Demonstrators on the southeast corner of Liberty and Fifth in downtown Ann Arbor.
While out and about early Friday afternoon, The Chronicle noticed a Channel 7 News truck parked across from the Federal Building at Fifth and Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor. A little over an hour later, the news truck had disappeared. But according to one of the people demonstrating on the corner, before departing the camera crew had shot footage of the local protest prompted by recent and ongoing violence in Gaza. [Full Story]
Jim Posante, a long-time, well-known Ann Arbor actor and director who died in 2008 is among those recognized in Playbill magazine’s “In Memorium”: “Whether their contributions were felt locally, regionally, nationally or around the world, the writers, producers, advocates, actors, composers, musicians, lyricists, directors, technicians and designers of the following list contributed to the welfare of the art form.” [Source]
Local 4 News reports that Rock Tops Granite Company closed its Saline showroom, apparently going out of business: “Police said at least 100 customers in Michigan, Kansas, Ohio and Tennessee paid thousands of dollars and some had their kitchens torn up waiting for installation. Some employees also told Local 4 they haven’t been paid.” [Source]
You’re standing at the corner of Main and Liberty streets in downtown Ann Arbor. An out-of-towner shows you his bleeding hands and asks, “Is there any place around here I can buy a Band-Aid?” The Chronicle had an answer. For readers who’d like see how their own answers might match up, it’s left to the end of this article.
What trauma led to the blood on Rick Hale’s hands? He’d spent the previous hour pounding out improvised rhythms on his djembe just outside the Parthenon restaurant. [Full Story]
Catherine Juon shares her family’s recipe for Magic Chocolate Chip Pancakes: “It’s ‘magic’ because the chocolate chips disappear in the jar, but magically re-appear when you make the pancakes. (Warning: it does make people wonder why you’re giving them a jar of flour.)” [Source]
The New York Times reports that Democrats are debating whether to lift the Bush administration’s restrictions on funding embryonic stem cell research. The article looks at the potential of using adult stem cells, and quotes Sean Morrison, director of UM’s Center for Stem Cell Biology, who says: ”At this point, adult cell reprogramming is still new enough that it is conceivable that there will be a fly in the ointment.” [Source]
Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation begins the year with a roundup from last year “2008 was a big year for NAP, and we’ve got the data to prove it.” The data is presented in the form of five spiffy bar charts. [Source]
In shooting a photo of a bank building to accompany a column written by Dan Madej, we apparently pointed the camera in the wrong direction. We note the mistake here and have added a photo to the original item.
The cascading spray from Barton Dam has thickly coated the nearby trees with heavy ice. With intermittent but bright sunshine hitting the ice it is a brilliant display. Slippery paths!
TCF Bank on the northwest corner of South University and Church in Ann Arbor.
On Tuesday (Dec. 30, 2008) I noticed work on the front of TCF Bank on South University Avenue: some panels, at least, are being replaced with glass windows. [Editor's note: Cf. comments below.]
This completes a circuit back to fall 1969, when during an anti-war protest, bricks or other objects were thrown through the big glass panes of this bank building, then Ann Arbor Bank.
I left the march at that point, failing to see the connection. Shortly after, Ann Arbor Bank replaced most of the panes with paneling. [Full Story]
Bloomberg News reports that foundations that invested with Bernard Madoff, the New York financier accused of operating a massive Ponzi scheme, have given away millions to nonprofit institutions – including to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the University of Michigan. In 2007, the AAACF received $15,000 from the Betty and Norman F. Levy Foundation, which invested with Madoff, and UM received $2.08 million from the Wilpon Family Foundation, according to Bloomberg. [Source]
The Chronicle's state House of Representatives press pass. We hope this year's will be purple.
Back in early September, only a week or so after we launched The Ann Arbor Chronicle, I trekked up to Lansing to meet with our locally elected state legislators. Man, I had grand plans. I’ve never found a good resource for learning about what our state lawmakers are doing, and I thought The Chronicle could be that resource.
The women I met with could not have been more gracious. The three state representatives – Pam Byrnes, Alma Wheeler Smith and Rebekah Warren – work in adjacent offices in a building with spectacular views of the capitol across the street. I met some of their staff, and talked with each about their goals and priorities for the year. Liz Brater, the state senator who represents Ann Arbor, gave me a tour of the Senate chambers. And I wrapped up the day by joining Rebekah Warren and Alma Wheeler Smith while the House was in its afternoon session (their desks sit next to each other on the House floor, but not because Alma is Rebekah’s mother-in-law). I even acquired a press pass for the rest of the year, which involved filling out some forms and getting my picture taken. [Full Story]
Kurt A., writing on PPNA (Prospect Park Neighborhood Association) Happenings, reports on why the U-Brew store on Washtenaw Avenue now sports a “For Rent” sign. It turns out that it’s good news for fans of Frog Island Beer. [Source]
The Detroit News reports that Rick Halberg, who formerly ran Emily’s Restaurant in Northville, has joined Eve Aronoff as a partner and general manager in her Kerrytown eatery, eve. “It seems to be the perfect fit. Both Halberg and Aronoff are meticulous about food and dedicated to using fresh local and sustainable ingredients in creative ways.” [Source]
The Daily Tribune picks up a Capital News Service article about van pooling, and reports on six UM employees who van pool into Ann Arbor from the Jackson and Grass Lake areas. Says Margie Little, who drives the van: “I love van pooling because it ultimately saves me money. I don’t have to worry about all the extra miles on my car. We all work in the same area, so why not ride together?” [Source]
