An article in the Detroit News reports that Lee Jean-Gilles, a Haiti native and owner of the Pierre Paul Art Gallery in Ann Arbor, will be holding a fundraiser on Sunday featuring the oil paintings of 17 Haitian artists. Jean-Gilles has set up a foundation to support emerging artists in Port-au-Prince, according to the report. The Sunday event runs from noon til 7 p.m. at the gallery, 3370 W. Washtenaw Ave. [Source]
University of Minnesota gymnastics team waiting for breakfast at Afternoon Delight.
Jo Mathis
Ghazi Abuhouleh is one smart man.
I spotted the Ypsilanti resident Friday morning carefully choosing a romantic valentine for his wife, Dalal. And this was after he’d bought her a diamond ring, as well. Though he’s been married less than two years, he knows the No. 1 rule of Valentine’s Day: This is not the time to be practical.
“I don’t buy that boring stuff,” said Abuhouleh, who opts instead for perfume, a pretty blouse, or jewelry.
Some guys, however, have a practical streak. And some guys shop for practical women who’ve told them not to spend money this year on chocolates (the calories!), flowers or jewelry.
Some of these men will be tempted to make a mistake on Sunday, and I feel it’s my duty to warn them. Men: If you plan to give your woman anything that is associated with a chore, save it for another day. [Full Story]
Ann Arbor Greenbelt Advisory Commission meeting (Feb. 10, 2010): Citing benefits to the city’s own greenbelt program, members of the greenbelt commission at their Wednesday meeting voiced support for a county land preservation millage, which is up for renewal this year.
The commission passed a resolution urging the city council formally to endorse the millage, though it’s up to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to decide whether to put the millage on the ballot. It’s not yet clear the board will do that.
Greenbelt commissioners also discussed the implications of new, lower appraisals that had just been received on the Braun and Gould properties in Ann Arbor Township. The city already has binding purchase agreements with the owners based on older, higher appraised values, but recently learned that new appraisals will result in fewer federal matching funds for the acquisitions. The city could be on the hook for more money than was anticipated to close these deals.
Related to that, some commissioners raised concerns over information they’d received last month from the city attorney’s office, which appeared to be in conflict with what they were being told by staff at Wednesday’s meeting. [Full Story]
On his WunderBlog, Jeff Masters of the Ann Arbor-based Weather Underground writes about this week’s snowstorms and some of the records they’ve set: “I’ve commented several times this week that there is no precedent in the historical record, going back to the late 1800s, to the incredible snow blitz the Mid-Atlantic has endured. Well, it turns out there is a comparable winter, at least for Philadelphia, if one goes back in time nearly 300 years. According to Chris Burt, author of the excellent book, Extreme Weather, in 1717 four storms between February 27 and March 9 dropped a total of 3-5 feet of snow from Philadelphia to Boston. Snow drifts as much as 25′ deep occurred in the Boston area. … [Full Story]
Information sign acquiring information (photo)
Cookie-selling Girl Scouts.
Long line, started with 11 people and worked up to over 20. Chicken tortilla soup sold out, but lobster bisque still available (only on Thursdays and Fridays). Six or more people seated in lower level sipping soup and eating pretzels.
In the lobby of the library, a group of adult English-language learners – from Russia, Japan, Korea and elsewhere – gathering for a tour.
A post on the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice website announces the Food and Faith Initiative: “Once again, we are partnering with two well-known hunger relief agencies, Food Gatherers and Growing Hope, to support the development of congregational gardens to feed the hungry. In 2009, fifteen congregations participated in the program, producing over 3500 lbs of fresh produce for the hungry in Washtenaw County. This year we are hoping for even more community involvement to make a bigger impact on addressing local hunger needs.” [Source]
Debi Scroggins, founder of Bear Claw Coffee in Chelsea, is interviewed for a Detroit News article that gets the reaction of business owners to Gov. Granholm’s budget plan, which includes eliminating the 22% surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax over the next two years. Says Scroggins: “We can pour that money back into our facilities and hire the people we need to grow our business in Michigan.” [Source]
On his RoosRoast blog, John Roos writes about Chris Donnelly, a local hair stylist: “He actually came up with the name RoosRoast on a bike ride down Huron River Drive while singing our favorite song (which we made up) called ‘Huron River Rider,’ an ode to all the men with silver beards and $10,000.00 bikes. Chris has been known and loved here in Ann Arbor from back in the day when he was known as Batman on WCBN. … If Chris cuts your hair you already know that he is officially moving back to Berkeley, supposedly for good, and not going to be returning to Orbit Hair on State Street every 5 weeks to give you a hair cut. (Who … [Full Story]
John U. Bacon
Twelve years ago I covered the Winter Olympics in Nagano. It was exhausting – and exhilarating.
Every day, right in front of me, I got to savor the skill and the speed of the skiers and the snowboarders, the hockey players and the figure skaters. But what I remember most is the energy generated by the athletes and the audience, who seemed to feed off each other. I didn’t get to merely see it. I got to feel it – an experience shared with thousands of people from around the world, right as it happened.
So that’s why I was stunned when I called my friends back home, breathless about the drama stirring all around me, only to learn they had no idea what I was talking about. They weren’t impressed by the Nagano Olympics, or the coverage of it – take your pick. And that’s when I realized the Olympics I was experiencing had nothing to do with the one they were watching – or not watching at all. (Nagano had the lowest ratings in 30 years.)
Now, I realize TV can’t compete with being there, especially 12 time zones away. But it can come a lot closer than it usually does. [Full Story]
Man used top of backboard to mount unicycle at halftime of UM women’s basketball game. [photo]
The Make Under My Life blog features an essay by Vicki Honeyman, owner of Heavenly Metal, an Ann Arbor gallery and gift shop. She writes about her business, her upbringing, her struggle with cancer – and gives advice about the life lessons she’s learned: “I own a fabulous store during the hardest economic times I’ve ever experienced in my 59 years. It’s scary. I have no one to fall back on: it’s all me and nobody else. … I fell into what I’m doing now (though it had always been a dream of mine) and though it’s more work than I’d bargained for, and it’s tough tough tough given where I’m located and the economy of my State, I … [Full Story]
The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has launched an online survey of attitudes about parking in connection to a report it is preparing for the city council to be delivered in April 2010. The report, which the council requested in order to get a clearer understanding of the potential impact of extended evening meter enforcment, will take a fairly comprehensive look at the parking system, which the DDA administers through a contract with Republic Parking. Take the survey: [Source]
UM has announced that President Barack Obama will deliver the spring 2010 commencement address. The May 1 ceremony will be held at Michigan Stadium. In a press release, UM president Mary Sue Coleman said: “President Obama has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of many students with his inspiring words of hope and change. We are honored to welcome a leader of his distinction and look forward to his message.” [Source]
On Monday night, the Ann Arbor City Council continued with the second in a series of extra meetings devoted exclusively to budget issues. Much of the discussion was a review of information that councilmembers had deliberated at their Jan. 25 meeting, when the focus was specifically on the community services area.
At left is Tom Crawford, the city's CFO. To the right is Roger Fraser, city administrator. (Photos by the writer.)
The community services area comprises the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, planning and development, human services, and parks/recreation. The council had chosen to focus on that area first, because of the community service area administrator’s imminent departure – Jayne Miller’s last day working for the city is Feb. 12, 2010.
But Miller’s new post as director of the Huron Clinton Metro Authority (HCMA) factored into some of the conversation on Monday, ranging from HCMA’s canoe rental fee structure, to the (remote) possibility that HCMA might take over some of the city of Ann Arbor’s parks. It was those larger scope issues the council was meant to address on Monday.
So at Monday’s meeting, city administrator Roger Fraser labeled the occasion as a time to talk about the “big ideas” the council had been presented at their December 2009 budget retreat. And councilmembers did eventually come around to start grinding through the list of ideas.
Rather than organize our account of the meeting based on that list, we’ve identified some themes that might provide an alternate framing of some of the budget challenges. We’ve formulated them as questions: (i) What are the basic philosophies? (ii) Should anything be held harmless? (iii) What do we do with our land? (iv) Is increasing revenue an option? [Full Story]
Young Ann Arborite crouched, nestled into snow bank … reading a book.
Writing on her blog, local food entrepreneuer Maite Zubia describes how she felt seeing her cookies featured on TV this week: “My heart almost dropped when I saw my Maitelates Alfajores featured in the center of the CBS Early Morning Show table on Tuesday, as they displayed online Valentine’s gifts. All of these images came to my mind at once: I thought about the moments when I used to watch my relatives stirring the pot of hot sugary milk; I thought of all those hours in the kitchen by myself baking, dipping, and wrapping; I thought of the people supporting this dream of becoming a real ALFAJORIER (yes, I’ve invented the word for what I am!); I thought of the … [Full Story]
Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (Feb. 9, 2010): In a three-hour meeting that included some heated exchanges, members of AAPAC reviewed public art projects in various stages of development, including those for West Park, Fuller Road Station, Hanover Park and the new municipal building.
An update on Herbert Dreiseitl’s work for the municipal building revealed that two interior pieces – originally part of three pieces proposed for the site, but set aside because they came in over budget – are being reconsidered. Dreiseitl plans to resubmit a design and pricing for the two interior pieces later this month, and is expected to return to Ann Arbor in mid-April to work on the already-approved outdoor sculpture in the building’s front plaza.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, AAPAC members debated how best to get input from the public, with some members questioning the effectiveness of repeating an event that last year drew 30 people. [Full Story]
Guy walking three steps in front of me just found a $20 bill on the sidewalk. No obvious dropper in sight.
A surprisingly light and graceful black F150 doing donuts, figure-8s, and more general sledding in the snow.
Sign on Hollywood Video: Store closing everything must go.
Pickup-size city of Ann Arbor truck plowing 7th Street.
USA Today reports on Toyota’s public relations efforts in the wake of safety issues with several of its cars, including the popular Prius. The article quotes Jeffrey Liker, a UM professor who wrote the best-selling book “The Toyota Way,” about the automaker’s management philosophy. He says that Toyota’s approach is the right one: “In a crisis, all you can do is solve the problems you know about.” [Source]
UM bus didn’t quite make it up the hill. Now firmly settled across the sidewalk on the side of the road.
Blimpy Burger finally has some snow to sculpt. [photo]
Fingerle Lumber is plowing their grounds with a plow attached to the front of a forklift. Kinda cool.
Last week, city workers sawed down the last large street tree on our block – an old, rotting maple. I was unduly fond of it. I’ll miss its shade.
Chainsaw Guy
But it was time for that tree to come down.
The work took just a few hours – it seemed like a well-drilled crew. And because the tree is across the street from our home, I was able to watch.
I’ve written a lot of articles over the past year littered with words like “cut” or some unimaginative variation of it – “trimming costs” or “chopping expenses.” So I couldn’t help but see the dismemberment of this tree as a metaphor for what our local governments – our cities, the county, the schools – are going through.
It’s time for some trees to come down. [Full Story]
