 Miss Wayne County, Shelby Gardiner, zips up her Mac Duggal gown, provided by B-Ella Bridal in Northville, for the Auto Show Charity Preview. It's Detroit's own mini-version of the Golden Globes, complete with dignitaries, foreign and local press, along with lots of tuxedos, gowns, and sparkle. With the industry enjoying record sales and recovery, the Detroit Auto Dealer's Association has decided to take the glamour of this year's event up a notch by adding the area's own version of royalty.
Shelby Gardiner, Miss Wayne County, will be on hand to do exactly that Friday evening at the North American International Auto Show 2012 Charity Preview at Cobo Hall in Detroit. “I am so excited to attend the charity preview,” said Gardiner. “As a member of the Detroit Tiger's DTE Energy Squad, I have learned that the most enjoyable part of life is community service. The charity preview embraces that philosophy by supporting so many area non-profits.”
The quest for the perfect gown led to B-Ella Bridal of Northville which is donating Shelby's black tie show-stopper.
“B-Ella Bridal let me try on whatever dresses caught my eye,” said Gardiner. “We decided on a strapless black satin MacDuggal gown with a lace bodice and pink underlay. It's very ‘red carpet' with beading along the entire hemline and a contrasting pink lining. I love it!” First time
Gardiner, a sophomore at Oakland University majoring in elementary education, looking forward to seeing the auto show. “I've never attended the auto show, I know that sounds strange considering I was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area, but I just never had the chance,” said Gardiner. “I'm looking forward to actually being there and taking it all in for the first time.” The Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund was established in 1998 at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. It supports programs and activities that assist children and youth in the seven-counties of southeast Michigan. Gardiner will represent Wayne County at the Miss Michigan pageant this June in Muskegon. The Miss Wayne County Scholarship Program is a not-for-profit affiliate of the Miss America Organization. For more information about the Miss Wayne County and Miss America Organizations, visit www.misswaynecounty.org and www.missamerica.org. Source: Hometownlife.com
(MyFOXDetroit.com Staff Reports) - Diets and exercise aren't the only ways to slim down. Lucky Magazine Stylist Lillian Vasquez says anyone can dress ten pounds thinner in minutes. She's joining FOX 2 News Morning to show off the following tips: Nude Shoes - elongate legs Structured Shoulders - minimize waist Proper undergarments - eliminating pounds off your appearance Go Easy on the Layers Low waist pants work best (Yes, LOW waist) Flowing dresses CAN make you look slimmer, but there is a trick Add Color - optical illusion Flared Pants - longer and leaner Sheer Fabrics - minimize the frame Built-in Shape wear for men - shave inches off the belly Bronzer & Shimmer - gives an illusion of a slimmer shape Wear your up and away from your face - slimming look Avoid Pockets Learn more at www.saucyglossie.com and www.cheapchicas.com.
By JEREMY H. DICKMAN
Sun News Editor
More than 5,500 athletes, coaches, chaperones and volunteers will find themselves in Mt Pleasant this weekend as part of the 2010 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games.
The largest of seven state level events, the State Summer Games kicks off at 10 a.m. Thursday with the annual Capitol Steps Torch Lighting Ceremony in Lansing. Law Enforcement Torch Run members will carry the torch from Lansing to Mt. Pleasant in a relay run leading to the opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Opening ceremonies will include a Coast Guard fly over provided by the United States Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.
The 2009 Inspirational Athlete of the Year Kyle Winters will be running the last leg of the torch run in Kelly/Shorts Stadium to light the Flame of Hope at opening ceremonies. Winters will be presented with a running jacket at closing ceremonies from the Law Enforcement Torch Run and become an honorary member. The 2010 Inspirational Athlete of the Year will be announced during closing ceremonies on Friday.
An estimated 2,500 athletes are scheduled to compete from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in 10 sports including:
Aquatics
Athletics
Bocce
Bowling
Gymnastics
Horseshoes
Motor Activities Training Program
Power Lifting and/or Weightlifting
Team Handball
Volleyball
"We're up about 6 percent over last year in athletes," said Kimberly Purdy, public relations director for Special Olympics Michigan.
To compete in the State Summer Games, athletes must first qualify at the local level.
"This is something they work for all year long," Purdy said of the athletes.
With athletes competing in almost every county in Michigan, Purdy said this event is the athletes moment in the spotlight.
"When you come to the State Summer Games you see the joy on all their faces," Purdy said. "It's the athletes' chance to shine."
POSTED BY JAMES JAHNKE FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER The Detroit Tigers tonight will host their 40th annual Polish American night, complete with Polish dance and music. This year’s event is dedicated to Polish President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynska and others who died in a plane crash April 10. Local polka bands will entertain fans as they enter the stadium -- Big Daddy Orchestra at 5 p.m. outside Gate C, the Natural Tones at 5:30 p.m. inside Gate B, and the Kielbasa Kings at 5:30 p.m. at the Big Cat Court. Paws will join traditional Polish dancers on the field at 6:35 p.m. Meteorologist Chuck Gaidica of WDIV-TV (Channel 4) will emcee the festivities. Nicole Blaszczyk, the reigning Miss Michigan of the Miss American Pageant, and Jerry Lubiarz, Polish American Night representative, will throw the ceremonial first pitches. Robert Szczublewski will perform the U.S. and Polish national anthems. The traditional postgame Friday night fireworks will be accompanied by polka music. Detroit Free Press
 By DOUGLAS FARMER Tribune Staff Writer
NEW BUFFALO — The country's first Highway Travel Information Center celebrated its 75th birthday Thursday. And the event marked more than one special occasion. Maureen Lubke didn't anticipate a farewell party on her last day with customer service at what is today called the New Buffalo Welcome Center. Although the day marked a historical occasion, Lubke would tell anyone who listened the celebration was for her, and she almost kept a straight face. "That's what I've been telling people," the New Buffalo resident said. "They threw me such a wonderful party. Nobody has ever done that." Lubke has worked at the center for three summers. The center first opened on May 4, 1935, on U.S. 12, only a few minutes from its current location. It moved into its more modern facilities on April 6, 1972, to be adjacent to Interstate 94 after its completion. Nearly 40 years later, the facilities still receive compliments. "Everybody who comes through tells us how nice the grounds are," Lubke said. "I think the maintenance crew deserves credit for that." On Thursday, more than the facilities attracted people, as a ceremony unveiled a new state historic marker commemorating the center as the first of its kind. Door prize drawings, a "Taste of Michigan" table, a third-grade choir and the presence of Miss Michigan 2009, Nicole Blaszczyk, highlighted the celebration. Lubke said the compliments and people passing through have always been her favorite part of the job, and the full parking lot exemplified her point."It's a fun job. You meet a lot of people," she said. "I'll miss that. "Some of those people travel through the center on a routine basis. One Chicago resident, who didn't identify himself, said he has been making the trip through the area every couple of months for 18 years, and happened to come across the anniversary celebration. "We usually stop here because it's about the halfway point. You can stop here and use the bathrooms, get a drink of water and stretch your legs," he said. "When I drove in, I told my wife, 'Something must be going on here. I can't imagine why there are so many people.'" Whether there were so many people because of the center's anniversary or Lubke's last day, the celebration marked a distinct point in both histories. "This has been the biggest thing to happen while I've been here," Lubke said. Staff writer Douglas Farmer: dfarmer@sbtinfo.com South Bend Tribune
By SUSAN FIELD
Clare Managing Editor
In an effort to promote tourism, Travel Michigan is bringing 2009 Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk to Clare County.
Blaszczyk, 23, will be at the Mackie Rest Area, a Michigan welcome center, on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
While at the rest area, Blaszczyk, a resident of Novi, is traveling to five of the state’s 14 welcome centers as part of the “2010 Pure Michigan Welcome Center Tour,” to greet visitors, talk about tourist destinations, answer questions and provide photograph opportunities for visitors, according to Travel Michigan, the state’s official tourism office.
On Saturday, representatives from the Clare Area Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Pleasant Summer Fest and the Farwell Area Chamber of Commerce will be on hand to promote local tourism opportunities.
Kate Lawson / Detroit News Food Writer
The 2010 Girl Scout cookie sales may have officially ended in March, but the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan are still celebrating everyone's favorite confection with the annual Cookie Gala. This is the seventh year for the scouts' largest fundraiser (next to cookie sales), in which chefs from Michigan's finest restaurants gather to create delectable desserts using Girl Scout cookies as the main ingredient. Last year's Cookie Gala raised more than $80,000 to support programming for girls. Each chef is randomly assigned a cookie variety, including the new Thank U Berry Munch, a cranberry chip cookie. This year, 13 restaurants are participating, including the Lark in West Bloomfield Township (pastry chef Dino Challon); Andiamo Riverfront in Detroit (executive chef Eddie Bailey); the Historic White Horse Inn in Metamora (chef Tim Wilkins); St. Clair Inn in St. Clair (executive chef Glenn Staley); and Small Plates in Detroit (sous chef Daniel Huizar). While the competition is in great fun, every chef wants the opportunity to come away a winner. Jeff Baldwin, chef/owner of J. Baldwin's in Clinton Township, just might have the competition licked with his Do-Si-Do lollipop made from the peanut butter sandwich cookie. "I'm making a cheesecake center using the cream from the cookie then dipping it in chocolate and rolling it in the cookie crumbs," Baldwin said. He's serving the cute little pops on lollipop sticks. "This is my second year and it's really a lot of fun," he said. Chef Tim Voss of Mosaic restaurant in Detroit is keeping his creation a little closer to the vest, admitting only that his cookie is the popular Thin Mint. "This is my first year, so I'm a bit nervous," said Voss, "but wow, what a great cookie." Past galas have been held in March, said Kenya Youngblood, fund development specialist for the council, but "because we have realigned six Girl Scout councils into one, it will be a bigger event held in a bigger venue." The newly formed council now represents 59,000 girls in grades K-12 in Sanilac, St. Clair, Lapeer, Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and parts of Livingston, Monroe and Wayne counties. Last year, the scouts sold 2,962,800 packages of cookies and earned more than $1,670,000 in troop proceeds. "We've also expanded the list of restaurants so that all parts of the area are included (in the gala)," Youngblood said. Guests are invited to join Channel 7's (WXYT-TV) Glenda Lewis, who will host the event and serve as Cookie Diva, along with judges including Rich Luterman (Fox 2), Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk, Sen. Marcus Scott and Kiss-FM's Tune Up Man and vote for their favorite dessert. Cookies will be available for purchase at the event and, after the gala, restaurants will feature their new creation on their menus for a few weeks. About the event What: 2010 Girl Scout Cookie Gala When: 6-8:30 p.m. May 4 Where: Atheneum Suite Hotel, Detroit Tickets: $75 each or $130 per pair in advance, ($100 each or $170 per pair at the door); available online at www.gssem.org/cookiegala2010 klawson@detnews.com (313) 222-6026The Detroit News
Al McGeehan, Miss Michigan 2009 also lead parades HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - Maranda will be the Grand Marshal for the Kinderparade during Holland's Tulip Time on May 6. Former mayor Al McGeehan will lead the Volksparade the day before, and Miss Michigan 2009 Nicole Blaszczyk is the Grand Marshal for the Meijer Muziekparade on May 8. Maranda, the host of Where You Live on WOOD TV8, WOTV4 and WXSP, leads the parade of more than 7,000 area school children dressed in Dutch costumes. The parade will last about 90 minutes and begins at 2 p.m. The traditional Volksparade features street scrubbing by children of all ages, including McGeehan. It begins at 1:15 p.m. The grand finale is the Meijer Muziekparade on May 8 at 2 p.m. Local and national marching bands, balloons, Dutch dancers and more pack a two-mile route that lasts about two hours. On the Net: Holland Tulip Time Festivalwww.woodtv.com
Pregame activities score with visitorsBY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER No matter who wins the Frozen Four hockey championship this weekend in Detroit, Lex Sleeman is just darn glad to be here. Sleeman, the NCAA compliance officer for the Rochester Institute of Technology, is proud of his team for its first appearance in the men's national college hockey championship in only five years as a Division I competitor. He's also proud that RIT paid nearly half of students' $189 ticket cost, so about 600 of them could pile onto three buses to cheer at Ford Field. "It's been an exciting ride, and we accomplished way beyond what we thought we would in five years," said Sleeman. Hanging out at RIT's designated fan home base at Angelina Bistro, he was one of many folks in town to support their teams before Thursday's games for RIT, Miami University of Ohio, the University of Wisconsin and Boston College. Matthew Koch, 30, of Northville took a break from his job at General Motors to visit the NCAA Frozen Four FanFest in the Renaissance Center's Wintergarden. The 2001 graduate of Boston College planned to attend the games, but first wanted to check out the free activities at the FanFest. "I couldn't help but wander down," Koch said. As Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk, 23, of Novi signed autographs and a DJ revved up the latest hit tunes, young fans took turns shooting pucks at a light-up board or the hole of an open dryer. A third shooting station offered the chance for future goalies to don a full-mask helmet and leg pads to see whether they could fend off shots. Among the crowd at the Wintergarden stood Lester (Gramps) Smith Sr. -- a Frozen Four fan divided. His grandson and Detroit Red Wings draft pick Brendan Smith plays for Wisconsin. Grandson Reilly plays for Miami of Ohio. "This is hard. I don't know which way to go," the Toronto resident said. The Smith family planned to make the rounds before the games at Ford Field, hitting Wisconsin's official fan location at the Detroit Beer Co. and Miami's at the Hockeytown Café. They also planned a stop at Cheli's Chili Bar in honor of Chris Chelios, the ex-Red Wings defenseman now with the Atlanta Thrashers organization. Freep.com
 Nearly 45 guests — ranging from Farmer Don to Miss Michigan — read to students at Hoover Elementary School in Livonia on March 28 in honor of March Is Reading Month. “It was absolutely wonderful; the kids had a great time,” said parent volunteer Chris Flannigan, co-chair of Guest Reader Day. “The guests all asked to be invited back next year. We couldn't have asked for it to go more smoothly than it did.” Farmer Don and Miss Michigan were among the more popular guests, Flannigan said. An annual favorite, Farmer Don Fraser of Real Life Farm in Canton brought along a baby goat and a lamb. He visited all kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Miss Michigan, also known as Nicole Blaszczyk of Novi, wore her crown as she read to students and answered questions like, “What kind of a castle do you live in?” and “How do you keep your crown on?” “She was delightful,” Flannigan said. It was Blaszczyk's first time at Hoover's annual event. Blaszczyk was invited to the school by her cousin, who just finished student teaching there, Flannigan said. Another first-time guest was Jenny Kesler, sister of U.S. Oylmpic hockey player Ryan Kesler, who showed pictures of her brother. “The kids really enjoyed that,” Flannigan said. In addition, Livonia Stevenson High School hockey players, wearing their jerseys, read to students in the later afternoon. “They came after Stevenson got out,” Flannigan said. Each class had at least three guest readers during the day and some had as many as five or six, with each one reading at least 15 minutes. Other guest readers included elected officials, police officers and a firefighter. — By Karen Smith Hometownlife.com
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