Riverfest 2023 (Niles, Michigan)

 August 3 - 6, 2023

Four days of free live music

Riverfront Park, Front street, Niles, MI Downtown near main streets

https://abc57.com/news/four-days-of-free-live-music-at-2023-niles-riverfest

National Avocado Day

 Monday, July 31, 2023

Emmy Award Presentation

 FOX channel is set to postpone the 2022-23 Emmy Award ceremony and speeches

until Jan. 2024.

SOURCE: LA Times dot-com

The Melodious Faithful - speech given at NBTL (New Buffalo Twp)

Berrien County, MI

Pokagon Room of New Buffalo Twp. Library

6:30 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 1, 2023 Free Event

Brian Carroll, Ph. D. in history

He is the historian and archivist of Israelite House of David,

Benton Harbor, MI

https://www.newbuffalotownshiplibrary.org/Pages/Index/227087/library-calendar

National Chicken Wings Day

 Saturday July 29, 2023

An Evening of Shakespeare

Potawatomi Park, South Bend Indiana

Chris Wilson Pavilion, bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating

"Midsummer's Night Dream" preview

FREE Community Foundation

Sat. July 29, 2023

https://www.visitsouthbend.com/events/?view=grid&sort=date&skip=12&bounds=false

Strike averted (Noon, 7/25/2023)

according to reporting from TheHill.com 

United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Teamsters Union announced today

a tentative collective bargaining contract; UPS CEO ssaid

Together we reached a win-win-win agreement. . .

When is the "Welcome Back Fair" for undergraduate students (I.U.S.B.)?

https://events.iu.edu/southbend/event/990384-2023-welcome-back-fair

August 21, 2023

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Campus Mall, IUSB (South Bend, IN)

Meet and talk with student clubs, school departments,

local business, and so forth.

Blue Moon (5th wednesday, 2023)

Blue Moon (Aug. 30, 2023)

Second full moon in this month (31 days)

9:36 p.m. Eastern

at full illumination

NDL (Niles Michigan) Library Friends Book Sale - Sat. 8/12/2023

August 12, 2023

10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Rucilla Room (Basement, accessible by elevator)

Library Friends offer library removed/withdrawn books,

fiction & non-fiction / adult; YA; children's

50 cents paperback and $1 hardback

Niles, Michigan near downtown, Main Street

phone for details 269-683-8545

FLOTUS to attend UNESCO Ceremony in Paris, France

story covered in ABC affiliate (S. Bend, IN) : www.abc57.com/ 

FLOTUS Jill Biden will attend this week the re-dedication to the

U.N. agency (UNESCO) - cultural and re-affirm the national

commitment to international preservation and upholding of

global values and civilization.

https://abc57.com/news/jill-biden-to-travel-to-paris-to-commemorate-us-rejoining-unesco-after-trump-exit

Island of Rhodes (July 2023 news)

 source: ABC News website http://abcnews.go.com/

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/greek-authorities-evacuate-19000-people-wildfire-blazes-greek-101586313

Greek authorities evacuate 19,000 island residents as wildfire blazes on Rhodes.

Fires burn for a sixth day on three fronts.

266 firefighters and 49 engines on the ground were joined with five helicopters

and 10 planes - 7 Greek, two Turkish, and one Croatian helped to put out wildfires.

Life Run 5K - July 30 (Sunday) at new Sylvester Arena, B. Springs MI

here is the sign-up 

for the Sunday 7/30/2023 - 9 a.m. until finish 10 a.m.

Berrien.Life.5K

5K registration

and t-shirt before Friday 28th online

11:59 p.m. costs $30 ; Michiana Timing for official time

https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/BerrienSprings/BerrienLife5K

at newly completed Sylvester Arena, Track facility

also Free Family one-mile walk at 10 - 11 a.m.

Africa University (new email platform)

SOURCE: Africa University Development Office

Africa University, Harare, Zimbabwe

The AUDO (Africa University Development Office) and

Africa University (Tennessee, PO BOX 340007, Zip 37203, Nashville TN)

announce a new email platform:  @africau dot-org

New email addresses are 

first initial + surname @ africaU.org

for example jdoe@africau.org

Please take a moment to update your address book 

or whitelist our new email addresses to avoid missing

any important updates from AFRICA UNIVERSITY

in the future.  Q/A at U.S. telephone (615)-340-7438.

Boil Water Advisory issued for Niles Charter Twp. and Bertrand Twp. near Niles, MI (Berrien County)

source WNDU dotcom (NBC affiliate)

July 19, 2023

Rural township residences warned to boil water and 

to abstain from drinking from the tap.

https://www.wndu.com/2023/07/19/water-boil-advisory-issued-niles/

Oppenheimer Festival in Los Alamos, NM

source: ABC news online article

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/oppenheimer-stirs-conflicted-history-los-alamos-new-mexico-101467882

City of Los Alamos sponsors a festival honoring the Manhattan Project founder

July 20-31, 2023

The county's project Oppenheimer began in early 2023. . .

Niles (MI) Burn Run for injured child victims of fires ; July 28-30, 2023

 https://www.wndu.com/2023/07/19/2023-niles-burn-run-return-riverfront-park/

for 2023 - events at Riverside Park, Niles, MI

30-mile Motorcycle Ride accompanied by police vehicles and fire trucks

Car Show

Carnival

Food Trucks

+1,000 participants in "Burn Run 2023"

https://www.wndu.com/2023/07/31/annual-niles-burn-run-raises-funds-children-burn-victims/

Pvt. Travis King

The calvary scout, U.S. Army since 2021, has had no deployments. 

He crossed willingly across DMZ

between N. Korea and S. Korea

He had served 47 days in S. Korea Detention following altercation with local citizens.

He is 23 years old and his mother in the U.S. had no idea that he would cross the DMZ.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-national-north-korean-custody-after-crossing-dmz/story?id=101397053

more about the Army scout's history of assaults =

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/19/asia/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-intl/index.html

Riverfest

 Niles, MI

Three-day festival - opens on August 4, 2023; also Saturday 8/5 and Sunday 8/6

at Niles Riverfront Park, Front Street and Main Street

Funfoods (Optimist Club, FaceBook page)

https://www.facebook.com/events/141318495660535/?ref=newsfeed

National Hot Dog Day (July 19 annually)

 July 19, 2023

4th Sunday - Farmer's Market (2nd street, Niles, Michigan)

11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m.

facebook/nileshomegrown

end of mid-summer (July 23, 2023)

These homegrown and farm-harvested / home kitchen

foods and products are mid-day on 2nd & 4th Sundays.

The nightly market is on the first Wednesdays

(July - September).

National Ice Cream Day (16 July)

 Today is National Ice Cream Day at

Dairy Queen

for those with the DQ App.

$1 off a Dipped Cone

https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-us/National-Ice-Cream-Day/

Sunspot activity is peaking

CNN article on astronomy and solar system physics

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/14/world/solar-maximum-activity-2024-scn/index.html

those dark regions (Sunspots) can reach the comparable size of Planet earth;

sunspots are driven by the sun's strong and constantly shifting magnetic fields.

Air Quality Alert Action (days of July 16-17)

Due to smoke from western and central Canadian wildfires, 

National Weather and Atmospheric Centers

urge the very young, the elderly, and those vulnerable to asthma and COD

to limit activity in the open air and prolonged outdoor exertion;

DUE to elevated levels of fine particulates

begins with sunrise until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday(Midnight)

https://weather.com/weather/alerts/localalerts/l/0e37759eed8b33a20ea534c3cf5201d292dcc3e97b91ed3df88f8ad027a10da0?phenomena=TAQ&significance=L&areaid=MIZ277&office=KIWX&etn=0000

Smash Mouth (80's classic rock group) cancels Aug. 12 Music Festival (S. Bend, IN Cubs Field)

posted at WSBT (CBS, Fox, Sinclair TV outlet - affiliate)

Due to unforeseeable circumstances, the promoter of "Smash Mouth" 

has cancelled its appearance-concert August 12, 2023 

at Four Winds Field (South Bend, IN Cubs minor

league Baseball venue). 

With format change ticket price will be $15 plus $2 fee;

gates open at 6 p.m.

In its place will be

the 1985

totally 1980s music tribute.

see further details here

https://wsbt.com/news/local/smash-mouth-cancels-appearance-michiana-music-festival-august-12-four-winds-field-ryan-cabrera-brad-fischetti-lfo-tickets-general-admission-1985-totally-80s-tribute-ronald-mcdonald-house-south-bend-indiana#

National Pet FIRE SAFETY Day (July 15 annually)

 https://abc57.com/news/Saturday-is-national-pet-fire-safety-day

Keeping Your Pet/s Safe in Heat -- make sure it/they has water

Israel's Prime Minister rushed to Sheba Medical Center (7/15)

 source: NY Times online article

73-year-old Benjamin Netanyahu was urged by his personal physician to check in

at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, Israel after reporting mild diziness.

He had spent Friday 14 July at the Sea of Galilee in Northern Israel

where the temperature reached 100 degrees F.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/15/world/middleeast/netanyahu-hospital.html

Initial assessment was dehydration.

Le 14 juillet, le Fete Nationale (national day in France)

https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-vocabulary/le-14-juillet-la-fete-nationale-francaise-bastille-day/

Everything is closed on Bastille Day (14 Juillet)

Military parades / Paris' fireworks

Full Moon (August 1, 2023)

The full Sturgeon moon for August this year will be visible

on rising at 2:32 p.m. Eastern Time for peak illumination.

https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-august

St. Swithin's Day (July 15 annually)

 Old Farmer's Almanac

a beloved bishop of Winchester, England (9th Century) whose request

was that he be buried in the churchyard - to be close to the people and

the gift of God (rainfall).  This wish was honored until A.D. 862 and

very old/odd Scottish proverb was enacted:  St. Swithin's

Day if thou dost rain,

for Forty Days it will remain.

https://www.almanac.com/fact/st-swithins-day-st-swithin-was-a-holiday

Under this pulpit are buried the remains of George Whitefield

 Old South Church of Newburyport, NJ

UM Pastor preaches weekly in pulpit under which

historic preacher/evangelist George Whitefield is buried

https://www.umnews.org/en/news/legendary-methodists-paths-intersect-at-massachusetts-church?mkt_tok=MDc4LUpYUS02NDMAAAGM78_6BXevCTfU1Xw5HT_dEWSrnZwQizyKvF3mshGtb3pHZxWgfhFJi-ELhZ-Ix6a51eQo8C-lIN6i16m6GKWAeQ7uDexH_T3XENnvupnKH0N_6g

Tornado Watch (Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan)

Tornado watch

Wed. 8 p.m. July 12, 2023

until Thursday 3 a.m. July 13

issued by National Weather Service for this county and many

nearby in Michigan and Indiana and N. Ohio

www.weather.com/

Living A Good Life (Lucinda Williams' 2023 autobiography)

from "POSTSCRIPT"

Pages 251-3 (Don't Tell Anyone the secrets I Told You)

Read. . .Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton

Listen to Coltrane, Nina Simone, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn,

Miles Davis, Woody Guthrie. . .

Drive across America.  Ride trains.  Fly to countries beyond your

comfort zone.  Try different things. . .

Speak with your neighbors.

Practice civil disobedience.

Try new resistance.

Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Don't litter the earth . . . Care for her,

Learn another language.

Treat your friends with kindness.

Do not fear death / Do not fear the reaper.

Visit the desert.

Go to the zoo.

Go to a country fair.

Slow down for skateboarders.

Dance.

Read the Bible.

Read the Bhagavad Gita.

Wear beads.

Watch a caterpillar in the sun.

ISBN 9780593136492

Her book is published in 2023 by Crown.

The Emmy Awards (to be awarded September this year)

 September 18, 2023

Emmy Nominations (2022-23 season): Reality/Competition and talk series

announced in CNN (only 2 categories on major traditional networks):

Outstanding reality/competition series

The Amazing Race

RuPaul's Drag Race

Survivor

Top Chef

The Voice

Outstanding talk series

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Late Night with Seth Myers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Problem with Jon Stewart

Chicago Restaurant (49 E. Cermak) to observe Mac 'n Cheese Day with BOGO

SOURCE: Chicago Food Magazine (July 2023)

Chef Damarr Brown is offering only at TOP THIS Mac N' Cheese

Buy One, Get One

on July 14, 2023 (National Macaroni and Cheese Day)

The varieties are:

Classic Mac,

Chicken Mac,

Vegetable Mac, 

Pork Mac,

Shrimp Mac, 

Beef and Gravy Mac.

Priced from $14 - 18.

https://www.chicagofoodmagazine.com/news/top-this-mac-n-cheese-celebrates-national-mac-n-cheese-day-july-14th

Four-page handwritten (Holographic) document should serve as Franklin's will

ARETHA FRANKLIN's

estate distribution before Probate Judge and Jury Tuesday 7/11

details at NY TIMES feature-news article

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/arts/music/aretha-franklin-will-couch.html

Free Slurpee on 7-11 (July 11) in honor of 7/11 Convenience stores nationwide

 https://wsbt.com/news/offbeat/grab-a-free-slurpee-today-in-honor-of-711-speedway-stripes-summer-cool-sweet-treat

Grab a free slurpee today in honor of stores = 7-11 and Speedway and Stripes convenient stop-and-go

It's all in celebration of the original 7 - 11 store, 96th anniversary of founding.  In last 21 years

(since 2002) the Slurpee give-away has become a "summer staple".

Joint-replacement solutions (Orthopedic specialists)

 Corewell Health Orthopedic Specialists across SouthWest Michigan

FREE

45-minute community seminar for those who experience joint pain

LATEST techniques for addressing hip, knee, and shoulder pain

HOW less-invasive surgical solutions are providing higher

quality outcomes for treating arthritis and worn-out joints

4 seminars (Van Buren county at South Haven, MI)

(Berrien, Coloma Public Library)

(Berrien, St. Joseph, at Corewell Health Hospital

formerly Spectrum Health Lakeland hospital) 6 p.m. Tues. 7/25

Niles (formerly Spectrum Southwestern

2002 S. 11th Street, Niles, Michigan)

now called COREWELL Health Care Center

Thursday 7/27/2023 at 6 p.m.

Reserve your spot at web sign-up

http://spectrumhealthlakeland.org/joint-relief

Also, walk-ins welcome.

U.S. 12, M-60 pavement repairs (July 10 beginning)

 from St. Joseph - Benton Harbor HERALD-PALLADIUM (southwest MICHIGAN)

https://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/u-s-12-m-60-pavement-repairs-to-start-monday/article_f475d2c3-f18c-5e07-b86f-f4fedc2eb53c.html

14.8 miles of pavement on U.S. 12 between M-139

and Leet Road

in both Berrien and Cass Counties.

Estimated date of completion is Oct. 20, 2023.

EXPECT single-lane closures and total closures over summer and fall weeks.

Do I need to buy 3-cent stamps to make new 66-cent postal rate hike (July 9)?

The FOREVER stamp, sold at post offices and other vendors,

will cost 66 cents from those sellers; the previous "Forever" can be

used on first-class mail (1 oz.) as the Postal Service honors the

variable-rate stamps.

http://faithfor2008.blogspot.com/2023/06/postal-rate-increase-at-july-9-up-3.html

Aretha Franklin's will dividing her houses, cars, wealth - 2010 versus 2014 documents

Matters for PROBATE Court judge and jury :

 Ms. Aretha Franklin, music genius-performer-composer, died Aug. 16, 2018.

She left separate documents

favoring eldest versus younger offspring. One on spiral notebook was

found under a couch cushion.  She had signed all of the pages of that

handwritten document.

The world-renowned Memphis-born singer (Queen of Soul) died 

at her Detroit area home

after an extended illness, having lost her battle with pancreatic cancer at age 76.

NY TIMES Sunday July 9, 2023 article describes competition for authentication

Trial at Pontiac, Michigan USA to begin Monday 7/10/2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/arts/music/aretha-franklin-will-couch.html

Northern Lights made visible by solar storm (17 states including Michigan)

 "The Hill" summary article (online thehill.com)

https://thehill.com/homenews/4087477-solar-storm-to-make-northern-lights-visible-in-17-us-states/

Forecasters expect the display on Thursday July 13, 2023

Aurora Borealis Lights

National Macaroni & Cheese Day

 July 14 (Annually)

This year 7/14/2023 (Friday)

Local and county Library branches & centers accept Donated Books; who else?

What if a Friends organization no longer exists in your 

Public Library / loaning library system?

Where might you donate books that are suitable to other 

readers / students / professionals

(Educators, researchers, et cetera)?

Public and Private schools

Teachers, hospitals, Thrift stores,

Shelters, Retirement homes, assisted 

living facilities,

Literacy programs, after-school programs, 

daycare, armed forces charities, 

"Little Free Library"

https://sjcpl.org/bookstore/ (this web link has helpful 

suggestions)

When does part II of Summer Session at Notre Dame (S. Bend, IN) conclude this mid-summer?

Last required class attendance day is =

July 21, 2023

all on-campus departments

https://events.nd.edu/events/2023/07/21/last-class-day-for-summer-session/

Dowagiac, MI Public Library fundraiser

 Weekend of June 14 - 17 (Friday, Saturday, Monday only)

Hosted by the "Ladies Library Association" in the

Library Community Room

Friday 6/14 from  9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday 6/15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday 6/17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Bag Sale)

211 Commercial street,  Dowagiac, MI (Cass County)

Details see FaceBook page or dial 269-782-3826

Prime Minister Mark Rutte resigns to King of Netherlands - immigration debate

Friday July 7, 2023

CNN report on 10-year tenure of coalition government led by P.M. Rutte

will end, triggering elections this fall.  The disputes inside the coalition are 

over measures to restrict immigration . . .

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/08/europe/netherlands-government-collapse-immigration-policy-intl-hnk/index.html

further in NYTimes dot-com online article Sat. July 8 -- P. Minister has resigned

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/world/europe/netherlands-refugees-government-collapse.html

Relay for Life (Childhood Cancer benefit at county location, SW Michigan)

 July 29 (Saturday) 2023

at Lakeshore High school, Stevensville, Michigan

see faceBook details

https://www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeBerrien/

Edinburgh, Scotland (Royal Residence) : Holyrood

 Visit Scotland:

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/palace-of-holyroodhouse-p247111

Week of July 2 - 6, 2023

visits of King and Queen (Charles & Camilla)

Who is Ulf Kristersson?

 He is the Prime Minister of Sweden who will meet with President Biden (POTUS 46)

today (Wed. 7/5/2023) beginning a week of diplomacy by the two leaders

to persuade opponents to allow the Nordic nation to join NATO.

SOURCE: NY TIMES

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/05/world/russia-ukraine-news

New Location

 for South Bend, Indiana 

Medical Foundation

3355 Douglas Road, South Bend

Appointments welcome and walk-ins

encouraged with screening and health check

Most Dangerous Holiday of the Year - South Bend (IN) Med. Rsch. Foundation

givebloodnow.com/ 

https://www.wndu.com/2023/07/01/south-bend-medical-foundation-need-blood-donations/

As health officials treat those injured over the long Fourth of July holiday,

there is a sharp increase requiring medical attention.

The blood supply organization for N. Indiana and SW Michigan will

offer from July 1 until July 8 a Blood Donor Beach Towel and

a $10 gas card from Speedway.  Your help is requested before and after

July 4 !!!

New President (andrews.edu) - Seventh Day Adventist university, SW Michigan

Office of the President

president@andrews.edu

New official began work July 1, 2023

John Wesley Taylor V

He previously served as Professor and Dean of Southern Adventist

University School of Education & Psychology

https://www.andrews.edu/president/biography/index.html

National Archives in D.C. - Declaration of Independence signed by Continental Congress

 Adopted on July 4, 1776

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/declaration-of-independence

Alfonso Ribeiro

Tuesday evening 7/4/2023

PBS Network

A CAPITOL FOURTH, annual variety show

this year hosted by TV Judge and Host of America's Funniest Videos

ALFONSO RIBEIRO

Musical acts to include =

Boyz II Men, Belinda Carlisle,

Chicago, Renee' Fleming,

BabyFace, Charles Esten;

also, The MUPPETS,

"A Beautiful Noise" Broadway musical,

8 p.m. Eastern (LIVE)

Zelensky to U.S. Government and citizens: We are grateful

July 4, 2023

Wall St.  Journal and The Hill online article

https://thehill.com/homenews/4079131-zelensky-to-us-on-independence-day-ukraine-grateful-for-support/

UKRAINE is grateful to the United States of America

for providing both Support and an Example of liberty . . .

The Kyiv leader harkened back to the nation's founding

as "the greatest attempt in history to rid mankind of tyranny" . . .

July 8, 10 a.m. at Niles District Library RUCILLA ROOM (2nd Saturday)

Benefit fundraiser for the Friends of the Niles (Michigan) community library 

and the "History Center" buildings (Fort St. Joseph Museum + Chapin Mansion)  

& Programming

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eastern

Monthly 2nd Saturday used and contributed book and media items on sale

620 E. Main Street, Niles, MI 49120

Phone for details and specific directions

(269)-683-8545

July's Supermoon will be 14,000 miles closer to earth than most lunar events

CNN article on Astronomy and Moon-watching

The full moon will rise on July 3 at 7 a.m. and will appear to be

brighter in the sky than any other event thus far this year.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/02/world/july-buck-supermoon-2023-scn/index.html

Cass County (Michigan: Cassopolis) County Fair (July 30 - August 5, 2023)

SW Michigan fair held annually

Website has attractions and annual special fair activities

https://mycasscountyfair.com/

What did King Willem-Alexander do on the 160th anniversary of Slavery's abolition?

 the HILL report

The King of Netherlands' monarchy,Willem-Alexander, apologized 

for the Netherlands

role in the slave trade (up to 1863) and transporting against 

their will, the slave populations of

S. America and the Caribbean (Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustathius, other islands).

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4077536-dutch-king-apologizes-for-countrys-historic-role-in-slave-trade/

When are the 40 days of astronomical "Dog Days"?

 July 3 - August 11 annually

the most sultry days of the summer season

they conclude with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the 

Dog Star, Sirius.

For the ancient Egyptians, the star SIRIUS

appeared just before the Nile's flooding,

so they used the star as a "WatchDog" for that flooding.

Canada Day (July 1) - national holiday for Canadians with this name since 1982

 Today commemorates the creation of the Dominion

of Canada.

on July 1, 1867 the British North American Act

established "One Dominion under the name of CANADA"

www.almanac.com

Judge orders +$1 million to be paid by Proud Boys to AME Church, D.C. for destructive acts

 July 1, 2023

Members of the right-wing extremist group, the Proud Boys, 

were ordered by D.C. Superior Court judge Neal E. Kravitz 

to pay METROPOLITAN

AME (African Methodist Episcopal) 

CHURCH for destruction of property

Dec. 2020.  SOURCE: CNN online article

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/01/politics/proud-boys-fined-ame-church-destruction/index.html