New Media Watch Section

The World Socialist website posts an update on Camp Take Notice, a tent camp on the outskirts of Ann Arbor built by people who are homeless. From the report: “Rick, 50, who asked not to be photographed, explained that he was a plumber until 2008, when the construction industry collapsed. After this devastating decline in his income, Rick fell behind on his child support payments for his two sons and was jailed as a result in 2010. In August, realizing his bleak job prospects and wary of being a burden to his family, Rick decided to come to Ann Arbor to live at the camp. … Rick said he came to Ann Arbor because it was ‘the best city … [Full Story]

The city of Ann Arbor wants help in naming the new Argo Dam bypass, which includes a series of pools instead of the previous canoe/kayak portage. An online survey is asking people to select their top two choices for a name from a list of options. You can also write in an alternative option. (The Chronicle suggests “Argo Chutes.”) Deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 26. [Source]

The University of Michigan has issued a press release outlining special parking accommodations on Saturday, Feb. 18 for five sporting events throughout the day, including the airing of ESPN’s College Basketball GameDay Show at Crisler Center. For the GameDay Show from 10 a.m. until noon, fans are asked to park in the Blue Lot around Crisler Center. For the basketball game at Chrisler, which begins at 9 p.m. against Ohio State, the normal lots surrounding Crisler and Michigan Stadium will be secured by 5 p.m. for permit parking, according to the university. [Source]

The blog for Ann Arbor’s getDowntown program is posting bike love poems received from its Valentine’s Day contest, including a “bike-ku.” [Source]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 … [Full Story]

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 … [Full Story]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education member Christine Stead has launched a blog: K12ChristineStead. In describing the reason for launching the blog, she writes: “There is a chasm of information and perspective that I want to help fill as it relates to K12 education. My goals for this site are to enhance information currently available, aspire to improve the current state, and bring people together to participate in this process.” [Source]

The Michigan Truth Squad, a project of the Ann Arbor-based Center for Michigan, analyzed the Jan. 18 state-of-the-state speech delivered by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The report includes commentary from University of Michigan economist Don Grimes regarding Snyder’s assessment of the state’s job growth: “It is empirically hard to give all the credit to Gov. Snyder, but it does appear that the state is now performing like it did in earlier recovery periods, which is a big improvement over the recovery period under his predecessor. Whether he and his policies deserve credit, or (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm and her policies deserve blame is up to you guys [the media] to debate …” [Source]

Writing on his SPEAK \aut\ blog, Keith Orr – co-owner of the \aut\ BAR and Common Language Bookstore in Ann Arbor – reports on the Jan. 18 rally in Lansing to protest the recent passage of a ban on domestic partnership benefits for certain public employees, and of “the general atmosphere of intolerance in Lansing.” He argues that to make an impact, more people need to get involved : “I probably personally recognized 75% of the [250-300] people at this rally. I recognized folks from Equality Michigan, Affirmations, Jim Toy Community Center, and the ACLU. I recognized folks from the Prop 2 campaign. And it was warm and fuzzy…like a family reunion. So it felt very real chanting ‘Gay Families Matter’. … [Full Story]

A feature in the online magazine Concentrate looks at efforts to form a Washtenaw County “food hub” that would “coordinate food production, farmer services, food distribution, agricultural training, and community engagement to foster a favorable environment for local farming.” Richard Andres of Tantré Farm recently purchased an Ann Arbor Township farm that he hopes to develop as the hub: “I’m interested in seeing a continued vertical integration of what it is that we grow and partnering with other small farms to add value to our crops and make them more accessible to the Ann Arbor market – whether it’s families, retail customers, wholesale customers, and potentially institutional buyers such as school systems, hospitals, universities.” [Source]

Under the heading “THIS is what Democracy looks like!” photographer Anne Savage posts a series of images from the Jan. 16 rally and march on Gov. Rick Snyder’s home in a gated community off of Geddes Road, protesting the state’s emergency manager law. [Source] Separately, a video posted on YouTube captures a section of the march along Geddes. [Source] And Mark Maynard posts two descriptions of the rally and march sent to him by Abby Coykendall and Georgina Susan, who writes: “It was a fine group of folks. Veterans of Benton Harbor protests were there, as were people from the tri-cities. High school kids were there with their teachers. UM students made a good showing as well. All … [Full Story]

On his 8frame blog, Pierre Wickramarachi posts a photo essay of Eat, a restaurant that owners Helen Harding and Blake Reetz recently opened on Packard: “You may have tried them at Mark’s carts this year where they served delicious seasonal and local food. Now Helen and Blake offer fabulous catering for weddings as well as carry-out. Their name is simple and right to the point. It is all about making amazing good food and truly enjoy eating it.” [Source]

The Ann Arbor-based Center for Michigan Bridge Magazine continues its series on the cost of higher education in Michigan with a report on debt that students incur while attending public universities in this state. A chart accompanying the report shows that the average debt for 2010 graduates from Eastern Michigan University was $23,669 and that 63% of graduates incurred debt. For the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus, the average debt for 2010 graduates was $27,828. At UM, 46% of students in 2010 graduated with debt. [Source]

Mark’s Carts, the outdoor food cart plaza at 211 W. Washington, is accepting applications for food cart vendors for the 2012 season, from April 1 through Oct. 31. To be considered in the first selection round, the deadline for submitting application materials is Feb. 15. An application form and license agreement can be downloaded from the Mark’s Carts website. A total of eight carts will be selected – the six carts operating at the end of the 2011 season are expected to return. According to a press release, “New carts will be selected based on the strength of their business plans and food concepts, plus how well their menus complement those of other carts.” [Source]

As part of her constituent newsletter, Ward 1 city councilmember Sabra Briere has released what she considers the top 10 Ann Arbor city council acts of 2011. Topping the list is … approval of the annual budget. At the end of the list, Briere also includes her stance on each of the items. [.pdf of Briere's Top 10]

Michigan Peaceworks, an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit focused on peace activism, closed its doors on Dec. 31. A note from director Jennifer Chapin-Smith was posted on the group’s website in early December: “We have worked hard for peace and justice for 10 years; but declining donations in the ailing Michigan economy, as well as reduced levels of volunteerism, have made it impossible for us to sustain the organization. We have begun the process of informing the state of Michigan and the IRS that we will no longer be a 501c3 nonprofit as of January 1, 2012.” A closing party is set for Sunday, Jan. 29 at Arbor Brewing Co. from 4-7 p.m. [Source]

The date has been set for the 2012 Water Hill Music Fest: Sunday, May 6 from 2-6 p.m., with a rain date on May 13. On the festival’s website, organizers Paul & Claire Tinkerhess write: “Expectations for this year’s festival are high after the inaugural event in May of 2011 attracted thousands of visitors. All Water Hill residents are invited to perform on their front porches during this unique neighborhood celebration.” [Source]

The city of Ann Arbor’s new snow plow tracking user interface for the Internet was up and running on Jan. 1 and showed five trucks out spreading salt/sand mixture at least from 8 p.m. past midnight. Features of the user interface include mouseover info for vehicle icons [screenshot], various zoom levels [screenshot], and  status of vehicle conveyed through icon (e.g., ignition off at Wheeler Service Center re-loading salt/sand) [screenshot] [Source]

Zach London, an Ann Arbor resident and UM neurologist, posts the latest installment of his blog, The Hard Taco Digest. The entry reflects on an incident in a renal pathophysiology course in medical school: ”We heard rumors from the class ahead of us, rumors which filled us with wonder and fear. The students, they told us, would be divided into four groups: beer, Pepsi, water, and broth. We would be obligated to drink as much of the assigned beverage as we could endure, collect our urine, and run tests on it. Through this, we would learn about how the human kidney handles alcohol, caffeine, and salt. Also, we would get to see what our classmates’ pee looked like, so there was … [Full Story]

The Ann Arbor food blog Mother’s Kitchen posts a recipe for stuffed cabbage – a traditional New Year’s dish, for some: ”When I was a kid, I would eat mine ‘naked’ – I’d peel off the cooked cabbage, but I love cooked cabbage now. I’d recommend doing that still for kids or adults that don’t share the cooked cabbage love.” [Source]

The Penny Seats Theatre Company, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is how halfway to its $6,000 fundraising goal for the 2012 season, which is explained in more detail in a YouTube video. The group hopes to generate the remaining $3,000 before the end of 2011. Rewards for various levels of donations range from free tickets to performances and birthday serenades. [Source]

Eastern Michigan University’s video holiday card features scenes from campus while students, faculty and staff tell what they’re wishing for in 2012 – everything from academic success, good health, world peace, and the hope that the Mayans are wrong. [Source]