Posted: 21 Nov 2009 08:09 AM PST

General Motors has emerged from bankruptcy. Now it must step out of the long dark shadow of its own reputation.

For years, GM churned out sub-par vehicles that badly lagged Japanese rivals in reliability. Now, there is substantial evidence that GM is pulling abreast of Toyota (NYSE:TM - News) and Honda (NYSE:HMC - News). But nobody seems to know it. Or believe it.

"The perception gap is a very real problem," said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Old perceptions die hard."

Bob Lutz, the 77-year-old vice chairman who recently took charge of GM's advertising, is determined to bring consumer perception in line with reality. Despite all its financial woes, GM has been moving up the quality charts for years. Ads can tell that story, Lutz believes. But for many years, he contends, GM's were weak.

"Our prior advertising was frequently risk-averse. We didn't make any claims," Lutz told IBD. He recalls a top Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG - News) executive telling him: "I don't know what it is about your advertising, but it's meaningless."

Lutz is moving to change all that with a marketing blitz. Ad spending, which in recent years had fallen as low as 40% or 50% of average spending by rivals, will likely top rivals' spending by 20% in 2010 and 2011, Lutz says. GM will also target wealthy enclaves with promotions designed to get skeptical luxury car buyers to test drive GM's upscale, higher-margin line-up.

Hard-hitting TV ads have already begun to directly compare GM vehicles with the competition. "May the Best Car Win" has become the slogan of a company on the attack. "We are going to continue letting the product do the talking," said Lutz.

Don't expect montages of families packing their Chevy for picnics or wheeling their Buick along winding country roads. Lutz is convinced GM can and must sell on the specific virtues of its products.

"We want an ad to have stopping power. It's got to grab attention," he said. "It must carry some new information when the bulk of viewers say 'Wow, I didn't know that.'"

Bob Lutz, Myth Buster

The aim is to address what Lutz sees as outdated myths: GM quality is suspect. All GM models burn more fuel than their Japanese rivals. Cadillacs are "big boats with no dynamic excellence."

Ads will have to be convincing to reverse the decline in GM's once-dominant U.S. market share, now under 20%. But while the lemony after-taste of bygone GM models has soured many consumers, objective evidence suggests many newer models are world class.

Indeed, by many measures, GM -- and Ford (NYSE:F - News) -- have pretty much closed the decades-old quality gap with Japanese automakers.

Catching Up On Quality

J.D. Power & Associates conducts an annual vehicle dependability study that measures reported problems for autos over their first three years of ownership. Based on responses from 46,000 owners of 2006 model vehicles, Buick tied (with Jaguar) for No. 1 among 37 auto brands for the most dependable. Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates since 2003.

J.D. Power also tracks "initial quality," measuring the number of problems encountered in the first three months after new car purchases. Cadillac was No. 3 in the latest study and Chevrolet No. 9. Owners of these GM vehicles reported far fewer problems than the industry average.

Over the last three years, GM has outpaced the industry in quality gains, notes Steve Witten, executive director of U.S. Automotive Research at J.D. Power. While the industry as a whole has reduced vehicle problems by 13%, GM has improved by 16%. In the last year, GM has improved by 10% vs. an average auto industry gain of 8%.

And future numbers could show much stronger gains. Because of GM's desperate need to shed assets, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer and Saturn will be gone. These were GM's worst nameplates in terms of quality, notes Witten. The four remaining brands -- Cadillac, Buick, Chevy and GMC all rank higher.

But just as it took years for Japanese carmakers to convince Americans of their quality, buyers nurse memories of trouble-prone GM cars. In 2004, 40% of polled auto shoppers said they would avoid GM for short- and long-term reliability issues. By 2008, the number had swelled to 42%, reports Witten. GM's bankruptcy and rebirth as "Government Motors" probably has not helped.

Time To Hit The Beach

Nowhere is this problem more acute than on the coasts. Driving a Chevy or Buick in places like Boston or Los Angeles is almost like wearing the Scarlet Letter. Patriotic sentiment and concern for American workers have motivated few in these hip cultural bastions to buy American cars.

In the first nine months of the year, GM had an 18% market share, according to auto consultancy R.L. Polk. But it was just 9% in California and 10% in Boston.

In L.A., Boston and other coastal urban areas, women and highly educated consumers have enormous spending power. GM's ads never properly addressed these demographics, Lutz agrees. "It was a Midwestern style advertising created by Midwestern-style people," he said.

GM ads will not specifically target women. But GM will try to do a better job of appealing to both sexes. Lutz cites the Howie Long ads comparing GM and Honda fuel mileage as showing strong appeal with women. A former NFL lineman (and ex-Nissan (Other OTC:NSANF.PK - News) pitchman), Long delivers his pitch with a jaunty but light touch. Future ads will also emphasize safety and security features, which are "extremely important" to women, according to Lutz.

Caddy With Your Coffee?

GM also will target the high-end market. Cadillac has never fully recovered from its "big boat" image. But GM says once people sit behind the wheel, perceptions change. "The surest way to get people out of competitors' luxury cars is the driving experience," says Lutz.

GM has identified "fewer than 10" zip codes in which 80% of all Lexus RX vehicles are sold. To get people in those wealthy enclaves to consider a Caddy, GM will set up tents near luxury malls and invite people in for coffee, canapes and a test drive of the Cadillac SRX.

"We've got to go where these people shop, eat and work. We can't wait for them to come to us," he explained.

Is Lutz overly confident of Cadillac's ability to challenge the revered Lexus line?

A recent Motor Trend Magazine comparison of the Cadillac SRX with the Lexus RS 350, a pricey and profitable luxury crossover, suggests he's not. "The Cadillac SRX is more fun and rewarding to drive," Todd Lassa wrote in Motor Trend. The Lexus holds the edge in fit and finish, but Lassa chose Cadillac as winner of the road test showdown. "Simply put, the new Cadillac SRX drives the way it looks: sexy, fun, apart from the pack," he concluded.

Making The Sale

With auto buffs also applauding vehicles like the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Malibu, GM may finally have the bullets to pepper the opposition. Witten applauds GM for challenging rivals with "May the Best Car Win." But he thinks GM must go even further. "They need to push it a little bit harder."

One sign that the ads have some bite comes from Kelley Blue Book's Nerad: "I know for a fact they've gotten under the skins of people at Honda."

The new GM ads must now prove that they are persuasive as well as provocative.

Changing perceptions will be hard and GM needs a fast revival. It lost $1.15 billion in Q3, even with the Cash for Clunkers program. Q4 will be worse, the company says.

Because of its bad reputation, GM often must sell its cars for less than those of its Japanese rivals. And the high-margin SUVs and large trucks that GM long relied on may never fully recover.

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Good Samaritan donates car to arson victim - San Francisco Chronicle

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 06:50 AM PST

The 32-year-old single mother, one of more than 20 victims of a serial arsonist who has set vehicles ablaze throughout west Contra Costa County, didn't carry car insurance. Suddenly, she had no way to take her children to school or go to class herself at a community college.

Miles away in Oakland, day care operator Venita Satterfield, 56, heard about Castellon's plight on the news and was instantly reminded of her own situation more than 20 years ago, when she was a single mother of three, couldn't afford insurance and lost her car to an engine fire.

This week, Satterfield opened her wallet. Now, Castellon is making ends meet in a used car, overwhelmed by Satterfield's generosity and the fact that a stranger would help her.

"I can't believe that in this world, we still have angels, because she is my angel," said Castellon, who is now tooling around in a Chevrolet Impala, taking her daughters ages 6, 8 and 10 to school, attending culinary arts classes at Contra Costa College in San Pablo and working at catering events.

The arsonist destroyed Castellon's car at 5:15 a.m. Nov. 10. It was parked outside her home on the 900 block of Appian Way.

In describing her predicament to reporters, Castellon "reminded me so much of myself," Satterfield said. "When I saw her, she just touched me. I thought, 'Here but for the grace of God go I. I'm going to help this lady.' "

She added, "Ironically, coincidentally, I had been looking for a new car for myself - I don't need a new car, just wanted one."

So Satterfield got used-car dealer Rigo Mendoza involved. Mendoza gave Castellon her pick of six cars at a discounted rate. She chose a white 2004 Chevy Impala for $4,000.

"I'm just a person who likes to help the community," said Mendoza, 52, of Hercules, who operates Rigo's Auto Sales in Richmond. "It could happen to my family. It just came to my mind that I should help her."

Castellon was so overwhelmed that she promised to give her college diploma to Satterfield. But Satterfield told her just to finish school and help someone else if she gets a chance.

"It was what I was born to do," Satterfield said. "I just hope that I start something and it stirs up that little bit of giving in all of us. It's the best thing I've ever done in my life."

The serial arsons show no sign of letting up. The latest fire happened at 2 a.m. Friday at an apartment complex on the 2000 block of Vale Road in San Pablo, destroying a pickup truck and damaging another vehicle.

Whoever is responsible for the rash of fires since Oct. 31 should "do something positive," Satterfield said, "versus something like this."

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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1. Ron Whitton - Off-Road.com

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 05:31 AM PST

Andy McMillin's last SCORE Trophy Truck victory came in 2006 when he drove with Robby Gordon. Although the two didn't race together this year, both were winners at the end of the 42nd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

McMillin earned another Baja victory with his father Scott sharing driving duties. This was Scott's first Baja 1000 overall victory and third class win in SCORE Trophy Truck. Gordon entered the race with a massive points lead in the Trophy Truck class, so much so that he essentially needed to cross the finish line for the 2009 SCORE Desert Series Championship. But the competitive racer who splits his time between NASCAR and off-road racing wasn't looking to limp across the finish line at the 1000.

Unfortunately Gordon had some technical issues that prevented him from staying at the front of the pack, whereas the father-and-son team of Scott and Andy McMillin scored their Baja 1000 win with a trouble-free day.

"The plan was to kind of take it easy and let the race come to us," Andy said at a press conference after the race. "We knew Sal laid out a really rough, tough course this year. And we knew it was going to take one truck that didn't have any problems to get the win. So that was our plan all day was just to stay smooth, and not have any down time and no flat tires."

Andy drove the first leg of the race to mile 200, and his father Scott drove the San Felipe loop and up past Mike's Sky Ranch, with Andy getting in and bringing it home the last 175 miles or so.

"My dad got me a hell of a lead, so it was pretty easy," Andy said.

Scott went on to thank the crew that worked tirelessly over the last year to help the team get to this point.

"A Baja 1000, you just don't come down here and decide to race this thing a month in advance," Scott said. "This takes a whole year of planning. We have a dedicated team back at our shop of about five core guys that work full time on this, and plus there's another 20 volunteers that are with us at all the races, all the pre-running, all the planning … we just couldn't have done it without all of them."

Despite having a major tangle with BJ Baldwin just after 100 miles into the race, the team of Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler were still able to put forth an impressive performance to finish in second place 31 minutes and 37 seconds behind McMillin.

"Larry and BJ got their bumpers tangled," Norman said. "BJ Jumped out of his truck and ran down to some guys, and he came back with a Cherokee with a tow strap to help get us out. I think BJ lost his transmission after that. We just had handling problems the whole way. It felt like we had no rear shocks at all, like we were just on springs."

Rick D. Johnson led much of the race, but like many other racers in the Trophy Truck field, the rough course took its toll on his vehicle.

"It was a brutal day, we just had to fight some issues," Johnson said. "The steering, I got feedback so bad that I couldn't hang onto the wheel. We lost the GPS for a long time, in [San Felipe] I believe."

Still, Johnson was able to bring his truck across the finish line to take the last podium spot in Trophy Truck. Robby Gordon crossed in fourth but actually finished in fifth place on corrected time behind Gustavo Vildosola, Jr.

After the All German Auto Armin Schwarz led much of the race in the Class 1 field, the team of Jerry Penhall and Dan Martin moved into the lead after Schwarz had mechanical issues and maintained it to earn the Class 1 victory, finishing just 2 hours and 10 minutes behind McMillin on corrected time. Schwarz needed to finish in first place to win the overall championship, but a transmission leak took too long to repair and the team got behind and was unable to recover.

Penhall, a reputed buggy chassis builder in the off-road arena, took the Class 1 win on the same night his nephews Ryan and Connor Penhall were runners up for the overall in the motorcycle class. Schwarz was the next Class 1 vehicle to cross the line behind the Penhall, but he was over 13 minutes behind the team.

Here are the unofficial times from SCORE for the top five Trophy Truck finishers:
1. Andy McMillin - 14:19:50
2. Roger Norman - 14:51:27 (31:37 behind leader)
3. Rick D. Johnson - 15:02:36 (42:46 behind leader)
4. Gustavo Vildosola, Jr. - 15:12:05 (52:15 behind leader)
5. Robby Gordon - 15:14:31 (54:41 behind leader)

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Glenn Wolhart - Jamestown Sun

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 04:34 AM PST

Glenn Allen "Dingus Magee" Wolhart, 47, Valley City, N.D., died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Mercy Hospital, Valley City.

Mr. Wolhart was born Feb. 12, 1962, in Valley City, the son of Arden and Doris (Faust) Wolhart. He was baptized Nov. 3, 1974, at First Baptist Church, Valley City. He grew up and graduated from Valley City High School, Valley City, in 1980. He married Becky Johnson on June 20, 1980. He worked at Dietrichs, D.L. Wiest Trucking, Triebold Farms (Altrans) and Truck and Auto Salvage, Valley City. He was a member of Valley City Eagles Club, where he called bingo, and First Baptist Church, Valley City, where he ran the sound board every Sunday and sang in the choir. He enjoyed collecting A&W memorabilia and miniature semi trucks and trailers.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Scott (Missy), Tower City, N.D., and Steven (Franki), Steele, N.D.; a daughter, Jennifer Wolhart, Valley City; his parents, Valley City; two sisters, Nancy Wolhart, Fargo, N.D., and Arlene (Kevin) Knudson, Larimore, N.D.; three brothers, Calvin (Jewel), Jamestown; Keith, Pacific Grove, Calif., and Neal (Heather), Fort Collins, Colo.; and four grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church, Valley City, with the Rev. Allan Gerber officiating.

Prayer service: 7 p.m. Monday at the church.

Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church and one hour before the service at the church. Arrangements by Lerud-Johnson-Schuldt Funeral Home, Valley City.

Burial: Memory Gardens Cemetery, Valley City.

Online guestbook: www. lerudjohnsonschuldt.com

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Fun for all - News-Herald

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 03:44 AM PST

By Andrea Blum

Home for the Holidays, a special Third Friday event, is set for today in Wyandotte.

A tree lighting ceremony is on tap at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of Chase Bank, and a bake sale will take place in front of City Hall, 3131 Biddle Ave., with proceeds going to the Wyandotte Soup Kitchen.

Complimentary carriage, and trolley rides will whisk visitors to local stores and restaurants for special sales and bargains.

Santa Claus comes to town at 10 a.m. tomorrow during the city's annual Christmas Parade.

From the end of the parade until 1 p.m., the city's Central Fire Station, 266 Maple, will host a chili and hot dog lunch as well as raffle two new bicycles. Proceeds will benefit local charities.

Teens can get rid of their old clothes and shop for new ones during a "Teen Only Stop and Shop" from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Taylor Recreation Center, 22805 Goddard Road.

Girls and boys ages 13 to 18 can bring their clean, gently used clothing, prom dresses, shoes and accessories to sell or just show up and shop for items.

Sellers can rent table space for $10 and set up from 10 to 11 a.m. Those who rent tables will be offered a private shopping time from 11 a.m. to noon.

Admission is $1. For more information, call 1-734-374-3906.

The Michigan Sports Card Show takes over Gibraltar Trade Center, 15525 Racho Road, Taylor from 1 to 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Former Detroit Red Wings player and National Hockey League coach Johnny Wilson will be on hand to sign autographs.

Author and certified sports counselor Kurt David also will visit the show to talk abut his book and TV show, "From Glory Days," which chronicles the lives of former Detroit Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings and Lions.

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society will host a special screening of "Planet 51" for children with autism and other disabilities at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the AMC Taylor 10, 22265 Eureka Road.

The special showing will have more lighting and lower sound. No previews will be shown.

Audience members will be free to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing during the film.

Families may bring their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks.

Tickets are $4.75 and may be purchased the day of the event. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms.

The Flat Rock Train Depot and Museum, 28700 Arsenal Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 28.

The museum features eight trains in several different scales, wrapped around a large wooden caboose.

Whimsical scenes, including a musical Christmas, a carnival, a petting zoo and more, surround the vintage trains.

In "presidential park," a train passes by all the presidents from George Washington to Lyndon Johnson. Above that, a large train circles the top of the caboose past paper cutouts of the buildings on Telegraph Road as they appeared in the 1950s.

Flat Rock businesses, both past and present, are represented in the display, including the historic Ford Motor Co. Lamp Factory and nearby Kate's Kitchen.

Admission is $6 adults and $5 students and senior citizens. Children ages 10 and younger get in free.

Tickets may be purchased at the door. For more information, call 1-734-782-2786.

Pay a visit to Santa's Magic Forest in the activity building at Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road, every weekend from Nov. 28 through Dec. 20.

Santa Claus will arrive via fire truck at noon Nov. 28 for the opening day ceremony. A holiday costume contest will follow.

The festive display also will feature free family entertainment and photos with Santa for $7.

Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays. From Dec. 21 to 23, hours will be 1 to 7 p.m.

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 10 and younger.

All proceeds will benefit Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry in Taylor.

For more information, call 1-734-442-0031 or 1-734-374-3906.

Tickets are on sale now for special holiday events with Santa Claus at the metroparks.

Santa's Workshop at Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township will offer a hayride, snacks, holiday songs and visits with Santa.

The event is set for 6 and 7 p.m. Dec. 4 and at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 2 p.m. Dec. 5.

Tickets are $6 and must be purchased in advance by calling 1-734-379-5020.

Sunday with Santa at Oakwoods Metropark near Flat Rock will delight children with Christmas carols, games, Santa visits, crafts and the story of "The Polar Express."

Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance by calling 1-734-782-3956.

Soroptimist International of the Flat Rock Area will host the Holiday Home Tour 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5.

The event will include tours of five festively decorated houses, a church, the Flat Rock Train Museum, and the historic Flat Rock Hotel.

A silent auction at the Flat Rock Public Library is under way now. Call Cindy Fesko at 1-734-789-8946 to submit a pre-event bid.

Advance tickets are $10 and available by calling Carol Sanders at 1-734-782-2675. Tickets purchased the day of the tour will be $12.

The Cat Fanciers Association will host a Christmas Cat Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 at the Allen Park Community Center, 15800 White St.

The show will feature two days of judged competition, as well as exhibitors and breeders providing information and offering close-up views of their cats.

Breeds represented will include Persians, Orientals, Birmans, Siamese, Maine Coons and Ragdolls.

Visitors can watch the judging, walk the exhibit hall to look at cats or ask questions of breeders and exhibitors.

The show will feature a number of separate, concurrently running individual shows held in the judging rings throughout the show hall, providing many opportunities to view the cats in action.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $3 for children. Toddlers and infants are admitted free.

The Southgate Community Players are offering a special promotion on "Oscar Night America" tickets.

Tickets purchased by Dec. 15 will cost $20. After that date, tickets will be $25.

"Oscar Night America" will be at 7 p.m. March 7 at the MJR Southgate Digital Cinema 20, 15651 Trenton Road.

The price includes appetizers and desserts from 15 to 20 Downriver restaurants and bakeries as well as wine, champagne, pop and popcorn to enjoy during the Oscar telecast broadcast on the big screen.

Any organizations classified as 501c3 that would like to make extra money also may sell tickets after the Dec. 15 deadline and will receive 40 percent of the $25 ticket price for every ticket sold.

Contact Phillip Rauch at 1-734-246-8263 to order tickets or if your organization would like to participate in this fundraiser.

"Oscar Night America" is hosted by the MJR Southgate Digital Cinema 20, organized by the Southgate Community Players and officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

The 25th annual Festival of Trees adds holiday sparkle to the Allen Park Municipal Auditorium, 16850 Southfield Road, Sunday through Nov. 29.

A Festival of Trees Preview Party is set for 6:30 to 11 p.m. tomorrow, and a Dance Party will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 28, both at the Allen Park Municipal Auditorium.

For more information, call 1-248-336-2331or visit www.fot.org.

Try out some fancy footwork during ballroom dance lessons from 7:10 to 8:40 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 10 at the Allen Park Community Center, 15800 White St.

Participants will learn the fox trot, waltz, cha-cha, swing and more. The fee is $65 for Allen Park residents and $70 for non-residents.

Registration begins Tuesday. Call 1-313-928-0771 to sign up.

Kindergarteners through third graders will meet at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow for Muskrat Club — Stuff 'n' Fluff at Marshlands Museum and Nature Center at Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township.

Children will learn how wildlife makes use of cattails and how people can use the fluffy objects. A $2 fee applies.

Join marine historian Keith Steffke for interesting maritime tales during Great Ships from the Great Lakes at 2 p.m. Sunday. A $2 fee applies.

For more information, call the metropark at 1-734-379-5020 or the wildlife refuge at 1-734-692-7649.

Scouts can earn a pin during Webelos — Geology Pin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow at Oakwoods Metropark in Huron Township. A $3 fee applies.

Find out how nature prepares for the cold, snowy season during a Ready for Winter Walk at 10 a.m. tomorrow. A $2 fee applies and includes hot chocolate in the "Up North" room afterward.

Preregistration and vehicle entry permits are required for all programs.

Visit www.metroparks.com or call 1-734-782-3956 for details.

Team B. Creative will read and sign copies of "Abominable Snowman: A Frozen Nightmare," the fifth book in the Mick Morris series at noon tomorrow at Barnes & Noble, 3120 Fairlane Drive, Allen Park.

Afterward, the author and illustrators will conduct a drawing workshop for children ages 8 to 12.

Author Darla Jaros will sign copies of her book, "The Kitchen Assistant: Time and Money Saving Tips in the Kitchen," at 2 p.m. tomorrow and share insight about preparing healthy meals while stretching your dollars.

The annual Book Drive provides customers the opportunity to purchase a book to donate to children through a community program. Books will be collected through Dec. 31.

This year's recipient organization is The Guidance Center's Head Start program.

A Fall Story Time series is under way at 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Children ages 3 to 7 can enjoy a story, song and physical activity at each event.

Call 1-313-271-0688 to register for upcoming programs.

The Lincoln Park Recreation Department will host its next dinner theater today with puppeteer/magician The Amazing Clark at the Kennedy Memorial Building, 3240 Ferris.

Tickets are $7 a person and include pizza and pop.

For more information, call 1-313-386-1817.

Explore an imaginary kingdom as "Lego Castle Adventure" visits Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, through Jan. 3.

The interactive display features a royal castle, thrones, a suit of armor and a royal family portrait, all made from Legos.

Visitors can tour the castle grounds and learn about everyday castle life, dress up as princes, princesses, knights or dragons, play in a jousting field with foam-rubber lances and meet the resident Lego dragon.

Age-appropriate build areas will let youngsters put together their own Lego castles.

The exhibit is free with membership or admission to The Henry Ford.

Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $11 for children.

For more information, visit www.thehenryford.org or call 1-313-982-6001.

A free planetarium show, "The Road Not Taken — A Fall Star Talk," is being offered at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 24 in the science building at Henry Ford Community College, 5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn.

Doors open at 7:15 and close at show time. Late comers will not be seated.

Reservations aren't required, but admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Call 1-313-845-9628 for more details.

Try out your pipes during karaoke at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3943, 5144 N. Dixie Highway, Newport.

Call 1-734-289-2080 for more information.

Free airplane rides for children are being offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the second Sunday of each month at Detroit City Airport, 11499 Conner St.

Children must bring a parent and have a signed waiver from the parent to take the ride.

After the ride, the child's name will appear in the world's largest log book, and they will receive a personalized "Spirit of Flight" certificate.

For more information, call the Tuskegee Airmen Museum at 1-313-843-8849.

Ascend the heights as the story of "The Alps," featuring music by Queen, visits the Detroit Science Center, 5020 John R.

The film chronicles the Alps' breathtaking beauty, harmonious culture, perilous avalanches and irresistible allure to a mountaineer on a personal journey to make peace with the mountain that killed his father.

Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis; no advance reservations will be taken for this show.

For more information, visit www.detroitsciencecenter.org.

The Moth StorySLAM, New York City's hottest literary ticket, comes to the Motor City at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Cliff Bells, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit.

The open microphone storytelling events each will feature 10 individuals telling five-minute true stories without notes or scripts. Three teams of judges chosen from the audience will score participants.

The highest scorer will go on to compete in the Detroit GrandSLAM.

Dan Kennedy, one of the hosts of the new Moth Radio Hour on WDET 101.9 FM, will emcee the events.

Tickets are $5. For more information, visit www.themoth.org.

Celebrity chef Guy Fieri brings his "Rock 'N' Roll Culinary Tour" to the Masonic Temple Theatre at 8 p.m. Dec. 4.

The two-hour "food-a-palooza" is modeled after a high-energy rock concert. Each appearance will feature a local celebrated chef and Fieri's combination of interactive cooking stations, demonstrations and stories from the road.

Tickets ranging from $28 to $50 are on sale at www.olympiaentertainment.com, the Fox and Joe Louis box offices, Ticketmaster locations and www.ticketmaster.com.

Call 1-800-745-3000 to charge orders.

The film debut of "Detroit: Our Greatest Generation" is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Fox Theatre.

WJR radio personality Paul W. Smith will host the event, which also will feature the Cornerstone Concert Choir, Mitch Ryder and Stewart Francke and the 38th Army Band.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Michigan Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Yankee Air Museum.

Tickets at $23 and $33 are on sale at www.olympiaentertainment.com, the Fox and Joe Louis box offices and Ticketmaster locations.

Call 1-800-745-3000 to charge orders.

The Harlem Globetrotters will bring their high-flying antics to The Palace of Auburn Hills at 7 p.m. Jan. 2.

Tickets to see the basketball wizards at $15 and $24.50 are on sale at www.palacenet.com, The Palace box office and all Ticketmaster locations. "Superfan," VIP and courtside seating also is available.

Call 1-800-745-3000 to charge orders.

"Walking With Dinosaurs — The Arena Spectacular" will roam Cobo Arena in Detroit from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.

Based on the award-winning BBC television series, the show will depict the dinosaurs' evolution, complete with the climactic and tectonic changes that led to their demise.

The dinosaurs range from 36 to 56 feet high with 10 different species represented, including Tyrannosaurs Rex, the Stegosaurus and the Utahraptor.

Tickets ranging from $24.50 to $69 are on sale at www.olympiaentertainment.com, the Fox and Joe Louis box offices and Ticketmaster locations.

A $7 discount per ticket is offered for senior citizens age 60s and older and children ages 12 and younger.

Call 1-800-745-3000 to charge orders.

Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria" will drop into Joe Louis Arena from Feb. 4 to 7.

The breathtaking acrobatic showcase features an international case of performers and musicians in acts such as the synchro trapeze and the aerial high bars.

Tickets range from $38 to $98 for adults and $31 to $79 for children ages 2 to 12. Students, senior citizens and members of the military will receive up to a $9.50 per ticket discount.

Purchase online at www.olympiaentertainment.com, the Fox and Joe Louis box offices and Ticketmaster locations.

Call 1-800-745-3000 to charge ticket orders.

Bacon Memorial District Library, 45 Vinewood, Wyandotte, holds a drop-in chess game from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays.

Find new and challenging opponents and pick up a move or two.

Call 1-734-246-8357 for more information.

Heritage Decorative Artists of Southeast Michigan, a chapter of the International Society of Decorative Painters, meets bimonthly at the Westfield Activities Center, 2700Westfield Road, Trenton.

The group shares ideas and new painting techniques in addition to sponsoring painting seminars with well-known teachers. All levels of painters are welcome.

For more information, call Debi Keeling at 1-734-422-9382 or visit www.heritagedecorativeartists.com.

The Downriver Council for the Arts, 20904 North Line Road, Taylor, has a book club, which meets from 1 to 3 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.

Snacks are provided, and donations are accepted. To learn more, call 1-734-287-6103 or e-mail dc4arts@cs-net.net.

Take a tour of the Henry Ford Estate-Fair Lane on the campus of the University of

Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road.

Tours are at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

The price is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 62 and older and $6 for children ages 5-12. Children 4 and younger get in free.

Call 1-313-593-5590 for details.

See the birthplace of the Model T with a tour of the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, 461 Piquette, Detroit.

Walk the same floors as Henry Ford, the Dodge brothers, James Couzens and other auto pioneers, where the first 10,000 Tin Lizzies were manufactured before the advent of the assembly line.

A National Historic Landmark, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month through October. Admission is $10, with free admission for those 16 and younger.

Tours for groups of 10 or more are available by appointment. Call 1-313-872-8759 for reservations. For directions, visit www.tplex.org.