Northern Michigan Artist Launches National Gift Line
Harbor Springs, MI, August 2008 –

The artwork of Mary Hramiec Hoffman has just received a wider audience with the launch of a nationally marketed gift line named “Happy Nest”. The stoneware line of mugs, frames, vases and plaques features folky little pink birds, flowers and positive thoughts. It is being produced by gift industry giant Demdaco, Inc. who’s largest buyer is Hallmark.

Demdaco is most known for their “Willow Tree” line of figurines.
Mary Hramiec Hoffman and her husband Mark Hoffman are known for both exquisite oil paintings and giving hearts. The motto of Hramiec Hoffman Fine Art & Craft is “Where Your Purchase is Always a Gift” because a portion of all proceeds from the sale of Mary’s artwork is donated to local and national charity programs. Mark Hoffman is Mary’s husband and business partner and runs their bright green gallery on the way into Harbor Springs. He says “Mary was fortunate to have received job offers from both Hallmark and Gerber Baby Products after college. She decided instead, to pursue fine art in northern Michigan where she grew up. To have this company that supplies Hallmark approach her now, has been a fun experience for both of us. She is a pretty prolific artist and she really likes being able to express herself in different mediums.”

The “Happy Nest” gift line is currently available at Hallmark and other fine gift stores nationwide, http://www.demdaco.com or http://www.hramiechoffman.com
ABOUT HRAMIEC HOFFMAN FINE ART & CRAFT – Hramiec Hoffman Fine Art & Craft is a bright green studio gallery located 2 miles east of downtown Harbor Springs MI at 6911 M119, offering original oil paintings, giclees and clay sculpture by Mary Hramiec Hoffman. Please visit http://www.hramiechoffman.com for more information.

Ladytron is currently on tour and will be stopping at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit for an all-ages show on Wednesday, June 18. In the meantime, listen to new Ladytron tracks online at Auralgasms radio (www.auralgams/radio.com). Auralgasms specializes in non-stop, commercial-free Brit pop, ethereal dream pop, trip hop, shoegaze and alternative classics.

For more information, visit http://www.auralgasms.com/radio or http://www.myspace.com/auralgasmscom.

It all begins with a knock at the door. Ced (Mikey Brown) tries to deliver a pizza that Teri (Sarah Switanowski) never ordered. She’s drinking a beer. He asks if she has another. Ced sits on the couch and Teri gives him a cold one. Then we meet N, their four-legged co-star who sits between them. Will they ever get off the couch? So far, seven episodes have aired and there’s no sign of that happening. But they have some special visitors including the mail lady who also delivers Teri’s weed, a crazy neighbor and a character who pays homage to Wilson, the man who hid behind the fence in Home Improvement.

Each episode of “Ced N Teri” also features a local band or rapper who plays a song at the end of the episode and during the closing credits.

Several made-in-Detroit bands have graced the mini screen including The Brown Stripes, Blair, Hellen, Alison Lewis and Outdated Fate. Rapper JJ Sacks even portrayed Teri’s crazy ex in one episode as he serenaded her from the backyard with a special song about big booty. Awwwww, isn’t that special? And, in the soon-to-be-released Episode 8, look for funky rocker Jamie McCarthy who will also make a cameo appearance as a guy from The Repo Depo. He’ll break into “I’d Rather Be Ced N Teri” on Teri’s guitar. Before he repos the guitar, that is.

“I’d Rather be Ced N Teri” will not appear on “Salvation”, Jamie’s upcoming album scheduled for release this summer. But Jamie will be stopping by to play his song and a few others at the premiere of “Ced N Teri”, Episode 8, on Sunday, May 4, at the Park Bar in Detroit. Doors open at 8 pm. 18+ are welcome. Come and hang with the cast and crew at this free event – besides, it might be the only time that Ced and Teri actually get off the couch.

For more information about “Ced N Teri”, and to see the previous episodes, visit http://www.cednteri.com or http://www.myspace.com/cednteri. For more information about Jamie McCarthy and his upcoming CD release party for “Salvation”, visit http://www.myspace.com/jamiemccarthy

All home match-games are played at Port Huron’s Lincoln Park,
located between North and South Blvd., West of Electric Avenue.
Bring a picnic lunch, relax on the lawn
and see the game of base ball the way it was meant to be played.
Check http://www.welkinbbc.com for the latest news about the Welkin Base Ball Club

Date: May 10, 2008
Time: 9am – 4 pm
Place: Park Congregational Church
10 E. Park Place NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Cost: $65 thru April 15 / $75 after

Darrell will be presenting several interesting topics during the day, including:

Digital Photography: This will include the converting of images, Nik Filters, Helicon Focus, Black and White techniques, Magic Ovals, Pans and more.

Come Travel with Darrell – We will go to a number of foreign destinations including, Turkey, Italy, Greek Isles, Antarctica, Norway’s Arctic, Africa and more. What to take and how to travel with your equipment. What equipment that is really needed.

Creative, Colorful and Conceptual Images. We can travel the world or by using the 3 C’s we can create wonderful images right in our own backyard.

Landscape Photography and the 5 S’s to Successful Photography. Seeing, Subject, Simplification, Skill, Situation.

For more information and/or to download the registration form go to:
http://www.grcameraclub.org/seminar/

http://thefarm.i8.com/

Here’s a (very trebley) video of Detour at Dunegrass last summer.

The Fortune Lake Festival – 5th Annual – Saturday, May 10, Crystal Falls, Michigan – an all day music festival with morning classes on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, kantele, hammer dulcimer, homemade instruments and shape-note singing; afternoon dances and jam sessions and an evening concert featuring the bluegrass music of Detour, the beautiful sounds of Duo Borealis and Glen and Judi Morningstar.

http://www.white-water-associates.com/fortunefest.htm

The American Lung Association of Michigan Asthma Walks will be held at the following locations on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 9:00a.m. Registration will begin at 8:00a.m. at all locations except for Detroit where registration will begin at 7:30a.m.

WHERE:
Detroit – Detroit International Riverfront

Grand Blanc – Heritage Park Shopping Center

Grand Rapids – Ah-Nab-Awen Park

East Lansing – Jack Breslin Student Events Center, Michigan State University

The Asthma Walks will raise funds for lung health education, advocacy, asthma treatments and research. 1 of every 9 Michiganders lives with asthma, and asthma is responsible for more school absences than any other chronic disease.

Registration is free for everyone. All participants who raise the suggested minimum of $100 will receive an official Asthma Walk T-shirt. Individual and team prizes will be awarded at various fundraising levels. Families, children, individuals, and teams are welcome to participate.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.AsthmaWalk.org or call 1-800-LUNG-USA.

This Taste of Michigan wine tasting expects to have the largest selection of traditional and exotic produced Michigan wines. Attendees will also have an opportunity to sample Michigan produced sparking wines (Champagne style) and assortment of the “Fruit Off the Vine Wines”.

This is a ticketed event and the wine tasting event costs $15.00 and begins at 6:00 pm.

Get the complete details at Champane’s Wine Cellar & International Marketplace