The Freep publishes two pieces about the closing of the Ann Arbor News – an article by business reporter Katherine Yung, and a column by Rochelle Riley. Yung talks with News reporter/columnist Jo Mathis, editor-in-chief Ed Petykiewicz and publisher Laurel Champion, while Riley interviews reporter/columnist Geoff Larcom. Says Larcom: “Ann Arbor doesn’t understand how such a vibrant town could lose its daily newspaper.”
Bob’s Big Boy on Lohr Circle closed with eviction signs posted on the window.
Trunk sale ran until 8 p.m. at Kerrytown Market. Books, clothes, knickknacks.
Final edition of the Ann Arbor News: “Farewell, Ann Arbor.” [Photo]
SubrosaCafe.com reviews Knight’s Steak House: “Having dined here several times previously I knew the service could be spotty, the wait staff potentially cranky but what brought me back is the undeniable ‘authenticity’ that this establishment delivers. Arriving late this evening close to 9:30 PM, the main dining room and alcove areas were still buzzing with patrons lingering over their steaks, clinking fresh drinks or dutifully watching the Tigers – Yankee game on the TV above the bar.” [Source]
The Washington Post is one of many publications that picked up an Associated Press article about today’s closing of the Ann Arbor News. The article quotes local attorney George Feldman, who comments on fears that the traditional newspaper’s watchdog role will be lost: ”I don’t fear it – I’m certain. The Ann Arbor News hasn’t been a paper I’ve read for national or international news. It covers city hall, the universities, who’s building what. It had a lot of things wrong with it, but it was our local newspaper.” [Source]
Jeff Mortimer (Photo courtesy of the Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider)
In the spring of 1979, the entire staff of reporters and editors at The Ann Arbor News was temporarily shoehorned into the lunchroom, a space about a quarter the size of the newsroom, while the latter was retrofitted for the dawn of the computer age.
As the waggish John Barton, who I think was then covering the police beat, has recalled, noting how different the times were, “We weren’t so much elbow to elbow as ash tray to ash tray.” I felt like an immigrant crossing the ocean in steerage. When Jeff Frank, the news editor who was in charge of our training on these newfangled gizmos, asked if there were any questions, I inquired, “Is it true we’ll all have jobs when we get to America?” [Full Story]
At right is Michael Ford on Day Two of his work as CEO of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. At left is board member Rich Robben. (Photo by the writer.)
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board (July 21): The AATA board’s monthly meeting schedule usually skips the month of July. But there was some unfinished business from June’s meeting on the approval of funding for the north-south connector feasibility study. And a looming expiration date of July 31, 2009 on the M-Ride agreement with the University of Michigan had led to the suggestion from board chair David Nacht of a one-year extension to that agreement.
Mainly in order to address those two items, the board decided to call a special meeting for Tuesday, July 21. It was properly noticed and publicized as required by the Open Meetings Act.
In addition to approving the two items on the agenda that had prompted the board’s special meeting, it was also an occasion for the board to welcome the recently hired CEO, Michael Ford, who did not take up much time with his few remarks: “Day Two,” he declared, “And I look forward to many more!” [Full Story]
Cecile Green blows air through a metal tube to fan a fire in an earth oven at the July 19 Re-Skilling Festival, organized by Transition Ann Arbor. Green taught a class in how to build these ovens, which are made of clay. She described this one as cupcake-sized. (Photo by the writer.)
“I want to demystify canning and make you feel powerful!” quipped Molly Notarianni, holding up a Mason jar full of jam. She was speaking to a group crammed into a room at the Rudolf Steiner High School, who’d come to learn about canning, oven building, medicinal plants and other skills of self-reliance.
This day-long event wasn’t just a dabbling into traditional domestic arts. Saturday’s Re-Skilling Festival – which drew about 150 people to Steiner’s bucolic campus on Pontiac Trail – fits into a broader effort, one that aims to strengthen the local economy and gird the community for a time of dramatically reduced resources.
Called Transition Ann Arbor, it’s led by a small group of residents who aren’t elected officials, aren’t business leaders, aren’t even all among the usual suspects of community activists. So who are they, and what exactly are they doing? [Full Story]
4 p.m. Rick Snyder supporters signing the front of his campaign bus.
Former Michigan Inn demolition almost complete.
Herbert Dreiseitl stands near a scale model of his proposed water sculpture during a presentation on Monday. (Photo by the writer.)
Although he was born there, Herbert Dreiseitl doesn’t belong to Germany. He doesn’t belong to Norway, Australia or Singapore either. He belongs to the planet.
That’s what Dreiseitl – the artist the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission hired to create a public art installation at the new city municipal center – told the audience at a presentation on Monday morning at city hall.
“As a person, I always feel home where I am,” Dreiseitl said.
The controversy over the municipal center project – especially the fact that AAPAC isn’t using a local artist for the nearly $800,000 project – drove Dreiseitl to make those remarks as he presented his designs for the artwork during his recent visit to Ann Arbor.
He spent most of the day on Monday in public and private meetings about his work, including a morning session with city staff and art commissioners, a public reception and a formal presentation to city council. [Full Story]
Maintenance masonry work is in progress on Angell Hall [photo]
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting (July 20, 2009): Postponements of decisions on A2D2 zoning, the City Place “matter of right” site plan, and a proposed moratorium on development in R4C and R2A zoning districts meant that the most controversial items on council’s agenda were delayed.
Lyric sheet to a song sung by Libby Hunter at the public hearing on the City Place site plan. (Image links to higher resolution file.)
Even an apparently mundane proposal from Leigh Greden (Ward 3) to allow for an additional exception to parking on front lawns was not acted on by council. In that case, they referred it to the planning commission.
However, the council did accomplish a substitution of taxable Build America Bonds for the tax-free general obligation bonds already authorized for the Fifth Avenue underground parking structure, plus a site plan approval for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority’s park-and-ride lot at Plymouth Road and US-23.
And finally, Mayor John Hieftje gave an interpretation of council public hearing speaking rules that precludes audience members from joining in a group chorus when a speaker at the podium is singing: To the strains of “Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Density is coming to ya,” Hieftje warned he might “clear the room.”
The meeting was also notable for the closed session conducted in the course of the meeting to discuss attorney-client privileged information – it lasted over an hour, but provided a chance for attendees to mingle. [Full Story]
The Beyond Just Mom blog has a tribute to Ann Arbor’s “parking people”: ”I don’t know if it’s the downtown development authority, the Republic Parking company, or just inherently happy employees, but I find these folks remarkably friendly when I pass through the gate. They offer a warm welcome, kindly request my payment, and send me off with a fond farewell. I’m genuinely convinced they love their jobs and want me to have a nice day: all the elements of great customer service. Makes me wonder if it would be fun to be a parking attendant. For a little while. So here’s to people who create something special out of mundane work by passing along a smile. You make my day.” [Source]
6 p.m. Bad accident involving an RV blocking M-14 S near Barton Drive exit.
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society through Ann Arbor about 1:30 p.m. [Twitter Feed]
Chalk sign on an easel by Milkweed and Queen Ann’s Lace: “These Flowers Have Been Reported to the Police”. I hope the monarchs and the bees also took note.
The green stencils are getting sawed out in preparation for the DDA’s wayfinding signs. This one [photo] will put a bit of a squeeze on the Federal Building hot dog stand.
The Chelsea Blog reminds people about free movies shown throughout the summer. On Thursday nights at dusk, movies are shown outside on a big screen behind the Chelsea Clocktower Complex. Next up: “Iron Man” on July 23. [Source]
Two birds (doves?) snuggling on a table outside of Blue Nile. [Photo]
Rebecca Head, left, was elected to her second term as president of the Ann Arbor District Library board at Monday's meeting. To the right are board members Jan Barney Newman, re-elected as vice president, and Prue Rosenthal, re-elected as treasurer. (Photo by the writer.)
Ann Arbor District Library board meeting (July 20, 2009): The board’s annual meeting unfolded with a light agenda, including the re-election of officers and some reflections on the past year by board president Rebecca Head.
Josie Parker, AADL’s director, gave an update on how the state budget crisis could affect the Ann Arbor library – the negative impact lies more in services rather than in funding. The board also set its meeting agenda for the coming year – and unlike some boards, such as the University of Michigan regents, the AADL trustees don’t take off the month of August.
We’ll begin with Parker’s report on the potential impact of state funding decisions. [Full Story]
The Detroit News reports on Rick Snyder’s Tuesday launch of a five-day statewide tour, during which the Ann Arbor businessman is expected to officially announce his GOP candidacy for governor. The article quotes Bernie Porn of EPIC/MRA, which conducted a late May poll showing that Snyder’s name didn’t register with voters: ”Because he has not held any elective office that would give him name recognition, there’s only one way he can get it and that’s to open his checkbook and buy it. He can do (media events) by traveling around the state, but at some point to get known he has to invest money in a strategic way.” [Source]
I just watched a man drive by in a green van with a pair of shoes on the roof. I tried to tell him.
Dreiseitl responds to controversy on municipal center storm water art saying he’s a citizen of the world, plans to use local industry.
Orange barrels line the south side of Packard from Fifth to Hill.
A column in the New York Times looks at how doctors struggle to follow their own advice regarding weight loss. The piece quotes Julie C. Lumeng, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UM Medical School and an expert in childhood obesity: ”The advice we’re supposed to give in pediatric clinic, it boils down to ‘Eat less, exercise more.’ This is such blasphemy, but when I deliver this advice to families, my heart’s not in it, because I just feel like so often the families are just glazing over, and when that advice is delivered to me, I glaze over, too.” [Source]
The Associated Press reports that the UM Health System is avoiding lawsuits by “admitting mistakes up front and offering compensation before being sued.” The article quotes Richard Boothman, a malpractice defense lawyer and UMHS chief risk officer: ”What we are doing is common decency.” [Source]
Two plastic baby dolls and a water bottle hanging on the power line over the intersection. [Photo]
