Allison Batdorff

WILLIAMSBURG — Family and friends of Jayson William “JJ” Hoogeveen released handfuls of blue and red balloons that seemed to race each other up and away into a hazy blue

TRAVERSE CITY — Etiquette on the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails is the focus of a new video and a “caught ya being good” incentive launching this summer.

The devil’s in the details, or so they say.

TRAVERSE CITY — A former Traverse City school music instructor and administrator will ascend the tower at the Big House this weekend.

TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Film Festival will return this summer after a two-plus-year hiatus.

Several local cooks are showing their support for Ukraine — by way of its cuisine.

TRAVERSE CITY — The news was sudden, fast and good: Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott included several northern Michigan districts in a $133 million donation to help kids stay in school.

TRAVERSE CITY — A week ago, a smiling Ty Schmidt thanked potential funders on behalf of Norte, the organization he created, headed, and to many, personified.

My planner is filling up with concerts and camping. I’m showing my chin in public. Numbers of COVID-19 cases in our community and elsewhere continue to drop.

We had our first close encounter with the COVID kind this week.