FROM STAFF REPORTS
Workshops lead up to plant sales
TRAVERSE CITY -- The Grand Traverse Conservation District will offer native plant workshops and a landscaping clinic in anticipation of its annual seedling sale in April and a native plant sale in May.
"An Introduction to Native Trees & Shrubs" will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. The workshop is recommended for teens and adults and registration is not required.
"Basic Tree & Shrub Planting" will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 3. Participants will learn basic "how to" tips for site preparation, planting, fertilizing, pruning and protecting trees and shrubs. All ages are welcome. No registration is needed.
A Native Landscaping Clinic will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. April 3 by appointment only.
All events will be held at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road. A $5 donation is suggested for each event. For details or to schedule an appointment for a landscaping consultation, call 941-0960.
Historic preservation nominees sought
TRAVERSE CITY -- Nominations are wanted for the 2010 annual Historic Preservation Awards. The awards are sponsored by the Grand Traverse Heritage Center and will be presented in September.
There are nine award categories: restoration, rehabilitation, preservation, adaptive reuse, special merit, preservation project of the year, rural structures, historic places and community. To be eligible for an award, a property must be at least 50 years old, with the exception of the Special Merit Award.
Contact the Grand Traverse Heritage Center at 995-0313 or e-mail gthc@charterinternet.com for an application. The deadline is April 15.
Spring break at Nature Center
TRAVERSE CITY -- The Grand Traverse Conservation District will sponsor activities for all ages daily during spring break.
Family activities will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. March 29 through April 2 at the Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road. All programs include time on the trails and participants should dress for the weather.
A $5 donation is suggested and reservations are not needed. For details, call 941-0960 or visit www.natureiscalling.org.
Lecture/concert focuses on Haiti
TRAVERSE CITY -- Northwestern Michigan College will offer a free lecture/concert, "World Slavery: The Haitian Revolution and the Rise of American Music" featuring Ray Kamalay at noon Tuesday in Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center.
Kamalay traces the development of early American music from its links to slavery up to the early jazz age. Discussion will include freedom, ancient and modern slavery, the Haitian Revolution and the origin of blackface, spirituals, blues, minstrel shows, ragtime and jazz.
Kamalay is a Detroit native and has been a professional musician since 1974. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, Interlochen and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
This event is part of a series of free lectures and events presented by the Michigan Global Awareness Consortium.
Kick off event for Relay for Life
PETOSKEY -- Emmet County's American Cancer Society Relay for Life will hold its kick-off event on Wednesday.
Volunteers and participants will launch their fund-raising efforts for the year starting at 6 p.m. at JW Filmore's Restaurant. The relay will be held July 17 and 18 at Curtis Football Field in Petoskey.
For details or to get involved, call 348-5847 or e-mail ashoffman@localnet.com.
Public invited to Easter dinner
GRAYLING -- The Grayling Senior Center will host an Easter dinner Thursday.
The honey glazed ham meal will be served from 4 to 6 p.m. The suggested donation is $2.50 for ages 60 and older or $5.25 for ages 59 and younger. A salad bar will be offered for $2.25 per person for all ages.
The senior center is located at 308 Lawndale. For details, call (989) 348-7123 or visit www.crawfordcoa.org.
Early entertainment gadgets discussed
TRAVERSE CITY -- James Warner, president of the Traverse Area Historical Society, will bring his Edison Diamond Disk player and a Victorla to a program Thursday.
The "Voices from the Horn III" program will explore how these early inventions influenced today's entertainment.
The program will be held at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, 322 Sixth St., beginning at 7 p.m.
Workshop helps with nonprofit donors
TRAVERSE CITY -- A webinar about nonprofit communication with donors is scheduled for Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
The workshop will focus on contemporary methods, ways to freshen old messages, e-mail and social media and strategies.
The session will be held at Northwestern Michigan College's University Center campus, room 5. The workshop costs $15 and registration is required. Contact NorthSky Nonprofit Network, 929-3934, www.northskynonprofitnework.org.
Grange hosts old-time country dance
SUMMIT CITY -- The Summit City Grange will host an old-time country dance on Saturday.
The evening will start with a soup supper at 6 p.m., followed by dancing to live music from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Summit City Grange Hall, 3060 Factory St. Donations will be accepted to help support the Grange and community efforts.
For more information, call 263-5802 or 263-4499.
Fire chief to speak at luncheon series
TRAVERSE CITY -- Metro Fire Chief Pat Parker is the speaker at this month's Red Cross Lunchtime Lecture Series.
Parker will talk about the changes in fire fighting in this millennium beginning at 12:10 p.m. Thursday.
The talk is expected to last an hour; participants are encouraged to bring a lunch.
Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged; if seating is available, walk-ins will be accepted. The talk will be held at the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan office, 735 S. Garfield Ave., lower level.
For more information or to reserve a spot, call 947-7286.
Newcomers Club program on TSO
TRAVERSE CITY -- The Newcomers Club of Grand Traverse will present a program on the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, at the Traverse Area District Library. For more information, visit www.gtnewcomers.org.
