October 1, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Jeffery "Buddy" Stark, Planetarium Manager, University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. October 2024 will be an active month for astronomers, marked by the discovery of a new comet named Choocheechung Atlas, which has an orbital period of around 80,000 years. Comets like this often originate from distant regions such as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. As they approach the sun, they develop tails due to solar wind breaking off pieces of the comet. These tails can contribute to meteor showers, such as the Orionid meteor shower peaking on October 20th. The comet is expected to be visible to the naked eye starting around October 12th, shortly after sunset for about a week.

September 30, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Talks with Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press Sportswriter / Author, Detroit Lions: An Illustrative Timeline - In “Detroit Lions, An Illustrated Timeline." Discussion around the game highlights the importance of uniform aesthetics and player performance, with sports writer Dave Birkett noting Aidan Hutchinson’s development and effective spin move contributing to the team’s strong defense. Both the Lions and their opponents, the Seahawks, face challenges due to injuries, impacting their defensive line and safety positions. Key players like Marcus Davenport and Brian Branch are out, raising concerns about depth in critical areas. Despite setbacks, there is optimism about the Lions’ roster, considered one of the best in the NFC, with leadership from Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes fostering a positive environment.

Dan Campbell’s personable nature and ability to relate to his players are credited with turning the team around over the past four years. The coaching staff’s local ties, including Jay Harbaugh, add to the team’s cohesion. An illustrated timeline by Dave Burkett recounts key moments in the franchise’s history, including its origins when George A. Richards moved the Portsmouth Spartans to Detroit in 1934. The team’s early successes, particularly during the 1950s, helped establish its longevity in Detroit despite financial struggles in the 1940s. Current fan support at Ford Field is significant, contributing to the team’s success.

Anticipation for the upcoming Lions game is high, with the team facing pressure to break a decade-long losing streak against the Seattle Seahawks. Dave Burkett discusses his book, “The Detroit Lions, An Illustrated Timeline,” chronicling significant moments in Lions history and engaging fans with the team’s past. He hints at a potential addendum if the Lions win the Super Bowl this year.

September 30, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Andy Hetzel, VP of Corporate Communications for this week's A Healthier Michigan. Andy discusses the company’s new virtual solutions aimed at helping members with muscle and joint conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. These conditions contribute significantly to healthcare costs, totaling over $600 billion annually. The new initiative includes access to clinical advice from specialists, personalized care plans, support from board-certified health coaches and physical therapists, exercise therapy sessions, one-on-one coaching, exercise kits, and FDA-approved wearable devices for pain relief. This comprehensive digital clinic approach promotes whole-person healthcare, addressing both physical and mental health needs. The service will be available to members with employer-sponsored Blue Cross health insurance starting January 1, 2025.

September 27, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Jerry Tyrrell, Project Manager, Dexter Builders. The Remodelers Home Tour, sponsored by Bragg Ann Arbor, will showcase various homes, including a significant remodel on Bicentennial Parkway by Dexter Builders. Project manager Jerry Tyrell detailed the three-phase renovation process, which took place while the homeowners lived in the house. The first phase involved finishing the basement to create a functional retreat with a kitchenette, theater, rec room, and bathroom. The second phase focused on the main floor, featuring a kitchen remodel with modern white and gray finishes, an enlarged island, quartz countertops, and a new staircase. The final phase updated the upstairs with hardwood flooring and improvements to two bathrooms, including replacing a jacuzzi tub with a walk-in shower and freestanding soaking tub in the master bath. The renovation emphasized careful planning and attention to detail, highlighting that remodeling can be tailored to any scale. The home at 1404 Bicentennial Parkway is part of the tour on October 5th and 6th, featuring 14 homes with tickets available for $10. Tyrell praised Dexter Builders’ quality work and community involvement.

September 27, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Perry Seibert, Michigan Movie Critics Guild for this week's Talking Pictures. “Megalopolis,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a film over 40 years in the making, known for its unique and historically significant cinematic experience despite not being conventionally good. The story features Adam Driver as Caesar Catilla, a Nobel Prize-winning architect, and Giancarlo Esposito as Franklin Cicero, the mayor of New Rome, embroiled in political intrigue and conflict over the city’s future. John Voight plays a wealthy banker related to Driver’s character. The film draws parallels to the fall of Rome and presents numerous ambitious yet often incoherent ideas, with themes of empire, creativity, money, and societal issues.

September 27, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Lisa Roberts, Owner, Rock Paper Scissors and Ashley Schafer, MSAA Executive Director. An event celebrating the 24th anniversary of “Gilmore Girls” will take place in downtown Ann Arbor, initially started during the pandemic to foster community among fans of the show, the main celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th, featuring various activities including a virtual trivia night with themed snack boxes. The popular podcast “Gilmore to Say” will co-host a talk with fans, although tickets are sold out. The event aims to attract a diverse crowd, providing an alternative to local football events.

September 26, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Kirk Evenson, Chief Operations Officer / Licensed Builder / Co-Owner at Blue Zone Spaces. Kirk features "The Belle" in which the pantry in this remodeled Saline home was created by Blue Zone Spaces custom metal artisan, and is just one of the many outstanding custom features.

September 26, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Michael Bright, Assistant Calendar Editor at the Ann Arbor Observer, who details various weekend events in the area. As September ends, Ann Arbor’s performing arts season kicks off with a range of cultural events. The symphony opens with Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at Hill Auditorium on Friday night, featuring pianist Ye-Kwon Sun-Woo. The theater department stages Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the Arthur Miller Theater until October 6th. Webster Township hosts its Fall Festival on Saturday, offering community activities like sheepdog demonstrations, historical tours, local band performances, and an exhibition baseball game. There’s also a benefit concert for late folk musician Jay Stillstra on Saturday night. Rick Sperling presents a one-man play about his mother at Washtenaw Community College on Sunday, organized by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Additionally, Kerrytown Concert House features a Cuban night with the band Aguanco. Various other events and football games are ongoing as the month concludes.

September 26, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Nick Nerbonne, Media/Digital/Industry Relations Director at Pure Michigan. They discuss Michigan’s extensive 13,000-mile trail system during Michigan Trails Week, emphasizing its appeal for various outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and off-road vehicle (ORV) riding. Key locations include the Cadillac Scenic ORV Ride with rentals and guided tours, and the Shore to Shore Trail for horseback riding across the lower peninsula with camping options. Accessibility is a priority, with track chairs available in state parks for individuals with special needs, such as Hartwick Pines State Park.

September 25, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Jason Hayes, Director of Energy & Environmental Policy, Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Senate Bill 275 in Michigan proposes a clean fuel standard that is projected to increase transportation costs for households by around $350 annually due to a rise in gasoline prices. A study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy suggests this measure will have minimal environmental impact, reducing global temperatures by only 0.0003 degrees Celsius by 2100. The legislation also allows companies to buy credits, raising doubts about its effectiveness. Critics argue that while Governor Whitmer’s proposed gas tax aims to fund infrastructure repairs, it will primarily benefit low carbon fuel producers rather than address road and bridge needs. This tax is expected to disproportionately affect low-income individuals, including single mothers and blue-collar workers, amid high inflation, forcing families to make tough choices between essentials.