Pittsfield Parks struggle to keep up with growth
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Pittsfield Township, Michigan—Whether you’re 2 or 102, plentiful parks, exercise classes and strong family-based programs are important to any community, says Dan Cooperrider.
The director of the township’s Parks and Recreation Department says the township is no exception.
With plans to expand and improve several parks and park buildings in the township, Coopperrider said he and others have seen Pittsfield Township transformed to a bustling growing community from the semi-rural area Coopperrider saw when he came on board as director in 1985.
The biggest challenge as director, Coopperrider said, is keeping up with the growth and development of the community.
“It’s an exciting time to be able to … purchase land and provide recreational facilities on that land that the community will enjoy for a long, long time,” he said.
Coopperrider said one of the Parks and Recreation departments’ priorities is to expand and improve parklands in the area.
A millage, passed in 1996, will spread taxpayer’ dollars for park projects over a 10-year period. Coopperrider said estimated revenue from the millage will be close to $5 million.
“At this time, we do have sufficient funds for the parks department to make land acquisitions and parks development,” said Pittsfield Township Douglas Woolley.
The upcoming year, said Woolley, will show a lot of movement in the parks area.
“The residents of Pittsfield Township have—by the fact that they approved a parks and recreation millage for Pittsfield Township—shown how much the community wants to have parks and open space and recreational facilities they can have as their own,” Coopperrider said.
These are some of the ongoing projects of the Pittsfield Township Parks and Recreation Department:
Ø The expansion of Lillie Park on the southeast corner of Platt and Ellsworth roads. Now a 102-acre park with a 30-space parking lot, the park boasts two miles of nature trails, an observation point, a fishing deck and a pavilion. Benches and bird feeders houses were recently added.
Ø Pittsfield Township Park, 701 W. Ellsworth Road at State Street, has a new pavilion and bathroom facility. In cooperation with the Ann Arbor/Briarwood Rotary Club, the park’s pavilion is known as the Rotary Pavillion.
Ø A new playground center is being built at Montibeller Park, 4305 E. Ellsworth Road east of Carpenter Road. Bathroom facilities at the park were also recently renovated.
Ø 39 acres of land was donated last year to Pittsfield Township’s Parks and Recreation Department for a few park. The planned park will be located on Thomas Road.
Future plans may include a new community center that could be located on one of the future parkland sites.
Other smaller improvements in the planning stages include a recreation/day/camp/ski building in Montibeller Park, Coopperrider said.
He also said the department may upgrade the maintenance facility there.
The department also has three pending grant applications to the Department of Natural Resources, two for parklands property acquisition and one for the continued development of Lillie Park, Coopperrider said.
“We owe it to the residents to find these pieces of property to establish parks in areas and improve township parks,” Coopperrider said.
Photo Caption: Dan Coopperrider, director of Pittsfield Township’s Parks and Recreation Department looks over a new playground structure just installed at Montibeller Park.
Photo Credit: Alan Warren
Originally published Friday, December 17, 1999
Friday, December 17, 1999
Friday, December 10, 1999
Hold Your Holsters, Annie Is Coming
Hold Your Holsters, Annie Is Coming
Musical Starts today at the Tecumseh Civic Auditorium
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Backstage, clothes are strewn all over. Little bodies are jumping into their 19th century costumes with the help of parent-volunteers. In between scenes, students scramble to buy tickets for relatives.
And in the middle of it all, “the Annie Get Your Gun” director casts members orchestrating the group scenes and ironing out last-minute glitches with the sound or light crew.
In other words, it’s rehearsal week for Tecumseh Youth Theatre’s first production of the season.
Leah Coon, a senior at Sand Creek High School, plays Annie Oakley. Brian Hissong, a senior at Adrian High School, plays Frank Butler.
The Tecumseh Theatre play is a love story, a western and a musical all rolled into one.
Tecumseh Youth Theatre president Sandra Spickard Prettyman said the nonprofit theatre group, which boasts hundreds of actors, singers, musicians and adult-volunteers, aims to bring the arts to the widest audience as possible.
“I’m nervous until I get onstage,” Coon said. It’s her first leading role, Coon said. “It’s very exciting,” she said. And the best thing about the play, Coon said, is getting to know everyone, especially the younger kids.
“I’m a little nervous about the play, but I think I’ll do fine,” said Laurel Steele, 11, of Tecumseh Middle School. Stelle Sings and acts in the children’s troupe in the play.
In “Annie Get Your Gun,” Annie is a young woman from the backwoods of Ohio who taught herself to shoot while hunting birds. But sharpshooter flirt Frank who tours from town to town knows he’s the best, Spickard Prettyman said.
The play is loosely backed on a true person Phoebe Ann Mosey who lived from 1860 until 1914.
The two meet at a town hotel. But in a target-shoot set up by Buffalo Bill and the hotel proprietor, Frank and Annie end up in a heated contest—and Annie wins. Buffalo Bill, played by Ryan Buehler, and Foster Wilson, played by Nikolas Willson, are both Tecumseh seniors.
Director Terry Hissong isn’t planning on sitting still to watch his son play Frank, the co-lead in “Annie.” As past director of dozens of youth plays, the Springbrook Middle School history teacher said the usual gnawing feeling he gets in the pit of his stomach makes him too nervous to sit in one spot.
But on the week of opening night, a director has to let go and let the actors show what they can do.
“They either have it or they don’t” Hissong said raising both of his hands in the air.
“There area tremendous number of pieces that have to fit together. We’re trying to get a sense of continuity: That’s the challenge,” he said.
With his eyes glued to the actors onstage, Hissong half walks, half runs down Tecumseh’s Civic Auditorium’s aisle one recent rehearsal night to exchange a word with one of the other adult volunteers.
The two-hour, 15-minute play was picked up by the Tecumseh Youth Theatre committee to include as many people as possible, Hissong said. The story line, which brings in aspects of small-town life and a version of Sioux tribal culture, aims to provide a window to the past for both the actors and the audience.
After the contest where Frank has his ego bruised, Sandra Spickard Prettyman said, Annie and Frank start working together—but an enamored Annie agrees to work as Frank’s partner-assistant in the traveling show. With Frank feeling slighted at some spectacular shooting trick Annie does, the two have a falling out—for the first time.
“They get together; they split apart; they get together; they split apart; they get together,” Sandra Spickard Prettyman said summing the couple’s path down the road of love.
At the back of the auditorium, Brian Hissong rests his head against a chair. His final year of high school has been smooth, he said, and he plans to enroll in a drama program next year. But the weekly 12-20 hours of rehearsal since October has taken its toll on the cast.
Emily Spickard Prettyman, a 9th grader at Tecumseh High School, plays Annie’s younger sister, Jessie. She said for her and good friend Meg Wilson, juggling work and rehearsal time is tough.
“We walk around like zombies. We start rehearsing in the beginning of October,” she said.
“… It’s been long and tiring but it’s still fun,” Prettyman said.
Director Terry Hissong said the cast has improved a lot from Monday night when the troupe went through its first full-run.
“And my stomach isn’t quite as knotted, he said.
Friday, December 10, 1999
Musical Starts today at the Tecumseh Civic Auditorium
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Backstage, clothes are strewn all over. Little bodies are jumping into their 19th century costumes with the help of parent-volunteers. In between scenes, students scramble to buy tickets for relatives.
And in the middle of it all, “the Annie Get Your Gun” director casts members orchestrating the group scenes and ironing out last-minute glitches with the sound or light crew.
In other words, it’s rehearsal week for Tecumseh Youth Theatre’s first production of the season.
Leah Coon, a senior at Sand Creek High School, plays Annie Oakley. Brian Hissong, a senior at Adrian High School, plays Frank Butler.
The Tecumseh Theatre play is a love story, a western and a musical all rolled into one.
Tecumseh Youth Theatre president Sandra Spickard Prettyman said the nonprofit theatre group, which boasts hundreds of actors, singers, musicians and adult-volunteers, aims to bring the arts to the widest audience as possible.
“I’m nervous until I get onstage,” Coon said. It’s her first leading role, Coon said. “It’s very exciting,” she said. And the best thing about the play, Coon said, is getting to know everyone, especially the younger kids.
“I’m a little nervous about the play, but I think I’ll do fine,” said Laurel Steele, 11, of Tecumseh Middle School. Stelle Sings and acts in the children’s troupe in the play.
In “Annie Get Your Gun,” Annie is a young woman from the backwoods of Ohio who taught herself to shoot while hunting birds. But sharpshooter flirt Frank who tours from town to town knows he’s the best, Spickard Prettyman said.
The play is loosely backed on a true person Phoebe Ann Mosey who lived from 1860 until 1914.
The two meet at a town hotel. But in a target-shoot set up by Buffalo Bill and the hotel proprietor, Frank and Annie end up in a heated contest—and Annie wins. Buffalo Bill, played by Ryan Buehler, and Foster Wilson, played by Nikolas Willson, are both Tecumseh seniors.
Director Terry Hissong isn’t planning on sitting still to watch his son play Frank, the co-lead in “Annie.” As past director of dozens of youth plays, the Springbrook Middle School history teacher said the usual gnawing feeling he gets in the pit of his stomach makes him too nervous to sit in one spot.
But on the week of opening night, a director has to let go and let the actors show what they can do.
“They either have it or they don’t” Hissong said raising both of his hands in the air.
“There area tremendous number of pieces that have to fit together. We’re trying to get a sense of continuity: That’s the challenge,” he said.
With his eyes glued to the actors onstage, Hissong half walks, half runs down Tecumseh’s Civic Auditorium’s aisle one recent rehearsal night to exchange a word with one of the other adult volunteers.
The two-hour, 15-minute play was picked up by the Tecumseh Youth Theatre committee to include as many people as possible, Hissong said. The story line, which brings in aspects of small-town life and a version of Sioux tribal culture, aims to provide a window to the past for both the actors and the audience.
After the contest where Frank has his ego bruised, Sandra Spickard Prettyman said, Annie and Frank start working together—but an enamored Annie agrees to work as Frank’s partner-assistant in the traveling show. With Frank feeling slighted at some spectacular shooting trick Annie does, the two have a falling out—for the first time.
“They get together; they split apart; they get together; they split apart; they get together,” Sandra Spickard Prettyman said summing the couple’s path down the road of love.
At the back of the auditorium, Brian Hissong rests his head against a chair. His final year of high school has been smooth, he said, and he plans to enroll in a drama program next year. But the weekly 12-20 hours of rehearsal since October has taken its toll on the cast.
Emily Spickard Prettyman, a 9th grader at Tecumseh High School, plays Annie’s younger sister, Jessie. She said for her and good friend Meg Wilson, juggling work and rehearsal time is tough.
“We walk around like zombies. We start rehearsing in the beginning of October,” she said.
“… It’s been long and tiring but it’s still fun,” Prettyman said.
Director Terry Hissong said the cast has improved a lot from Monday night when the troupe went through its first full-run.
“And my stomach isn’t quite as knotted, he said.
Friday, December 10, 1999
Monday, November 29, 1999
Christmas Spirit has city singing
Christmas Spirit has city singing
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Special guests add talents to 25th annual ‘Christmas Sing.’
Michael Rudy remembers growing up in a New York-area orphanage in the later 1940s and 1950s, when each year the Kiwanis and other community groups made Christmas special.
Now Rudy, the newly elected Western Kiwanis Club president, is giving back to his community in the same way.
More than 1,200 parents and children packed into the Michigan Theater, anticipating the chance to sing traditional Christmas carols like “Silent Night,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells,” Kiwanis members said.
Performances including the comedy/singing group Three Men and a Tenor, and sing-along time was led by Kiwanis members Jeff Crause and Charlie Phibbs. Also leading the group was Jacqui Colston, this year’s Miss Washtenaw County a University of Michigan junior.
During the event, Lucy Ann Lance of Kool 107 FM walked around the auditorium with a microphone, giving children a chance to spotlight their talent and tell the crowd their name, the school they attend and what they’re hoping for this Christmas.
One science-lover said that he just wanted anything to do with electricity. Pokemon was also a big hit. And one girl shared that since the family dog ran away, she was hoping for a new pet Dec. 25.
But most of all, children anxiously awaited the start of the show-Santa, who made a special visit in downtown Ann Arbor.
After Santa’s arrival on the stage, children got to sit on his lap and each received a candy canee.
“It’s a family activity and there’s not a lot of family activities of this nature,” said Jim Szumko, past president of Kiwanis and current member.
“The kids can squirm and talk and sing,” he said of the free event.
Rudy said the Kiwanis tries to put the children in the spotlight and leave them with good memories. During the pre-show Christmas trimming and while singing all the songs many know by heart, people really began to get into the spirit of the season, group members said.
“This is a community tradition,” said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, who read “The night Before Christmas” at the event.
“To get grandmas and grandpas; sons and daughters and babies all together is wonderful.”
Four generations of her own family were also present,” Sheldon said.
Outside the theater, children were anxious to get The Three Men and a Tenor’s picture or to go home and write out a Christmas list. A few were humming their favorite songs.
“It was good. I liked ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ mostly,” said Zach Brooks, 9, of Ann Arbor.
“I sort of liked everything,” said Megan Chu, 6, who hails from Boulder, Colo. Mgan came with her sister, Kristina, 4, and her dad, Jeff Chu, who grew up in Ann Arbor.
Anthony and Michelle Garcia, 6-year-old twins, have been coming to the Christmas sing for five years.
“I liked ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ Anthony Garcia said.
Anne Garcia, their mother and an Ann Arbor resident, said she looks forward to the Christmas Sing each year.
“It is special because I see people from all over Ann Arbor--people from (my children’s soccer and basketball teams, church. It makes it fun,” she said.
Garcia added that the event is not just for people of one religion, but that anyone can enjoy the songs and the community spirit.
That was echoed by the Kiwanis members.
I just want the Ann Arbor community to know that we’re sp happy they bring the children to this event” Rudy said.
“We’re just delighted that they would help us to keep the special holiday (spirit) alive.”
Photo Caption: Eighteen-month-old Charlie Bassett-Kennedy of Ann Arbor checks out the decorations on a Christmas tree in the lobby of Michigan Theater Sunday afternoon. The tree was decorated to visitors to the 25th Annual Western Kiwanis Christmas Sing.
Photo Caption Two: Jacqui Colston, Miss Washtenaw County 1999, leads the audience in one of the songs Sunday during the 25th Annual western Kiwanis Christmas Sing at Michigan Theater.
Photo Credit: Elli Gurfinkel
Originally published Monday, November 29, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Special guests add talents to 25th annual ‘Christmas Sing.’
Michael Rudy remembers growing up in a New York-area orphanage in the later 1940s and 1950s, when each year the Kiwanis and other community groups made Christmas special.
Now Rudy, the newly elected Western Kiwanis Club president, is giving back to his community in the same way.
More than 1,200 parents and children packed into the Michigan Theater, anticipating the chance to sing traditional Christmas carols like “Silent Night,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells,” Kiwanis members said.
Performances including the comedy/singing group Three Men and a Tenor, and sing-along time was led by Kiwanis members Jeff Crause and Charlie Phibbs. Also leading the group was Jacqui Colston, this year’s Miss Washtenaw County a University of Michigan junior.
During the event, Lucy Ann Lance of Kool 107 FM walked around the auditorium with a microphone, giving children a chance to spotlight their talent and tell the crowd their name, the school they attend and what they’re hoping for this Christmas.
One science-lover said that he just wanted anything to do with electricity. Pokemon was also a big hit. And one girl shared that since the family dog ran away, she was hoping for a new pet Dec. 25.
But most of all, children anxiously awaited the start of the show-Santa, who made a special visit in downtown Ann Arbor.
After Santa’s arrival on the stage, children got to sit on his lap and each received a candy canee.
“It’s a family activity and there’s not a lot of family activities of this nature,” said Jim Szumko, past president of Kiwanis and current member.
“The kids can squirm and talk and sing,” he said of the free event.
Rudy said the Kiwanis tries to put the children in the spotlight and leave them with good memories. During the pre-show Christmas trimming and while singing all the songs many know by heart, people really began to get into the spirit of the season, group members said.
“This is a community tradition,” said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, who read “The night Before Christmas” at the event.
“To get grandmas and grandpas; sons and daughters and babies all together is wonderful.”
Four generations of her own family were also present,” Sheldon said.
Outside the theater, children were anxious to get The Three Men and a Tenor’s picture or to go home and write out a Christmas list. A few were humming their favorite songs.
“It was good. I liked ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ mostly,” said Zach Brooks, 9, of Ann Arbor.
“I sort of liked everything,” said Megan Chu, 6, who hails from Boulder, Colo. Mgan came with her sister, Kristina, 4, and her dad, Jeff Chu, who grew up in Ann Arbor.
Anthony and Michelle Garcia, 6-year-old twins, have been coming to the Christmas sing for five years.
“I liked ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ Anthony Garcia said.
Anne Garcia, their mother and an Ann Arbor resident, said she looks forward to the Christmas Sing each year.
“It is special because I see people from all over Ann Arbor--people from (my children’s soccer and basketball teams, church. It makes it fun,” she said.
Garcia added that the event is not just for people of one religion, but that anyone can enjoy the songs and the community spirit.
That was echoed by the Kiwanis members.
I just want the Ann Arbor community to know that we’re sp happy they bring the children to this event” Rudy said.
“We’re just delighted that they would help us to keep the special holiday (spirit) alive.”
Photo Caption: Eighteen-month-old Charlie Bassett-Kennedy of Ann Arbor checks out the decorations on a Christmas tree in the lobby of Michigan Theater Sunday afternoon. The tree was decorated to visitors to the 25th Annual Western Kiwanis Christmas Sing.
Photo Caption Two: Jacqui Colston, Miss Washtenaw County 1999, leads the audience in one of the songs Sunday during the 25th Annual western Kiwanis Christmas Sing at Michigan Theater.
Photo Credit: Elli Gurfinkel
Originally published Monday, November 29, 1999
Friday, November 26, 1999
Milan looks to restore old fire barn
Milan looks to restore old fire barn
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Milan, Michigan—The old, red brick Milan Fire Barn has served as the town prison, village office, public library, Jaycees headquarters and fire station. Many Milan community members, said Bonnie Jurgensen, president of the Milan Area Historical Society, have a father, uncle or grandfather who was a firefighter, or they recall meeting at the Fire Barn themselves.
When the City of Milan gave the Fire Barn to the Milan Area Historical Society in 1983, the community saw the building as a focal point for the city’s historic preservation efforts. But time had taken its toll.
Located at 153 E. Main St. in downtown Milan, the 112-year-old building in recent years had fallen into a state of disrepair, with damaged brick work and burst water pipes.
Currently the barn stands empty, save for the town’s antique 1938 red Ford fire truck.
But town residents are working to do something to make the building habitable for community use again.
Led by Jurgensen, the Milan Area Historical Society has been the driving force for the past four years to raise enough funds for a total restoration of the Fire Barn. The Old Milan Fire Barn Committee hopes to raise $236,000 to cover projected renovation costs.
A lifelong Milan resident, Jurgensen said the group has raised $60,000 for restoration so far. An architect who drew up a master restoration plan estimated total costs will top $200,000. So, committee members plan to raise the total amount—$236,000—by themselves.
The Fire Department did some construction work on the barn that ended up saving the group around $4,000-$5,000, Jurgensen said. But that amount, in addition to other donations, was still not nearly enough.
In the past year, board members started brainstorming for new ways to raise money, Board member Isabelle Schultz said.
Fund-raisers have not had much luck with corporations or larger grants, though.
“It’s been slow getting funding,” Jurgensen said.
The committee has planned a Saline Fiddler’s Philharmonic concert for January, and an all-town garage sale for May.
Barbara Gaines, a member of the Old Milan Fire Barn Restoration committee, said the group has started selling engraved bricks for the sidewalk near the building. The idea came from the success of similar brick pavers outside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor and elsewhere.
So far, Gaines estimated half of the pavers have been bought in memory of someone who has died. Others have bought brick pavers—at $75 a piece—to celebrate the birth of a child or a wedding anniversary.
Jurgensen said she can’t imagine Milan without the Fire Barn. She said she hopes to see a time soon when people can begin using it again.
“It would leave a big void if it wasn’t there,” she said.
For information on the Milan Fire Barn, call Bonnie Jurgensen at (734) 439-7522.
Originally published Friday, November 26, 1999
Photo Caption One: The Milan Fire Barn, built in 1887, was at one time used as a fire station, a prison and a community meeting place. Milan citizens are trying to restore it and hope it will one day be the home of the Milan Chamber of Commerce.
Photo Caption Two: Birds find a resting place near the cupola of the old Milan Fire Barn.
Photo Credit: Leisa Thompson
Wednesday, November 24, 1999
Free meals are their way of giving thanks
Free meals are their way of giving thanks
Campfire restaurant owners will give Thanksgiving dinners to seniors, needy
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Milan, Michigan—Mashed potatoes. Green beans. Rolls with butter. Turkey with gravy. And of course, a slice (or maybe two) of pumpkin pie. The road to a good Thanksgiving meal for many is just a quick trip to the supermarket or to a relative’s house. But others don’t have any place to go during the holidays.
This Thanksgiving, Campfire Family Steakhouse will once again open its doors offering a free meal for seniors, the homeless and others in need. Owned by George and Laurie Koukountzis, the steakhouse has offered perhaps thousands a good place to eat over the past 16 years.
George Koukountzis, 53, doesn’t really think Campfire’s Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal. Growing up in Greece, Koukountzis learned from his mother to always give and not expect much in return. For him, giving a free dinner every year is just the right thing to do.
Putting on an free Thanksgiving dinner, he said, is a way of paying his customers and the community back for supporting the restaurant.
According to Sandi Ellis, assistant manager at the restaurant, the community has given the Campfire staff a lot of positive feedback for the event. Each year, she said, the dinner becomes a bigger production since people spread the news by word of mouth.
It wasn’t easy, though, when Koukountzis began the dinner back in 1983. Now a longtime member of the Rotary and Kiwanis club in Milan, Koukountzis called every church and community organization he could think of that year.
“From Ypsilanti to Belleville to Saline to Tecumseh. We had to call all of those people to let them know there would be a Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
And with the help of pastors and community leaders, the first dinner attracted around 150 people. Now over 450 people come to Campfire Restaurant each year for a free
meal--and plenty of paying customers also come to enjoy the more elaborate Thanksgiving meal too. (It includes roast beef, ham and tossed salad with the basic turkey and potato dishes.)
Laurie Koukountzis said it’s nice seeing the same faces coming every year.
“It’s too sad to be home alone. At least they have a friendly waitress to make them smile and to make them feel special,” she said.
She said that Campfire has been ironing out the logistics of the dinner since Nov. 1 and always makes sure to have enough staff on board for the dinner.
George Koukountzis can’t see any reason not to have the Thanksgiving dinner in the years to come.
“I’m not going to stop now. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to do it.”
Originally published Wednesday, November 24, 1999
For more information about the Thursday dinner, call George or Laurie Koukountzis at (734) 439-8889. The dinner starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m. For shut-ins and others not able to make it to the restaurant, Campfire will prepare a free meal to go, but will not deliver. Please call in advance for meals to go. Campfire Family Steakhouse is on 1035 Dexter Road, Exit 27 off US-23
Photo Caption: George Koukountzis has been giving a free Thanksgiving meal for the last 16 years to seniors, homeless and others at his Campfire Family Steak House in Milan.
Campfire restaurant owners will give Thanksgiving dinners to seniors, needy
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Milan, Michigan—Mashed potatoes. Green beans. Rolls with butter. Turkey with gravy. And of course, a slice (or maybe two) of pumpkin pie. The road to a good Thanksgiving meal for many is just a quick trip to the supermarket or to a relative’s house. But others don’t have any place to go during the holidays.
This Thanksgiving, Campfire Family Steakhouse will once again open its doors offering a free meal for seniors, the homeless and others in need. Owned by George and Laurie Koukountzis, the steakhouse has offered perhaps thousands a good place to eat over the past 16 years.
George Koukountzis, 53, doesn’t really think Campfire’s Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal. Growing up in Greece, Koukountzis learned from his mother to always give and not expect much in return. For him, giving a free dinner every year is just the right thing to do.
Putting on an free Thanksgiving dinner, he said, is a way of paying his customers and the community back for supporting the restaurant.
According to Sandi Ellis, assistant manager at the restaurant, the community has given the Campfire staff a lot of positive feedback for the event. Each year, she said, the dinner becomes a bigger production since people spread the news by word of mouth.
It wasn’t easy, though, when Koukountzis began the dinner back in 1983. Now a longtime member of the Rotary and Kiwanis club in Milan, Koukountzis called every church and community organization he could think of that year.
“From Ypsilanti to Belleville to Saline to Tecumseh. We had to call all of those people to let them know there would be a Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
And with the help of pastors and community leaders, the first dinner attracted around 150 people. Now over 450 people come to Campfire Restaurant each year for a free
meal--and plenty of paying customers also come to enjoy the more elaborate Thanksgiving meal too. (It includes roast beef, ham and tossed salad with the basic turkey and potato dishes.)
Laurie Koukountzis said it’s nice seeing the same faces coming every year.
“It’s too sad to be home alone. At least they have a friendly waitress to make them smile and to make them feel special,” she said.
She said that Campfire has been ironing out the logistics of the dinner since Nov. 1 and always makes sure to have enough staff on board for the dinner.
George Koukountzis can’t see any reason not to have the Thanksgiving dinner in the years to come.
“I’m not going to stop now. As long as I’m alive, I’m going to do it.”
Originally published Wednesday, November 24, 1999
For more information about the Thursday dinner, call George or Laurie Koukountzis at (734) 439-8889. The dinner starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m. For shut-ins and others not able to make it to the restaurant, Campfire will prepare a free meal to go, but will not deliver. Please call in advance for meals to go. Campfire Family Steakhouse is on 1035 Dexter Road, Exit 27 off US-23
Photo Caption: George Koukountzis has been giving a free Thanksgiving meal for the last 16 years to seniors, homeless and others at his Campfire Family Steak House in Milan.
Tuesday, November 23, 1999
Building Model Unveiled
Building Model Unveiled
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
A miniature model of Tecumseh’s new high school was unveiled Monday at Herrick Elementary School.
Seeing the final three-dimensional model for the first time were residents, teachers and school board members, said Gary P. Jelin of TMP Architecture.
Jelin said the high school--slated to pen in 2001 at a cost of $35 million--will have light copper-colored brick and green glass windows.
The green tint was chosen, he said, to help control the heat level inside the school. When sunlight comes through green colored glass, it tends to filter out infrared light and ultimately retains the heat, Jelin said.
Since Tecumseh’s new high school will have full air-conditioning, the tinted windows were used to help the district save money on energy costs.
“We think it’s a prudent thing for the district. If we can save the district money, then they use the additional funds to put back in educational programs,” he said.
The architects also gave a virtual reality tour of the future school’s main corridor, showing carpet and tile samples to be used in the interior. The property has been cleared and the concrete base for the building has been poured, officials said.
The interior of the high school will have muted colors like light brown tile and gray carpeting, so that student artwork and trophies can be prominently displayed through the main corridor of the high school, Jelin said.
The new school will beat 760 Brown St., half a mile west of the current high school.
The firm also said they plan to build skylights on the roof so that specialty classrooms, like the applied technology and the three art studio classrooms, can benefit from extra sunlight.
Landscaping for the high school is in the final stages of planning, officials said. The school will have 600 parking spots--100 for staff on the north end of the school and 500 for students and visitors for extracurricular events on the south end, TMP representatives said.
Plans for school parking, said Eric R. Sassak, a TMP associate, were designed so that student buses will enter and exit on the north end of the school and student drivers will use the south entrance and exit.
The three-dimensional model should be available for public-viewing in two weeks.
“They’ve been very involved,” Jelin said of school officials. “They have given us input that was very helpful (such as) the fact that the community wanted some reference to the historic buildings in the district.
“I think they feel it’s a special building for Tecumseh.”
Originally published Tuesday, November 23, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
A miniature model of Tecumseh’s new high school was unveiled Monday at Herrick Elementary School.
Seeing the final three-dimensional model for the first time were residents, teachers and school board members, said Gary P. Jelin of TMP Architecture.
Jelin said the high school--slated to pen in 2001 at a cost of $35 million--will have light copper-colored brick and green glass windows.
The green tint was chosen, he said, to help control the heat level inside the school. When sunlight comes through green colored glass, it tends to filter out infrared light and ultimately retains the heat, Jelin said.
Since Tecumseh’s new high school will have full air-conditioning, the tinted windows were used to help the district save money on energy costs.
“We think it’s a prudent thing for the district. If we can save the district money, then they use the additional funds to put back in educational programs,” he said.
The architects also gave a virtual reality tour of the future school’s main corridor, showing carpet and tile samples to be used in the interior. The property has been cleared and the concrete base for the building has been poured, officials said.
The interior of the high school will have muted colors like light brown tile and gray carpeting, so that student artwork and trophies can be prominently displayed through the main corridor of the high school, Jelin said.
The new school will beat 760 Brown St., half a mile west of the current high school.
The firm also said they plan to build skylights on the roof so that specialty classrooms, like the applied technology and the three art studio classrooms, can benefit from extra sunlight.
Landscaping for the high school is in the final stages of planning, officials said. The school will have 600 parking spots--100 for staff on the north end of the school and 500 for students and visitors for extracurricular events on the south end, TMP representatives said.
Plans for school parking, said Eric R. Sassak, a TMP associate, were designed so that student buses will enter and exit on the north end of the school and student drivers will use the south entrance and exit.
The three-dimensional model should be available for public-viewing in two weeks.
“They’ve been very involved,” Jelin said of school officials. “They have given us input that was very helpful (such as) the fact that the community wanted some reference to the historic buildings in the district.
“I think they feel it’s a special building for Tecumseh.”
Originally published Tuesday, November 23, 1999
Monday, November 22, 1999
On the job learning/Teacher tries new techniques
On the job learning
Teacher tries new techniques
Milan educator not content to use the same old methods
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Milan, Michigan--Comfortable is one word to describe Mary Mehringer’s multiage classroom at Paddock Elementary in Milan. The TriMaP program, which stands for the triple multiage program, has 67 students in the three interconnected classrooms from the first through third grades.
Mehringer’s homeroom, which has 22 students, starts out a recent morning TriMaP class meetings with a hand-jive dance. And the class enjoys dancing to a variety of songs, including Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” which also happens to be the class’s motto.
At 9:25 a.m., the class begins with a brief version of Show and Tell; reads the highlights of what each student wants to share with the class.
Charlie said he’s lost his eighth tooth so far, after Mehringer asks for the tally. Eric shares that he went behind the scenes of his mother’s business. Maura said she did a back-flip off a trampoline. And it’s William’s birthday today.
A teaching veteran, Mehringer, 58, said she has taught in a multiage classroom for the past three years. She loves the new approach to teaching and watching students grow over the years--an opportunity she feels she never got when teaching students for just one year.
The curriculum is the same as other classrooms, including math, science, language arts, music and Spanish. But in TriMaP the students often have lessons a group. Mehringer will write different questions on the board--at different levels of difficulty--and then all will be given a chance to work out the questions.
Mehringer--the Milan School District’s longest serving teacher-- has taught in the district for 35 years. She’s not the kind of teacher who just pulls out an old planner every September with antiquated ideas and yellowed exercise sheets, said TriMaP teaching colleague Molly Jeppsen.
“She gets very annoyed with people who take the easy way out,” Jeppsen said, adding that Mehringer and others at Paddock make it a priority to learn about New Math or going to teaching workshops. Jeppsen said Mehringer could have retired by now, but chose not to--at least not yet.
And Mehringer also says she loves teaching at Paddock Elementary on Marvin Road, minutes away from downtown Milan. The best thing about teaching, Mehringer says, is that she tries to learn as much from the students as they learn from her.
Because of her determination and devotion to her kids, Mehringer didn’t even let breast cancer slow her down. After surgery Sept. 23, Mehringer was back in school full-time within seven weeks.
Back in 1963, some area school districts didn’t even really want Mehringer and others to fill out an application, she said. The lack of enthusiasm wasn’t because Mehringer, a University of Michigan graduate, wasn’t qualified or because she didn’t have student teaching experience.
At the time, Mehringer said, some school districts didn’t want women teachers with children under age 2 to teach for fear they would take too many sick days.
But Milan didn’t have the no-child rule.
Mehringer didn’t get the job right away. But after a teacher decided to retire mid-year, the Milan superintendent at the time called Mehringer back and brought her on board, and she finished up the school year teaching a fourth-grade class.
“I would never have found that I loved teaching like the way I do. I really feel fortunate that it all worked out,” she said.
When Mehringer first started out, though, she wouldn’t have even been able to imagine multiage teaching.
“When I came in all the kids were in the same reading group reading the same fourth-grade textbook,” she said.
Now her class is divided up into cooperative sub-groups with an equal mix of girls and boys, faster readers and slower readers and leaders together with those who sometimes have trouble paying attention, Mehringer said.
Thinking about her own mother, Rosalie Keelean, who taught in a one-room school house for years for off and on for nearly two decades in central Michigan, Mehringer sees some parallels to the kind of teaching she’s doing now.
“Parents come to know the teachers. Teachers come to know the children over the years,” she said noting that both had a family feel and a tightly-knit closeness.
As for retirement, Mehringer has been thinking of retiring at 65. But she may even follow in her mother’s footsteps, since Keelean continued teaching in Florida after her retirement.
“I’ve not finished everything I wanted to learn yet,” Mehringer said.
Originally published November 22, 1999
Photo Caption: Mary Mehringer, a teacher at Paddock Elementary School in Milan, helps first-grader Elizabeth Wysocki with her spelling during journal writing in her multi-age classroom.
On the left is second-grader Kerry Ashline and on the right, second-grade Patrick Chizek.
Photo Credit: Elli Gurfinkel
Teacher tries new techniques
Milan educator not content to use the same old methods
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Milan, Michigan--Comfortable is one word to describe Mary Mehringer’s multiage classroom at Paddock Elementary in Milan. The TriMaP program, which stands for the triple multiage program, has 67 students in the three interconnected classrooms from the first through third grades.
Mehringer’s homeroom, which has 22 students, starts out a recent morning TriMaP class meetings with a hand-jive dance. And the class enjoys dancing to a variety of songs, including Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” which also happens to be the class’s motto.
At 9:25 a.m., the class begins with a brief version of Show and Tell; reads the highlights of what each student wants to share with the class.
Charlie said he’s lost his eighth tooth so far, after Mehringer asks for the tally. Eric shares that he went behind the scenes of his mother’s business. Maura said she did a back-flip off a trampoline. And it’s William’s birthday today.
A teaching veteran, Mehringer, 58, said she has taught in a multiage classroom for the past three years. She loves the new approach to teaching and watching students grow over the years--an opportunity she feels she never got when teaching students for just one year.
The curriculum is the same as other classrooms, including math, science, language arts, music and Spanish. But in TriMaP the students often have lessons a group. Mehringer will write different questions on the board--at different levels of difficulty--and then all will be given a chance to work out the questions.
Mehringer--the Milan School District’s longest serving teacher-- has taught in the district for 35 years. She’s not the kind of teacher who just pulls out an old planner every September with antiquated ideas and yellowed exercise sheets, said TriMaP teaching colleague Molly Jeppsen.
“She gets very annoyed with people who take the easy way out,” Jeppsen said, adding that Mehringer and others at Paddock make it a priority to learn about New Math or going to teaching workshops. Jeppsen said Mehringer could have retired by now, but chose not to--at least not yet.
And Mehringer also says she loves teaching at Paddock Elementary on Marvin Road, minutes away from downtown Milan. The best thing about teaching, Mehringer says, is that she tries to learn as much from the students as they learn from her.
Because of her determination and devotion to her kids, Mehringer didn’t even let breast cancer slow her down. After surgery Sept. 23, Mehringer was back in school full-time within seven weeks.
Back in 1963, some area school districts didn’t even really want Mehringer and others to fill out an application, she said. The lack of enthusiasm wasn’t because Mehringer, a University of Michigan graduate, wasn’t qualified or because she didn’t have student teaching experience.
At the time, Mehringer said, some school districts didn’t want women teachers with children under age 2 to teach for fear they would take too many sick days.
But Milan didn’t have the no-child rule.
Mehringer didn’t get the job right away. But after a teacher decided to retire mid-year, the Milan superintendent at the time called Mehringer back and brought her on board, and she finished up the school year teaching a fourth-grade class.
“I would never have found that I loved teaching like the way I do. I really feel fortunate that it all worked out,” she said.
When Mehringer first started out, though, she wouldn’t have even been able to imagine multiage teaching.
“When I came in all the kids were in the same reading group reading the same fourth-grade textbook,” she said.
Now her class is divided up into cooperative sub-groups with an equal mix of girls and boys, faster readers and slower readers and leaders together with those who sometimes have trouble paying attention, Mehringer said.
Thinking about her own mother, Rosalie Keelean, who taught in a one-room school house for years for off and on for nearly two decades in central Michigan, Mehringer sees some parallels to the kind of teaching she’s doing now.
“Parents come to know the teachers. Teachers come to know the children over the years,” she said noting that both had a family feel and a tightly-knit closeness.
As for retirement, Mehringer has been thinking of retiring at 65. But she may even follow in her mother’s footsteps, since Keelean continued teaching in Florida after her retirement.
“I’ve not finished everything I wanted to learn yet,” Mehringer said.
Originally published November 22, 1999
Photo Caption: Mary Mehringer, a teacher at Paddock Elementary School in Milan, helps first-grader Elizabeth Wysocki with her spelling during journal writing in her multi-age classroom.
On the left is second-grader Kerry Ashline and on the right, second-grade Patrick Chizek.
Photo Credit: Elli Gurfinkel
Thursday, November 18, 1999
New Tecumseh school to relieve crowding
New Tecumseh school to relieve crowding
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Plans for Tecumseh’s new high school are well under way, with 100 percent of the property cleared, 90 percent of initial site work completed and construction bids presented to the school board last week, said Richard Fauble, new superintendent for the Tecumseh school district.
School officials say the current high school is bursting at its seams with 976 high school students. Adding to the crowding problem are 260 eight-graders housed at the high school building for some of their classes because of similar space concerns at Tecumseh Middle School.
Although teachers and administrators said the high school is coping with its present student population, many add the age of the facility and a rapidly growing community have pushed Tecumseh High School to its limits.
Rodney Jenkins, principal of Tecumseh High School, said the school would ideally be comfortable housing no more than 1,000 students.
“We are so overcrowded and I knew that is true of a lot of districts in the Ann Arbor area. Some of the our programs are limited because we don’t have room to do what we need to do,” said French teacher Jan Wilson, a 25-year veteran at Tecumseh High School.
With an expected opening date of August 2001, the new high school will have a planned capacity of 1,200 students.
The new facility will be at 760 Brown St., half a mile west of the current high school, district officials said.
At 208,000 square feet, the new high school will have two floors, 50 teaching stations and a submerged bottom level that will house the school gymnasium.
Along with the shift to a new building, Tecumseh High School will greet the first year of the millennium with two full student-access computer labs, a computer in each classroom and rommier classrooms for group projects, Jenkins said.
Art department director Ron Frenzen said plans have been made to enlarge or enchance the space for elective classes like art, band and gym.
For example, Frenzen said, art classes will take place in three classrooms in the new building up from two rooms at the current high school.
Rooms will be specialized Frenzen said. He said the new high school will house a clay and sculpture room, a two-dimension design and drawing room and a jewelry and photography room, in additino to an outdoor area for art projects.
“At the high school we are absolutely ecstatic to move to a facility that we regard as a palace. We e are very pleased that the community has been so favorable to support the high school endeavor,” Jenkins said.
Community residents such as James Elliott, 85, have been active in the new school project since 1998.
Elliott, who lives across the street from the former 90-acre cornfield site, at first opposed the idea. He didn’t like the thought of hearing hundreds of cars and dozens of buses going past his house each day.
But during a public meeting in Tecumseh in September of 1998, Tecumseh School District Business Manager Tom Emery asked Elliott to be part of a community committee for the new high school.
Elliott agreed. Now the Saginaw native and retired post office worker is an active committee member working closely with architects on design and landscaping plans.
“It involves a lot of community effort,” Elliott said.
The entire project is expected to cost $33 million dollars school officials said.
Tom Emery said taxpayers will balance the financial load for the next 21 years, making the length of the levy a total of 22 years.
Emery said a Tecumseh homeowner with a home worth of $100,00- dollars may pay up to $200 more on his or her annual taxes to fund the new school.
Emery noted the district must stay within the budget for the new high school. “The total cost can’t get bigger. With the bond issue, that’s all we have,” he said.
Looking ahead, the principal said school administrators have thought it essential to plan past the next five or ten years--especially since Tecumseh is one of many areas in Lenawee and Washtenaw countries that has rapidly expanded in recent years.
“The way our new building is built, we are prepared for even more growth,” Jenkins said.
Likening the new plan to a “giant Lego,” Jenkins said it would be easy to add an additional eight classrooms if students and teachers at the new high school face overcrowding concerns again.
Plans are being made for Tecumseh Middle School to shift over to Tecumseh’s current high school in 2001, relieving space concerns at that level.
Originally published Thursday, November 18, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Plans for Tecumseh’s new high school are well under way, with 100 percent of the property cleared, 90 percent of initial site work completed and construction bids presented to the school board last week, said Richard Fauble, new superintendent for the Tecumseh school district.
School officials say the current high school is bursting at its seams with 976 high school students. Adding to the crowding problem are 260 eight-graders housed at the high school building for some of their classes because of similar space concerns at Tecumseh Middle School.
Although teachers and administrators said the high school is coping with its present student population, many add the age of the facility and a rapidly growing community have pushed Tecumseh High School to its limits.
Rodney Jenkins, principal of Tecumseh High School, said the school would ideally be comfortable housing no more than 1,000 students.
“We are so overcrowded and I knew that is true of a lot of districts in the Ann Arbor area. Some of the our programs are limited because we don’t have room to do what we need to do,” said French teacher Jan Wilson, a 25-year veteran at Tecumseh High School.
With an expected opening date of August 2001, the new high school will have a planned capacity of 1,200 students.
The new facility will be at 760 Brown St., half a mile west of the current high school, district officials said.
At 208,000 square feet, the new high school will have two floors, 50 teaching stations and a submerged bottom level that will house the school gymnasium.
Along with the shift to a new building, Tecumseh High School will greet the first year of the millennium with two full student-access computer labs, a computer in each classroom and rommier classrooms for group projects, Jenkins said.
Art department director Ron Frenzen said plans have been made to enlarge or enchance the space for elective classes like art, band and gym.
For example, Frenzen said, art classes will take place in three classrooms in the new building up from two rooms at the current high school.
Rooms will be specialized Frenzen said. He said the new high school will house a clay and sculpture room, a two-dimension design and drawing room and a jewelry and photography room, in additino to an outdoor area for art projects.
“At the high school we are absolutely ecstatic to move to a facility that we regard as a palace. We e are very pleased that the community has been so favorable to support the high school endeavor,” Jenkins said.
Community residents such as James Elliott, 85, have been active in the new school project since 1998.
Elliott, who lives across the street from the former 90-acre cornfield site, at first opposed the idea. He didn’t like the thought of hearing hundreds of cars and dozens of buses going past his house each day.
But during a public meeting in Tecumseh in September of 1998, Tecumseh School District Business Manager Tom Emery asked Elliott to be part of a community committee for the new high school.
Elliott agreed. Now the Saginaw native and retired post office worker is an active committee member working closely with architects on design and landscaping plans.
“It involves a lot of community effort,” Elliott said.
The entire project is expected to cost $33 million dollars school officials said.
Tom Emery said taxpayers will balance the financial load for the next 21 years, making the length of the levy a total of 22 years.
Emery said a Tecumseh homeowner with a home worth of $100,00- dollars may pay up to $200 more on his or her annual taxes to fund the new school.
Emery noted the district must stay within the budget for the new high school. “The total cost can’t get bigger. With the bond issue, that’s all we have,” he said.
Looking ahead, the principal said school administrators have thought it essential to plan past the next five or ten years--especially since Tecumseh is one of many areas in Lenawee and Washtenaw countries that has rapidly expanded in recent years.
“The way our new building is built, we are prepared for even more growth,” Jenkins said.
Likening the new plan to a “giant Lego,” Jenkins said it would be easy to add an additional eight classrooms if students and teachers at the new high school face overcrowding concerns again.
Plans are being made for Tecumseh Middle School to shift over to Tecumseh’s current high school in 2001, relieving space concerns at that level.
Originally published Thursday, November 18, 1999
Monday, November 15, 1999
Electronic translator not needed for friendship
Electronic translator not needed for friendship
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Clinton family hosts Japanese student in exchange visit
It has been a whirlwind autumn for 13-year-old Steven Denuyl.
After being accepted to the Lenawee Intermediate School District’s Japanese Exchange program in late September, the Clinton Middle School seventh-grader and his family began plans for hosting a Japanese exchange student.
Junjii Matsuo, 14, from Moriyama, Japan, arrived in late October and stayed for a week with Steven’s family.
Despite the facto that Junji didn’t know much English and Steven doesn’t know Japanese, the two teens hit it off right away.
Armed with his electronic translator, Junji made green tea and miso soup for his host family after taking a day or two to bounce back from the 13-hour time difference. Steven and many of his five brothers and sisters have learned how to say thank you (arigato) in Japanese along with several other greetings.
Steven said he plans to really buckle down to study Japanese before his trip in next May, since he now has a better idea of the language barrier in Japan.
Described as being “kind and generous” by several Clinton Middle School teachers, Steven was one of the first Clinton students selected to be one of eight “ambassadors” for the program.
“He’s so concerned about making up for the work already,” said Ann Dunham, his English teacher.
Legally blind, Steven does not spend time feeling sorry for himself or feeling insecure, said Bridget Kelley, Steven’s mother, a part-time nurse for Saline Community Hospital.
Originally published Monday, November 1999
His condition is called Stargardt’s disease, a juvenile form of the untreatable macular degeneration, which Steven has had since the third grade.
Steven says having limited vision does get frustrating at times. But he can see well enough to read and write with a special pair of glasses. Steven’s central vision is most affected and the progressive effect is a roughly circular area of blindness. To read, Steven must hold a book as close as two-three inches away from his face. In school, teachers say, Steven goes up to the blackboard to take notes.
Junjii arrived at Clinton Oct. 26 and left Nov. 1. Bridget Kelley said the whole experience was better than what the family expected. She said the night Junji arrived, the family was surprised by the number of gifts Junji had brought.
“Half of his suitcase had food in it (to give away),” Bridget Kelley said.
“And the other half was filled with presents … I don’t know where he fit his clothes,” Steven said.
Described by the Kelleys’ as a friendly and polite boy, Junji loves playing games, making origami and—at least while in Clinton—eating super-sized McDonald’s meals. According to Junji, Bridget Kelley said, in Japan the largest size a person can order for French fries or a soda would only be considered a medium here in the United States.
“We’ve figured out that Junji is really a ham,” said Mike Kelley, Steven’s stepfather.
The Kelley-Denuyl family found explaining Halloween to Junji wasn’t an easy task. Junji liked the novel experience of trick-or-treating at different houses, but Mike Kelley said Junji kept on offering money in exchange for the candy to people at each door.
“They don’t celebrate Halloween in Japan, so it was a new thing for him,” Steven said.
The family also took their Japanese visitor to the haunted house at Wiard’s Orchads in Ypsilanti, Michigan Speedway in Brooklyn and to the Pighopper’s Farm in Clinton, where Junji saw farm animals for the first time.
Nina Howard, coordinator for Japanese programs for the Lenawee Intermediate School District, said Junji is thoroughly “a city boy,” like the other Japanese exchange students who are all from the same state.
The exchange group going to Japan next year will include other middle school students from participating towns in Lenawee County, including Adrian, Tecumseh and Hudson. All students will stay with the families of the students they hosted.
According to a bilingual tourist brochure given to each U.S. host family, Moriyama in Shiga Prefecture has grown in the past 20 years from a town of 35,000 to 60,000 people. The city is about a 60-minute train ride to Kyoto, Howard said.
Moriyama also is one of several cities in Shiga Prefecture to have a sister-city relationship with cities and towns in Michigan, including Adrian.
Steven and the other students were picked to participate in the program, said Howard, to learn more about cultural differences and to form relationships with people from other cultures.
“We’re looking for students who are curious and open to other cultures and students who will be good ambassadors to the U.S.,” Howard said.
Bridget Kelley said Steven has saved up $250 so far for the trip and they will be sure to give him plenty of film and presents for his trip to Japan next year—and an electronic translator just like Junji’s.
Photo Caption: Japanese exchange student Junji Matsuo, 13, left, stayed at the home of Clinton Middle School student Steven Denuyl, 13, in Clinton for a week. Steven will head to Junji’s hometown in May.
Originally Published Monday, November 15, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Clinton family hosts Japanese student in exchange visit
It has been a whirlwind autumn for 13-year-old Steven Denuyl.
After being accepted to the Lenawee Intermediate School District’s Japanese Exchange program in late September, the Clinton Middle School seventh-grader and his family began plans for hosting a Japanese exchange student.
Junjii Matsuo, 14, from Moriyama, Japan, arrived in late October and stayed for a week with Steven’s family.
Despite the facto that Junji didn’t know much English and Steven doesn’t know Japanese, the two teens hit it off right away.
Armed with his electronic translator, Junji made green tea and miso soup for his host family after taking a day or two to bounce back from the 13-hour time difference. Steven and many of his five brothers and sisters have learned how to say thank you (arigato) in Japanese along with several other greetings.
Steven said he plans to really buckle down to study Japanese before his trip in next May, since he now has a better idea of the language barrier in Japan.
Described as being “kind and generous” by several Clinton Middle School teachers, Steven was one of the first Clinton students selected to be one of eight “ambassadors” for the program.
“He’s so concerned about making up for the work already,” said Ann Dunham, his English teacher.
Legally blind, Steven does not spend time feeling sorry for himself or feeling insecure, said Bridget Kelley, Steven’s mother, a part-time nurse for Saline Community Hospital.
Originally published Monday, November 1999
His condition is called Stargardt’s disease, a juvenile form of the untreatable macular degeneration, which Steven has had since the third grade.
Steven says having limited vision does get frustrating at times. But he can see well enough to read and write with a special pair of glasses. Steven’s central vision is most affected and the progressive effect is a roughly circular area of blindness. To read, Steven must hold a book as close as two-three inches away from his face. In school, teachers say, Steven goes up to the blackboard to take notes.
Junjii arrived at Clinton Oct. 26 and left Nov. 1. Bridget Kelley said the whole experience was better than what the family expected. She said the night Junji arrived, the family was surprised by the number of gifts Junji had brought.
“Half of his suitcase had food in it (to give away),” Bridget Kelley said.
“And the other half was filled with presents … I don’t know where he fit his clothes,” Steven said.
Described by the Kelleys’ as a friendly and polite boy, Junji loves playing games, making origami and—at least while in Clinton—eating super-sized McDonald’s meals. According to Junji, Bridget Kelley said, in Japan the largest size a person can order for French fries or a soda would only be considered a medium here in the United States.
“We’ve figured out that Junji is really a ham,” said Mike Kelley, Steven’s stepfather.
The Kelley-Denuyl family found explaining Halloween to Junji wasn’t an easy task. Junji liked the novel experience of trick-or-treating at different houses, but Mike Kelley said Junji kept on offering money in exchange for the candy to people at each door.
“They don’t celebrate Halloween in Japan, so it was a new thing for him,” Steven said.
The family also took their Japanese visitor to the haunted house at Wiard’s Orchads in Ypsilanti, Michigan Speedway in Brooklyn and to the Pighopper’s Farm in Clinton, where Junji saw farm animals for the first time.
Nina Howard, coordinator for Japanese programs for the Lenawee Intermediate School District, said Junji is thoroughly “a city boy,” like the other Japanese exchange students who are all from the same state.
The exchange group going to Japan next year will include other middle school students from participating towns in Lenawee County, including Adrian, Tecumseh and Hudson. All students will stay with the families of the students they hosted.
According to a bilingual tourist brochure given to each U.S. host family, Moriyama in Shiga Prefecture has grown in the past 20 years from a town of 35,000 to 60,000 people. The city is about a 60-minute train ride to Kyoto, Howard said.
Moriyama also is one of several cities in Shiga Prefecture to have a sister-city relationship with cities and towns in Michigan, including Adrian.
Steven and the other students were picked to participate in the program, said Howard, to learn more about cultural differences and to form relationships with people from other cultures.
“We’re looking for students who are curious and open to other cultures and students who will be good ambassadors to the U.S.,” Howard said.
Bridget Kelley said Steven has saved up $250 so far for the trip and they will be sure to give him plenty of film and presents for his trip to Japan next year—and an electronic translator just like Junji’s.
Photo Caption: Japanese exchange student Junji Matsuo, 13, left, stayed at the home of Clinton Middle School student Steven Denuyl, 13, in Clinton for a week. Steven will head to Junji’s hometown in May.
Originally Published Monday, November 15, 1999
Tuesday, November 09, 1999
Clinton star recovers after collision
Clinton star recovers after collision
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
It’s been nearly three weeks since Clinton High football star Ryan Stoianowski took his first step without the aid of a wheelchair or crutches.
Photo caption: Ryan Stoianowski, 17, is back on his feet again following a serious traffic accident eight weeks ago that put him in a wheelchair temporarily.
They were big steps for the football star and academic standout who had to watch part of his team’s winning season from the sidelines, grateful to be alive after a crash with a semi truck.
The crash happened while Stoianowski was driving back to his Irish Hills home after a homecoming event Sept. 22. After stopping before turning left onto US-12 from a side road, the teen looked to see if the way was clear, but two trees obscured one side of the road. He turned and the truck slammed into Stoianowski’s car.
“To this day, he didn’t even see the semi,” said Laurie Stoianowski, his mother.
It was Laurie and Michael Stoianowski’s 20th wedding anniversary that night. A driver and witness to the crash called the couple and put Ryan on the cell phone after he came to.
“We were so grateful that he was alive,” Laurie Stoianowski said.
He apologized for the car and said, “I’m hurt real bad,” she recalled.
The Stoianowskis reached the site of the crash within 10 minutes and then went on to the hospital, she said.
Injuries from the car accident were serious, but not life threatening. With a compound fracture in Stoianowski’s left leg, a broken right arm, a gash above his eye with some muscle and nerve damage near his eyebrow, doctors advised that Stoianowski sit out school for a few weeks.
“He missed quite a bit of school with the accident,” his mother said. “The most important thing for him was to keep his 4.0 (grade point average). And he was able to maintain it.”
As the football team captain who scored 13 touchdowns in the first four games of the season, Stoianowski had played for years. And for as long as he can remember, he and his father would go to the back yard and throw a ball around, Stoianowski said.
Football, he said, was not just a pastime but almost a way of ife.
The wreck changed that. Now Stoianowski, 17, says he has no plans on playing sports in college.
Sitting at the sidelines, Stoianowski saw his team go on to win three games without him, including advancing into the playoffs until losing to Addison.
He was proud of the team for winning.
“He’s a team player. And the team is more … than just Ryan and he would tell you that,” said Jim Pittman, athletic director at Clinton High School.
In addition to scoring an impressive number of touchdowns, Stoianowski also averaged well over 150 yards a game, Pittman said. But he added that the teen has never been the type who would think he’s the team’s only valuable player.
Ryan Stoianowski bounced back sooner than doctors predicted. His leg cast came off before schedule. His arm cast should be coming off before Dec. 1. Along with physical therapy, Stoianowski said he will have regular check-ups to keep tabs on the damage done to his eye.
Ron Schaffner, a math and sciences teacher at Clinton High School, said Stoianowski plans to become a civil engineer and is now trying to decide where he wants to go to school in fall 2000.
Stoianowski also recently began driving again. With money saved up from working in his father’s building business, Stoianowski said he plans to buy a car from his mother in a few weeks.
And Stoianowski said he will be joining the baseball team in the spring.
He has a message for the people who took the time to care for him after the crash.
“I’d like to thank my family and my friends and the teachers at Clinton, (and) my girlfriend and her family for their support,” Stoianowski said.
“And thanks for all the cards that everyone’s given me and the cards they’ve sent and most of all for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers.”
Originally published Tuesday, November 9, 1999
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
It’s been nearly three weeks since Clinton High football star Ryan Stoianowski took his first step without the aid of a wheelchair or crutches.
Photo caption: Ryan Stoianowski, 17, is back on his feet again following a serious traffic accident eight weeks ago that put him in a wheelchair temporarily.
They were big steps for the football star and academic standout who had to watch part of his team’s winning season from the sidelines, grateful to be alive after a crash with a semi truck.
The crash happened while Stoianowski was driving back to his Irish Hills home after a homecoming event Sept. 22. After stopping before turning left onto US-12 from a side road, the teen looked to see if the way was clear, but two trees obscured one side of the road. He turned and the truck slammed into Stoianowski’s car.
“To this day, he didn’t even see the semi,” said Laurie Stoianowski, his mother.
It was Laurie and Michael Stoianowski’s 20th wedding anniversary that night. A driver and witness to the crash called the couple and put Ryan on the cell phone after he came to.
“We were so grateful that he was alive,” Laurie Stoianowski said.
He apologized for the car and said, “I’m hurt real bad,” she recalled.
The Stoianowskis reached the site of the crash within 10 minutes and then went on to the hospital, she said.
Injuries from the car accident were serious, but not life threatening. With a compound fracture in Stoianowski’s left leg, a broken right arm, a gash above his eye with some muscle and nerve damage near his eyebrow, doctors advised that Stoianowski sit out school for a few weeks.
“He missed quite a bit of school with the accident,” his mother said. “The most important thing for him was to keep his 4.0 (grade point average). And he was able to maintain it.”
As the football team captain who scored 13 touchdowns in the first four games of the season, Stoianowski had played for years. And for as long as he can remember, he and his father would go to the back yard and throw a ball around, Stoianowski said.
Football, he said, was not just a pastime but almost a way of ife.
The wreck changed that. Now Stoianowski, 17, says he has no plans on playing sports in college.
Sitting at the sidelines, Stoianowski saw his team go on to win three games without him, including advancing into the playoffs until losing to Addison.
He was proud of the team for winning.
“He’s a team player. And the team is more … than just Ryan and he would tell you that,” said Jim Pittman, athletic director at Clinton High School.
In addition to scoring an impressive number of touchdowns, Stoianowski also averaged well over 150 yards a game, Pittman said. But he added that the teen has never been the type who would think he’s the team’s only valuable player.
Ryan Stoianowski bounced back sooner than doctors predicted. His leg cast came off before schedule. His arm cast should be coming off before Dec. 1. Along with physical therapy, Stoianowski said he will have regular check-ups to keep tabs on the damage done to his eye.
Ron Schaffner, a math and sciences teacher at Clinton High School, said Stoianowski plans to become a civil engineer and is now trying to decide where he wants to go to school in fall 2000.
Stoianowski also recently began driving again. With money saved up from working in his father’s building business, Stoianowski said he plans to buy a car from his mother in a few weeks.
And Stoianowski said he will be joining the baseball team in the spring.
He has a message for the people who took the time to care for him after the crash.
“I’d like to thank my family and my friends and the teachers at Clinton, (and) my girlfriend and her family for their support,” Stoianowski said.
“And thanks for all the cards that everyone’s given me and the cards they’ve sent and most of all for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers.”
Originally published Tuesday, November 9, 1999
Sunday, November 07, 1999
Warm the Children purchases uniforms for Cheney students
Warm the Children purchases uniforms for Cheney students
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Students at the New Cheney Academy of Math and Sciences in Ypsilanti Township started out this school year with something completely different from most Washtenaw County public schools--uniforms.
But before classes began in late August, Leslie Rosenwasser, a social worker at the K-7 academy in the Willow Run district, found herself with a last-minute problem to solve.
Some parents, she learned, couldn’t afford the cost of a $25 uniform. For a few parents with more than one child at Cheney, the cost automatically jumped up to $50 or $75, plus the price of shoes.
“What we never wanted to do was to exclude any student because they couldn’t buy the uniform,” Rosenwasser said. “Everyone should come in with the same advantage.” So Rosenwasser approached the Warm the Children Fund to make sure all Cheney students had uniforms.
Warm the Children dipped into the emergency and special cases funds for money to help buy uniforms for students. Warm the Children also approached Kmart on Rawsonville Road in Van Buren Township to help pick up some of the cost, Rosenwasser said.
“We decided to donate $100 worth of merchandise,” General Manager Mark Kerns said. He estimated that Kmart gave Cheney Academy students about 7-8 uniforms since the pants and shirts were being sold at a reduced price then.
Then the Warm the Children Fund provided the school with an additional 12-15 uniforms, saving parents a total of $500-$600.
“I think it’s a wonderful program. It helps less fortunate people as well as people who may not be able to afford uniforms at a time of need,” said Lisa Watkins, a parent of three Cheney academy students and a paraprofessional for Thurston Early Childhood Development Center.
Watkins also said she’s glad that Cheney has the new uniform dress code in place. She said several of her friends wish their children’s schools would require uniforms as well.
“It’s a good thing financially for parents because you’re not worried about buying a whole lot of different things,” she said.
Looking at it from a Cheney student’s perspective, Watkins said. Uniforms make everyone equal and help build self-esteem.
“No one knows if you have one uniform or 10 uniforms,” she said. “This way, you don’t have the competition, ‘Well you have designer clothes and you don’t’ ”.
Many of the older students in the six5th or seventh grades who attended the school before Cheney became specialized were not used to wearing uniforms and balked at the idea initially, Principal Teresa Wilson said. But now, most of Cheney’s 335 students have come to like the camaraderie that comes with wearing a color-coordinated uniform like everyone else.
With white shirts and navy blue pants, skirts and jumpers as the uniform, even teachers, the school custodian, secretary and parents have started coming to Cheney dressed in support of the school’s official colors, Rosenwasser said.
Rosenwasser believes Cheney is a stronger school and stronger community because of the uniforms.
“We’re kind of all in this together. It’s just like we’re all alike in some ways, the teachers too,” she said.
Originally published Sunday, November 7, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Students at the New Cheney Academy of Math and Sciences in Ypsilanti Township started out this school year with something completely different from most Washtenaw County public schools--uniforms.
But before classes began in late August, Leslie Rosenwasser, a social worker at the K-7 academy in the Willow Run district, found herself with a last-minute problem to solve.
Some parents, she learned, couldn’t afford the cost of a $25 uniform. For a few parents with more than one child at Cheney, the cost automatically jumped up to $50 or $75, plus the price of shoes.
“What we never wanted to do was to exclude any student because they couldn’t buy the uniform,” Rosenwasser said. “Everyone should come in with the same advantage.” So Rosenwasser approached the Warm the Children Fund to make sure all Cheney students had uniforms.
Warm the Children dipped into the emergency and special cases funds for money to help buy uniforms for students. Warm the Children also approached Kmart on Rawsonville Road in Van Buren Township to help pick up some of the cost, Rosenwasser said.
“We decided to donate $100 worth of merchandise,” General Manager Mark Kerns said. He estimated that Kmart gave Cheney Academy students about 7-8 uniforms since the pants and shirts were being sold at a reduced price then.
Then the Warm the Children Fund provided the school with an additional 12-15 uniforms, saving parents a total of $500-$600.
“I think it’s a wonderful program. It helps less fortunate people as well as people who may not be able to afford uniforms at a time of need,” said Lisa Watkins, a parent of three Cheney academy students and a paraprofessional for Thurston Early Childhood Development Center.
Watkins also said she’s glad that Cheney has the new uniform dress code in place. She said several of her friends wish their children’s schools would require uniforms as well.
“It’s a good thing financially for parents because you’re not worried about buying a whole lot of different things,” she said.
Looking at it from a Cheney student’s perspective, Watkins said. Uniforms make everyone equal and help build self-esteem.
“No one knows if you have one uniform or 10 uniforms,” she said. “This way, you don’t have the competition, ‘Well you have designer clothes and you don’t’ ”.
Many of the older students in the six5th or seventh grades who attended the school before Cheney became specialized were not used to wearing uniforms and balked at the idea initially, Principal Teresa Wilson said. But now, most of Cheney’s 335 students have come to like the camaraderie that comes with wearing a color-coordinated uniform like everyone else.
With white shirts and navy blue pants, skirts and jumpers as the uniform, even teachers, the school custodian, secretary and parents have started coming to Cheney dressed in support of the school’s official colors, Rosenwasser said.
Rosenwasser believes Cheney is a stronger school and stronger community because of the uniforms.
“We’re kind of all in this together. It’s just like we’re all alike in some ways, the teachers too,” she said.
Originally published Sunday, November 7, 1999
Saturday, October 30, 1999
Parking ramp gets royal treatment at opening
Parking ramp gets royal treatment at opening
Hundreds turn out for ribbon-cutting ceremony
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Most kings and queens only get a crown but the newly named king and queen of Ann Arbor will get free parking for a month at Ann Arbor’s new Fourth Avenue and Washington Street parking structure.
To celebrate the recently finished $9 million project, there was free food, speeches and prizes Friday evening as residents and city officials gathered to mark the opening of the new parking garage.
Judy Turner, manager for Discovery Toys, a home-based business and Steven Pellerito, program coordinator at the University of Michigan’s business school, won the titles of king and queen and the free parking.
Pellerito said he has tentative plans to donate his prize to charity while Turner said she can always use free parking space when dropping off or picking up one of her daughters for after-school events.
Organizers of the event said thousands of Ann Arborites sent in entry forms for free parking, a prize many Ann Arbor residents would covet.
“It’s been a big project and we’re glad it’s finally come to fruition,” said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, who cut the ribbon to the parking structure after opening remarks from officials.
Hundreds turned out for the event. Many walked around the new parking structure to view a specially-arranged showing of 100 antique and classic cars.
Two protestors--a mother and a son--held signs saying that the Fourth Avenue and Washington Street parking structure doesn’t “allow” free parking for Courthouse Square residents next door.
Other residents of the two-year-old senior citizen facility said they’ve always known that they would have to use another Ann Arbor parking lot a few blocks away unless they wanted to pay extra parking fees. Daily parking will be $1.20 an hour.
“I understand how they feel. But it was explained to them (and us) a long time ago,” said Marilyn McDonnell, a lifelong Ann Arbor resident.
While greeting residents and dispensing car-shaped chocolates to children, Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said parking at the structure is free of charge all day today and Sunday.
The seven-store building with 277 spaces has been built to last, she said.
“We have everything in it so that it will last 50 years,”
Peggy Geiger came to the event to see her cousin, Adrian Iraolla, project manager for the parking structure, get an award.
“I work (close by) so I’ve seen the construction taking place every day,” Geiger said. “I think it’s classy. I like the way it looks.”
Art work will be added to the outside of the parking structure after fundraising from private companies and individuals is completed.
Photo Caption: Judy Turner of Ann Arbor was named ‘Queen of the Structure’ during the grand opening of the Fourth and Washington parking Friday night.
Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel
Originally published Saturday, October 30, 1999
Hundreds turn out for ribbon-cutting ceremony
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Most kings and queens only get a crown but the newly named king and queen of Ann Arbor will get free parking for a month at Ann Arbor’s new Fourth Avenue and Washington Street parking structure.
To celebrate the recently finished $9 million project, there was free food, speeches and prizes Friday evening as residents and city officials gathered to mark the opening of the new parking garage.
Judy Turner, manager for Discovery Toys, a home-based business and Steven Pellerito, program coordinator at the University of Michigan’s business school, won the titles of king and queen and the free parking.
Pellerito said he has tentative plans to donate his prize to charity while Turner said she can always use free parking space when dropping off or picking up one of her daughters for after-school events.
Organizers of the event said thousands of Ann Arborites sent in entry forms for free parking, a prize many Ann Arbor residents would covet.
“It’s been a big project and we’re glad it’s finally come to fruition,” said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, who cut the ribbon to the parking structure after opening remarks from officials.
Hundreds turned out for the event. Many walked around the new parking structure to view a specially-arranged showing of 100 antique and classic cars.
Two protestors--a mother and a son--held signs saying that the Fourth Avenue and Washington Street parking structure doesn’t “allow” free parking for Courthouse Square residents next door.
Other residents of the two-year-old senior citizen facility said they’ve always known that they would have to use another Ann Arbor parking lot a few blocks away unless they wanted to pay extra parking fees. Daily parking will be $1.20 an hour.
“I understand how they feel. But it was explained to them (and us) a long time ago,” said Marilyn McDonnell, a lifelong Ann Arbor resident.
While greeting residents and dispensing car-shaped chocolates to children, Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said parking at the structure is free of charge all day today and Sunday.
The seven-store building with 277 spaces has been built to last, she said.
“We have everything in it so that it will last 50 years,”
Peggy Geiger came to the event to see her cousin, Adrian Iraolla, project manager for the parking structure, get an award.
“I work (close by) so I’ve seen the construction taking place every day,” Geiger said. “I think it’s classy. I like the way it looks.”
Art work will be added to the outside of the parking structure after fundraising from private companies and individuals is completed.
Photo Caption: Judy Turner of Ann Arbor was named ‘Queen of the Structure’ during the grand opening of the Fourth and Washington parking Friday night.
Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel
Originally published Saturday, October 30, 1999
Monday, October 25, 1999
Wildlife Haven Emerges in Superior Township
Wildlife Haven Emerges in Superior Township
Rebirth of wetlands is goal in LeFurge Woods
The Ann Arbor News (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
By Pamela Appea
News Staff Reporter
Superior Township—Township environmentalists and conservationists have proved they’re not just a group of dreamy tree huggers.
Over a year-long period, members of the Superior Land Conservancy have faithfully invested time, money and volunteer labor toward a collective vision.
The goal is to transform 9.2 acres of the 171-acre LeFurge Woods acreage the group has owned for the past several years, back to a full-fledged wetland.
Some 50,000 cubic yards of dirt and mud have been removed from the former soybean and corn farm, and thousands of woody species have been planted to create a wetland. The property now serves as a wildlife habitat and storm water holding pond for runoff flows into drains and the Huron River.
Already, a large variety of amphibians, including frogs and toads, and water fowl have settled in thanks to a large amount of snow last winter.
During the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy’s annual meeting on Sunday, board members of the township group reported they have exceeded initial expectations of LeFurge Woods.
Founder and President of the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy Jack Smiley reported that LeFurge Woods now serves as a haven and habitat for diverse animal and plant wildlife when just a few years ago, the site had been underutilized farm land.
The “Field of Dreams” theme for the 1999 meeting, said Marion Morris, chair of the Superior Township group is a perfect metaphor for members’ ongoing desire to conserve open land instead of watching developers take over their community.
“When we first met in 1991, most of us weren’t having dreams. In fact most of us were having nightmares that Superior Township would become just another suburbia brightly lit and paved over,” Morris said in her introductory remarks.
Now board members and other conservationists can rest easy knowing that plans have been made so that LeFurge Woods will be a permanently protected conservation site in the township.
LeFurge Woods, located in Prospect Road between Geddes and Vreeland roads, is believed to be named for Isaac LeFurge, who came to Michigan from New Jersey with his father and brother over 150 years ago. LeFurge owned and farmed a large portion of the present site in the 1850s and 1860s.
In recent years, the combination of woods and farm land appeared to be prime location for housing and business developers.
But that’s when Jack Smiley and Bill Seacrest and other concerned conservationists stepped in to intervene.
Bob Morningstar, a wetlands consultant and board member of the township group, said he and others began to try and arrange a way to restore the wetlands over the last five years.
After purchasing an additional 40 acres for the LeFurge site in the mid-1990s, the group envisioned a way they could develop the land to include endangered plant species.
But first they had to find the funds.
Finally in 1995, the group secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay back the loan conservancy board members had taken out for the land purchase.
They also made a deal with Chrysler Corp. to pick up the $200,000 cost of the earth worth and construction costs, board members said.
Now, Smiley said Sunday, almost every type of mammal native to Southeastern Michigan has recently been seen on the site, including coyotes, foxes and deer.
He also noted that the site is home to 100 species of birds, and conservationists have documented hundreds of bush, water lily and plant varieties at the area.
Morningstar said so far the majority of plants and wildlife on the LeFurge property have grown well, but problems with invasive species like purple loosestrife or erosion sites are still a concern.
“Only time will tell what type of plant community develops,” he said.
Many expressed strong support for the project.
“This is the most rewarding thing I do,” said conservancy board member Sandi C. Lopez.
Others agreed that the project is important.
"There are simply enough malls. We have empty stores downtown, while they're demolishing historic farm houses to build more malls," said Terry Lee Lansing, a Superior Township resident.
Bill Seacrest, founder and board member of Superior Land Conservancy and board member of the Southeast Michigan Conservancy, said the group is thinking of the future.
"We are trying to establish a green belt, a buffer, for the future generations of people, especially (so that) the children will have access to the wild," he said. "We do this with a global understanding.
"… Everyone's talking about saving the rain forest but we're losing our own backyard."
Rebirth of wetlands is goal in LeFurge Woods
The Ann Arbor News (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
By Pamela Appea
News Staff Reporter
Superior Township—Township environmentalists and conservationists have proved they’re not just a group of dreamy tree huggers.
Over a year-long period, members of the Superior Land Conservancy have faithfully invested time, money and volunteer labor toward a collective vision.
The goal is to transform 9.2 acres of the 171-acre LeFurge Woods acreage the group has owned for the past several years, back to a full-fledged wetland.
Some 50,000 cubic yards of dirt and mud have been removed from the former soybean and corn farm, and thousands of woody species have been planted to create a wetland. The property now serves as a wildlife habitat and storm water holding pond for runoff flows into drains and the Huron River.
Already, a large variety of amphibians, including frogs and toads, and water fowl have settled in thanks to a large amount of snow last winter.
During the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy’s annual meeting on Sunday, board members of the township group reported they have exceeded initial expectations of LeFurge Woods.
Founder and President of the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy Jack Smiley reported that LeFurge Woods now serves as a haven and habitat for diverse animal and plant wildlife when just a few years ago, the site had been underutilized farm land.
The “Field of Dreams” theme for the 1999 meeting, said Marion Morris, chair of the Superior Township group is a perfect metaphor for members’ ongoing desire to conserve open land instead of watching developers take over their community.
“When we first met in 1991, most of us weren’t having dreams. In fact most of us were having nightmares that Superior Township would become just another suburbia brightly lit and paved over,” Morris said in her introductory remarks.
Now board members and other conservationists can rest easy knowing that plans have been made so that LeFurge Woods will be a permanently protected conservation site in the township.
LeFurge Woods, located in Prospect Road between Geddes and Vreeland roads, is believed to be named for Isaac LeFurge, who came to Michigan from New Jersey with his father and brother over 150 years ago. LeFurge owned and farmed a large portion of the present site in the 1850s and 1860s.
In recent years, the combination of woods and farm land appeared to be prime location for housing and business developers.
But that’s when Jack Smiley and Bill Seacrest and other concerned conservationists stepped in to intervene.
Bob Morningstar, a wetlands consultant and board member of the township group, said he and others began to try and arrange a way to restore the wetlands over the last five years.
After purchasing an additional 40 acres for the LeFurge site in the mid-1990s, the group envisioned a way they could develop the land to include endangered plant species.
But first they had to find the funds.
Finally in 1995, the group secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay back the loan conservancy board members had taken out for the land purchase.
They also made a deal with Chrysler Corp. to pick up the $200,000 cost of the earth worth and construction costs, board members said.
Now, Smiley said Sunday, almost every type of mammal native to Southeastern Michigan has recently been seen on the site, including coyotes, foxes and deer.
He also noted that the site is home to 100 species of birds, and conservationists have documented hundreds of bush, water lily and plant varieties at the area.
Morningstar said so far the majority of plants and wildlife on the LeFurge property have grown well, but problems with invasive species like purple loosestrife or erosion sites are still a concern.
“Only time will tell what type of plant community develops,” he said.
Many expressed strong support for the project.
“This is the most rewarding thing I do,” said conservancy board member Sandi C. Lopez.
Others agreed that the project is important.
"There are simply enough malls. We have empty stores downtown, while they're demolishing historic farm houses to build more malls," said Terry Lee Lansing, a Superior Township resident.
Bill Seacrest, founder and board member of Superior Land Conservancy and board member of the Southeast Michigan Conservancy, said the group is thinking of the future.
"We are trying to establish a green belt, a buffer, for the future generations of people, especially (so that) the children will have access to the wild," he said. "We do this with a global understanding.
"… Everyone's talking about saving the rain forest but we're losing our own backyard."
Municipalities plan Sunday Halloween
Municipalities plan Sunday Halloween
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Children know that Halloween falls on Oct. 31, but their parents may wonder whether trick-or-treating will go on as usual since that date falls on a Sunday this year.
The answer from most area municipalities is yes.
Most officials said that the fact Halloween falls on a Sunday this year doesn’t seem to be a problem. Neither Ann Arbor nor Ypsilanti officials said they considered switching the celebration date.
Halloween always has been celebrated on October 31 in the Ann Arbor area, said the city’s police chief.
However, Chief Carl Ent said there will be one change this year. The city will push up official trick-or-treating hours from 5-8 p.m. from the regular 6-9 p.m.
Ent said ordinarily city police suggest that trick-or-treating hours begin at 6 p.m., so parents can come home from work in time to accompany their children on the rounds.
But he said the city figured this year that most parents would want to start and finish candy collecting earlier so families would have enough time to get ready for school and work Monday morning.
The community appears satisfied with the arrangement.
“On the one hand, it might make sense to have it Saturday. On the other hand, Halloween usually falls on a weekday,” said Carol Shulman, co-president of the district-wide PTO Council in the Ann Arbor Public schools.
She added that most parents are used to the time crunch and the fact they will be trick-or-treating in the dark.
“I’m not sure that the community could switch Halloween,” she said.
Ypsilanti plans Halloween hours to coincide with Ann Arbor, though downtown businesses will have their traditional give-away from Friday from 5-7 p.m.
In Livingston County, Halloween scheduling sparked protest among Brighton residents after Brighton City Council change Halloween trick-or-treating hours to Oct. 30.
But council reversed its decision on Thursday, restoring the traditional Oct. 31 trick-or-treating.
Only Livingston County’s Pickney Village still plans Oct. 30 Halloween hours.
Many area church officials say they haven’t tried to influence when Halloween is celebrated.
“We can’t expect any other changes or any sort of respect for Sunday. It’s nothing new and it’s nothing that surprises us,” said the Rev. Norbert Rodriguez, youth pastor at Bethesda Bible Church in Ypsilanti.
Rodriguez said his church will set up a fall festival for Halloween, so that children will have something else to do that night.
In Chelsea, where Halloween trick-or-treating is organized by Kiwanis Club members, officials did discuss whether Halloween should be observed on Sunday or Saturday this year,” said Police Chief Leonard McDougall.
But Kiwanis members finally decided toward the end of September that Halloween celebrations should stay on Oct. 31.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” McDougall said.
Halloween last fell on a Sunday five years ago in 1993.
Originally published Monday, October 25, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Children know that Halloween falls on Oct. 31, but their parents may wonder whether trick-or-treating will go on as usual since that date falls on a Sunday this year.
The answer from most area municipalities is yes.
Most officials said that the fact Halloween falls on a Sunday this year doesn’t seem to be a problem. Neither Ann Arbor nor Ypsilanti officials said they considered switching the celebration date.
Halloween always has been celebrated on October 31 in the Ann Arbor area, said the city’s police chief.
However, Chief Carl Ent said there will be one change this year. The city will push up official trick-or-treating hours from 5-8 p.m. from the regular 6-9 p.m.
Ent said ordinarily city police suggest that trick-or-treating hours begin at 6 p.m., so parents can come home from work in time to accompany their children on the rounds.
But he said the city figured this year that most parents would want to start and finish candy collecting earlier so families would have enough time to get ready for school and work Monday morning.
The community appears satisfied with the arrangement.
“On the one hand, it might make sense to have it Saturday. On the other hand, Halloween usually falls on a weekday,” said Carol Shulman, co-president of the district-wide PTO Council in the Ann Arbor Public schools.
She added that most parents are used to the time crunch and the fact they will be trick-or-treating in the dark.
“I’m not sure that the community could switch Halloween,” she said.
Ypsilanti plans Halloween hours to coincide with Ann Arbor, though downtown businesses will have their traditional give-away from Friday from 5-7 p.m.
In Livingston County, Halloween scheduling sparked protest among Brighton residents after Brighton City Council change Halloween trick-or-treating hours to Oct. 30.
But council reversed its decision on Thursday, restoring the traditional Oct. 31 trick-or-treating.
Only Livingston County’s Pickney Village still plans Oct. 30 Halloween hours.
Many area church officials say they haven’t tried to influence when Halloween is celebrated.
“We can’t expect any other changes or any sort of respect for Sunday. It’s nothing new and it’s nothing that surprises us,” said the Rev. Norbert Rodriguez, youth pastor at Bethesda Bible Church in Ypsilanti.
Rodriguez said his church will set up a fall festival for Halloween, so that children will have something else to do that night.
In Chelsea, where Halloween trick-or-treating is organized by Kiwanis Club members, officials did discuss whether Halloween should be observed on Sunday or Saturday this year,” said Police Chief Leonard McDougall.
But Kiwanis members finally decided toward the end of September that Halloween celebrations should stay on Oct. 31.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” McDougall said.
Halloween last fell on a Sunday five years ago in 1993.
Originally published Monday, October 25, 1999
Thursday, October 14, 1999
Richardson discusses global community, Chicago Maroon
Chicago Maroon
Richardson discusses global community
By Pamela Appea
Bill Richardson, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, spoke Thursday night at Hutchinson Commons in a lecture and discussion sponsored by the U of C’s Political Union. The event attracted over 300 people.
Richardson is a member of the President’s cabinet and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Bill Richardson served New Mexico’s Third Congressional District, where he was elected eight times.
He has been described as one of the most prolific legislators in the House, with numerous bills and amendments enacted in environment, energy, Native American affairs, health, foreign policy, and defense areas, during which he successfully negotiated the release of three political prisoners and visas for their families. Ambassador Richardson has also chaired U.S. observer teams for elections in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Deutsche Demokratische Republik, the former East Germany.
“Ambassador Richardson’s an encyclopedia of diplomatic knowledge, as he should be,” said Jacob Studley, president of the Political Union, 1996 intern for Richardson and a third-year student at the college. “I think the event went well … he shone during the Q & A.”
Richardson’s twenty-minute speech was followed by a session in which he answered questions from audience members. Richardson began his speech by clearly enunciating the positive side of U.S. foreign policy during the two-term Clinton Administration.
“We’ve had some problems, we’ve had some bumps and bruises. But, on the whole, we have a coherent foreign policy,” said Richardson. “If you’re going to have a sustainable foreign policy, you’re going to have to have the support of the American people,” he said.
“As American Ambassador to the UN, I have dealt with issues concerning human rights, refugees, or conflicts in Africa, but have also attempted to explain to the American people why the UN is important,” he said.
The UN was formed in a historic conference held in San Francisco by several nations in 1945 after World War II. The goal of these countries was to maintain peace and to encourage political, social and economic security and stability over the world. While the role of the UN has changed over the years, Richardson stressed that it is still a vital, important organization.
The UN is active in over 172 countries, and according to Richardson, this year alone, the UN has monitored elections is more than 50 countries. Other organizations that operate under the UN include the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Richardson sees the role of the UN as that of a peacemaker more so than in the traditional peacekeeping light. He used Somalia, China and Bosnia as examples of this. “It’s a global village,” said Richardson. “It’s better to have summits, to keep a constructive dialogue going, in order to bring these countries into the international community.”
Richardson also wants to raise public consciousness in the amount of U.S. economic obligation to the UN, as our country currently pays 25 percent of the UN’s bills. He wants to lower America’s contributions to a rate of 20 percent.
“In the past two years, there has been great improvement in the UN, in terms of the budget,” said Richardson. “But we still have a long way to go.”
Many enjoyed Richardson’s speech.
“It is important for students who will one day be prominent in the county to pay attention to political matters because what’s happening in the world will have an effect late,” said Brandi Kishner, a first-year student in the College.
Richardson fielded several questions on the Middle East, in particular the current political events between Palestinians and Israelis.
“I thought his speech was excellent. He covered many topics. In particular, I liked that he wants a better understanding of the Arab world,” said Diane Mahmoud, a visitor from California.
Richardson was a member of the Resources Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Helsinki Commission on Human Rights. During the 103rd Congress he chaired the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs.
Richardson spoke earlier on in the day for the United States Hispanic Leadership Conference at Sheraton Chicago Hotel. Richardson received a B.A. (1970) from Tufts University and a M.A. (1971) from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
The Political Union has recruited many public figures, since its founding last year, including Betty Friedan and the President of Chile. They hope to sponsor at least three more speakers this year, and are currently attempting to bring King Hussein of Jordan to campus.
Originally published October 14, 1999
Richardson discusses global community
By Pamela Appea
Bill Richardson, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, spoke Thursday night at Hutchinson Commons in a lecture and discussion sponsored by the U of C’s Political Union. The event attracted over 300 people.
Richardson is a member of the President’s cabinet and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Bill Richardson served New Mexico’s Third Congressional District, where he was elected eight times.
He has been described as one of the most prolific legislators in the House, with numerous bills and amendments enacted in environment, energy, Native American affairs, health, foreign policy, and defense areas, during which he successfully negotiated the release of three political prisoners and visas for their families. Ambassador Richardson has also chaired U.S. observer teams for elections in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Deutsche Demokratische Republik, the former East Germany.
“Ambassador Richardson’s an encyclopedia of diplomatic knowledge, as he should be,” said Jacob Studley, president of the Political Union, 1996 intern for Richardson and a third-year student at the college. “I think the event went well … he shone during the Q & A.”
Richardson’s twenty-minute speech was followed by a session in which he answered questions from audience members. Richardson began his speech by clearly enunciating the positive side of U.S. foreign policy during the two-term Clinton Administration.
“We’ve had some problems, we’ve had some bumps and bruises. But, on the whole, we have a coherent foreign policy,” said Richardson. “If you’re going to have a sustainable foreign policy, you’re going to have to have the support of the American people,” he said.
“As American Ambassador to the UN, I have dealt with issues concerning human rights, refugees, or conflicts in Africa, but have also attempted to explain to the American people why the UN is important,” he said.
The UN was formed in a historic conference held in San Francisco by several nations in 1945 after World War II. The goal of these countries was to maintain peace and to encourage political, social and economic security and stability over the world. While the role of the UN has changed over the years, Richardson stressed that it is still a vital, important organization.
The UN is active in over 172 countries, and according to Richardson, this year alone, the UN has monitored elections is more than 50 countries. Other organizations that operate under the UN include the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Richardson sees the role of the UN as that of a peacemaker more so than in the traditional peacekeeping light. He used Somalia, China and Bosnia as examples of this. “It’s a global village,” said Richardson. “It’s better to have summits, to keep a constructive dialogue going, in order to bring these countries into the international community.”
Richardson also wants to raise public consciousness in the amount of U.S. economic obligation to the UN, as our country currently pays 25 percent of the UN’s bills. He wants to lower America’s contributions to a rate of 20 percent.
“In the past two years, there has been great improvement in the UN, in terms of the budget,” said Richardson. “But we still have a long way to go.”
Many enjoyed Richardson’s speech.
“It is important for students who will one day be prominent in the county to pay attention to political matters because what’s happening in the world will have an effect late,” said Brandi Kishner, a first-year student in the College.
Richardson fielded several questions on the Middle East, in particular the current political events between Palestinians and Israelis.
“I thought his speech was excellent. He covered many topics. In particular, I liked that he wants a better understanding of the Arab world,” said Diane Mahmoud, a visitor from California.
Richardson was a member of the Resources Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Helsinki Commission on Human Rights. During the 103rd Congress he chaired the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs.
Richardson spoke earlier on in the day for the United States Hispanic Leadership Conference at Sheraton Chicago Hotel. Richardson received a B.A. (1970) from Tufts University and a M.A. (1971) from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
The Political Union has recruited many public figures, since its founding last year, including Betty Friedan and the President of Chile. They hope to sponsor at least three more speakers this year, and are currently attempting to bring King Hussein of Jordan to campus.
Originally published October 14, 1999
Friday, October 08, 1999
Fire Brought Reality Home for Couple
Fire Brought Reality Home for Couple
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Cynthia and James D’Amour of Ann Arbor know that fire is not something that always happens to other people. The D’Amours still vividly recall the night several weeks ago when they awoke to the shouts of “fire!” and the sound of someone pounding on their door.
By the time the D’Amours, groggy with sleep, realized their apartment building was on fire, their exit out the front door was blocked.
They grabbed their wedding photos, an airplane ticket for Cynthia D’Amour’s business trip the next day and some computer disks for their home-based business and fled to their balcony to await rescue.
The D’Amour’s, both 37, survived their ordeal without serious injury, but the experience made them realize how important it is to be prepared for the possibility of fire.
Fire officials would underscore that, during this week, which has been declared Fire Prevention Week. Many area fire departments will have open houses this weekend.
“We (want to) share some valuable lessons that we have painfully learned,” Cynthia D’Amour said.
“Never in our wildest dreams did I think we would be burned out by a fire started in the apartment below us.” (Ann Arbor Fire Departments said the blaze started on the floor below the D’Amours by smokers who accidentally set a mattress on fire.)
Although they had insurance, it wasn’t enough, the D’Amours said.
“If we replace everything that we lost, (it) could easily add up to $30,000. Instead we are having to make some strategic decisions about replacements,” Cynthia D’Amour said.
The couple now realize that their previous fire insurance policy was inadequate. They thought they were a low fire risk and that $20,000 in coverage would be enough for their two-bedroom unit in the Village Park apartments on the east side of Ann Arbor. They regret that they did not buy an additional $10,000 in fire insurance that would have only cost an extra $25 per year.
D’Amour added that she lost many things, including family heirlooms and professional achievement plaques that are irreplaceable. It’s also hard, she said, to prove to insurance adjusters that a burned out piece of furniture or other heirloom was originally worth something.
Fire Department Open House
The Ann Arbor Fire Department will have open houses at all six of its fire stations Sunday as part of Fire Prevention Week.
The open houses will run from 1-4 p.m., with different activities at each fire station. For more information, call (734) 994-4908.
Some other fire departments will have open houses Sunday:
-Brighton: the station at 615 W. Grand River Ave. will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Events include rescue equipment display, tours, a “smoke house” presentation by the Brighton SWAT team, survival flight helicopter landing.
-Howell: 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1211 W. Grand River Ave. Events include Smoke House demonstrations, survival flight helicopter landings, fire hose practice for children, “Stew” the Arson dog, refreshments.
-Green Oak Township: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday at 9384 Whitmore Lake Road. Events include car fire demonstration, an extrication demonstration, two survival helicopter landings, a fire prevention program for children at 3:30 p.m.
Originally published Friday, October 8, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Cynthia and James D’Amour of Ann Arbor know that fire is not something that always happens to other people. The D’Amours still vividly recall the night several weeks ago when they awoke to the shouts of “fire!” and the sound of someone pounding on their door.
By the time the D’Amours, groggy with sleep, realized their apartment building was on fire, their exit out the front door was blocked.
They grabbed their wedding photos, an airplane ticket for Cynthia D’Amour’s business trip the next day and some computer disks for their home-based business and fled to their balcony to await rescue.
The D’Amour’s, both 37, survived their ordeal without serious injury, but the experience made them realize how important it is to be prepared for the possibility of fire.
Fire officials would underscore that, during this week, which has been declared Fire Prevention Week. Many area fire departments will have open houses this weekend.
“We (want to) share some valuable lessons that we have painfully learned,” Cynthia D’Amour said.
“Never in our wildest dreams did I think we would be burned out by a fire started in the apartment below us.” (Ann Arbor Fire Departments said the blaze started on the floor below the D’Amours by smokers who accidentally set a mattress on fire.)
Although they had insurance, it wasn’t enough, the D’Amours said.
“If we replace everything that we lost, (it) could easily add up to $30,000. Instead we are having to make some strategic decisions about replacements,” Cynthia D’Amour said.
The couple now realize that their previous fire insurance policy was inadequate. They thought they were a low fire risk and that $20,000 in coverage would be enough for their two-bedroom unit in the Village Park apartments on the east side of Ann Arbor. They regret that they did not buy an additional $10,000 in fire insurance that would have only cost an extra $25 per year.
D’Amour added that she lost many things, including family heirlooms and professional achievement plaques that are irreplaceable. It’s also hard, she said, to prove to insurance adjusters that a burned out piece of furniture or other heirloom was originally worth something.
Fire Department Open House
The Ann Arbor Fire Department will have open houses at all six of its fire stations Sunday as part of Fire Prevention Week.
The open houses will run from 1-4 p.m., with different activities at each fire station. For more information, call (734) 994-4908.
Some other fire departments will have open houses Sunday:
-Brighton: the station at 615 W. Grand River Ave. will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Events include rescue equipment display, tours, a “smoke house” presentation by the Brighton SWAT team, survival flight helicopter landing.
-Howell: 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1211 W. Grand River Ave. Events include Smoke House demonstrations, survival flight helicopter landings, fire hose practice for children, “Stew” the Arson dog, refreshments.
-Green Oak Township: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday at 9384 Whitmore Lake Road. Events include car fire demonstration, an extrication demonstration, two survival helicopter landings, a fire prevention program for children at 3:30 p.m.
Originally published Friday, October 8, 1999
Sunday, September 19, 1999
Collection shows flare for hair care, The Ann Arbor News
Collection shows flare for hair care
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
Pittsfield Township—For Mary Bachman, there’s nothing better than a fine-tooted comb.
“Fine” as in “antique,” that is.
And the longtime Pittsfield Township resident scours antique shows with a fine-toothed comb, much like the ones she’s trying to find.
Over the past several years, Bachman has collected more than 450 antique, decorative and functional combs and hairpins from England, Japan, Ghana and every region of the United States.
“I wanted to collect something that was colorful and decorative,” Bachman said about her passion for the hair care tools.
Set up in several display cases and mounted on the wall in her home, Bachman’s combs show unique colors and designs, including a crocodile comb, a fertility doll comb and Chinese combs with pagodas carefully etched into the design on the upper part of the comb.
Her comb collecting came by accident. After her husband, Lee, retired from teaching, she accompanied him to antique shows. In 1986, at a Saline-area antique show, she spotted her first prize—a celluloid comb that she bought for about $30.
“I guess that’s how I caught the bug,” she said. Bachman’s self-described comb “obsession” just took off.
She has since collected dozens more celluloid combs, several ivory combs with “French jet” black glass and wooden combs. Bachman even wrote the book on comb collecting last year, “The Collectors Guide to Hair Combs: Identification and Values.”
Her passion for comb collecting shows in her knowledge of the hair tool’s rich history, something Bachman said most people don’t know.
In prehistoric times, people used their hands to groom their hair. Then came what she called “crude” combs made from animal bones. Over time, people began to carve detailed and distinctive designs and patterns in their combs.
Some unique materials people used to make combs included tortoise shells, steer horns and bamboo shoots.
She explained that around the turn of the century, comb makers boiled steer horns to soften them and fashion them into combs. They would often dye the horn to make it look like amber or tortoise shell, both of which were popular but harder to get.
“It was really a nasty, smelly process and … I can’t imagine how they came up with the idea,” she said.
From the mid-19th century, celluloid combs were popular and easy to produce in different colors and sizes, Bachman explained.
However, celluloid decorative combs, which many women used for fancy upswept chignon hairstyles such as the French twist, became less popular until comb makers stopped making them entirely. One reason, Bachman theorized, was “probably” because women began bobbing their hair, a fashion trend of the1920s.
Celluloid combs also posed somewhat of a safety hazard, because they were highly flammable, thus comb makers began looking for other materials to work with.
Bachman, 76, an artist, had previously collected various antique items, but nothing had held her interest for too long. Antique combs, however, were easy to get and to keep, “since they didn’t take up too much room,” she said.
A second-term president of The Antique Comb Collectors Club, an organization that boasts several international members, Bachman believes the fun in comb collecting comes in stages.
“Fifty percent of the enjoying is getting the combs—the pursuit—then 25 percent is from researching the comb and figuring out if you got a good deal—and 25 percent , a good deal of my enjoyment—for all of my comb collection—is sharing with other people,” she said.
Bachman recently found her oldest and most valuable comb, a small French comb from the 10th century A.D. The 2-to3-inch ivory comb is a simple design and fairly sturdy. Ivory combs were made most often from elephant tusks.
She said ivory combs are “quite difficult” for antique comb collectors to come by because of the undesirability of using elephant tusks.
Bachman says she has made a “significant investment” in her entire comb collection.
Still when a “plain” Martha Washington comb was on sale earlier this year for $4,000 dollars, Bachman probably wouldn’t have purchased it has she about it.
“I do have my limited,” she said with a laugh.
Originally Published Sunday, September 19, 1999
Photo Caption: Mary Bachman has a collection of 450 combs, including two from Ghana below. Photographer Leisa Thompson-The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
Pittsfield Township—For Mary Bachman, there’s nothing better than a fine-tooted comb.
“Fine” as in “antique,” that is.
And the longtime Pittsfield Township resident scours antique shows with a fine-toothed comb, much like the ones she’s trying to find.
Over the past several years, Bachman has collected more than 450 antique, decorative and functional combs and hairpins from England, Japan, Ghana and every region of the United States.
“I wanted to collect something that was colorful and decorative,” Bachman said about her passion for the hair care tools.
Set up in several display cases and mounted on the wall in her home, Bachman’s combs show unique colors and designs, including a crocodile comb, a fertility doll comb and Chinese combs with pagodas carefully etched into the design on the upper part of the comb.
Her comb collecting came by accident. After her husband, Lee, retired from teaching, she accompanied him to antique shows. In 1986, at a Saline-area antique show, she spotted her first prize—a celluloid comb that she bought for about $30.
“I guess that’s how I caught the bug,” she said. Bachman’s self-described comb “obsession” just took off.
She has since collected dozens more celluloid combs, several ivory combs with “French jet” black glass and wooden combs. Bachman even wrote the book on comb collecting last year, “The Collectors Guide to Hair Combs: Identification and Values.”
Her passion for comb collecting shows in her knowledge of the hair tool’s rich history, something Bachman said most people don’t know.
In prehistoric times, people used their hands to groom their hair. Then came what she called “crude” combs made from animal bones. Over time, people began to carve detailed and distinctive designs and patterns in their combs.
Some unique materials people used to make combs included tortoise shells, steer horns and bamboo shoots.
She explained that around the turn of the century, comb makers boiled steer horns to soften them and fashion them into combs. They would often dye the horn to make it look like amber or tortoise shell, both of which were popular but harder to get.
“It was really a nasty, smelly process and … I can’t imagine how they came up with the idea,” she said.
From the mid-19th century, celluloid combs were popular and easy to produce in different colors and sizes, Bachman explained.
However, celluloid decorative combs, which many women used for fancy upswept chignon hairstyles such as the French twist, became less popular until comb makers stopped making them entirely. One reason, Bachman theorized, was “probably” because women began bobbing their hair, a fashion trend of the1920s.
Celluloid combs also posed somewhat of a safety hazard, because they were highly flammable, thus comb makers began looking for other materials to work with.
Bachman, 76, an artist, had previously collected various antique items, but nothing had held her interest for too long. Antique combs, however, were easy to get and to keep, “since they didn’t take up too much room,” she said.
A second-term president of The Antique Comb Collectors Club, an organization that boasts several international members, Bachman believes the fun in comb collecting comes in stages.
“Fifty percent of the enjoying is getting the combs—the pursuit—then 25 percent is from researching the comb and figuring out if you got a good deal—and 25 percent , a good deal of my enjoyment—for all of my comb collection—is sharing with other people,” she said.
Bachman recently found her oldest and most valuable comb, a small French comb from the 10th century A.D. The 2-to3-inch ivory comb is a simple design and fairly sturdy. Ivory combs were made most often from elephant tusks.
She said ivory combs are “quite difficult” for antique comb collectors to come by because of the undesirability of using elephant tusks.
Bachman says she has made a “significant investment” in her entire comb collection.
Still when a “plain” Martha Washington comb was on sale earlier this year for $4,000 dollars, Bachman probably wouldn’t have purchased it has she about it.
“I do have my limited,” she said with a laugh.
Originally Published Sunday, September 19, 1999
Photo Caption: Mary Bachman has a collection of 450 combs, including two from Ghana below. Photographer Leisa Thompson-The Ann Arbor News
Thursday, September 02, 1999
Students fill books with scraps of history
Students fill books with scraps of history
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Homer Dennis Strong, class of 1925, had much in common with many undergraduates at the University of Michigan today.
From Detroit, Strong was an athlete and an avid U-M sports fan. He pledged a fraternity. And judging from his social calendar, Strong went to Michigan Union with several dates those first heady few weeks.
Like other U-M students of the World War I and World War II eras, Strong kept comprehensive scrapbooks that serve as a window to the past. The scrapbooks include photos, letters, fraternity party announcements, dance cards for Michigan Union events, and of course, commencement announcement after four (or five) long years. These students kept it all.
The students’ penchant for scrapbooking is not surprising, said Marianne Behler, an Ann Arbor-based consultant for Creative Memories, a company dedicated to helping people preserve photos and scrapbooks.
“I could imagine that their sort of experiences, like joining a fraternity, and going to a football game were important to them because it was the first time anyone in their family had done it,” Behler said.
“Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has something important to say. Some people (especially students) were driven to preserve their memories,” she said.
Bentley Historical Library has at least 100 of these scrapbooks in its collection. During that era, students pre-ordered “memory books” from the Chicago-based College Memory Book Company. Students paid anywhere between $1.50 to $6.50 for the scrapbook depending on whether they wanted extras, like a fancy leather cover or their name embossed on the scrapbook. The scrapbooks ranged in color from blue to black to dark green, and some, depending on the students’ preference had special pages for athletic scores, a friends’ sign in page and social activities.
Both men and women kept scrapbooks. As for Strong, his scrapbook indicates that sometime in late September 1921, he began going steady with a certain U-M student and Plato fan from Ypsilanti—Helen N. Starr. In his scrapbook, under “social calendar,” Strong’s carefully handwritten H.N.S. takes up the rest of the page—he didn’t bother to fill in the details of their social life.
Ford Archer Hinchman, Jr., class of 1924, clipped political news articles for his scrapbook. Hinchman (aided by his brother during World War I) documented his time from high school to his first year at the U-M, to World War I and back again through articles, letters and pictures.
One of the Sixteenth Engineers based “somewhere in France” Hinchman enlisted in the military, May 4, 1917, and came back to the U.S., a year and a half later.
Hinchman chaged under military censorship rules. In a letter home, dated Sept. 3, 1917, Hinchman wrote, “I wrote mother and explained about the censoring of the mail …. It makes me feel pretty sore as I am bursting with information.”
Hinchman wrote many letters to his family detailing his frustration with the aspects of military life and “German successes.” He ultimately returned triumphantly home in January 1919. Hinchman resumed his studies at the U-M as a member of the Delta Kappa Upsilon fraternity.
Josephine Violet Lang, class of 1921, loved to hear classical music recitals, especially violin music. A straight B student in her four years at U-M, Lang was part of the first generation of women to exercise the right to vote. Her activism on that issue was deemed unseemly by one nameless male suitor.
He wrote, “My Little Suffragette: You can’t put any of your masculine airs over me … Cupid might send you a diamond ring if you learn how to boil water. I want a housekeeper, not a militant suffragette.”
It’s unclear what happened to this suitor. But Lang went on to earn her master’s degree at the U-M in 1923.
Originally published Thursday, September 2, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Homer Dennis Strong, class of 1925, had much in common with many undergraduates at the University of Michigan today.
From Detroit, Strong was an athlete and an avid U-M sports fan. He pledged a fraternity. And judging from his social calendar, Strong went to Michigan Union with several dates those first heady few weeks.
Like other U-M students of the World War I and World War II eras, Strong kept comprehensive scrapbooks that serve as a window to the past. The scrapbooks include photos, letters, fraternity party announcements, dance cards for Michigan Union events, and of course, commencement announcement after four (or five) long years. These students kept it all.
The students’ penchant for scrapbooking is not surprising, said Marianne Behler, an Ann Arbor-based consultant for Creative Memories, a company dedicated to helping people preserve photos and scrapbooks.
“I could imagine that their sort of experiences, like joining a fraternity, and going to a football game were important to them because it was the first time anyone in their family had done it,” Behler said.
“Everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has something important to say. Some people (especially students) were driven to preserve their memories,” she said.
Bentley Historical Library has at least 100 of these scrapbooks in its collection. During that era, students pre-ordered “memory books” from the Chicago-based College Memory Book Company. Students paid anywhere between $1.50 to $6.50 for the scrapbook depending on whether they wanted extras, like a fancy leather cover or their name embossed on the scrapbook. The scrapbooks ranged in color from blue to black to dark green, and some, depending on the students’ preference had special pages for athletic scores, a friends’ sign in page and social activities.
Both men and women kept scrapbooks. As for Strong, his scrapbook indicates that sometime in late September 1921, he began going steady with a certain U-M student and Plato fan from Ypsilanti—Helen N. Starr. In his scrapbook, under “social calendar,” Strong’s carefully handwritten H.N.S. takes up the rest of the page—he didn’t bother to fill in the details of their social life.
Ford Archer Hinchman, Jr., class of 1924, clipped political news articles for his scrapbook. Hinchman (aided by his brother during World War I) documented his time from high school to his first year at the U-M, to World War I and back again through articles, letters and pictures.
One of the Sixteenth Engineers based “somewhere in France” Hinchman enlisted in the military, May 4, 1917, and came back to the U.S., a year and a half later.
Hinchman chaged under military censorship rules. In a letter home, dated Sept. 3, 1917, Hinchman wrote, “I wrote mother and explained about the censoring of the mail …. It makes me feel pretty sore as I am bursting with information.”
Hinchman wrote many letters to his family detailing his frustration with the aspects of military life and “German successes.” He ultimately returned triumphantly home in January 1919. Hinchman resumed his studies at the U-M as a member of the Delta Kappa Upsilon fraternity.
Josephine Violet Lang, class of 1921, loved to hear classical music recitals, especially violin music. A straight B student in her four years at U-M, Lang was part of the first generation of women to exercise the right to vote. Her activism on that issue was deemed unseemly by one nameless male suitor.
He wrote, “My Little Suffragette: You can’t put any of your masculine airs over me … Cupid might send you a diamond ring if you learn how to boil water. I want a housekeeper, not a militant suffragette.”
It’s unclear what happened to this suitor. But Lang went on to earn her master’s degree at the U-M in 1923.
Originally published Thursday, September 2, 1999
Thursday, August 12, 1999
Village’s celebration like big family reunion
Village’s celebration like big family reunion
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Superstitious residents of Dexter hope history won’t repeat itself at the annual Dexter Daze weekend starting [this] week—on Friday the 13th.
The Monument Park event last opened on a Friday the 13th six years ago, when the Sportsman’s Bar on Main Street had a grease fire that spread to three other buildings.
The mid-morning fire either destroyed or seriously damaged four buildings. Loren Yates, the long-time chairman of Dexter Daze, didn’t have much time that day to devote to the festival—as a firefighter he was busy working to put the fire out.
Many hope Dexter Daze ’99 will go off without a hitch. Residents are looking forward to celebrating the 175th anniversary of Dexter Village this year at the three-day event.
The annual extravaganza regularly draws 20,000 to 30,000 people one Chamber of Commerce official said.
“Dexter Daze is kind of a big party of the community,” said Carol Jones, Dexter Daze committee secretary and an administrative assistant for the Chamber.
She said that during the weekend, many former Dexter residents come back to visit with friends and family. Jones said talking to people she hasn’t seen in a while makes her feel like she’s attending a big family reunion.
One hitch to Dexter Daze last year was the major construction under way on the town’s streets and sidewalks. But now, Dexter has a new-and-improved look, she said.
The event will feature musicians, arts and crafts vendors, a bake sale by senior citizens and food vendors. Children’s entertainment will include Gemini and Colors the Clown.
Yayes said there will be a free shuttle bus going into the village from Dexter High School for people who want to avoid traffic. Parking is free, he said.
The Saturday morning, Dexter Daze Parade will include a band antique and classic cars, fire and police departments, members of the Kiwanis, the Rotary and Lions’ clubs and local students and businesses.
While visiting the area, Jones said, Dexter Daze participants often visit other Dexter sites, including the 100-year-old cider mill and the 100-year-old cider mill and the Spring Valley Trout Farm, where people can catch and buy trout and catfish.
“It’s a busy (time), said Jan Going, who has lived in Dexter for 15 years.
She enjoys the parade and also will visit with several longtime friends coming in from other parts of Michigan and Florida.
“Dexter Daze) is just super,” she said. The community really participates.”
Dexter Daze
What: Town festival with arts and crafts, music and bingo, children’s activities.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Dexter village
Highlights: Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, horseshoes tournament at 1 p.m.
Originally published Thursday, August 12, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Superstitious residents of Dexter hope history won’t repeat itself at the annual Dexter Daze weekend starting [this] week—on Friday the 13th.
The Monument Park event last opened on a Friday the 13th six years ago, when the Sportsman’s Bar on Main Street had a grease fire that spread to three other buildings.
The mid-morning fire either destroyed or seriously damaged four buildings. Loren Yates, the long-time chairman of Dexter Daze, didn’t have much time that day to devote to the festival—as a firefighter he was busy working to put the fire out.
Many hope Dexter Daze ’99 will go off without a hitch. Residents are looking forward to celebrating the 175th anniversary of Dexter Village this year at the three-day event.
The annual extravaganza regularly draws 20,000 to 30,000 people one Chamber of Commerce official said.
“Dexter Daze is kind of a big party of the community,” said Carol Jones, Dexter Daze committee secretary and an administrative assistant for the Chamber.
She said that during the weekend, many former Dexter residents come back to visit with friends and family. Jones said talking to people she hasn’t seen in a while makes her feel like she’s attending a big family reunion.
One hitch to Dexter Daze last year was the major construction under way on the town’s streets and sidewalks. But now, Dexter has a new-and-improved look, she said.
The event will feature musicians, arts and crafts vendors, a bake sale by senior citizens and food vendors. Children’s entertainment will include Gemini and Colors the Clown.
Yayes said there will be a free shuttle bus going into the village from Dexter High School for people who want to avoid traffic. Parking is free, he said.
The Saturday morning, Dexter Daze Parade will include a band antique and classic cars, fire and police departments, members of the Kiwanis, the Rotary and Lions’ clubs and local students and businesses.
While visiting the area, Jones said, Dexter Daze participants often visit other Dexter sites, including the 100-year-old cider mill and the 100-year-old cider mill and the Spring Valley Trout Farm, where people can catch and buy trout and catfish.
“It’s a busy (time), said Jan Going, who has lived in Dexter for 15 years.
She enjoys the parade and also will visit with several longtime friends coming in from other parts of Michigan and Florida.
“Dexter Daze) is just super,” she said. The community really participates.”
Dexter Daze
What: Town festival with arts and crafts, music and bingo, children’s activities.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Dexter village
Highlights: Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, horseshoes tournament at 1 p.m.
Originally published Thursday, August 12, 1999
Wednesday, August 11, 1999
Senior Safety, The Ann Arbor News
Senior Safety
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
Mall sponsors event to help older people avoid scams
Seniors like Ypsilanti resident, Grace Allen, 84, got a chance Tuesday to peruse information on everything from fraudulent health insurance billings to whether she gets enough fiber in her daily diet.
Allen was among 400 people who attended Briarwood Mall’s “Senior Safety Awareness Day,” the first senior event at the shopping center to address both health and safety issues.
“The response that we got was really positive,” said Marc Strich, Briarwood Mall general manager.
TRAID, a consortium of local area law enforcement agencies, senior organizations and local social service agencies, set up information booths and had experts on hand for questions.
Major concerns facing seniors are charity scams, telephone fraud and credit card fraud, said Irma Swanter, Michigan district coordinator for the American Association of Retired Persons, an organization addressing political and social issues for people over 50.
She said AARP had documented stories where seniors have been defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars. The seniors thought they were giving to charity or getting a chance to win a free cruise. She said in some cases, seniors are scammed over several months, even years.
“(Seniors) are lonely. They like to talk on the phone or have company. They’re just vulnerable,” said Uva Wilbanks, chairwoman for TRIAD.
Seniors at Tuesday’s event were given information on how to avoid telephone fraud and know their rights regarding unsolicited telemarketing calls and letters. Sometimes seniors get bombarded by scammers, specifically because of their age, Wilbanks said.
Deputy Lisa King of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department recalled a recent case where an older Milan woman almost lost $1,200 on a scam.
Two men came uninvited to her home and offered to paint her barn, King said. The woman, in her late 70s, wrote them a check and the pair left without doing any work.
The woman’s son, an employee of the Ypsilanti Police Department, tracked the men that day—and the two were arrested at the bank as they were preparing to cash the check, King said.
Allen said she felt prepared for telephone scams by not answering the telephone unless she knows who is calling.
“I watch my bill every month. I got caller ID (and an answering machine), and if its important they will leave a message, she said.
Other booths at the mall gave information about Huron Valley paramedic service, area support groups, medical care and volunteer opportunities.
The event, said Tom Fisher, security director at Briarwood Mall, adds to other “senior friendly” activities at Briarwood, including the weekly “Fitness over Fifty” exercise.
Originally published August 11, 1999.
By Pamela Appea
The Ann Arbor News
Mall sponsors event to help older people avoid scams
Seniors like Ypsilanti resident, Grace Allen, 84, got a chance Tuesday to peruse information on everything from fraudulent health insurance billings to whether she gets enough fiber in her daily diet.
Allen was among 400 people who attended Briarwood Mall’s “Senior Safety Awareness Day,” the first senior event at the shopping center to address both health and safety issues.
“The response that we got was really positive,” said Marc Strich, Briarwood Mall general manager.
TRAID, a consortium of local area law enforcement agencies, senior organizations and local social service agencies, set up information booths and had experts on hand for questions.
Major concerns facing seniors are charity scams, telephone fraud and credit card fraud, said Irma Swanter, Michigan district coordinator for the American Association of Retired Persons, an organization addressing political and social issues for people over 50.
She said AARP had documented stories where seniors have been defrauded of tens of thousands of dollars. The seniors thought they were giving to charity or getting a chance to win a free cruise. She said in some cases, seniors are scammed over several months, even years.
“(Seniors) are lonely. They like to talk on the phone or have company. They’re just vulnerable,” said Uva Wilbanks, chairwoman for TRIAD.
Seniors at Tuesday’s event were given information on how to avoid telephone fraud and know their rights regarding unsolicited telemarketing calls and letters. Sometimes seniors get bombarded by scammers, specifically because of their age, Wilbanks said.
Deputy Lisa King of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department recalled a recent case where an older Milan woman almost lost $1,200 on a scam.
Two men came uninvited to her home and offered to paint her barn, King said. The woman, in her late 70s, wrote them a check and the pair left without doing any work.
The woman’s son, an employee of the Ypsilanti Police Department, tracked the men that day—and the two were arrested at the bank as they were preparing to cash the check, King said.
Allen said she felt prepared for telephone scams by not answering the telephone unless she knows who is calling.
“I watch my bill every month. I got caller ID (and an answering machine), and if its important they will leave a message, she said.
Other booths at the mall gave information about Huron Valley paramedic service, area support groups, medical care and volunteer opportunities.
The event, said Tom Fisher, security director at Briarwood Mall, adds to other “senior friendly” activities at Briarwood, including the weekly “Fitness over Fifty” exercise.
Originally published August 11, 1999.
Monday, August 09, 1999
Interest high in Catholic law school
Interest high in Catholic law school-Hundreds of prospective students apply to Ave Maria; 100 instructors interested as well
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
The newly-formed Catholic law school in Ann Arbor is considering prospective students for fall 2000--an almost eight months before the April 1 admissions deadline.
Ave Maria administrators said hundreds of prospective students have called the admissions office asking for information on requirements, courses and faculty.
Michael Kenney, dean of admissions, estimated that 200 prospective law students from 40 states have called Ave Maria since the law school was formed four months ago.
About 100 faculty at other institutions have expressed interest in joining Ave Maria, Kenney added.
Ave Maria administrators are encouraged by the response, said Kenney, who had been acting dean of admissions until this month.
“I’m very enthused about the opportunity to be involved in the process of starting a new Catholic law school. The vision … is to be a national law school that will have high admissions standards,” he said.
Led by interim Dean Joseph Falvey of Grosse Pointe Park Ave. Maria Law School is preparing a specialized, Catholic-centered law curriculum and recruiting faculty.
Bernard Dobranski of the Catholic University Law School in Washington, D.C. will become Ave Maria dean in a few months. Judge Robert Bork was recently named as Ave Maria’s first faculty member, Kenney said.
The school, temporarily located at Thomas More Center at the Domino’s Farms, plans to admit 50 first-year law students in the fall 2000. It will gradually increase enrollment size to several hundred students, Kenney said.
Officials are still working out major details for short-and-long-term campus planning. A real estate agent said Ave. Maria is leasing an 85,000-square foot building at 4375 Plymouth Road, where Ave Maria may house administrative offices and classrooms.
Plans for student housing to fall 2000 are uncertain, school officials said.
However, admission services are up and running, and Kenney said the law school intends to process applications this year.
Law school candidates will be expected to fill out a two-page application. Admission will be assessed by grade-point average, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations and the prospective student’s personal statement.
Ave Maria, Kenney said, welcomes applicants of any religion.
Ave Maria will be the 26th Catholic law university in the United States. It is in the process of obtaining its accreditation with the Michigan Board of Education, published reports said.
Thomas Monaghan, the former owner of the Domino’s Pizza empire and founder of the Ave Maria foundation will reportedly spend $50 million of the law school.
For information, contact Kenney by email at mkenney@avemarialaw.org or by phone (734) 930-4408.
Originally published Tuesday, August 9, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
The newly-formed Catholic law school in Ann Arbor is considering prospective students for fall 2000--an almost eight months before the April 1 admissions deadline.
Ave Maria administrators said hundreds of prospective students have called the admissions office asking for information on requirements, courses and faculty.
Michael Kenney, dean of admissions, estimated that 200 prospective law students from 40 states have called Ave Maria since the law school was formed four months ago.
About 100 faculty at other institutions have expressed interest in joining Ave Maria, Kenney added.
Ave Maria administrators are encouraged by the response, said Kenney, who had been acting dean of admissions until this month.
“I’m very enthused about the opportunity to be involved in the process of starting a new Catholic law school. The vision … is to be a national law school that will have high admissions standards,” he said.
Led by interim Dean Joseph Falvey of Grosse Pointe Park Ave. Maria Law School is preparing a specialized, Catholic-centered law curriculum and recruiting faculty.
Bernard Dobranski of the Catholic University Law School in Washington, D.C. will become Ave Maria dean in a few months. Judge Robert Bork was recently named as Ave Maria’s first faculty member, Kenney said.
The school, temporarily located at Thomas More Center at the Domino’s Farms, plans to admit 50 first-year law students in the fall 2000. It will gradually increase enrollment size to several hundred students, Kenney said.
Officials are still working out major details for short-and-long-term campus planning. A real estate agent said Ave. Maria is leasing an 85,000-square foot building at 4375 Plymouth Road, where Ave Maria may house administrative offices and classrooms.
Plans for student housing to fall 2000 are uncertain, school officials said.
However, admission services are up and running, and Kenney said the law school intends to process applications this year.
Law school candidates will be expected to fill out a two-page application. Admission will be assessed by grade-point average, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations and the prospective student’s personal statement.
Ave Maria, Kenney said, welcomes applicants of any religion.
Ave Maria will be the 26th Catholic law university in the United States. It is in the process of obtaining its accreditation with the Michigan Board of Education, published reports said.
Thomas Monaghan, the former owner of the Domino’s Pizza empire and founder of the Ave Maria foundation will reportedly spend $50 million of the law school.
For information, contact Kenney by email at mkenney@avemarialaw.org or by phone (734) 930-4408.
Originally published Tuesday, August 9, 1999
Friday, August 06, 1999
Towns with same names as girl invite her to be parade marshal
Ashley Hudson, Indiana
Towns with same names as girl invite her to be parade marshal
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Ashley Hudson, 10, says she’s a “regular kids” with one exception” “I have two towns with my name.”
These towns are a mile apart in the northeast corner of Indiana and they’ve adopted the Pittsfield Township girl as a unifying spirit.
Ashley and her family will be the guests of Ashley, population 900, and Hudson, population 700, this weekend when she serves as the grand marshal of the towns’ annual parade.
Back in early 1997, Ashley’s maternal grandparents were driving along I-69 on the way to Michigan when an exit sign caught their attention. It referred to two towns just off the interstate, “Ashley” was listed first, followed by “Hudson.”
To the grandparents, however, it wasn’t a reference to two towns—it was their granddaughters name. So they pulled over and took a picture of it, said Sandy Hudson, Ashley’s mother.
Several weeks later, the Hudson family, including Ashley’s father, Mike, and her brother Josh, 14, visited the two towns and looked around. Sandy Hudson late wrote to the two towns, telling them about her daughter’s name.
The towns’ joint chamber of commerce wrote a letter back, asking if Ashley and her family wanted to participate in the first annual Ashley and Hudson parade, which was being held in the spirit of cooperation between the two former rival towns. Ashley agreed and attended the first parade in 1997; this year’s parade will be her second.
Pat Alleshouse, secretary for the towns’ chamber of commerce, who has lived in Ashley since the 1950s, said the two towns haven’t always gotten along.
“Over a hundred years ago, Hudson was already a town. The people who owned the land right next to Hudson couldn’t get together (with the Hudson residents) on the price. They moved on down the railroad track and created the town of Ashley.”
Alleshouse says, though, that the longstanding rivalry isn’t as bad as it used to be. Events like the parade bridge the two towns,, which are located just west of I-69, about 18 miles south of the Michigan border.
Ashley, the girl, will receive a complimentary Ashley Hudson hat and T-shirt, free meals, lodging, a ride in the twons’ 1978 silver Corvette during the parade, and a bouquet of yellow flowers—the town’s official color.
“We just fell in love with her right away,” Alleshouse said. “They’re just the nicest family. Just a regular, friendly girl.”
Ashley who will be a student at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor this fall, is looking forward to the trip this weekend.
“They saw me when I was 8, and they can see how much I’ve grown,” she said.
Originally published Friday, August 6, 1999
Photo Caption: Ashley Hudson, 10, holds up a flier for the Ashley-Hudson festival in Ashley and Hudson, Ind., this weekend. Hudson will be the grand marshal for the festival’s parade for the second year in a row.
Towns with same names as girl invite her to be parade marshal
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Ashley Hudson, 10, says she’s a “regular kids” with one exception” “I have two towns with my name.”
These towns are a mile apart in the northeast corner of Indiana and they’ve adopted the Pittsfield Township girl as a unifying spirit.
Ashley and her family will be the guests of Ashley, population 900, and Hudson, population 700, this weekend when she serves as the grand marshal of the towns’ annual parade.
Back in early 1997, Ashley’s maternal grandparents were driving along I-69 on the way to Michigan when an exit sign caught their attention. It referred to two towns just off the interstate, “Ashley” was listed first, followed by “Hudson.”
To the grandparents, however, it wasn’t a reference to two towns—it was their granddaughters name. So they pulled over and took a picture of it, said Sandy Hudson, Ashley’s mother.
Several weeks later, the Hudson family, including Ashley’s father, Mike, and her brother Josh, 14, visited the two towns and looked around. Sandy Hudson late wrote to the two towns, telling them about her daughter’s name.
The towns’ joint chamber of commerce wrote a letter back, asking if Ashley and her family wanted to participate in the first annual Ashley and Hudson parade, which was being held in the spirit of cooperation between the two former rival towns. Ashley agreed and attended the first parade in 1997; this year’s parade will be her second.
Pat Alleshouse, secretary for the towns’ chamber of commerce, who has lived in Ashley since the 1950s, said the two towns haven’t always gotten along.
“Over a hundred years ago, Hudson was already a town. The people who owned the land right next to Hudson couldn’t get together (with the Hudson residents) on the price. They moved on down the railroad track and created the town of Ashley.”
Alleshouse says, though, that the longstanding rivalry isn’t as bad as it used to be. Events like the parade bridge the two towns,, which are located just west of I-69, about 18 miles south of the Michigan border.
Ashley, the girl, will receive a complimentary Ashley Hudson hat and T-shirt, free meals, lodging, a ride in the twons’ 1978 silver Corvette during the parade, and a bouquet of yellow flowers—the town’s official color.
“We just fell in love with her right away,” Alleshouse said. “They’re just the nicest family. Just a regular, friendly girl.”
Ashley who will be a student at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor this fall, is looking forward to the trip this weekend.
“They saw me when I was 8, and they can see how much I’ve grown,” she said.
Originally published Friday, August 6, 1999
Photo Caption: Ashley Hudson, 10, holds up a flier for the Ashley-Hudson festival in Ashley and Hudson, Ind., this weekend. Hudson will be the grand marshal for the festival’s parade for the second year in a row.
Thursday, July 29, 1999
Ag Ambassadors: Extension service program promotes understanding, The Ann Arbor News
The Ann Arbor News
Ag Ambassadors: Extension service program promotes understanding
By Pamela Appea
The Washtenaw County Michigan State University Extension Service is launching an “Ag Ambassadors” program this fall so that farmers and nonfarmers can better understand each other.
Due to perceived tension and miscommunication between the two groups, the Washtenaw-area Agricultural Advisory Council--a group of farmers and MSU agricultural administrators--decided to start a program to promote better understanding of local agricultural practices.
Also, because of the low use of locally produced Washtenaw agricultural products—most Washtenaw County grains or meat are exported out of the county—“mutually beneficial” business opportunities could be an additional perk of the program, MSU administrators said.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Nancy Thelan, MSU Extension Director.
The extension office is looking for 10 county residents, including business professionals and local community leaders, to participate in the federally funded program and then pass on the information they learn to others, said Mike Score, the local Extension agricultural agent.
The program, which runs for a year and is funded with a grant of about $3,000, starts Sept. 18 with a Rural Community Appreciation Tour orientation.
The agricultural ambassadors, who will be selected for community involvement and interest in agricultural issues, will tour Way-lene Acres Dairy Farm, Shady Hills Farm and Plymouth Orchard during four meetings in 1999-2000.
“By educating 10 people, they become ambassadors to other nonfarmers, and they will let nonfarmers know what local agricultural concerns are,” said Score.
The “Ag ambassadors” program won’t just be quaint farm tours, Score said. The program will emphasize difficulties in farming and ambassadors will do some hands-on work, including milking cows and baling hay, in addition to talking to farmers. The group will meet at different points in the year to educate the ambassadors about the weather-related difficulties farmers may face.
Currently, there are 200 full-time farmers in Washtenaw County, said Score.
Although Washtenaw County farms have dwindled in numbers in the past 30 years, 160,000 acres of land are still farmed, Thelen and Score said.
Score, who works with farmers on educational program, said many have expressed concerns that nonfarmers don’t care where Washtenaw County corn goes or that farming land in developing areas are not seen as relevant to the entire community.
Score said that he hopes the program will also get business-minded “Ag Ambassadors” aware and excited about agribusiness opportunities.
Although some Washtenaw County residents do make a habit of buying locally produced fruits and vegetables, Score said, there is no medium for selling other Washtenaw county grains and agricultural products, including corn, soybeans, wheat, beef and pork—which local farms ship out of the county.
Buying locally produced grains or other food does not guarantee that the price will be lower. However, Score said, one benefit of supporting Washtenaw county agriculture might be better product quality.
The “Ag Ambassador” outreach program may expand and become an annual program in the next several years, MSU agricultural administrators said.
Anyone interested in the Ag Ambassadors program should contact Mike Score at (734) 971-0079, extension 2619, by Aug. 20.
Originally published Thursday, July 29, 1999
Ag Ambassadors: Extension service program promotes understanding
By Pamela Appea
The Washtenaw County Michigan State University Extension Service is launching an “Ag Ambassadors” program this fall so that farmers and nonfarmers can better understand each other.
Due to perceived tension and miscommunication between the two groups, the Washtenaw-area Agricultural Advisory Council--a group of farmers and MSU agricultural administrators--decided to start a program to promote better understanding of local agricultural practices.
Also, because of the low use of locally produced Washtenaw agricultural products—most Washtenaw County grains or meat are exported out of the county—“mutually beneficial” business opportunities could be an additional perk of the program, MSU administrators said.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Nancy Thelan, MSU Extension Director.
The extension office is looking for 10 county residents, including business professionals and local community leaders, to participate in the federally funded program and then pass on the information they learn to others, said Mike Score, the local Extension agricultural agent.
The program, which runs for a year and is funded with a grant of about $3,000, starts Sept. 18 with a Rural Community Appreciation Tour orientation.
The agricultural ambassadors, who will be selected for community involvement and interest in agricultural issues, will tour Way-lene Acres Dairy Farm, Shady Hills Farm and Plymouth Orchard during four meetings in 1999-2000.
“By educating 10 people, they become ambassadors to other nonfarmers, and they will let nonfarmers know what local agricultural concerns are,” said Score.
The “Ag ambassadors” program won’t just be quaint farm tours, Score said. The program will emphasize difficulties in farming and ambassadors will do some hands-on work, including milking cows and baling hay, in addition to talking to farmers. The group will meet at different points in the year to educate the ambassadors about the weather-related difficulties farmers may face.
Currently, there are 200 full-time farmers in Washtenaw County, said Score.
Although Washtenaw County farms have dwindled in numbers in the past 30 years, 160,000 acres of land are still farmed, Thelen and Score said.
Score, who works with farmers on educational program, said many have expressed concerns that nonfarmers don’t care where Washtenaw County corn goes or that farming land in developing areas are not seen as relevant to the entire community.
Score said that he hopes the program will also get business-minded “Ag Ambassadors” aware and excited about agribusiness opportunities.
Although some Washtenaw County residents do make a habit of buying locally produced fruits and vegetables, Score said, there is no medium for selling other Washtenaw county grains and agricultural products, including corn, soybeans, wheat, beef and pork—which local farms ship out of the county.
Buying locally produced grains or other food does not guarantee that the price will be lower. However, Score said, one benefit of supporting Washtenaw county agriculture might be better product quality.
The “Ag Ambassador” outreach program may expand and become an annual program in the next several years, MSU agricultural administrators said.
Anyone interested in the Ag Ambassadors program should contact Mike Score at (734) 971-0079, extension 2619, by Aug. 20.
Originally published Thursday, July 29, 1999
Visit to Dawn Farm helps special needs campers learn
Visit to Dawn Farm helps special needs campers learn
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
As Nondi Lampkin, 4, snapped broccoli heads from Dawn Farm’s garden and placed them in her yellow bucket, she said she planned to cooker her small harvest later on that afternoon—adding some supermarket-bought melted cheese.
Lampkin was one of more than 20 children from Ann Arbor’s Early Learning Center summer camp program who visited Dawn Farm Wednesday.
The 4 ½ week camp works with children ages 3-5 who have special learning needs, grouping them together with other preschool children, so that all children can learn and have fun. One of the camp’s most popular field trips is to the Ypsilanti-area farm, where children pet farm animals, leaf-paint, go on hayrides, and garden for half the day.
Ann Telfer is one of the organizer’s of the integrated summer camp—which is in its third year. Telfer, the parent of a 6-year-old autistic child, David, said she felt there was a need for a local camp that took an integrated learning approach.
“This entire project points to the positive influence of the 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and its voice in requiring schools and communities at large to include and accommodate children with differing abilities in all aspects of life,” she said.
Telfer said the Dawn Farm trip is particularly successful for autistic children, who enjoy the direct contact with animals—since some have difficulty playing with other children or talking with adults.
Camps coordinators work on strengthening children’s verbal skill and play ability. The camp also gives non-special needs children the opportunity to learn about others who are different.
“I think it’s remarkable that we are now working in integrated classrooms,” said Linda Johnson, a special education teacher with the Ann Arbor Pre-School and Family Center.
Telfer said that the idea for the camp was realized with the support of Johnson, a 30-year teaching veteran and Carol Fast, an Ann Arbor-area speech pathologist. They and other parents worked with the Early Learning Center, which is a private school, and Ann Arbor Public School administrators to start the summer camp.
Jim Reitz, an Ann Arbor parent, said he was pleased with the camp. He went along with the group for the Dawn Farm field trip.
“My son (Duncan), 4) really likes animals. There’s nothing like a farm for these kids,” he said.
Telfer said it’s important to provide autistic children the opportunity to talk with other children during the preschool years. In her opinion, though, the camp benefits all the enrolled children.
Telfer’s son David, said he enjoyed feeding the goats and the llamas at the farm. “I feel proud the goat ate the leaves,” he said after thanking the animal.
Sam Colvin St. Cyr, 5, didn’t have much time to talk about his favorite farm activity. He said, “I have to feed my hungry goat,” he said, not breaking his stride.
The children also looked at llamas and the farm’s three pigs, and they petted baby turkeys and baby rabbits.
Dawn Farm which operates as a residential drug rehabilitation center, recruited resident volunteers to participate in the children’s farm experience, said Alayne Speltz, operations manager.
“I think it’s fantastic. They put a lot of smiles on our faces,” said Roxanne Denike, a Dawn Farm resident from the Whitmore Lake area.
The trip to Dawn Farm was partially subsidized by the Ann Arbor Branch of the Women’s National Farm and Garden Association, in addition to parent’s camp enrollment fees.
Originally Published July 29, 1999.
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
As Nondi Lampkin, 4, snapped broccoli heads from Dawn Farm’s garden and placed them in her yellow bucket, she said she planned to cooker her small harvest later on that afternoon—adding some supermarket-bought melted cheese.
Lampkin was one of more than 20 children from Ann Arbor’s Early Learning Center summer camp program who visited Dawn Farm Wednesday.
The 4 ½ week camp works with children ages 3-5 who have special learning needs, grouping them together with other preschool children, so that all children can learn and have fun. One of the camp’s most popular field trips is to the Ypsilanti-area farm, where children pet farm animals, leaf-paint, go on hayrides, and garden for half the day.
Ann Telfer is one of the organizer’s of the integrated summer camp—which is in its third year. Telfer, the parent of a 6-year-old autistic child, David, said she felt there was a need for a local camp that took an integrated learning approach.
“This entire project points to the positive influence of the 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and its voice in requiring schools and communities at large to include and accommodate children with differing abilities in all aspects of life,” she said.
Telfer said the Dawn Farm trip is particularly successful for autistic children, who enjoy the direct contact with animals—since some have difficulty playing with other children or talking with adults.
Camps coordinators work on strengthening children’s verbal skill and play ability. The camp also gives non-special needs children the opportunity to learn about others who are different.
“I think it’s remarkable that we are now working in integrated classrooms,” said Linda Johnson, a special education teacher with the Ann Arbor Pre-School and Family Center.
Telfer said that the idea for the camp was realized with the support of Johnson, a 30-year teaching veteran and Carol Fast, an Ann Arbor-area speech pathologist. They and other parents worked with the Early Learning Center, which is a private school, and Ann Arbor Public School administrators to start the summer camp.
Jim Reitz, an Ann Arbor parent, said he was pleased with the camp. He went along with the group for the Dawn Farm field trip.
“My son (Duncan), 4) really likes animals. There’s nothing like a farm for these kids,” he said.
Telfer said it’s important to provide autistic children the opportunity to talk with other children during the preschool years. In her opinion, though, the camp benefits all the enrolled children.
Telfer’s son David, said he enjoyed feeding the goats and the llamas at the farm. “I feel proud the goat ate the leaves,” he said after thanking the animal.
Sam Colvin St. Cyr, 5, didn’t have much time to talk about his favorite farm activity. He said, “I have to feed my hungry goat,” he said, not breaking his stride.
The children also looked at llamas and the farm’s three pigs, and they petted baby turkeys and baby rabbits.
Dawn Farm which operates as a residential drug rehabilitation center, recruited resident volunteers to participate in the children’s farm experience, said Alayne Speltz, operations manager.
“I think it’s fantastic. They put a lot of smiles on our faces,” said Roxanne Denike, a Dawn Farm resident from the Whitmore Lake area.
The trip to Dawn Farm was partially subsidized by the Ann Arbor Branch of the Women’s National Farm and Garden Association, in addition to parent’s camp enrollment fees.
Originally Published July 29, 1999.
Monday, July 26, 1999
Runners carry torch for peace
Runners carry torch for peace
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Kapila Castoldi is modest about her two-mile daily running habit.
But the Ann Arbor resident can take pride in her efforts to coordinate Peace Run volunteers who have been running longer distances--eight to 10 miles a day, every day--for the past three months.
“Peace run 1999: the run to 2000” started with a team of European runners in Portugal on Jan. 1. U.S.-based Peace Run athletics started passing the torch April 17 at New York City’s U.N. building, where the team will conclude its segment on Aug. 17. Participating runners from 119 other countries will continue the run until Dec. 31.
The runners--who take turns carrying a lit peace torch symbolizing world-wide peace--trekked Sunday through Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
“It’s a simple idea, but we get enthusiastic responses from many people,” said Castoldi, a visiting Oakland University assistant physics professor.
Peace Run volunteers, a 12-person team with U.S. and international members, visit various schools, community centers and city halls, where they talk to local children and community groups.
“It’s exciting for the kids and it puts a seed in their mind about .. Peace,” said Castoldi, who coordinators the Michigan and Tennessee runs.
Tom Taylor, a Peace Run captain and a carpenter in New York City, said he took the time off work to focus on ways of being a peace-oriented person.
“I don’t think about peace every day when I’m working. (But now) I think of peace every day, 100 times a day when I am running … an I meet good people (who also care about peace),” he said.
During the runners’ stop in Gallup Park at 10:40 a.m. Sunday, the volunteers were joined by U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers D-Ann Arbor, who walked a half-mile.
The group also was joined by Ann Arbor YMCA runners along with some local citizens.
In Ypsilanti, where the runners stopped at 12:40 p.m., a few Eastern Michigan University students ran three miles with the team toward Depot Town.
“I really liked the idea of getting people involved in peace,” said G. Summer Scarbough, an EMU senior and the student body vice president.
“People don’t get involved unless it is reactionary like the protest against the … (1998) Khan (rally) in Ann Arbor. (the Peace Run) is proactive, and something positive,” she said.
Castoldi who couldn’t run with the group due to a recent injury, said that since the event fell on the weekend, it was low-key. She predicted that the Peace Run shop in Detroit today might have a higher attendance.
Mary Roberts, YMCA senior program executive, said even if the Ann Arbor event was on a smaller scale, the principles of peace are still important.
“(Peace Run) is something that we believe in,” she said.
Originally published Monday, July 26, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Pamela Appea
Kapila Castoldi is modest about her two-mile daily running habit.
But the Ann Arbor resident can take pride in her efforts to coordinate Peace Run volunteers who have been running longer distances--eight to 10 miles a day, every day--for the past three months.
“Peace run 1999: the run to 2000” started with a team of European runners in Portugal on Jan. 1. U.S.-based Peace Run athletics started passing the torch April 17 at New York City’s U.N. building, where the team will conclude its segment on Aug. 17. Participating runners from 119 other countries will continue the run until Dec. 31.
The runners--who take turns carrying a lit peace torch symbolizing world-wide peace--trekked Sunday through Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
“It’s a simple idea, but we get enthusiastic responses from many people,” said Castoldi, a visiting Oakland University assistant physics professor.
Peace Run volunteers, a 12-person team with U.S. and international members, visit various schools, community centers and city halls, where they talk to local children and community groups.
“It’s exciting for the kids and it puts a seed in their mind about .. Peace,” said Castoldi, who coordinators the Michigan and Tennessee runs.
Tom Taylor, a Peace Run captain and a carpenter in New York City, said he took the time off work to focus on ways of being a peace-oriented person.
“I don’t think about peace every day when I’m working. (But now) I think of peace every day, 100 times a day when I am running … an I meet good people (who also care about peace),” he said.
During the runners’ stop in Gallup Park at 10:40 a.m. Sunday, the volunteers were joined by U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers D-Ann Arbor, who walked a half-mile.
The group also was joined by Ann Arbor YMCA runners along with some local citizens.
In Ypsilanti, where the runners stopped at 12:40 p.m., a few Eastern Michigan University students ran three miles with the team toward Depot Town.
“I really liked the idea of getting people involved in peace,” said G. Summer Scarbough, an EMU senior and the student body vice president.
“People don’t get involved unless it is reactionary like the protest against the … (1998) Khan (rally) in Ann Arbor. (the Peace Run) is proactive, and something positive,” she said.
Castoldi who couldn’t run with the group due to a recent injury, said that since the event fell on the weekend, it was low-key. She predicted that the Peace Run shop in Detroit today might have a higher attendance.
Mary Roberts, YMCA senior program executive, said even if the Ann Arbor event was on a smaller scale, the principles of peace are still important.
“(Peace Run) is something that we believe in,” she said.
Originally published Monday, July 26, 1999
Sunday, July 25, 1999
Getting parking takes a ‘find’ art
Getting parking takes a ‘find’ art
The Ann Arbor News
By Colleen Newvine, Rob Hoffman and Pamela Appea
Kathy Krick went into this year’s art fairs knowing parking was going to be a challenge.
Wednesday morning, her hunch proved right.
Krick, director of the State Street Art Fair, had to shuffle artists around and provide alternative parking this year because typically many of her fair’s artists park in the 786-space Maynard Street structure, closed this year for repairs.
Krick had encouraged many of the fair’s artists to park in the Liberty Square structure instead, and issues many of them four-day parking passes they paid for in advance.
Come Wednesday morning, Liberty Square was full by 8 a.m. She heard that some artists showed only their artist identification, not a parking pass, and were admitted, leading to overcrowding.
“There’s always some first-day parking glitches,” commiserated Dave Kronenberg, director of the Summer Art Fair.
Krick said things seemed much smoother Thursday after she’d talked to people at the structure and checked in with some of the artists.
“Well, at least I haven’t heard any complaints,” she said.
Fair? What fair?
Ask artists in the Ann Arbor Fairs what pieces have caught their eyes and the likely response is a bewildered chuckle or a shoulder shrug. With four long days of selling, often alone or with one assistant, there’s not much time for strolling the streets.
Loel Martin, a photographer from Skokie, Ill., has been in the Summer Art Fair (booth D373) about a decade now, and though he thinks the quality of the show overall is on the rise, he can’t cite any particular booth that called to him.
“I’ve only seen what’s between here and the car,” he said, gesturing from his booth on Liberty Street down toward Main Street. “Now you could ask me about my art …”
-March Russell, an assistant at the Harvard Reflections Booth on Main Street (D424), said he’s snuck a few minutes here and there to look at other booths. He’s enjoyed the variety of photography, and the different types of glass work, though he didn’t have one particular favorite of either.
“It’s fun to see the great variety of work that’s produced,” he said.
One he did like, not far from the Harvard Reflections booth, is the assortment of rattam tables by Sally Bright (booth D349.)
Not so early risers
Spencer Porter did something Thursday that he had never done before in his 27 years as an exhibitor at the Summer Art Fair on Main Street.
He cooked himself breakfast.
“I had time,” said Porter, an Ann Arbor resident who displays life-sized casts (D470.) “It was great.”
It’s all due to the art fair’s new opening time of 10 a.m., instead of the traditional 9 a.m. Artists lobbied for the later hour to cut down on the amount of time they spend outside every day.
Are people paying attention to the new hours? Not really. At seems to be an art fair tradition, people were out on the streets before 8 a.m. munching on bagel, sipping coffee and sneaking peeks at the open booths. Plus the AATA is still running shuttle buses starting at 8 a.m.
“We figure it’s going to take a few years for people to get to the new hours,” said Liz Nowland-Margolis, an AATA spokeswoman.
Artists Robert Martin of King George, Va., (D440) arrived on Main Street at 7:30 a.m. Thursday--the same time he had traditionally showed up to sell his sculptures made out of recycled musical instruments.
“If you’re doing an art show and you wait until 10 a.m., it’s not professional,” he said.
He gives good face
Mark Hammond of Grand Rapids sells a number of musical instruments like wooden drums and other noisemakers such as rain sticks and wind chimes on Liberty Street (D324.)
But even as children bang on a small wooden drum, Hammond offers something completely unrelated--a sign beckons people to take advantage of free facial massage.
By Thursday, he’s only done a handful of them.
“It usually takes a while for people to realize it’s not a gimmick,” he said.
The massage takes about a minute, with Hammond rubbing and pressing on various points of the face while the recipient sits in his chair behind the booth.
Hammond used to live in Thailand, and while there, he studies with monks and learned about how blood flows and the skin works.
Sign up, sign on
With 500,000 pairs of eyeballs expected this week, it’s prime time to share a message.
The not-for-profit row on East Liberty Street has its typical diverse range of booths, including the Southeast Michigan Naturists and Ronald McDonald House.
One anti-abortion advocate took advantage of the audience by carrying a large placard with a graphic picture of an aborted fetus and text describing the picture as the remains of a child.
“Oh no, we’re in the weird section,” Holly Speers, an Ontario potter, said to her two fellow potters. As they briskly walked by the booths, the group explained they drove in Thursday from Canada to see the art, not to listen to any impromptu lectures.
Hare Krishna monks Giri-Govardhana Das and Iksraku-Das, both of Detroit, have come to the art fairs for years to talk to people about the “pure love of God.” Their both occasionally offers free vegetarian food, a time when they admit they are the busiest.
The Michigan Greyhound connection is a group that works to find non-lethal alternatives for the estimated 30,000 greyhound dogs--a year--that are bred but then not necessarily used for racing.
As volunteer Stacey Ignagni sad by one of two greyhounds--who were well protected from the heat under the booth’s tent--she said the art fairs are a great way to publicize the dogs’ plight.
Much less weighty was the message touted by an employee of Arbor Brewing Co. “Beer. It’s like art, but wetter.”
Smile, You’re on CTV.
For the ninth year in a row, the Community Television Network has its camera trained on the art fairs.
At their tent on South Fifth Avenue and Liberty Street, producers with the Ann Arbor public-access channel try to entice passers-by[s] into saying hello on camera. One in four usually are amenable, says Ralph Sameron, CTV’s facility manager.
“After a while, you can spot who you should approach.”
About 20 hours of tape will be distilled into 14 hours of programming. CTV began broadcasting the results Wednesday night. Most people just say a few words, like “Hi mom” and other greetings, Sameron said. But there are always a few people who like to juggle, perform dramatic readings and even show off their pet snakes.
Sidewalk sales
With the art comes the sales.
Many local businesses set up tables bearing discounted merchandise, and other businesses plan on increase sales during the fairs.
Sales at most downtown ice cream establishments were busy Thursday. With lines well out the door at Stucchi’s most of the day, Megan Cagney, the manager of the sore on South State Street and Washtenaw Avenue estimated that the State Street location sold at least 150 gallons of ice cream.
At Kilwin’s on East Liberty Street, the “swamped” owner Karen Piehutkoski estimated that her store did well on opening art fair day--despite the rain.
“What we sold yesterday was what we might (usually) sell in an average week,” she said, noting that the day’s sales topped 200 gallons.
Copping a spot
The Ann Arbor Fire Department has long been a fixture of the Ann Arbor Arts Fairs. This year, the Ann Arbor Police joined the roster.
Vicki Motsinger, crime analyst with the department, said she’s been surprised by the number of visitors she’s seen at the booth on Main and Liberty streets.
People have asked a variety of art fair questions, like where the find the bathrooms, but they’ve also taken an interest in a display of illegal drugs.
Better bags
When Shary Brown sat down last winter to view slides of the 1998 Street Art Fair, she was pleased with what she saw.
Except those little yellow things that kept appearing in her pictures.
“I didn’t know what they were,” she said. “Then when I saw one up close, I realized. ‘Oh, it’s a parking meter. That’s pretty ugly. What can I do? I can decorate it,’ so I did.”
This summer, instead of being covered with city-issued bright yellow bags, the area’s 43 meters feature bags decorated with this year’s Street Art Fair logo--a picture of a wooden shack reminiscent of the fair’s former booths.
Originally published July 25, 1999
The Ann Arbor News
By Colleen Newvine, Rob Hoffman and Pamela Appea
Kathy Krick went into this year’s art fairs knowing parking was going to be a challenge.
Wednesday morning, her hunch proved right.
Krick, director of the State Street Art Fair, had to shuffle artists around and provide alternative parking this year because typically many of her fair’s artists park in the 786-space Maynard Street structure, closed this year for repairs.
Krick had encouraged many of the fair’s artists to park in the Liberty Square structure instead, and issues many of them four-day parking passes they paid for in advance.
Come Wednesday morning, Liberty Square was full by 8 a.m. She heard that some artists showed only their artist identification, not a parking pass, and were admitted, leading to overcrowding.
“There’s always some first-day parking glitches,” commiserated Dave Kronenberg, director of the Summer Art Fair.
Krick said things seemed much smoother Thursday after she’d talked to people at the structure and checked in with some of the artists.
“Well, at least I haven’t heard any complaints,” she said.
Fair? What fair?
Ask artists in the Ann Arbor Fairs what pieces have caught their eyes and the likely response is a bewildered chuckle or a shoulder shrug. With four long days of selling, often alone or with one assistant, there’s not much time for strolling the streets.
Loel Martin, a photographer from Skokie, Ill., has been in the Summer Art Fair (booth D373) about a decade now, and though he thinks the quality of the show overall is on the rise, he can’t cite any particular booth that called to him.
“I’ve only seen what’s between here and the car,” he said, gesturing from his booth on Liberty Street down toward Main Street. “Now you could ask me about my art …”
-March Russell, an assistant at the Harvard Reflections Booth on Main Street (D424), said he’s snuck a few minutes here and there to look at other booths. He’s enjoyed the variety of photography, and the different types of glass work, though he didn’t have one particular favorite of either.
“It’s fun to see the great variety of work that’s produced,” he said.
One he did like, not far from the Harvard Reflections booth, is the assortment of rattam tables by Sally Bright (booth D349.)
Not so early risers
Spencer Porter did something Thursday that he had never done before in his 27 years as an exhibitor at the Summer Art Fair on Main Street.
He cooked himself breakfast.
“I had time,” said Porter, an Ann Arbor resident who displays life-sized casts (D470.) “It was great.”
It’s all due to the art fair’s new opening time of 10 a.m., instead of the traditional 9 a.m. Artists lobbied for the later hour to cut down on the amount of time they spend outside every day.
Are people paying attention to the new hours? Not really. At seems to be an art fair tradition, people were out on the streets before 8 a.m. munching on bagel, sipping coffee and sneaking peeks at the open booths. Plus the AATA is still running shuttle buses starting at 8 a.m.
“We figure it’s going to take a few years for people to get to the new hours,” said Liz Nowland-Margolis, an AATA spokeswoman.
Artists Robert Martin of King George, Va., (D440) arrived on Main Street at 7:30 a.m. Thursday--the same time he had traditionally showed up to sell his sculptures made out of recycled musical instruments.
“If you’re doing an art show and you wait until 10 a.m., it’s not professional,” he said.
He gives good face
Mark Hammond of Grand Rapids sells a number of musical instruments like wooden drums and other noisemakers such as rain sticks and wind chimes on Liberty Street (D324.)
But even as children bang on a small wooden drum, Hammond offers something completely unrelated--a sign beckons people to take advantage of free facial massage.
By Thursday, he’s only done a handful of them.
“It usually takes a while for people to realize it’s not a gimmick,” he said.
The massage takes about a minute, with Hammond rubbing and pressing on various points of the face while the recipient sits in his chair behind the booth.
Hammond used to live in Thailand, and while there, he studies with monks and learned about how blood flows and the skin works.
Sign up, sign on
With 500,000 pairs of eyeballs expected this week, it’s prime time to share a message.
The not-for-profit row on East Liberty Street has its typical diverse range of booths, including the Southeast Michigan Naturists and Ronald McDonald House.
One anti-abortion advocate took advantage of the audience by carrying a large placard with a graphic picture of an aborted fetus and text describing the picture as the remains of a child.
“Oh no, we’re in the weird section,” Holly Speers, an Ontario potter, said to her two fellow potters. As they briskly walked by the booths, the group explained they drove in Thursday from Canada to see the art, not to listen to any impromptu lectures.
Hare Krishna monks Giri-Govardhana Das and Iksraku-Das, both of Detroit, have come to the art fairs for years to talk to people about the “pure love of God.” Their both occasionally offers free vegetarian food, a time when they admit they are the busiest.
The Michigan Greyhound connection is a group that works to find non-lethal alternatives for the estimated 30,000 greyhound dogs--a year--that are bred but then not necessarily used for racing.
As volunteer Stacey Ignagni sad by one of two greyhounds--who were well protected from the heat under the booth’s tent--she said the art fairs are a great way to publicize the dogs’ plight.
Much less weighty was the message touted by an employee of Arbor Brewing Co. “Beer. It’s like art, but wetter.”
Smile, You’re on CTV.
For the ninth year in a row, the Community Television Network has its camera trained on the art fairs.
At their tent on South Fifth Avenue and Liberty Street, producers with the Ann Arbor public-access channel try to entice passers-by[s] into saying hello on camera. One in four usually are amenable, says Ralph Sameron, CTV’s facility manager.
“After a while, you can spot who you should approach.”
About 20 hours of tape will be distilled into 14 hours of programming. CTV began broadcasting the results Wednesday night. Most people just say a few words, like “Hi mom” and other greetings, Sameron said. But there are always a few people who like to juggle, perform dramatic readings and even show off their pet snakes.
Sidewalk sales
With the art comes the sales.
Many local businesses set up tables bearing discounted merchandise, and other businesses plan on increase sales during the fairs.
Sales at most downtown ice cream establishments were busy Thursday. With lines well out the door at Stucchi’s most of the day, Megan Cagney, the manager of the sore on South State Street and Washtenaw Avenue estimated that the State Street location sold at least 150 gallons of ice cream.
At Kilwin’s on East Liberty Street, the “swamped” owner Karen Piehutkoski estimated that her store did well on opening art fair day--despite the rain.
“What we sold yesterday was what we might (usually) sell in an average week,” she said, noting that the day’s sales topped 200 gallons.
Copping a spot
The Ann Arbor Fire Department has long been a fixture of the Ann Arbor Arts Fairs. This year, the Ann Arbor Police joined the roster.
Vicki Motsinger, crime analyst with the department, said she’s been surprised by the number of visitors she’s seen at the booth on Main and Liberty streets.
People have asked a variety of art fair questions, like where the find the bathrooms, but they’ve also taken an interest in a display of illegal drugs.
Better bags
When Shary Brown sat down last winter to view slides of the 1998 Street Art Fair, she was pleased with what she saw.
Except those little yellow things that kept appearing in her pictures.
“I didn’t know what they were,” she said. “Then when I saw one up close, I realized. ‘Oh, it’s a parking meter. That’s pretty ugly. What can I do? I can decorate it,’ so I did.”
This summer, instead of being covered with city-issued bright yellow bags, the area’s 43 meters feature bags decorated with this year’s Street Art Fair logo--a picture of a wooden shack reminiscent of the fair’s former booths.
Originally published July 25, 1999
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