4 - 7 p.m. Eastern
rotirotiartcenter.org/events-1/
empty-bowls
Annual Hunger Relief project
that benefits REDBUD Area
Ministries
4th Thursday
April 23, 2026
Buchanan, Michigan
HIGH SCHOOL -- enter
from parking lot to gym / cafeteria
Thursday, April 23, 2026
In 250th year of "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE" -- April 28 to be only 2nd time a British Monarch will address CONGRESS
USA TODAY
("King Charles State Visit" (April 27 - 30)
is royal family's first since 2007)
April 14 coverage
Fernando Cervantes, Jr. REPORTER
Empty Bowls fundraiser -- soup dinner - artwork on sale - 4 - 7 p.m. at High School, Buchanan, MI [ 31st annual ]
World Hunger fundraiser (31st Annual year)
Location: Buchanan (Michigan) High School
$5 soup and chili take-out meal
includes Mac 'n Cheese for kids
and vegetarian option: benefits
Redbud Area Ministries' food
pantry
Roti Roti Art Center dot-org
details : Pick out a clay pottery
bowl. All profits go to RAM
local pantry (usually $5000+).
Thursday April 23, 2026
4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Eastern
_____________________
50 days after this
annual Tradition is the
Post-School Year
"City-Wide Garage Sale"
3-day weekend :
June 12 - 14 [ 2026 ]
friday a.m. until Sunday p.m.
Charles and Camilla, guests to stay overnight and dine -- April 27 - 30 (during War time)
Host family
Donald, Melania, Barron
Formal State Dinner included
(the Trumps only managed two
of those during entire previous
2017-2021 term) -- France + Australia
_________________________
This is the biggest Royal Family
visit since 2007 , marking the
400th anniversary of the founding
of Jamestown (later the colony of
Virginia)
Trump's ambassador to Lebanon: Michael Issa "Golfing Buddy" : participates along with POTUS in today ISRAEL - LEBANON White House summit
J Post has the scoop
TRUMP will attend at least part of Lebanon - Israel
PEACE summit at 1600 Pennsylvania today
THURS. 4/23/2026
___________________
newarab.com/news/
trump-picks-golf-buddy-
michel-issa-
us-ambassador-
lebanon
[ online article from 2025 ]
Sonnetfest (until 3 p.m. TODAY) -- Univ. of Notre Dame's O'Shaughnessy Hall
Annual 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
tribute to
William Shakespeare's
Sonnets
__________________
O'Shaughnessy Hall is the
venue for the annual
event that features
readings by Notre Dame
campus
notables as well as
Indiana / Hoosiers V.I.P.'s
[ Hagerty Cafe ]
more at
Shakespeare.nd.edu/shows/events/
2026/04/23/sonnetfest-2026/
FREE to public :
join with other fans of the Bard's
poetic standards
Iran seized 2 ships in Strait of Hormuz
Noon
April 22, 2026
Wed.
[ 54th day since
onset of "War of Choice" Feb. 28, 2026 ]
no cease-fire / end of war
negotiations taking place in
Islamabad, Pakistan once
Trump pulled back JD Vance,
son-in-law Jared Kushner,
best friend Steve Witkoff
Trump intends to "shoot to kill" Iranian boats afloat in the Strait of Hormuz
AP Live Update
Noon 4/23/2026
apnews.com/April 23
"Trump orders the U.S. military
to shoot to kill the Iranian small
boats that deploy mines to choke
traffic through the waterway
Strait of Hormuz"
3 weeks from now -- mid-May Pet Adoption Day - Mishawaka Grape Road store (Half Price Books)
on MAY 16, 2026
Half Price Books (HPB)
Mishawaka, IN
Noon until 3 p.m.
"PET ADOPTION DAY"
Store staff welcome the friends
from
Humane Society of St. Joseph County
(INDIANA)
who bring a variety of adoptable
pets to HPB in hopes of
helping the pets find their
forever home. Staff of HSSJC
will also share information on
how to adopt, foster, or volunteer
for local humane societies!
FREE Event !
Sonnet 73 (Shakespeare) -- Happy anniversary of the baptism / birth of William Shakespeare -- literary genius for subsequent centuires
online post (Oct. 2016) in "Writer's Almanac" (American Public Media website):
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consumed with that which it was nourish’ d by.
This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consumed with that which it was nourish’ d by.
This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
“Sonnet 73: That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold”
by William Shakespeare. Public Domain.
U.S. intercepted another oil tanker, saying it transported oil from IRAN
Thursday a.m.
4/23/2026
part of the
Blockade
in Trump's War of Choice
(ongoing since 2/28/2026)
Debate between POPE LEO XIV and POTUS Trump (Jesus wannabe)
David French, NY TIMES columnist
There is much more to
POPE vs. PRESIDENT
than meets the eye
___________________
the feud reveals the
moral bankruptcy of Trump's war;
illuminates the risks to our alliances;
exposes the hollow core of the
new right's Christian nationalism
----------------------------
"all the administration's public
prayers and religious memes
are meaningless when that same
administration discards historic
teaching and reviles Christian
leaders -- all in the name of supporting
the policies of a brutal, dishonest man,
a man who can't even articulate a
legitimate basis for the deadly war
he launched on his own command!"
Reconciliation process legislation (Passed by U.S. Senate overnight April 22 -23) -- only on DHS ICE & TSA funds -- does NOT include Trump voting denial language
Details on the
FILIBUSTER-proof matter before the
U.S. Senate
nytime.com/2026/04/23/us/politics/senate-gop-budget-immigration.html
REPORTERS:
Michael Gold
Megan Mineiro
Tribute band (music of Elton John & Billy Joel) : "Billy Elton" - Saturday 8 p.m. at Acorn Theater
The Acorn THEATER
April 25, 2026 (Saturday)
8 - 11 p.m.
107 Generations Drive,
Three Oaks, MI (Berrien County)
Tickets :
$35 general admission;
$65 reserved seating
acornlive.my.salesforce-sites.com
"The featured pianist / lead vocalist
of the BILLY ELTON band is
Reid Spears who leads an 8-piece
band" their concert set features
songs by the classic singer - pianists -
songwriters - composers"
17 artists, each displaying a distinctive style, will paint from 6 - 9 p.m. (Box Factory, St. Joseph, MI) - 1st Friday next month
Face Off
LIVE PORTRAIT EVENT
details at
boxfactoryforthearts.org/
date is
Friday May 1, 2026
ALL
portraits created during the
event will be auctioned off,
with proceeds benefiting the
artists and arts programming
at the Box Factory [ 1101 Broad St.,
St. Joseph, MI ]
Glee Club, Cheerleading team, dance groups - - - 4:30 p.m. Item unveiling
Friday afternoon
APRIL 24, 2026
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
Hesburgh Library Lawn (outside location,
weather permitting)
The- SHIRT
Friday afternoon -- after program
the 2026 football schedule
focused Sports Attire Item
will be on sale for purchase
at Hammes Bookstore, 24/April/2026
both on campus and Eddy Street
Commons outlet stores
April 2026 blog statistics (by 23rd reached 179K )
Holy Week 2026
April 1 = 10,803 views / visits
Maundy Thursday = 10,557
Good Friday = 10,019
Holy Saturday 9,964
Easter Sunday 1,781
4/6 539
4/7 515
4/8 496
4/9 482
4/10 591
4/11 1,051
Sunday 12th 465
4/13 8,937
Tues. 14th April 824
4/15 3,383
4/16 12,669
4/17 12,114
4/18 25,856 [most visits/view for APRIL]
4/19 11,804
4/20 7,512
4/21 25,645 [ 2nd most views ]
4/22 1,764
4/23 22,134 [ 3rd most views ]
Total number of April visits / views =
April 1 - 23 -- 179,906 thus far
________________________
Last month of 2026 (March)
total # was 168,341
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
April 2026 revelation concerning 37 billionaire individuals/couples and corporations who donated millions privately for WHITE HOUSE TRUMP Ballroom - WashingtonPost exclusive
[ subscription required ]
washingtonpost.com/ politics/ 2026/04/21/
trump-ballroom-donor-deal.html
37 billionaire individuals/
couples as well as corporate
donors who want their name
on TRUMP BALLROOM credit/honor
as far as signing the check
___________________________
(crypto "industry")
Tyler Winklevoss
Cameron Winklevoss
Coinbase
Ripple
Tether
_____________________
(tobacco)
Altria Group
Reynolds American
_____________________
(Communications)
Comcast
T-Mobile
Hard Rock International
_____________________
(Tech billionaires)
Meta
HP
Micron Technology
Amazon
Apple
Palantir Technologies
Microsoft
____________________
(Defense "industries")
Booz Allen Hamilton
Lockheed Martin
____________________
(Energy)
Union Pacific
Caterpillar
NextEra Energy
Paolo Tiramani
____________________
(Trump insiders: billionaires)
Lutnick Family
Kelly Loeffler & J. Sprecher (spouse)
Benjamin Leon, Jr.
_____________________
Individual donors
Konstantin Sokolov
J.Pepe and Emilia Fanjul
Stefan E. Brodie
Charles & Marissa Cascarilla
Edward & Shari Glazer
Harold Hamm
Stephen E. Schwarzman
_____________________
Philanthropy
Adelson Family Foundation
Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Fdtn.
_____________________
Tech Giants 8
Crypto 5
Energy & Industrial 4
Philanthropy 3
Trump Insiders 3
Com. / Entertainment 3
Big Tobacco 2
Defense industrial complex 2
Individuals 7
= 37
Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD -- all renewed by NBC at Network Press announcement
Three Chicago, IL-
based TV dramas - procedurals
will be renewed for the 2026-7
season:
Chicago Med
Chicago Fire
Chicago PD (Police procedural)
see
Variety dot-com
When "Bluegrass Fest" held every June - early summer weekend?
According to
EVENT CALENDAR
city of Niles, Michigan
Thursday June 5, 2026
starting with music 5 p.m.
also Friday June 6
also Saturday June 7
and running until Sunday
June 8, 2026
nilesmi.org/calendar
Remembrance of Things Past
Sonnet #30
ascribed to William Shakespeare
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear Time's waste
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long since canceled woe,
And many th' expense of many a vanished sight;
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the whole I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restored and sorrows end!
Rep. David Scott (Georgia) has died, bringing the number of REPRESENTATIVES to 430
13th Congressional District
state of Georgia (elected 2002 and sworn in Jan. 2003)
had served in Congress 20+ years
and had filed this year to run in
a 13th election cycle
Announced 4/22/2026
by Rules Committee
chairwoman (GOP - MAGA);
he had died late Tues. night. . .
in D.C. age 80
Entire Ban (announced at Notre Dame police website)
Notre Dame, IN
Campus
new policy concerning
e-bikes
as of July 1, 2026
No e-bike whether with
or without electrical
assistance
may be ridden on any
campus pathway, sidewalk,
or roadway, nor may they
enter any University building
for any reason.
THEY MUST remained parked
and locked around the campus
perimeter.
52 ways to celebrate EARTH DAY with Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
www.michigan.gov/egle/outreach/earth-day/celebrate
Octagenarian
Happy 80th birthday to
Director John Waters
b. April 22, 1946
Baltimore, MD
[ he has been a guest on
Finding Your Roots, hosted
by Harvard prof. Henry
Louis Gates, Jr. ]
IMDb trivia : a well-known
bibliophile who owns 8,000+
books
Waters was given a Star on
Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023
Stanley Kubrick epic film "Barry Lyndon" (185 minutes) -- Browning Cinema, DeBartolo
in English, German, French (w/subtitles)
the 1975 Oscar-winning film
has been restored in stunning 4K
3 - 6 p.m.
in DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (no intermission)
Saturday April 25, 2026
[same day as "Blue - Gold Exhibition" Football event in stadium ]
Free but ticketed event
visit required to performingarts.nd.edu/19378 website
co-presented by Keough-Naughton Institute of Irish Studies
_____________________________________________
Kubrick based this film screenplay on
William Makepeace Thackergy novel
The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844)
Multi-vehicle crash -- injuries of small passenger van that collided in construction zone
SITE:
I-94 (Royalton Twp., Michigan) -- Berrien
County was site
of fatal injuries and other hospital
treatment : 41-yr.-old died on
Transfer to Grand Rapids, MI hospital
Brian Luke of Coopersville, MI.
TIME: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday 4/21
in Eastbound Lanes of the Interstate
wndu.com/2026/04/22/man-dies-injuries-
multi-vehicle-crash-berrien-county/
Where is best viewing of HOLLAND Michigan's Tulips at full bloom?
Michigan Live!
mlive.com/
April 2026
Holland's Early Tulip Blooms
dazzle locals : here's where to
see color
without the crowds
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Primary decisions to be made May 5 (Indiana voters who meet registration & I.D. standards)
1st Congressional District (NW Indiana)
INCUMBENT : Frank Mrvan (D)
has a primary opponent
LaVetta Sparks-Wade (D)
in GOP - MAGA primary for that
N.Western District running are:
Barb Regnitz
Ben Ruiz
James K. Schenke.
2nd Congressional
INCUMBENT : Rudy Yakym (GOP - MAGA)
no opponent
in Democratic Party, a two-way race
Jamee Decio versus Shaun Michael Maeyens.
Idea Week (April 20 - 24) 2026 - ends tomorrow
Groundbreaking ideas and electrifying energy!
Ashley Rene Casey : Founder
Presence over Pixels
Rami Goldratt: CEO / Founder
Goldratt Group
Chris Stevens, Prof. Univ.
Notre Dame
Kate the Chemist
(Science Entertainer)
also professor, N. Dame
Aprille Ericsson, NASA
Aerospace Engineer
Nate Spangle, Founder
Get Indiana
www.ideaweek.com
April 20, 2026
Iraq post- Nov. 2025 election stalemate not covered in Western media : no Prime Minister leads to POLITICAL CRISIS
see
Middle East / Israeli coverage
jpost.com/middle-east/article-893695
April 21, 2026
10:45 Jerusalem late morning time Zone
NY State 21st Cong. District : regular GOP candidate not given Trump endorsement to replace resigned Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (she did not get U.N. Ambassador role but stayed at house of Repr.)
Elise Stefanik, one of Trump 1.0 most avid
allies in the NY Delegation of House of Repr.,
was to have been replaced by State
Assemblyman
Robert Smullen (GOP &
NY State "Conservative Party)
a PRIMARY endorsed candidate
GOP Standard Bearer to fill the 21st
Congressional House seat / / /
instead according to POLITICO coverage
Trump has named
Anthony Cosantino, a GOP Trump
style candidate being endorsed by
R. Giuliani and managed by
Roger Stone . . .
the plot thickens - - - - - -
see 2026/04/21/trump-bucks-new-york
Republicans in race to replace Elise
Stefanik / 00885217
Keir Starmer
Prime Minister
U.K. majority
Labour Party
may be voted "no confidence"
_______________________
He may lose his job over
regret / admission of guilt
from appointing Mandelson
(Friend of Jeffrey Epstein)
as Ambassador to the U.S.
Trump asks FDA Head M. Makary -- Can I have some of those Psychedelics / Anti-Depressive hallucinogens?
NPR .org "Trump expedites
via Executive Order
review of psychedelics for mental health disorders"
npr.org/2026/04/24/nx-s15789859/
psychedelic-treatments - mental- health
Casey Means as TRUMP second-term SURGEON GENERAL would favor Psilocybin (previous testimony - her published book)
POLITICO online platform
"Trump's nominee
Surgeon General Pick
means abortion - psychedelics
out of purview . . ."
see article AMANDA FRIEDMAN
& ALICE MIRANDA OLLSTEIN
3 p.m. today 4/21/2026
Means' book Good Energy
extols Psilocybin . . .
Cherfilus-McCormick (D- Florida) resigns her "House" seat
Breaking News
REUTERS.com/
world/us/
cherfilus-mccormick-resigns-us-congress-2026-04-21/
Crooked politician - - subtract another House Member who was "on the take"
Cherfilus-McCormick
(D- Florida) will face an
expulsion vote that will
succeed if 80 Democrat
colleagues of the Ethics
investigated swindler
join in on an upcoming
vote on the entire House
floor -- axios.com
has details =
sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-
democrats-ethics-expel
04/21/2026
Vendors (50)
Senior Expo - May 15 (Friday)
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
will give free tote bag
to first 800 attendees and
door prizes you can sign up for
Avid Health at Home
Berrien County Senior Centers
Berrien County Parkinson Support group
Caring Connection
CapTel Outreach
Comfort Keepers
Everdry Waterproofing
Fresh Perspective Home Care
Leaf Filter Gutter Protection
Legacy Counsel PLC
Mary Kay Cosmetics
PACE of Southwest Michigan
Professional Hearing Services
Starks Family Funeral services
St. Joseph Public Library (St. Joseph MI)
SW Michigan Hearing Service
THE ORCHARDS at Niles
THE Willows
Top Home Improvements
United Healthcare
West Woods (Bridgman, Niles)
Woodland Terrace
28th Annual Expo -- AREA AGENCY ON AGING
Third Friday of
next month
May 15, 2026
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Eastern
Mendel Center, Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor
MI
sponsored by AREA Agency on Aging, Inc.
FREE
areaagencyonaging.org/senior-expo/
Best Labor Secretary ever was a Woman "New Deal" official
During FDR's
4 elected terms / administrations
Frances Perkins
Trump's Labor Secretaries : portraits of scandal
Alex Acosta (senate-confirmed
in 2017)
left office in disgrace 2019
__________________________
Lori Chavez - DeRemer
close 2nd to worst in history
of Federal Cabinet officials
confirmed Jan. 2025 --
Scandals throughout 2026
(left office exactly 15 months
at her job )
The Fortunate Sons
A tribute band to
Creedence Clearwater Revival
(CCR)
Saturday May 9, 2026
at the Acorn Theater,
Three Oaks, MI
8 p.m. - concert begins
$35 general admission
$65 reserved
__________________
the acorn box office team
__________________
the tribute band is based
in Chicago, IL and
performs locally, nationally,
globally using original vintage
gear and instruments, accurate
costumes, and spot-on
musical ability
__________________
at its heyday, the group
produced 14 consecutive
Top 10 hits
Most exciting two minutes in Sport (152nd running this year on May 2)
Kentucky Derby Horse Race
weekend is
May 2, 2026 at Churchill
Downs, Louisville, KY
details at
gotolouisville.com/events-calendar/
annual-events/kentucky-derby-guide
Greenland's National Dog Sled Championship (Trump-Vance envoy who is also Louisiana's governor has been dis-invited)
Governing body for the
National Dog Sled Championship
is KNQK
Avannaata Qimussersua
__________________
while U.S. Tax Dollars
previously gave $ to
pay for transportation
of dogs,
sleds,
racers --
in 2026 the KNQK has
explicitly opposed
the involvement of U.S.
political figures such
as Trump's "envoy"
Gov. Jeff Landry
[the private tour
operator who issued an
invitation on his own
behalf was rebuffed]
GREENLANDIC HERITAGE
WEEK
may include military
presence from
Pituffik Space Base;
but . . .
NO Political invitees
such as Usha Vance,
her interested child/children,
or VP JD Vance . . .
Jeff Landry (taking time as Louisiana's Governor) leaves focus on Greenland to direct "LOVE ONE LOUISIANA" - his wife's foundation to cover funerals expense
STORY on
Sinclair Broadcasting Network (Press Wire Service)
Louisiana Gov. says his wife's
foundation will pay for 8
funerals for mass shooting
victims (children ages 3 - 11)
in Shreveport, LA (one of
Baton Rouge suburbs) . . .
wsbt.com/
news/nation-world/
Maria Tedesco reporter
for SINCLAIR 's
"The National News Desk" --
quote mayor of Shreveport
had very difficult two days
(Sunday - Monday). . .
Conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences -- FBI Director (Trump-Vance lawyer - conspiracy theorist)
Kash Patel (FBI Director since 2025)
Reuters dot-com (press platform website)
/world/fbi-director-patel-sues-atlantic-
court-records-show-2026-04-20
_____________________________
He is asking in a defamation lawsuit
that the publication Atlantic Monthly
and its reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick
pay him $250 million in damages,
for detailing his drunkenness on the
job and for frequent absences and
unavailability, delaying time-sensitive
decisions needed to advance investigations. . .
Chavez-DeRemer - update April 21
NYTimes.com/2026/04/21/us/politics/labor-secretary-steps-down.html
Reporter
Rebecca Davis O'Brien
Several dozen witnesses detailed her corruption
and abuse of spending limits and drinking on the job
Next member of Trump-Vance
Cabinet out -- fired for misconduct
drinking in the office/s
________________________
Labor Secretary since Jan. 2025:
she made it exactly 15 months . . .
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Espen Barth Eide (while at Brussels, Belgium)
Norway's foreign minister revealed in a
Politico - EUROPE interview that
Donald John Trump
opts during war engagement
with Iran to
quietly seek allies
to stabilize Gaza strip
(rural and Gaza City)
by cooperating with
the European Union and
the Palestinian Authority (!)
and to prepare for post-
conflict governance . . .
politico.eu/article/
donald-trump-quietly-seeking-
allies-to-fix-gaza-says-norway
Tuesday April 21, 2026
Also facing expulsion vote : Repr. Cory Mills who harassed and threatened beauty contestant - sexual misconduct / campaign finance violations
House Ethics committee investigation is ongoing
relating to members - - the HILL platform
_________________________________
Likely vote on Cory Mills
this week on House Floor :
thehill.com/ 2026/04/20
house-ethics-panel-reveals-20-
sexual-misconduct-investigations-
since-2017
Monday, April 20, 2026
Kash Patel, who made pledge to U.K.'s MI-5 and broke it / / / visited China to pressure them over Fetanyl shipments
BREAKING NEWS - Feb. 10, 2026
Reuters.com exclusive
FBI Director
Patel
visited China over subjects of
Fentanyl & Law Enforcement
FBI Director -- developments
Nov. 10, 2025
world/Europe/kash-patel-fbi-mi5.html
U.K.'s intelligence had
asked director of FBI
for help and he failed
to keep agent in place.
Patel's inexperience, his
dismissals of top FBI
executives, and his shift
of bureau resources away
from thwarting spies and
international terrorist
detection and prevention
have heightened concerns
among U.S. traditional allies
that Trump-Vance are just
on the way to sole use for
investigation of partisan
opposition and "election
enemies"/conspiracy theories.
Kash Patel (FBI) before Sept. 2025 U.S. Senate hearing blames Alex Acosta as "Original Sin"-ner for how he sided with Jeffrey Epstein
c-span.org/event/senate-committee/fbi-director-kash-patel-testifies-at-oversight-hearing/436283
Tuesday Sept. 15, 2025
The Senate Judiciary Committee
begins at 9 a.m. Eastern
C-Span 3
________________________________________
[ part of Kash Patel's rhetoric and off-handed
personal intrusions into what should be more dispassionate ]
in Patel's prefatory remarks he ended with the "on-the-Congressional
record" side of things, saying
See you in Valhalla, brother
to his deceased / assassinated BFF Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA
________________________________________
Patel on Thursday 10/2/2025
cut the ties of the FBI to an anti-semitism monitoring group
ADL ( Anti-Defamation League )
see Jpost.com/america-politics/article-869254
JERUSALEM POST Online coverage
Run! Buchanan (MI) for the Parks
First annual 5k race
Saturday May 16, 2026
Buchanan, MI 49107
runsignup.com/race/MI/
Buchanan/RunBuchananForTheParks
1-mile fun run $5
9 a.m. 5K $20
9 a.m. 10K $25
131 S. Oak Street, Buchanan
Is your child old enough to run a 5K Race?
Cleveland Clinic sought to answer this question
in Spring 2024 :
health.clevelandclinic.org/born-to-run-how-young-is-too-young-to-run-a-race
source author / interviewee
Gary Calabrese, PT, DPT
". . .no clear cut rule when it comes
to a focused running program. . .
if your child ask to start regularly
running at any point,. . .nobody
agrees on how much running
should be done when kids are young. . ."
Age 8 - 12 :this is a good age to try
a 5K (3.1 mile race)
if your child wants to enter a race.
For racing at ages 13 - 15
consider a 10K or a half-marathon
[online article does emphasize
problem of overuse injuries].
Flag Day 2026 parades (Berrien County) all on Sunday June 14?
No
there is an
After Dark Parade (neon-lit, music-filled) on
Friday June 12 (1st of 3-day
weekend);
then comes the Saturday 6/13 parades:
Annual Pet Parade (11 a.m.)
along with Saturday events such as
5K run at Watkins Park, Three Oaks;
Flag Day Market at Carver Park;
Quilts of Valor presentation 1 p.m.;
Fireworks at 10:30 p.m.
Culminating in JUNE 14
FLAG DAY parade
Elm Street at 3 p.m. Sunday
afternoon (Nation's largest
FLAG Day parade) in its
74th year. - - June 12 - 14, 2026
Sequels to predominate
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1, 2026)
Mortal Kombat II
"Star Wars Universe" -- movie release
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Hunger Games new title in franchise
Practical Magic (sequel to Nicole Kidman +
Sandra Bullock feature from few years ago)
Dune 3 (Dec. 18, 2026)
__________________________
MCU (Marvel Comic Universe)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (June 26)
Toy Story 5 (June 19)
Minions & Monsters (July 1)
________________________
Bio-pic : Michael
________________________
Stand alone title :
The Odyssey (Christopher Nolan director)
Biopic "Michael" opens April 24, 2026
Wonderland Cinema
Niles, MI
Front Street near downtown
First shows FRIDAY April 24
9:15
Noon
3 p.m.
6:15
9:15
same schedule Saturday 4/25
Ironman Athlete-influencer dies in swim part of Triathlon
Ironman TEXAS Tri-athlete
Mara Flavia Souza Araujo,
age 38 of Brazil died in Houston, TX
during the 2.4 mile swim portion
of the Triathlon : also athletes must
do 112-mile bike race and 26.2 mile
run.
COVERED in
mlive.com/fitness-influencer-38-
drowns-during-ironman-triathlon.html
Michigan LIVE April 20 (past weekend)
2026
Will Vance achieve the "Peace Prize" honor by bridging the divide between Trump and the Ayatollah? Time will tell
VP has been sent
to lead the negotiating team
to
re-open the Strait of Hormuz
and
to
forestall the bombings - missiles -
drones his boss threatens once the
Cease Fire
concludes in 48 hours . . .
Is Frank Sinatra "in the public domain"?
Copyright lawyers will tell you --
even if he died in 1998,
his trademarked / estate-managed
owned versions of songs are not
"up for grabs" --
to use a Songwriter / Composer /
Performer's work in whatever music
genre for your own profit / scheme
MEANS
you pay for that licensing permission !
Nancy Sinatra (85-year-old daughter of Frank Sinatra)
Nancy Sinatra calls the
posting on "TRUTH SOCIAL"
of her father singing a
trademark / signature rendition
of a Paul Anka song
My Way
by DONALD JOHN TRUMP
sacrilegious.
It will not sell out the entire 80,000 capacity of Rockne Stadium
Ticket price
$10
Blue - Gold Game (no winner)
for ages 13+
Limit 4 tickets per group
giving.nd.edu/
Blue - Gold Game : outcome
The Athletic Department
wins!
this spring exhibition of the
likely Quarterbacks, Offense,
Defensive line-ups
is not for a 1-0 record but is
a fundraiser for the Knute Rockne
Foundation / charity.
event/nd.edu
Saturday April 25, 2026
Admission : required
those attending will go through
event security
Oz Pearlman - annual dinner and awards "show" -- D.C.
The famed stage entertainer / "mentalist"
Oz Pearlman will be
the lead act / entertainer
for the
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTs'
DINNER this coming Saturday
April 25, 2026
at the Washington D.C. Hilton
Saturday April 25, 2026 -- "Nerd Prom" -- black tie & formal gowns - at D.C. Hilton -- WHITE HOUSE reporters / anchors
White House
Press Corp
Dinner - Presentations
April 25, 2026
at the Washington (D.C.)
Hilton -- Correspondents
along with their plus One;
unlike Trump-Pence tradition,
for TRUMP-Vance first time
Donald John Trump has pre-announced
his attendance . . .
whca.press/
also people.com -- magazine coverage
All week -- POPE Leo XIV to African countries (itinerary)
Algeria - -
where St. Augustine of Hippo was a bishop of
ANCIENT Christian church of N. Africa
Hippo is nowadays referred to as:
Annaba, Algeria
Cameroon --
Bamenda (April 16)
_____________
Angola (April 18 - 21)
Sanctuary of Mama Muxima
_____________
Equatorial Guinea (April 21 - 23)
a modern "petrostate"
Exact Location -- Wm Shakespeare's Home -- ARCHAEOLOGY / Map scrutiny
April 17, 2026
online notice of what was
made clear / notice with evidence
archaeology.org/news/
2026/04/17/exact-location-
of-shakespeares-london-house-found/
Third Monday of April (annually), BOSTON, Massachusetts
Patriots Day
(held on Monday closest
to April 19 - start of
Revolutionary War)
is when the
Boston Marathon
is held
(26 miles) -- the
world's oldest
annual marathon.
It finishes in
Copley Square
(a historic area).
How long ago in 21st century was the 450th Birthday anniversary of William Shakespeare -- activities in Stratford - upon - Avon?
from Shakespeares-Birthday dot-org dot- UK:
23 April 2014 will mark the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth
and on the weekend of 26/27 April,
Stratford-upon-Avon will be leading the world in celebrating
and paying tribute to Britain’s most famous playwright and poet.
Many thousands of visitors from around the globe are expected in Stratford-upon-Avon
for the bumper weekend of family fun,
which will include plenty of pageantry, pomp and performance.
Crowds will be lining the streets of this Elizabethan market town
to see actors, foreign diplomats and civic dignitaries lead the
1,000-strong grand Birthday Procession from 10:30am on Saturday 26 April.
They will be followed by a lively community pageant, street entertainers ,
and the Stratford Morris Men. Local people and visitors can join in too
and walk with the pageant through the town to lay flowers
on Shakespeare’s grave in the Holy Trinity Church.
A splendid marquee in the Theatre Gardens will host the traditional
Shakespeare Birthday Luncheon
attended by eminent speakers and distinguished guests
What’s more, throughout the day, the Shakespeare Birthplace trust
and Royal Shakespeare Company are planning a full day of entertainment
with something for everyone.
There’ll be music, street entertainers, story telling,
acting, stage combat and theatre make-up activities,
tours of the Shakespeare houses, children’s parties,
sonnet readings – and also the chance to spot the occasional famous actor.
[154 Sonnets are in the "Shakespearean
Canon" ]
Sunday, April 19, 2026
In 70 days / ten weeks
ABC news
is reporting that at the
end of the SCOTUS
(Supreme Court - John
Roberts, chief Justice)
there will be NO retirements :
neither Justice Thomas nor
Justice Alito will be
opting to leave the court, and
thus allow POTUS 47 to name
more robust, healthy jurists to
continue his constitutional impact
on the 3rd branch of the Constitutional
governance : The JUDICIAL branch
highest court authority.
June 30 will be a day of high anticipation
due to the typical day to release the
pending rulings of cases heard over the
Oct. first Monday to last day of June
"term" of judicial opinions.
Strait of Hormuz - - weekend of April 18 - 19 -- it has been closed by Iran (who continue to fire on fully loaded Oil Tankers)
BREAKING NEWS
Iran reversed course on reopening
the strategic waterway;
they warn that the
Strait will be blocked as
long as U.S. marine forces
maintain a blockade
___________________________
"Navy Warships cross
Strait of Hormuz,
exit after destroying
the surveillance drone,
according to U.S. officials
briefed on the operation"
April 12 (Sunday coverage)
7 a.m.
REPORTERS:
Michael Crowley
Julian E. Barnes
Adam Ragson
Tyler Pager
New York Times
April 11, 2026
Iran refuses second round of Talks with Vance / Kushner / Witkoff alongside Pakistan mediators
Jerusalem POST
early Monday - 4/20
reporting from
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS
agency
also ABC News senior
anchor Jonathan Karl
Freeze Watch (early Monday 12:01 to 11 a.m. low temp. of 28 possible) -- FROST over Fruit Crop Trees, outdoor gardens / plants
WNDU.com
weather
First-Alert-Weather Day
Monday April 20, 2026
Midnight 12:01 a.m. until
early morning
[ 7 a.m. temperature = 28 degrees ]
Seven weeks from now (June 7 -- Sunday AWARDS Show)
In 48 days --
on Sunday night June 7 are the
49th Annual "Tony AWARDS"
see details
tonyawards.com/press/
the-tony-awards-will-broadcast-
live-on-cbs-from-radio-city-music-hall-
on-sunday-june-7-2026/
8 - 11 p.m. Eastern Time (following
CBS News show "60 Minutes")
check local listings
All of MICHIGAN under a Flood Watch -- through Friday April 24, 2026
Thursday April 16, 2026 - Friday 4/17
Roads have been washed out
dams fail,
people have been evacuated
FLOOD STAGE
at St. Joseph River, Berrien
other counties SW Michigan
______________________
Public Service agencies warn
those traveling along river
roads to beware of flooded and
blocked areas near the
St. Joseph River, both in
Michigan and Indiana.
Trump reported Sunday 19th : seizure of an Iranian flagged oil tanker that was disabled and boarded by U.S. forces
NBC News -- Trump is "pegging up"
war against Iran neighbor control of
Strait of Hormuz ;
nbcnews
word/iran/iran-distance-peace-deal-
hormuz-closure-halts-shipping/
rcna340646
FBI Directors -- THE ATLANTIC article -- 4/17 posted online article -- Example of erratic and bizarre behavior (current director K. Patel)
Origin of Federal Bureau of Investigation
developments -- Kash Patel's drinking episodes -- ATLANTIC reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick
____________________________________________________
1930s J. Edgar Hoover - died in office May 2, 1972 (48 years Director)
Clarence Kelly (confirmed by Senate) 1973 -8
William H. Webster 1978 - 87
William S. Sessions 1987 - 93
Louis J. Freeh 1993 - 2001
Robert S. Mueller Sept. 4, 2001 - 2013
James B. Comey 2013 - 2017 (fired by Trump)
Christopher Wray 2017 - 2021 (resigned on order of Trump)
Kash Patel on Feb. 20, 2021 (GOP MAGA majority
confirms him by 51 - 49; moderate Women Senators
Collins & Murkowski oppose him along_ with all Democrats
and Independents)
________________________________________
this list does not contain the short-term "acting"
FBI Directors who were not subject to confirmation
after U.S. Senate Vote/ sworn in for multiple years
NSF : National Science Foundation -- likely to be closed, never to re-open
6 a.m.
Sunday 4/19/26
THE HILL Platform
reports that Trump-Vance suspension of
1,400 grants has also contributed to
any new 2027 grants --
NSF has funded a quarter of basic
scientific research across the country
The dismantling of the agency which
is a counterpart to the
National Institutes of
Health -- will curtail American
scientific innovation ultimately.
It funded past projects that
advanced the internet, the
cell phone, mRNA vaccines. . .
Lawyers for Donald John Trump and the IRS hope to settle soon his $10 billion lawsuit -- APRIL 17
The IRS will consider what damages and
settlement from release of Trump's Annual
Tax paperwork (years 2019 and 2020) --
see further REUTERS dot-com
[ platform wire service ]
any settlement would likely come from
taxpayer money
/legal/government/trump-irs-talks-settle-
us-presidents-10-billion-lawsuit
April 17, 2026
Ruby-Throated hummingbirds : Sighted near Indiana - Michigan boundary migrating from MEXICO winter spots
"Hummingbird Migration
tracker:
They are so . . .
close to Michigan [ mid - April 2026 ]
Michigan Live! dot-com
online article
4/14/2026
reporter Justine Lofton
mlive.com/life/2026/04
Eighteen honorees -- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026 [ Rock Hall.com ]
Luther Vandross (posthumous)
Phil Collins
Oasis
Sade
Wu-Tang Clan
Iron Maiden
Billy Idol
Joy Division/New Order
EARLY INFLUENCE:
Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti,
Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Gram Parsons
MUSICAL EXCELLENCE:
Linda Creed, Arfi Mardin,
Jimmy Miller, Rick Rubin
"Ahmet Ergun Award"
Ed Sullivan (posthumous)
__________________________
the Performance / Award show itself
is Nov. 14, 2026 at the Peacock
Theater, Los Angeles, CA and will
debut the following month on Disney+
Classic Heavy Metal ROCK band "Iron Maiden" (British musicians)
Classic Rock dot-com
announced that due to
Nov. 2026 already set TOUR
DATES (Australia) -- the
induction of the Rock Musicians
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
induction ceremony (Los Angeles, CA)
is a "date they will miss."
As they have been quoted --
The fans always come
first and that the show
will of course go on. . .
Mamdani - Interview April 19 (NBC)
NBC News.com/meet-the-press
sole guest of
MEET _ THE _ PRESS
Kristen Welker
on
April 19, 2026
NBC (check time
on your local listings)
The Odyssey (Directed and Produced by Christopher Nolan) - July 17 - epic Blockbuster Title, star-studded
July 17, 2026 is
the global release
date for Director
Christopher Nolan's
The Odyssey
blockbuster - epic;
the film's coordinated
release in I-Max theaters.
based on Homer's Odyssey
251 years ago [ April 19, 1775 ]
The military beginning of the
AMERICAN REVOLUTION's
battles
Lexington
and
Concord, New Hampshire
Colony
_____________
that military engagement
marked the beginning
of an 8-year war between
American Colonists
and the superior war-making
technology and staffing of the
global British Empire (headed
by King George III).
Saturday, April 18, 2026
One month from now
May 22, 2026
debut in theaters across
U.S. --
The Mandalorian and Grogu
director Jon Favreau
DAY 50 -- of War of Choice (Feb. 28 bombardment via unified air attack - missiles - drones on IRAN)
Fiftieth day -- Sunday April 20, 2026
Since the Feb. 28, 2026 (Saturday
final day of February 2026)
sudden attack
on Iran, targets both
military & infrastructure /
suspected HQ where the nation's
leaders were in hiding / underground
in urban and rural
Iran
(no notification of allies nor
or Congressional Leaders)
50 days have passed
[posted here mid-April
2026]
2026 American Sculpture Garden - - UPDATE : CNN reporting - - no announcement about any statues for June 2026 deadline -- Funding might proceed but no official word
NATIONAL "heroes" Statue
Garden -- 250 in original announce-
ment 2020 that was cancelled Jan. 2021
{? ? National Endowment Arts
and/or National Endowment Humanities }
__________________________
WASHINGTONPOST dot-com
has the "scoop" of the Columbus
Statue being out in place at
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, D.C.
______________________
earlier this year Jan. 13, 2026
TRUMP has SCULPTURE GARDEN
PLANS to "rewrite" who he admired
and intends to put up Statues (rules
or no rules to abide by)
just like he wants his name / surname
on the former Peace Institute and
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
both in D.C.
______________________
Non-American celebrities
that Trump muses about honoring
and including in "his" Statue
Garden of _AMERICAN_ Heroes:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ingrid Bergman
Christopher Columbus
Alfred Hitchcock
his images are under strict licensing -- LLC --
see alfredhitchcock.com/licensing
Nikola Tesla
Alex Trebek (Ontario, Canada)
Hannah Arendt (France)
Albert Einstein (Germany)
Junipero Serra
Marquis de LaFayette
_______________________
UPDATE: July 9, 2025 Washington
POST online article:
likely not ready / open until
2029 -- Trump-Vance Omnibus
Bill pushed forward $40 million
funding after Biden-era Nat.
Endowment for Humanities grants
were essentially zeroed by POTUS
Trump 2.0
newsweek.com/donald-trump-national-garden-american-heroes-
independence-day-4th-july-big-beautiful-bill-2094645
how well goes the negotiating in Islamabad? - Vance / Kushner / Witkoff
POTUS 47
announces Naval Blockade of
Strait of Hormuz
following Friday - Saturday
cease-fire talks
Susannah George,
Shaiq Hussain,
Natalie Allison
team of reporters sent by
Publisher- Owner Jeff Bezos
to cover the ISLAMABAD
face-to-face
talks of the team :
Vance, Kushner, Witkoff . . .
April 25 - 26 : Grand Rapids Library (50 cents and up)
Friends of the Library
Spring Book Sale
(at Main location)
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday // 1 - 4 p.m.Sunday
three hours only
111 Library Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
PAYMENTS accepted
cash, credit card, Venmo
____________________
specialty and rare items
marked individually
Lyrid Meteor Showers
To Peak
April 2026
__________
across the spring sky
helped by faded waning
crescent moon
___________
they are actually from
ice fragments off a
comet not "meteorite-like"
space rocks
____________
documented reporting of
the LYRIDS shower date back
2,500 years
Maria Medetis Long -- removed by Dept. of Justice where she headed former CIA Chief John Brennan pre-indictment phase of prosecution ("Russia gate")
Probe Prosecutor removed --
Friday 4/17/2026
story broke at CNN
_______________________
see also
REUTERS.com
CBS news division
_______________________
Friday April 17, 2026
she raised concerns as a career
prosecutor about whether
the evidence justified moving
forward with a case against
a former CIA chief
Joseph diGenova to join Dept. of Justice in southern District (FL) as counsel to Atty. General for CIA former head Brennan likely indictment
CNN has this "Breaking News"
"JUSTICE DEPT. adds former
Trump lawyer to investigation of
Trump critic John Brennan (now retired)"
4/18/2026
4 p.m. Eastern
Paula Reid, Legal Matters CNN ;
Evan Perez, CNN
LSD, Ecstasy, Psilocybin
April 17 coverage
NY TIMES dot-com
reporter : Andrew Jacobs
POTUS 47 expected to sign
executive order/s to boost research
and ease federal restrictions on
psychedelic compounds to treat
a range of intractable mental
health conditions -- Expected
Sat. 4/18/2026
This will benefit Texas by providing
$50 million that has committed to
studying IBOGAINE, a powerful
psychedelic that draws interest
from researchers intending to
TREAT OPIOID Addiction / Use
Disorder
nytimes.com/
Tulip Fest -- New Carlisle, IN - - 3rd Saturday APRIL 2026
55923 Tulip Road
New Carlisle, IN
April 18, 2026 (Sat.)
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Vendors -- [ Polish food ]
U-pick Tulips
U-pick Daffodils
Admission charged
per Car who arrive /
NOT per person admitted;
Petting area for
farm animals / companion pets
Friday, April 17, 2026
TV (traditional end of Sept. - May regular season) -- to mark season finales week of mid-May 2026
Last series episodes in May :
The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert (May 21, 2026)
The Neighborhood
starring Cedric the Entertainer (last show/s May 11, 2026);
will air its Series Final episode/s
NBC is certain that by
May 16 they will have aired
the final "SNL" (Saturday Night
Live) episode : Host Will Ferrell
comedian, past cast member /
Musical guest Paul McCartney,
original Beatle singer-songwriter.
In EASTERN time zone the weekly
show airs from 11:30 - 1 a.m. between
Saturday night and the first hour
of Sunday overnight.
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