The Detroit News reports on a proposal being considered in Lansing to cut all state aid to UM and privatize the university. Says Cynthia Wilbanks, UM’s vice president for government relations: ”It’s provocative and not very realistic.” [Source]
The Freep reports on the “Snowball Express,” a nonprofit that provides free vacations to Disneyland for families who’ve lost loved ones in the military. American Airlines pilots volunteer for the trip – one of those pilots is Stephen Szuminski of Saline: ”My kids are without their dad for two days” at a time. “These kids are without their dad forever. It’s hardly fair. Donating my time for a couple of days to make them happy – it’s the Christmas spirit.” [Source]
Caminsky’s World posts a review of Bagger Dave’s restaurant in Ann Arbor, by Ken Agacinski: “Pros: Quality meat (never frozen), fantastic buns (I highly recommend the “Plain Bun,” it tasted like it came from a bakery), relatively inexpensive for the quality of the meat experience, large circumference straws (highly appreciated by Maureen), good but slightly weird fries (they actually tasted like potato), onions neither under nor over-grilled, filled me up for $7 – and that is hard to do.” [Source]
Writing on a2geeks.org, Dug Song announces that ArbCamp 2008 has changed venues to Cottage Inn on William Street in downtown Ann Arbor, thus allowing all wait-listed participants to attend. [Source]
o2 Michigan, the local chapter of an international network for sustainable design, is meeting up for drinks at the Corner Brewery on Dec. 18: “Regulars and newcomers of all disciplines are welcome to come casually network in an informal atmosphere and discuss all things green and sustainable. Practice those holiday dinner table conversations regarding your green lifestyle!” [Source]
The Huron River Birding blog describes and provides photos of a recent trip to the Salem Landfill taken by the Washtenaw Audubon Society: “As I was wasking toward my car, Will, the owner of the second feeding station (something like 15 birdfeeders!!!!) came with an annoncement. “Black Scoter at portage lake!!!!!!!!” [Source]
3 I@S vehicles parked behind 1000 Oakbrook Drive. Noted at 9 AM and 4 PM. Editor’s note: [see also]
The Housing and Human Services Advisory Board made a recommendation to city council back in May 2008 for the location of supportive housing units to replace those lost at the site of the old YMCA building. (See previous Chronicle coverage on site analysis for such units.) In analyzing an alternative to its recommendation to issue an RFP for construction of housing units at the site of the old YMCA, the HHSAB noted one of the downsides to other sites located within the downtown: [Full Story]
UPDATE to our previous article: Just after 4 p.m. we received a call from Mike Klein of Online Technologies Corp., who said that OTC is offering a free month of website and email service to anyone affected by the IAS situation. They also are offering free co-location of servers for a month, if necessary. OTC, with offices at Avis Farms, has received dozens of calls from people seeking help, Klein said: “They can’t afford downtime.” To contact OTC, call 734-213-2020 and press 2 for sales.
Crain’s Detroit Business reports that the Ann Arbor-based Fair Food Foundation is expected to close, apparently a local victim of Bernard Madoff’s alleged Ponzi scheme. [Source]
Websites for several local institutions – including the AATA and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation – were disabled Monday in the wake of business problems suffered by IAS, a local Internet company that’s been evicted from its office in the Lowertown area.
The IAS sign is among the detritus set outside following the firm's eviction this week.
The NEW Center, a group that provides support services to local nonprofits, received calls from several people on Tuesday who were searching for alternatives to get their websites up again, said Linh Song, a NEW Center technology manager. Song is director of NEW’s npServ program, which helps nonprofits manage their information technology services.
The timing of this outage – which in some cases affected email service as well – was especially difficult for nonprofits, given that it has occurred during the height of the giving season, when groups typically see their largest year-end donations and await word on grant applications. You want to be as responsive as possible – you don’t want to worry about whether your email works, Song said. [Full Story]
surry scheerer, sally mitani, and david menafee singing at heavenly metal….for no other reason than to sing out loud!
office furniture and equipment piled on curb; landlord says “chronic non-payment of rent” caused eviction of web hosting company IAS; provides service for AATA; AATA website currently down;
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum will use its amateur radio station exhibit to call the International Space Station on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 15:53 UTC, according to the ISS Fan Club blog. [Source]
Ann Arbor-based Borders Group has struck a rare no-return book deal with the publisher HarperStudio, according to The Wall Street Journal. Says Robert Gruen, Borders executive vice president of merchandising and marketing: ”The idea of taking inventory and then shipping it back isn’t a good idea for anybody. We’re open to all publishers to discuss alternatives to the traditional return model.” [Source]
Inside Higher Ed reports that UM intends to challenge the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which has long dominated the market as the test required by U.S. universities when accepting international students. “The Michigan test – known as the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery, or MELAB – plans to promote itself as less expensive and more precise than its competitors, and as a paper-and-pencil test at a time that exams are moving online.” [Source]
No one violated the Bryant Community Center rules at a recent meeting there, though you could argue there was a bit of mild horseplay.
If you made a list of people who can get things done, you’d end up with one that looked a lot like the actual people attending a recent meeting at the Bryant Community Center. Two current city councilmembers and a former one. The county treasurer and chief deputy clerk. A school board member. A cop. Nonprofit leaders, city staff and residents.
They gathered on Thursday to talk about ways to improve this neighborhood on Ann Arbor’s southeast side, north of Ellsworth and east of Stone School Road. The effort is being led by the Community Action Network, a nonprofit group that provides support services to people in low-income neighborhoods. CAN was hired earlier this year to manage Bryant and Northside community centers, and also works with Hikone and Green Baxter Court neighborhoods. [Full Story]
On her Jumping the Candlestick blog, Deborah Diesen interviews Carolyn Reed Barritt, a children’s book author and illustrator who lives in Ann Arbor during the winter months: “When The Day the Dragon Danced came out I had a reading at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor and did a school visit and I realized how bad a case of stage fright I have. It’s pretty pathetic that a room full of 6 year olds can give me the shakes. When my own books get published I’ll have to decide whether or not I do any more appearances.” [Source]
Jane Brody’s Personal Health column in the New York Times looks at how alcohol can affect the health of old people. She quotes Frederick Blow, a psychiatry professor at UM’s Medical School and an expert on alcohol and aging, who says: “Because of an increased sensitivity to alcohol and decreased tolerance as one ages, lower amounts of alcohol can have a bigger effect. Older people get into trouble with doses of alcohol that wouldn’t be a problem with a younger person.” [Source]
Performance Network’s sidewalk marquee blows down in high winds. Special sale on now, all tickets for the season are $15 now through the 17th. of December.
The Associated Press reports that Chris Kolb, a former state representative and former city councilmember from Ann Arbor, has been named the new president of the Michigan Environmental Council, replacing Lana Pollack, who is retiring. [Source]
Several news sites pick up an AP report about a Washtenaw County man, Kevin Murray, suing the federal government to stop its bailout of AIG on grounds that the company “has financial products that promote Islam and are anti-Christian.” The Thomas More Law Center of Ann Arbor filed the lawsuit on Murray’s behalf. [Source]
The Freep provides a listing of companies that are expected to get state tax incentives today from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA). Locally, they include the North United Brewery, a new microbrewery in Ann Arbor; a residential development at 601 S. Forest; and Maple Shoppes, a commercial development at the corner of Maple and Dexter-Ann Arbor roads. [Source]
Ann Arbor City Council Caucus (Dec. 14, 2008) At its Sunday caucus, city council discussed two items on its agenda for Monday night:
Discussion of the historic district study committee was driven by attendance at caucus of interested parties to the decision. Those parties included several residents of the neighborhood as well as a developer who has a project located inside the district of the proposed study. That project (City Place) is currently being considered by council.
William Street and Fourth Avenue looking southeast. The view takes in a large part of the area for which a historic district study committee is proposed. (Image links to higher resolution file.)
Rose Marie Rimson-Brown leads the Fountain Church of God in Christ choir.
“Every time we walk through these doors, we think about how it used to be,” said Rose Marie Rimson-Brown on Sunday evening. “Amen!” came the response from several members of the Fountain Church of God in Christ.
Those doors now lead into the Fountain Street home of Tamara Real and Carl Rinne. The couple renovated the former church, which was originally built in 1907, and this is the fourth year they’ve held a holiday open house for neighbors and church members who used to worship there. [Full Story]
The Designed Objects blog describes a “sharing pillow” designed by UM student Rui Mu. “I have been exploring the didactic potential that product design has in changing selfish behavior by designing products that only function by being shared. I have designed an inflatable two-person pillow, which cannot be used comfortably without a partner.” There’s a video clip showing how this works. [Source]
Three inflated Santas on the roof of Liberty Lofts, overlooking First. Wind is making them wave frantically.
Carolers in costume on the Starbucks corner; singing Holly and the Ivy; Could be same group from previous Stopped. Watched. in Kerrytown?
We previously pointed readers to an Ann Arbor News item about Josie Parker, Director of the Ann Arbor District Library, thwarting a thief. PF Anderson, writing on Emerging Technologies Librarian hosted by the UM Library, offers embedded video of Parker in action sourced from security cameras and aired on CNN. [Source]
The Vain Gourmet blogger writes about a local Asian market: “I found a new place called Hua Xing Market in Ypsilanti that has 4-foot eels, live soft-shelled turtles, fresh luffa, and duck tongue! I picked up a pound of tongues on Friday and served them last night at my aunt’s birthday party. I was surprised that some people tried them without asking what they were. My uncle thought they were pickled asparagus.” [Source]
