On the Ann Arbor Skatepark website, Trevor Staples, an organizer for the proposed skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park, posts the group’s conceptual design, plus a photo of the more than 50 skate decks created by artists – all on display at the Ann Arbor Art Center for the next two weeks. The design was unveiled at an art center event on Saturday, when the skate decks were auctioned off to raise more than $9,000 for the project. [Source]
Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners meeting (May 19, 2010): After some debate and dissent, a resolution to set a public hearing on possibly expanding the Washtenaw County Road Commission won approval last week from a majority of county commissioners. The hearing will take place during the board’s July 7 meeting.
Verna McDaniel took office last week as the new Washtenaw County administrator. (Photo by the writer.)
Several other measures were approved with little discussion, including setting the county’s millage rate and making changes to the Natural Areas Preservation Program ordinance. A vote on minor changes to the county’s retiree health care trust agreement led one commissioner to express concern that the program is underfunded – the topic is likely to come up at a working session later in the year.
And though the board dissolved the county land bank earlier this year, commissioner Ronnie Peterson vowed on Wednesday to reestablish the entity, saying it was a critical tool to help stabilize home ownership in eastern Washtenaw, which he represents. “I’m going to get this passed at all costs to me.”
The board met in executive session to be briefed on the status of a years-long lawsuit that the townships of Ypsilanti, Salem and August brought against the county regarding the cost of police services contracts. There was no discussion of the case during the public portion of the meeting.
There was another notable issue that was not discussed during Wednesday’s meeting, though it was addressed during public commentary by county clerk Larry Kestenbaum: The possible renaming of a county building in honor of recently retired county administrator Bob Guenzel.
And during her first meeting as the new county administrator, Verna McDaniel received praise from board chair Rolland Sizemore Jr., who said that though she had big shoes to fill, he knew she’d do an excellent job. [Full Story]
Alley, north side of W. Liberty large tin attached to pole with note above it saying “ash tray” and pointing downward.
Posting tacked to telephone pole: “Sam’s Lawn Mowing and Dog Waste Removal Service” Services performed by boy scout who’s a dog owner and enrolled in a gardening class. [photo]
Dad goose, mom goose, lotsa baby geese having breakfast in one of the medians. Drive carefully!
Erin Curtis, a raptor volunteer, holds a great horned owl at the entrance to the Leslie Science & Nature Center’s Mayfly fundraiser. Erin says the raptors aren’t named because they’re wild birds, not pets. But this fellow looks like a Bob to me. [photo]
Dark red/green Tecumseh Trolley “Downtown Area Shuttle” heading toward Main Street.
Woman running down Washington pushing a wheelbarrow full of weights.
Automobile horn sounds behind me. It was either to urge me to pedal closer to the right, or else in response to young women holding signs “Honk for Peace.” [photo]
Kiwanis sale line of patrons (about 7) just inside front door gazing at the shelves of books for sale.
County commissioner Barbara Bergman bearing basil. [photo]
Conan O’Brien’s Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television tour made a stop at Michigan State University on Friday night. As reported in the Detroit Free Press, the comedian got in a jab at MSU’s Ann Arbor rival: “True story: They asked me to play the University of Michigan and I said, ‘No.’ I don’t like that school. Any school that has to have a football stadium that big …” [Source]
On her DashingBean blog, Tresna – an Ann Arbor resident and parent of “BeanOne” and “BeanTwo” – shares her recipe for blueberry apple pancakes: “If you like your pancakes soft and floppy, don’t waste your time with this one, because these hearty pancakes are a bit more labor-intensive than your typical mix. BeanOne and I both especially like a little bit textural contrast in our food. I flip these pancakes a second or even third time to crisp up the surface, while the inside is soft and moderately dense. Mmmm…..” [Source]
Jo Mathis and her granddaughter, Anna Christine.
No matter how you prepare for life’s big events, you never know how you’ll feel til you’re in the moment, often seeped in disbelief that the anticipated is actually happening.
And so it was when my first child was about to give birth to her first child. As Christie rested between contractions, her doctor looked up at me with a smile and asked: “Are you a first-time grandparent?”
What tipped her off? The fact that I was standing behind Christie’s head with a camera, sobbing?
Moments later – at 10 p.m. on 5-5-10 – a gooey little alienesque creature burst onto the scene amidst our cheers, tears, and one big sigh of relief from her mother.
People had told me that grandparenting is indescribably delicious, and now I know for myself why they call it grand. [Full Story]
Ann Arbor District Library board meeting (May 17, 2010): At its May meeting, the AADL board adopted a budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year – keeping the millage rate at 1.55 mills. Though the tentative budget discussed at the board’s April meeting had projected a $200,000 shortfall, the library staff is now anticipating less of a drop in tax revenues for the coming fiscal year. That increased optimism on the revenue front means that the approved budget does not require tapping the library’s fund balance.
Board members also discussed awarding a contract for HVAC work, and heard from the representative of a company that’s not being recommended for the contract. The board revised the library district’s boundaries in the Northfield Township area, and approved new legal compliance and conflict of interest policies. [Full Story]
The Detroit Free Press reports that Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, a Republican candidate for governor, has a new TV ad that criticizes Mike Cox and Pete Hoekstra, his opponents in the GOP primary, for their political attacks against each other. From the report: “Snyder spokesman Jake Suski said the new ad will appear on both cable and broadcast channels in all Michigan TV markets except Detroit. Suski said Snyder’s aim was to ‘make it clear that he’s a departure from the norm in politics.’” [Source]
George Mason University’s History News Network publishes a column by Walter G. Moss, an Eastern Michigan University professor emeritus of history, who reflects on President Obama’s speech given at the May 1 University of Michigan commencement. Moss looks at how the speech reflects Copthorne Macdonald’s notion of “wisdom-associated values”: “In asking Michigan graduates (and others) to refrain from demonizing those who differ from them, Obama was suggesting a little Lincoln-like humility. Such humility implies that, like all humans, Obama does not always display the proper mix of passion, empathy, tolerance, and humility. But it’s good that he tries – and that he reminds us of such ‘wisdom-associated values.’” [Source]
Elderly woman scolding crossing light while walking a dog wearing a purple and green raincoat.
WDIV-TV Channel 4, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, reports on a recent increase in daytime home invasions in western Wasthenaw County. The segment interviews Derrick Jackson of the Washtenaw sheriff’s department, who cites a correlation between drug use and the crimes. The report also notes that overall, break-ins in the county are down about 25% this year. [Source]
John U. Bacon
Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek stepped up to the plate in the tenth inning. The bases were empty, which in this game was rare.
Northwestern had shot out to an early 14-0 lead. We’re not talking football here, folks, but baseball. Then, incredibly, the Wolverines clawed back, run by run, until they tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. That brought Dufek up in the tenth inning, with the game in his hands.
That Dufek had even gotten that far was a story in itself. [Full Story]
An editorial in the New York Times praises the four students – including Iranian-born Mohammad Abdollahi of Ann Arbor – who camped out at Sen. John McCain’s Tucson office to urge passage of the Dream Act, a bill that would offer undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools a way to become naturalized citizens. “Who else has shown such courage in the long struggle for immigration reform? Not Mr. McCain, who ditched his principled support of rational immigration legislation to better his odds in a close re-election campaign against a far-right-wing opponent. Not President Obama, who has retreated to lip service and vagueness in his calls for reform.” [Source]
Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission meeting (May 18, 2010): During an hour-long presentation and Q&A, Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje urged park commissioners to support the proposed Fuller Road Station, saying he’d like the city to present a unified front as they pursue federal funding for the $46 million project – a large parking structure, bus depot and possible train station for commuter rail.
Jim Kosteva, right, talks with Ann Arbor parks planner Amy Kuras during Tuesday's meeting of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission. Kosteva, director of community relations for the University of Michigan, was on hand for a discussion of the Fuller Road Station, though he did not address the commission. (Photos by the writer.)
Heiftje’s presentation had not been on the agenda, but the commission was set to discuss a resolution that called for city council to stop the project, or at the least negotiate better terms with its partner, the University of Michigan. Several commissioners have expressed concerns about the project, which would be on city-owned property designated as parkland. Under proposed terms – which Hieftje said are not finalized – the city would receive less revenue from UM for parking than it currently gets from the surface lots it leases to the university on Fuller Road. Those revenues support the city’s parks operations.
Another public meeting on the project is set for Wednesday, June 2, from 7-9 p.m. at city council chambers, 100 N. Fifth Ave.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners got a brief update on the urban forestry management plan – the first of two public meetings is set for Thursday at Tappan Middle School from 7-9 p.m. to get input on developing a plan to manage the city’s trees.
The artist selected for a public art project at West Park – Traven Pelletier of Lotus Gardenscapes – spoke briefly about his design. And in a third-quarter financial update for parks and recreation, commissioner Sam Offen reported that they’re in better shape than expected, needing less general fund support than they had originally budgeted for the current fiscal year. [Full Story]
Ann Arbor City Council meeting (May 17, 2010): By its second meeting in May, the city of Ann Arbor’s charter stipulates that the city council must adopt a budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts on July 1.
City treasurer Matt Horning. Chief financial officer Tom Crawford in background.
On Monday night, the council unanimously adopted its roughly $78 million general fund budget – as amended to reflect new revenue items. Those new revenue items allowed the council to eliminate five firefighter positions and no police jobs. As originally proposed, the budget would have eliminated 35 fire and police positions combined.
Next year’s work will not be any easier. CFO Tom Crawford said at the meeting that he’s projecting a $5 million deficit in FY 2012.
Deliberations on the budget did not begin until late in the evening. Occupying more of the council’s time than the city’s FY 2011 budget were two issues related to the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. One of those issues was a sidewalk occupancy ordinance applicable only within the DDA district. The ordinance, which legalizes the use of sandwich board signs, passed after a failed attempt by Marcia Higgins (Ward 4) to get it postponed.
The second DDA issue on the agenda involved a $2 million payment from the DDA to the city, which helped the council to amend its budget to reduce layoffs of fire and police. In approving the $2 million payment, the DDA board had included in its resolution a requirement to have a future public process for continued conversations between the city and the DDA about renegotiating a parking agreement between the two entities. From January through April of this year, conversations on that topic between the city and the DDA took place out of public view.
On Monday, the council considered a resolution thanking the DDA for the money and providing a commitment to public process for conversations about the parking agreement – parallel to the public process explicated in the DDA’s resolution. The council resolution passed – stripped of its language about open and transparent process on the grounds that it was redundant – after a brief attempt by Carsten Hohnke (Ward 5) to get the resolution tabled.
In other significant business, mayor John Hieftje nominated a replacement for Ted Annis on the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board: Roger Kerson, who in 2008 contemplated a run for a Ward 5 council seat, but decided against it.
Anya Dale had been nominated by the mayor to replace Paul Ajegba on the AATA board at the council’s previous meeting. On Monday, confirmation of her appointment included one hitch – Sabra Briere (Ward 1) cast a vote against it. [Full Story]
White stretch limo idling in the lot of the vacant gas station.
A post on the DiscGolfersR.Us website describes a course that might be built on the Washtenaw Community College campus: “The piece of property they are considering is a bit reminiscent of Firefighters Park in Troy, as it is relatively open with some mature trees and clumps of trees, plus some recently-planted smaller trees. … It’s a very visible triangular piece of property, with ball fields on one side, a road on another, and a walking/biking path on the other. One major design consideration is going to have to be reducing the chances of throws which could end up on McAuley Drive, a paved road that is between WCC and the McCauley hospital.” [Source]
Washtenaw County is on pace to set another new record for applications for “concealed-carry” weapons (CCW) permits.
A sign in the Washtenaw County administration building directs residents who want to apply for a concealed weapons license.
Whether more adults legally able to carry guns enhances or erodes public safety is a matter of debate. What’s not in doubt is that more community members want the option: A member of about 1 in every 20 households in the county now holds a permit.
The number climbed in late 2008 and 2009 as people across the U.S. acted on concerns that Democratic leadership in Washington might promote restrictions on firearms, according to law enforcement officials.
The upward trend has continued in Washtenaw County, fueled – according to gun-rights sympathizers – by continuing worry about potential legislative restrictions, along with concerns about crime and shrinking public-safety budgets.
So far this year, 1,019 county residents have applied for permits. If that rate continues, the county would see a more than 20% increase over 2009’s record-setting 2,255 applications.
“It’s amazing,” says retired Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputy Ernie Milligan, who chairs the county’s concealed weapons licensing board, which held its monthly meeting this week. “In the past year or so, I’ve started to see roadside signs advertising CCW classes. That may help fuel it, but there’s a fear factor, too.”
Under legislation that liberalized Michigan’s gun laws in 2001, state residents 21 and older who complete a safety course can apply for a permit to carry concealed weapons. Criminal convictions and mental-health problems can disqualify applicants. But unlike the “may-issue” law it replaced, the 2001 “shall-issue” law leaves local gun licensing boards with little room for subjectivity. For the most part, an application yields a permit.
In 2010, 983 permits have been issued so far in Washtenaw County. Seven applications were denied. [Full Story]
The Lansing State Journal reports on two rallies in Lansing – one supporting tougher immigration laws, and another supporting the Dream Act, proposed federal legislation to give undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools a way to become naturalized citizens. The article quotes Samantha Nawrocki, a UM student who’s a leader of One Michigan, a student group seeking immigration reform: “The students are challenging the concept of second-class citizens in a country of equals.” [Source]
Four sword fighters in front of Eastern Flame.
