IT was a classic father-son moment, reversed: The 2-year-old sat and watched patiently as his parent hung upside down from the monkey bars. A few feet away, a white-haired man skipped across an S-shaped metal beam. Another man squeezed his six-foot frame onto a metal rack for situps, and two others hoisted themselves up chin-up bars.

Never mind the punishing diets, the gym dates and the doctors’ warnings, the quest to live a healthier, more active lifestyle has come to this: playgrounds for adults.       NYT

The Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall Association (HERTHA) is seeking volunteers with marketing, public relations, fundraising, legal, or operations experience – along with anyone desiring to make a difference – to serve on the Board or on committees to help ensure successful renovation of the historic Hall. In addition to Board and Committee members, the non-profit organization is seeking project-specific assistance for both small and large endeavors. Whether you’re interested in helping with specific short-term projects or serving in a more formal capacity, HERTHA has a need for you.

A cocktail reception for potential volunteers will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Town Hall in Elk Rapids, located at 401 River Street.

More Information

 Also visit www.ertownhall.org to see what’s happening and
watch for HERTHA on Facebook.

International timekeepers are adding a second to the clock at midnight universal time Saturday, June 30, going into July 1. That’s 8 p.m. EDT Saturday. Universal time will be 11:59:59 and then the unusual reading of 11:59:60 before it hits midnight.       USA Today

Somebody somewhere is probably upset, or at least discomfited, by this action. But it seems to be necessary, because Mother Earth is slowing down, among several other reasons, and it’s important to keep the sun straight overhead at noon.

Note that, contrary to rumor, you won’t feel the urge to hiccup when the second is added.  8~)

Come to the Elk Rapids Historical Museum on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. for this month’s program at the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society Museum. The presentation features great old photos of the old movie palaces of Detroit in their heyday. There will be an overview of theatres built in Detroit, their owners, architects and impact on the city of Detroit.

Presenter Dan Packer worked at one time or another at each of these theatres and provides the audience some insight on how they operated during the great days of the movie palaces and the causes of their demise. There were seven movie palaces built in or near Detroit’s Grand Circus Park: the Adams, Madison, Capitol, State, Michigan, United Artists and the Fox theatres all built between 1917 and 1928. These old great movie houses, that for many years were not only the entertainment center for the city of Detroit, but for the southeast region of Michigan as well.

 Note that the muserum is at its new location, 301 Traverse Street, Elk Rapids. A suggested $5 donation benefits building the restoration project. For more information go to www.elkrapidshistory.org

Most younger people say that the Internet is shaping who they are. On a question that asked people to rank different sources of influence on their sense of right and wrong, 59 percent of people ages 18 to 29 said that social media or the Internet had a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of influence. Fascinatingly, 38 percent of Americans older than 65 said the same. Both statistics fill out the picture of a society just beginning to display the Internet’s role in culture, with a generation it has substantially shaped rising into prominence.             The Atlantic

Men who use the restrooms in certain Michigan bars could be in for a surprise when they hear a female voice coming from the urinal.

The state is distributing urinal cakes with sensors that play a recorded message urging bar-goers to call a cab or friend for a ride home instead of driving drunk.

The recording ends with a reminder: “Oh, and don’t forget, wash your hands.” MLive

This might take the cake for bizarre government spending.

Please let me know if you spot (or hear) one of these in Elk Rapids.

A gene mutation that breeders latched onto because it makes a tomato uniformly red also stifles genes that contribute to its taste, researchers say.    NYT

My paternal ancestors hailed from northern Indiana, home of the best tasting but not always perfectly red tomato. Down with fake food!

Come out to the big tent on the shores of Torch Lake on June 30 to support the Grass River Natural Area. If you have never been to a SWITCHBACK dance you are really in for a treat!

Dance to Country, Blues, Cajun, Classic Rock and some great old Jazz standards, plus your favorite SWITCHBACK originals. This is the fourth year in a row that SWITCHBACK has performed at this benefit event for Grass River. This year there will be food from Siren Hall/Lulu’s, a larger dance floor, bigger tent and more of that great Shorts beer.

June 30 at Alden Depot Park

Food, Drinks and Opening act at 6 p.m. &
Dancing at 7 p.m.

Tickets are just $15 in advance and $20 at the door…Available online at www.GrassRiver.org, Chef Charles and the Village Market in Elk Rapids and Rapid City

Event sponsors:

• The Village Market in Elk Rapids and Rapid City
• Chef Charles in Elk Rapids
• Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall Association (HERTHA) in Elk Rapids
• Shorts Brewery

For more information or tickets go to www.GrassRiver.org or call 231-533-8314.

Tomorrow night kicks off the first of many Wednesday evenings of entertainment in downtown Elk Rapids. The downtown is closed to car traffic and the festivities erupt. Music tomorrow is by Swallowtail.

The brick building at 215 Dexter Street is now gone. The other building was demolished earlier.