The Freep reports on reactions to new seating for disabled fans in Michigan Stadium. Richard Bernstein, an attorney who represented the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America in a lawsuit against UM to increase the number of spots accessible to wheelchair users, says “These are the best seats in the house.” [Source]
UM’s chief investment officer, Erik Lundberg, told a meeting of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) that he expects investment returns on the university’s $7.8 billion endowment to drop sharply because of the economy, according to a Michigan Daily article. The nation’s economic slowdown could curb donations as well, he said. [Source]
Make: zine blogs about the Sept. 9 GO Tech meeting at Great Oaks Cohousing in Ann Arbor, at 8 p.m. ”GO Tech (formerly NotBAGO) is a meeting for Ann Arbor area readers of Make Magazine, Circuit Cellar, Home Shop Machinist, Kevin Kelly’s Cool Tools, slashdot, etc. That is, people who are interested in and make things using technology, whether that’s a metal cutting lathe or a Python script. A kind of generalized mixture of CerealBar, DorkBot, Oxford Geek night, and Portland Machinist Guild. We have machinists, electrical engineers, software folks, industrial control types, and so on. We share projects, information about tools and ideas, and connect with like-minded people.” [Source]
Crain’s Detroit Business reports that the state has approved an additional $100,694 to help develop a demo of the proposed Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail line, and has extended the project’s deadline by a year, to 2010. [Source]
The Battle Creek Enquirer picked up an AP story about Michigan Reads!, a statewide effort to promote early childhood literacy. This year, the book selected for the program is “Raccoon Tune,” written by Ann Arborite Nancy Shaw about “a family of mischievous raccoons on a rollicking night outing, rifling through sleeping people’s trash in search of treats.” [Source]
We misspelled the names of councilmembers Teall and Lowenstein in a recent roundup of Sunday night caucus. We acknowledge the error here and have corrected the spelling in the original story. In addition we misspelled the name of councilmember Higgins.
The Brandenton (Fla.) Herald reports on the performance of golfer Wendi Golden, who’s competing in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor. The story says she’s staying with Ann Arbor dentist Frank Gordon, who served as her caddy over the weekend. “He pretty much taught me the greens. He gave me the confidence I need.” [Source]
Sunday morning dawned wet and rainy here in Ann Arbor – less than ideal conditions for a series of downtown bicycle races on a course that already featured rough pavement, six 90-degree turns, and two railroad track crossings. Just an hour before the first race was scheduled at 10 a.m., rain was still falling on the already-barricaded streets. At the 1st and Liberty street closure, one driver who was stopped by the orange and white barriers sought directions to the nearest place to park to get to Sweetwaters.
Along Main Street, race workers were unfurling red netting across metal barriers. In addition to providing space to print advertising, the netting served the practical function of … [Full Story]
Lexi’s Toy Box, Crystal Metzger’s shop on South Ashley, is crammed with all manner of colorful toys, clothes and whimsical gee-gaws, many of them unavailable in other local stores.
And then there’s Nathaniel.
Sarab Kamoo, left, who stars in "9 Parts of Desire" opening Sept. 18 at Performance Network, talks with Ginny Archer at the theater group's open house.
With its first show of the season opening Sept. 18, Performance Network Theatre threw itself a party Sunday evening to highlight this year’s upcoming productions.
The set was an after-hours Downtown Home & Garden, and amid the tools and hay bales, performers, playwrights and directors were on hand to give brief talks about their shows.
As Hurricane Ike barrels toward Florida, a Tampa Bay TV station posts an article about six hurricane websites that are worth a look, and includes Ann Arbor-based Weather Underground (wunderground.com). “It was originally put together by a handful of students and teachers from the University of Michigan 13 years ago. Now it’s stocked with a variety of maps and charts that automatically update all day and night.” [Source]
UCLA’s student newspaper, the Daily Bruin, publishes an article about the impact of sleep on good grades, and interviews Gina Poe, a UM professor of anesthesiology: “When animals (lab rats) don’t sleep, they die… When people don’t sleep, they start to crave junk food, their metabolism increases, and their bodies get colder. … The immune system breaks down after a certain time. It’s stressed to the max because it’s sleep deprived.” [Source]
Local attorney Doug Shapiro is interviewed by the Michigan Messenger for an article on Michigan’s chief justice, Clifford Taylor, and the future of the state Supreme Court. “The attitude of the court majority toward doing justice is equivalent to the Bush administration’s view of the Geneva Convention – that justice is a quaint and outdated concept. Cliff Taylor is a radical right-wing activist judge, his opinions lack careful or thoughtful analysis and are almost always directed at a result of favoring corporate interests. People don’t get the benefits they pay for because the Michigan Supreme Court essentially does the bidding of insurance companies.” [Source]
An article in the Daily Collegian of Penn State reports on the availability of legal services for students, noting that UM is among the many universities that have such a program (Penn State does not). Doug Lewis, director of UM’s student legal services, is interviewed for the story: “Both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University have [legal services]. Eastern Michigan University doesn’t have one, and those students are frequently requesting the same services.” [Source]
According to comments at EMUtalk.org on the Daily Collegian’s story, the claim that EMU lacks student legal services is not accurate.
Ginormous pile of deconstructed cardboard boxes by curb of A2 Sculpture Park. Where are you, Mr. Recycling Truck?
In one of the better-attended caucuses on the part of council in the last six months, seven councilmembers (Teall, Briere, Lowenstein, Rapundalo, Anglin, Higgeins, Hieftje) heard from interested parties on three different topics: [Full Story]
Imagine if you were a Kerrytown BookFest exhibitor, waking up this morning to gray skies and gentle rain – not a great feeling. But by mid-morning the rain stopped and this 6th annual fair, according to several booksellers and other exhibitors, was having one of its best years ever.
On Friday, Sept. 12, the Washington Street Gallery’s old space at 116 E. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor will again be open for business – now as Cupcake Station. [Note: Due to inspection scheduling difficulties, the opening has been delayed until the following week on Sept 19. Inspections are now completed, but the delays made the original opening date impossible.]
Cupcake Station on Liberty Street.
And on opening day business partners Kerry Johnson and Tom Holleman are giving away 500 cupcakes in an effort to launch Ann Arbor’s store on the same successful path as their first Cupcake Station in Birmingham.
This isn’t just a story about cupcakes, though. It’s a story of how serendipity, relationships and a brick aesthetic played a role in several local businesses, and a story of never knowing how one thing might lead to another.
But let’s start with the cupcakes.
[Full Story]
Garrett Kern, a recent UM graduate who just relocated from Ann Arbor to Chicago, reviews his experience dining at the Common Grill in Chelsea. “The executive chef, Craig Common, has created a bustling restaurant with a very fresh, flavorful, and constantly changing seafood menu. I had the best bouillibasse I’ve ever tasted and we had this ahi tuna appetizer which was simple, refined, and delicious.” [Source]
In an op/ed essay in Sunday’s Ann Arbor News, Richard Porter argues that passengers should be able to ride AATA buses for free. “Lower bus fares stimulate bus ridership. Lower bus fares make all bus riders better off. Long-time riders are saving money, and new riders are displaying their preference for the now cheaper bus commutes over the now costlier car commutes. The only question is how much to cut the bus fare. The economist’s answer to that question is that each rider should pay whatever amount his or her ride adds to the total cost of providing the bus service.” [Source]
The I Need Orange blog gives a report (with lots of photos) from the Saline Community Fair. [Source]
The Freep’s Making a Difference column features Amy Gillett of Ann Arbor, who serves as director of executive education at UM’s William Davidson Institute. She recently traveled to Rwanda to teach women basic business skills. “They figured out that women in business make a very great impact on … these poor economies. That’s partly because when women get money, they spend it wisely.” [Source]
An Indianapolis Star sports column on universities admitting academically at-risk athletes quotes Walt Harrison, former UM vice president and current chairman of the NCAA’s Committee on Academic Performance. “The standard drumbeat at Michigan was that so-and-so is playing somewhere else – usually football at Ohio State – and they couldn’t get into Michigan. It’s up to Ohio State to determine its own entrance requirements.” [Source]
In his weekly column for Hometown Communications newspapers, Phil Power argues that the state’s business leaders are ready for serious government reform, even if lawmakers in Lansing aren’t. “Politicians are human beings, just like the rest of us. And it’s simple human nature to try to duck unpleasant stuff, which for lawmakers in Lansing means unpopular, but necessary, votes. So term-limited legislators all too often kick the can down the road by leaving the tough votes to their successors.” Power, Hometown’s former owner, is founder of the Ann Arbor-based think tank Center for Michigan. [Source]
A Boston Globe article about how big government affects economic growth references a study by UM tax expert Joel Slemrod, which concluded “there is no demonstrable relationship between the size of government and growth.” [Source]
Local artist Jill Wagner posts a recent watercolor painting of an old barn in Washtenaw County. “I’ve always wanted to paint it but it sits on a very active farm with the family and workers coming and going alot. I figured they would think I was crazy to want to paint this old building. But I got brave last week and set myself up across the road. The old farmer came out and gave me a long look, shook his head and walked back in the house. He probably said to his wife ‘honey, you won’t believe this, but there’s a gal parked right outside and….’” [Source]
The Federal Building, between Fourth and Fifth Streets on the south side of Liberty Street, is perhaps the bluntest building in Ann Arbor. The only thing on that side of the street that gives the middle of the block any character at all is the hot dog stand. Almost every day, I pedal past John, the Top Dog hot dog man, and he always has a friendly wave and a word for me.
Top Dog hot dog stand in front of the Federal Building on Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor.
The Wall Street Journal reviews recent releases that feature “soaring, shimmering vocal harmonies,” including “Clouded Staircase” by Starling Electric of Ann Arbor. Caleb Dillon, one of the band’s members, is interviewed for the piece. “On ‘Clouded Staircase,’ some songs have 10 vocal parts, most sung by Mr. Dillon, that form a tight, textured and often captivating whole. Rich but uncluttered orchestral pop with reoccurring themes and a few tracks that are crafted of separate but complementary parts, the CD shows the influence of ‘Smile,’ especially on the Dillon composition ‘Camp-Fire’ as voices dart and built over organ, chimes, bass and banjo.” [Source]
In a Wall Street Journal letter to the editor, Ann Arborite Linda Aldrich writes about the role that parents should play in their child’s education, but often don’t. “If educators are not to baldly state to parents that completing the work of school is necessary for educational achievement, and if educators are considered accountable for ensuring that all students meet rigorous standards demanded by the public, then who is to effect the miracle whereby disengaged parents produce academically achieving children?” [Source]
Get a review of Dove Catering’s BBQ on Chowhound.com – they set up in front of Morgan & York on Packard, but only on UM game days this fall. Jim M. writes: “I tend to like my barbecue hot, but this was a superior mild sauce, with hints of several spices. The meat had obviously been cooked very gently for a long time, and it just about melted in the mouth.” [Source]
