EMMA... World Premier in Troy

Image via
Stageworks Media

Our son Alex will apparently be appearing in a "World Premier." He's currently rehearsing with the Athens Theatre Company (ATC) for EMMA! A POP MUSICAL.

According to the ATC website, this is the first time this show will be produced on a stage.

Show dates and times (at Troy Athens High School) are December 5, 6, 12, 13 at 8:01pm and December 7 and 14 at 3:01pm. Ticket information/ordering via the Athens box office at 248-823-2923 or by emailing kmanfredi2@troy.k12.mi.us. Click here for a ticket order form.

Check out the SchoolLife Troy website to see photos of the cast and crew as they prepare for Opening Night. We even see our son in a few of the photos. I've posted one of them below.

Image via SchoolLife Troy

12/11/14 UPDATE: Check out the promotional video below.

Bid Me Run...

“Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible.”

― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

There's a dawning realization that our son Alex will soon be completing his high school years at Troy Athens. Last Saturday's Athens Cross Country Year-End Banquet was Alex's last official Cross Country event and another milestone in his Senior year.

Alex's Cross Country career was marked by high points and low points. He certainly wasn't one of the fastest kids on the team, but he stuck with it - even after an injury that put an end to running during most of his Junior year. He made lots of friends and many great memories.

The good news is that Alex still likes running and I'm looking forward to him running with me during my future half-marathons. After all, we've both signed up to complete half-marathons in at least 25 states of the good old USA.

Thank yous go out to his Troy Athens High School Cross Country Coaches Michael Stallsmith and Shawn DuFresne.

Also thank yous to Alex's teammates and all of the Cross Country parents. Cross Country at Athens is truly a family affair.

I've embedded some photos below of Alex running Cross Country for Athens High School and from the 11/15/14 Cross Country banquet.

Alex's Freshmen Year

Alex's Senior Year

2014 Coaches Achievement Award Winner

Coach DuFresne, Alex, and Coach Stallsmith

Alex's Senior Poster

Smart Growth for Conservatives

UPDATE: When I was writing this around 11:30 last night I questioned whether or not it was worthy of an entire blog post. In other words, was the post providing new information or a perspective that the reader may not be aware of. For example, I’m a regular reader of I Run These Towns blog. Samantha Harkins, the blog author, usually writes about her preference for urban living (and her love of running).

Well, because I was born and raised in Lansing, MI, I guess I bring a somewhat different perspective. I actually prefer living in a more suburban or rural environment. Maybe that’s why I would rather run on a trail than on a city street. Maybe that’s why I like living here in Troy. But, can suburban communities learn something from their “big brothers?” Yes, for example by promoting a walkable community.

With that as my introduction, you can see the original post below.

Smart Growth for Conservatives? That sounds like a contradiction. Actually, I've come across several resources for Conservatives who believe that there are benefits to some forms of "smart growth." A related approach is described as “urbanizing the suburbs.”

Check out these links below that I've discovered:

• The American Conservative's New Urbanism


• Smart Growth for Conservatives


• The Great Suburbia Debate