Cathy also came up with the idea for the Extravaganza after lots of brainstorming between the two girls.
“Community is a big deal to me.” said Cathy, “So the opportunity to do this seemed like a great idea for us and the rest of the town.”.
While they do not have the sales figures from the vendors after the event, they do not ask out of respect according to Sherry, the sisters can be proud of the fact that attendance from the event went up from about 400 last year to over 1,200 people this year.
It seems like Sherry’s feeling from earlier was right, the event was definitely worth it. And thankfully the girls didn’t manage the event all by themselves.
“We have had lots of volunteers for today, mainly from family and friends.” laughed Cathy, “keeps the husbands and the kids busy.”
To end this assignment, I would take a poll for the audience, and see what their opinions were about the origins of their hockey players.
I think it would be cool to end a story like this leaving it open to the public. A story like this would be for entertainment purposes, and closing it up with a question would be enjoyable to most reader.
http://www.timetoast.com/flash/TimelineViewer.swf?passedTimelines=1174241
For the timeline, I showed time stamps of the total number of players from Michigan from this season, last season, and then five year intervals before 2015. From a readers standpoint, it would be interesting to see how the number of homegrown talent has increased steadily in recent years.
For the chart, I researched all of the players and where they originate from. I thought that not only would it be interesting to compare the ratio from national/international players, as well as showing how diverse both of the teams are.
For this assignment, I thought it would be quick, easy, and interesting to do infographics on which of the players on the Detroit Red Wings and their minor league affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins were born and raised in Michigan.
I thought this would be a neat and easy piece from a journalistic standpoint, as fans love to hear about hometown boys (for example, that ad that always plays during games about Dekeyser and Glendening).
I started with the map. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t that many, the Red Wings have prided themselves over the years to be a team that relies on international talent, specifically European talent like in Sweden and Russia.
A group of five girls hosted a Knockerball tournament for their RPL 430 class. The event was sponsored by the Special Olympics and the head of Knockerball in Lansing provided equipment. But the biggest question remains.
What even is Knockerball? And how do you play it?
This past Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night, Central Michigan University was taken over by ghosts and ghouls!
This year was the 20th anniversary of the Legends of the Dark tour and over 800 people turned out over the three days to be scared and entertained. Here is a report of the event, created by me, Joe, and Isis.
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