The Ann Arbor Chronicle » New Media Watch

Washtenaw: Kitchen Incubator

Chronicle Staff — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:15:39 +0000

Washtenaw County’s office of community and economic development is considering starting a a food system workforce development program and commercial kitchen incubator. An online survey is collecting information about existing and potential businesses that could be helped by this initiative. Questions include ”What stage of development is your food-based business?” “What activities would you use a shared-used commercial kitchen for?” and “What business services would you need or desire in a shared use kitchen?” [Source]

Washtenaw: Hoekstra

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:48:29 +0000

Talking Points Memo reports that Washtenaw County commissioner Alicia Ping, a Republican and American of Asian descent, is endorsing Clark Durant, an opponent of former Rep. Pete Hoekstra in the U.S. Senate GOP primary following Hoekstra’s controversial Super Bowl ad. TPM quotes Ping: “If he didn’t know it was racist on some level, then shame on him. He didn’t apologize or say ‘maybe it was over the top’ or anything. He said, ‘I stand by what I believe in’ and, ‘the liberals are just making a bigger thing out of it.’ Well that’s not the case at all. It’s offensive and it’s racist. It’s demeaning to the Asian-American population.” [Source]

Washtenaw: Crime Map

Chronicle Staff — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:48:58 +0000

The Washtenaw County sheriff’s office is now participating in Crimemapping.com, a service that allows residents to view a log of crimes reported in their community. Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township are also using this online service, which is searchable by address, zip code or type of crime. [Source]

A2: Arts Alliance

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:21:47 +0000

The Arts Alliance has hired Debra Polich as interim executive director, according to a press release issued on Feb. 2 by the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit. Polich will continue to serve as CEO of the Artrain, another Ann Arbor arts nonprofit –she’ll hold both roles on a part-time basis, starting Feb. 6. The alliance’s former executive director, Susan Froelich, resigned in January, after serving nearly a year in that position According to the press release, Polich will “lead the organization as the board appointed transition team continues to consider strategic options for the organization.” Alliance board members include Lynne Friman, Leslie Sobel, David Esau, Roxana Overdier, Melissa Milton-Pung, Mary Kerr, Donald Harrison, Mike Henry, Britany Affolter-Cain and Teresa Reid. [Source]

A2: Fuller Road Station

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:38:46 +0000

The Huron Valley Group of the Sierra Club has issued a press release urging the city of Ann Arbor to make a full disclosure of its plans for Fuller Road Station, a proposed city/University of Michigan parking structure, bus depot and possible train station located at the city’s Fuller Park near the UM medical complex. The release includes documents obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request, indicating that some people have proposed exploring retail uses on that site.

From the release: ”It is time for the city administration to stop playing shell games, for the city council to force a full disclosure of what the plans are for the Fuller Park site, and for the city council to follow the mandate of City Charter Section 14.3(b), which requires a vote of Ann Arbor electors for the sale of any part of City property acquired for parkland uses, regardless of what any temporary current parkland use may be.” Nancy Shiffler, chair of the Huron Valley Group, addressed the UM board of regents on this topic at the board’s Jan. 19, 2012 meeting. [Source]

A2: Business

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:02:32 +0000

The February issue of Metro Parent profiles Aubrey and Jeremy Lopatin, owners of Arbor Teas. The article describes how the Lopatins got into business, the genesis of their love for tea, their commitment to the environment, and how the business is a family affair: “There’s a cozy connection to customers, too. They make personal deliveries to A2 regulars on Fridays. And each order gets a hand-written note on the invoice stock. It’s all based in a light-filled Ann Arbor warehouse just opened last summer. After seven years, they finally outgrew the basement of their 700-square-foot home. A family of four in a tiny ranch is right in-line with their business stance. ‘Keeping a smaller footprint and keeping things simple all kind of flows into our home life, as well,’ Aubrey says.” [Source]

A2: Awesome Award

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:39:53 +0000

Nathan Ayers is the first recipient of an A2Awesome grant for $1,000. Mark Maynard, one of the group’s founders, writes about the decision and posts an interview with Ayers on his blog. Maynard reports that Ayers “will be using the money to construct two bike-powered vegetable grow racks, which will be used in the K-12 science classes he teaches in Ann Arbor and Detroit. According to Ayers, the intention is to create a closed loop system to demonstrate the principles of permaculture – a design and engineering philosophy based on ecology, which has as its objective the creation of sustainable food, energy and community infrastructure systems.” [Source]

UM: Mural

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:10:09 +0000

A video posted on YouTube shows the creation of a new mural at the University of Michigan’s Palmer Commons, painted by UM Lloyd Scholars in a course by Mark Tucker. The 78-x-17-foot mural reflects the theme semester of the College of Literature, Science & the Arts: “Language: The Human Quintessence.” [Source]

A2: Sidewalk Art

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:59:47 +0000

David Zinn, an Ann Arbor artist known for his sidewalk chalk art, posts a photo of a drawing appropriate for this rainy day: Sluggo with an orange umbrella. [Source]

A2: Future Stars

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:34:52 +0000

Writing on her blog, radio talk show host Lucy Ann Lance describes her experience judging Pioneer High School’s Future Stars competition with fellow judges – including University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and wide receiver Kelvin Grady. Lance writes: ”Denard wears his charisma and star-quality well, because he is oblivious to both. Just as he assesses the play on the field, waiting to make sure his receiver is in the perfect spot before throwing the ball, Denard listens carefully to people he’s talking with, asking them questions, and making them feel special.” [Source]