Danny Glover, performance

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

Detroit freshman Shaniqua Sanders smiles as she listens to speeches by her peers while holding a burning candle at a candlelight vigil Monday afternoon, which occurred at the end of the CommUNITY March on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. "This is all about getting together amongst others as a unity to help one another for peace, love and prosperity," she said. "Martin Luther King, Jr. is a symbol of freedom, a symbol of life — a symbol of a new generation. I don't think the world would be the same without him."

Dan Enos, a portrait

Michigan State running backs coach Dan Enos smiles as he chats with athletics officials before a press conference Tuesday at the Indoor Athletics Complex where he was announced as Central Michigan University's new head coach. Enos signed a five-year contract worth $250,000 per year in base salary and includes a $75,000 bonus for public appearances, television and radio. “My vision will be and will remain as long as I am head football coach here that I want us to be mentioned in the same breath and be synonymous with the Boise States and the TCUs and the Utahs of the world,” he said. “And be the class of the MAC and be 12-0 going into the MAC Championship game and having people say, ‘What about them? What about CMU? What about Central Michigan?’ That’s our vision. That’s our goal.”

Portrait series: First day of class

First day of classes portraits; clockwise from upper left:

• "I told my classmates they had nice hair and a scarf," Coleman freshman Cody Mayhew said. In one of his classes, he participated in ice-breaking activities, where students gave compliments to each other.
• "I'm trying to go hard or go homeless. I refuse to not be successful," said Benton Harbor senior Michelle Brooks, about passing classes to graduate in May.
• "I'm not looking forward to HST 102 (Development of Western Civilization) because today was the first day in class and I almost fell asleep," said Otter Lake senior Elizabeth Conrad.
• "I'm a big fan of jazz from people like Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock," said Spring Lake sophomore Austin Berg, who is excited for his class, MUS 213: Jazz: An American Art Form.

Smoking ban

Mount Pleasant resident Hannah Bergstrom, left, and Brett Driver, a 2009 CMU alumnus, chat with friends while smoking Friday at The Bird Bar & Grill. “I’m a smoker, and I hate second hand smoke, but if you alleviate smoking indoors altogether, then you risk alienating customers. That’s just not good for business,” Driver said.

He shoots, he scores!

New Baltimore senior Matt Brancaleone skates down the ice, shooting the puck and making a goal during a pick-up game of ice hockey Saturday afternoon atop of Central Michigan University's Rose Ponds near the Student Activity Center. Brancaleone and two of his friends cleaned the snow off of the ice with two shovels for about 45 minutes before playing. (Published in Central Michigan Life on Jan. 11)

From the archive: Gay Pride Parade in NYC

From the archive: Caped girl at tailgate

Sledding photo published!

Thanks to J. Scott Park at the Jackson Citizen Patriot. I am very excited this photo published in the newspaper today. :)

Whitey Dowski

Whitey Dowski, 97, has sat at the same table next to the window at Dave's Pizza Place in Leslie, Mich., for the last 50 years. He sat there Tuesday drinking two cups of black coffee like he does every afternoon. Once a manufacturing engineer, Dowski has outlived his wife, but still has the pleasure of seeing his two daughters. Though he no longer drives himself around town, he does bowl once a week in a bowling league and lives in a house. "If I could give any advice in the years I've lived ... I wouldn't want to tell you nothing because you might want to do it, just like I did," he said laughing. "Live life. Live everything."

Trifecta 365: Day 3

Keanon Kelley, 19, skates around the ice Sunday at Sparks Foundation County Park in Jackson, Mich., as he practices shots on goal while his friends lace up to join him in a pick-up game of hockey. He and his seven friends all played for Lumen Christi High School's varsity hockey team last year before attending different colleges.

Sledding at sunset

Davino Bedore, 7, slowly trudges up a hillside with his sled while the sun sets Saturday in Spark Foundation County Park in Jackson, Mich. Bedore sledded for about an hour with his cousin and uncle alongside about 40 others.

This is a photo I made for Day 2 of a year-long project I am embarking on with two great friends. Check out our projects blog here.