Etcetera
Register for Primary Vote
The Ann Arbor Area League of Women Voters reminds you to register your party preference with your City or Township Clerk by February 17, 1992. If you don 't, you will not be eligible to vote in the March 17 presidential primary. For further information, contact Margaret FitzGerald at 668-8106.
Help For Seniors With Property Tax Problems
The Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention Program at the Housing Bureau for Seniors is available to help senior citizens get a tax deferment for their Winter 1991 property taxes. Although Winter 1991 property taxes are due in December, those 65 and older can still postpone them until April 30, 1992, if they fill out a deferment form prior to February 15, 1992. It is also possible to reduce the amount of property taxes owed. For assistance call The Housing Bureau for Seniors at 763-0970.
Free Support Groups For Victims of Domestic Violence
The Domestic Violence Project is sponsoring a Thursday night support group for women who are or have been in an abusive relationship. Goals for the program include: sharing experiences and receiving support; setting goals; getting information on abusive relationships and legal, financial and other resources; discussing how children are affected by living in violent homes; and increasing self-esteem.
In conjunction with the 10-week support group, which begins Feb. 6, is the Kid's Club, a support group for children ages 6-12. The Kid's Club will focus on helping children develop positive expectations about themselves and others in their family. Child care for children under age six will be provided. Transportation assistance is available. Preregistration is required. Cali the Domestic Violence Project business office at 973-0242 or the 24-hour crisis line at 995-5444 for more information.
Join in the Sourdough Fun
A community meeting and potluck will be held at the Depot Town Sourdough Bakery, 310 N. River in Ypsilanti, on Sunday March 1. This is an opportunity to meet people who particípate in a democraticallymanaged community business and to join in. The potluck starts at 4 pm , and the meeting at 5 pm. Bring a dish to pass. The bakery will provide sourdough pizza. 487-8110
Café Cadré Makes a Comeback
Contrary to what other publications have recently printed regarding Café Cadré, it is not closed. It is alive and well, in an obscure building at 1011 Broadway, between The Cloverleaf Restaurant and St. Vincent De Paul. Café Cadré fills a niche in Ann Arbor that's never before been filled. The encouragement of artistic practices and an educational approach is an essential component of Café Cadré's philosophy.
Café Cadré starts February with a big bang - its new Wednesday Writers' Series! Every Wednesday at 8 pm this comfortable, black and white tiled home space invites visitors to read on the open mike, listen to fantastic feature performers, and hang out afterwards for question and answer sessions with the featured writer.
Crack Baby Syndrome Over-Hyped
Researchers and educators gathered in Chicago from Dec. 13-17 to discuss pregnancy and addiction at the 1991 National Association forPerinatal Addiction Research and Education (NAPARE) conference. Public awareness of the issue is mostly shaped by sensationalTV features about colicky "crack babies" and prosecutions of addicted mothers for in utero "cocaine delivery," Dr. Ira Chasnoff told the conference. A local social worker who was in attendance reported that the gathered experts framed the problem much differently.
Children who are pre-natally exposed to cocaine are often abnormally lethargic, not colicky, say the experts. By the second or third year after birth, two-thirds of children exposed to cocaine in utero show no symptoms. Those babies that show noticeable effects, such as small head size (mental retardation) were probably exposed to alcohol, cigarettes, poor nutrition and a lack of pre-natal care.
Weisbrot for Congress in '92
Mark Weisbrot, Central America activist and former U-M doctoral student in economics, is back in his old stomping grounds in Urbana, Illinois, and he's running as a Democrat for Congress. His experience as campaign manager for Dean Baker's unsuccessful attempt to defeat Rep. Cari Pursell in 1986 (although successful winning the Democratie party bid) should prepare him for both the primary, then a race with the rookie G.O.P. incumbent if he gets to the general election. There, as here, times are hard, voters are angry, and both Republicans and incumbentsareatadisadvantage. If you want to help his campaign, contact him as follows: Marie Weisbrot, 7 10E. Pennsylvania, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 384-8186.
Sari Revkin To Speak Sari Revkin, Director of the Support Project for Voluntary Organizations (SHATIL) in Jerusalem, will be in Ann Arbor February 6 as part of a national speaking tour. SHATIL, a project of the New Israel Fund, provides trainings and consultations to Israeli non-profit organizations. Revkin will give a talk entitled "Obstacles and Opportunities: Promoting Social Change in Israel." She will focus on the work of the New Israel Fund and SHATIL to support grassroots citizen efforts in Israel which promote civil and human rights, pluralism and tolerance, Jewish-Arab coexistence, women's rights, and community improvement. The free public presentation will begin at 7:30 pm at Beth Israel Congregation, 2000 Washtenaw Ave. For more information cali Leonore Gerstein at 930-1673.