Arbor Update

Regional

Farmer Jack may close some local stores

Posted by Murph on 5. April 2005

The Detroit News reports that up to 30 local Farmer Jack and Food Basics stores may be closed and sold, in order to mitigate financial losses by their parent company.

Local real estate and grocery industry experts said about 30 stores, including all 10 Food Basics in Michigan, are the most likely targets for sale.

Farmer Jack locations in rural areas such as Clio, Imlay City and Chelsea, as well as the city of Detroit, probably are on the block as well, they said.
. . .
Buyers could include independent grocery store chains such as VGs, Busch’s or Spartan Stores Inc. Office-supply stores and other retailers also could take on those leases, real estate experts said.

Wal-Mart and Whole Foods are credited for part of Farmer Jack’s troubles, chipping away market share from either side and economically stratifying the market. Wonderful to think that FJ’s five-year-old monument to sprawl in Chelsea could close and sit empty, though it’s probably one of the better prospects for buy-out by Busch’s.

Culture

Chris Buhalis at Oz's Music

Posted by MarkDilley on 5. April 2005

9 April 2005: Ann Arbor

North hosts another evening of music at Oz’s Music with special guest, poignant folk and acoustic songwriter Chris Buhalis! Join us at Oz’s on Packard, just south of Stadium (map available). Show starts at 8 PM, and $8 covers a full night of music. Free parking is available right across the street at the National City bank.

> via North

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Science

Cancer Awareness Week

Posted by MarkDilley on 5. April 2005

Thursday April 7th
8pm Union Ballroom

Fashion Show BIVOUAC’S PROJECT RUNWAY FASHION SHOW

Come check out the hottest and latest fashions. (and to see cute people too)

> via umstudents Live Journal

Proceeds to:
> The Special Days Camp
>The Coach Carr Cancer Fund

Campus

When the student can't understand the instructor, who is to blame?

Posted by MarkDilley on 4. April 2005

On the phone from Fargo, N.D., State Rep. Bette Grande’s voice rings with clarity. “Colleges are a business,” she says in a starched Midwestern accent. “When we put research as our No. 1 focus, we forgot the student,” she says. “We got ourselves all turned around.”

Ms. Grande could be talking about any of the ills plaguing a modern university—drops in per-student spending, tuition increases, or maybe the lack of face time with professors. But she has something much more contentious in mind.

She wants her state’s university system to do something about the fact that its students can’t understand what the heck their foreign-born instructors are saying

Studies indicate it the listener has a imortant role in the equation.

>via The Chronicle

>use Bug Me Not to bypass

Comment [1]

Labor

Mallen on DDA/Greenway Proposals

Posted by Brandon on 4. April 2005

In today’s column, Michigan Daily writer Elliot Mallen takes-on the DDA/Greenway controversy:

Sadly, the Ann Arbor Greenway is a half-baked proposal that falls short of its promise to support a supposedly eco-friendly city. Keeping downtown density low by snapping up property in order to make Ann Arbor feel more green is an unsustainable plan that will only stunt the city’s vibrancy and lead to more urban sprawl.

Comment [76]

International

This Week in Peace History

Posted by MarkDilley on 4. April 2005

“This Week in History is a collection designed to help us appreciate the fact that we are part of rich history advocating peace and social justice.

While the entries focus on large and dramatic events there are so many smaller things done everyday to promote peace and justice.

To the real peace advocates – YOU!”

April 6, 1712 – First major slave rebellion in the colonies takes place in New York. read about the rebellion

Check out the online newsletter

Environment

Schmerl, Morgan on greenway proposal

Posted by Murph on 3. April 2005

The counter-point to Phil D’Anieri’s piece from a week ago, the Ann Arbor News ran Friday an Other Voices piece by Sonia Schmerl, Old West Side Neighborhood Association Board member and Historic District Commissioner, Greenways prove to be valuable investments for communities.

The greenway proposed for the Allen Creek valley, which would begin with the restoration of three public properties in the floodplain to green open space, has been promoted as a means of improving the livability of the city core and an amenity for downtown residents, amid proposals for dramatically increasing their numbers.

Ann Arbor’s downtown could also realize substantial economic benefits as a result of the establishment of a greenway within the city, as is shown by the experience of municipal leaders in communities across the country.

Greenway corridors (linear open spaces connecting recreational, cultural and natural areas) are traditionally recognized for their environmental protection, recreation values and aesthetic appearance. These corridors also have the potential to create jobs, enhance property values, expand local businesses, attract new or relocating businesses, increase local tax revenues, decrease local government expenditures and promote a local community.
. . .
Use of environmentally sensitive areas for open space or recreation can reduce costs of property damage due to flooding, which accounts for larger annual property losses than any other single geophysical hazard.

Leaders in Johnson County, Kan., were expected to spend $120 million on stormwater control projects. Instead, voters passed a $600,000 levy to develop a county-wide streamway park system. The greenways network will address the county’s flooding problems, while providing a valuable recreation resource.

Additionally, News columnist Mary Morgan today writes on the greenway/DDA dust-up, saying For the city’s sake, meet in the middle:

This issue of neighborhood impact is at the forefront of any new development, or should be, whether it’s a new high school, a Wal-Mart or an apartment complex. The best recent example is the Downtown Development Authority’s plan for new retail, residential and parking on three sites just a few blocks from the new Y.

The DDA plan drew instant criticism from well-organized residents who’ve turned out in force at public meetings to oppose it. The DDA – charged with supporting the downtown business districts – has proposed building a much-needed parking garage at a city-owned lot by First and William streets, as well as a residential/retail building on the site of a current parking garage at First and Washington. The plan also calls for another residential/retail complex on a surface lot on South Ashley. (More details are online at www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/DDA)
. . .
Depending on who’s talking, a city greenway is either a visionary concept or a knuckle-headed scheme. I’ve talked with people on both sides of the issue, and aside from those who hate any kind of change, both sides have reasonable arguments.

I’m heartened that the motivation for most comes from the same desire: to make the city a better place to live and work. And while people disagree about exactly what that means and how to get there, I still see common ground.

Comment [32]

Regional

Judge requires permit before Great Lakes ballast dumping

Posted by Murph on 2. April 2005

From the Freep:

SAN FRANCISCO—Ship ballast water—blamed for transporting more than 100 invasive species such as zebra mussels that have caused major problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem—cannot be dumped without a permit, a federal judge has ruled.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately repeal regulations exempting ship operators from the Clean Water Act’s water discharge rules.

The ruling essentially declares ballast water a biological pollutant, requiring the same permits that the government requires for sewage plants and manufacturers who discharge to waterways, said Jordan Lubetkin, spokesman for the Ann Arbor office of the National Wildlife Federation.

“This essentially forces the federal government to find a national solution to the invasives problem,” he said. “It’s a victory for the Great Lakes.”
. . .
Efforts to control the zebra mussel and the sea lamprey – two of the most harmful invaders – cost an estimated $45 million annually.

Comment [7]

Politics

Salad dressing on Buchanan

Posted by MarkDilley on 2. April 2005

Tasty!

KALAMAZOO, Michigan (AP)—Commentator and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cut short an appearance after an opponent of his conservative views doused him with salad dressing.

via CNN via Caption Contest

Comment [2]

Local

Ann Arbor budget events

Posted by Murph on 2. April 2005

The City will be holding three Town Hall Meetings this week for public input on the budgeting process. While a $2 million cash infusion from the DDA has mitigated some of the disaster scenarios originally predicted by the City, Ann Arbor, like every other City in Michigan, has plenty left to worry about.

The meetings will be held,
> Tuesday, April 5, 7-9 pm, Clague Middle School – Multipurpose Room, 2616 Nixon Road
> Wednesday, April 6, 7-9 pm, Tappan Middle School – Cafeteria, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd.
> Thursday, April 7, 7-9 pm, Slauson Middle School – Cafeteria, 1019 W. Washington

The Town Hall meetings will be taped and replayed on CTN over the next month, along with a previously taped 60 minute panel discussion, Sustaining the Quality of Life in Ann Arbor (now available in Real and Windows Media formats on the City’s website!).

See also,
> City of Ann Arbor, Our Town: 2005/2006 Budget Process summary page.
> Arbor Update, 28 February, Greden Budget Letter #2
> Arbor Update, 31 January, Councilman Greden’s City Budget Overview

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