October 15, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Jimena Loveluck, Health Officer and Susan Ringler Cerniglia, Washtenaw County Health Department, Public Information Officer. The “State of Our Health” event, hosted by the Washtenaw County Health Department, is set for October 28th at Washtenaw Community College. The event will focus on public health priorities such as healthcare access, healthy food availability, and health equity, with an emphasis on community involvement and collaboration. The department plays a crucial role in managing communicable diseases, providing immunizations, and ensuring public safety through activities like restaurant inspections. The upcoming event aims to unite community members, health systems, and organizations to discuss public health issues, update attendees on data trends, and recognize retiring staff contributions.

October 14, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Latitia Lamelle-Sharp (D), candidate for Washtenaw County Treasurer. Catherine McClary, the Washtenaw County Treasurer since 1997, is retiring, leading to a contest between Republican Robert Zimmerman and Democrat Latitia Lamelle-Sharp in the upcoming November election. The treasurer’s role involves safeguarding public funds, managing investments, and collecting county revenue. She has managed financial operations and notably assisted families during a significant flood in 2021. Her platform focuses on the proper allocation of COVID-19 relief funds, community welfare, youth programs, and foreclosure prevention. A key issue in the election is the impact of rising property taxes, especially on seniors, with a proposed millage to create an office for senior property tax assistance.

October 14, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Robert Zimmerman (R), candidate for Washtenaw County Treasurer. Catherine McClary, the Washtenaw County Treasurer since 1997, is retiring, leading to a contest between Republican Robert Zimmerman and Democrat Letitia Lamelle-Sharp in the upcoming November election. The treasurer’s role involves safeguarding public funds, managing investments, and collecting county revenue. Zimmerman, with a background in economics and business and experience as a CFO, is concerned about the high cost of living in Washtenaw County and proposes reforms to the tax structure, which is heavily influenced by the state. He advocates for a cap on property tax rates, exploring forbearance options for financially struggling residents, and enhancing transparency in tax matters.

October 14, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Mark Munzenberger, Financial Education Manager, University of Michigan Credit Union. In mid-September, the Federal Open Market Committee reduced its key overnight borrowing rate by 50 basis points for the first time since early in the COVID pandemic. This decision, as noted by Chairman Jerome Powell, aligns with inflation moving toward a sustainable 2% target and balanced risks to employment and inflation goals. Mark Munzenberger from the University of Michigan Credit Union highlighted that this is significant, as it’s been over four years since such a rate cut occurred.

October 11, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Perry Seibert, Michigan Movie Critics Guild for this week's Talking Pictures. They discusses “Joker Folly-a-doo,” the sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker film, focusing on its exploration of mental illness through the concept of “folie à deux” or shared delusion. This sequel diverges from typical superhero films by excluding Batman and familiar DC characters, opting for a darker narrative centered around Lady Gaga’s portrayal of a new version of Harley Quinn. The film is not a standard big-budget comic book movie but a thought-provoking dark drama. It challenges viewers by exploring themes of mental health and identity without offering conventional entertainment or relief, even in musical sequences with Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix. The author critiques the film’s approach as discomforting yet intentional, reflecting societal issues and questioning audience expectations of comic book movies.

October 11, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Theresa Schmid, Communications Manager, The Guild of Artists & Artisans and Ashley Schafer, MSAA Executive Director. The Fourth Annual A2 Artoberfest Fine Art Fair will be held in downtown Ann Arbor on October 12th and 13th, showcasing the work of around 100 juried artists. This event will feature a variety of art pieces such as paintings, ceramics, and jewelry, making it an excellent opportunity for holiday shopping. Alongside the art displays, there will be live music, including performances by a local rock cover band, Ain’t Dead Yet, community art activities, food and beverage vendors, and a focus on sustainability through the use of recyclable or compostable materials. The fair is produced by The Guild of Artists and Artisans, a non-profit organization that supports local artists and enriches Ann Arbor’s cultural scene. Activities will also include a mask-making workshop at the Gutman Gallery and the continuation of a mural started by artist Gary Horton. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours for food and music, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, amidst some parking adjustments due to nearby maintenance.

October 11, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Michael Bright, Assistant Calendar Editor at the Ann Arbor Observer, who details various weekend events in the area. This weekend in Ann Arbor features a diverse range of events. Circa Italia is hosting a paranormal circus with adult-themed acts at the Briarwood parking lot from Thursday to Sunday. The University of Michigan’s Musical Theater Department will present a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” at the Lydia Mendelsohn Theater during the same days. For family-friendly activities, Domino’s Farms offers a Fall Festival on Saturday, including pony rides and goat milking demonstrations. A2 Art-oberfest will take place downtown, providing a mini juried art fair with live music and activities on Saturday and Sunday. The Kerrytown Concert House hosts the Acropolis Reed Quintet on Saturday evening, featuring classical and jazz music. The Antiquarian Book Fair at the Michigan Union Ballroom invites visitors to browse old books and collectibles. An author shares their enjoyment of transforming old postcards into glass frames, while Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation organizes a trick-or-treating event on the river at Gallop Pond for children. Lastly, the Ann Arbor Observer is recommended as a resource for local news and events.

October 10, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Charlene Bush, Marketing Director, Two Men & A Truck for this week's Around The Home. The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Ann Arbor is collaborating with Two Men and a Truck to support veterans through the “Movers for Military” campaign. This initiative, in partnership with Michigan Ability Partners, aims to collect essential care items for veterans transitioning to new homes. The event will be held on November 6th at Kroger in Ann Arbor, where items such as storage bags, cookware, and toiletries are sought. Two Men and a Truck values this partnership due to its effective outreach in assisting veterans, including providing gas cards for job interviews.

October 10, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Nick Nerbonne, Media/Digital/Industry Relations Director at Pure Michigan for this week's Pure Michigan Moment. Nick recounts a road trip along US-12, emphasizing its historical importance as one of Michigan’s first east-west trunk lines, starting from Detroit. Originally designed to support the rise of automobiles in the 1920s and 30s, US-12 connects various communities to Detroit and extends to the Pacific Ocean. Known as a national scenic byway in certain areas, it is familiar to many Michiganders. Nerbonne shares his experience with journalist John Gonzalez, noting stops like the Bomber restaurant in Ypsilanti, famous for its historical significance and the Bomber hash. They met a WWII veteran who shared stories linked to the nearby Willow Run Bomber factory.

Their journey included a visit to Wiard’s Orchard, where they bought fresh donuts through a unique ticket system, and appreciated the community vibe. At Wiards, they admired a historic turquoise Ford pickup truck honoring the founder, and despite the busy Saturday morning, enjoyed the atmosphere. The trip also explored the Irish Hills area, visiting Chateau Aeronautique winery and Hayes State Park, and reminisced about childhood memories of dinosaurs there, wishing for their revival. They stopped at Shorts Drive-In near Coldwater, a classic 50s-style drive-in.

October 9, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with business partner, Dean Erskine, Co-Owner, Lance & Erskine Communications and Producer Derek Laughlin. The discussion ranges from sports apparel availability to the evolving media landscape. They humorously recount an incident where Dean’s wife couldn’t find tiger jerseys at a major sponsor’s store, illustrating the irony in merchandising. The conversation emphasizes treating all team members well, including support roles like HR, to foster a positive work environment.

The main focus is on the shifting dynamics of media consumption, particularly the trend of “cutting the cord” as younger generations move from traditional cable TV to streaming services. Derek shares his own transition away from cable six years ago and mentions his son’s switch to Hulu, which he finds challenging due to content discovery issues. This discussion reflects historical concerns about pay television and notes the current complexities and costs of streaming options, contrasting with older generations’ desire for simplicity.