Arbor Update

Local

Free Fare Friday

Posted by Juliew on 25. May 2007

Comment [1]

City Council

City Council: Budgets

Posted by Juliew on 21. May 2007

Monday, May 21 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Zion Lutheran Church site plan
• Rezoning of 8.06 undeveloped acres on Burton Road (off Packard) from R1C (Single-Family Dwelling District) to R4B (Multiple-Family Dwelling District) in order to build a 120 unit apartment building
• Resolution to Adopt Ann Arbor City Budget and Related Property Tax Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2008
• Several fee adjustment resolutions
• Resolution to Approve Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Quinn Evans|Architects for the Planning and Design of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center ($833,350.00)

Comment [13]

Local

Agrarians, Hootenannies, and Tomes Galore

Posted by Juliew on 18. May 2007

There are some interesting events going on this weekend.

The Agrarian Adventure program hosts the Agrarian Adventure Spring Festival, A Community Celebration! tonight (Friday, May 18) from 6-8pm at Tappan School. This spring festival “highlights vibrant local efforts to cultivate and prepare school-grown, home-grown, community-grown, and locally-farmed foods.” Free and open to the public, plus there is a great raffle.

Also tonight is Avalon Housing’s Hometown Hootenanny fundraiser and auction at Downtown Home and Garden from 8:00pm to midnight. Lots of music and beer from Arbor Brewing. Tickets are $15 and there is a cash bar. Avalon Housing is a great local organization dedicated to actually providing housing in Ann Arbor for the very low income. If you don’t know about them, you should, because they do a great job.

Don’t forget the Ann Arbor Book Festival is going on now. There is a lot on the schedule for this weekend, including the always fun Street Festival and lots of events for kids.

Comment [1]

Environment

Town Hall Meeting for Our Energy Future!

Posted by MarkDilley on 9. May 2007

• Wednesday, May 16
• 6:30 p.m.
• St. Paul United Church of Christ
• 24159 Goddard Road
• Taylor, Michigan

The Ecology Center is sponsoring this town hall meeting to address the challenges of oil dependancy and global warming with solutions that begin right here in Michigan. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain new perspectives, ideas and a path forward!

Panelists representing a unique cross-section of perspectives include:

• Reverend Dr. Bob Edgar, National Council of Churches
• R. James Woolsey, Former Director of the CIA
• Lana Pollack, Michigan Environmental Council
• Michigan Senator Raymond E. Basham, District 8

The event will be moderated by Dr. Orin Gelderloos, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Michigan.

More information can be found online at Re-engergizeAmerica.org

City Council

City Council: Zaragon Place

Posted by Juliew on 7. May 2007

Monday, May 7 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Historic District Commission Historic Preservation Awards
• The first public Council hearing for Zaragon Place
• Easy Street Sidewalk Project
• Farmer’s Market Renovation
• Public hearings on fee adjustments (increases and decreases) for several city services for 2007-2008
• Public hearing on Budget recommendations and property tax millage rates

Comment [1]

Campus

Highest U salary shoots $500k higher

Posted by Murph on 5. May 2007

Dr. Robert Kelch, the UMich Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs (UMHS and hospital) currently received the highest base salary at the University – $656,910, plus a $500,000 after-tax bonus if he stays with the U through 2008. But apparently that’s not enough – the Regents have approved an additional $500,000 after-tax bonus for Kelch to stay on through 2009 – effectively boosting his 2009 salary to the range of $1.2 million, plus whatever the taxes on $500k are.

What was the competing offer that required a $1.5 million salary to keep Kelch on?

At a regular faculty meeting Monday, Coleman said keeping Kelch for an extra year was an important priority for her. “I had to beg and plead for him to stay one more year,’‘ she said. “He’s looking forward to his retirement with his grandchildren.’‘

Not bad work, if you can get it.

Comment [12]

Local

Living it up on Main Street

Posted by Juliew on 5. May 2007

Tonight, Friday May 4, is “Moonlight Delight” (formerly Midnight Madness) on Main Street with stores open late, sales, and strolling artists (including swordfighting fairies!).

Saturday is free comic book day at Vault of Midnight on Main Street so stop by and help celebrate. As part of the festivities, Vault of Midnight will be giving out free Superman ice cream provided by the Washtenaw Dairy.

Also on Saturday is the first Living it up Downtown tour of downtown lofts from 1:00-5:00pm. See what it is like to live in LoFT 322, Liberty Lofts, or above Arbor Brewing, Vinology, or Suwanee Springs.

National

Local Totter Accommodates Former President

Posted by Dale Winling on 2. May 2007

Frequent commenter Homeless Dave enticed former President and U-M’s 2007 commencement speaker Bill Clinton onto some backyard playground equipment this past weekend while Clinton was in town for graduation.

Highlights include:

BC: Yeah, paws! Raaaahr, I’m a polar bear!!

Comment [15]

Local

Curb Your Car Month 2007

Posted by Juliew on 2. May 2007

Erica Briggs says:

What if you could conserve energy, improve air quality, help prevent global warming, improve your health, and save money with one simple action? Would you do it?

May 1 kicks off the getDowntown Program’s 3rd annual Curb Your Car Month. This month long campaign is focused on raising awareness about sustainable transportation options. There are 20+ events during the month ranging from a month-long Commuter Challenge between Ann Arbor businesses/organizations (you can sign-up anytime in May) to historical walking tours and urban cycling skills clinics. AATA is even offering a Ride Free Day on Friday, May 25! For more information about Curb Your Car Month and to sign-up your workplace for the Commuter Challenge, visit www.getdowntown.org.

If you live or work in Ypsilanti, you’ll also want to check out the great line up of events for Get Active Ypsi Month at www.getactiveypsi.org

Environment

Victory Gardens coming soon to your area

Posted by Murph on 30. April 2007

Ypsilanti blogger Mark Maynard and local community gardening non-profit Growing Hope are in the brainstorming stages of launching a new Victory Garden project in the area. From Mark’s post on the topic:

I started wondering whether or not it might be feasible to kick off a national campaign around the new Victory Garden, focusing on, instead of war, the fuel consumed in shipping produce from Honduras and hauling it from Mexico, and what it costs us, environmentally speaking. “Victory Gardens against Global Warming,” has a nice ring to it, I think. (I suspect there are a lot of people out there, like me, who are looking for real, tangible ways to join in the fight against global warming, and it would be great to give them something to do.)

The “product” of this initiative is envisioned as a clearinghouse for information and supplies in support of Michigan gardens for world change, but the final form and content are yet to be determined. The coordinators have called a planning meeting for this Thursday, May 3, 7pm at the Corner Brewery (720 Norris St., just north of Depot Town).

Comment [3]