Father Fred offers 'summer boost'
TRAVERSE CITY — Families will get a "summer boost" from the Father Fred Foundation this summer.
For the next 10 weeks, excluding July 5-9, families getting food from the pantry, 826 Hastings St., automatically will be offered a "Summer Boost Bag" with protein, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables. Simple recipes also will be included.
"It's wonderful to be able to offer families this additional food during the summer when kids are at home and there are more meals to plan for than usual," said Norm Bamberg, operations director. About 42 percent of local kids had free or reduced-price meals at school last year.
For more information or to donate, call 947-2055, go to the Father Fred offices, or go online to www.fatherfred.org.
Fire departments receive donations
TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse Rural Fire Department stations in Kingsley, Whitewater Township and Interlochen applied for and received donations of $1,000 each from the American Petroleum Institute Northern Michigan Chapter Outreach Programs.
"This donation shows our support for the local fire station communities," Darel Willison, of API, said in a prepared statement.
Tickets on sale for July 15 author event
TRAVERSE CITY — Tickets now are on sale for the next author in the National Writers Series, Audrey Niffenegger.
Niffenegger, a native of South Haven, wrote 2003's "The Time Traveler's Wife," which has sold 5 million copies worldwide.
She'll be interviewed by Walter Kim, whose novel "Up in the Air" served as the basis for a recent film of the same name that featured George Clooney. They will appear at the City Opera House at 7 p.m. July 15.
Niffenegger's second novel, "Her Fearful Symmetry," was published last fall. It's a ghost story set in Highgate Cemetery in London.
Tickets for the event, which include dessert and a post-event reception, are $15 in advance and $20 at the door for adults, and $5 for students. Tickets are available at www.cityoperahouse.org.
Applications for military academies accepted
U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) is accepting applications from students seeking congressional nominations to U.S. military academies.
To be eligible for a congressional nomination, applicants must be legal residents of Michigan's 1st Congressional District, at least 17 years old and not past his/her 23rd birthday by July 1 of the year of academy entry, unmarried with no dependents, a U.S. citizen of high moral character and able to meet high leadership, academic, physical and medical standards. To be eligible for an interview, all necessary paperwork must be completed by Oct. 9, 2010. All recommendations are based on a competitive application process.
For application information, call Stupak's office, (906) 875-3751 or toll-free (800) 950-7371. Additional information also is available at www.house.gov/stupak by clicking on "Service Academies" under the "Constituent Services" button at the top of the home page.
