New Media Watch Section

The Daily Texan posts a video of Ann Arbor’s Violin Monster playing on the streets of Austin. In an interview, the VM talks about the support he gets from the Ann Arbor community, and his plans to return home. [Source]

Saline mayor Gretchen Driskell announced on Facebook her plans to run for state representative in District 52, a seat now held by Republican Mark Ouimet. Driskell, a Democrat, stated: ”I am running for State Representative because I believe the people in our communities have not been adequately represented. Lansing has cut education funding, community development programs, and put business before people.” She plans a campaign kickoff party on Tuesday, March 27 at Mangiamo restaurant, 105 W. Michigan Ave. in Saline from 7-9 p.m. [Source]

Mae’s Food Blog highlights the current Fluxus exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, which runs through May 20: “Marcel Duchamp is a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed this exhibit of his followers, and appreciate that some like Claes Oldenburg and Daniel Spoerri produced work outside the confines of Fluxus.” One of Oldenburg’s works in the exhibit is titled “False Food Prototype for Rubber Food Fluxkit.” [Source]

Writing in a post on the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark website, FAAS president Trevor Staples gives a brief update on the group’s progress, estimating that construction on the skatepark will start in early spring of 2013. He writes: ”Next week, in collaboration with the City of Ann Arbor, and the Washtenaw County Parks Commission, we’ll be sending out a press release with more details of the process. We’re hoping that the press release will spark news stories, so that everyone in our community will know what’s going on with the skatepark. Thanks for your continued patience. We’re working (volunteering) our tails off to make this happen. Remember that we want this thing as bad as you do.” [Source]

Andy Fowler has posted to Flickr a set of photographs he took from a flyover of the area of Dexter that suffered damage from the tornado that struck on March 15, 2012. [Source]

With her regular constituent update, Ward 1 councilmember Sabra Briere has included a link to a report on a survey she recently conducted on the topic of transit. Around 70 people responded. The report includes several cross tabs of different questions. For example, of those who said that a local transit system that served Washtenaw County would be good for Ann Arbor, 72% also said that  local mass transit should be primarily for commuting. [Source]

A Pure Michigan TV ad – to be used in a national campaign featuring Ann Arbor – has been posted on YouTube. [Source] The $1 million ad campaign is being coordinated by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and includes $200,000 in funding from Washtenaw County that was allocated at the county board of commissioners’ Feb. 15, 2012 meeting.

Sharon Carty, a journalist who lives in Dexter, describes how her neighborhood has pulled together in the wake of Thursday’s tornado. The essay was published by the Dexter Patch. Carty writes: ”There were a lot of hugs. A lot of tears. A lot of people checking in on friends. My eight-year-old son’s best friend, Katie, came by as soon as she could to make sure he was OK. As the firemen went around checking on homes, tying yellow caution tape around doorknobs of homes that checked out OK, friends went around also touching base. People touched each other on the elbow or shoulder. ‘Are you guys OK?’ ‘Everyone safe?’ ‘What can I do for you?’” [Source]

Matthew Altruda posted a video on YouTube showing a tornado as it passed by Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter at about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15. [Source]

Interlochen Public Radio airs an interview  with Chronicle columnist Laura Bien based on her recent piece, “In the Archives: From Cordword to Caviar” [source]

A post on the PETA Prime website reviews a selection of Ann Arbor restaurants that serve vegan fare, including Jazzy Veggie, The Lunch Room, Ayse’s Café, Silvio’s Organic and several others. Here’s the review of Seva: “The cheery setting of this all-vegetarian restaurant invites hanging out whether you’re dressed up or in jeans. I didn’t share the locals’ passion for Seva’s yam fries, although the gingery dipping sauce rocked. I’d return in a heartbeat for the ginger dairy-free cream tart as well as the salad of minced roasted peanuts, kale, carrots, red peppers, and peanut-cider vinaigrette.”  [Source]

Mark Maynard interviews Donald Harrison, executive director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, as a preview to this year’s 50th anniversary. In response to a question about the festival’s niche, Harrison says: ”Our niche is short films, artist-made films, personal films, experimental films and films that venture beyond the usual independent art house fare. We also present live film/music/media performances and video art installations (this year we’re lighting up more than 50 screens with moving image art throughout Ann Arbor). We’re not an industry-driven event focused on the deal or premiere or celebrity; we’re an artist and audience-driven event focused on connecting those to each other, creating a welcoming atmosphere and a fun, festive celebration.” [Source]

The Humane Society of Huron Valley posted a video on YouTube celebrating its 500th pet adoption of 2012 – a 7-year-old cat name Bella. [Source]

Writing on the Hand Sown Farm blog, Megan DeLeeuw describes a recent tour she took of organic farms in Washtenaw County, including Community Farm of Ann Arbor, Sunseed Farm and the Tilian Farm Development Center. DeLeeuw writes: ”For the first time since we started our farm I felt like a part of something larger after taking the time to look around. I am committed to visiting more farms and also finding ways that we might all work cooperatively to create a strong sustainable food system.” [Source]

The World Socialist website posts an update on Camp Take Notice, a tent camp on the outskirts of Ann Arbor built by people who are homeless. From the report: “Rick, 50, who asked not to be photographed, explained that he was a plumber until 2008, when the construction industry collapsed. After this devastating decline in his income, Rick fell behind on his child support payments for his two sons and was jailed as a result in 2010. In August, realizing his bleak job prospects and wary of being a burden to his family, Rick decided to come to Ann Arbor to live at the camp. … Rick said he came to Ann Arbor because it was ‘the best city … [Full Story]

The city of Ann Arbor wants help in naming the new Argo Dam bypass, which includes a series of pools instead of the previous canoe/kayak portage. An online survey is asking people to select their top two choices for a name from a list of options. You can also write in an alternative option. (The Chronicle suggests “Argo Chutes.”) Deadline to complete the survey is Feb. 26. [Source]

The University of Michigan has issued a press release outlining special parking accommodations on Saturday, Feb. 18 for five sporting events throughout the day, including the airing of ESPN’s College Basketball GameDay Show at Crisler Center. For the GameDay Show from 10 a.m. until noon, fans are asked to park in the Blue Lot around Crisler Center. For the basketball game at Chrisler, which begins at 9 p.m. against Ohio State, the normal lots surrounding Crisler and Michigan Stadium will be secured by 5 p.m. for permit parking, according to the university. [Source]

The blog for Ann Arbor’s getDowntown program is posting bike love poems received from its Valentine’s Day contest, including a “bike-ku.” [Source]

Washtenaw County’s office of community and economic development is considering starting a a food system workforce development program and commercial kitchen incubator. An online survey is collecting information about existing and potential businesses that could be helped by this initiative. Questions include ”What stage of development is your food-based business?” “What activities would you use a shared-used commercial kitchen for?” and “What business services would you need or desire in a shared use kitchen?” [Source]

Talking Points Memo reports that Washtenaw County commissioner Alicia Ping, a Republican and American of Asian descent, is endorsing Clark Durant, an opponent of former Rep. Pete Hoekstra in the U.S. Senate GOP primary following Hoekstra’s controversial Super Bowl ad. TPM quotes Ping: “If he didn’t know it was racist on some level, then shame on him. He didn’t apologize or say ‘maybe it was over the top’ or anything. He said, ‘I stand by what I believe in’ and, ‘the liberals are just making a bigger thing out of it.’ Well that’s not the case at all. It’s offensive and it’s racist. It’s demeaning to the Asian-American population.” [Source]

The Washtenaw County sheriff’s office is now participating in Crimemapping.com, a service that allows residents to view a log of crimes reported in their community. Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township are also using this online service, which is searchable by address, zip code or type of crime. [Source]

The Arts Alliance has hired Debra Polich as interim executive director, according to a press release issued on Feb. 2 by the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit. Polich will continue to serve as CEO of the Artrain, another Ann Arbor arts nonprofit –she’ll hold both roles on a part-time basis, starting Feb. 6. The alliance’s former executive director, Susan Froelich, resigned in January, after serving nearly a year in that position According to the press release, Polich will “lead the organization as the board appointed transition team continues to consider strategic options for the organization.” Alliance board members include Lynne Friman, Leslie Sobel, David Esau, Roxana Overdier, Melissa Milton-Pung, Mary Kerr, Donald Harrison, Mike Henry, Britany Affolter-Cain and Teresa Reid. [Source]

The Huron Valley Group of the Sierra Club has issued a press release urging the city of Ann Arbor to make a full disclosure of its plans for Fuller Road Station, a proposed city/University of Michigan parking structure, bus depot and possible train station located at the city’s Fuller Park near the UM medical complex. The release includes documents obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request, indicating that some people have proposed exploring retail uses on that site.

From the release: ”It is time for the city administration to stop playing shell games, for the city council to force a full disclosure of what the plans are for the Fuller Park site, and for the city council to follow the mandate … [Full Story]

The February issue of Metro Parent profiles Aubrey and Jeremy Lopatin, owners of Arbor Teas. The article describes how the Lopatins got into business, the genesis of their love for tea, their commitment to the environment, and how the business is a family affair: “There’s a cozy connection to customers, too. They make personal deliveries to A2 regulars on Fridays. And each order gets a hand-written note on the invoice stock. It’s all based in a light-filled Ann Arbor warehouse just opened last summer. After seven years, they finally outgrew the basement of their 700-square-foot home. A family of four in a tiny ranch is right in-line with their business stance. ‘Keeping a smaller footprint and keeping things simple … [Full Story]

Nathan Ayers is the first recipient of an A2Awesome grant for $1,000. Mark Maynard, one of the group’s founders, writes about the decision and posts an interview with Ayers on his blog. Maynard reports that Ayers “will be using the money to construct two bike-powered vegetable grow racks, which will be used in the K-12 science classes he teaches in Ann Arbor and Detroit. According to Ayers, the intention is to create a closed loop system to demonstrate the principles of permaculture – a design and engineering philosophy based on ecology, which has as its objective the creation of sustainable food, energy and community infrastructure systems.” [Source]

A video posted on YouTube shows the creation of a new mural at the University of Michigan’s Palmer Commons, painted by UM Lloyd Scholars in a course by Mark Tucker. The 78-x-17-foot mural reflects the theme semester of the College of Literature, Science & the Arts: “Language: The Human Quintessence.” [Source]

David Zinn, an Ann Arbor artist known for his sidewalk chalk art, posts a photo of a drawing appropriate for this rainy day: Sluggo with an orange umbrella. [Source]

Writing on her blog, radio talk show host Lucy Ann Lance describes her experience judging Pioneer High School’s Future Stars competition with fellow judges – including University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and wide receiver Kelvin Grady. Lance writes: ”Denard wears his charisma and star-quality well, because he is oblivious to both. Just as he assesses the play on the field, waiting to make sure his receiver is in the perfect spot before throwing the ball, Denard listens carefully to people he’s talking with, asking them questions, and making them feel special.” [Source]

Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education member Christine Stead has launched a blog: K12ChristineStead. In describing the reason for launching the blog, she writes: “There is a chasm of information and perspective that I want to help fill as it relates to K12 education. My goals for this site are to enhance information currently available, aspire to improve the current state, and bring people together to participate in this process.” [Source]

The Michigan Truth Squad, a project of the Ann Arbor-based Center for Michigan, analyzed the Jan. 18 state-of-the-state speech delivered by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The report includes commentary from University of Michigan economist Don Grimes regarding Snyder’s assessment of the state’s job growth: “It is empirically hard to give all the credit to Gov. Snyder, but it does appear that the state is now performing like it did in earlier recovery periods, which is a big improvement over the recovery period under his predecessor. Whether he and his policies deserve credit, or (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm and her policies deserve blame is up to you guys [the media] to debate …” [Source]