Everyone should enjoy the blessing of home ownership

The wedding season is fast approaching and along with that comes the yearning by many young couples to find their first home. May is also National Home Ownership Month.

 At times, I wish that I was living in a downtown studio apartment. It would be nice on a sunny day to ride a bicycle or a scooter to work. With an apartment, there’s no siding to fix or gutters to clean. I would never have to cut the grass or pull any weeds. But then, no weeds, also means no land for which to sow or area for which to walk and ponder.

Still, the first step’s a doozy.

“The real estate industry can be a complicated area for even the most handy people,” according to Mike Dunphy, editor and chief of “Holmes: The Magazine to Make it Right,” a publication launched by Mike Holmes, celebrity contractor and host of HGTV’s “Holmes on Homes” and “Holmes Inspection.” To help honeymooners and clear the murk involved with mortgages, property inspections and premiums, Dunphy offers the following tips regarding the crucial steps to home ownership:
   
• Be ready by being preapproved: Gather up your financial documents and discuss with your bank’s loan officer the kind of home you can afford. A credit score check will be done by the bank to evaluate how your employment, savings and debts may affect your purchasing power. Be sure to ask for a copy of the report, as you’ll need it later.
   
• Comparison shop for mortgages. “Don’t stop at one approval,” said Dunphy. “Interview a number of banks, credit unions and mortgage brokers.” Find out what each lender offers in terms of fees, late and pre-payment penalties and payment options, and then compare them. “Before any lender triggers a credit check, give them the copy from your first bank’s inquiry,” Dunphy said. Too many credit checks at one time will raise red flags that could ultimately lower your score.
   
• Happy hunting: Once you are preapproved and have a clear understanding of what you can afford, you’ll be able to start your search. Having the paperwork done also offers you haggling power.
   
• Cautionary phrase: Once you find your dream home and make an offer, Dunphy recommends having a “condition on finance” in the purchase and sales agreement. This allows your lender to approve your finances but also the house as an investment.
   
• Cautionary walk: Congratulations on having your offer accepted. Now, the ball is in your court. Before closing, meet with your real estate lawyer to ensure everything is in order. It’s up to the lawyer to perform a title search and name execution. Go over the final mortgage agreement and be sure all of the terms have been met. It’s also at this time that the property and home should be inspected. It may cost more to have a professional look things over, rather than doing it yourself, but it’s worth it.
   
• Closing: Pull out the pen and be prepared to sign a whole lot of paperwork. “Hire a lawyer to go over all the fine print,” Dunphy said.

 
Home ownership can be a burden, but with it come feelings of pride, independence and well-being. It’s the headquarters where newborns are introduced to members of the family for the first time, where children grow up and where loved ones gather to catch up on old times. 

It’s for these reasons that homesteads are passed down from generation to generation — because parents want their children to experience the joys of home ownership.

Today's Muse

Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration ~ Charles Dickens

Children are determined to keep Earth healthy

Kids take the Michigan Green Schools program seriously.

"At Crescentwood going green is not just a catch phrase or something we do for Earth Day," said Fran Hobbs, principal of Crescentwood Elementary School in Eastpointe. 

"Every week, we go around the school and collect the boxes and bring them back to the classroom," said Cory McCain, 9, and member of Jodi Pirog's fourth-grade class. While fourth-graders shoulder the brunt of the activities involved in becoming a green school, all of the students and teachers contribute in some way. 

"Throughout the day, students are recycling paper in classrooms, reusing materials in art class, recycling juice pouches at lunch, saving water and paper when washing hands, and turning off lights that are not in use," Hobbs said.

It's this commitment that earned Crescentwood the right to hoist the Michigan Green School flag. 

The official designation is awarded annually to schools that apply for status and earn at least 10 of the required points. Participants are required to do at least two activities in each of the four categories including recycling, energy, environment and miscellaneous projects. Students from Wayne and Crawford counties, for example, joined forces to plant red maple trees at Hartwick Pines State Park in Crawford County. The faculty and staff at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Royal Oak rallied students and members of the community to volunteer for the city's spring adopt a park for a day campaign. Students at Joseph M. Carkenord Elementary School in the L'Anse Creuse Public Schools district, as part of its commitment to going green and a School Energy Efficiency Challenge sponsored by DTE Energy, will be monitoring its electricity use for a year. Carkenord is one of 11 schools in the district named a Michigan Green School with Evergreen status, the highest honor awarded by the initiative. Schools such as Crescentwood that have earned the green school status for three consecutive years are awarded a pennant to attach to the edge of their flag, as with a winning team showing the years it has been champion. Schools earning 15 points are honored as Emerald Schools, while those such as Carkenord of Chesterfield Township that earn all 20 points receive Evergreen status.

Cory Foley, 10, said one of the class projects enabled his class to adopt an animal. 

"We sold 400 candy grams," Foley said. "It's like a heart-shaped sucker. We put them in bags and sold them to people. We had some leftover money, so we decided to adopt an animal, a chimpanzee."

"We have a stuffed animal up there that looks just like it," said Ashlyn Chene, 10. "There's a picture and a certificate out in the hall. They could be an endangered species."

One of the activities that many of Michigan Green Schools participate in is the recycling of used packaging and products such as chip bags, candy wrappers and juice pouches. The waste is collected through TerraCycle's Brigade program (www.terracycle.net), which pays the schools and nonprofits for their efforts and then recycles the material into cool products.

"The kids have been able to see some of the results of their collection efforts," said a TerraCycle spokesperson. "Stores such as Wal-Mart and Target carry items such as the drink pouch products, circuit board coasters and frames." 

Earth Day is an initiative designed to promote action. For Michigan Green Schools like Crescentwood Elementary, where students practice being green every day, it's a celebration of their efforts to protect the world they live in.

"I'm very proud of our students," said Pirog, who has been with the East Detroit Public Schools district since 1998. "The value in it is that the kids are learning the importance of protecting our environment because in the future it's going to be their job."

"It's up to us to keep the Earth healthy because we don't know how long it can survive," said Moire Huff, 10.

DAYTRIPPING

This week’s listing of events and exhibits happening throughout the Metro Detroit area:

Easter Celebrations

Archbishop Allen Vigneron, archbishop of Detroit, will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter at Detroit’s Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. The public is invited to participate. Blessed Sacrament Cathedral is situated at 9844 Woodward Avenue, between Chicago Boulevard and the Davison. 

The schedule includes:

Good Friday, April 22, at 1 p.m. celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Service will include prayers, the Scriptural proclamation of Christ’s Passion, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion.

Holy Saturday, April 23, 9 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass including the Blessing of the Fire, a ceremony in which the paschal candle is lit from a small fire outside the church. 

Easter Sunday, April 24, at 11 a.m., Archbishop Vigneron will be the celebrant and homilist at Mass. This liturgy celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In addition to liturgies at the cathedral, numerous events are planned at parishes throughout the area. For a full listing check out the Holiday Worship supplement or visit Archdiocese of Detroit

Egg Hunt

Easter Egg Hunt and Candy Drop, 1-3 p.m. April 23, at Gratiot Auto Center, 29187 Gratiot, north of 12 Mile Road, Roseville. Indoor hunts for younger than 5, outdoor for up to age 13 years. Event includes photos with Easter Bunny (bring own camera), coloring raffle contest, wrapped candy drop. Call (586) 863-4011.

Starkweather Arts

Starkweather Arts Center and GREEN EARTH KIDS CLUB present “EARTH The Ultimate Work of Art,” exhibit of children’s art work created using recycled materials and inspired by the earth, through May 1, at the Center, 219 N. Main, Romeo. Center open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Spring for the Homeless

The Macomb County Warming Center and Ray of Hope Day Center present “Spring for the Homeless” dinner and entertainment fundraiser, 6-10 p.m., April 28 at DeCarlo’s Banquet & Conference Center, 6015 E 10 Mile Road, Warren. Tickets: $30 per person or $270 per table (10 seats). Live entertainment will feature Irish tenor Charlie Taylor along with singer/musician Larry Larson and Fiddlin’ George Chirota. To purchase tickets call (586) 321-0998 or email kmac0212@wowway.com

Progressive Dinner

Anton Art Center presents “The Sneak Peek Progressive Dinner Party,” 6:30 p.m. April 28, in downtown Mount Clemens, to preview the Center’s new “Cabinets” exhibit. Dinner starts 6:30 p.m. at Bath City Bistro, moves to Luigi’s Downtown and ends at the Art Center. Tickets $55 per person; cash bar. Call (586) 469-8666 or visit The Anton Art Center Also, “Cabinet” exhibition at Anton Art Center April 29-June 10; opening reception 6-9 p.m. April 29.

Matrix Theatre

“April Foolery” Friday-Sunday through May 1, by Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley. Dinner and show pacakages also available. For tickets, (313) 967-0599.

ACS fundraiser

Shelby Township Relay for Life fundraiser for American Cancer Society, 1-4 p.m. April 30, at Cold Stone Creamery, 23 Mile and Schoenherr roads. Stories, songs, photos with Singing Princess 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., entertainment by Four Stories, coloring contest, balloon artist.

Go Comedy!

“Ferndale 2-4-8” production at Go Comedy, 261 Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through May 26. Tickets $10 Thursdays, $15 Fridays. Call (248) 327-0575 or visit www.gocomedy.net.

Free Day

Free admission and parking to Detroit Zoo, April 27, for those 62 and older and their caregivers. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Day includes music, tractor train tours, bingo and a senior resource area. Visit The Detroit Zooor call (248) 541-5717.

Historical society

Detroit Historical Society’s “Behind the Scenes” series continues with  Historical Detroit motorcoach tour, April 30. For schedule and fee information, call (313) 833-1801 or visit www.detroithistorical.org.

Greenfield Village

“Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011,” April 29-May 1 and May 7-8, 14-15, at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Non-member tickets include Village admission and train ride: $11.75 ages 1-4 years, $27.75 ages 5-12, $33.75 ages 13-61, and $32.75 ages 62 and older. For tickets, (313) 982-6001 or The Henry Ford

Detroit Tap

Benefit performance by Detroit Tap Repertory 7:30 p.m. April 29, for and at St. Patrick Senior Center, 58 Parsons, behind Orchestra Hall, Detroit. Tickets $10; call (313) 833-7080. 

Ringwald Theatre

Michigan premiere of “Mercury Fur,” select dates through April 25, at Ringwald Theatre, 22742 Woodard, Ferndale. For reservations, (248) 545-5545 or Who Wants Cake Theatre

Historical Guild

Detroit Historical Guild seeking volunteers interested in participating in historical activities, including flea markets at Old Ft. Wayne, tea parties, excursions to historic sites, etc. Call (586) 777-5898.

Puppet Theater

“The Crane Maiden” presented by Detroit Puppet Theater, 2 p.m. Saturdays, through April 30, at the theater, 25 E. Grand River, Detroit. Day of Puppetry on April 30 includes performance and rod puppet workshop. For tickets and information, (313) 961-7777 or The Puppet Theatre

DCWS concert

Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings “Quattro Clarinetti” concert, reception 8 p.m., performance 8:30 p.m. April 22, at Hagopian World of Rugs, Birmingham. Tickets $22 adults, $10 students; The Detroit Chamber Winds and Stringsor (248) 559-2095.

Abreact Performance

The Abreact Performance Space with Aardvark Tim Productions presents Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through May 7, and 4 p.m. May 1, at 1301 W. Lafayette Ave., No. 113, Detroit. For reservations, (313) 485-0217 or reservations@theabreact.com.

Cultural Center

“The 1950s: Affluence and Anxiety in the Atomic Age” series continues at Lorenzo Cultural Center in Clinton Township with “Gidgets and Warrior Women: How Popular Culture Portrayed Women in the 1950s,” 11 a.m. April 28; and “Rust and Race: Detroit and the Myths of the 1950s,” 11 a.m. April 29. Seminars take place at the center at Garfield and Hall roads on the Macomb Community College Center Campus. Also planned is a ‘50s sock hop at 7:30 p.m. April 30; to purchase the $10 tickets, call (586) 286-2222 or go to www.macombcenter.com

Card party

Annual luncheon card party at noon April 28 at American House East I, 17255 Common Road, Roseville; admission $6. For table reservations, (586) 776-8500.

Rosedale Players

“The Dixie Swim Club” play by Rosedale Community Players, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays April 29-May 21, 2 p.m. May 1 and 15, at Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road, Southfield. Tickets $14; for reservations, (313) 532-4010 or Rosedale Players

AUD auditions

Southeast Michigan Youth Theatre auditions for “Romeo and Juliet,” 6 p.m. April 25-26, at the Aud Regional Youth Complex on Main Street in Richmond. For details, (586) 430-1039 or audtheater@gmail.com. 

Oakland Youth Orchestras

Auditions for Oakland Youth Orchestras, April 29-30, May 1, 6-7, 13-15, at Varner Hall on Oakland University campus; 3- to 4-minute solo showing technique and tone quality required. Call (248) 709-2877, or admin@oyomi.org.

Rochester museum

Exhibit of hand-hooked rugs through June 18 at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, a mile north of downtown Rochester. Romeo-based Great Lakes Rug Hooking Guild demonstrations 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, during museum hours. Call (248) 656-4663 or visit www.rochesterhills.org.

Starkweather Arts Center

“Snacks and Refreshments for the Woodland Creatures,” an exhibit of collages and assemblages by artist Teresa Petersen, through April 24, at Starkweather Arts Center, 219 N. Main, Romeo. Center open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.

Dance lessons

Line dance classes offered by Royal Oak Parks & Recreation Department, 7-8 p.m. Mondays through June 6, at Addams Elementary School, 222 W. Webster between Woodward and Crooks. $40 per person resident for each series, $45 non-resident. Call (586) 777-7242.

Chrysler Museum

Unique Vehicle Pairs Spotlight Series and Collector’s Curb specialty exhibits throughout the year at Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. Series begins today with “The Art of the Auction,” continues May 21 with non-destructive paint repair techniques. For a complete schedule, visit wpchryslermuseum.org. Admission $8 adults, $7 ages 62 and older, $4 ages 6-12.

Holocaust Center

New traveling exhibit “Barsamian: 20 Years-Searing for the Answer,” through July 10, explores questions about Armenian genocide through art, at Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills. Hours 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday; (248) 553-2400 or Holocuast Memorial Center

Features editor Debbie Komar contributed to this listing


TODAY'S MUSE
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed -- Mohandas K. Gandhi 

Prince William and Queen to appear as wheels in ‘Cars 2’

Excitement over the royal wedding may be deflated as far as grownups are concerned, but children looking forward to the release of Disney Pixar’s latest movie, Cars 2, want to know more about the characters.

That includes Prince Wheeliam.

The regal roadster (namely a Bentley Continental) was one of several characters of British persuasion, introduced this week by the film's promoters. Even the grand-mum herself, will be rolling across the big screen this summer.

The Queen (voice Vanessa Redgrave)

The World Grand Prix is racing through the streets of London, England, and the Queen is quietly elated that she was invited to preside over the finish line by Sir Miles Axlerod. Dotting shades of the most royal blues and never without her jeweled crown, the Queen is the definition of pomp, but that doesn't mean she isn't pumped about the race.

Topper Deckington II

If you're going to London, scenes are bound to include a British double-decker bus. Topper Deckington III is a classic, painted in a vivid shade of red who relishes in his daily Killswitch route through London's famous bustling Petrodilly Circus.

Chauncy Fares

There is no one who knows the sites, streets or shortcuts of London better than the jolly Chauncy Fares, a quintessential London black cab.

Sgt. Highgear

Of course, one cannot present the Queen without a member of her royal regiment. Assigned to London's landmark Buckingham Palace is Sgt. Highgear, easily recognized by a tall bearskin cap, atop his scarlet body, standing guard at his sentry box with pride and conviction.

Prince Wheeliam

To the delight of Prince Wheeliam of England, the final race of the one-of-a-kind World Grand Prix is taking place on the streets of London. Although an avid racing fan, he must remain impartial, but audiences know he's privately rooting for his fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton and Nigel Gearsley to be the first racers across the finish line.

In Cars 2, Lightening McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his friend, the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) head to England to take part in a World Grand Prix, where they will be lining up against Lewis Hamilton. The film is directed by John Lasseter and scheduled for release June 24.

TODAY’S MUSE

An apt quotation is like a lamp which flings its light over the whole sentence – L.E. Landon

The Milan Furniture Show is fantastico!

On my bucket list is an adventurous trip to Italy in time for Milan's Furniture Show.

Just as car buffs anxious to see the imagination of automotive designers unleashed gravitate to Detroit's North American International Auto Show, those with a passion for home furnishings and accessories travel to Milan, Italy, for what has to be one of the biggest furniture shows of the year.

This year's event, which ran April 12-17, marked the 50th anniversary of the six-day furniture fair that spills out from the spacious 5.7 million-square-foot convention center into the city's galleries, boutiques, university campuses and just about any other open space available.

It started out as a showcase for Italy's furniture makers, but now attracts designers from all over the world. 

The folks at DuPont Corian and Disney teamed up to commission a high-tech and futuristic hideout inspired by the imaginative world that appears in the film, "Tron Legacy." 

"The furnishings -- in keeping with the safe house inhabited by Jeff Bridges' video game developer in the 2010 film -- are gleaming white. For consistency, the conceptualized safe house includes the sleek, elongated wall-unit bookshelf seen in the movie, but the bedroom, entertainment area, outdoor patio, bath and kitchen are all new," according to a story by the Associated Press. 

The show's out-of-this-world kitchen featured an undulating island with a six-burner stove capped by an arching hood that looks more like a work of art than a kitchen appliance. Illuminating the gleaming white cabinetry and countertops were rectangles of glowing blue light.

It was all concepts, but Italian designer Ergian Alberg, who designed the kitchen with partner Laura Aquili, said the kitchen could easily be realized, provided one could shell out around $100,000 euros or $142,100 Yankee bucks.

Still, a more affordable version of the concepts could, in the near future, show up at one of your favorite furniture stores.

Speaking of the future, one of the designs created by an art student, which I can see being replicated by manufacturers in North America, is a birdhouse complex. The piece on display at the show featured a wall of various size square and rectangular birdhouses connected to each other. It's designed to house up to 33 species and, who knows, if our feathered friends can live in the same forest, why not a community of birdhouses?

The six-day event in Milan, which ended Sunday, was full of experiment and whimsy. Shown below are a few of the designs that captured the attention of visitors.

AP Photos by Luca Bruno

People tree

There were signs on some of the displays that said look but don't touch. This outdoor seating creation called "Driade" by French architect and designer Philippe Starck and Spanish designer Eugeni Quitllet said relax and imagine the possibilities.

Now that's a hot seat

Designers from all over the world showed off their creations at Milan's Furniture Fair. Check out these funky chairs with lamps dubbed, "Alice" by Italian designer Icopo Foggini. They’re hot to look at but cool to sit on. A transparent chair by Italian furniture giant Kartell was fitted with an MP3player and gnome side tables.

Out-of-this-world

Among the futuristic pieces inspired by the movie "Tron: Legacy" was this gleaming white Jacuzzi tub display by Italian designer Marco Piva and this bed by the Capo D'Opera company.

 



Imagination speaks

Whimsical and notional describe the work of German designer Ingo Maurer, above, whose collection of fanciful pieces included this amazing lamp. It's as if time is standing still.

 

Paper ingenuity

The "Air Vase" by Japanese Torafu Architects consists of a paper bowl with the ability to change its shape freely by molding it: the thin and lightweight paper gains tension and strength when pulled out. It was created exclusively as a limited edition piece for a museum of contemporary art in Japan.

TODAY’S MUSE

No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation – Fran Lebowitz