More details on Custer Celebration Event. Save the date!

I have information about the annual Custer Celebration Event listed on my calendar page. Here are more details. It's shaping up to be a great event with lots of esteemed guests and informative presentations. Check out the press release below.

HTML Version
http://www.prlog.org/10091501-annual-celebration-honors-monroe-michigans-most-famous-resident-george-armstrong-custer.html

PDF Version
http://www.prlog.org/10091501-annual-celebration-honors-monroe-michigans-most-famous-resident-george-armstrong-custer.pdf

Custer's ride revisited by local reenactor Steve Alexander

In 1876, General George Custer led the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army on a fateful journey across four hundred miles of prairie in thirty nine days. Today, Monroe resident and Custer reenactor Steve Alexander begins recreating Custer's last ride, leading troops of the Frontier Army of Dakotas and Kincaid's Irregulars portraying the US Army‘s 7th Cavalry.

Ronda Stiffler, my co-blogging partner at http://www.blogsmonroe.com/custer/ is writing a series of articles for the Monroe Evening News on the recreation of this historic ride that landed Custer immortality.

Check out Ronda's first feature at: http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/NEWS01/352283197

Lincoln Park's Preservation Alliance Seeks Your Help To Save Endangered Park Theater And Other Fort Street Buildings

PRESERVATION ALLIANCE INVITES PUBLIC TO BOARD MEETING

Lincoln Park , MI , June 12, 2008 – Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance (LPPA) is inviting the public to their Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 board meeting due to the endangered status of the Park Theatre and other Fort Street buildings. Meeting will be 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Lincoln Park Public Library meeting room, 1381 Southfield Road , Lincoln Park . Those that would like to see Fort Street ’s historic buildings be saved & revitalized are asked to attend the meeting. Residents, architects, designers, buildings, community leaders and those interesting in seeing a revitalized downtown Lincoln Park are urged to come together as a team.

The preservation alliance was also responsible for placing the on the National Register of Historic Places, the former Lincoln Park Post Office, now Lincoln Park Historical Museum, and the Mellus Newspapers Building. Additionally, they are also the author of the Arcadia Publishing book ‘ Lincoln Park ’ and created the Lincoln Park discount cards. For additional information on assisting the organization contact Leslie Lynch-Wilson, President, at 313-598-3137 or email lalynch@wideopenwest.com .

The Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Lincoln Park ’s historic resources, working to protect Lincoln Park ’s historic sites through education, advocacy, research, tours, workshops, and lectures.

Inside Detroit and Wheelhouse Detroit Offers Woodward Corridor Bicycle Tours

Every Sunday at 1 pm, Inside Detroit and Wheelhouse Detroit (a new bicycle rental shop downtown) lead interested visitors [and residents] on a tour up Woodward Avenue.

The tour lasts around three hours and takes riders past Brush Park, Orchestra Hall, the museum district, niche Midtown retailers and famous skyscraper landmarks. 

Cost is $35/$45 and includes 1/2 day bike rental. 

I copied this information from The Woodward, a monthly e-Zine published by the Woodward Avenue Action Association.

Sounds like lots of fun! When I get out of this big boot (had foot surgery a few weeks ago), I'm going for this ride. I believe Wheelhouse Detroit is located at the new boardwalk along the Detroit River between Hart Plaza and Joe Louis Arena.

For more information, visit: http://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/content.aspx?CatID=5

Monroe MI Hosts 2nd Annual Fife & Drum Muster

Received this reminder email from John Gibney, Director of Monroe County Historical Museums. The 2nd annual Fife & Drum Muster is slated for June 20 & 21, 2008. Ten corps will be in attendance. 

"That's right my friends," says John. "Next weekend little old Monroe will be hosting the greatest Fife & Drum musicians in the world! Let everyone know that this unique opportunity is right here in your own backyard.

"Great family entertainment and get this: It's FREE! Bring the whole family and all of your friends and their families!"

See flyer for details.

If you haven't been to Monroe, it's worth the trip. The town is picturesque and features great architecture. Stop by the historical museum and see the Custer exhibit. (For more information on Custer and Monroe, visit: http://www.blogsmonroe.com/custer

Also, visit the War of 1812 Battlefield and take the kids to the Calder Farm to pet the cute farm animals and enjoy delicious ice cream treats. (Farm is on outskirts of Monroe).

Happy History! Remember, history is all around you. Seek it out!

Karin Risko

The Happy Historian

Win Wheels on Woodward, Fundraiser Promotes Historical & Cultural Significance of Southeast Michigan's Famed Woodward Avenue

(June 10, 2008) - The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) today launched its Win Wheels on Woodward (WWOW) summer fundraiser and raffle drawing for a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the WA3's Woodward Tribute program, an innovative, interpretive public art and tourism program.

"The WWOW fundraiser is an excellent representation of Woodward's businesses coming together to raise funds for the building of the Woodward tributes," said Heather Carmona, executive director of WA3. "The Tributes tell the Woodward Byway story in a unique way to local residents and thousands of annual visitors from the surrounding region and the world."

Tickets to enter the WWOW raffle drawing are available now through Sept. 1. The winner will be selected from a group of 20 finalists to be drawn at a special concert on the new Alley Deck at the Magic Stick in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 12. The final drawing for the grand prize will take place at a VIP reception and official unveiling event on Sept. 18 in Ferndale, near the site of the first Woodward Tribute installation at the corner of Woodward and Cambourne. Each $100 raffle ticket offers contestants a one in 1,000 chance of winning the grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. In addition, each ticket purchased provides admission to the VIP reception and official unveiling event, as well as a one-year membership to the WA3.

The grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, provided by Harold Kuhn of Park Motor Sales, is the world's first full-hybrid premium SUV, offering passengers a smooth, quiet ride with plenty of storage space. In addition to comfortable front bucket seating and 16" five-spoke aluminum wheels, the Mariner Hybrid features ice-blue interior lighting; a six-disc, in-dash CD changer with MP3 capabilities; and a three-tier storage management system with removable bins. Vehicle safety features include remote keyless entry, a passive anti-theft system, reverse sensing, roll stability control, and an intelligent passenger-sensing airbag deployment system.

About WWOW
Win Wheels on Woodward (WWOW) is a summer fundraiser sponsored by the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) to raise $50,000 to benefit the Woodward Avenue Tribute program, an innovative, interpretive public art and tourism program designed to raise awareness of the historical and cultural significance of locations along Woodward Avenue. The fundraiser will include a raffle drawing for a grand prize 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, entry to two special events and a one-year membership to the WA3. Finalists in the WWOW raffle drawing will be selected during a special concert at Detroit's Magic Stick and the grand prize winner will be chosen from the group of 20 finalists during a VIP reception and unveiling across from the first Woodward Tribute location in Ferndale.

To learn more about WWOW and WA3 (and to purchase tickets!), please visit www.woodwardavenue.org.

About the WWOW Committee
The WWOW Committee is comprised of several leaders in the southeast Michigan business community, including: Barry Boozan, vice president of commercial lending at Bank of Michigan; Harold Kuhn, owner of Park Motor Sales; John McQuiggin, branch manager at Paramount Bank; Norm Silk, owner of Blossoms of Birmingham; Elizabeth Twork, account supervisor at John Bailey & Associates Public Relations; and Joe Zainea, owner of the Majestic Theater Center.