First Friday (January 2019) - Downtown South Bend, IN

January 4, 2019

"Pay It Forward Friday" :

www.downtownsouthbend.com/

Activities for families - free shuttle rides and mini-tour of downtown provided by Transpo

Food Drink Entertainment
5:00 - 9:00 P.M.

2019 - Leonardo da Vinci

The year 2019 will be the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci at Amboise, France.  The country will also commemorate the construction of the Chateau of Chambord and the birth of Catherine de Medici in Florence.

Winter Weather Advisory (Saturday Dec. 29, 2018) midday

from National Weather service (www.weather.com/)
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST  THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation. Additional snow accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of a light glaze. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. * WHEN...Until 1 PM EST  this afternoon. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Accidents and slide offs have been reported. Limit or postpone travel until early afternoon. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Weather Advisory means that a mixture of light snow and freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Expect slippery roads and sidewalks.

New Year 's Eve Celebration (12/31/2018) at downtown South Bend, IN Century Center -- begins at 8:30 p.m.

from www.visitsouthbend.com/  

B100 Presents NYE 2019 Bash

Downtown South Bend’s New Year’s Eve bash kicks off at 8:30 p.m. inside Century Center when Jim Mackey, a B100 radio personality, gets the party started. The Jonathan Moody Band, based out of Chicago, will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. to play country, rock and pop hits. Moody has opened for country music stars Vince Gill and Mark Chesnutt while also playing for Lady GaGa’s Super Bowl halftime show rehearsal.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. VIP tickets are available for $30 and include a private lounge with cash bars, snacks and a champagne toast at midnight.

International Guests - NPR call-in show 11 a.m. eastern Friday Dec. 28, 2019

http://the1a.org/

Guests

• Ron Nixon Homeland security correspondent, The New York Times; author of "Selling Apartheid: South Africa's Global Propaganda War"; @nixonron
• Rosiland Jordan State Department/specials correspondent, Al Jazeera English Television; @RosJordanAJE
• Nathan Guttman
• Washington correspondent; Israeli Public TV

"Thrill on the Hill" Buchanan, Michigan cancelled for January 2019 -- due to unpredictability and cost of set-up

Released was news to local and Michiana media / TV was this Winter Event cancellation (Friday Dec. 28, 2018)

Talk to city officials for much more about this previous tradition and the ongoing "Summer" version - THRILL ON THE HILL.

https://www.cityofbuchanan.com/

Wind Advisory - December 27, 2018

From 2:45 this afternoon until 9 p.m. Eastern Time -- Berrien County, MI and St. Joseph County, IN

Winds up to 40 MPH gusting

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Wind Advisory...which is in effect until 9 PM EST /8 PM CST/ this evening. HAZARDOUS WEATHER... * South to southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph gusting to 45 mph through the early evening hours. * IMPACTS... * Difficult travel for high profile vehicles. Loose objects will be blown around. Minor damage to tree limbs possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Wind Advisory means that sustained winds of 30 mph or gusts of 45 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult

What will be exceptional and extraordinary about the January 21, 2019 Full Moon ("Wolf Moon") ?

The Full Wolf Moon reaches its peak on January 21, 2019, at 12:16 A.M. EST.

January Total Lunar Eclipse

This year, just a few hours before the peak of the full Moon, a total lunar eclipse will be visible from all of North America. The eclipse will begin at 9:35 P.M. EST on January 20 and end at 2:50 A.M. EST on January 21. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes into the shadow of the Earth, which causes the usually bright white Moon to turn an ominous red (sometimes called a “Blood Moon”).

from www.almanac.com [ Old Farmer's Almanac online ]

Kwanzaa Celebration (Grand Rapids, MI 12/28/2018) - Southwest Michigan

from www.GRnow.com/ (Grand Rapids, Now) -

The Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in partnership with The Grand Raids African American Museum & Archives is pleased to host its annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration on Friday, December 28 from 6 pm – 9 pm. This is a FREE event, in which we encourage the entire family to attend.

Kwanzaa is a pan-African and African American holiday founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga that is observed from December 26 – January 1. Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture and is based on seven African harvest festivals:

Umoja: Unity
Kujichagulia: Self-Determination
Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics
Nia: Purpose
Kuumba: Creativity
Imani: Faith

Prior to the celebration, attend the African American Museum’s art auction. Preview art and then place your bid during a silent bid that will start at Noon and end at 9 pm. All donations are tax-exempt and will support the programming and growth of the museum – a model of Collective Work and Responsibility in our community.

Traffic at this Blog -- Google Blogger (December 2018 along with January 2019)

Page Views today (12/24/2018) = 158

Page Views on Dec. 28, 2018 = 124

/ / / 200 page views thus far (Saturday Dec. 29, 2018)

Sunday page views on Dec. 30, 2018     186

Last day of this year (Dec. 31, 2018) - 152 page views

First day of new Year 2019 (Jan. 1, 2019) - 194 page views

Jan. 3, 2019 -- First Thursday -- 146 page views

Jan. 7, 2019 -- First Monday -- 145 page views

Jan. 21, 2019 -- Third Monday --

Page views today

138

Merry Christmas - Feliz Navidad - Froehliche Weihnachten!

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New 2019!

Face the Nation (Dec. 23, 2018): Guests

from www.cbsnews.com/ 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time Zone on CBS Affiliates

Sen. Rand Paul (@RandPaul), R-Ky., a key conservative voice on the Foreign Relations and Homeland Security Committees.

We'll talk also to Paul's Democratic colleague on the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) of Delaware.

Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) is the next chair of the House Republican Conference and sits on the House Armed Services Committee. We'll question her.

And as is "Face the Nation" year-end tradition, we'll turn to a panel of CBS News correspondents for perspective on the week (and year) that was:

• Major Garrett (@MajorCBS), CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent
• David Martin (@CBSDavidMartin), CBS News National Security Correspondent
• Jeff Pegues (@jeffpeguescbs), CBS News Chief Justice and Homeland Security Correspondent
• Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS), CBS News Correspondent

Free Film - Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main St., Goshen IN - "It's a Wonderful Life"

Free Admission -- details www.goshentheater.com/events

Director: Frank Capra -- 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 2018

130 minutes -- a family holiday film

"Operation Silent Night" - South Bend, IN on December 22, 2018

521 Eclipse Place, South Bend, IN 46628

JOIN US ON DECEMBER 22ND FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. FOR OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND JOIN SBACC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AS WE ATTEMPT TO CLEAR OUT OUR ADOPTION FLOORS FOR “OPERATION SILENT NIGHT”! WE ARE LOOKING TO ADOPT EVERY ANIMAL IN OUR COMMUNITY CAT ROOM AND IN DOG ADOPTION ROOM BY 5:00 P.M. IN HOPES OF FINDING THEM HOMES IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, THUS CREATING A “SILENT NIGHT” HERE AT THE SHELTER! WE WILL PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS IN ADDITION TO MANY FUN ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR TWO AND FOUR LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS! FESTIVITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

DECORATE COOKIES FOR YOUR KIDS (WE EVEN HAVE EDIBLE ONES FOR YOUR FURKIDS!)

HAVE YOU PHOTO TAKEN WITH SANTA PAWS FROM 12:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M. (CHILDREN AND PETS WELCOMED)

CREATE A SALT DOUGH PAW PRINT HOLIDAY KEEPSAKE WITH YOUR PET

STRUT YOUR BEST HOLIDAY COSTUME FOR THE COSTUME CONTEST AT 2:00 P.M. AND WIN A PRIZE (WE ENCOURAGE MATCHING COSTUMES WITH YOUR PET!)

CREATE “CHRISTMAS CATNIP” FOR YOUR FELINE FRIENDS

from South Bend City Government website -- South Bend Animal Care and Control Department

On December 22 SBACC will hold “Operation Silent Night” from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Volunteers and staff will attempt to adopt every animal in the community cat room and dog adoption room, creating a “Silent Night” at the shelter. SBACC will provide refreshments and activities for both two- and four-legged family members.

SBACC also urgently requests pet-related donations from the public, especially dog and cat food.

“We would love to see every one of our adoptable animals have a home in time for Christmas,” said shelter manager Jenn Gobel. “Anyone wishing to participate in our Operation Silent Night adoption event should submit an application prior to December 22 so that we may get them all preapproved.”

https://southbendin.gov/2018/11/29/sbacc-to-host-december-events/

When does the "Full Cold Moon" rise? December 22, 2018

12:52 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

"Gift of Lights" - Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend, IN

The Gift of Lights sponsored by Indiana Michigan Power. Come to the Zoo Friday through Sunday, November 23 to December 23, 5 to 9 pm to see our inaugural holiday lights display. More than a million lights will be wrapped around trees and in free-standing displays.

Our Round Barn Bar will be open so you can have a glass of wine or beer as you walk through the Zoo in winter.

Regular price tickets will be $9 for adults and $7 for children. Because this is a special event, members will not receive free admission.

Every Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Next Dates: Dec 21-3, 2018

Admission fee: $9 adults and $7 children

Location Information

Potawatomi Zoo
500 S. Greenlawn Avenue
South Bend, IN 46615

Dec. 21, 2018 -- Winter Solstice

Celebrating the Solstice

December’s full Moon, which will be visible on the night of the winter solstice, is aptly called the Full Cold Moon. If there are no clouds to obscure it from view, it should shine with all the intensity of the Sun and be bright enough for trees to cast shadows.

In Celtic tradition, one sacred place to be visited during the solstice time is an open area or hill that affords a view of the horizon in all directions. What better way to celebrate than to bundle up and climb to the top of the tallest hill? This is not a time to be hibernating; get outside and connect with the natural world in all its glorious seasons!FROM: Old Farmer's Almanac

Christmas at Loretto - December 16, 2018 (South Bend Chamber Singers) - 7:30 p.m. (Ticket information)

This annual holiday concert by the South Bend, IN Chamber Concert Singers always draws a large crowd of Northwest Indiana residents.  For this year’s concert we have commissioned a new work from American composer William McClelland. Acclaimed for his “vivid music,” “appealingly direct manner of expression” and “fertile contrapuntal imagination,” McClelland has written a wide variety of music in many styles and forms. His new piece for the SBCS, a setting of “Caedmon’s Hymn” in the translation by Burton Raffel, is the oldest English of known authorship, written in the early 7th century.  There are only a very few settings of this text, and none using Raffel’s translation.  For mixed choir and organ, the work will feature SBCS’s long-time accompanist, David Eicher.  The concert will close, as usual, with our traditional, candlelit “Silent Night.”

Beautiful New Music for the Season

Featuring the world premiere of a new work by American composer William McClelland along with other new works for the season and familiar carols in new arrangements

Sunday, December 16, 2018

7:30 p.m.
Church of Our Lady of Loretto
Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, IN

www.southbendchambersingers.org/

"Our Lady of Guadalupe" Celebration December 11, 2018 - St. Mary Church (Roman Cath.) Niles, Michigan

TIMES: Rosary 5 p.m. Mass at 6 p.m. Songs with Mariachi 7 p.m. Dinner at 8 p.m.

Everyone is invited -- article in Parish Newsletter

Address: 203 S. Lincoln Avenue, Niles, MI 49120

Human Rights Day - December 10, 2018 - South Bend, IN

PLACE: United Auto Workers Local 5, 1426 Main Street, South Bend, IN

Community Celebration of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be at 6 pm on Monday, December 10 at UAW Local 5, 1426 S. Main St., South Bend. There is no cost for the event

 

• 19th Year Celebrating the United Nations signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights This year we are highlighting Article 14 The Right to seek Asylum.
• We will start the program with a little history of why this article was an important right. We can't repeat the History of the St. Louis and the 264 asylum seekers who were returned to their deaths. We have a similar crisis today. 
• We must reform our Immigration Laws, and policies that make asylum a realistic goal for folks. We must not turn our collective backs on their plight for a better life.
• Afterwards we will celebrate with food and friendship. Linden Grill has been contracted to provide their specialty of Chicken Wings and their sauces. 
•   League of Women Voters URL = https://my.lwv.org/indiana/south-bend-area/event/community-celebration-united-nations-universal-declaration-human-rights

Holiday Extravaganza (South Bend, IN Cubs Basebal) - Dec. 8, 2018 - Four Winds Field

The South Bend Cubs are hosting their 4th annual Holiday Extravaganza on Saturday, December 8th, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Entry and exit will be through the Cubs Den Team Store off of Western Avenue. All other gates to Four Winds Field will be closed. The event is open to the public and is free of charge.

This year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will have a special photo area in the HEATED Home Plate Suite for children and families to get their picture taken. Pictures will be available to download from the Four Winds Field Facebook page.

Other activities include a "12 Days of Christmas" Scavenger Hunt, free hot chocolate and cookies, letters to Santa station, and ornament decorating. Those who hang their decorated ornaments on the tree in the Cubs Den Team Store will be entered into a drawing for a Cubs prize pack. Plus, Stu and Swoop will be in attendance.

The South Bend Civic Theatre will have a special performance of The Christmas Schooner on the video board at 12:00pm. The South Bend Salvation Army will be accepting donations for the Kroc Center.

While at Four Winds Field, visitors can wrap up their holiday shopping at the Cubs Den Team Store. Special in-store only sales will be announced on Friday. In addition, local vendors and crafters will have free candy or samples to hand out to kids waiting for Santa