Arbor Update

Arts

County-wide Artists' Census launches April 1

Posted by Angela Martin-Barcelona on 28. March 2008

How many artists live and work in Washtenaw County anyway? The Arts Alliance is launching a county-wide Artists’ Census on April 1 through May 17 to help try to answer just that question.

It’s easy to know how many arts organizations are in the county, but individual artists are often overlooked. Maybe your neighbor is a dancer, or your boss is an actor, or your waiter is a writer and you never knew it.

The census tabulations don’t provide an accurate count of the amount of artists we have in our county, or, for that matter our state. According to the Special Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabulations of Census 2000 there are 63,140 artist occupations (making up 1.28% of the total civilian labor force) in the entire state of Michigan. Nearly half (32,635) of the artist occupations are designers. Surprisingly, as per the census there are 265 actors in the entire state, followed by 5,015 musicians and singers, and only 955 dancers and choreographers.

It’s time for artists in our county to raise their hands and be counted!

All artists and creative-minded individuals – visual, performing and literary, no matter their age or training – are encouraged to take this 2-minute census available online at www.artscount.org. Hard-copy versions of the census will be located at public libraries and creative venues throughout the county.

Artists help make Washtenaw County such a vibrant and great place to live. This census will help build the visibility and credibility of the many artists in our community.

The census questions were developed by a team of area artists and arts administrators using models developed by The Arts Economy Initiative, Project on Regional and Industrial Economics, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and others. Results of the census will be tabulated and announced as part of the Arts Alliance’s cultural plan report in October 2008.

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Concentrate: A new online magazine about Ann Arbor

Posted by Nancy Shore on 27. March 2008

Want the latest news on what’s going on in Ann Arbor?

In addition to checking out the Ann Arbor News (and Arbor Update, of course), there’s now another place to find out what’s cookin’ in the A2.

It’s called Concentrate, brought to you by the folks who put together Metromode and Model D.

The first issue of Concentrate went online today. Feature articles include:

Investing in Vintage Ypsi

An article about Cristen McArdle Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

A video on the Film Fest

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Events

The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival

Posted by Juliew on 26. March 2008

The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival opened yesterday and runs through Sunday, March 30.

Absolute Michigan had a great feature article on the Festival last week.

The Festival organizers are working hard to make the Festival accessible and fun for everyone. There are now film categories (including Family Friendly), themed competition programs, musical presentations, film panels, and lots of other great events. It is one of the premier film festivals in the country so don’t miss out.

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Graduate Employees Organization gearing up to Strike Tuesday

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 24. March 2008

The UM Graduate Employees Organization is planning for a work stoppage on campus this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25 and 26.

The top issue is a living wage to meet the cost of attendance published by the university’s Office of Financial Aid, and health care is also on the table.

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Local

CITY OF ANN ARBOR ISSUES BOIL WATER NOTICE

Posted by Juliew on 23. March 2008

The boil water notice issued on March 22, 2008 for certain areas of the City of Ann Arbor is no longer in effect. The test results have shown that the water is safe. The residents in the affected area do not need to boil their water anymore.

March 22, 2008

The City of Ann Arbor had a water main break that depressurized a part of the distribution system. The City has issued a precautionary boil water notice for certain areas of the City.

The affected area is South of Stadium between Packard and Washtenaw, South of Washtenaw between Stadium and Manchester, East of Packard between Stadium and Colony, West of County Farm Park and West of Buhr Park. Additionally, Overridge East of Glenwood/Bedford.

As a precautionary measure, all residents in the affected area are advised to boil water that they will use for drinking or cooking. The water should be boiled for at least five minutes and allowed to cool in a covered container. Bottled water may be used as an alternative to boiling.

The City advises the residents to continue to use boiled or bottled water until further notice. Tests of the water have begun and results will be available within 48 hours. The boil water advisory will be lifted when safe results have been obtained from the tests.
Residents may use the water for showering, flushing toilets, and doing laundry. If using the dishwasher, use the heated cycle. If hand washing dishes, use hot water.

This is a precautionary advisory only. There is no indication that there was any contamination. Residents may call (734)994-2840 with questions.

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Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

Interesting Things Afoot in AATA Land

Posted by Nancy Shore on 21. March 2008

There were two articles about AATA in the Ann Arbor News today.

Article 1: Board member: AATA needs a ‘diet’.
AATA Board Member Ted Annis presents a Treasurer’s Report at the AATA Board Meeting. The report criticizes AATA for it’s service, funding, and more.

Article 2: Bus from Chelsea to start May 15.
An Indian Trails Commuter Bus from Chelsea to Ann Arbor will start on May 15 (during Curb Your Car Month). Initially, the bus will run two times in the morning and two times in the afternoon. Preliminary price for a monthly pass is set at $125.

In other commuting news, Ann Arbor is now the proud owner of a Conference Bike. And a place to purchase one.

discuss . . .

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City Council

City Council: Unplugged

Posted by Juliew on 17. March 2008

Monday, March 17 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

NOTE: Due to CTN’s office move, this Council meeting will not be shown on TV Monday night. CTN said they expect to broadcast this meeting next Friday, March 21. The tentative start date is 7:30 pm.

Highlights:

• Resolution to Approve Liberty Place Condominiums Planned Project Site Plan.
• Resolution to approve the transfer of ownership and location of a 2007 Class C Liquor license from Sze-Chaun on W. Stadium to Ayse’s Cafe on Plymouth Road.
• Chicken ordinance!
• Resolution to request Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners negotiate with City for Courthouse Lease Extension for 15th District Court.
• Resolution to restart the 2008 Sidewalk Improvement Program (added after newspaper deadline).
• Resolution appointing Golf Courses Advisory Task Force Members (added after newspaper deadline).
• Resolution to approve an extension to the agreement with Village Green Residential Properties LLC (First and Washington site).

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Regional

Ann Arbor's first day of spring: Council races begin

Posted by Murph on 16. March 2008

It appears to be that time of the year again, when local candidates start lining up for the August joust.

According to the Ann Arbor News, three candidates have signed up to run for Mayor Pro Tem Chris Easthope’s Council seat, as he seeks a district court position:

• Carsten Hohnke, of business process consulting firm West Pole and Vie Fitness and Spa;
• Vivienne Armentrout, former Washtenaw County Commissioner and former Chair of the Washtenaw County Planning Advisory Board, along with freelance journalist for the Observer and elsewhere, and occasional ArborUpdate commenter; and
• Roger Kerson, UAW public relations director.

Council seats currently held by Ron Suarez (D-1st), Joan Lowenstein (D-2nd), Stephen Kunselman (D-3rd), and Margie Teall (D-4th) are also up for election this year.

Mayor John Hieftje (see also previous campaign site) will be challenged in the August Democratic primary by last cycle’s write-in candidate Tom Wall, who appears to be the first candidate with a campaign site for the year. The winner will be challenged by Eric Plourde, a sophomore PoliSci student at Michigan running as a Libertarian.

The news notes that all eleven Washtenaw County Commission seats are up for election this year, but I don’t know of any competitions yet. Three Ypsilanti City Council seats are up for election, also without any competition yet. The Ypsilanti Township Supervisor’s race, however, already has four potential candidates, including incumbent Supervisor Ruth Ann Jamnick, Washtenaw County Commission Karen Lovejoy Roe, Township Clerk Brenda Stumbo, and Township Trustee Dave Ostrowski.

The deadline to file for the August primary election is May 13, still two months away.

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Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

AATA Seeks Input on Service Changes

Posted by Nancy Shore on 12. March 2008

The AATA announced a list of service changes that it is proposing for the fall. You can view the list of changes here

AATA has this to say about the proposed changes:

“Overall, the proposed changes are designed to add service during morning and afternoon peak hours, and improve on-time performance on routes where this has been a problem, including the 4, 1U and 12U routes. The proposed changes would improve service to the Miller Road Park & Ride lot and add service to the new Skyline High School.”

Some other highlights of the changes:

• Route 4: Buses from UM Medical Center from Arborland would operate all year round and would add another bus to this service.

• Route 4: Buses from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor wouldn’t pull into Manchester.

• Route 7: A 10:45pm trip from the downtown to the Pioneer High Park and Ride would be added to this route.

• Route 12UL: This route would be eliminated and replaced with more frequent service on the #8.

• Route 8: Frequency would increase to every 15 minutes.

• 12UM: Increase service to Miller Road Park and Ride Lot and service to Skyline High.

• Route 13 and 14: Midday service would be eliminated

There are many ways for you to comment on these changes:

1) By computer: Comment or ask questions by email to aatainfo@theride.org (put “Service Changes” in subject line).

2) By phone: Call the service change hotline at 734.677.3934.

3) By fax: To 734.973.6338 (put “Service Changes” in subject line).

4) By mail: AATA Service Changes, 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

5) At public information meetings:
AATA staff will be in attendance to answer questions and discuss the proposed changes. Reasonable accommodation to permit persons with disabilities to participate will be made if requested at least two days in advance.

The Public Info meetings are listed in the link above and start on March 25th.

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Local

Michigan Daily: "Policy could ban hot dog vendors"

Posted by Bruce Fields on 11. March 2008

From The Michigan Daily:

By the end of this month, the city of Ann Arbor will begin enforcing an ordinance that prohibits parking vehicles on public sidewalks. Though the policy may seem mundane, it could spell doom for longtime campus staples like hot dog vendors and other sidewalk snack shacks.

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