I vividly remember when Michael Jackson's signature "Thriller" album exploded in 1983 with the release of Billboard No. 1 hits "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," as well as Top 10 singles like "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature." These songs were the soundtrack of my eighth- and ...

In every school, work or personal gathering, you need at least one grump for the group to thrive. Grumps do the work that no one else will. When everyone else is being mercilessly upbeat, they swim against the tide and complain. The grump may follow your inane rules -- but grudgingly, oh, ...

Two summers ago, I toured the former Huntington Bank Building at 200 W Chisholm St with a close colleague shortly after it was put on the market for sale. There was a lot of carpet. A lot of dropped ceilings. A lot of tubes in the basement, and a lot of bank safe deposit boxes. As we walked ...

The week before finals was fairly normal at ACC with positive productive activity bookended by learning, legacy, and floating concrete canoes. Below is a short list from a week in the life at ACC. Monday: Utility Tech students practiced backing up a Class A combination vehicle with air brakes ...

In my limited free time, you’re most likely to find me snuggled on the couch with a fur babe in my lap, watching a good documentary. A few weeks ago, one stopped me in my tracks: Join or Die. It was thoughtful, accessible, and quietly a powerful reminder that joining groups isn’t just a ...

The future of the Alpena County Fairgrounds has dominated local conversation in recent weeks, and for good reason: there's a major development proposal on the table, multiple parties are involved, and the stakes are high. This has also been moving very fast—perhaps too fast. In the rush, ...