Writing on her blog, Sabra Briere reflects on the recent presidential debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, which she found “less than inspiring.” Addressing the candidates, she writes: “For me, there was way too much testosterone and entirely too much ego last night. I don’t care whether you like or respect each other, I care that you respect us enough to actually listen.” [Source]
A post on Damn Arbor highlights historical footage taken at German Park, recently discovered by Terri Sarris at Treasure Mart in Ann Arbor. Sarris has posted the video online, with a note indicating that the footage might be from the 1930s. [Source]
The Ann Arbor-based Arts Alliance has released results of a candidate survey, asking about views on arts and culture. Twenty-seven candidates responded, answering questions like “If elected, what measurable actions will you take to ensure arts & culture can survive and thrive in Washtenaw County?” and “What is your position on public funding for arts & culture?” [Source]
A report from Washtenaw Community College staff describes the Oct. 1 visit to WCC by Jay Williams, executive director of the U.S. Dept. of Labor Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. His visit highlighted a recent $2.9 million federal grant to WCC, enabling it to develop new courses for the IT industry. The report quotes WCC president Rose Bellanca: “During our strategic planning process we asked employers to tell us what kind of training they needed so that we could design it. Up to this point, we have only been able to plan for it. This grant allows us to make it happen.” [Source]
The Center for Michigan’s Bridge magazine publishes an opinion piece by Andy Buchsbaum, director of the Great Lakes Office of the National Wildlife Federation in Ann Arbor. Buchsbaum describes an “indoor childhood epidemic” and advocates for education that gets students outside. “If the well-being of kids and our conservation future demand kids get outside, let’s open the door. If we want to cultivate engaged students, let’s do that, too. Yes, it will be a challenge, but it is infinitely possible – and without breaking the bank. It’s possible, that is, if we are willing to chart a new course.” [Source]
The blog for JR Magat Photography posts dozens of photos of a wedding held at Ann Arbor’s Cobblestone Farm in August. [Source]
A column by Robert Bullard posted on OpEdNews.com salutes University of Michigan professor Bunyan Bryant, as a preview to the Oct. 4-6 conference at UM honoring Bryant’s 40 years of scholarship. Bullard writes: “Finally, kudos to Professor Bryant for starting the Environmental Justice Initiative (EJI) in the SNRE [School of Natural Resources and Environment] at Michigan, the only university in the United States that offers an M.A. and Ph.D. in environmental justice. And because of his longevity in the academy, the goal of building an intergenerational movement is much further along. Brother Bunyan, environmental justice leaders and emerging leaders salute you!” [Source]
Len Niehoff, a Chelsea resident and University of Michigan law professor, has started a new poetry blog – Dishevelled Stars. The first poem on the site is titled “Discourses.” [Source]
Photographer Myra Klarman documents a recent Friday morning at Selma Café, the weekly breakfast fundraiser on Ann Arbor’s Old West Side. Lisa Gottlieb’s home, where the event is held, will be on the Old West Side Homes Tour on Sunday, Sept. 23. Selma organizers are also holding a local music fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 17 to support the café’s efforts to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. [Source]
Tom Ivacko, a program manager at the University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State and Urban Policy, writes a guest column in Bridge Magazine that looks at how transparency in government is affected when local units of government consolidate services. He writes: “As public services are increasingly delivered through a web of temporary agreements among differing sets of local governments, what happens to accountability and transparency? If your police protection is provided by a consortium of cities A, B, and C, while your fire services are provided by cities A and B with Township D, and your parks are maintained by City A along with County E and Township F, a new fog of government could descend. Who is responsible, … [Full Story]
Matt Callow is putting together a Google map that shows ”drinking fountains, public bathrooms and other water stops in Ann Arbor MI. For runners, walkers and cyclists.” The map is collaborative – anyone can put in additional locations. [Source]
The University of Michigan has started a bike rental program called Blue Bikes. From a report in the University Record: ”Thirty blue bicycles, featuring a ‘blue bike’ decal, are available to students, faculty and staff for daily, weekend and semester rentals. Rates begin at $5 for a daily rental, $11 for the weekend and $75 for the semester. The bikes are available at two campus locations: Outdoor Adventures and the North Campus Recreational Building.” [Source]
In a post on Chicago Parent, Amy Bizzarri describes the possibilities of a day trip to Ann Arbor, with young kids in tow: “Ann Arbor, college town par excellence, is home to a pedestrian-friendly downtown, a wealth of tree-filled parks, and a funky, Midwestern vibe. Many alums drag their kids back to their alma mater to catch a game in the Big House, but there is so much more to see, do and eat in this green and family-friendly city.” [Source]
In a column published on the Business Insider website, Jim Price – an Ann Arbor entrepreneur and adjunct University of Michigan business lecturer – gives advice to those who are concerned that someone might steal their business concept. Price writes: “Don’t worry about somebody stealing it. Your business concept isn’t what’s going to differentiate you from your competitors. What’s going to spell success for you is your ability to build a high-performing team, set and meet goals, and build lasting customer relationships.” [Source]
A post on the Mother’s Kitchen blog reflects on whether there’s an image that describes the essence of Ann Arbor. Deciding that there’s not, the writer lists several words and phrases that capture the city. Here’s one: “Open minded – say you want to do something a little out of the mainstream, like have a blessing ceremony for your same sex union on the vernal equinox presided over by a warlock, you can do it in Ann Arbor. It would be easy to pull together in a few hours. You want to walk down the street wearing a bishop’s mitre and a racoon skin coat and orange corduroys? Go right ahead – no one will bat an eye.” [Source]
The University Record reports that Google Earth is on the University of Michigan campus using a 360-degree camera mounted on a tricycle to photograph street-level views. The tricycle is traveling along paths and sidewalks. [Source]
The Ann Arbor Newshawks are back with their August 2012 report. Highlights include a unique suggestion for screening debris at the Dreiseitl water sculpture, a review of the “Elder Tats” tattoo parlor, and the game show “You Can’t Get There From Here,” which gives contestants 20 seconds to navigate between two locations – like Washtenaw Dairy to Knight’s Restaurant – without hitting construction blocks. Enjoy! [Source]
Writing on the Huron River Watershed Council blog, executive director Laura Rubin describes a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony in Dexter for the Mill Creek Park, and the transformation that’s taken place since the Mill Creek dam was removed in 2008. She writes: “I know the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Mill Pond was a weed-choked, stinky pond. Now we have an open central park with an amphitheater, trails, fishing piers and overlooks, boat access, benches, and pretty flowers and trees. And then there’s the creek. Anglers have spotted brown trout jumping this past week!” [Source]
The city of Ann Arbor has launched a new online public forum site called A2 Open City Hall. The first topic focuses on changes that residents would like to see along the South State Street corridor, from Stimson Street to West Ellsworth Road. The site allows you to post comments and read what other people have posted. The feedback will be incorporated into the city’s ongoing South State Street corridor study. [Source]
The Millennial Mayors Congress, which describes itself as ”a partnership of city officials and rising leaders working together to address regional challenges in metro Detroit,” is surveying different communities to develop “vibrancy maps” to highlight places and events that make each area unique. This survey focuses on Ypsilanti, asking what you would do on an ideal Saturday morning, afternoon or evening in the city, and what three adjectives best describe the community. [Source]
The Ann Arbor Schools Musings blog posts a speech given by Skyline High teacher Collin Ganio at an honors ceremony for students earlier this year. He described the famous “Me/We” extemporaneous poem by Muhammad Ali, then said: “I issue the same challenge to you – think less about Myspace and more about Ourspace. Use your agile minds and big hearts – ask the deep questions – in order to make this world better not just for yourselves, but for everyone around you. I mean, think about it – if everyone worked to better a community for their fellow citizens, then we might not spend a lot of time working to make our own lives better, but we might not need … [Full Story]
In a post on her blog, Sabra Briere reflects on how Ann Arbor Democratic political organizers used to canvass neighborhoods to collect information about voters, and how that process has changed over the years. She writes: “Getting this information required constant work by precinct workers. Volunteers would go door-to-door in the months without an election, and learn whether someone had moved, married, or died. Each resident was asked if he/she was registered to vote, and names were later checked off against a list of known voters. Each resident was asked about party preference: ‘are you a Democrat, Republican or Independent? If an Independent, are you more likely to vote Democratic or Republican?’ (This is all pre-computer, when we were still … [Full Story]
“Maize and Blue Go for the Gold” – a website highlighting the University of Michigan’s connections to the 2012 London Olympics – has launched with a photo gallery, roster of current UM students competing in the Games, and stories about past and present UM Olympians. The university has also created a Twitter hashtag – #MGoLondon – for tweets about UM at the Olympics. Opening ceremonies will kick off tonight. [Source]
The Ann Arbor-based Arts Alliance asked candidates in the Aug. 7 primary to respond to five questions related to their views on arts and culture. Questions include: “What arts and cultural activities have you or your family members attended, participated in, or supported in the past year?” and “What is your position on public funding for arts & culture?” [.pdf of candidate responses]
A video posted on the city of Ann Arbor’s new non-motorized transportation blog follows a bike rider with a helmet-mounted camera on a commute from Fifth and Ann, near city hall, down Fifth to Packard, then over to State – set to the tune of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” According to a city press release, the blog will serve as ”a platform for encouragement and education of the culture of non-motorized transportation.” [Source]
Lisa Allmendinger, a long-time local reporter, relaunched an online news site on Monday for the Chelsea area: Chelsea Update. In her inaugural post, Allmendinger writes: “This Chelsea-focused news site got its start with my neighbor, Heather Newman, who has entrusted me with ‘her baby’ by letting me buy it and relaunch it after a two-year hiatus. …Throughout my career, I’ve been a sports writer, editorial page editor, news editor, and regional reporter. I’ve also been a part of several different launches, which were owned, of course, by other people. Yet despite the risks, I’ve always wanted to launch my own publication. Today marks the beginning of this life-long dream for me.” [Source]
Quantum, this year’s entry for the University of Michigan’s solar car team, won the 2012 American Solar Challenge. A photo of the winning crew is posted on the team’s website, with a note to fans: “On July 21, 2012, we not only won our 7th National Championship, but we finished the race with the largest margin of victory in the history of the American Solar Challenge. We are proud to bring home the trophy to Ann Arbor for a 4th consecutive time, however, we are not stopping here! Believe it or not, before this race even began, we were already working on the next car.” [Source]
Writing on the Huron River Watershed Council blog, Elizabeth Riggs notes a connection between running and the Huron River: “Nick Willis, the 1,500 meter silver-medalist in 2008 Beijing Olympics representing New Zealand, lives, trains, and coaches in Ann Arbor. When he recently shared his Favorite Running Spots in town via Facebook, we couldn’t help but notice that the Huron River and its tributaries figure prominently in the list.” Locations include trails from Leslie Science Center to North Park (Traver Creek) and the dirt roads behind Barton Hills (Huron River), among many others. Willis will be competing in the 1,500 meter race at the 2012 Olympics in London. [Source]
Micheline Maynard, writing in the Atlantic Cities, describes the attributes of living in a small town – in her case, Ann Arbor: ”Turns out my years living in big cities have given me an unexpected education in getting the most out of small city life. They’ve helped me discover what’s most important to me: a lively, diverse community, with access to good food, the arts, the world around us, and a comfortable place to live that’s also affordable on a freelancer’s budget.” [Source]
The online magazine Salon publishes a column by Anna Clark about a defamation lawsuit filed against The Michigan Daily by the Kitchener Rangers, a Canadian junior hockey team. Clark describes her own experience at the student newspaper, and of the quality journalistic it has produced. She writes that ”some student newspapers have proved that they are above and beyond the average. They come from a tradition of practicing professional journalism; as this lawsuit moves forward, they deserve to be treated like professional journalists. In a funny way, the plaintiffs in this defamation lawsuit are demonstrating that they, at least, take student journalism seriously.” [Source]
