Of all American presidents, probably none is more-studied than Abraham Lincoln, and yet there’s always something new to learn about him. “Did Lincoln Own Slaves? And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln” is the new book by Lincoln scholar Gerald J. Prokopowicz (pictured above), and he’ll be reading and signing January 28 at Border’s in Grosse Pointe.

Prokopowicz has a local connection. He moved to the Shores in ninth grade and his mother, Aulga Prokopowicz, still lives here.

Gerry teaches at East Carolina University, but spent many years in the private sector, as resident scholar at the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Ind., which is where I came to know him. I haven’t read his book yet, but a friend has, and writes: Gerry’s informative and engaging book made me laugh out loud several times - including in the foot notes and end notes. And indeed, despite the four dozen other Lincoln books on my shelf (and in some cases, because of them!) I’ve learned many things I didn’t know, and UNlearned several incorrect things I thought I knew.

What else do you have to do on a Monday night in January? Everything starts at 7 p.m. See you there.

Model D takes note of St. John Hospital’s fine work on improving the Moross median strip near their property. One interesting note:

Feedback has been positive to the point that partnerships are being explored between neighboring municipalities and businesses to continue the median improvements westward to I-94. “(The Moross exit) is the gateway to Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Woods,” Wild says.

Elsewhere, Ellen Bowen’s punishment is decided: Suspended until October 1.

Former Grosse Pointe resident Jeanne Jacques Ford, valedictorian of her class at GPHS and longtime Detroit journalist, died last week in Florida. Read the obituary in the Palm Beach Daily News.

Photo credit to come

This stunning photo was passed along to us via e-mail, sans photo credit. We’re posting it in the hopes that the photographer would rather people see his or her work than, you know, pay for it. (P.S. We’re penniless.) You know, if you were inclined to view things in a certain way, it almost looks as though someone is very very angry with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.

Now that we have your attention, a few links that have been piling up:

And you thought you had a bad commute. A judge will decide where children of divorced parents will attend school — Grosse Pointe or Howell.

The event formerly known as the GP’s greatest garage sale is reborn as its greatest block party. The Freep has more.

We learned last week from the GP Times that Andrew Walton was a local. Here’s a New York Times (registration required, I think) story about his POV documentary, “Arctic Son.” I know it’s already aired, but PBS is always rerunning things, and the story’s interesting even if you didn’t see the movie.

Your correspondent had a quick errand to run to the Mack/Moross Kroger the other evening, and as I was leaving the store and unlocking my bike, I noticed the new Farms’ dog park looked well-attended. So I rode over to see. Sure enough, at least 10 dogs and their owners were enjoying the new facility, chatting and comparing dogs and apologizing for the occasional growl.

If you’re wondering, yes, it was just like a toddler play date.

A few days later, I passed the Woods’ version at Lake Front Park, pathetic in contrast — a wan little fraction of an acre tucked off in a remote corner, still fenced with the orange plastic stuff they use at construction sites. Not surprisingly, it was deserted. I’ve driven past it dozens of times, and I think I’ve seen it in use once.

This was a terrible idea. People want to walk their dogs to a dog park, not drive them. (I do, anyway.) The park should have been located at Ghesquiere or some other public space within the city limits; there are many out-of-the-way places a roomy, enclosed area could be placed without interfering with the existing park activities.

Mark my words: Within two years, the Lake Front dog park will be closed, for “lack of use.” That’s why the fencing is still temporary, and that’s why the park was put in such a terrible location in the first place. People wanted it, but the city didn’t.

If the Farms would consider selling permits to non-residents, I’d be happy to pay double the residential price. At least I’d feel welcome there.

File this under Things We Wish We’d Read First in the Local Weekly:

A misdemeanor assault conviction from a road rage incident that has state officials considering whether to end the teaching career of Grosse Point South High School’s award-winning choir director is described as an aberration by her supporters.

But the personnel file of the teacher who is so beloved that admirers operate a Web site in her honor shows Ellen Bowen was disciplined at least five times since 2004 for berating and humiliating students and staffers, according to records obtained Thursday by The Detroit News through the Freedom of Information Act.

…In the past three years, she received reprimands for shaming a student by cutting his hair because an audience member complained about it; calling a senior an “arrogant a——” and accusing a custodian of installing a video camera in the Performing Arts Center to watch pornography.

For those of you who missed it, here’s a link to a Free Press story over the weekend about the redevelopment of a portion of Detroit’s east side that borders Grosse Pointe Park.

As a non-native, and as a relatively recent relocator to southeast Michigan, few things about the area have been as baffling, and as dispiriting, as the enmity between Detroit and its neighbors. While I believe most people don’t bear the city any ill will, enough do, and are loud enough about saying so, to poison the atmosphere whenever its future is the topic being discussed.

I ride my bicycle a lot in this area, and I never fail to be amazed at how the Detroit neighborhood bordered by Fox Creek/Alter Road has deteriorated. In what other metro area on the planet would a straight watery pathway to the Great Lakes not be exploited by a real-estate developer? I guess someone else finally figured it out:

The New Far East Side Development Co. oversees a coalition of national developers including former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, builders and a low-income development corporation. The City of Detroit is contributing millions of dollars in financing.

The development will include houses and condominiums priced from $65,000 to $300,000. Apartments will also be included. The 1,200-acre area is bounded by East Jefferson, Alter, Warren and Conner.

“It is unlike what Detroit has seen in a long time,” said Cisneros, who walked the site and met with city officials last month. “We think this sets up a prototype of what can be done in the city of Detroit.”

The Fox Creek area of the project — bordered by Kercheval, Jefferson Avenue, Eastlawn and Alter Road — is 70% vacant, but 230 homes remain in the area, said Linda Smith, executive director of U-SNAP-BAC, a grassroots development group.

To assist the homeowners and renters, the development company raised $1 million from donors, including the Knight Foundation, Masco and the City of Detroit. U-SNAP-BAC will oversee restoration and will use the money to pay for repairs and façade improvements.

Any improvement in the areas bordering the Pointes can only help the Pointes. Good luck to all involved with this project.

Congratulations to the Pointe sailors who finished at and near the top in the Port Huron-to-Mackinac race this week. Overall first-place winner was Park resident Frank Kern and his J-120 Carinithia, sailing out of Bayview Yacht Club.

Other class winners included Carl Bihlmeyer of the Woods, Greg Thomas and Bob Bunn of the Park and John Barbour of the City.

OK, OK. Various parties are chiding GPT about going dark these last months, and they have a point. I, your blogmistress, will be opening the windows and airing the place out a bit in coming days and weeks. In the meantime, some linkage for your perusal:

The Ellen Bowen story deepens. Discuss.

Pete Waldmeir says he knows who was behind the Grosse Pointe Woods Undiapered blog, and names a name. Meanwhile, the old GPWU address has been relaunched as Grosse Pointe Woods Anew. The new proprietor — who maintains anonymity — asks that comments be signed. You go first!

More later. Keep watching.

The Free Press takes note of the unusual ice formations on the Lake St. Clair shoreline today. I recommend the very nice photo gallery, as well.