Public broadcasting spared the ax

June 29, 2005

Public broadcasting
spared the axe
Cries for help and expressions of outrage on WIAA-FM talk radio and other public broadcasting outlets in Northern Michigan were heard by Congress last week, which voted 284-140 to rescind a planned cut of $100 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Public broadcasting has been targeted by conservatives since the early ‘90s when a Republican Congress led by Newt Gingrich planned a similar budget cut to hamstring programming.
But, as in the ‘90s, the threat of crippling small stations and the cancellation of popular programs such as “Sesame Street” and “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer” led to an avalanche of phone calls, emails and letters to Congress.
MoveOn.org reports that more than one million people signed a petition in support of National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service -- the largest petition response for a single week in U.S. history. Congress was also presented with 60,000 pages of comments and signatures from the public, defending public broadcasting.
A further concern for public broadcasters, however, is that of Republican attempts to tamper with programming, substituting the kind of conservative opinion now presented as “news“ on FOX and talk radio stations across the country. Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, the Republican-appointed chairman of the CPB, made headlines in recent weeks with claims that public broadcasting is “too liberal.“
Of note, 100% of House Democrats voted to rescind the budget cut, joined by 38% of House Republicans representing 87 GOP congressmen. Locally, both Rep. Dave Camp and Rep. Bart Stupak voted to restore funding for public broadcasting.

Homeless youth shelter gets $500,000 boost
in name of a lost son
Empire residents Harvey and Marilyn Warburton have pledged $500,000 to build the youth wing of the new Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter. The gift is made in memory of the Warburton’s son Peter, who died by suicide eight years ago at the age of 21.
The youth wing, tentatively named Pete’s Place, will be Northern Michigan’s first- licensed facility for providing emergency shelter to homeless youths. It will be operated by the Third Level Crisis Center and will serve adolescents aged 14 to 18.
The youth wing will be part of the new Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter slated for construction next year. The goal of a Homeless to Wholeness fundraising campaign is $4.3 million.
“This is something Pete would have wanted,” said Harvey Warburton. “Pete was a caring friend to whom others turned in times of trouble. He would have been pleased to help create this refuge for young people needing help.”
Pete was born in England in 1976. He grew up in Farmington Hills and was a frequent visitor to Northern Michigan, where he loved to fish, sail, ski and be in the outdoors. He was a student at Hope College at the time of his death.
The wing of the building will have furnishings inspired by the art, music and books enjoyed by Pete Warburton.
“It needs to feel like a hangout,” notes Ken Homa, director of Housing Services at Goodwill. “If it seems too formal or institutional, it will not be the kind of place where teens in trouble are going to want to be.”
In addition to serving as an emergency shelter, Pete’s Place will provide counseling and life skills training to homeless youths so that they may transition to supportive long-term homes. A first attempt will always be made to restore youths to their immediate families.

Cherry Fest Schedule
(see also: Hot Dates)

Daily: July 2-9
- Hole-In-One Golf Contest, 9am-9pm
- Cherry Orchard Tours at Amon Orchards, 10am-11pm
- Children’s Fishing Pond,11am-7pm
- Midway Arnold Amusements, 11am
- Bay Side Entertainment Stage concerts, 1pm-11pm
-Hole-In-One Golf Contest Final Shoot Out , 2-3:30 pm
- Cherry Connection Farm & Fruit 1-7pm
- Kiteboarding Demo 1-7pm

Saturday, July 2
-Two-Person Beach Volleyball Tournament, 9am-5pm
- Big Wheel Race, 10am-noon
- Dock Dog Jumping, Holiday Inn, 10am-12pm & 4-6pm
- Opening Ceremony, Queen’s Arrival, 11am
- Festival Air Show, 12:30-3pm
- Midtown Canoe Race, 2:30pm
- Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm

Sunday, July 3
- Four-Person Beach Volleyball Tournament, 9am-5pm
- Old Mission Peninsula Bike Tour, 9am-1pm
- Puck Whacker Tournament, 9am
- Midtown Canoe Race, 9:30am
- Arts and Crafts Fair, 10am-7pm
- Dock Dog Jumping, Holiday Inn, 10am-12pm & 4-6pm
- Car & Truck Show, 10am-4pm
- Junior Arts and Crafts, 11am-2pm
- Taste of Cherries Food Fair, 11am-2pm
- Festival Air Show, 12:30-3pm
- Cherry Teddy Bear Tea, 3:30-5pm
- Festival Wine Tasting, 4-11pm
- Sand Sculpture Contest. 6-9pm

Monday, July 4
- Bubble Gum Blow, 10am-noon
- Turtle Races, 1pm
- Kid’s Cherry Pie Eating Contest, 3-5pm
- Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm

Tuesday, July 5
Heritage Day
- Gold Tee Golf Clinic, 8:30-10:30am
- Senior Breakfast, 9am
- Pet Show, 10am-noon
- Heritage Day Old Fashion Picnic, 11:30am-1:30pm
- Cherry Industry Program, 1-2pm
- Cherry Pins & Pizza, 1-5pm
- Kids Cherry Pie Eating Contest, 1-3pm
- Tribute to Agriculture film, 3pm
- Bed Race, 6-7pm
- Heritage Parade, 7pm
- Seniors Pinochle Tournament, 7pm
- Ice Cream Social, 8-9:30pm

Wednesday, July 6
Fun and Games for Special Kids
- Puck Whacker Tournament, 9am
- Senior Golf Scramble, 9am
- Bicycle Rodeo, 10am-noon
- Cherry Beary Picnic with Grandparents, noon
- Royal Pageant of Fashion & Luncheon, noon-2:30pm
- Bingo, 1-5pm & 7-10pm
- Tribute to Agriculture film, 3pm
- Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm
- Swing Dance Lessons, 7pm
- Very Cherry Swing Dance (Highpointe Golf Course), 8pm

Thursday, July 7
- Horseshoe Tournament, 10am
- Seniors’ Shuffleboard Tournament, 10am
- Bingo, 1-5pm
- Kids Cherry Pie Eating Contest, 1-3pm
- Seniors’ Bowling Tournament, 1pm
- Tribute to Agriculture film, 3pm
- Junior Royale Parade, 6:30-8:30pm
- Red Hat, Red Hot Glow Bowling, 7:30-11pm
- Ice Cream Social, 8-9:30pm

Friday, July 8
- Puck Whacker Tournament, 9am
- Sand Sculpture Contest, 9am-noon
- Seniors’ Golf Tournament, 9am
- Brown Lumber’s Lumberjack Show, 10am-4pm
- Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot, 10am-noon
- Grand Cherry Buffet Luncheon, noon
- Historical Tour of Cherry City , noon-4pm
- Youth Chalk Art Contest, 1-3pm
- Cherry Pit Spit Contest, 6-7pm
- Bingo,1-5pm & 7-10pm
- Great Wolf Run and Walk, 6pm
- Cherryland Marching Band Classic, 6:30-10:30pm
- Queen’s Coronation and Ball, 7-10pm
- Seniors’ Euchre Tournament, 7-10pm

Saturday, July 9
- Cherry Pancake Breakfast, 7:30-10:30am
- Meijer Festival of Races, 7:45am
- Brown Lumber’s Lumberjack Show, 10am-4pm
- Cherry Royale Parade, 11:15am
- Bingo,1-5pm & 7-10pm
- Cherry Pit Spit Final Contest, 5:30-6:30pm
- Ice Cream Social, 6:30-8:30pm
- Milk Carton Boat Regatta, 8-10pm
- Festival Fireworks Finale, 10:30pm