A Mixed Day...

Today was one of those mixed days, with good things and sad things happening.

It started with "Bagels & Books," a Kalamazoo Communities in Schools / Kalamazoo Public Schools event where community volunteers come in to a school to read to kids for an hour. There were lots of our community's leaders participating and demonstrating the importance of being involved in the lives of our kids. Alas, I forgot my camera.

Late the prior evening, a large fire burned out approximately 38 residents at the Ravine Apartments. No one was hurt, and my employer, the American Red Cross, is responding admirably. This is a terrible disaster for those it affects, but it is heartening to see the Red Cross and community response to helping people out in the aftermath.

Also today was the funeral service for the daughter of one of our Public Safety officers - a terrible loss of a young child. However, the support of the officer's colleagues on the department was immensely uplifting and the service was beautiful.

FOHEC Hosts New WMU President

Friday afternoon, the Friends of Historic East Campus (FOHEC) hosted a reception for new WMU President John Dunn and his wife, Linda. FOHEC is a fantastic group of dedicated people who want to see the original buildings of WMU's East Campus restored for adaptive reuse. For more information, visit www.wmich.edu/foec/.

(Photo by Sean McCann)

Korean War Service

There was a commemorative memorial service for the Korean War in Bronson Park today. Dozens of veterans and other interested people attended to remember those fallen. My uncle Gerard (Jerry) Marquis served in the Korean War and has a brick in his honor at the Veterans Memoral Park at E. Michigan and King's Highway.

Block Party at Kings Game

Today, the community-wide Block Parties culminated at a Kalamazoo King's baseball game. Pictured here are Louie and Lulu (Kings mascots), Michael Seals (A. Philip Randolph Institute), me, King's owner Bill Wright, Vice-Mayor Hopewell, and Commissioner Juarez.

Speaking to WMU students

Commissioner David Anderson and I spoke to students in Dr. Susan Hoffmann's Urban Politics class at Western Michigan University. We discussed the ins and outs of serving on the city commission.
Startling fact: Among those students present, almost none get their news from newspapers.

A new hispanic/english magazine has launched. You can check it out at www.enterarmagazine.com.

Must-See Movie

I viewed Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" the other day. I strongly encourage people to see it.