I’ll get the begging out of the way first—I’m raising money for kids and I’d love your support. I’m competing (I use that term loosely) in 826michigan’s Trivia for Cheaters which pits my team of four social media professionals (I use that term loosely) against a bunch of smarty folks in the hopes that someone knows the capital of Madagascar.

All proceeds benefit free creative writing and tutoring workshops at 826michigan, which not only serves Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and surrounding communities, but also expanded into Detroit recently.

Plus, like any good PBS campaign, each donation level earns you a special prize. Donate $15 and I’ll write you a personalized thank you note and give you a hug/handshake. For $75 I’ll take you to a secret club I belong to, share a drink with you and investigate rumors of a haunting. For $250 I’ll treat you to dinner and drinks and send you home with a commemorative photo, or for a saintly $300, I’ll video myself reenacting a scene from the movie 300 and ship it to you along with a copy of the original DVD. Check out the full list and donate now.

This isn’t just some random cash grab for kids. I’ve been an 826michigan volunteer and supporter since they operated out of the monster store on State Street back in 2006. My karmic teeter totter was way out of whack back then, and giving back to kids and the community seemed as good a way as any to balance my chakras. Operating on a shoestring budget back in the day, the 826michigan staff balanced regular tutoring with a host of workshops, helping kids from all over Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. They worked long hours, coordinating tons of volunteers and despite being located on the outskirts of downtown, drew a steady stream of enthusiastic children and parents.

Richard Retyi, champion mustache grower

Finances are always an issue with any non-profit and 826 is no different. The popular Mittenfest music festival has raised nearly $44,000 for 826michigan the last two years, along with a host of other fundraising events including adult workshops, dinners with 826 founder Dave Eggers and the popular “cheaters” series. But with a growing need in the community and expansion into other cities, 826 needs help from good people like you.

The “cheater” fundraisers have included Scrabble and euchre and a spelling bee and now this—trivia. I covered the 826 Euchre for Cheaters event for this very publication, competed (poorly) in the spelling bee and will now throw my hat in the ring for trivia. Each of these events is a fun way for the community to raise money for the organization and not only fills coffers but energizes the volunteers.

I know what it’s like to work with kids and spark their creativity and help them create something out of their imaginations. I’ve been part of the 826michigan storymaking workshop for many years, in which children help create and write their very own collaborative stories over a one-hour period—stories which are illustrated, printed and stapled so they can take a copy home to have something tangible for their efforts. 826michigan might not be churning out the next Ernest Hemingway (thank god) but these little experiences add up.

So please donate to my team, donate for the kids or attend the Trivia for Cheaters event at LIVE on Wednesday (March 20) at 7 p.m.

Monetizing users is nothing new in the world of online marketing, but it has been particularly challenging for companies to take advantage of mobile users through advertising.

According to a story in Concentrate Media, local startup AppKey is aiming to solve that problem.

A number of startup companies are housed in the Tech Brewery on Jones Drive just north of downtown Ann Arbor.

Mark Bialek | For Ann Arbor.com

Based in the Tech Brewery on Jones Drive, AppKey is about one year old, employs three people, and has reached 8,000 users. The company plans to scale quickly, with CEO Jim Vitek telling Concentrate he expects to hit more than 1 million users within the next year.

• Read the full story on Concentrate.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2

A recent uptick in thefts from vehicles on the south side of Ann Arbor concerned police enough to send out a crime alert this week.

Courtesy of Ann Arbor police

Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said there were 23 larcenies from vehicles in Jan., 27 in February and 14 so far in March. She said that’s an increase from prior years and most of the incidents occurred in the Eisenhower Boardwalk area in February. In many of the cases, thieves smashed windows to steal items from the vehicles.

“That’s primarily in March,” she said. “In January and February, it was through unlocked doors.”

While the crime alert indicated the break-ins were mostly reported on the city’s south side, Bush said there have been larcenies reported throughout the city.

• See a map of vehicle larcenies around Ann Arbor this year.

Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes said the suspect, or suspects, has been walking through parking lots during the daytime hours and looking in vehicles’ windows until he or she finds an item of value in plain sight. The person then either opens an unlocked door or smashes the window to take the purse, phone or other item.

The crimes share similarities with a recent rash of larcenies from vehicles in Saline.

Police there reported eight vehicles have been broken into in Saline since Jan. 21, mostly along Woodland Drive and East Michigan Avenue. However, Detective Don Lupi said police haven’t found a connection between those thefts and the ones in Ann Arbor.

“I worked with the Ann Arbor Police Department on theirs and I don’t see a connection,” Lupi said, adding he thinks the Saline thefts are the work of local residents.

Although the incidents have been widespread in Ann Arbor, it doesn’t seem as if the break-ins have bled into Pittsfield Township.

Pittsfield Township Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said someone recently stole a gun from a vehicle. However, the incident doesn’t appear connected to a larger trend.

“Luckily, we haven’t had anything like that,” he said.

Ann Arbor police officials are now warning citizens to take proper measures to keep themselves from becoming victims.

Bush said the best way to keep an intruder out of your vehicle is to keep anything of value hidden.

“Keep your doors locked. Don’t leave valuables that you can see through the windows,” she said. “Hide your valuables or take them with you and make sure you’re parking in well-lit spots.”

Here's a map showing the locations of vehicle break-ins around Ann Arbor this year:

View 2013 Ann Arbor Auto Larcenies in a 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.

Saline Area Schools will conduct a trial run of videotaping and broadcasting its school board meetings on cable TV, according to an article in the Saline Reporter.

David Holden

A trial run with SCTN will take place at the April 9 Board of Education meeting to see how it goes and to evaluate whether there is interest from the public.

Some board members questioned whether people even would care to watch the meetings on TV, pointing to the low attendance of the actual meetings. Holden said in the Reporter that people are busy with families and work in the evenings and may welcome the ability to view the meetings at other times.

Setting up the equipment in the district's Liberty School, where board meetings are held, would cost between $10,000 and $24,000, the article in the Saline Reporter says.

Ann Arbor Public Schools videotapes its Board of Education meetings. The meetings are broadcast live on Comcast Channel 18 and replayed on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

• Read the article in the Saline Reporter.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

The New Theatre Project Ensemble will present JC Lee's "Pookie Goes Grenading" as the company's last show - for now.

Photo provided by TNTP

The company has distinguished itself in the local theater community as a cutting-edge company that produced new material, as well as experimental, collaborative, original versions of classic texts.

Here's TNTP's full press release:

All good things must come to an end and everything that was once new starts to grow. It is with great excitement that The New Theatre Project announces they’ll be moving on after one last production. “I don’t view this as a bad thing but an opportunity to keep exploring unknown territories in new places,” says artistic director Keith Paul Medelis. “Perhaps we’ll be back with something new in the future. For now, this is the end. And I can’t thank our supporters enough for what we have accomplished.” The New Theatre Project announces a change to the previously planned lineup, and will instead go out with a bang. TNTP will produce the Michigan premiere of the hilarious "Pookie Goes Grenading" by JC Lee in a limited engagement run from April 18-28, Thursdays-Sundays at 8 p.m. (featuring one pay-what-you-can preview on April 18). The cast will be entirely made up of members of the Ensemble and actors of former shows who have helped to make TNTP a success over the last three seasons. Additionally, Pookie will feature special cameo performances from artists who have spent time with the company over the last three years. Pookie and her teenage gang of high school misfits are determined to make their movie a reality - even if it takes blowing up police stations, burning down their auditorium and kidnapping their guidance counselor to make it happen. Once they become the center of a national terrorist manhunt, there’s no telling how far they’ll go in the name of art. "Pookie Goes Grenading" will be directed by associate artistic director Emilie C. Samuelsen and will feature Ensemble members Luna Alexander, Chris Jakob, and Emily Roll. Additional cast members include Dan Johnson and Artun Kircali. "Pookie" will feature designs by Keith Paul Medelis and a sound design by Eben Mannes. JC Lee is a NNPN Playwright in Residence at the Marin Theatre Company and a recent writing fellow at The Playwrights Realm. His plays have been seen/staged/developed throughout the United States including South Coast Repertory, American Conservatory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Sleepwalkers Theatre, Crowded Fire Theatre Company, Azuka Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Company and many others. He’s been commissioned by South Coast Repertory and is currently in development on a television show with Temple Hill Entertainment. JC is a recent graduate of the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at The Juilliard School. Further details are available online at www.thenewtheatreproject.org. All performances take place at the Mix Studio Theater, 130 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ticket prices are $15, $10 for students and industry. Tickets are available for purchase online via the Brown Paper Tickets link on TNTP’s website. TNTP no longer uses its old box office phone number, but the Mix can be reached at 734-961-8704. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Each performance will feature a nightcap of free donuts and meet and greets with the cast and former ensemble members. Join TNTP for this special event in order to for us to say goodbye and thank you for your support. In the mood to see the very last show ever? Closing night on April 28 will feature something extra special. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Players fight in a post-game brawl at Pioneer High School on Oct. 12, 2012.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Previous coverage:

• Ann Arbor school board to consider resolution in support of students charged in football brawl
• Football brawl fallout: Some allege prejudice in charging of students
• Group supporting high-schoolers charged in football brawl organizes public marches downtown
• Video footage from Huron-Pioneer football brawl released by Ann Arbor police

A 17-year-old Pioneer student charged in last fall's high school football brawl had his case adjourned in the Washtenaw County Courthouse Friday morning, his attorney said.

The boy's lawyer, Brooke Laurens Williams, did not wish to make any further comment. AnnArbor.com is not using his name because he is a juvenile.

A new court date was set for April 5.

The boy is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and assault and battery.

Protesters from the Ann Arbor Concerned Citizens for Justice, a group opposing the charges against the students, were on hand at the hearing. They marched from the library to the courthouse and plan to do so at the future court hearings of the the three students charged in the brawl, claiming the charges are racially motivated. All three students are black.

On Tuesday morning, a disposition will be held for the 17-year-old Pioneer student already found responsible in the case. Being found responsible in juvenile court is akin to being found guilty. What is essentially a sentencing is called the disposition.

Bashier Garain, the one student charged as an adult, is scheduled to appear in court for a final pretrial hearing later that same afternoon. The 18-year-old, who is accused of using a crutch as a weapon, is charged with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery.

The Ann Arbor Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday night asking the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office to drop the criminal charges in the cases.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson delivers the keynote address during winter commencement Sunday at Crisler Arena.

Jeffrey Smith | for AnnArbor.com

New York Times chief editor Jill Abramson will speak at the University of Michigan next week.

The Times' first female executive editor is set to give the 2013 Mullin Welch Lecture, sponsored by the Center for the Education of Women, on Tuesday, March 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Kahn Auditorium in the Biomedical Science Research Building on central campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

The 58-year-old Abramson succeeded Bill Keller as executive editor in September 2011 after previously serving as the publication's managing editor, a position she held since 2003. She joined the New York Times in 1997 and has also worked for the Wall Street Journal, Time and, the Legal Times and The American Lawyer.

The annual Mullin Welch Lecture Series honors Elizabeth Charlotte Mullin Welch, a 1939 U-M graduate and successful businesswoman who was an early role model in the struggle to further women's aspirations.

Abramson gave U-M's December 2011 commencement address and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university.

"You need to work at being well informed," she told graduates then. "You learn the skills you need for that right here at Michigan. You learn to question everything and to insist on finding out the truth.”

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Can't get away from work to watch Dexter's state semifinal matchup? We've got you covered.

Riley McDonald takes on Ypsilanti in Dexter's district opener.

The Dreadnaughts take on Grosse Pointe South at 2:50 p.m. at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. We'll be there with multiple reporters providing game updates and chatting with fans in a live chat as the Dreadnaughts look to make history.

Click here to join the chat, starting shortly before tipoff

Users can also follow along on their mobile devices by using this link.

The winner advances to play in the Class A state title game at noon Saturday. The Dreadnaughts will be looking to join Manchester, which advanced to the Class C title game with a Thursday win over Riverview Gabriel Richard.

This story has been updated.

The president of Washtenaw Community College abruptly fired the school's vice president of instruction Thursday.

Stuart Blacklaw was fired months before his contract expired in June. He served in his role since August 2010.

Blacklaw will continue to earn his salary, which is $128,270, until his contract expires June 30.

In an email to the campus community sent Thursday, WCC President Rose Bellanca informed campus that Blacklaw was "relieved of his duties effective immediately," a decision she reached "after long and careful consideration."

WCC President Rose Bellanca

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

"As president, building a team with the necessary leadership skills is critical to the success of the college," she wrote in the email.

Blacklaw's firing comes less than four months after the abrupt resignation of the school's chief financial officer, Steven Hardy, in mid-Novemeber. It also follows shortly after the school's faculty have expressed frustration with Bellanca and her communication style.

When reached by phone, Blacklaw declined to comment. A request for comment to Bellanca was not returned.

"Personnel changes at this level are within the scope of the president's responsibilities," said WCC spokeswoman Janet Hawkins, who said she has "no information" on the reason Blacklaw was fired.

WCC Trustee Stephen Gill declined to comment on the personnel change, saying the board is kept informed of major hires and firings.

"It's the president's prerogative to hire and fire the people who report to her," he said.

Jennifer Baker, president of WCC's educators' union, said faculty had begun to suspect the relationship between Blacklaw and Bellanca was tenuous and that his contract might not be renewed. They did not expect a firing, she said.

"The faculty are disappointed by the decision. It’s fair to say that there has not been a vice president in my history a the college, which is over 20 years, that has been more respected and appreciated by faculty," she said. "In addition to the action itself, the way in which it was handled is far from ideal."

William Abernethy, who has served as WCC's Dean of Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences for the past 12 years, will serve as the interim vice president of instruction. Abernethy worked closely with Bellanca during a recent strategic review of the campus.

He will earn $131,400.

The vice president of instruction acts as WCC's chief academic officer and is in charge of faculty hiring, instructional budgets, course offerings and curriculum approvals.

"I have full confidence in his ability," Bellanca said in the campus-wide email. "He is working on a transition plan that includes learning more about all of our instructional areas and working with deans and department chairs to resolve issues "

In the email Bellanca said she wanted to hire a new vice president for instruction by the 2014 academic year. Hawkins said there is no search planned yet for candidates and declined to say whether Abernethy was in the running to assume the role permanently.

College officials meet with finalists for Hardy's replacement this week and, according to Hawkins, are close to making an announcement about a new chief financial officer. The school is not disclosing finalists' names.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Ryan Stanton | AnnArbor.com file photo

The Monster often plays on downtown Ann Arbor sidewalks while wearing a werewolf mask (and occasionally howling). He's been touring in recent months.

Paula Filek opened Screamin' Hot Shoes in Ypsilanti's Depot Town.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

The former Notre Dame football team defensive end and wide receiver stomps and flails like Iggy Pop’s more-spastic sister, and her big frame puts big time pressure on her heels, which inevitably snap during the performance.

But a new boutique in Ypsilanti's Depot Town, Screamin' Hot Shoes, is hoping to remedy that problem. The shop, at 22 E. Cross St., is focusing on women's shoes, and specializing in transgender and stripper footwear. It's owned by Ypsilanti businesswoman Paula Filek, who also operates Paula's Barber Shop several doors east on Cross Street.

Jenna was part of the inspiration for Filek taking her store this direction and Jenna now has a local source for six-inch heels that won’t bust every time she sashays across the stage when her Detroit-based band Glitter Trash performs.

Screamin' Hot Shoes is at 22 E. Cross St., across the street from Fantasy Attic costume shop.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

“She has a really hard time finding shoes because she jumps off the stage like a crazy person and breaks them, so I have shoes that are big enough and won’t break,” Filek said.

Talia has yet to stop into the brick and mortar shop, but purchases shoes from Screamin' Hot's online store.

“She carries larger sizes and has better made, good looking shoes; not junk,” Talia said. “I feel pain for females who have larger feet because all the shoes in larger sizes are ugly. People who have odd sizes or big sizes have a hard time finding good shoes, but Paula's stuff is good looking.”

Talia is 6 feet tall and weighs 220 pounds, so her shoes - and other transgenders' shoes - require metal poles through the heel and extra support on the bottom of the shoe, Filek explained. That type of support also is necessary for strippers who dance in similar boots and shoes.

Among the labels Filek stocks at Screamin’ Hot are Soda, Delicious, City Classified and many more. They range in price from $40 to $500.

But Filek stressed that her store also is carrying flip flops, flats, wedges, sandals, low heels, boots and footwear for all women - not just transgenders or strippers.

“I’m going to provide shoes for strippers and transgenders, but to kick it off it’s mostly just for women in general,” Paula said, though the shoes in her roughly 200-square-foot boutique she leases are undeniably flashy and sassy.

Filek met Jenna through a mutual friend at Paula's Barber Shop, and had Jenna model for a Screamin’ Hot shoe show at McShane’s Pub in Detroit’s Corktown. There, she learned more about what transgenders need in a shoe.

Screamin' Hot's shoes for that demographic are mostly purchased from one of several California distributors, and the website has some shoes that can be quickly ordered if they aren’t yet in the store.

Filek said she opened Screamin' Hot in Depot Town because she likes the vibe there and it's near her barber shop, so she can walk back and forth between both businesses.

She said she's not concerned that neighbors won't like the transgender and stripper clientele.

“They need shoes, too,” she said. “Try to close me down, or come in the store and see it.”

As for her target market, Filek said she believes stocking “regular” women's shoes will help keep her afloat, but said she also thinks she will see more business from transgenders, cross-dressers, drag queens, strippers or others who might need her services as word spreads.

Neighboring bar and concert venue Woodruff’s, for example, has held drag queen shows in the past, and Filek says the customer base for her wares is large.

“There are more of them around here than anyone knows,” she said.

Jenna expressed similar thoughts, and said the store is extra special because there are so few places where transgenders can go and be treated respectfully by the owner and staff.

“That’s a big deal for people who are different,” said Jenna, who is from Harper Woods. “Having people be sympathetic goes a long way to help you be true to who you are.

“They will travel when they find out there are stores where they can feel comfortable and people treat them respectfully. It’s really hard to find venues like this where you can feel comfortable walking in.”

The store has been open for about a month, but the grand opening celebration will be Friday through Sunday, during which time Filek will offer a "buy one, get one half off" special. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays.

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

At the request of the Michigan Nurses Association, the University of Michigan has opened its nurses union contract more than a year before it was set to expire and the two parties have reached a tentative agreement.

The two parties reached the agreement Wednesday, and the Michigan Nurses Association notified the employees it represents in the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council of the new agreement Thursday.

University of Michigan nurses represented by the Michigan Nurses Association protest in 2011 during contract negotiations. The nurses union has asked U-M to open its contract a year ahead of schedule.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

An agreement was reached in November 2011.

That contract was set to expire June 30, 2014.

• Read details of the contract

“It was important to the union to re-open (their contract) and we were willing to open and engage in the process and end up with something that’s mutually beneficial,” said Rick Fitzgerald, spokesman for the University of Michigan.

Michigan’s new right-to-work law takes effect in the state March 28. Passed in December, the law removes the security clause in union contracts that would require employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

"The Michigan Nurses Association/University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council and the university have reached a tentative agreement on a contract modification,” according to a statement from Michigan Nurses Association Executive Director John Karebian. “As is usual during this process, MNA is focused on informing all of our UMPNC nurses of the details of the tentative agreement and will not be commenting further at this time."

Fitzgerald said the tentative agreement reached would expire June 30, 2018.

“It does provide a longer period of stability with a very important group of employees,” Fitzgerald said of the five-year time frame.

The negotiations included a give-and-take process from both sides, Fitzgerald said.

“This was a re-opening of the contract, not just an extension,” he said. “Other matters were discussed and other agreements were reached.”

U-M was approached by three other unions to re-open their contracts, and has reached a tentative agreement with one of them, Fitzgerald said. A contract with the Lecturers Employee Organization was set to expire this spring and U-M has reached a tentative five-year agreement for a new contract with them, Fitzgerald said.

Unions across much of Southeast Michigan have been approaching employers with requests to quickly negotiate extended contracts to defer the initial effects of the right-to-work law, said Derk Wilcox, a lawyer for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Some unions representing employees of Washtenaw County have asked county administration similar requests, and county staff is working to re-negotiate about 15 union contracts before the Board of Commissioners meeting March 20.

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

Snow is still in the forecast for the Ann Arbor area Friday, but it’s going to start a bit later than originally expected.

Shoveling could be necessary Saturday morning. The National Weather Service expects 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight in the Ann Arbor area.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnAbor.com

The precipitation is expected to start Friday afternoon after 4 p.m. with rain. Forecasters had earlier expected the rain to start much earlier in the day.

Some snow is likely to mix in with it after sunset, said National Weather Service forecaster Joseph Clark. It will change over to all snow after midnight. The chance for precipitation is 80 percent. An overnight low of about 27 is expected.

Some snow showers could continue Saturday morning, tapering off between 9 and 11 a.m., Clark said. After the snow ends by about 9 a.m., expect cloudy skies with a high of about 35.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 36. But Sunday night and Monday could bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Meteorologist Cory Behnke with the National Weather Service said any significant accumulation will likely remain to the south of Ann Arbor.

Dexter senior guard Makenzie Svirha takes the ball up the floor in the first half of a state semifinal game against Grosse Pointe South Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

This file will be updated

EAST LANSING -- The Dexter girls basketball team finished the best season in program history with a strong second half. But it was undone by a dreadful first 16 minutes.

The Dreadnaughts fell to Grosse Pointe South, 48-29, in a Class A state semifinal game Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Dexter finishes the season at 23-4 following the deepest state tournament run in program history.

Forward Emma Kill led Dexter with 12 points, followed by Kathryn Pisano with six. Dexter came out and kept the game close through the first four minutes, before Grosse Pointe South started to pull away. After taking an 11-4 lead following the first quarter, the Blue Devils started the second quarter on a 14-2 run, eventually going up 19-6.

A stingy GPS defense forced 12 Dexter turnovers in the first half, and GPS scored 18 points off those turnovers, leading 27-10 at halftime. The Dreadnaughts shot 4-for-20 from the field in the first 16 minutes.

After Dexter turned the ball over on its first possession after the break, Grosse Pointe South scored five points in less than a minute to go up by 20.

But Dexter recovered and doubled their point total in the third quarter. The Dreadnaughts were outscored by only two in the second half.

The Blue Devils were led by 21 points from sophomore guard Cierra Rice.

The loss concludes an unlikely run to the final four for Dexter, which included a win over Huron in the district final and an 18-point second-half comeback against Farmington Hills Harrison a week earlier in a regional final.

It also concludes the careers of the Dreadnaughts’ entire starting five, which won back-to-back SEC White titles and went 40-8 in the last two years.

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.

Police were dispatched to Slauson Middle School Friday morning to investigate a physical altercation between two students.

Slauson Middle School

From A2schools.org

There were no serious injuries and no weapons were involved, Margolis said, adding she's not sure if the altercation could be classified as a "fight." She declined to give any additional details about the incident.

Margolis said the students' behaviors were addressed in accordance with the district's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. According to the handbook, fighting or physical aggression can carry a consequence of up to a six- to 10-day suspension.

Rumors about injuries and the incident were circulating because police were present at the school for most of the morning, so the district decided to issue an email to Slauson families, Margolis said.

Read the complete correspondence sent home:

Dear Slauson Families,

We are aware of numerous rumors being spread by concerned students surrounding an altercation that took place during first period today. The police were summoned to the building in response to this incident and spent several hours at Slauson investigating the matter and conducting interviews, along with Slauson Administration, and meeting with students and parents directly involved.

Despite the rumors, thankfully, there were no serious injuries that resulted from this incident.

Please rest assured that the matter has been thoroughly investigated and the students involved in wrongdoing have received consequences in accordance with those outlined in the Ann Arbor Public School's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

If your student(s) indicate concerns at home this evening or weekend, please reassure them that no one was seriously injured.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

In December, the Pittsfield Township Fire Department responded to an arson call to a third-floor apartment at the Spice Tree Apartments where a woman was trapped inside.

The department's seven firefighters on duty at its three stations responded and the first truck was at the scene within five minutes.

Fire fighters at the December fire at Spicetree Apartments in Pittsfield Township.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Additionally, its full-time firefighters who weren't on duty at the time also were able to quickly respond and provide back up.

After being found unconscious, the woman was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital where she spent several weeks in the intensive care unit before being released.

Pittsfield Township firefighters investigate a fire at Spice Tree Apartments in early December 2012.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Officials from the fire department say the quick response time with adequate manpower were responsible for saving the woman's life and helping contain damage to only four apartments in the dense complex.

Until recently, the township's fire department may not have been able to respond with as many men in a timely fashion. Late last year, it completed a three-year conversion from a partially paid “on call” department to a full-time department.

City officials say the change has improved the township’s fire service by keeping more readily-available firefighters at its stations 24 hours a day.

"Generally when we got a fire call during the day, we weren't getting our paid on-call people to come because they all work full-time day jobs," Pittsfield Fire Chief Sean Gleason said of the Spice Tree fire. "We were able to get the lady out and she was OK after spending a couple weeks in the ICU."

In 2009, the fire department staffed 39 paid on-call firefighters who responded to emergencies, but had to drive to the station when calls came in. The department received 2,660 calls in 2012.

“For us, it was a reliability issue,” said Matt Harshberger, public safety director for Pittsfield Township. He praised the dedication and work of the paid on-call firefighters, but said it was difficult for those with full-time jobs or a commute to leave their jobs on a moment’s notice.

As the township continues to grow, it also is now receiving more calls — which is where not having a reliable fire department was becoming an issue. Gleason said the model worked when he started at the department 21 years ago, but on-call firefighters don't work in bigger municipalities.

"It had nothing to do with (on-call firefighters) personally," Harshberger said. "It was a business decision to maintain and improve service to the community,"

Now the township has 26 full-time employees with six to eight firefighters manning three stations at all times during the day, and that does not including the chief and fire marshal.

“We have more folks on staff at any given time, not coming in from work or unable to come at all,” Harshberger said. “We have additional firefighters on each shift. From a training aspect and as far as our response time, we have created a more effective model.”

The change also has come at no cost to members of the township. Training and outfitting a high number of on-call staff was costly, Harshberger said. The move also reduced the township's overtime pay by 50 percent, and Gleason noted it improves firefighters' ability and skill when they are needed on calls, because they train daily instead of once a month.

Because of the savings from the shift to the more effective model, the fire department was able to hire several of the part-time firefighters it previously employed, Harshberger said. Pittsfield's firefighters' annual salaries begin at $42,254 and max out at $55,969 after five years.

The fire department has a budget of $3.5 million, though it's slightly higher this year because it purchased a fire truck.

The city of Ypsilanti could soon be home to a new sit-down, carryout restaurant in the former Pinter's Flowerland building on Washtenaw Avenue.

The former Pinter's Flowerland, pictured here in this file photo, may soon become a sit-down restaurant.

Courtesy Ypsilanti

Mohamad Issa, co-founder of Global Educational Excellence that oversees some charter schools in Washtenaw County, has submitted a site plan to the city to renovate the building and transform it into a restaurant.

Issa could not be reached for comment and the site plan doesn't state what sort of restaurant Issa is seeking to open. The Issa family also founded the Ahmo's chain, which now includes three restaurants in Ann Arbor and one in Adrian.

The 2,780-square-foot building is on the southeast corner of Washtenaw Avenue and Owendale Street, and sits on about .34 acres of land.

The building's assessed value is $90,300, making its market value $180,600. Robert Pinter purchased the building in 1991 for $217,000 from Gary Miano.

City records still show Pinter as the owner of the building and it is unclear whether Issa has purchased the property from Pinter. Pinter still has other locations within southeastern Michigan including one in Belleville at 6830 Rawsonville Road.

Issa is proposing turning the building into a 50-seat restaurant and adding additional landscaping to the front yard, adding nine parking spaces and an outdoor seating area.

The property is zoned B1, neighborhood business, which allows sit-down restaurants with fifty or fewer seats as a permitted use, and sit-down restaurants with more than 50 seats as a special use, provided they have access to a major thoroughfare.

City staff are recommending the plan be tabled until Issa is able to address some issues.

The staff wants Issa to consider adding bicycle parking, removing the curb cut on Owendale and replacing it with a barrier curb and landscaping as part of the project, as well as other engineering changes.

The curb cut does not meet access standard requirements due to the proximity to Washtenaw Avenue, according to staff.

"The site faces extensive dimensional constraints, due to the siting of the existing building, the size and orientation of the lot, and the spatial requirements of the landscaping and parking ordinances, as well as stormwater control," wrote assistant planner Bonnie Wessler.

"This site plan is an excellent attempt to work within those constraints, however, both parking and stormwater handling will require significant alteration to conform to the ordinance."

The planning commission will consider Issa's site plan at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ypsilanti City Hall.

Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.

Scio Township is considering the development of a township-wide special assessment district to fund its own road repairs.

Officials have been discussing the measure for a long time, said Supervisor E. Spaulding Clark.

Repairs on local roads in Scio Township could be funded by a township-wide special assessment district.

AnnArbor.com file photo

A special assessment district for the entire township would mean each parcel owner would contribute the same amount of funding to repair of a set list of road projects in the township.

It would be the first of its kind in Washtenaw County, said Roy Townsend, managing director of the road commission.

Typically, special assessment districts are created by a cluster of homeowners -- commonly in specific subdivisions -- that want to fund road repairs in their neighborhood.

The creation of a district that would encompass the entire township brings some legal questions the township and the Washtenaw County Road Commission are working out, Clark said.

Talks of increasing road funding at the state level -- if they’re enacted -- will likely only translate into increased financial support for projects on state routes, Clark said.

“The state’s talking more money for roads, but they’re talking about primary roads,” Clark said. “It certainly won’t get filtered down to the roads that need it.”

Townsend said the special assessment district is a good way to ensure taxpayer dollars are directed to fixing the roads that those individuals use everyday.

A county-wide millage for local road work would be difficult to allocate to each township - as cities like Ann Arbor already pay their own tax for road improvements, Townsend said.

The intent is to create a pool of funding to fix the roads that people in the township use on a daily basis, Clark said.

Initially, township officials discussed collecting $80 or $85 per year from each parcel owner in the township, regardless of the size of the parcel.

A rate of $80 would result in a pool of money totaling about $4.9 million, Clark said.

The township may be able to bond against that money as well, Clark said.

The township Board of Trustees passed an initial measure Tuesday night declaring its intent to pursue the special assessment district.

• Read the meeting packet

Clark and Scio Township will be conferring with the Washtenaw County Road Commission to develop a model that will work.

Public hearings and a full presentation on the special assessment district will be conducted once the township develops that model, Clark said.

Because of Public Act 188, the township could implement the special assessment district without the approval of the vote of the people.

Scio Township has drafted a list of 29 roads with a combined length of 25 miles that would be repaired using the special assessment district.

“Up front, you’re going to have to tell people where there money is going,” Clark said, explaining that otherwise there likely wouldn’t be much support for the idea.

Gravel roads on the list include:

• East Delhi Road from the railroad tracks to Miller Road
• Knight Road from Scio Church to Liberty
• Liberty Road from Park to Parker; from Zeeb to Stags Leap to Park
• Maple Road from Stein to Daleview; from Stein to the township line
• Marshall Road from Baker to Marshall Lakes Drive to Zeeb; from Parker to Baker
• North Delhi Road from Huron River Drive to Eastgate
• Park Road from Scio Village Court to West Birkdale to Parkland Plaza; from Zeeb to Liberty
• Peters Road from Zeeb to Miller
• Pratt Road from West Delhi to Wagner
• Railroad Street from West Delhi to East Delhi
• Scio Road from Zeeb to Dexter-Ann Arbor
• Staebler Road from the pavement south to Park
• Stein Road from Tubbs to Maple
• Streiter Road from Liberty to Scio Church
• Tubbs Road from Huron River Drive to Stein
• West Delhi Road from Dexter-Ann Arbor to Miller to Railroad Street

Paved roads on the list include:

• East Delhi Road from Huron River Drive to the railroad tracks
• Park Road from Zeeb to Scio Village Court
• Scio Ridge Road from Liberty to Upland
• Staebler Road from Jackson Road south to the end of the pavement
• Upland Drive from Scio Church to Scio Ridge

Roads within the village of Dexter would not be covered by the township’s special assessment district, and those residents would not be asked to pay the yearly rate.

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

University of Michigan students line up for a photo booth at last year's Bash on The Diag, which attracted approximately 6,000 students. A similar number is expected this year.

AnnArbor.com file photo

It’s the one annual weekend when no one in Ann Arbor minds being seen dressed in green from head to toe.

That’s right, it’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

With both Saturday and Sunday set to be busy in Ann Arbor area bars, officials throughout the area are gearing up for the revelers to take to the streets. Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said extra police patrols will be out on both Saturday and Sunday.

“I really don’t know what day is going to be the biggest day because there are so many events happening on Sunday,” she said.

“There will be an extra presence in the downtown area. We will be visible, we will have extra visibility those days.”

Police are expected to be on a higher alert this weekend after a particularly busy weekend in 2012. Police fielded 475 calls for service and a crowd estimated by police at 200 people — and estimated by others to be near 1,000 — flooded South University Avenue after the bars were closed early March 18.

The University of Michigan sent out an email Thursday, giving students advice on what to do and not to do this weekend. Among the suggestions were staying away from open windows, roof tops and ledges and not walking in the street with alcohol.

Washtenaw County police agencies will be stepping up their drunk driving enforcement as a part of a statewide program funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. Sgt. David Archer, of the sheriff's office, said the University of Michigan Police, Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, Saline City Police Department and the Northfield Township Police Department will be working with the sheriff's office in upping enforcement.

March 17, 2012 also marked the now-infamous literary fight, where a man was sent to hospital after being punched at a party by another man following an argument about books. Still-unconfirmed rumors cite the argument was about who was better — J.R.R. Tolkien or Leo Tolstoy.

The lines outside area bars are expected to form early on both Saturday and Sunday. Many bars have specials and are expecting big crowds.

Among those establishments is Conor O’Neills Irish Pub, 318 S. Main St. Micheal Dineen, night manager at the pub, said both Saturday and Sunday are expected to be busy, with lines out the door from when the bar opens at 11 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday.

Dineen said the atmosphere is rowdy and celebratory, but no extra security guards are being hired for the weekend.

“We have our regular staff, we just up it a little bit more to have a lot more on,” he said. “We have lines outside all day, we control the crowd a lot and we end up having a lot of people with families.”

Dineen said Conor O’Neill’s will be having beer and shot specials every hour on the hour both days, in addition to their standard Irish dishes and the always-popular Bud Light.

Despite the less-than-ideal weather forecasted for the weekend — the National Weather Service forecasts a high of 38 degrees Saturday and 34 on Sunday after a possible snowstorm on Friday — the party surely will still be going on outside.

One of the major issues with big party days in Ann Arbor is always the amount of trash that ends up littering downtown Ann Arbor. Luckily for city residents, trash pick-up day is on Monday in much of the downtown area, said Lisa Wondrash, city of Ann Arbor communications manager.

Wondrash said there likely won’t be any special trash pick up done in the city because of the regularly scheduled work on Monday.

“It’s not going to change,” she said.

There also will be some people looking to do a bit of good in Ann Arbor on Sunday, amidst the drunken shenanigans.

Some University of Michigan students will be hanging out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on The Diag, not to partake in the booze-drenched festivities but to make sure others stay safe.

Manish Parikh, student body president at U-M, said the Bash on The Diag will be providing pizza, desserts and water to students in the area. In addition, there will be music, gifts and other activieis for students.

Parikh said an estimated 6,000 students came by the 2012 version of the event and he’s hoping for a similar turn-out this year. Approximately $15,000 was spent on the Bash on The Diag, making it one of the organization’s largest events of the year.

“The safety of our entire campus community is extremely important,” Parikh said. “Along with the Division of Student Affairs and the Dean of Students, we’re putting on one of our most important events of the year … so that Wolverines can keep themselves well-nourished and hydrated and are reminded to stay safe and healthy.”

Parikh, university officials and police are clearly preparing for the green cloud descending on the area. However, it’s still a bit of a nervy time for those charged with keeping the city safe.

Bush said she didn’t know how many people are expected to come to the city for the festivities, nor could she speculate how a cold St. Patrick’s Day would play out after years of warmth. The department has been preparing for the weekend for a number of days and she said she’s still caught up in the process. She sighed and laughed when contemplating what to expect.

“There’s just too many what-ifs,” she said.

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

An image from the archival documentary "Our Nixon."

Photo provided by the Ann Arbor Film Festival

Specifically, 238 films from more than 17 countries—chosen from more than 3,000 submissions—will be screened over the course of six days, alongside special programs, like two panel discussions focused on the current state of film writing and criticism (“with a particular focus on the kind of work one would see at the AAFF” programming director David Dinnell said via email); a program of contemporary music videos at UMMA; and an art installation by Peter Bo Rappmund called Tectonics, at the Work Gallery (March 15-Paril 5), featuring an hour-long video with photographs of the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

AAFF's main spotlight, though, shines on competition films, and this AAFF will be the fourth that Dinnell has programmed. (After past AAFF director Donald Harrison’s exit in August 2012, Maria Feldman assumed duties as operations director.)

“The Opening Night program is an excellent introduction to the festival, to the kind of artist-made films the AAFF presents, and to the range of works one will see throughout the week,” said Dinnell. “The Saturday evening films in competition programs are also good for people who haven’t been before.

“For people that have an interest in documentaries, the Friday evening Films in Competition program features really great films, and personal approaches to documentary filmmaking that one isn’t so likely to see elsewhere. And the critically acclaimed feature-length film ‘Leviathan’ is a really incredible film to experience. It could redefine how we think of documentary film.”

Indeed, a brief preview of “Leviathan” offered a mesmerizing glimpse of life on, and just below, the water.

In addition, Dinnell recommends checking out the new, 35mm print of Pat O’Neill’s “Water and Power,” calling it a screening “not to be missed.”

“The film is really a masterpiece,” said Dinnell. “Pat O’ Neill will be present to discuss the film, so this is a rare opportunity to see the film how it is meant to be seen (on 35mm in a place like the Michigan Theater) and to talk about it with the director.”

Animation fans should note that while animated shorts show up throughout many of the competition programs, an animation night program is scheduled for Friday evening; two screenings will focus on Polish animation, from the late 50s through the present; and, according to Dinnell, “Suzan Pitt will be present with a nearly complete retrospective of her forty years of filmmaking, including some very rarely seen early works that are being restored just in time for these screenings, alongside her masterpieces such as 'Joy Street' and 'Asparagus.'"

So while the Ann Arbor Film Festival is primarily about celebrating new and innovative filmmaking, it also regularly takes a look back at classic, seminal works of experimental film.

“On Sunday afternoon one can see a newly restored 16mm print of Les Blank’s amazing portrait of Cajun culture, ‘Spend it All,’” said Dinnell. “This 1972 film is one of my favorites, and Les Blank has been a really beloved filmmaker at the Ann Arbor Film Festival for the past five decades.”

That’s no small run - for a film artist or a film festival.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

"Da Vinci," the third film in a trilogy by Yuri Ancarani, will receive its North American premiere on opening night of the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Photo provided by the Ann Arbor Film Festival