The Ann Arbor Chronicle » New Media Watch

Washtenaw: Primary Elections

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:36:49 +0000

The Ann Arbor-based Center for Michigan has posted its voter guide, a searchable database of information about state candidates in the Aug. 3 primary elections. The site also includes video interviews with candidates. Here’s a link to the page for Ann Arbor’s District 53 in the state House of Representatives, a race between Democrats Jeff Irwin and Ned Staebler. [Source]

A2: Japan

Chronicle Staff — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:08:11 +0000

The Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a website in Japanese, aimed at Japanese visitors to the Ann Arbor area. From a bureau press release: “The micro-site (www.nihongo.visitannarbor.org) was developed by AAACVB Staff and Sunrizing, LLC to help increase the Ann Arbor area’s visibility to 90 million Internet users in Japan, and 374,000 Japanese residents in the US. The Washtenaw region alone has fourteen Japanese companies, including American Honda, Dexter Fastener, Horiba Instruments, and the Toyota Technical Center.” [Source]

A2: Activism

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:18:05 +0000

On his blog “there is no gap,” Karl Pohrt writes about the recent U.S. Social Forum: “I drove into Detroit … with Jon Swanson, who was leading a workshop on the history of Gaza, and Don Watanabe, an activist from the south side of Chicago. We parked in a nearly deserted lot on top of Cobo Hall for the shockingly low price of $5 a day. Cobo was filled with people, especially young people and people of color. The place looked like a hip United Nations. The registration line moved in stops and starts, but no one seemed to mind. People were energized by being in the presence of so many other activists who shared their political commitments.” [Source]

A2: Butterflies

Chronicle Staff — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:39:53 +0000

Writing on her blog Into the Woods and Elsewhere, Cathy Carroll reports on Saturday’s Washtenaw Audubon Society butterfly field trip at Matthei Botanical Gardens: “Despite the less than desirable weather for butterflies, we still managed to find twenty species. Additionally, there was a hummingbird moth and a few different kinds of dragonflies.” She posts several photos from the outing. [Source]

A2: Gone One Year

Chronicle Staff — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:34:20 +0000

A year ago today, the last edition of the Ann Arbor News was delivered. The Ann Arbor Chronicle covered it this way: [Source]

A2: Libraries

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:10:06 +0000

In an essay posted to the Ann Arbor District Library website, director Josie Parker lays out the threat that TIF districts pose to library funding: “Many libraries in Michigan [...] will survive [...] but a good number of them will not. Those that do will still contend with eroding tax bases: sometimes the enemy appears friendly. The best example on the local level is Tax Increment Financing Authority [...]” Parker’s essay has generated several patron comments. [Source] Parker’s concern about the impact of TIF districts on library funding is reflected in previous Chronicle coverage: “DDA: Let’s Do Development.”

A2: Newspaper

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:27:27 +0000

Groundcover News – a print publication that focuses on poverty issues and aims to provide the homeless with a way to earn money – has published its first edition. The paper is founded by local activist Susan Beckett; Laurie Lounsbury serves as editor. The paper will be sold by homeless vendors throughout Ann Arbor for $1. [Source]

Washtenaw: Immigrants

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:04:21 +0000

The Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, in a post on its blog, is rallying supporters to attend a July 29 event in Detroit to protest an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid last week at a Chili’s restaurant in Canton: “Four people were detained when ICE agents went into the kitchen and arrested everyone who could not produce a green card! These are exactly the kinds of raids President Obama promised he would stop: rounding up innocent, hard working people at their place of employment and separating them from their families!” Organizers are planning to send one bus or more from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to transport supporters to the event, which begins at 7 p.m. [Source]

A2: Library Board

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:34:39 +0000

The Ann Arbor District Library is hosting two information sessions – on July 27 and Aug. 11, from 6-7 p.m. at the downtown library – for people interested in becoming candidates for the library board of trustees. Three 4-year terms and one 2-year term will be elected in November. [Source]

A2: Business

Chronicle Staff — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:02:59 +0000

Michigan Innovators launches a new “Hired” series by interviewing Jordan Komoto of Adaptive Materials, an Ann Arbor-based fuel cell manufacturer. Komoto talks about job openings at his firm, and gives tips on getting hired. [Source]