FEATURE: Never stop reading

Jackson resident Lois Tobin, 66, peruses through books, hoping to find a few good books in different genres to read Monday afternoon while at The Book Exchange, 130 East Washington Ave. Tobin, a lifelong resident, said she doesn't have a favorite genre, but looks to expand her knowledge with every new book she reads. "I've always like books," she said. "I appreciate books in general."

SPORTS: Basketball District Championship

Bay City Western senior Andrew Balzer, the team's student manager, cheers as he points a finger in the sky signifying the team's win as "No. 1" as he is lifted by members of the student section Friday night in Bay City, Mich. during the Class A Boy's Basketball District Championship game in Bay City, Mich. Bay City Western won the title 51-40 over Heritage. "It's been unbelievable," he said. "All the hours of practice, the two-a-days, the sweat, blood and tears — it's all been worth it for this moment. This team is simply amazing. We've been a family this entire season, pushing each other to new heights. This team deserves this win."



Bay City Western Head Coach Chris Watz hugs senior guard Tyler Ellis after the team clinched the Class A Boy's Basketball District Championship game against Heritage Friday night in Bay City, Mich. The Heritage Hawks made a late run to bring the game within seven points before the Warriors pulled away for a 51-40 victory. "I love each one of these boys. I genuinely do. We are a family," Watz said. "We battle together. And that bond builds stronger with each battle we take on and win. It's been a long process. It's taken us four years to set the tone and build this team from the ground up. It's been a journey. If I had taken this team through my game plan for the season, we wouldn't be here. It's them. They are striving for harder competition and stepping up every single game." In the locker room, the coach talked with the players after the game, telling them to celebrate tonight, but that they can't rest here. They have another game Monday against Saginaw High School. Watz said, however, to enjoy tonight and the glory that comes with this win. "The expectations on all of you were enormous. I don't know if you understand the monstrosity of the feat you all just accomplished. I am so proud, and am just happy to say I could be your coach," he said during the locker room speech to the team. "This trophy, this title — this is something each one of you can carry with you the rest of your lives. When you are 50 years old, you'll still have this and can brag. Nobody can take that away from any one of you."



Heritage junior forward David Jensen, center right, buries his face into his jersey as he and his teammates sit on the bench after losing the Class A Boy's Basketball District Championship game in Bay City, Mich. Bay City Western won the title 51-40 over Heritage.

FEATURE: Asphalt sledding

David Schwerin, 11, of Bentley closes his eyes as his sled makes contact with the tightly-packed snow atop a concrete parking lot Saturday in downtown Midland near McDonald Street. Schwerin went sledding on the mountain-like piles of freshly-plowed snow while his father stopped by his office for work. "In Bentley, we have to shovel the hills to get half this tall. They're not nearly this big anywhere near my house," he said. "Parking lot sledding though, it's a bumpy ride. Once you hit the concrete, it's a bounce from ice block to ice block. I nearly hit a few cars today, but steered my way around, but hey, that's what it's all about. It's sweet."

SPORTS: Wrestling emotion wide, medium and tight

All of these photos were shot this weekend at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. (Captions to come)

This is just an experimental post more than anything, to look at how distance from subject can change the intensity of emotion to a viewer. Thoughts? Would love to hear what you think. How close really brings out intimacy? Does a wider shot showing the scene give you more of a feel for the environment? Is one "better" to shoot than the other? Or is it a constant battle in decision making of what will work best for the newspaper and/or personal preference?

FEATURE: Backstage at Urinetown

Midland resident Trena Winans-Bagnall, 40, watches intently from backstage as she waits for her entrance Saturday during a dress rehearsal for "Urinetown the Musical," a production by Center Stage Theatre at the Midland Center for the Arts as a part of the competition Michigan AACTFest 2011. About 130 people from seven different acting companies around Michigan competed in the one-act play festival for the chance to move on to regionals in Columbus, Ohio in April. Winans-Bagnall, who plays Soupy Sue, said her character is a pregnant woman who is looking for a baby's daddy and kind of "out there." She said she enjoys playing the role because she and her character are both fun and kind of kooky. "You know, I'm a little silly too," laughed Winans-Bagnall, who is in her 15th year of community theater. "She's a bit more weird than I am though. I'll tell you though, this cast is a ball. Just getting out there on stage with everyone makes it all worth it at the end of the day — just a blast."



Cast members stand backstage Saturday laughing with one another while waiting for the director's cues during a dress rehearsal for "Urinetown the Musical," a production by Center Stage Theatre at the Midland Center for the Arts as a part of the competition Michigan AACTFest 2011. About 130 people from seven different acting companies around Michigan competed in the one-act play festival for the chance to move on to regionals in Columbus, Ohio in April.



David Clayton performs onstage Saturday during a dress rehearsal for "Urinetown the Musical," a production by Center Stage Theatre at the Midland Center for the Arts as a part of the competition Michigan AACTFest 2011. About 130 people from seven different acting companies around Michigan competed in the one-act play festival for the chance to move on to regionals in Columbus, Ohio in April.

PICTORIAL: Head in the clouds

A view from each side of the plane as I fly out of Detroit and into New York. The day was overcast, which made for a sweet cloud blanket effect that looks similar to a snowy tundra.

FEATURE: Dog days of winter?

Elise Malkowski, 8, of Midland plays a game of tug-of-war with 15-month-old Levi, a lab-boxer mix breed, Saturday at Chippawassee Park in Midland. Malkowski and her family adopted Levi about one month ago from the local humane society. The family always talked about getting a dog, and once they saw Levi on the website, she said, they could not get him out of their minds. "He's really big and so much fun," she said. "He lays on my sister's bed all the time. When we are out, we like to throw snowballs at him to make him jump. Oh, and he's very friendly. He likes other dogs, and really likes to sniff other dogs' butts."

PORTRAIT: Tim Ricketts, art instructor

Tim Ricketts of Midland laughs as he builds a ceramic sculpture out of clay Saturday afternoon in a studio at the Midland Center for the Arts. Rickets has been crafting clay for more than 30 years and has been teaching at MCFTA for nearly a decade. He said it's easy to stay focused as a piece evolves, and that as you watch it change, you have to embrace it. "Each change leads me to the next step. Though, many projects are never completed. It's always a work in progress," he said. "Art is a way of expressing what I see in life. I amy look at a rock or see something in nature, and in some way, I try to use it —try to do a new take off, a new twist on something people know. I always try to find something good in the unexpected."

SPORTS FEATURE: Agony of defeat

Luke Gavin, 6, of Midland walks away in agony after watching his ball soar past four pins to miss a spare at the end of lane three during the Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Heart of Michigan annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser Friday evening at Valley Lanes. "Bowling is all about fun. You just have to go out there and give it your all. Sometime you win. This wasn't my time to win. I couldn't hit every pin, but I will try hard to do it next time," Gavin said. "The important thing is that this helps Big Brothers, Big Sisters. They need it. That's why we're here."

FEATURE: Daughter wants to dance

Alma resident Chanda Drowley entertains her daughter Alexandria Mercado, 3, as the two have sat in the lobby Thursday afternoon at Tuffy Auto Service Center in Mount Pleasant. The two arrived at the auto shop at about 11 a.m. to get Drowley's Chevy Malibu fixed, and ended up waiting for more than three hours. Drowley gave her daughter candy, water and went through the ABC's a few times, but that didn't keep her daughter from dancing and playing with her to keep the spirits high. "I love her. I've been raising her by myself, taking her everywhere I go. She's my only child, and her father is not in her life. He's been back three times since she was born, which is just so hard for her and me. It's gotta be tough for her. How couldn't it be? She doesn't really know him. I just hope my love is enough."

Sean Proctor and I went to pick up his car at the auto shop. We saw the moment, shared a camera and each made a feature. Here is a link to his features of the same mother/daughter feature.