New Media Watch Section

The Eat Close to Home blog puts out a call for volunteers for Avalon Housing’s Edible Avalon project: “Edible Avalon is a great group that’s not only helping to build gardens in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area, they are teaching people how to garden and supporting them through their first gardening efforts. They are looking for volunteers to help mentor new gardeners at their garden sites 1-3 hours per week.” [Source]

Ann Arbor’s Huron Hills Golf Course has opened for the season, and Leslie Park Golf Course could open as early as March 22, according to the city’s website. [Source]

On his blog The Connective Lens, photographer Burrill Strong documents the recent Chelsea Music Boosters concert, which raised money for the Chelsea schools music program. The event featured performances by the Chelsea High School Chamber Choir, North Creek Fiddlers, the Chelsea Band Faculty Trio and many others. [Source]

The Gov Monitor reports that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is in California meeting with Google executives to push for choosing a city in Michigan to test its high-speed fiber optic network. From the report: “Granholm is encouraging Michigan communities to submit applications for the trial network with several already in the works including, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing/East Lansing.” The article quotes Granholm: “Google fiber is a perfect fit here as no state can match the exploding new technology investment in Michigan in recent years.” [Source]

A blog posting for the Play Gallery takes a look at how some students at UM’s School of Art & Design spent their recent spring break: “With two months before graduation, Isaac and Alex move too fast for the camera. Hot wax, holes in their pants, and open-toed shoes. All rules are off on Spring Break, you rebels.” [Source]

Washteaw Literacy has a waiting list of people asking for help with basic literacy or English-as-a-second-language skills, and needs volunteers to do one-on-one tutoring. The nonprofit is encouraging potential volunteers to attend upcoming one-hour information sessions on March 23 and 29. More information can be downloaded from the group’s website. [Source]

In her Local in Ann Arbor blog, Vivienne Armentrout describes the March 4 “Generational Divide” forum hosted by Concentrate magazine at the Michigan Theater. The forum included a talk by Dan Gilmartin of the Michigan Municipal League, and a panel discussion: “It was clear that moderator Jeff Meyers and the institutional host of this talk, Concentrate, wanted to make the discussion about density and development, though that was not the major focus of talk. The panel … neatly side-stepped most of his efforts to make the subject contentious on a generational level, as the title implied.” [Source]

Maite Zubia, a native of Chile who sells her Maitelates Alfajores at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, reports collecting $1,050 at Saturday’s market to send to earthquake victims in her homeland: “That amount of money will build at least one house for an entire family, and even though that family might never meet you, they’ll know forever that no one is alone, that behind each individual in pain, there is ALWAYS someone willing to give a hand. … Thank you Ann Arbor for being a part of this recovery. Our families and friends will be eternally grateful for the response of Ann Arbor to our call.” [Source]

Two events related to the world of very small objects are on offer in mid-March. Writing on Eclectablog, Chris Savage reviews the exhibit “Nano, Micro, Macro – A matter of scale” art show at the Duderstadt Center on the campus of the University of Michigan, which runs through March 12. [Source]

And on March 13-14, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum hosts “Nano Days,” which is a chance for attendees to explore “technology that’s a million times smaller than the head of a pin. Attendees will explore nano-sized structures and products that use nanotechnology, including liquid crystals and stain resistant fabric.” [Source]

The Infrastructurist has published a photo of a stop sign leading to Washtenaw Avenue with white stenciling under the word “STOP”: “DEFACING STOP SIGNS.” Cross street uncertain. [Update: Now certain that it's Washtenaw & Baldwin: Link] Admonishes the website: “And since March is National Collision Awareness Month (and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is quick to remind us all that around 102 people died in auto crashes per day in 2008 – one every 14 minutes!) we want to formally state that we at The Infrastructurist do not condone the defacing of public street signs, no matter how witty, zingy, or hilarious the results may be.”  [Source]

The Ann Arbor Main Street Business Improvement Zone  (BIZ) Initiative website relays the news from the Ann Arbor city clerk that the self-assessment taxing district on Main Street has been approved. The vote among property owners in the district was in favor of the measure by a better than 95% margin [Source]. [Previous Chronicle coverage: "Ann Arbor Main Street BIZ Clears Hurdle"]

The UM Museum of Art is looking for volunteers to serve on its Student Programming and Advisory Board. Among the board’s tasks: Produce a student performance series on the third Thursday of each month in the UMMA Commons, and plan one large-scale event for UM students each semester. Applications for the fall semester are due April 6. [Source]

The Ann Arbor Chronicle has rolled out a beta version of its website specifically for mobile devices. Readers who use Blackbery, Palm Pre, or Android, are encouraged to have a look and test it out. The mobile version is automatically provided to mobile devices. [Source]

A report in the Michigan Messenger handicaps the Democratic candidates in the governor’s race, giving a roundup of their rankings in recent polls. In a Capital Caucus poll of political insiders, state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, who now represents the 54th District in Washtenaw County, “barely registered, coming in with less than ’someone not listed.’” The article quotes Smith: “I am as viable as any Democrat out there and probably more so. I am the most knowledgeable and experienced on the issues.” [Source]

Writing on MuniWireless, Esme Vos sounds a cautionary note about the Google initiative to build broadband networks in local communities. Ann Arbor is competing to be named as one of the communities in that effort. Writes Vos: “Many of us still think (unconsciously) of Google as this scrappy little startup who needs all the help it can get to go up against the Big Guys. But it isn’t. Google has become a large, highly profitable company; it has money and an army of lobbyists to fight the cable/DSL guys. In the end, here we are again, with a critical piece of infrastructure completely owned by one company – a private enterprise beholden only to its shareholders.” [Source]

Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation is training volunteers for its controlled burn program. A photo posted via Twitter shows what it looks like to do this kind of training in the snow – at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. [Source]

Photographer Liz Brauer of Ann Arbor has won first place in the youth category for the People Powered Movement Photo Contest, sponsored by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, a Washington D.C.-based group. Brauer’s entry is titled “Keeping It Going.” [Source]

A post on The Dissociated Press website gives a review, of sorts, of the Ann Arbor Film Festival: “For the uninitiated, Ann Arbor isn’t a woman, it’s a small college town in Michigan that at one time was as cool as say, Berkley, California, but has since slowly morphed into a dreary backwater of uptight Republicans and Liberal Elitists. … Aside from the University of Michigan’s overfunded and underperforming football team, one thing that has put Ann Arbor on the map over the years – and with good reason – is the Ann Arbor Film Festival. [Source]

UM and city of Ann Arbor officials have launched a community call to action: “The city of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan are teaming up to meet Google’s March 26 deadline to complete a Request for Information as part of the Internet search company’s Fiber for Communities effort. Google has indicated that a major component of the selection process will be the strength of the community support and participation. Google will pick a number of communities in which it will install a broadband network that would stream data at 1 gigabit per second, or about 100 times faster than cable or DSL providers.” A new website – A2Fiber.com – lists ways to respond. [Source]

The Rochester Citizen covered a Feb. 27 gubernatorial forum hosted by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party in Pittsfield Township and featuring three Democratic candidates: state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, Lansing mayor Virg Bernero and Dan Kildee, former Genesee County treasurer. “First, though, Debbie Dingell, wife of long-time Congressman John Dingell told the crowd that contrary to what all the pundits have been telling us, ‘this will be a great year for Democrats.’” The article includes links to video of the forum. [Source]

The Washtenaw County Public Health department is asking residents to take an online survey about the local response to the H1N1 flu. People who complete the brief survey are eligible for a drawing to win one of five $100 Meijer gift cards. [Source]

Writing on Eclectablog, Chris Savage reports on a recent gathering sponsored by Organizing for America (OFA) and Health Care for American NOW! (HCAN), held in Madison Heights in southeastern Michigan. The rally called for Congress to take action on jobs for Michigan. Savage, a Dexter resident, described the remarks of Congressman John Conyers, Jr., a Democrat who represents Michigan’s 14th District, and addressed the gathering: “Reading off an attached label he said, ‘We need real reform, not small potatoes’. The bag of potatoes was a gift from a constituent who was trying to get his attention and clearly succeeded.” [Source]

On Sundays, the Cake Wrecks blog highlights cakes that aren’t wrecks. This week’s post features cakes with an Alice in Wonderland theme, including one made by Ann Arbor’s Cake Nouveau (at the bottom of the post). [Source]

A post on the Trusty Getto blog notes the departure of Richard Weigel, an assistant superintendent at Ypsilanti Public Schools who was recently hired as superintendent of the school system in Niles, Mich.: “Although I’m happy for Richard, his departure marks a sad day for Ypsilanti. Richard was one of the most dedicated, motivated and talented school administrators I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Although he was given the monumental task of fixing a troubled curriculum department when he was first hired, he successfully accomplished that goal and much, much more during his tenure here.” [Source]

On her Relish blog, photographer Myra Klarman documents the 1st anniversary of Friday Mornings @ Selma, a breakfast salon on Ann Arbor’s west side that raises money for local food efforts: “It was a sweet reunion, and I was delighted to see so many of my favorite familiar faces. I was also amazed by how many new people have jumped in to keep Selma strong and vibrant. The house was packed. I believe it was a record-breaking week of — wait for it… — 135 guests!” [Source]

On the Labor Notes website, Ken Wachsberger writes about an attempt by part-time adjunct lecturers to join Eastern Michigan University’s lecturers’ union: “The university, whose specialty is educating future teachers and whose slogan is ‘Education First,’ has hired a team of high-priced lawyers to break the back of the drive, in part by creating divisions between full-time and part-time lecturers.” [Source]

NewJerseyNewsroom.com reports on Toyota’s ongoing recall crisis, quoting UM business professor Jeff Liker and Gerald Meyers, former CEO of American Motors, who lectures at UM. Says Meyers: “Every crisis management expert will tell you to be transparent. You have to be quick, get the bad news out, get it all out, bury it and move ahead. That’s what every crisis management expert will tell you. But back at the ranch, it’s a lot more difficult than that.” [Source]

Scot Graden, superintendent of Saline Area Schools, writes on his blog about a Feb. 22 meeting to discuss the closing of Houghton School: “At the meeting I was again struck by how important it is to have the engaged participation of the community. I feel fortunate to be in a district that has involved community members willing to come out on a cold winter night and discuss these important issues.” [Source]

The city of Ann Arbor’s website includes a snow plowing status report that “will be activated during the city’s response to a significant snow event, which requires an accumulation of at least four inches of snow.” As of noon on Monday, it hadn’t yet been “activated” – but will likely include updates soon, given weather conditions. [Source]

In an email to constituents and city council colleagues, Sabra Briere – who represents Ward 1 – has circulated a “budget white paper.” The paper, in part, lays out a case for putting a Headlee override before voters as an alternative to proposing a city income tax: “I do not support a city income tax, and will not vote to put it on the ballot.   … I do support putting a ‘Headlee override’ on the ballot for citizen consideration …”

A Headlee override would reset taxes up to their original rate before they were rolled back by the Headlee Amendment, and would thus yield an additional $6.1 million in revenues per year for the city. Voter approval in August 2010 … [Full Story]