February 22, 2025

Another sad reminder that railroad tracks can be deadly, should always be treated as active.

Morning headline by John Agar read: “Pedestrian struck, killed by train in Kalamazoo.” This regarded an incident that “happened around 11:00 pm” last night. “A 19-year-old died late Tuesday, May 11, after being struck by a train, police said.”

via What Christians Want to Know (May 27, 2019)— "Should Christians Protest Or Demonstrate?" by Jack Wellman, Christian author, prison minister, and pastor of Heritage Evangelical Free Church, in Udall, Kansas: ... especially when they see injustice? ... The Bible admonishes us to 'Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights…

– June 12, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (May 2, 2022)— "Be the Church in the marketplace" by Coye L Bouyer, founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church, in Lansing, Michigan: This is a classic story of what God can and will do when lay people begin to take seriously the Lord’s call on their life to…

– May 15, 2022
via Samaritan's Purse— "Samaritan's Purse is operating multiple medical facilities in various parts of Ukraine and providing food and non-food relief items through church partners in both Ukraine and Moldova": Samaritan's Purse continues to provide medical relief to displaced Ukrainians, serving them at our Emergency Field Hospital on the outskirts…

– March 13, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (February 2, 2022)— "Treasures in the darkness," by Karen Blanchard, women's life group leader with Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township, Michigan: Having been in this pandemic for two years now, we face days that seem uncertain and difficult to navigate. Yet through all the darkness and confusion,…

– March 6, 2022
via TED Conferences (February 1998) "Billy Graham: Technology, faith and human shortcomings": In Monterey California, The Reverend Billy Graham delivered a talk of just over twenty-six minutes to a Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED) conference before a screen that projected a title of no more than, matter-of-factly, his first and…

– July 10, 2022
National Day of Prayer for Law Enforcement Officers— via National Police Association (June 23, 2021), by Stephen Owsinski, retired law enforcement officer with experience in Field Training Officer (FTO) unit and the Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST): "Like anyone else, our nation’s cops harbor every desire to return home each day…

– June 17, 2022
via Samaritan's Purse (March 23, 2022)— "Ukraine Updates: Ukraine Updates: Fifth Airlift Departs with Ukraine Relief; Medical Care at Four Locations; Food and Other Distributions Underway": A fifth Samaritan’s Purse airlift departed today carrying more than 19 tons of relief, including medical supplies for area hospitals as we work to…

– March 27, 2022
via Baptist Beacon (February 2, 2022)— "Peace during a pandemic," by Dr Dan Russell, Executive Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Southgate, Michigan: To help strengthen the pastors and church families of our Convention as we face this coronavirus crisis, here are some encouraging reminders on how to keep your…

– February 6, 2022
Maundy Thursday— "On this Thursday before Good Friday, Christians of all colors and stripes celebrate three events on the last night our Lord spent with his apostles before the Crucifixion: the washing of the disciples’ feet, the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. "The…

– April 14, 2022

An introduction to the 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference (for those who’ve somehow missed the last thirty-eight)

May 28, 2019

An important part of opening day for the 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference this afternoon was a “101 Attendee Orientation” that covered all the necessities of navigating the basics of this spectacular event — and thoroughly making the most of it. [1] As members of credentialed media, our perspective is obviously removed from official presentations. Even more so when you consider the three hundred miles separating our East Michigan Avenue offices in downtown Saline from the Grand ....

Kelly Gampel, professional photographer for Washtenaw Community College

This Is How One Local Photographer Is Keeping Traditional Print Media Alive And Well As Media For Business

July 6, 2018

If print media is “dead,” you wouldn’t know it by the impact of Washtenaw Community College (WCC) marketing. From postcards to periodicals, it’s never long before the institution puts its name, value, and success latest stories in front of Saline residents. Check your mailbox. [1,2,3,4,5] WCC Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Brendan Prebo has given staff photographer Kelly Gampel glowing praise for the visual element of these initiatives. “We brought her in with ....

How to Decide When a Digital Photograph Should be Presented in Black and White

September 18, 2017

With the growing sophistication of Instagram and iPhone filters, photographers of all skill levels are chosing to post more of their images in black and white (B&W) on social media. Add to that the upcoming sixth annual Saline Scarecrow Contest scheduled to run next month and you have a past entry that nicely supports this discussion. Here, it’s The Tin Woodman from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum and WW Denslow, 1899. ....

Nineth annual Saline Scarecrow Contest set to return with focus on whimsical, other-worldly “fairy-tales” theme

August 26, 2020

‘fer-ē-tāl (adjective) : especially marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck or happiness [1] 1 a : a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins) b : a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending 2 : a made-up story usually designed to mislead “This has been a tough year,” said Scarecrow Contest creator and ongoing annual event organizer Dr Robert Borer when he sat down ....

Study Of Puppeteering Is About To Get A Lot More Organized, Thanks To Saline Arts And Culture Committee

December 24, 2018

Last September, Saline Journal re-introduced its readers to the ties of traditional string-puppet performances to this city. [1] Can you still see such shows today? Sure. There’s a modest theater in Ypsilanti solely dedicated to such offerings. Detroit Institute of Arts has two things on its schedule for the upcoming weekend. But unlike more common stagecraft, audiences here are equally drawn to the opportunity to see how it’s done, for a look behind The Wizard’s ....