Extra! Extra! Read All About It

Thu, 03/15/2007 - 11:30am by Debbie G.

The March 2007 edition of Discovering Downtown, the City of Ann Arbor's newsletter is packed with updates from the Planning Department, the Historic Preservation folks, the DDA. If it's happening in downtown Tree Town, from paving to parking to public spaces, you'll read about it first in Discovering Downtown.

Officer Clayton Collins

Thu, 03/15/2007 - 9:34am by Debbie G.

The Ann Arbor Police Department's first African American police officer, Clayton James Collins, died February 8, 2007. Officer Collins served from 1950 - 1955 and then worked in several departments at the University of Michigan. His obituary appeared in the Ann Arbor News, March 14, 2007. To learn more about the AAPD, visit the Ann Arbor Police Department Online History Exhibit.

Casting Call for Canine Celebrities

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 9:18am by Debbie G.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is searching for the Official Celebrity Spokesdog for the Walk & Wag fundraiser to be held on Saturday May 19, 2007 at the Washtenaw County Farm Park. Your dog is definitely a contender if he/she is spayed or neutered, friendly to fellow animals and humans, and has that certain flair for the spotlight. Follow the links above for more info or call the HSHV at 662.5585.

The (Local) Home Improvement Show

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 4:42pm by Mazie

What a beautiful day! It makes me dream about working in the yard or tackling that kitchen remodeling project. And I have just the place to go for ideas.

The 2007 Builders Home & Improvement Show is happening this weekend March 16-18 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road.

There will be seven buildings filled with displays to inspire and entice the homeowner. Be there when it opens on Friday (3-9 pm) or check it out on Saturday (10-8) or Sunday (11-5).

Tickets are $5 for adults and available at the door. Children under 12 get in for free.

For more details you can go to the web site of the sponsoring Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County or call (734) 996-0100.

Ash Trees to Ash Floors

Tue, 03/13/2007 - 3:27pm by Debbie G.

Here's a great way to get acquainted with the online version of a premiere regional environmental news service, the Great Lakes Radio Consortium. You've heard the GLRC Environmental Reports on Michigan Radio but the web site offers audio, text and images. Read, listen and look at the story on the Ann Arbor District Library's initiative to use the dead ash trees cut down at the site of the new Northeast Branch for some of the structure of the building.

Mosaics @ the MRF

Mon, 03/05/2007 - 11:46am by Debbie G.

Create your own mosaic tile from found art, recycled glass and ceramic pieces at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) on Saturday, March 10th at 10 and 11 a.m. or Tuesday, March 13th at 3 and 4 p.m. Don’t forget to take a tour of the recycling operations while you’re there. The tile making and tours are free. Call 734-994-4722 for more information or to register groups of 5 or more.

A Bog, A Kettle, A Lake

Sun, 03/04/2007 - 4:17pm by Debbie G.

Washtenaw County Naturalist Extraordinaire Faye Stoner will lead a hike at Park Lyndon South's Lake Genevieve on Sunday, March 11, 2-4 p.m., exploring and explaining kettle lakes, bogs, fens and fauna. Meet Faye at the West Lot and wear boots and pants that can get wet.

Help Fight Plant Blight

Tue, 02/27/2007 - 4:10pm by Debbie G.

The Natural Area Preservation is holding a training session on Thursday, March 8, noon-5 p.m. for volunteers interested in assisting with the prescribed ecological burn program. Without prescribed fires, invasive plants gain a competitive edge, threatening the existence of native plants like upland boneset and oval ladies tresses.

Here Come the Sandwich Boards

Tue, 02/27/2007 - 3:14pm by Debbie G.

The Ann Arbor City Council has approved a pilot project to allow stand-alone sandwich boards within the DDA district beginning April 1, 2007. The Community Standards Unit monitors signs in public right of ways. To contact Community Standards with a comment or complaint you may either call (734) 994-1788, or e-mail CommunityStandards@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us.

Go Team Go!

Thu, 02/22/2007 - 4:23pm by Debbie G.

Let’s put the trees back in Tree Town. Join a Tree Team and help replant trees lost in Ann Arbor due to the emerald ash borer infestation. Volunteers interested in forming a neighborhood or school area Tree Team, please call Global ReLeaf at 800-642-7353 or visit their website to register a team.