The Ann Arbor Chronicle » New Media Watch

A2: Restaurant Review

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:34:20 +0000

Serious Eats reviews the burgers and patty melts at Zingerman’s Roadhouse. The reviewer praises both, but writes: “As good as the burger was, the gut-busting patty melt was better. …The thick slices of rye bread, which naturally comes from Zingerman’s Bakehouse, is simply the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. It’s loaded with flavor, has a particularly thick and chewy crust around a soft interior, and will make virtually any sandwich ever invented taste better. The mountain of grilled onions and wild mushrooms add a sweet and juicy umami bomb to the patty melt, and the baby Swiss from Deppeler Cheese Factory in Monroe, Wisconsin, brings a nice coating of creaminess.” [Source]

Washtenaw: Skunk Rabies

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:35:46 +0000

Washtenaw County’s public health department has issued a press release to alert residents that four skunks have tested positive for rabies so far in 2012, all found in the city of Ann Arbor. No cases of rabies in humans have been identified. Health officials recommend that all dogs or cats be vaccinated against rabies, and that contact with wild animals or other potentially unvaccinated animals, such as stray or feral cats, be avoided. The release quotes Dick Fleece, the county’s health officer: “We are not alarmed, but we do want to make people aware that this situation exists and advise them to avoid contact with ill animals.” [Source]

A2: Music

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:33:26 +0000

Coda to Sunday’s Water Hill Music Fest – a video posted on YouTube of the Tinkerhess family singing Pete Seeger’s “My Rainbow Race” on their front porch. Festival organizers Paul and Claire Tinkerhess are seen on the right. [Source]

A2-Ypsi: May 8 Election

Chronicle Staff — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:25:01 +0000

The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce weighs in on ballot issues facing voters in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on Tuesday, May 8. The chamber supports an 0.5 mill tax to fund a $45.8 million technology bond for the Ann Arbor Public Schools. [.pdf of chamber position statement on AAPS bond] But the chamber opposes two ballot proposals in Ypsilanti: (1) a 1% income tax on businesses and residents, and an 0.5% income tax on non-residents; and (2) a tax to cover $18.2 million in payments related to the Water Street project – 4.94 mills to be levied in 2012, and an estimated simple average annual millage rate of 5.40 mills. [.pdf of chamber position statement on Ypsilanti proposals]

UM: Commencement

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:11:40 +0000

A video of the entire April 28, 2012 University of Michigan commencement ceremony at Michigan Stadium has been posted on UM’s website. In addition to the various speeches given at the event – including the main address by CNN chief medical correspondent and UM alumnus Sanjay Gupta, the 1 hour, 24 minute video includes shots of many graduates and faculty trying to hang on to their caps in the gusting winds. [Source]

Ypsi: Paul Saginaw

Chronicle Staff — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:59:08 +0000

In advance of a mid-May conference of the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies in Grand Rapids, Mark Maynard posts a wide-ranging email interview with BALLE board member Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman’s. Much of the interview focuses on the broad issue of support for local, independent businesses, but in response to a question about a possible Zingerman’s operation in Ypsilanti, Saginaw writes: ”It would actually be easier and more realistic to move our Mail Order operation to Ypsi, and that is a possibility. I still would really like to have a Zingerman’s presence in Ypsilanti and I believe that it will happen at some point. Although I do worry about being viewed as an unwanted outsider.” [Source]

A2: Canoes

Chronicle Staff — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:42:34 +0000

On her blog Mae Travels, Mae Sander has posted some photos taken yesterday (April 18) of the new Argo Dam bypass, dubbed by the city “Argo Cascades.” Sander writes, “Some of the narrow places look a bit rough – we’ll wait and see how it is when canoe season really starts. This is going to also be a great path for bikes or walking: both wonderful sports in Ann Arbor.” [Source]

A2: Commercial Parody

Chronicle Staff — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:29:38 +0000

In a video posted on YouTube, the Second City comedy troupe parodies a recent controversial Burger King commercial featuring Mary J. Blige. Nyima Funk, who grew up in Ann Arbor, plays the role of Blige. Funk is the daughter of Wendy Woods, city planning commissioner and former city councilmember, and Ron Woods, an Eastern Michigan University professor and Ann Arbor housing commissioner. [Source]

Ypsi: Tax Revenues

Chronicle Staff — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:16:38 +0000

Writing on his Common Monkeyflower blog, Richard Murphy makes a proposal that he describes as a starting point for discussion: Ypsilanti “should hand out $10,000 cash grants to people who purchase, fix up, and occupy vacant and foreclosed homes. Why? Because it’s a net fiscal gain for the city.” Murphy uses properties owned by Ypsilanti landlord David Kircher as a case study for this proposal. His conclusion: “Even if we’re only looking at tax revenues, the city can expect between a 10% and 40% annual return on this investment.” [Source]

A2: Legal Band

Chronicle Staff — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:38:40 +0000

A post on the State Bar of Michigan blog includes a five-minute video of Soultivity, an R&B band of attorneys from Ann Arbor. The band has advanced to the final round of the American Bar Association’s Battle of the Lawyer Bands Contest. Online voting that’s taking place until June 1 will determine the winner. [Source]