Christmas Bird Count (Saturday Jan. 4, 2020); Elkhart County, IN

Join in with many other for a count of birds Saturday at your home feeder or in the field

across Elkhart County, IN

Register by phone at 574-535-6458 or rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com

Aloha Hang Loose

Jan. 1, 2020

Hiking coach Ron Gunn leads his "Aloha Hang Loose" run/walk at 10:30 a.m. Wed. Jan. 1 with options of 1, 3.2, and 7 miles.

Meet at St. Paul's Episcopal Fellowship Hall, 306 Courtland, Dowagiac, MI

Potluck meal will follow; drinks provided.

Polar Bear Ride (first day of 2020): meet at Martin's Super Market, Granger, IN

The Michiana Bicycle Association will host a ride at 1 p.m. sharp on Wed., Jan. 1, 2020

from the Martin's Super Market parking lot at 12850 Indiana 23, Granger, IN

Options of 4 or 32 miles.

Helmet use is required.

Gather afterward for hot eats and drinks in the Martin's Café.

Amish Acres (Nappanee, IN attraction) closes 12/31/2019 with final dinner theater "Beauty & Beast"

story filed at www.wndu.com/  News Reporter filed story including community reaction

Amish Acres (Nappanee, IN) a private attraction and restaurant-banquet facility is officially closing its doors following tonight's Dinner Theater presentation of "Beauty & the Beast", but not after entertaining their guests for one more weekend.

16 News Now learned how this one of a kind property that was sold by its 50-year owners is leaving its legacy.

In the same year Amish Acres celebrated their 50th year in business, the owners (Mr. Pletcher and family) decided to close their doors.

It's a Nappanee landmark that will be missed by those who grew up with it.

"Knowing some of the Amish in our community and knowing what a vital part they play in our economy--several of them have started businesses and started cottage shops around the area--the Amish culture is not going to go away. Having a destination for people around the nation to come to to learn about the lifestyle is certainly going to be missed,” said Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins.

Winter Weather Advisory - Dec. 30 - 31, 2019

Winter Weather Advisory -- Snow and Ice

Areas Affected: Berrien; Cass Counties of Michigan

NWS NorthernIndiana (Northern Indiana and Northeastern Ohio)

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY Dec. 31, 2019...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Locally higher snow totals possible across northern portions of Berrien and Cass counties. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...Berrien and Cass MI Counties.

* WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 7 PM EST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions and limited visibilities along with blowing and drifing of snow. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning or evening commute on Tuesday.

Guests on NPR call-in show (The 1a : December 27, 2019) for the "International News"

Guests will be

• Michael Goldfarb Host of the First Rough Draft of History Podcast; @MGEmancipation
• Nathan Guttman Washington correspondent, Israeli Public TV; @nathanguttman
• Elizabeth Kennedy Deputy Washington bureau chief & deputy international editor, AP' @ekbeirut

www.npr.org/

Record temperatures for Dec. 26, -- details from TV meteorologist

Posted: 12/26/2019 - We broke the record high temperature today, hitting 63 degrees this afternoon

www.wndu.com/weather -- Today is Thursday December 26, 2019

With a record low of 45° set in 1936, our warmest overnight low was achieved this morning THURSDAY 12/26. Another record will be set this afternoon with a high of 59° breaking the old record of 55° set in 1959.

Thursday 12.26 will otherwise be dry and breezy with thicker cloud cover. Late rain will be spotty and brief, after 9 p.m.

200 years of education in Indiana: original founding as Indiana Seminary (Greek and Latin) 1/20/1820

A Day of Commemoration: IU’s 200th Anniversary

On January 20, 2020, we will commemorate the university’s 200th anniversary and Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a public event featuring a major speaker on the Bloomington campus.

Other events include the dedication of the new IU Bloomington history mural panels in Wright Quad as well as the newly commissioned Lux et Veritas paintings in Presidents Hall, the dedication of the Big Red 200 Supercomputer, and the return of Megalonyx jeffersonii, a 3-D printed skeleton of a giant sloth that once existed within the natural history collections at Indiana University.

www.events.iu.edu/

Traffic at this Googler blog: "Seeking Faith and Understanding" (Timothy Shaw, Blogger)

Today is Xmas Eve -- 12/24/2019

Page Views today = 120

Winter Solstice (December 2019)

Occurs on December 21, 2019

11:19 p.m. Eastern Time Zone

from Old Farmer's Almanac online article (www.almanac.com)

In 2019, the winter solstice arrives on Saturday, December 21, at 11:19 p.m. EST, marking the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice always occurs around December 21 or 22. (In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs around June 20 or 21.) It is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year.

Spaniels Forever in concert at St. Joseph, MI - Friday Dec. 20, 7 p.m.

When: December 20, 2019    7 p.m.

Where: The Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI

Doo-wop Christmas concert -- Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door
phone 269-983-3688 or www.boxfactoryforthearts.org

Current singers include Billy Shelton, Patrick Pitre, Dan Porter, Phil Ratcliff, Fred DeBose

750 Historians together sign a statement supporting POTUS 45's impeachment (Dec. 2019): Text

Here is the statement:

President Trump’s numerous and flagrant abuses of power are precisely what the Framers had in mind as grounds for impeaching and removing a president. Among those most hurtful to the Constitution have been his attempts to coerce the country of Ukraine, under attack from Russia, an adversary power to the United States, by withholding essential military assistance in exchange for the fabrication and legitimization of false information in order to advance his own re-election.

President Trump’s lawless obstruction of the House of Representatives, which is rightly seeking documents and witness testimony in pursuit of its constitutionally-mandated oversight role, has demonstrated brazen contempt for representative government. So have his attempts to justify that obstruction on the grounds that the executive enjoys absolute immunity, a fictitious doctrine that, if tolerated, would turn the president into an elected monarch above the law.

As Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist, impeachment was designed to deal with “the misconduct of public men” which involves “the abuse or violation of some public trust.” Collectively, the President’s offenses, including his dereliction in protecting the integrity of the 2020 election from Russian disinformation and renewed interference, arouse once again the Framers’ most profound fears that powerful members of government would become, in Hamilton’s words, “the mercenary instruments of foreign corruption.”

It is our considered judgment that if President Trump’s misconduct does not rise to the level of impeachment, then virtually nothing does.

Hamilton understood, as he wrote in 1792, that the republic remained vulnerable to the rise of an unscrupulous demagogue, “unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents…despotic in his ordinary demeanour.” That demagogue, Hamilton said, could easily enough manage “to mount the hobby horse of popularity — to join in the cry of danger to liberty — to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion — to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day.” Such a figure, Hamilton wrote, would “throw things into confusion that he may ‘ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.’”

President Trump’s actions committed both before and during the House investigations fit Hamilton’s description and manifest utter and deliberate scorn for the rule of law and “repeated injuries” to constitutional democracy. That disregard continues and it constitutes a clear and present danger to the Constitution. We therefore strongly urge the House of Representatives to impeach the President.

from John Fea (Messiah College) blog "The Way of Improvement Leads Home" (12/17/2019)

South Bend Chamber Singers - Christmas Concert at St. Mary's College Chapel (Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.)

Christmas at Loretto

Beautiful New Music for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany

Featuring the world premiere of a new work by American Composer

Carolyn Pirtle

along with new works for the season and familiar carols in new arrangements

Tickets on sale at Saint Mary's College Box Office (O'Laughlin Auditorium) M. - Fri.

call 574-284-4626 / / / SouthBendChamberSingers.org/

7:30 p.m. at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto (campus of Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN)

Christmas Open House, 3 - 6 p.m. 3602 S. Ironwood Dr., South Bend, IN

Date is Thursday Dec. 19, 2019
Time is from 3 - 6 p.m. Eastern
RSVP asked so dial 574-284-9000

Independent Living; Assisted Living; Memory Care
St. Paul's (a part of Saint Joseph Health System, South Bend, IN)

Explore and see why a faith-based, hospitality-rich, wellness-focused Community
would be a good fit for you this winter!

Professor of Astrophysics (Notre Dame): "What and When was the Christmas Star?"

http://physics.nd.edu/

What & When Was the Christmas Star?: 

An Astrophysics Perspective with Prof. Grant Mathews

Sunday December 15, 2019 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM  Special Lectures and Events

What and When Was the Christmas Star?

DVT presentation by Prof. Grant Mathews

3 pm in DVT Jordan Hall of Science

Free, but ticketed event. Go to nd-dvt.eventbrite.com for tickets.

"The Irishman" (feature film) -- shown at DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Campus of Notre Dame

The R-rated current in release major feature film will be shown (209 minutes)

at the Browning Cinema, 100 Performing Arts Center, Univ. of Notre Dame

Show times are:
7 p.m. Dec. 12, 2019
3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 14, 2019
3 p.m. Sunday Dec. 15, 2019

Berrien Springs, Michigan USA -- evening of Dec. 12, 2019

"Kindle Your Christmas Spirit"
6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday 12/12/2019

The Village of Berrien Springs will close its downtown streets to allow for a Christmas festival.

Shopping, live music, ice carving, horse-drawn carriage rides and tram rides, a live Nativity,
Christmas tree lights, handbell choir, face painting, children's crafts, treats as well as visits with
Santa and Mrs. Merry Claus at the Village Hall.

Free Admission.

Willis Patterson -- to appear at IUSB performance of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" Dec. 13, 2019

Annual "Teddy Bear Concert"
at IUSB's Northside Hall, 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 to $15 by phone at (574)-520-4203
http://arts.iusb.edu/

A bass-baritone and emeritus professor of music at the Univ. of Michigan,
Willis Patterson appeared as King Balthazar (one of the "night visitors" of the opera's title)
from 1961 to 1964 in the NBC Television broadcasts.

Amahl and the Night Visitors - 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 2019

Indiana University South Bend

Campus Auditorium
Tickets: $5 to $15 or bring a wrapped new teddy bear for "Center for the Homeless" and "YWCA"

This opera is based on Italian folk tales of the Nativity and Epiphany

Music & Lyric by Gian-Carlo Menotti for the TV medium of the 1950s

http://arts.iusb.edu/

Call (574)-520-4203

Delicious Baked Goods (Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.)

Sponsor is Niles Senior Center -- 1109 Bell Center, Niles, Michigan USA 49120

You have two opportunities to help!

Donate your delicious baked goods to the Sr. Center by December 10, 2019

and/or

Buy delicious baked goods at the Sr. Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Wed. the 11th!

Margaret Brennan interviews (Dec. 8, 2019)

www.cbsnews.com/

FACE THE NATION (weekly show) agenda & guest list

"Face the Nation" Guest Lineup:

• Rep. Adam Schiff, Intelligence Committee Chair, @RepAdamSchiff
• Rep. Mark Meadows, R - North Carolina, @RepMarkMeadows
• Robert O'Brien, National Security Adviser 
• Neal Katyal, "Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump", @neal_katyal

And, as always, we'll turn to our political panel for some perspective on the week:

• Josh Holmes, Republican Commentator, @HolmesJosh

• Julie Pace, The Associated Press, @jpaceDC

• Adam Entous, The New Yorker @adamentous
• Ed O'Keefe, CBS News Political Correspondent, @edokeefe

With One Accord, Give Praise to our Lord -- Bethel Music Dept. Program Dec. 6 - 7, 2019, Mishawaka, IN

Bethel University's (Mishawaka, IN) music department presents its 72nd annual Christmas Concert

7:30 p.m. Friday Dec. 6
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 7, 2019

in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

Featuring the Concert Choir, Voices of Triumph, Chamber Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble,
Jazz Combo, Spirit in Motion (Dance Troupe)

Tickets are $10 - $7

www.betheluniversity.edu/tickets or call 574-807-7080

Christmas for the Animals! -- December 7, 2019 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

An Event at Cass County Animal Shelter rural Cassopolis, Michigan
323 North M-62

Mid-morning to afternoon on Saturday 12/7/2019

Monetary, pet supplies, cleaning supplies

Special items sought include:
Kitty Litter, Bleach, Puppy & Kitten food as well as dog food and cat food

Light Refreshments will be served at the Shelter in a South Building - Garage

Ice Skating at Howard Park, South Bend, IN

from Visit South Bend dot-com

Howard Park’s 16,000 square foot ice trail and pond is a premier winter destination for the South Bend region.  The ice trail features rolling hills and soft curves that provide skaters with a diverse terrain when making their way around the loop. The ice pond is attached to the ice trail but provides a more traditional skating experience with an isolated skating area that can be used for learning to skate or skating activities like broomball.

Ice skating is available throughout the cold-weather season, 7 days a week. Admission to the skate trail and skate rentals are available at the support building located on the east side of the park.

Skate Rental:
Youth (ages 3-14): $7
Adults (ages 15+): $10
Season Pass (individual and family passes available): $3

Hours:

Mon. – Thurs., 5 PM – 8 PM
Fri., 5 PM – 10 PM
Sat., Noon – 10 PM
Sun., 1 PM – 8 PM

Holiday Hours:
December 21 – January 4, 2020
Sunday – Friday
1 PM – 10 PM
Saturday
12 Noon – 10 PM
Christmas Eve 2019
1 PM – 8 PM

Health and Safety Fair - Dec. 8, 2019 from 1 - 4 p.m. -- at Jewish Federation, South Bend IN 46615

Health and Safety Fair

Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, 3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, Indiana 46615

Join us for this amazing interactive event for families on Health & Safety! Learn about how different foods affect the way your body runs. Build your own fruit or veggie kabob to snack on! Shop in our "mini market" to learn how to make good food choices.
Meet your local firefighters and weather permitting, tour their mobile educational unit to learn about fire safety in the kitchen and bedrooms. The wonderful police department will be with us too, teaching about street safety and more! Dress up as your favorite Dr., nurse, police, or firefighter! It's time to move! Crawl through our obstacle courses and other physical activities and recapture the joys of movement!

City of London (November 2019 - December NATO summit) -- Conversation -- The 1A

NPR call-in program -- check local listings for start time

Tuesday, Dec 03, 2019 • 11 a.m. (ET)

An Attack At London Bridge And Annual NATO Meeting: The News From London

    

The London Bridge attack has restarted conversations about how we treat those who have been radicalized. We also talk about President Trump's visit to London.

Guests

• Matthew Levitt Senior fellow and director, Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; @Levitt_Matt
• Frank Langfitt Correspondent, NPR's London bureau; author, "The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China;" @franklangfitt

Christmas Concert - Niles District Library (Niles, Michigan) - December 8, 2019 afternoon

Niles Area Community Orchestra

Sunday, December 8, 2019 | 4:00 - 6:00pm

Please enter via the Rotunda door on Cedar Street as the rest of the library will be closed

620 East Main Street
Niles, MI 49120 (Entrance on Cedar)
(269) 683-8545