Magglio's Items, Including Curly Locks of Hair, Sell for $6,100 on eBay

Tom Herrera

http://mlb.fanhouse.com

Hair doesn't make the man, but for Magglio Ordonez, it sure seemed to add character. So when he decided to get his first haircut in five years, possibly in an effort to snap a brutal slump at the plate, it caused quite a scene in the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse."Change," Ordonez said.

"Overhauling. Maybe I hit like old Magglio."Ordonez then promised to auction off the shaved hair for charity, with a starting bid of $5,000. Most of us aren't the type to bid on someone's bodily artifacts, but sure enough, a fanatic out there had the fetish and cash to match.

Ordonez's auctioned items -- including the hair, an autographed bat, and use of the outfielder's Comerica Park private box for the Sept. 15 game against Kansas City -- sold for a whopping $6,100 as bidding ended Saturday night. 100% of the money received will benefit Imerman Angels, a charity that connects cancer survivors with cancer patients and also networks caregivers.

Kmart Introduces Smart Assist Savings Card in Michigan to Provide Needed Relief to Unemployed and Their Families

In an effort to help unemployed Michigan residents continue to take care of themselves and their families, Kmart has introduced the Kmart Smart Assist Savings Card. The program, which gives eligible customers a 20% discount off more than 1,200 regularly priced high-quality private label grocery and drugstore staples for up to six months, is a welcomed relief that has been lauded by Michigan's elected officials at both the state and federal level.

Verifiably unemployed Michigan residents who register at www.kmart.com will receive a nontransferable Kmart Smart Assist Savings Card valid for up to six months depending on the date of issue. Although Kmart in-store associates are available to answer questions about the program, registration is a private, online process. Complete details, rules and exclusions can be found on www.kmart.com/smartassist

Volkslaufe Gets More Star Power with Biggest Loser Contestant

Dan Armstrong

http://connectmidmichigan.com/

This year's 4th of July race in Frankenmuth will have a little extra star power. Amy Cremen from season six of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" is running her first competitive 10K. She's doing it at the Volkslaufe this Saturday.

She lasted 11 weeks with her mother on last year's season of "The Biggest Loser." Now, Amy Cremen is taking on the Volkslaufe in Frankenmuth with a much different mind set about the city than when she was nearly 240 pounds.

Amy says, "Coming up to Frankenmuth was like chicken dinners, butter noodles, going to candy shops, stuff like that. I would never in my life would ever think that i would run a race, never."

She recently completed a 5K in Clawson. "I really was afraid i was going to be last, but there were people behind me and in front of me, which was good."

Now, she's ready to double the distance. "I'm trying to make it in an hour and 10 minutes. That's my goal."

The 28-year-old from Royal Oak says you don't have to be a runner to be in shape, but that once she started, she couldn't stop. "It's like a natural high. I just think back to where I used to be and how I thought I could never do it. Now I'm running 3 miles, then 6 miles, then 13 miles, it's like making the impossible, possible."

Her size 22/24 jeans from May of last year reminds her of where she's been. And now, the mirror and the finish line, remind her of where she's going.

Check Out MichiganFireworks.com For Your Local Fireworks Show!

Michigan Fireworks has listed 404 Fireworks displays in Michigan for 2009. Very user friendly and easy to navigate. You can search by day and location.

Also, click HERE for tips on photographing fireworks this holiday weekend!

Brandon Inge Is Destined to Get a Statue at Comerica Park

Greg Eno

http://bleacherreport.com/

It was in a fit of boosterism, some two years ago, when I took leave of my senses and banged out some tripe on this very blog about the bourgeoning third baseman of the Tigers, Brandon Inge.

I all but called him Mr. Tiger, declaring that he would never play for another big league team. Since his career would extend a dozen or so years in Detroit, why not go ahead and erect a statue of him in left center field at Comerica Park to join the other Tigers' greats in bronze?

Well, guess what? I stand by that boisterous tripe.

Inge, the catcher-turned-third baseman-turned-catcher-turned back into third sacker, is having a career year. He's about to obliterate his previous high in home runs (27 back in 2006) and has pumped his batting average above his norm, which means it no longer competes with his weight, but the weight of an NFL linebacker (.275 thru Wednesday).

The increased power and batting average, we're to presume, is a direct result of a new batting stance—something Inge worked on feverishly in the offseason, both with and without hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.The new stance—Inge stands straighter and points the barrel of the bat slightly toward the pitcher—hasn't done anything for his propensity to strike out. He's still fanning once every four at-bats, roughly. But he doesn't seem to be striking out in as many key situations.

In fact, Inge is becoming another kind of Mister, as in Mr. Clutch (with apologies to NBA star Jerry West).

Inge is, to me, the one Tiger I'd like to see at the plate in a late-inning, close game situation—with or without men on base. With his increased power (18 homers already), Inge places himself into scoring position simply by stepping into the batter's box.OK, but what's this jazz about erecting a statue?

Gleaners, Forgotten Harvest Team Up with Ford to Assist the Needy

Catherine Kavanaugh
http://dailytribune.com

Children missing meals they used to get from free or reduced-cost school food programs will be served by a new summer program offered by Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank.

When the last dismissal bell sounds in June, as many as 250,000 students in the tri-county area as well as Monroe and Livingston counties go without breakfast and lunch until schools reopen in the fall, according to Gleaners spokesman Gerry Brisson.

"The summer is when we see the need. That's when we need to ramp up our services," added Monica Cheick-Luoma, spokeswoman for Forgotten Harvest, which is based in Oak Park and delivers perishable food to 150 providers in the tri-county area.

Ford Motor Co. is helping the two organizations get more food to hungry families with a donation of three delivery vans and $150,000 that will boost funding to Forgotten Harvest by $100,000 and Gleaners by $50,000.

The vans are on loan for the summer from Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights and Waterford, which partnered with Enterprise Car Rental.

"It's a short-term program but we hope to serve 575,000 meals," said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

The $100,000 donation will allow Forgotten Harvest to provide 425,000 more meal this summer than last summer, Executive Director Susan Goodell said. The contribution will cover the cost of shipping excess corn from Iowa and potatoes from Idaho, she added.

The money also will help maintain and fuel the fleet of 21 refrigerated trucks that go to 191 grocery stores almost every day, in addition to restaurants and catering businesses, to "rescue" nutritious food.

In the last year, Forgotten Harvest picked up 12 million pounds of foods that would have ended up in landfills instead of homes where people are hungry.

"Maybe it's milk that will expire in two days," Cheick-Luoma said. "We pick it up in the morning, take it to a pantry or directly to a neighborhood with our mobile pantry, and it's on the table for dinner."

Gleaners provides pantry supplies and food that can be prepared for shelters and soup kitchens to 420 agencies. For the summer, it will add 27 locations serving children lunch two to five times a week courtesy of the Ford van and cash donations.

The new summer lunch locations include four in Clinton Township, three in Madison Heights, and one each in Hazel Park, New Haven and Oak Park.

"We're trying to get more food to families when they need it," Brisson said.

The need is expected to grow. Currently, an estimated 600,000 people in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties can't afford the minimum daily food requirements. This population could swell to 1.1 million people by 2013 depending on employment trends.

"Hunger is a real byproduct of the economic turmoil we've experienced in southeast Michigan," said Jason Vines, senior advancement director at Forgotten Harvest.

David T. Fischer, chairman and CEO of The Suburban Collection, said he is proud to use the business's resources and relationship with Ford to feed the hungry.

"We hope this initiative inspires others to join us," he said.

Wheels Turning on Transit Plan From Canton to Ann Arbor

Darrell Clem
http://hometownlife.com/

Plans are rolling along for a commuter transit system that is expected to start in late July for Canton residents who work in Ann Arbor.

Riders will park in Independence Park — off Denton Road between Cherry Hill and Geddes — and board Ann Arbor Transportation Authority buses that are expected to make two morning and two evening stops to pick up and drop off passengers, officials have said.

Neil Greenberg, AATA service development and communications coordinator, said Monday he hopes to release as early as next week more precise details about parking and bus schedules.

Greenberg said potential riders who want to receive updates by e-mail may contact AATA at mailto:atexpress.bus@aata.org.

The service is now tentatively expected to start on July 27 rather than July 20, as officials fine-tune details about the so-called A2 Express.

AATA officials approached Canton after piloting a program already in place with the city of Chelsea. The local proposal was approved last month by the Canton Township Board of Trustees, with Supervisor Phil LaJoy saying the transit authority's research “indicated a strong need for the service.”

Specifically, buses will take Canton riders to the University of Michigan Medical Center, U-M's campus and downtown Ann Arbor. Greenberg has said more than 3,000 Canton residents work for U-M, while another 1,000 have jobs elsewhere in the city.

Greenberg has indicated the service will be free for the first month, after which it is expected to cost $125 a month. Often, he said, employers will agree to split the cost with workers.

Township officials have agreed to provide up to 100 parking spaces at Independence Park from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. In return, the township will be paid $6,000 a year by AATA.

South Oakland Shelter of Royal Oak Has Been Named Most Outstanding Volunteer Program in Michigan for 2009

Jeremy Carroll
http://candgnews.com

One week a year, when the South Oakland Shelter would come to her church, Big Beaver United Methodist, Diana Whitefoot would volunteer as a transportation director.

With husband Jerry, her job was to make sure everyone could get from one location to another. Along the way, the two began volunteering more by helping clients fill out Social Security forms and giving computer literacy classes once a week.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Whitefoot, a Troy resident. “It’s just an amazing program.”

SOS, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, meals and case management support services for homeless families and individuals, was recently recognized as the Most Outstanding Volunteer Program by the state of Michigan.

“It’s definitely fitting for all of our volunteers,” said Kevin Roach, executive director of the Royal Oak-based group.

He said the group is honored and humbled by the distinction. They were named one of five finalists out of the 120 groups that were nominated, and were eventually singled out as the best. The distinction comes on the heels of their 25th anniversary as an organization, Roach said.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate our anniversary,” he said.

The organization has a partnership with 67 Oakland County churches and synagogues, each of which offers homeless people a warm bed to sleep in for one week out of the year. Roach said each church coordinates its own volunteer effort, and in the end, they have approximately 6,000 volunteers on an annual basis to help the program flourish.

Along with the volunteers at the individual churches, there are 30-40 regular volunteers who, like Whitefoot, help with the specific needs of the homeless population, from computer literacy and budget planning to job-hunting skills.

With the current economic troubles, Roach said they’ve seen demand for their services spike.

“We are seeing more women and children than ever before,” he said. “More than half of our clients are homeless for the first time in their lives.”

He said the response by volunteers and the community in the face of all this has been exceptional.

Through its participating churches, SOS provides shelter for 30 homeless people each week, and can serve up to 300 annually. They accept only people who are alcohol- and drug-free, and most end up with employment and/or a permanent place to stay at the end of their time with SOS, Roach said.

In addition to a great volunteer base, Whitefoot said the six full-time staff members and various part-time employees of SOS are exceptional.

“They work in a little building, and they utilize every resource they have,” she said. “They work really hard to make it happen.”

Ferndale's Inyo Restaurant and Lounge Grand Opening For Thursday July 2

http://detroit.metromix.com/

Coming to Ferndale Thursday, a brand new edition to the metro Detroit dining and nightlife scene: The new Inyo Restaurant and Lounge is all set to celebrates its grand opening.

Fresh and delicious sushi will definitely be served up as well as other modern creations, however Inyo is focused on being something different.

“We’re not really trying to do the Asian fusion,” says Service Manager Derek Rekar, “but it is Asian cuisine.”

Inyo, which is the Japanese symbol for circle and means weakness and strength, opened its doors in a soft opening June 4, but on Thursday, guests will be greeted with a full lunch and dinner menu that includes items like Bejing Duck, a newly-opened patio and sounds by Captn20.
Nightlife “is something we want to focus on,” Rekar says. “We do want the bar atmosphere but we want the lounge experience” too.

There’s no dance floor at Inyo, but with occasional DJs, a full bar, unique dishes like shabu shabu (thinly-sliced meat cooked at the table), this is a spot you’ll definitely want to keep watching on your after-dark radar.

8 p.m. Thursday, Inyo Restaurant and Lounge, 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248-543-9500.

Levin, Stabenow Hail $2 Million for Detroit Community Development

http://michigan.realestaterama.com

U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today hailed news that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has awarded $2 million to Communicating Arts Credit Union in Detroit through the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.

The funding will be used to expand lending and services in the Highland Park community.

“This federal funding will help Communicating Arts Credit Union fulfill its mission of providing Detroiters with affordable loans and other important financial services,” said Levin. “I am hopeful that this award will provide greater opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand and families to grow in Detroit and Highland Park.”

“Helping low-income families gain access to credit and affordable financial services is a necessary step to help get consumers back on their feet during these times,” said Stabenow. “Providing assistance to homeowners and small businesses is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy, and I am so happy this funding is going to good use here in Michigan.”

Come On and Get Healthy: Introducing The Biggest Loser Detroit Edition

http://clickondetroit.com

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan believes strongly in improving the health of all people in Michigan. That's why they are proud to sponsor The Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition.

Take a second to enter the contest for achance to compete, it's just the first step toward a healthier you.

Have you considered auditioning for the Biggest Loser?

Here’s your chance to be a part of The Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition.

Local 4 and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan are searching for OUTGOING and CHARISMATIC individuals with PERSONALITY who have the WANT, DESIRE and COMPETITIVE EDGE to vie for this chance of a lifetime.

Click HERE to enter