Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Sunday feature: photos of the week

Posted by Matt Hampel on 14. December 2008

School is out December 19th; many of us are already done with finals. Sign is on the Cube on Central.

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Ann Arbor News Seeks Feedback: What Local News Stories to Cover?

Posted by Nancy Shore on 14. December 2008

In the Sunday edition of the Ann Arbor News, editor Ed Petykiewicz explains some changes afoot at the News:

In the coming weeks, your News will begin to focus more on local people, local issues and local events. Some of the changes include more stories about local government, increasingly local flavor in sections such as our Food pages and more columns from our staff.

Mr. Petykiewicz explains that the News is trying this strategy as the News (like many other newspapers across the country) transitions from a “once-a-day publication cycle” printed paper into “an around-the-clock information company” with both a print and online presence.

In addition, Mr. Petykiewicz notes that

the timing of these changes is triggered by the recession, which is choking the economy and hurting our advertisers. Like newspapers across the country, we’re looking for ways to balance expenses and revenue.

The News is looking to reduce its costs with “voluntary buyouts in some areas, some consolidation and fewer pages.”

What does the future look like for the News? According to Mr. Perykiwicz, while the News “will have fewer pages . . . the goal is to remain relevant and vital to our readers and to the communities we serve.”

To that end, the Ann Arbor News is seeking feedback from citizens re: what “types of local news you value and what additional local stories you’d like to see in your newspaper.”

Since Arbor Update is intended as a place for community discussion, I thought this would be a good place for readers to post their feedback to the News. I will email Mr. Petykiewicz and invite him to read the comments written here.

If you would like to contact Mr. Petykiewicz directly with your comments, you can write him at The Ann Arbor News, 240 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48106 or email him at mynewspaper@annarbornews.com

Comment [19]

City Budget Cuts Proposed

Posted by Nancy Shore on 11. December 2008

A memo was recently sent out to City of Ann Arbor Employees asking for their help to cut as much as 15% of the City’s Budget over two years, without materially reducing services.

Below is the text of the memo sent to City Employees:

From: Fraser, Roger
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:50 PM
To: *All Employees
Subject: Your Ideas Are Needed

City of Ann Arbor
FY 2010 & 2011 FISCAL PLAN

Introduction

The City has had a good year in FY 2009 thus far. Very few budget cuts were needed due to the actions taken in FY 2008. Now is the time for us to begin our planning for the next two year budget and we need your help. Once again, we need to come up with ways to reduce our spending while keeping our focus on our primary mission, service to the Ann Arbor community. Historically staff has done a great job in coming up with creative and innovative ways to balance expenditures. During the next several weeks, we need to identify ways to cut 15% over two years, without materially reducing services.

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School Board: Fiscal, Sexual Health Edition

Posted by Matt Hampel on 9. December 2008

Board of Education meeting: Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30 pm. Reading the agenda and info packet, so you don’t have to.

Summary: first quarter FY 08/09 budget report. Bureaucratic maneuverings of the sexual health education advisory committee.

Coming up:

A request for Board approval to accept Great Start Readiness Program Early Childhood funding. (from the State to “provide preschool programs for four-year-old children who may be “at risk” of school failure” — is anyone able to explain this program in more detail?)

First Quarter FY 08/09 Financial Report, including resolutions to fund Skyline High’s athletic programs at $350,000.

I can’t claim to be able to decipher the budget, but revenues are 188,000,698 (in revised budget as of 9/30/08). Expenditures are 191,826,412. (numbered pages 11-13 of the agenda)

October 2008 Sexual Health Education Advisory Committee Report (SHEAC)
Background:

What the SHEAC is currently working on:

1. Formalizing our Goals and Objectives. (See note at the end of this document [the packet] for a draft.) Health teachers have administered pre- and post- tests each year. Our goal in the coming year is to align these tests with our final Goals and Objectives.

2. Coordinating with the Board to formalize the committee’s existence, methods, and upcoming material approval processes.

3. Supporting teachers as the district standardizes sexual health education curricula. Informing teachers that they may submit requests for new material review so that they may update their teaching resources.

4. Preparing informational materials/website for parents, so that parents may be informed about the committee and its role, material approval, curriculum details, state laws and requirements, and other parent FAQ.

Review and comment processes for curriculum are outlined. All quite straightforward: is it current, accurate, and respectful? Summary of the legal obligations. Outlines of curriculum at various levels, describing topics, objectives, resources used.

Results of the district-wide sexuality education survey for parents are on pg. 42 of the agenda. 11% of 1358 respondents do not believe contraception should be taught in school.

For more reading:

The AAPS Board of Education meets every other Wednesday(-ish). Meetings usually begin at 7pm with a public commentary period, and are held in the 4th floor conference room of the Downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. The 2008-9 schedule is online. Meetings are broadcast live on CTN and rebroadcast several times.

Winter vacation begins Friday, December 19 at the end of the day!

WCC offering discounted bus pass for Winter semester

Posted by Nancy Shore on 5. December 2008

A dedicated bus rider and WCC student recently sent me an email she received from Washtenaw Community College announcing a new discounted bus pass for WCC students available starting in January, 2009.

From the text of the email:

Catch The Ride
Avoid parking hassles, save money, and help the environment. Buy a special WCC Pass for students created by the College and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The pass costs $10 and lasts all of Winter Semester— from Jan. 2 to May 4, 2009. With it, you can ride a bus anywhere, any time.

To qualify for a pass, you must be taking at least three credits in the Winter 2009 semester. You can buy a pass starting Dec. 15 at the Cashier’s Office, which is on the second floor of the Student Center Building. You’ll need your WCC ID number (the number that begins with the @ sign).

To ride the bus, you must show the pass and your WCC photo ID. If you don’t have a WCC photo ID, you can get one at Campus Safety and Security on the second floor of the Student Center Building. Take your WCC ID number and a photo ID, such as a driver’s license.

The AATA and WCC have been working on a deal like this for some time. There has even been discussion of creating an express bus route to WCC Given that a 30 day AATA bus pass costs $37.50, this is truly a great deal for WCC students.

According to studies by the Institute for Transportation Engineers and others, transit subsidies can reduce the number of people driving alone by anywhere between 1% to 20% depending on other factors.

Comment [3]

Community Success Strategy for the Ann Arbor Region

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 5. December 2008

At the City Council work session on Monday, Dec. 8, there will be a presentation on the “Community Success Strategy for the Ann Arbor Region” working document (pdf, power point").

The core vision of this effort is “The Ann Arbor Region is the place where world changing innovation happens!”

They propose 3 strategies to develop that vision:

  • Develop, attract and retain the best and brightest minds
  • Execute innovative ideas
  • Government, business, not-for-profit and education work together to achieve success

And each of these strategies has a long wish lists of tactics, from mentoring programs to transit to developing young professionals networks.

What do you think of this effort? Do you think they’re on the right track? Do you think anything will come of it?

Comment [19]

Midnight Madness Downtown: December 5

Posted by Juliew on 5. December 2008

This Friday night (December 5) is “Midnight Madness” downtown. Put on your warm clothes (or buy some), skip out on going to the gym and walk your way around downtown. Shopping downtown is more fun than going to the mall and a lot more picturesque. Stores will be open late and almost all are having sales. The medical students from the Galens Society will be collecting money for services for children at Mott Hospital so make sure to get your tag.

Start on Ashley Street (don’t forget to mail your letter to Santa), then head to Main Street, wander up toward Kerrytown along Fourth Avenue (no whining, you can do it, it really isn’t far at all from Main Street). Walk back down along Liberty Street toward State Street. If you are cold, stop in to Sams on Liberty and buy some mittens, a hat, long underwear, or some warm socks. On your way, stop at LeDog for dinner. State Street is worth it and you don’t want to forget Bivouac, Van Bovens, Moes, and the Arcade shops!

Now granted, this might be a lot for one night, but don’t despair, most of these stores are having sales all weekend in addition to the Friday night festivities. For instance, Downtown Home and Garden is having a sale on Christmas trees on Friday and their big Christmas Party on Saturday and Van Boven’s sale is going all weekend.

See you downtown!

Comment [2]

United Way discontinues Michigan Comnet

Posted by Murph on 4. December 2008

Michigan Comnet logo

An anguished cry arose from area non-profit job seekers this week, as visits to Michigan Comnet, Southeast Michigan’s best (only) non-profit and public sector jobs posting site, found only a redirect to the United Way of Southeast Michigan, with the terse note:

Michigan Comnet was discontinued on November 30, 2008. Listed below are comparable resources for job seekers and employers.

“Comparable” resources apparently include detroit.craigslist.com and monster.com. The Michigan Non-Profit Association’s Classifieds appear more targeted, but are not free for job posters.

So far, I’ve not been able to find any explanation for Comnet’s demise, nor any comparable resource. Is anyone familiar with the situation?

Comment [4]

Horns for the Holidays - Musical Instrument Donation Program

Posted by Angela Martin-Barcelona on 3. December 2008

Wanted to pass along information about a unique holiday giving program:

December 1, 2008 – January 15, 2009
Horns for the Holidays was started 12 years ago by Ken Kozora as a program that allows for individuals to donate musical instruments to children throughout Washtenaw County who would otherwise not have access to an instrument to play. Qualified repair technicians will fix the donated instruments and music educators will identify children with strong interest who lack the financial resources to either rent or buy an instrument.

Horns for the Holidays is a program of the Arts Alliance, a 501©(3) non-profit organization. The program accepts musical instruments of any kind as well as financial donations to repair someone else’s donated instrument. All donations are tax deductible.

There are drop-off locations in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea and Manchester. For more information about this program and for a complete list of drop-off locations, visit www.a2artsalliance.org.

Comment [2]

Downtown Library Project Suspended

Posted by Bruce Fields on 24. November 2008

From aadl.org:

This morning the Board of the Ann Arbor District Library voted unanimously to suspend work on the project to renovate, or tear down and rebuild, the Downtown Library at 5th and Division.

The Library’s 2004-2010 Strategic Plan called for this project, but with more bad economic news expected for Michigan, Board members agreed that continuing this project now would be inappropriate. The AADL will instead focus its attention on maintaining the Downtown Library.

Comment [12]

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