Normal Park Neighborhood Annual Yard Sale Saturday June 3 in Ypsilanti. It's the Woodstock of Yard Sales!

If you love yard sales then you definitely don't want to miss the fabulous, ginormous Normal Park Neighborhood Community Yard Sale on Saturday, June 3, in, you guessed it, the Normal Park neighborhood in Ypsilanti. This event is the creme de la creme of yard sales! No, it's the mother of all yard sales! Wait, it's the Woodstock of all yard sales! Yep, it's really big! The NPNA Yard Sale will be held from 9 AM - 4 PM Saturday. Coolness!

The yard sale attracts people from all over the place, near and far, and is a most awesome way to get rid of stuff! We can all relate to the desire to get rid stuff, right?! Yeah, yeah!

Well, alright then! Make sure you make it over to the fabulous, groovy, and downright friendly Normal Park Neighborhood Association Yard Sale Saturday, June 3. It's like Woodstock....for stuff!

Jeff Brown
Editor / Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.

Purple Walrus Press photo.

Parola Perspective : Notion that Dems lost because they've forsaken blue-collar worker pretty incredible.

Brooks Parola. Purple Walrus Press.

 I gotta say, this notion that the Dems lost because they have forsaken the blue-collar worker is pretty incredible. All one needed to do was to look and compare platforms...not mention recall that Hillary and Obama were the ones to provide universal healthcare, which they suddenly realize they want and need, but only after Trump convinced them that Obamacare was bad.

Could Hillary and the Dems have done more to sharpen their message to focus more attention on blue-collar workers? Absolutely. But, it would also help if the blue-collar worker, (many of them who left the Democrats under Reagan, when Democratic support for unions was at it's zenith) would wake up, and stop being fooled by GOP, divide and conquer rhetoric.

Project Mow and Amazing Mowing Sheep of Ypsilanti, cute and economically smart on part of the city.

Project Mow was a smashing success for the City of Ypsilanti and a big hit with local residents. As I'm sure most people know by now, there is a local organization called Project Mow. Project Mow offers their sheep to 'mow' grass. you know, graze. The City decided to use Project Mow and their sheep to 'mow' the grass in challenging sections of Riverside Park in Ypsilanti. Project Mow and the Amazing Mowing Sheep of Ypsilanti (credit the nickname to me) set to work in Riverside Park on May 23, 2017. After six days of mowing (grazing) their work is complete.

Project Mow is environmentally friendly, community friendly, and just as importantly, the project is economically affordable, efficient, and smart. I spoke to DPW (Department of Public Works Ypsilanti) Director Stan Kirton on the phone Tuesday morning. Kirton told me that the grand total for for six days of Project Mow came to $180. Yes, Project Mow and the Amazing Mowing Sheep of Ypsilanti only cost the city $180. That is a pretty good deal in my book.

Stan even broke it down a bit for me. $180  for six day comes to $ 1.25 per sheep per DAY! Pretty darn good! Those sheep are cheap!  According to Kirton this Project Mow initiative fits in with Ypsilanti's Reduce City Carbon Foot Print initiative. I couldn't agree more.

Nice job City of Ypsilanti! Project Mow is cute and fiscally sound. Can't beat that!

Jeff Brown
Editor / Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.

Project Mow. Ypsilanti's Riverside Park. Purple Walrus Press photo.

Big turnout for Ypsilanti Memorial Day Procession

The sun was out and the temperature a comfy 70 degrees as hundreds turned out for the Ypsilanti Memorial Day Procession Monday Morning, May 29. The procession began on Huron Street south of Michigan Ave and proceeded north to Cross Street before heading to River Street in Depot Town. From there the procession headed north on River Street and concluded at Highland Cemetery.

The streets along the procession route were lined with residents, particularly on Cross Street in Ypsilanti's Depot Town where both sides of the street were packed with spectators.

The procession included local law enforcement, military veteran groups, local school marching bands and local elected officials. Local elected officials taking part in the procession included Ypsilanti Township Trustee Monica Williams, Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds, City Council Member Beth Bashert, and State Representative Ronnie Peterson. The procession also included a walking Zap Zone Super Hero looking figure, a Star Wars Storm Trooper, and Wonder Woman, of course.

Jeff Brown
Editor / Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.

Photos Purple Walrus Press.

Barry Briggs Jr.

Ypsilanti Township Trustee Monica Williams.

State Representative Ronnie Peterson. (right)

Mayor Amanda Edmonds and City Council Member Beth Bashert.

Debbie Dingell joins up with former Ypsilanti foster youth for Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day in DC.

In a May 25 press release from the Debbie Dingell office, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI 12) teamed up last week with Brittney Barros and Mario McLean from Ypsilanti for the annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. According to the press release, "Brittney and Mario joined more than 100 foster youth alumni from across the country who traveled to Washington, DC to shadow members of Congress to get a behind-the-scenes look at the House of Representatives and share their experiences in the child welfare system as a way to influence policy around foster care."

According to Dingell, "These two young people are an inspiration for all of us. Brittney and Mario have overcome unbelievable challenges and both have a great outlook on life."

Brittney Barros, 18, works for Ozone House as a peer Outreach Worker and is also an advocate for foster youth through the Michigan Youth Opportunity Initiative, and serves as president and state co-director for Park West Foundation working to connect foster youth with federal and local programs. Brittney is enrolled in the music therapy program at Eastern Michigan University.

Mario McLean, 23, graduated from Michigan State University and is a District Sales Manager for Frito-Lay. While at MSU, Mario was active in the Fostering Academic Mentoring Excellence program. Mario currently mentors in his local Big Brother Big Sister program.

Jeff Brown
Editor / Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.