In the ongoing investigation surrounding the alleged assault of a Wayne County investigator by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick that took place last week, the mayor has refused to speak directly with the Michigan State Police. According to reports, defense attorney James Thomas stated that the mayor is willing to cooperate as much as he can with the investigation, short of talking with the police. The investigation is expected to be ended soon so that findings can be turned over to Mike Cox, Michigan attorney general, to decide if felony charges will be issued.

City rolls out red carpet for TFC

This past weekend, Detroit rolled out the red carpet for some of its brightest new stars at the Charles H. Wright Museum on the opening night of the second annual Trinity Film Coalition Film Festival. Movers and shakers from the metropolitan area turned out in colossal numbers for the world premiere showing of the movie Till Death, which was written and directed by Janaya Black.

The weekend also featured free screenings of independent films at the Boll Family YMCA and Studio 601. Film enthusists were able to view and vote on films from filmmakers all over the nation and parttake in a free film symposium featuring BET J Executive Producer Ralph Scott to learn about the ins and outs of the business of making movies.

This year’s winners included Something is Killing Tate by Leon Lozano, Best Feature Film; Distractions by Michalina Almindo, Best Short Film; Hurricane by Ken Baker, Best Music Video, and Blacks Without Borders by Stafford Baily, Audience Choice Award.

Author remembers Palmer Park

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival presents the world premiere of Palmer Park, a new play by Joanna McClelland Glass. Palmer Park, based on the playwright’s memories of her life in the Detroit neighborhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s, runs Aug. 16 to Sept. 21, at the Stratford Studio Theatre, 34 George St. E, Stratford , ON , Canada, N5A 6V2.
The play focuses on two professional couples, one Black, the other white, who become neighbors after the race riots of 1967. Together they and their friends strive to maintain the racial integration of their community and their children’s school. But they find that differences of culture and class are as potent as those of race and eventually all involved are forced to re-examine their values and allegiances.

Directed by Ron OJ Parson, Palmer Park features Yanna McIntosh and Nigel Shawn Williams as Linda and Fletcher Hazelton, and Kelli Fox and Dan Chameroy as Kate and Martin Townsend.
For ticket information, call 1-800-567-1600 or go to www.stratfordfestival.on.ca/plays/park.cfm.

Healthy people, better wrkers

Strong productions will present its Strong Health & Wellness Fair Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Campus Martius Park, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Various health and wellness-related vendors and health experts will be on hand with information on products and services that can help improve attendees’ overall health. One of the presenters will be Jennifer Gray, nationally known personal trainer, as well as Dr. Velonda Thompson, nutrition specialist. The fair is free and is open to the public.

The presenters segment will begin at 11:00 a.m. to 11:40, and will feature Dr. Thompson and a panel of nutritionist, who will discuss healthy lunch options. Jennifer Gray will follow at 12:00 noon with a demonstration of exercise options ideal for the workday. The highlight of the afternoon will be a “Strong” Body Contest at 1 p.m. where body builder contestants will be judged on their level of fitness. At 2:00 a panel of personal trainers and physical therapists discuss proper warm up techniques to prevent injuries, 3:15 to 4:00 Line dances to exercise. There will be presentations by each vendor. Some local sports celebrities are expected to be on hand.

Ohio tourism campaign targets minorities

Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher unveiled Ohio’s new multicultural tourism campaign featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The O’Jays and their popular song, Livin’ for the Weekend.

The new campaign, created by Cleveland-based Singleton & Partners, targets two primary travel groups – African Americans and Hispanics – in Ohio and surrounding states. It includes Ohio’s first multicultural cable television commercial airing on BET and several more outlets. Additional campaign elements include advertising on minority radio stations, in minority print press, on minority Internet sites and through creation and distribution of a “Livin’ for the Weekend” event guide insert.

A newly retooled web site will provide minority travelers an enhanced resource for locating Ohio tourism information at www.DiscoverOhio.com.