Events Calendar

The Petoskey Film Theater will be showing the documentary film "Burma VJ" on Friday, February 11, 7:30 pm at the Petoskey District Library, Carnegie Building (old library). Donations are appreciated. "Burma VJ" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Armed with pocket-sized video cameras, a tenacious band of Burmese reporters face down death to expose the repressive regime controlling their country. In 2007, after decades of self-imposed silence, Burma became headline news across the globe when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive rebellion. More than 100,000 people took to the streets protesting a cruel dictatorship that has held the country hostage for more than 40 years. Foreign news crews were banned, the Internet was shut down, and Burma was closed to the outside world. So how did we witness these events? Enter the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), aka the Burma VJs. Compiled from the shaky handheld footage of the DVB, acclaimed filmmaker Anders Ostergaard's Burma VJ pulls us into the heat of the moment as the Vjs themselves become the target of the Burmese government. Their tactical leader, code-named Joshua, oversees operations from a safe hiding place in Thailand. Via clandestine phone calls, Joshua dispenses his posse of video warriors, who covertly film the abuses in their country, then smuggle their footage across the border into Thailand. Joshua ships the footage to Norway, where it is broadcast back to Burma and the world via satellite. Burma VJ plays like a thriller, all the more scary because it is true.

By the end, one wonders why other countries, including the United States, have stood idly by while innocent citizens and holy men beg for help. Ultimately, Burma VJ is not only a rallying cry but also a meditation on the contemporary state of independent media outlets, analyzing what they can and can't achieve as solo endeavors. Essential viewing here.

For more information on upcoming films call the PFT Movie Hotline at (231) 758-3108. To receive weekly email updates send an email to petoskey.film.theater2@gmail.com.

Programs are held on Fridays at noon in the Library Conference Room. Reservations are preferred. Call (231) 348-6600 or email cmacinnis@ncmich.edu to reserve your place at the table. Cost is $9 and includes lunch.

Prison Art - The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world. In Michigan, the number of prisoners rose from 3,000 in 1970 to about 47,000 today. The University of Michigan's Prison Creative Arts Project was founded in 1990 to work with incarcerated youth and adults in Michigan jevenile facilities and prisons. Professor William Alexander recounts the genesis and evolution of this radically pragmatic and original system that helps incarcerated individuals withstand and often overcome the conditions and culture of prison, the policies of an incarcerating state, and the consequences of mass incarceration.

Once again this season, Big Country 102.9 and Boyne Highlands team up to bring you deals on lift tickets, equipment rentals and more. What better way to start your weekend than to head out for some fun under the lights at Boyne Highlands. Don't have your own skis or snowboard? No worries, we got ya covered. Hungry? Have no fear, we offer food and beverage specials in the Slopeside Lounge as well.

Lift Tickets: $10.29 for all ages, of course skiers and riders ages 8 and under plus those 70+ are free

Equipment Rental: $10.29 for ski and snowboard rental packages

Slopeside Lounge: Food and beverage specials

Lift tickets and equipment rentals must be purchased at Boyne Highlands 'day of' from 4 to 9 pm in order to receive the promotional price. Not to be combined with any other coupon or offer.

Once again this season, Boyne Mountain is teaming up with Real Rock 105 to bring you a deal on the slopes you just gotta check out. In addition to $10.50 lift tickets for the 4-9 pm night session we're offering deals at ski and snowboard rental as well as food and beverage specials in the Snowflake.

Lift tickets: $10.50 for all ages, of course all skiers and riders 8 years or younger and 70 years or older are still FREE

Equipment Rental: $10.50 for ski and snowboard rental packages

Snowflake: Food and Beverage Specials

Lift tickets and equipment rentals must be purchased at Boyne Mountain "day of" from 4 to 9 pm in order to receive the promotional price. Not to be combined with any other coupon or offer.

Join the merchants of Downtown Boyne City for a warming chocolate-featured weekend. Many stores will offer chocolate specials, restaurants feature chocolate dishes, and chocolate goodies abound.

Winterfest games are held on February 12, including a chili cook-off, scavenger hunt, and snowshoe nature hike.