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Student honored for film
University Liggett School senior Angelina Randazzo’s film, “Don’t Ask,” was chosen as Best in Show at Digital Arts, Film and Television’s 55th annual Michigan Student Film Festival.
“Don’t Ask” follows Alex, a high school senior nervously awaiting his college acceptance letters. Alex finds himself overwhelmed by his fears after getting multiple rejections, and his fears manifest themselves in the form of a letter-shaped puppet that starts to follow him everywhere.
Randazzo said she drew from her own college admissions process jitters for this story.
“I wanted this film to capture my wild anxiety while writing essays and stressing about whether I’d be good enough for a college to notice me,” Randazzo said in a press release.
The film was shown during an awards ceremony June 3 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. To see “Don’t Ask,” visit youtube.com/watch?v=xmNRhTYH674.
Celebrate Christmas in July
It’s the off-season for Santa and Mrs. Claus, so they’re making a special visit from the North Pole to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores this summer.
At noon July 25, the iconic couple will arrive at the Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road, in a red Ford Mustang convertible to announce, “Home for the Holidays at Ford House,” a combination of favorite Christmas programs at the estate that will include evening walks through the lighted estate grounds and tours of the main floor of the house, which will run from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31.
“We are so thrilled to bring this new event to our guests,” Ford House Public Events and Engagement Manager Mary Ann Bauman said in a press release. “Our guests have shared their favorite moments from previous years, and we’ve gathered those together to make ‘Home for the Holidays at Ford House’ a truly magical experience the longtime visitors and first-time guests will all enjoy.”
Visitors are invited to see the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus July 25. This event is free, but reservations are encouraged. To register, click on the Upcoming Events link on the Ford House home page, fordhouse.org, and scroll down to the Christmas in July item.
Tickets for “Home for the Holidays at Ford House” will go on sale at 12:30 p.m. July 25 for Ford House members in person at the Visitor Center; members can start to purchase tickets online July 26. Tickets sold to the general public will go on sale Aug. 1. For more information, visit the Ford House website or call (313) 884-4222.
Shores to host fireworks
Grosse Pointe Shores, in collaboration with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, will host a fireworks display over Lake St. Clair at dusk July 4.
Shores residents and their guests are invited to make a day of it, with festivities at Osius Park starting at 1 p.m. July 4. Activities and other offerings include games, a bounce house, face painting, swimming, food trucks and a strolling circus. Two bands will perform before the fireworks: The Jerry Sprague Band and the Teen Angels. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to the park.
“I hope everybody shows up for the Fourth of July,” Shores City Councilman John Seago said during a June 20 council meeting. “It’s a blast.”
Volunteers are also needed for various shifts during the day. To sign up for a volunteer shift or for more information, visit the city’s website, gpshoresmi.gov.
Address your stress
The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will offer a free stress reduction workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 11.
Meditation instructor and holistic health practitioner Jonathan Itchon will teach breathing techniques and visualization activities to help people reduce tension and approach stress in a healthier way.
“Breathing is often the simplest way to help relieve stress,” Itchon said in a press release. “A lot of times, when we’re under stress, we don’t breathe or we breathe shallowly. Consciously breathing deep, slow breathing, helps us regain control and manage that stress.”
Registration is required and can be made by visiting helmlife.org or calling (313) 882-9600.
Blood drive scheduled
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 12 in the ballroom of The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. For an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter “gpbloodcouncil” as the sponsor code.
Take steps to improve walking
The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will be offering a new program about walking and how to safely incorporate physical activity into daily life this summer.
Presented in conjunction with Corewell Health, Beaumont Grosse Pointe, Walk with Ease is a free, six-week program that will run Mondays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. July 17 to Aug. 21. Participants must register for the full session. An informational session about Walk with Ease will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 10 and is encouraged for those thinking about taking the class.
Each session of Walk with Ease will include a health-related talk and a 30-minute walk that features a warmup and a cool down. Registration is required and can be done by visiting helmlife.org or calling (313) 882-9600.
