The funeral for the 81-year-old man killed last week when a vehicle crossed the centerline of Michigan Avenue and hit his car head on will be held Saturday, with visitation on Friday.

Neil Stierle

MLive photo

Stierle was a lifelong farmer on his family's centennial farm, according to his obituary. Visitation for Stierle will take place from 2-8 p.m. Friday at the St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1001 W. Ellsworth Road, Pittsfield Township. Funeral services will be held at the same church the next day at 11 a.m.

A 71-year-old York Township woman was a passenger in Stierle’s vehicle at the time of the crash. Police said Monday she’s still being treated for her injuries.

The woman has not been identified, but police said she is a relative of Stierle’s.

• Read Stierle's full obituary.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

The Eastern Michigan University Student Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. on April 20, 2010.

AnnArbor.com File Photo

At the pace at which EMU's freshman class is growing, the report projects enrollment could top 2,850 this fall — which would be a record for the Ypsilanti school.

EMU officials attribute the growth to an increase in programs that cater to market demand — especially in the fields of business, physical science and health care — as well as an investment in faculty, new facilities and a greater dedication to financial aid, according to the report.

The university has invested about $200 million in improving the campus in the past five years.

The average GPA of incoming freshman has also increased from 3.08 in 2010 to 3.11 in 2011 to 3.18 in 2012, Crain's Detroit reported.

• Read the full report in Crain's Detroit Business

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

The nonprofit Arts Alliance has released the results of an Ann Arbor City Council candidate survey about arts and culture.

Both challengers hoping to oust incumbent council members stated they want to see the city invest in public art in ways that include reaching out to more local artists.

"I believe that we can bring back support for public art by selecting smaller-budget projects that are in accessible locations, include a more robust public engagement process, and promote greater outreach to local artists," said Grand, a self-described arts supporter and selection committee member for a public art project planned for Argo Cascades.

"I'm also in support of exploring private-public partnerships to fund art, as well as providing funding for temporary art and festivals," Grand added in her survey response.

Eaton wrote in his survey response that he would seek ways to fund public art that allow the city to give preference to local art.

"I believe that we can form public-private partnerships (like was used to preserve the Michigan Theater) to finance projects by local artists," he said. "I would pursue the idea that some large capital projects should have art included ('baked-in') from the inception."

The incumbents, who recently voted in favor of a major overhaul of the city's public art program, did not respond to the survey.

• Download the full responses from Grand and Eaton
.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Trash in a Dumpster inside of The Salvation Army in Ann Arbor caught on fire Monday afternoon, damaging part of the building before it could be pulled outside and extinguished.

Ann Arbor firefighters responded at 12:35 p.m. Monday to the Salvation Army, 1621 S. State St., after a fire was reported inside the building. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire was in a Dumpster that was inside the building.

Materials inside the Dumpster were burning and firefighters used a hose to knock the flames down. A tow truck from Brewers & Sakstrup’s Towing pulled the Dumpster outside the building so firefighters could remove the burning material and extinguish what was left of the fire.

There was some minor smoke damage to the interior of the building, but the burned materials were mostly inside of the Dumpster. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Ypsilanti firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate a woman from her vehicle after it was hit in the driver’s side door, a fire official said.

Lt. Richard Barnabo said a woman’s vehicle was hit in a T-bone style crash about 11:20 a.m. Monday at Spring and Catherine streets. The impact was on the driver's side door.

The woman was trapped in the vehicle, and firefighters cut her out. She suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital by Huron Valley Ambulance, Barnabo said.

Spring Street was partially closed and firefighters were on scene for about 40 minutes, Barnabo said.

Ypsilanti Township firefighters assisted in the extrication.

View Larger Map

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Michigan football head coach Brady Hoke along with players Taylor Lewan, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Cameron Gordon and Blake Countess answered questions from the media during a press conference at the Al Glick Fieldhouse on Monday.

The press conference was held after the first practice, which marked the beginning of fall football camp. The first game is less than four weeks away on Aug. 31, 2013 against Central Michigan University.

AnnArbor.com photographer Melanie Maxwell captured these images from teh press conference.

Members of the Dexter High School marching band perform in last year's Dexter Daze parade.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

The ribbon was cut at Dexter's new Mill Creek Park during last year's annual festival and parade. Now Dexter Daze is taking advantage of the improvements on the north side of downtown.

As in the past, music, art and activities will still happen at Monument Park, in the center of town, and other locations around town. However, the addition of Mill Creek Park means more acts, more space for booths, and new activities.

A new amphitheater at Mill Creek Park serves as a second venue for music and other performances.

"This year, we also have a portion of Jeffords Street closed. There will be entertainment and booths along the street by the park. If it's successful, maybe next year we'll add on to that," says Dexter Daze's new Chair Tom Paup, a financial adviser and associate partner at Upstream Investment in Dexter.

The vision is to expand it "in small steps," Paup says.

On Friday night, an outdoor movie at dusk is new. "ET" will screen around 9 p.m.

A rock climbing wall on Jeffords Street is also new this year.

Paup envisions expanding the festival even more in the future. However, as the festival's new chairperson, he says that it will not change too much. Diehard Dexter Daze fans will still find it familiar in a good way.

"It's still going to be a lot of the same taste and feel of Dexter Daze, but it's enhanced," Paup says.

Returning musical acts at the Monument Park gazebo such as Laith Al-Saadi, RFD Boys, and Bugs Beddow "are festival favorites that draw a lot of people," Paup says.

And the addition of the Mill Creek Park amphitheater is allowing Dexter Daze to feature more acts throughout the afternoon and evening. Jazz group Doug Horn Trio will headline the amphitheater on Friday night, from 7 to 9 p.m. And Paup is really looking forward to seeing the Top Hat Performers do their fire and illusion act. They will headline the amphitheater on Saturday night, from 8 to 9:45 p.m.

This year, more than 100 booths will feature a mixture of artists and business vendors—another big draw to the festival. Dexter Daze commissioned Ann Arbor artist Katherine Larson "to paint a portrait of Dexter," Paup says of one of this year's art highlights.

An annual tradition, the Dexter Daze Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Other traditions such as the "Little Conductors Train" will return. Ride it on Jeffords Street, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

And a $10,000 raffle is always popular, according to Paup. This year, proceeds will benefit Dexter Historical Society and Museum's Gordon Hall.

Dexter Public Library, Gordon Hall, Creekside Intermediate School, and other locations around Dexter are also hosting additional events during Dexter Daze.

Visit www.DexterDaze.org for a complete schedule of Dexter Daze events, music and performance line-up, and links to participating artists.

A goal of most downtown festivals is to be an economic driver. And Paup agrees. Traveling between the two parks takes visitors through a charming stretch of Dexter with shops and dining.

On top of connecting the built environment, nature is easily accessible. For example, a new boardwalk passes over scenic wetlands.

"I hope it brings a lot of people through downtown, rather than only around Monument Park. We're definitely trying to encompass more and connect with more of downtown Dexter," Paup says.

Massachusetts-based artist Catherine Widgery proposes a concept titled "Arbor Winds" that's largely based on the tree as a symbol of Ann Arbor's identity.

City officials said the artist's proposed concept — "Arbor Winds" — was supported by community feedback conducted by the Public Art Commission and the project selection panel.

Widgery's concept incorporates images of trees etched onto stone and glass panels. The images were taken from photos of trees in Ann Arbor along city streets and in Nichols Arboretum.

The glass etchings proposed by Widgery.

Aaron Seagraves, the city’s public art administrator, said the commission and selection panel plan to work with Widgery to refine the concept to a final design before it can be offered for final approval by the Public Art Commission and the City Council.

Widgery proposed having each tree panel lit at night by LED fixtures. Additionally, Widgery proposed a series of eight banners attached to the streetlight poles on the bridge itself — banners consisting of several 6-inch squares of etched acrylic held in aluminum frames welded together.

• View more images of her proposal and other finalists' proposals

Funding for the project is coming from the city's pooled public art fund. The budget for the design, fabrication and installation is $360,000.

City officials said Widgery has a well-established record working on public art projects, having completed more than 30 works in public spaces, most recently in Toronto and Denver.

She has created several works with public infrastructure, including bridges, and has been recognized multiple times for creating an outstanding public artwork by the Americans for the Arts.

For more information on public art in Ann Arbor, visit www.a2gov.org/aapac.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Ypsilanti residents will have the chance to voice their opinion on a new fee the city is proposing to help pay for the conversion of the city’s streetlights to LED and cover electricity costs.

A public hearing set for the Tuesday, Aug. 6 City Council meeting is one of three that are part of the process to implement the fee.

A new LED streetlight in Ypsilanti.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

As the city struggles to balance its budget over the long term, the fee would bring in an additional $400,000 annually to pay for lighting. Mayor Paul Schreiber pointed out that the savings would equate to another year of solvency.

If property owners representing more than 50 percent of the expected cost of the assessment file objections, the project may not proceed without the affirmative vote of four-fifths of all of the council members.

The conversion to LED lighting has already begun and will cost around $555,000.

If the new streetlight fee gets final approval as proposed, a parcel owner will pay an estimated $98 in fiscal year 2014 and $92 in fiscal year 2015. That figure will drop to $84 through fiscal year 2020 and $67.51 through fiscal year 2031.

The current proposal has costs for conversion to LED along with operation and maintenance divided equally and assessed among 4,812 of the city’s 4,951 parcels. The city will pay for 23 percent of all capital costs and operating and maintenance costs in the first year and 20 percent after.

Eastern Michigan University and government-owned lots are exempt. The city is also considering exempting Highland Cemetery’s two parcels.

City Manager Ralph Lange previously said the tax runs through 2031 because that is when Water Street debt should be retired and the city will be in a better financial position.

Schreiber said he thinks the city switching to LED lighting is a good move, and he supports creating a special assessment district to pay for the capital costs, but he said he is undecided on his support for the fee to continue operating and maintaining the lights.

“I am certainly in favor of a capital assessment, I am still undecided on the operations,” Schreiber said.

He said his issue is the regressive flat $100 fee that all parcel owners would pay regardless of their income or any other variable.

“That’s a big negative,” he said. “It does buy us another year of solvency if we do the plan as outlined, but the question is is that years of solvency worth the regressive nature of the levy?”

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.

One of liberty Square's 17 buildings is knocked down.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

• Previous article: Blight beat: Liberty Square demolition to begin Monday

The final chapter to the long, twisted history of Liberty Square began Monday.

By that afternoon, a large potion of the first of 17 buildings in the Ypsilanti Township housing complex had been torn down. It marked the beginning of a three-month demolition process.

“It’s bringing me phenomenal satisfaction to watch the jaws of destruction bringing it down,” said Ypsilanti Township Building Director Ron Fulton.

Over the last three years, Fulton played a key role in the multi-department effort to get the 26-acre property brought up to code, and, when that failed, the long legal battle to condemn the property and convince a judge to order it vacated and torn down.

“By far it’s the largest blight-busting project and for me it’s a momentous occasion,” Fulton said. “This is marking a three-year concerted effort with the Board of Trustees, Sheriffs Office, attorneys and office of community standards.

“It didn’t have to be this away … it could have remained a viable community. Unfortunately no one maintained it, so it’s coming down."

Township Clerk Karen Lovejoy Roe recalled the litany of problems Liberty Square caused while she was supervisor from 1996 through 2004.

The property was a drain on police resources and was consistently in violation of a wide range of codes and ordinances.

“It has been a long haul, and it's a sad day in a way, but we’re dealing with the reality of the situation,” she said. “It was condemned and the court ordered it to come down, and now we’re looking forward to new development on the site."

She said the township tried all it could to remedy the issues at the 151-unit complex, but there were always new problems arising and chronic crime.

“Those days are now behind us, so we can redeploy our building officials, fire department, police officers,” Lovejoy Roe said.

"Between my sheriff's department years and my township years, I've been dealing with this place for over 30 years and it was never good," said Mike Radzik, director of the office of community standards and police services. "It was an exhilarating feeling watching the first building come down."

The demolition was preceded by a small event at which state officials from the Michigan Land Bank came to knock down the first wall.

Kim Homan, the land bank's director, discussed the impact removing abandoned properties has on an area.

“Blight removal improves property values and helps grow area businesses," she said. "The partnership for this demolition between the Michigan Land Bank and Ypsilanti Township is a perfect example of how land banks can assist municipalities with getting properties back into productive use. With the ability to remove blighted structures, the township can now move forward with plans to rezone the property for commercial and retail space, bringing additional resources into their community in the form of jobs and revenue.”

The demolition project is funded, in part, by a grant from the Michigan Land Bank. Ypsilanti Township is one of 34 grantees awarded funding through the Michigan Blight Elimination Program.

The $654,000 the township received for the project includes the direct cost of demolition, but does not include the more than $170,000 the township has spent on legal fees, boarding-up fees, an asbestos survey and asbestos abatement.

The grant funds were part of a $97 million settlement banks agreed to pay the state of Michigan for their role in the foreclosure crisis. The settlement came after a national class action lawsuit filed by Michigan, 48 other states and the federal government, and some of the money was earmarked for blight elimination projects.

The township’s award was among the largest sums provided directly for the demolition of one site.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Contact the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572.

City Council Member Sabra Briere, standing, discusses downtown zoning issues with residents Monday night during a public workshop at the Washtenaw County Building, 200 N. Main St.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

In the D1 and D2 zones, they can build bigger if they include residential use, affordable housing, green building technologies, historic preservation, pedestrian amenities or public parking.

But city officials now question whether residential premiums offered to developers are effectively encouraging a diverse downtown population.

Mayor John Hieftje, standing, listens in as residents discuss downtown zoning issues Monday night.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

The consensus: The premiums aren't working very well.

"Premiums are bogus excuses to let developers do whatever they want," said Ann Arbor resident Peter Eckstein, summing up the opinions of his work group at Monday's workshop.

If there are going to be premiums, Eckstein and others said, developers should have to abide by the city's design guidelines, which lack teeth right now.

Some said premiums should be done away with completely, while others suggested tweaking them to incentivize different types of development — perhaps more office space.

Hired consultants from ENP & Associates facilitated the meeting, which featured a summary of public input received through recent focus group sessions and public surveys.

Erin Perdu, who led the meeting, said her team has gotten a mix of feedback from the community, indicating what's working and not working with downtown zoning.

"In general, we have heard a lot about the setbacks, the height limits and the bulkiness of some of the buildings that are being built — and that the requirements that are in the ordinance are resulting in buildings that are negatively impacting the surrounding area," she said.

"We have heard that the premiums are not working the way they are intended — that they're not really resulting in the kinds of housing the city intended, and some other amenities are not being produced from the premiums and they might need to be re-examined."

On the positive side, Perdu said, the downtown zoning has been simplified since the Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown — or A2D2 — changes were adopted by the City Council in late 2009, and that's encouraging more development and mixed-use buildings.

Erin Perdu, a consultant from ENP & Associates, said Ann Arbor residents are fortunate to live in a place that's dealing with expansion, growth and opportunity. "A lot of other places don't have this type of opportunity, so we're happy to be here and we're happy to have this discussion with you," she said.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

But the consensus opinion from Monday's crowd, which included many opponents of approved high-rise projects like 413 E. Huron and The Varsity, was that more areas of the downtown should be downzoned, and some areas zoned D1 should be zoned D2 instead.

Participants broke off into different work groups and pored over maps showing areas zoned D1 along Huron Street, William Street and Ann Street. Many said those areas should be downzoned to provide a better transition into nearby neighborhoods.

Eckstein's group came to the conclusion that height limits for both D1 and D2 should be lowered so developments aren't so big and bulky, and the city should use part of its Greenbelt millage dollars to create more parkland and open space around the downtown.

D1 is the core downtown zoning that allows buildings up to 180 feet tall — or in special cases like the 400 block of East Huron, up to 150 feet tall.

Some have argued D2 step-down zoning with a 60-foot cap would be a better fit for certain areas that abut residential neighborhoods and historic districts.

Wendy Rampson, the city's planning manager, said lots of good feedback is coming out of the community engagement that's been done so far.

"What we're really trying to do is take this zoning and make it fit a little bit better," she said. "We started with our best guess in 2009, and now we're going to tweak the edges."

Ellen Ramsburgh, a longtime member of the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission, said recent high-rise projects like The Varsity and 413 E. Huron show where the zoning falls short.

"I am hoping we revise the zoning so that it reflects the goals that were stated in the Downtown Plan and the character overlay districts, and so that it respects context," she said. "Putting a blanket zoning over an area that's very varied is problematic."

City officials talk about density in terms of "floor area ratio" or FAR, which is the total square feet of floor area in a building divided by the total square feet of the overall property.

Ann Arbor residents discuss downtown zoning issues Monday night.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

In the D2 district, 200 percent is the maximum by right, with opportunities to go up to 400 percent with the use of premiums.

"The premiums that we've identified for incentivizing certain types of development may need to be rethought," Rampson said. "We could remove the residential premiums if the market is already providing residential, and then try to shift incentives to other things we're trying to get in the downtown — like LEED development, green development, public open space, better design."

Ann Arbor resident Betsy Price said her group decided Monday night that premiums should incentivize more diverse and affordable housing, as well as pedestrian amenities.

"We think premiums should be given for those who preserve or protect historic resources and existing residential areas — not just those that are historic districts, but houses," she added. "We thought premiums should be given for open green space, space that is accessible to the public on the ground level — not maybe a third-floor or sixth-floor terrace that's only for those residents."

The City Council earlier this year directed the city's Planning Commission to evaluate the A2D2 zoning and report back in October with any recommended changes.

The consultant team is expected to work through early September to develop options to address priority issues. Another public meeting will be held in mid-September.

The consultant will be working to draft a final action plan at that time, and the Planning Commission is expected to meet to finalize recommendations in late September.

"As far as our evaluation and suggestions for moving forward, our plan is to report back to City Council in early October," Perdu said.

Mayor John Hieftje and three City Council members — Sabra Briere, Sumi Kailasapathy and Sally Hart Petersen — were in attendance Monday night.

"I'm here because I want to hear what people are saying and I'm looking forward to getting the total input that comes back from the consultant," Hieftje said.

"The folks who are here are people who have participated in these types of discussions over the years," Hieftje noted of the audience. "I've seen most of them way back during the Calthorpe discussions and I'm glad they're still engaged and coming out and doing this."

Briere, who serves on the Planning Commission, said she heard many different ideas coming out of the groups as she went from table to table Monday night.

"It's very interesting because each small subset has different ideas of what they want," she said. "I'm still at the listening and learning stage."

Briere said the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the issue as the process moves forward and she expects more interesting public discourse then.

The public also is invited to another "community coffee" with consultants at Zingerman's Community Table, 422 Detroit St., from 8-10 a.m. Thursday.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

After a memorable residency on the music of Bach last summer, Ann Arbor-based, world-renowned pianist Louis Nagel returns to Kerrytown Concert House to present programs Saturday and Sunday on the music of Mozart and Debussy.

Saturday’s program is billed as a lecture and concert, while Sunday’s is a concert only.

Nagel - who earned three degrees from The Juilliard School - has been performing for over 50 years. He has played and taught at the University of Michigan since 1969, as well as the National Music Camp, the Sydney Conservatorium, St. Petersburg Conservatory, Donghai University in Taichung, Taiwan, The Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and festivals in Vermont, Poland and Italy. He has performed numerous times in New York, including two recent concerts at Steinway Hall.

In Ann Arbor, Nagel has appeared under the auspices of the University Musical Society and with Arie Lipsky and the Ann Arbor Symphony. Of note is an ongoing series traversing the entire trio literature of Beethoven, with colleagues Stephen Shipps and Anthony Elliott.

If you haven’t heard Nagel speak, he has a knack for engaging the audience and making the complicated easy to grasp. His playing is a pure delight. Sit back and enjoy.

Louis Nagel will be at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug.10 and Sunday, Aug, 11. Admission is $30-$5. Details at www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com or 734-769-2999.

Emily and San Slomovits

Growing up in a musical family, Emily has become a talented, well-trained musician in her own right. Beyond performing with Gemini and other shows with her father, she has performed with string ensembles, done Shakespeare in the Arb, and played from the pit at Performance Network and Encore Musical Theatre Company productions.

This is a big year for the father and daughter. They have released an album together, Emily's very first, titled "Innocent When You Dream."

The 16-track CD features their own arrangements of well-known songs from traditional, folk, jazz, and contemporary music. "Innocent When You Dream" showcases some of their favorite songs to perform together.

San and Emily posted a video on Youtube that features a sampling of songs from the CD.

"All of these songs are ones we've done in concert. We picked things that we are really comfortable with and we really love," Emily says.

The duo will celebrate the release of Emily's recording debut with a show at The Ark on Aug. 10. They will be joined by uncle Laszlo and Emily's lifelong friend Jacob Warren, a classically trained bassist. And Brian Brill, who recorded the album at his Chelsea studio, will be on keys at the show. They all played on the album, as well.

Her style is always her own, whether she is singing love ballad "Can't Help Falling in Love" or Spanish song "Gracias a la Vida," which both seem to fit her voice rather well. Her personal vocal style also carries through when she is singing the Tom Waits title track - he is one of the gruffest of the gruff - or other male singers such as Sting, or "Rent" rock ballad "One Song Glory," which she makes her own.

"They aren't songs someone would immediately think of for a voice like mine. With 'One Song Glory,'—a rocker guy with all this angst—I heard the song for what it was. I thought, let's see if I can make it my own and do something different with it," Emily says. She plays guitar on the song, with Warren on bass. It is a song the two of them, friends since Kindergarten at Rudolf Steiner, play together.

A number of the songs come from the large repertoire San has done over the years. The only songs that is not a cover on the album, "Deli," is a song San and Lazslo wrote about Zingerman's Deli, decades ago.

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is another that the father and daughter have been doing together for a long time. Emily learned "Minor Swing" from Gabe Bolkosky, her violin teacher and a friend and music collaborator of her father's. And San says Emily is better at "Guantanamera," a song he's done before, because she took Spanish and plans to study languages when she starts at Eastern Michigan University this fall.

Emily also brings songs to her dad's attention. As she has gotten older, their musical partnership has become just that - an equal partnership. So, in the case of the new CD, her musical input was just as integral a part of it as her father's repertoire.

For instance, "Flying Shoes" by country/folk musician Townes Van Zandt is a song that San probably would not have performed if Emily had not fallen in love with it.

San is impressed by his daughter's professionalism. "By now, I've been playing with my brother forever—40 years. And this is as professional a relationship as that. In other words, I don't really think of her as my sidekick. I don't think the audience says, there is the performer and there is his daughter. It's a totally equal kind of relationship, and I really trust her on stage," he says with fatherly pride.

Emily is definitely interested in pursuing music as a career, although the world is open to the in-coming college Freshman. She says performing with her dad "has been good practice."

"If I'm thinking of a solo career some days, it's been great that he has been bringing me up on stage for so long. I've started building skills that I can use," Emily says.

"I never want to push her to do what I do. I've always wanted to create the opportunity for her to have a professional career in music, if that's what she wants to do," he adds.

"I'm definitely interested," Emily reassures her dad.

"I'll be at Eastern, but I'm going to commute from home. One of the motivators of that is, if I'm interested in pursuing a musical career, which I am, this is where I have made friends who are musicians. This is where my family is. I want to try to start it here, if I can," Emily says.

• Related: Eaton defeats Higgins in 4th Ward race for Ann Arbor City Council

With all precincts reporting, Democratic incumbent Stephen Kunselman has defeated challenger Julie Grand in the 3rd Ward race for the Ann Arbor City Council.

Stephen Kunselman

Julie Grand

"I am feeling good," Kunselman said after celebrating his victory with supporters on the back patio of Dominick's bar on Monroe Street.

"I mean, it was a lot of money that went into this campaign on my opponent's behalf. I just feel very fortunate that the voters stuck to the issues."

Kunselman, U-M's energy conservation liaison and a former township administrator, is a lifelong Ann Arborite looking ahead to a fourth two-year term on council. He served one term from 2006 to 2008 and has served two consecutive terms since returning to council in 2009.

Grand, chairwoman of the city's Park Advisory Commission, was hoping to make the leap to council after six years working on park issues on PAC. She's a Burns Park area resident and a lecturer in health policy studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Grand ran an aggressive and well-funded campaign with support from some of Mayor John Hieftje's political allies, though she didn't officially have the mayor's endorsement.

Grand gave a brief speech following the election results to a crowd of her supporters gathered at Sava's Cafe. She said she's disappointed she lost but proud of the campaign they ran.

"Right now I just want to tell you about what a great job my volunteers did," she said. "Two years ago, there were fewer than 1,100 people who came out in this election. We thought we needed 800 votes to win. We got more than 800 votes. Steve got more."

Kunselman has earned a reputation as an independent thinker on council, sometimes butting heads with the mayor on issues ranging from the Downtown Development Authority's tax captures to the push for a new train station on Fuller Road.

Grand spoke often throughout her campaign about wanting to do a better job of proactively communicating with residents about city issues, arguing Kunselman hasn't done that.

A major supporter of the work the DDA is doing downtown, Grand cited among her top priorities engaging the public in the development of city-owned properties around downtown. She also said infrastructure improvements with specific attention to stormwater were high on her list.

Kunselman, who lives near Packard and Platt, believes too much time and money is being wasted on downtown while neighborhoods suffer. He said he wants to see the city more focused on repairing infrastructure like roads and water mains and addressing issues like neighborhood blight.

Kunselman will face Independent candidate Samuel Devarti, a member of the new Ann Arbor Mixed-Use Party, in the November general election.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Jack Eaton shares a laugh with City Council Member Sumi Kailasapathy, left, and Kathy Griswold, another campaign supporter, after hearing he had just won the 4th Ward race for the Ann Arbor City Council, unseating incumbent Marcia Higgins. Eaton celebrated at CUBS' A.C. Sports Bar & Restaurant, 1950 South Industrial Highway.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

• Related: Composition of Ann Arbor City Council continues to slowly change
• Related: Kunselman defeats Grand in 3rd Ward race for Ann Arbor City Council

With all precincts reporting, Democratic challenger Jack Eaton has defeated incumbent Marcia Higgins in the 4th Ward race for the Ann Arbor City Council.

Jack Eaton

Marcia Higgins

"I'm pleased with the results," Eaton said. "I'm glad the voters have entrusted me with this task and I want to thank Marcia for her many years of service on council."

This was Eaton's third attempt at running for City Council. He was unsuccessful in ousting Margie Teall in 2010 and 2012, but hoped he'd do better against Higgins — a 14-year incumbent who has faced criticism over her attendance record.

"I had a good feeling this time," Eaton said while celebrating with campaign supporters at CUBS' A.C. Sports Bar & Restaurant.

"I felt that this was going to happen and I'm a little astounded by how big the margin was, but it felt like a victory about a month ago and it's just been building since."

Higgins couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Eaton, a Southfield-based labor attorney who has lived in the 4th Ward since 1998, has said he'd bring a more sensible approach to city spending and get back to basics.

He wore out a pair of shoes this summer, going door to door five or six nights a week. He believes the city should focus on priorities like rebuilding the police and fire departments and paving roads before throwing more money at projects like a new train station.

Higgins, who first joined council as a Republican in 1999 and switched parties in 2005, has said there's still important work to be done on issues ranging from neighborhood flooding to downtown zoning and design guidelines, and she wanted to stay on the job.

Higgins' supporters had been fearful that Eaton would pull off a win this year. Mayor John Hieftje hit the campaign trail this summer, going door to door in support of Higgins.

Higgins tried to characterize Eaton as a naysayer during the campaign, saying he talks a lot about being a neighborhood activist but really just opposes new development and fears change.

Higgins, who oversaw the A2D2 process that brought new zoning with height limits and design guidelines for downtown, said the community decided it wanted density in the city's core.

Eaton said he supports density in the downtown core — just not where it has a negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods. He pointed to the approved 413 E. Huron high-rise and the Landmark high-rise along South U as examples of bad developments that Higgins supported.

Eaton also has criticized the city for not doing enough about neighborhood flooding problems. Higgins said that's an issue that's going to take time and the city is working on it.

Eaton advances unopposed in the November general election with no Independent or Republican candidates stepping up to run.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Ypsilanti Township voters have overwhelmingly approved increases in three millages and the renewal of another that officials say will preserve the township’s core services.

Voters were asked to approve:

• a .325 mill increase for fire service, which would raise the millage to 3.125 mills. It was approved 2,840 to 1,151, or 71.16 percent to 28.84 percent.
• a .950 mill increase for police protection, which will raise the millage to 5.95 mills. It was approved 2,812 to 1,181, or 70.42 percent to 29.58 percent.
• a .475 mill increase for garbage, refuse collection, recycling, composting, disposal of solid waste, energy conservation, alternative energy, water quality and environmental protection, which will increase the millage to 2.155 mills. It was approved 2,709 to 1,281 or 67.89 percent to 32.11 percent.
• renewal of the roads millage, which will not increase and is set at 1.0059 mills. It was approved 2,366 to 1,605, or 59.58 percent to 40.42 percent.

“Millages are up every four years, and we are thankful residents understood that we needed a slight increase ... and we are extremely grateful,” said Supervisor Brenda Stumbo. “We are very humble and appreciative. It’s hard to ask people for an increase and we appreciate it, they didn’t have to approve them, but they did."

With all the millages approved, the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 will pay an additional $175 annually.

The township placed the millages in front of voters because of the continued decline in property values, which meant declining revenue for the township.

Property values have dropped by 35 percent since 2007.

The 5 mills for police protection would have generated $8,823,180 in 2007, but would only generate $5,702,645 in 2013 — a difference of $3,120,535. The fire department millage would have generated $4,940,980 in 2007 but now only generates $3,193,481 — a difference of $1,747,499.

At current rates, projections have the fire fund running a deficit of around $962,000 in 2017; the police fund running a deficit of $508,000 by 2015 and increasing to $3.1 million by 2017; and the solid waste fund running a deficit of $1.5 million by 2017.

"We get to keep the police on the roads, we get keep fire departments open, we get to keep fixing roads, we get to keep picking up trash, we keep parks open, and thank you Ypsilanti Township residents. We appreciate your support," said Township Clerk Karen Lovejoy-Roe.

Township officials noted that employees have taken pay cuts, vacancies have gone unfilled, and township staff is paying more for their health insurance.

"I'm overwhelmed with appreciation for the vote," Stumbo said. "But we have a lot to do, we have to get to work, keep foot on gas pedal and keep moving forward. But it makes it easier when you have consistent dollar amounts for four years so you can plan."

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Contact the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572.

Voters in the Whitmore Lake school district rejected by a margin of more than 2 to 1 a bond proposal that would have paid for facility upgrades, buses and athletic facilities.

Whitmore Lake High School

Whitmore Lake Public Schools photo

The estimated tax rate to pay back the bond was 2.5 mills in the first year. The millage rate would have meant a homeowner with a house of $100,000 taxable value would pay $250 per year on top of his or her existing tax burden.

The district encompasses parts of Washtenaw and Livingston counties.

Voters in Washtenaw County Tuesday chose candidates in two Democratic primaries in Ann Arbor and decided four millage requests in Ypsilanti Township and a bond issue request in Whitmore Lake Schools.

The election results are listed below. Follow the links to learn more about the results of each race or ballot question:

Ann Arbor City Council 3rd Ward

Julie Grand 862

Ann Arbor City Council 4th Ward

Jack Eaton 1,233

Ypsilanti Township Fire protection millage

Yes 2,840

No 1,151

Ypsilanti Township police protection millage

Yes 2,812

No 1,181

Ypsilanti Township roads, parks and recreation millage

Yes 2,366

No 1,605

Ypsilanti Township waste collection and recycling millage

Yes 2,709

No 1,281

Whitmore Lake schools bond issue

Yes 406

No 873

* I denotes incumbent

A long-lived summertime tradition in Washtenaw County, Saline's Summerfest returns to downtown Saline, on the evening of Aug. 9 and all day Aug. 10.

Festival coordinator and Director of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Art Trapp spoke with AnnArbor.com about how this year's festival came together and some of its highlights.

The music, art, and community festival is an outgrowth of Picnic in the Park, a smaller event that used to be held at Mill Pond Park. Trapp thinks that the move downtown, when the festival was rebranded "Saline's Summerfest" in 2006, "has proven to be a success."

On a good year, the festival draws upwards of 6,000 visitors to downtown Saline.

Music headliners are 56 Daze, on Friday night, who will follow various performances by local dance troupes and martial arts schools. It all begins at 6 p.m. Then on Saturday night, The Phoenix Theory will headline the all-day music showcase, which begins at 11 a.m.

Over 40 artists and craftspeople will participate in this year's 4th annual juried Summerfest Craft & Art Show, Aug. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Aside from music and art, "there are a wide variety of ancillary activities," Trapp says, "a little something for everyone."

Saline's Summerfest is a big conglomeration of many community events, all thrown on the same day.

This year, there is a new bike tour and a 5K run/walk, a long-lived vintage car show, and a brand new electric car show. Saline's own Haley Williams is Miss Michigan. She will perform with her old group the Saline Twirlettes and M.C. a "Teenage Block Party." Firefighters will do the chicken cookout. Kid-friendly activities at Henne Park include a tricycle race, a bounce course, contests, and games, and there will be a rubber duck race at Curtiss Park for the kids.

There are more activities to find out about on the complete Saline's Summerfest schedule.

Some parts of the festival have been around for years, like the 31st annual Saline Street Machines Car Show, on Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. "Saline Street Machines do a great job of providing a venue for people to get out there and show their cars and support charities," Trapp says of the festival highlight.

Saline Summerfest also changes it up, from year to year, trying out new ideas. A new "Electric Car Show," on August 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes test drives, sponsored by Michigan Electric Auto Association.

Last year, Trapp noticed people at a previous "Touch a Truck" event were paying most of their attention to the 2 electric cars on display. "We try new things when we think they'll have more crowd appeal," Trapp says, adding, "I think the electric cars are more of a novelty."

Also brand new, the Bike Tour was an idea hatched by Saline High School alumni. Originally, it was planned to be a reunion for local alumni. But they ended up opening it up to everyone, making it a new (potentially annual) festival offering. Bikers can choose to bike different distances, between 12 to 64 miles, on a 12-mile loop and a 25-mile loop. Start time is anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at Saline Middle School.

Trapp also recommends taking a ride on the Historic Trolley Tour of downtown Saline, by the Saline Historical Society, on Aug. 10. "People not only enjoy learning about the history of Saline, they also simply enjoy taking a ride around downtown," he says.

The Ypsilanti City Council has significantly reduced the cost and duration of a special assessment district it is proposing to establish that would have residents pay for street lighting.

Instead of 18 years of annual fees that start near $100 and decrease over time to $67 annually, residents would only pay approximately $58 over the next two years.

The two-year fee would pay for the cost to convert mercury vapor lights to LED lights, but residents are no longer being asked to pay the DTE Energy bills for powering the lights through 2031.

The amendment to the proposal was approved 5-0. Mayor Paul Schreiber and Council Member Susan Moeller were absent.

Under the previous proposal, a parcel owner would have paid an estimated $98 in fiscal year 2014 and $92 in fiscal year 2015. That figure will drop to $84 through fiscal year 2020 and $67.51 through fiscal year 2031.

The switch to LED lighting is expected to reduce the city’s electric bill by approximately $115,00 annually, from $515,000 to $400,000. The original proposal called for the residents to pay that $400,000 through the special assessment district.

The city is working to find savings to eliminate projected deficits, and the $400,000 annually saved under the proposed plan would buy it another year of solvency.

But council members expressed hesitancy to impose the fee on residents.

“I’m leaning toward the (new plan) or not having a special assessment district and having the city pay for it,” Council Member Dan Vogt said, though he called the idea a gamble.

He told the audience of around 30 that had gathered in opposition to the proposal that the city needs to do something to save money and stressed its dire financial situation.

“We will run out of money," he said. "It would take a new legislature, governor and new economy to change that, and even then I don't know that it would help us. So if we don’t assess for things like this, we will run out of money sooner for everything - police, fire, street repairs, sewer, water, you name it. That’s the background and we have to make a choice as a group.”

Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson echoed those thoughts.

“The decisions may not be in agreement with what everyone wants us to do, but we have to look at the whole,” she said.

On Tuesday, those who showed up to offer their opinion on the proposal with city council were opposed to property owners paying for the conversion LED lights and to pay the electric bill.

City staff discussed a number of benefits such as improved lighting, increased safety and a significant reduction in energy and the city’s carbon footprint.

But many residents were skeptical of those benefits.

“I don’t find much benefit to the streetlight outside my window at all,” said Ypsilanti resident Linda Thompson. “If the city can no longer afford streetlights, then turn them off. It would do a lot for the carbon footprint.”

Several residents charged that the fee is actually a new tax because the savings will be found in the city’s general fund and the lighting bill passed on to residents.

“I’m having trouble discerning what the benefit is ... because it looks like we’re taking something from the general fund and shifting it to a fee for citizens - it’s a tax,” said Ypsilanti resident Scott Northway. “I don’t see the benefit to the people who are paying the tax.”

Prior to the meeting, Mayor Schreiber said he opposed the idea because it is a regressive tax. Any property owner, despite income, lot size or any other variable, would pay $100.

“That’s a big negative,” he said. “It does buy us another year of solvency if we do the plan as outlined, but the question is is that years of solvency worth the regressive nature of the levy?”

The proposal has costs for conversion to LED along with operation and maintenance divided equally and assessed among 4,812 of the city’s 4,951 parcels.

Ann Arbor resident Ken Schwartz told city council he owns nine properties in the city, though six are contiguous vacant lots. He said the six lots were once one lot, but he voluntarily divided them up at the city’s request.

He said it would be unfair for him to have to pay the fee six times over.

“I agree that the special assessment district benefits the citizens, but I think there are exceptions,” he said.

Eastern Michigan University and city-owned lots are exempt. Non-profits and churches would be a part of the assessment.

In looking at other cities that have special assessment districts for streetlights in Michigan, all but Romulus used a flat fee, though those flat fees were much lower than the original figures for the 18-year tax.

The city will hold two more public hearings at its Aug. 20 and Sept. 6 regular City Council meetings.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.