God’s love in action

I was privileged today to see Trinity Church’s monthly Food Pantry outreach in action today.  What a touching experience.  I attend Trinity, have written about this event and have followed it somewhat distantly.  But today was my first time actually seeing it.

If there is a way in which Trinity and her people show God’s love it’s through this outreach.  The church, partnered with Gleaners Food Bank, has been distributing about 300 or so food baskets one Saturday per month.  Estimates are that about 1,000 people are fed for one week by the food baskets.

What is really great is that families are invited into the church for hot food served at their table.  It was bitter-sweet to see the place packed and all the tables filled.  It’s awful that so many in our community need that kind of help, but it was great to see that they are getting the help.

Trinity, which is located at Gotfredson and Ann Arbor Road, will continue this outreach on a monthly basis.  If you have questions about it feel free to call  734-459-9557.  Look for posting in Detroit Craigslist or check this blog for information.  I will try to remember to keep up-to-date on that ministry.

Clive Owen, David Schwimmer, et al in town to film Trust

Shooting for a David Schwimmer-directed film, Trust, starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener, started tonight in town.  It will resume from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning and pick up again after Thanksgiving.

http://www.freep.com/article/20091117/ENT01/91117068/1320/Trust-us-Plymouth-streets-to-close-for-movie

Friends of mine have already gone downtown to do some stargazing and they’re posting pictures on Facebook.  Pretty exciting to have a film crew right in the heart of the city.

Plymouth Historical Museum’s new exhibit, “A Red Ryder Christmas Story” opens Nov. 18

Anyone familiar with Plymouth history probably knows that our town is known for b-b gun manufacturing.  The Red Ryder gun of A Christmas Story (maybe the best Christmas comedy ever) fame was made here in Plymouth.  The Plymouth Historical Museum will be honoring that history, tying it into other themes from the movie, in an exhibit that opens next week.

When the Plymouth Historical Museum reopens Nov. 18, officials will showcase their newest exhibit, “A Red Ryder Christmas Story.”The exhibit draws its inspiration from the popular 1983 movie, A Christmas Story, in which the main character, Ralphie, longs for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Throughout the museum’s Main Street there will be vignettes of scenes from the movie and from the original story upon which the movie is based.

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The museum’s exhibit seeks to recapture that nostalgic spirit by displaying period toys, clothing and other artifacts.

Read the full Plymouth Observer article here.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20091112/NEWS15/911120574/1032/Plymouth+Pipeline

Pumpkin throwing thugs at M-14 overpass

A man was injured, and could’ve been killed, by someone (maybe several) people tossing pumpkins from an overpass on M-14 in Plymouth Township.  Typically this kind of stunt is pulled by kids, but there is no way of knowing that for sure.  Whoever did it should do some serious jail time, in  my opinion.

If you have any information about who might have done this, I’m sure the Michigan State Police would love to hear from you.

Here’s a link to the story.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091107/METRO01/911070331/1409/METRO

Game On!

Gamers, there’s a fun upcoming event set at the Plymouth District Library

VIDEO GAMING: Game On @ the Library on November 19 at 3:00 pm. Come in for friendly competition on our gaming consoles: Xbox 360, Wii and PS2. Snacks provided!

http://plymouthlibrary.org/lw1109.htm

Check out other upc0ming events through that link.

Farmer’s Market ends this weekend

This Saturday, October 31, is the last Farmer’s Market of the season.  This is your last chance to buy these great items until next Spring.

Old Village’s Haunted Block Party — Sunday, October 25

This Sunday, October 25, 2009, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Old Village Association will hold a “Haunted Block Party.”  Here are the event details:

When: 1:00-6:00 p.m.

Where: Liberty Street, between Mill and Starkweather Streets, in Plymouth’s historic Old Village

What: Kids Games – Costume contest at 2:30 p.m. – for all ages – even pets, 50/50 fundraiser drawing at 5:00 p.m., Trick-or-Treating 1:00-4:00 at area businesses, together with a Kiddie Train Ride from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

http://plymoutholdvillage.com/_w3/oldvillage718022220/-vid-/user/oldvillage718022220/Style/cfy/color/green/theme/classic/variation/46/owner//w3_/template_src/templates/cfy/main

Great Pumpkin Caper

On October 30, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., downtown Plymouth merchants will be giving treats to costumed trick-or-treaters. Just come on downtown and walk around to the stores. Parents treat yourselves to our local retailers wares.

Also, the annual costume contest will take place in Kellogg Park from 6:15 until 7:00. This event is judged by age group.

Fallout from the Rockets-Wildcats game

This game has gone viral.  The ontroversial ending is all over the internet.  It is even on Rivals, the premiere websource for high school sports and college recruiting.  I’ve seen the youtube video posted numerous times on Facebook and discussed on spartantailgate.com, one of the most frequented websites in the world and maybe the most notable single team/school college  website on the net.  Below is the link to the rivals article.

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1001233

As I’ve said before, I’m a John Glenn graduate.  In fact, I played a varsity sport there.  So I’m not upset to see them win the game.  There again, I’m a member of this community now and I support the local schools and teams (but do not really follow them.)  When it comes right down to it, though, I don’t care too much one way or another who won this game.  But I am slightly bothered by Plymouth High’s handling of the controversy, at least the way it is presented in the rivals article linked above.

Here’s a bit from the article that stood out and that I found somewhat disappointing

Sawchuk wants no part of that – or being an Internet sensation. He just wants what he feels his team earned: A victory.

“It’s something that’s a protest in my eyes,” he told the paper. “We won the game. We played our tails off and they (Glenn) should not be happy with the win.”

The “protest” is so strong that the team’s official website has yet to record a final score of the game.

I have no problem with the Wildcats athletic director or football coaching staff lodging a complaint over the play.  They might be right.  Perhaps the refs should have — or maybe did — blow the whistle.  They could have been screwed.  Sometimes, though, being a good sport means accepting with as much grace as one can muster those calls that don’t go your way.  For the coaches to talk like the Wildcats didn’t lose the game is a bit too much.  The game won’t be replayed.  Two weeks later the score won’t be set aside.  The Wildcats will not be declared the winners.  It’s time to accept the situation as is and move on.  The kids on the team will learn that life often requires this.  Some of us have to continuously swallow bitter pills, suffer grave injustices (or at least perceived ones.)  The best thing the coaches could do for the players is to let this matter go and move forward.

That’s easy for me to say.  I didn’t play.  My child wasn’t on the losing side of the field.  I do recognize, too, that the Wildcats did shake hands with the Rockets after the loss, a very dignified and appropriate response.  I applaud them for that.

Plymouth Rocks Talent Competition — 10.15.09

I just found a flyer for a talent competition to take place on October 15, from 5-9 p.m. at Kellogg Park
Here are the details:

• Grand Prize — $300
• Register — get a form by emailing plymouthrockstalent@gmail.com and return it by mail to PO Box 6409, Plymouth, MI 48170
• Entry fee — $30
• Eligible contestants — ages 11 to 25
• Proceeds — to the new teen center in Plymouth

There’s not much time so register now if you are interested!

This could be quite an interesting event to see even if you aren’t competing.