Local musician Laszlo Slomovitz and poet Linda Nemec Foster will team up at Nicola's Books for a joint reading and musical performance of “Cry of Freedom," a collaborative work.

Laszlo Slomovitz is one half of the brother duo Gemini, which has been entertaining kids and adults alike for generations. Poet and writer Linda Nemec Foster is the author of nine poetry collections, including the critically acclaimed "Amber Necklace of Gdansk."

Tuesday April 30, 2013. 7 p.m. Free. Nicola's Books is in the Westgate Shopping Center at 2513 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. 734-662-0600.

Ann Arbor featured in a question on Wednesday night's episode of "Jeopardy!"

As noted on the Facebook page of student radio station WCBN, a clue in the "Radio Radio" category read, "Gilda Radner was the weather girl on WCBN, the campus broadcasting network of this Michigan college town." The correct response, of course, was "What is Ann Arbor?"

This is at least the fourth time in less than a year that Ann Arbor has figured in a question on the popular syndicated game show.

Earlier this month, a "Jeopardy!" clue focused on the downtown cafe Afternoon Delight. In February, the University of Michigan (and the Diag's brass "M") were a clue. And last fall, U-M's Gerald Ford Presidential Library served as a clue.

The Ann Arbor area also seems to serve as a regular source of contestants on the program. Most notably, Stephanie Jass of Milan enjoyed a record-setting run last fall that took her to the Tournament of Champions earlier this year.

Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.

Graffiti in Ann Arbor is a hot-button issue for many business owners, politicians, police investigators and the residents who drive and walk by the tags around town.

Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 for information leading to arrests in Ann Arbor graffiti incidents.

Now, Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a cash reward for information

Troy Macon, Washtenaw County director of Crime Stoppers, said in a statement Thursday that the organization is offering $1,000 for information regarding graffiti and vandalism.

“Ann Arbor police and Crime Stoppers of Michigan are working to crack down on graffiti and vandalism in the county,” Macon said. “Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 cash rewards for information … regarding graffiti and vandalism.”

Macon said photographs of people doing graffiti, names, addresses or any other information that can lead to arrests and apprehensions are welcome.

City officials repeatedly have said in previous months that vandalism suspects have been identified and Ann Arbor police are building a case against them. Graffiti consistently is being discussed in Ann Arbor and made headlines this month when six rail cars at the Arttrain site were vandalized.

Approximately $60,000 in damage was done between 1:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on April 13 when vandals tagged the cars with “Clams,” "Raw” and other words that were difficult to decipher.

Police did not have any suspects in that incident and were investigating if the tagging was related to other incidents that happened downtown and around the county.

Earlier this month, 18-year-old Tayo Norton was charged with spray-painting and using paint markers in the Library Lane underground parking garage in December. Norton is only believed to be a suspect in that isolated incident.

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

University of Michigan police made contact with a man believed to have made unwelcome advances to female students in the North Campus area and asked him to stop.

Courtesy of U-M Police

Police spokeswoman Diane Brown said Thursday that police talked to one man and said his behavior was not criminal.

“We identified one individual, spoke with him, told him he was making people uncomfortable with his behavior and asked him to stop,” Brown said.

All of the reports were made to Housing Security and no police reports were filed, Brown said. Women reported a man coming up to them, saying they were pretty and asking them out on a date. On more than one occasion, the man attempted to kiss the women.

Brown said none of the women wanted to file police reports and there was no element of a crime in any of the incidents.

However, Brown said the individual who has been identified may not be the only person who has approached women on campus in a similar way. She said the man who police talked to mainly spoke with women in the North Campus area, but other reports of similar behavior have come from Central Campus as well.

“It’s unlikely that it was one individual,” Brown 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.

Police are looking for this man in connection with credit card thefts.

Courtesy of WCSO

Police released a wanted poster Thursday for two men wanted for stealing credit cards from vehicles.

The men are suspected of breaking into a car in Ann Arbor Township on April 7, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

Later that day the credit card stolen from the car, along with at least four other stolen credit cards, were used at a gas station in Ypsilanti Township.

Security cameras captured these images of the two suspects as they used the stolen cards.

Police think the two could possibly be driving a light olive-green Ford Focus.

Please contact Det. Kevin Parviz at 734-484-6740, extension 242, with information or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

This is the second suspect police are looking for in connection with stolen credit cards.

Courtesy of WCSO

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

One woman died Thursday afternoon after a rollover crash on westbound Interstate 94 west of Rawsonville Road.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

One woman is dead after a rollover crash on Interstate 94 west of Rawsonville Road in Ypsilanti Township Thursday afternoon, a Huron Valley Ambulance official said.

Spokeswoman Joyce Williams said the woman was westbound on I-94 west of Rawsonville Road when her vehicle rolled over. The cause of the rollover is unknown at this time.

Emergency crews were sent to the scene at 1:34 p.m. Thursday, Williams said.

The woman was the only person in the vehicle and she was wearing her seatbelt, Williams said.

An alert on Nixle from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office reported both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 94 were closed at Rawsonville Road. It was unknown how long they would be closed as of 2 p.m. Thursday.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

View Fatal crash 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.

By Ben Solis For AnnArbor.com

As a way to show solidarity with the victims of the attack at the Boston Marathon last week, the University of Michigan’s Sikh Student Association (link: http://maizepages.umich.edu/organization/sikhstudentsassociation) is planning a one-mile run starting on the U-M campus on Friday, April 26.

The run will begin at 7 p.m., following a short prayer, or “ardass,” by Sikh students near the block M on the Diag. The route is planned to start and end there and includes several streets around campus.

Although Sikh students are organizing the event, anyone is invited to run or attend as a spectator, said Harleen Kaur, the president of the SSA.

Similar tribute runs and mini-marathons have been scheduled around the country since the attack, including in the Ann Arbor area. One was held last Saturday in the campus area.

For more information on the run, contact Kaur at harleen@umich.edu.

People are invited to drop off old electronic devices and equipment at an annual e-waste recycling event Saturday hosted by the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public Schools.

Workers unload a TV from a car during the 2011 electronic waste recycling event hosted by the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public Schools at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

There is no limit to the number of items that can be dropped off and there is no cost to participate. Workers at the event will unload items for recycling from participant's vehicles.

Acceptable items include: CRT monitors, LCD displays, laptops, servers, wires, cables, keyboards, mice, speakers, hard drives, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, stereo systems, camcorders, cameras, radios, video game systems, cellphones, pagers, telephones, fax machines, copiers, typewriters, microwaves, printers and scanners.

Materials that will not be accepted include smoke detectors, household appliances, hairdryers, light bulbs and CRT screens that are broken or cracked.

• Full list of materials accepted

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

Related stories:

• List: 80 employees, high school busing, middle school pools among $8.67M in proposed cuts
• Proposed Ann Arbor schools budget cuts could result in teacher layoffs
• Ann Arbor schools proposed athletic cuts include pay-to-play increases, middle school sports cuts
• Next Ann Arbor superintendent salary to top out at $220K

The Ann Arbor Board of Education has identified the set of qualities it is looking for in a new superintendent. And after Patricia Green's short-lived experience in the district, the board has emphasized an ability to handle criticism and to build personal relationships with the school community.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Green's communication skills and level of transparency were points of contention throughout her tenure at the Ann Arbor Public Schools. She's been criticized for not being approachable or accessible to teachers and parents and for a perceived lack of commitment to the community.

The board developed a 14-item superintendent profile and set a timeline for hiring a new superintendent in a study session Wednesday evening, before its regular meeting, at which the district administration presented its recommended expenditure budget for the 2013-14 academic year. The board also set the next superintendent salary range at $180,000 to $220,000. Green makes $245,000.

The profile will be given to Ray & Associates, the search firm helping the district find a new leader. The profile is intended to attract interested candidates by presenting a clear picture of what the district values, so potential applicants can determine if the Ann Arbor Public Schools would be an appropriate fit for their personal values, goals and skills, President Deb Mexicotte said.

The board started with the profile it developed in 2010. But by the time it was done, the profile had been completely revamped with additional language, bullet points and specifics.

Among the qualities that were added were the ability to: serve as the face of the district, advocate for the district at all levels of government and maintain effectiveness in stressful financial periods. The board also specified that the superintendent should have a "visionary drive" and, when met with criticism, the superintendent should show a willingness to glean suggestions and ideas from others.

Mexicotte said she wants a leader with strong skills in the area of new media; someone who has experience working with media outlets as well as social media, she said, and perhaps has his or her own social media presence.

In addition to having skills in communication and trust and relationship building, the board stressed that the next leader must have a "desire" to do these things and an appreciation of their importance.

Applications for the superintendent's position will be due on May 30. The board will select its candidate frontrunners by June 12. Semifinalists will be identified by July 8 and the board will begin interviewing them that week.

Community interviews of the final three candidates will take place the week of July 15.

Between now and the end of May, the board intends to schedule more community dialogues, similar to the format that was used for public input and suggestions on the budget. Three Board of Education trustees led these dialogues, and the forums took place around the district and at various times of day to allow for a wide spectrum of participants.

Ray & Associates also will develop an online survey for soliciting feedback on what the community and district residents would like to see in their next superintendent.

Read the complete superintendent profile below.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools seeks a superintendent who:

• Inspires trust in all facets of the community, has high levels of self-confidence and optimism, and models high standards of integrity and personal performance.
• Possesses the leadership skills required to respond to the challenges presented by an ethnically and culturally diverse community containing a major university and other high tech institutions.
• Possesses the ability to enhance student performance, especially in identifying and closing or narrowing gaps in student achievement.
• Is a strong communicator: speaking, listening and writing; is the face of the district and presents a positive image of the district.
• Is strongly committed to a "student first" philosophy in all decisions.
• Possesses excellent people skills; enjoys coming to know personally parents, students, staff, board trustees and community members and their leaders.
• Maintains effectiveness and confidence in the face of criticism while gleaning helpful suggestions and ideas.
• Has knowledge of sound fiscal procedures and experience in the management of district resources in stressful periods.
• Has knowledge of emerging research and best practice in the area of curriculum/instructional design and practice.
• Has demonstrated strong leadership and management skills in previous positions.
• Appreciates the value of building consensus and commitment among individuals and groups and is able to do this.
• Advocates effectively for the district at all levels of government.
• Is a visionary leader who brings knowledge and expertise to the pragmatic implementation of the district's strategic plan.
• Has strong skills in internal and external communication skills with demonstrated experience in current media paradigms.

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

Jeffrey Arthur Schuh, Jeffrey Aron Schuh, Quang Nguyen, Stephen Colwell

Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

The four thieves who pleaded guilty to breaking into a slew of houses last summer will have to pay an estimated $145,000 in restitution, it was revealed at the first man's sentencing Wednesday.

Quang Nguyen, 19, of Ypsilanti Township, was sentenced 4-15 years in a state prison and ordered to pay, along with his three co-defendants, the restitution to the homeowners and their insurance companies.

"I am sorry," Nguyen said in court as he read from a prepared statement.

The three other members of the break-in crew are scheduled to be sentenced on May 8. Jeffery Arthur Schuh, 54, and his son, Jeffrey Aron Schuh, 20, both of Dexter, pleaded guilty to numerous home invasions earlier this month.

Younger Schuh is expected to get the same 4-15 year sentence, while the elder Schuh likely will get 3-15 years.

Steven Colwell, the 25-year-old Lima Township man who pleaded guilty to five counts of second-degree home invasion in November, testified against his former crew in exchange for a lighter sentence. Police say his agreement includes a term of 2-15 years in prison.

The crew broke into a total of nine houses in Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, Scio Township, Webster Township and Dexter Township, according to Cowell's testimony. He said the elder Schuh functioned as a lookout on three of the jobs. A wide range of items were taken, including foreign coins, two-dollar bills, equestrian trophies, jewelry, silver goblets, electronics, cash, a guitar and custom-made brass bullets.

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

The Republican-led state Senate approved legislation Thursday that would block a group's effort to ban wolf hunting in Michigan.

Legislation passed on a 25-to-11 vote Thursday would empower the Natural Resources Commission to decide which types of wildlife could be hunted. If signed into law, the measure effectively renders meaningless a potential statewide vote next year on overturning the Legislature's designation of wolves as a game species.

Lawmakers say wolf hunting can be necessary in areas of larger wolf populations in order to protect people's safety as well as their livestock.

AP Photo/Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Lawmakers say wolf hunting is necessary to ensure the safety of citizens and livestock in rural areas where the wolf population is larger. But opponents say the measure is an attempt by lawmakers to suppress the voice of the people.

Currently, only the Legislature has the power to designate a game species, but under the proposal passed Wednesday, the seven-member regulatory panel appointed by the governor also would have that power. The legislation originally included a $1 million appropriation, which means under Michigan law it cannot be placed on a ballot. That language was removed from the bill Thursday.

Lawmakers approved the measure designating wolves as a game species last year. Earlier this month, opponents gathered the more than 240,000 signatures necessary to request a statewide vote on whether the animals should be hunted. If a certain number of the signatures are considered valid, wolf hunting would be suspended until a vote is held in 2014.

But if the bill passed by the Senate Thursday — which now heads to the House — is signed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, even if voters strike down wolf hunting in 2014, the NRC could approve wolf hunting anyway.

Jill Fritz, the director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, the group backing the proposed referendum, told the more than 100 opponents protesting the bill on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday that the measure is an "extreme power grab by politicians or a deliberate attempt to subvert democracy and silence the voice of Michigan voters."

Javon Hurston

Courtesy of WCSO

A 35-year-old Ypsilanti Township man who police say robbed a graduation party at gunpoint last summer and ordered people to strip took a plea deal in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Monday.

Police said some of the victims jumped off a second-floor balcony to escape during the robbery.

Javon Hurston pleaded no contest to possession with intent to deliver marijuana, assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm.

Thirteen counts will be dismissed, including seven counts of armed robbery, five counts of assault with intent to rob while armed and one count of first-degree home invasion.

Police say Hurston and an unidentified second suspect were outside in the 2100 block of Golfside Drive in Ypsilanti Township on June 4, 2012, around 2:30 a.m. when they encountered two women who were coming from a nearby apartment, where a graduation party was being held.

In court Monday, Hurston said the woman wanted to buy drugs from him.

"I was approached by some ladies who wanted to buy marijuana," he said.

Hurston and the second man, also armed, tried to rob the women, said Sgt. Geoff Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

“Both of them brandished guns and pointed them at them,” Fox said.

The women, however, didn't have anything to give them, so the men decided to make the women take them up to the graduation party, Fox said.

Once inside the apartment, police say Hurston and the other man robbed a dozen or so people of drugs, money, cellphones and jewelry at gunpoint.

“They told people to strip down,” Fox said.

It wasn't clear whether people actually had time to strip or not, Fox added. The report did indicate that some people jumped from a balcony to escape, he said.

The two men fled after someone at the party yelled that police had arrived, when in fact they hadn't.

Police recovered some of the cellphones nearby later that morning. A ring that was also found with the phones was later linked to Hurston, Fox said.

Hurston continues to be held at the Washtenaw County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 20.

Police continue to investigate who the second suspect is. Hurston has not cooperated with questioning, Fox said.

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

• Previous coverage: WITH GALLERY: Ann Arbor's Bryant Community Center looks to expand after two decades

The Bryant Community Center at 3 W. Eden Ct. in Ann Arbor. The city purchased the house next door for $70,000 and is looking to build a connecting building between the two in a long-overdue expansion for the facility.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

After more than two decades of operations, the expansion is long overdue for the community center, said officials from the city’s Parks and Recreation department.

The city owns the community center property at 3 W. Eden Court, and in November 2011 purchased a small three-bedroom home next door and about 30 feet away at 5 W. Eden Court for $70,000. A total of $82,500 was allocated for the purchase by City Council.

After public meetings the city conducted with neighborhood residents in early 2012 to gauge interest in how they would like to see the center expand, an architect was hired to draft several space plan options.

Thursday night architect John Mouat of Mitchell and Mouat Architects presented those options - all of which included building a connecting building between the two houses to make one large facility.

As the Bryant Community Center offers a variety of programs and services for children to adults, the space is constantly being turned over from one program to another.

The interior of both buildings would be reconfigured to allow certain programs in high demand operating out of cramped rooms in the community center to be more user-friendly and accessible.

One design garnered a general consensus of support among the 17 residents that attended the informal meeting with park planner Amy Kuras and Jeff Straw, deputy manager of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Julie Grand, chairwoman of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission, also attended the meeting.

Residents liked the design that moved the main entrance of Bryant Community Center to the new connecting piece of the building to make it a more centralized location.

“Connecting the two buildings was what came out of previous community meetings,” Straw said.

Derrick Miller, director of Byrant Community Center, voiced his support for adding a large, covered porch outside of the new main entrance at the proposed connecting building to provide some shelter for clients who wait outside the center before it’s open.

“We operate this like a home,” Miller said, explaining that a porch could become a neighborhood focal point for residents to gather and talk.

Two central hubs of activity in the center - the kitchen and the emergency food pantry - would be expanded.

The emergency food pantry would be moved from its cramped location in a single room to a larger room adjacent to the multi-purpose room where a computer lab is now. The location would also allow for staff to stock the pantry faster, as it’s closer to the side entrance where about 15,000 pounds of food from Food Gatherers is delivered each month.

Administrative offices - located now in a small bedroom - would be moved in to the new connecting building, where a more formal reception area would be built.

In the house at 5 W. Eden Ct., a teen lounge would be constructed in most of the space.

The two back yards - separated now by a fence - will ultimately become one large yard fully enclosed by a fence so that it can only be accessed through the community center building for safety purposes.

Bryant Park resident Leaner Webster was among those who attended the meeting Thursday night. Like many of the other residents, Webster was happy to see that the designs put forward by the architect gave programs dedicated spaces to operate out of.

“I like the distribution of the space,” Webster said, noting she didn’t think that one bathroom in the teen center would be enough.

The design will undergo further revision by the architect under the direction of the parks planning staff, and then move to the cost-estimate phase, Straw said. It will then be phased in to the department’s master plan in a timeline that’s feasible in light of other capital improvement projects, Straw said.

Funding for the expansion of the Bryant Community Center has not been explored to date as the process is still early in the design phases, Straw said.

The community center is owned by the City of Ann Arbor and has been operated by Community Action Network for the past five years. CAN spent about $196,000 on operations at Bryant Community Center in the 2012 fiscal year. All services at the center are free to clients.

One of the conceptual floor plans for the Bryant Community Center. The existing building is on the right in the light green; the proposed connecting building is in the brown and the three-bedroom house at 5 W. Eden Ct. is in the darker green.

Amy Biolchini | AnnArbor.com

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 student Julie Cprek said the Willow Network research hub could produce next generation vehicle technology.

Courtesy photo

The former GM Powertrain Plant Facility and the Willow Run Airport could be the site of where the next cutting edge technology is created, according to University of Michigan students who spent the past several months creating three proposals for the sites.

A waste mining facility, an 'Energyopolis,' and a research hub known as the 'Willow Network' could be the future of the site according to the students. The students also presented findings on how to make the airport more energy efficient.

The three proposals follow a Tuesday announcement by the Yankee Air Museum to launch a $6 million campaign to buy the bomber plant — a 175,000-square-foot piece of the overall Powertrain property-- and an ambitious idea to create a $919 million rail system.

Students from the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ford School of Public Policy, School of Public Health, College of Engineering presented their proposals to community leaders, residents and local officials Thursday evening.

Cole Gehler, a U-M Masters of Urban Planning student, said the students began by doing research on the entire area and history of the property.

"The plant has shaped this site and region," Gehler said. "Essentially it was a small city... We have more people here and not the jobs this building can supply."

The plant closure decimated jobs in the area and disconnected the Willow Run area residents from the rest of the county. Gehler said the average resident has to access everything they need by driving a distance, however, the former plant property remains an asset for Washtenaw County.

Willow Network

U-M urban planning student Julie Cprek presented research regarding how the site could house a Willow Network, complete with a globally competitive research hub to promote collaboration and innovation in transportation research and development.

The Willow Network would be housed in the former GM facility.

Katrease Stafford | AnnArbor.com

"The Powertrain Plant is a large facility and it's going to allow for many vehicles to be tested," Cprek said. "It may provide testing space for unmanned vehicles."

Cprek said the network would be the site for research and testing of advanced transportation technologies.

Cprek said the site has several assets including the immediate access to the Willow Run Airport that could bring in people and goods from all over the world. The Powertrain Plant has high ceilings and wide bays that would create an ample amount of space for indoor testing. Cprek said that there's also more than 1,000 acres of underutilized, contiguous land that would provide developers with the necessary room to grow.

Cprek said a central testing facility could be created for prototyping, data collection and development. The testing facility would accommodated multiple driving industries and necessary commercial and manufacturing facilities that support product innovation and testing.

The network, according to research compiled by students from the School of Public Health, would have several effects including an increase in local and regional development, changes in nearby retail and an increase in construction and infrastructure jobs. The students said it could also provide a much needed boost to local land values within Ypsilanti Township.

Energyopolis

Why should a developer consider utilizing the property as an Energyopolis? According to the students, the state of Michigan spends $22.6 billion annually on energy resource imports, which they believe reinforces the need for renewable energy.

The students said the site would include five components: a science park, discovery center, a transit node, the West Willow neighborhoods and a park network, equipped with a running path, constructed wetland and other features.

Willow Run Airport

The Willow Run Airport and how it's utilized can and will affect the development at the plant, according to the students.

The airport is in the process of seeking $182 million in changes to its runways and infrastructure throughout the next 10 years.

Engineering student Zach Ogden said his team analyzed the airport's current capital expenditure plan and looked at the feasibility of creating a large solar panel installation that could potentially generate revenue.

Ogden said Sean Brosnan, director of the Willow Run Airport, was very interested in understanding the financial aspects of installing a solar field on the site to help offset costs.

Ogden said his team consulted industry experts and federal guidance from the FAA to determine the impact of a solar panel field that would completely offset the airport’s energy needs without impacting operations.

The initial cost to put in place a field of that size would be approximately $6 million, with yearly maintenance costs of $30,000, Ogden said, and the field would have an average life span of 25 years.

The rendering shows the wetland park with a waste sorting and mining facility in the background.

Courtesy photo

Ogden said it would be possible for the airport to possibly obtain funding from the FAA to cover most of the costs, except for about 5 percent of the $6 million.

Ogden said if funds from the FAA were to be secured, the field could create about $11.5 million in new and available revenue for the airport, while also transforming it into a producer of clean energy for the community.

"If you take grants into account, the airport is much more likely to break even," Ogdon said. "The airport is the cornerstone of the community. We want to have it known as a green airport."

Waste sorting and mining facility

According to the students, only about seven percent of southeast Michigan's waste is recycled. For this proposal, the students proposed partially demolishing the 5-million-square-foot facility to make way for a waste mining facility. The students also suggested creating a wetland park.

What's next for the property?

Paul Krutko, SPARK CEO, said his company is working with RACER Trust, the authority formed in the wake of GM’s bankruptcy in 2010 to market 89 GM sites across the country, to put a program in place at the site over the next several years utilizing some of the technology mentioned by the students in their proposals.

Paul Krutko

Katrease Stafford | AnnArbor.com

"We're looking for users that are going to grow the economy," Krutko said. "(This site) could be a tremendous national asset. We think that what we develop here could respond to global challenges... This could be an example of sustainable economic development."

Grant Trigger, Cleanup Manager for the former GM properties in Michigan, said he is also responsible for coordinating demolitions for RACER Trust.

"We are on course right now to demolish the facility," Trigger said.

Yet, if potential proposals pan out, like the Yankee Air proposal and others, Trigger said RACER would likely portion off parts of the property from demolition.

"We’re still pursuing and engaging in discussions with potential developers of portions of the site," Trigger said. "If those agreements came together then we could exclude those from the demolition...Without the user you really can't sustain the facility."

Bruce Rasher, redevelopment manager for RACER Trust, said while they would consider possibly retaining the building, the trust convened a series of meetings over the past year with officials, who suggested demolition was the way to go.

"The trust was told conclusively that it is highly improbable that it would be cost friendtly to reuse the buildings at the site," Rasher told AnnArbor.com. "If the trust and the community have a hope to attract new investment, the trust really needs to offer to the market a site that’s been clear and ready for development and the building is actually serving as an impediment."

Rasher said realistically, the trust is looking for developers interested in using the property for manufacturing and supply chain logistics that would serve markets throughout southeast Michigan.

Rasher said he is confident the property will be redeveloped soon and so far, RACER has been in discussions with 50 entities. The building was assessed at $16,284,900, making its market value more than $32 million, according to the property's marketing brochure.

"This is a very valuable piece of property because of it's size," he said. "...We are confident the trust will be able to attract an investor that will create jobs." Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.

Tinkerbelle, along with Honey, have accompanied their owner at Clague Middle School, where La Palme gave a talk to a class about why she adopted dogs with special needs after the students took interest in Tinkerbelle's story while doing a school project on adopting pets from shelters.

The pooch has also been an inspiration to La Palme's mother, who had a series of strokes and spent time in a rehabilitation center. Tinkerbelle would accompany her owner on regular visits, and she proved to be an uplifting presence to others.

"I would bring Tinkerbelle to visit her but everyone who would see her would fall in love and would have lots of questions as to what happened to her leg," says La Palme.

"I would tell the story and everyone would walk away happy and uplifted to see her doing so well now. Even my mom would look at her for courage as well. I really feel like even though Tinkerbelle is a little dog that she has brought a lot of joy to everyone who meets her."

Stories like this are a true testament to the resiliency that animals possess, and the positive impact that they have on our lives as well.

We love seeing the images each week -- and hearing the stories behind them. What's yours?

Participating in our weekly photo blog is easy — simply email a photo of your pet to ppsa2mi@gmail.com any time for our weekly Pet Photo Friday feature.

Be sure to include the name of the animal(s), as well as their age and city or township of residence in your email. Photos should be 1,200 pixels wide and in .jpg format.

We put the week's photos into a slideshow, publish and promote each Friday here in the Pets section.

Lorrie Shaw leads the pets section for AnnArbor.com. You can follow her daily pet adventures on Twitter and subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Going into their 52nd season, the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers will hold a Fundraiser Dinner at Weber's Inn on Tuesday.

The group is made up of volunteer singers in the area who must audition. Nathan Reiff is the musical director. Hear clips of their performances at http://www.a2cantatasingers.org

Along with dinner, the fundraiser will also feature selections performed by the chorus.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013. 6:30 p.m. $55 (includes $28 tax-decutible donation). Purchase tickets online only at http://www.a2cantatasingers.org. Weber's is located at 3050 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. 734-769-2500.

• Related: Brody Stevens hopes to become next athlete to compete for both Skyline and USA Hockey

The Skyline baseball team’s goal every year is to win 20 games, and it’s hard to come closer than it did last year.

The Eagles opened districts with a 19-15 record, and drew Pioneer in a quarterfinal game. The game went to extra innings after both pitchers threw complete games, but ended for Skyline on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The result was short of the team’s goals, but still marked progress for the third-year varsity program.

THE INSIDE SCOOP

Record: 7-1

Upcoming competions: Monday, April 29 vs Dexter, 4 p.m.; Thursday, May 2 vs. Saline, 4 p.m.; Monday, May 6 at Lincoln, 4 p.m.

Top Players: Senior Jack Clark is the team’s No. 1 pitcher and starting shortstop, and is coming off hitting .423 last year. Center fielder Joel Frison a junior, hits second in the lineup and scored 31 runs last year. Sophomores Brody Stevens and Matt Blunk have also made key contributions this year.

Traditions: Skyline’s players organize plenty of activities away from practice, from offseason workouts to team dinners to golf outings. “It’s nice to see. A lot of if they do on their own, it’s not me,” Garcia said.

Jokers: There’s plenty of good characters on the team, but according to Clark, Stevens (“The kid’s a clown, really can make everyone laugh. When he starts talking, you can’t really take him seriously”) and senior Patrick Lewis (“He never fails to make me laugh”) are the biggest.

Quote: “Every time we get out on the field, it’s kind of just two hours with the boys.” -- Senior Jack Clark

“It’s come a long way,” junior center fielder Joel Frison said of the program “The first year I think we won six or seven games, and this year we have a good chance, like I said, to win 20-plus games. And now since we’re competing in the city and in the SEC as well, it’s pretty much a 180-degree turn.”

This year, the odds of cracking the 20-win barrier are better than ever. The Eagles are off to a 7-1 start to the year. That includes a road sweep of Chelsea Tuesday and a home win over Adrian Wednesday. The Eagles were scheduled to take on Pioneer Thursday but were rained out.

With a second-year coach and a talented -- albeit young -- roster, the Eagles are hoping that early success continues as they get into the meat of their SEC schedule.

“I’ve got a lot of young talent, and we’ll probably get better and better as the season goes on, which is going to be nice,” coach Frank Garcia said. “So far I don’t think we’ve even come close to playing our best abilities. It’s nice to know that we have a good future in the program.

Jack Clark is back this year as the team’s No.1 pitcher, starting shortstop when he’s not on the mound and No. 3 hitter in the lineup. He was first-team All-Conference and All-District last year.

Frison, sophomores Brody Stevens and Matt Blunk add more pop to a lineup, and Ben Sadis serves as the team’s No. 2 pitcher.

And whether they’re on the field or off of it, Clark said it’s a cohesive group.

“We can just really get along, it’s the biggest thing, there’s no feuding between teammates or anything,” Clark said. “Everyone’s really cool with each other, we can joke around between drills but when it’s time to bear down and take the field we’re able to do that.”

Before becoming the varsity head coach before last season, Garcia spent one season as the junior varsity coach and one season as the freshman coach.

That means this year’s graduating class, Skyline’s second, has had him as coach for all four years of their high school baseball careers.

“Coach Garcia’s done a great job with us, he really knows us well, not only on the field but off of it too,” Clark said. “He can tell if something’s bothering a kid, he does a really good job of managing us.

And with plenty of young faces on the group, Garcia is often telling the team to watch how the veterans carry themselves, take batting practice and the like.

Heps hoping that group will be the one to lead the program to 20 wins and beyond.

“It’s kind of like a project, building to this moment,” Garcia said. “So it’s kind of nice to see where they’ve come and how much they’ve improved.”

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.

Brody Stevens looks at a pitch during Skyline's game at Chelsea Monday afternoon.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

• Related: Skyline baseball aiming for 20-win season, and it's off to a good start

Brody Stevens went to two sports team tryouts last month, and did well at both of them — but that may soon be a problem.

Stevens tried out for Skyline’s varsity baseball team in mid-March, and made the team for this spring as its starting shortstop.

A week later, he tried out for USA Hockey’s Under-17 National Team Development Program, and soon after received an invitation to join one of the most prestigious youth hockey programs in the country for its 2013-14 winter season.

Here’s the catch: USA Hockey players typically haven’t been allowed to play high school sports. So Stevens’ first season of varsity baseball also could be his last.

“I have to have a conversation with the coaching staff at USA,” Stevens said. “They have to see how far a season goes, because playoffs usually go into the beginning of baseball.”

If he is to become a USA Hockey player, as well as a high school athlete, he’s in the right place. Last year, the NTDP made an exception for Andrew Copp to play football at Skyline while also suiting up for USA Hockey.

“He was really the first player to do that, so they’re trying to do it a little bit more,” Stevens said. “USA’s kind of stingy about their players, and they protect them really well, and it’s a good thing because players that are there should be there and should be one-sport athletes.”

While Copp set a precedent of competing in high school sports, Stevens said he’s aware of at least one player who wanted to play high school baseball but couldn’t. The decision will depend on how far his hockey team advances in the playoffs, how much overlap that would be with Skyline’s baseball season, and — according to Stevens — how much USA Hockey wants to protect him.

Skyline sophomore Brody Stevens jokes with teammates in the dugout in the game against Chelsea on Monday, April 22. Skyline won 11-5.

Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com

“It depends on how good of a hockey player they think I am, I guess.” Stevens said with a smile

Stevens’ big break as a hockey player is coming just as he’s starting to come into his own as a baseball player, too. He played junior varsity last year at Jackson Lumen Christi, and transferred to Skyline after his family moved to Ann Arbor.

When he showed up to tryouts, he wasn’t sure if he would make the team. Skyline coach Frank Garcia said his athleticism immediately shined through, and made him the No. 6 hitter in the lineup for the season opener.

His time there didn’t last long.

“After one game he was our four hitter, he proved himself,” Garcia said. “Just a phenomenal baseball player.”

That’s where Stevens hit in Monday’s doubleheader sweep against Chelsea, when he went 3-for-6 with five RBIs.

“The fact that he moved me up to the four hole shows that he has confidence in me and helped me swinging the bat, just gave me more confidence at the plate, just in being able to hit the ball,” Stevens said.

His hockey season didn’t go too badly, either. Stevens put up 29 points in 26 games playing for Detroit Compuware’s Midget Minor team last season.

And being a two-sport athlete actually means Stevens is slowing down.

“I get really sore, and I’m kind of used to being sore now,” Stevens said. “I used to play tennis, golf and swim too. I’ve always been good with balancing other sports. So it’s actually kind of a break for me.”

And while his days as a two-sport athlete may be numbered, that’s only because his hockey career is going well, and Stevens is OK with that.

“I’d be sad to give up baseball, but hockey’s been my number one sport since I started playing it,” Stevens said. “It’s always been my favorite thing to do.”

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.

Two teams of students from the Ann Arbor Public Schools were selected to compete in the state Science Olympiad tournament Saturday in East Lansing.

Students launched rockets during the 2011 Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad competition at Pioneer. Science Olympiad teams from Huron High School and Slauson Middle School will compete in the 2013 state tournament Saturday at Michigan State University.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

More than 400 teams competed in regionals throughout the state and 96 teams were chosen to participate in Saturday's tournament at Michigan State University, during which the students will use teamwork and problem solving skills to take on 46 events in a range of scientific topics, including experimental design thermodynamics, remote sensing, chemistry, astronomy, technical problem solving and forensics.

There will be a new engineering event for both middle school and high school teams at Saturday's tournament. Middle-schoolers will be required to construct an unpowered, autorotation helicopter device using one or more helicopter rotors to safely transport a raw chicken egg from a specified drop height to the floor. The high school competitors will construct a self-propelled magnetically-levitated vehicle with battery-powered rotors that is capable of moving the vehicle down a magnetic track.

Science Olympiad is popular in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is the largest elementary Science Olympiad organization in the country.

The 11th annual WESO tournament took place on April 20 at Pioneer High School and for the first time since launching the organization, all 20 of AAPS' elementary schools had teams participate. Mitchell Elementary was the last school to join in.

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

• Full results of Thursday's high school sports action are available on Mlive's High School Sports Network

The Saline softball team is now 7-0.

Softball

Saline 14, Temperance Bedford 0; Saline 9, Temperance Bedford 1
Story | Boxscore

Laura Vaccaro led the way at the plate with three hits and three RBIs as Saline swept the double header over host Temperance Bedford 14-0, 9-1.

Sam Bruly and Angel Schilke each had three hits on the day.

Girls Soccer

Huron 3, Lincoln 1
Story | Boxscore

Tied 1-1 at the half, Huron scored twice in the second to defeat visiting Ypsilanti Lincoln 3-1 on Thursday.

Lincoln’s Haley Wagner scored the Railsplitters’ only goal off an assist by Shelby Crow to tie up the game in the first half.

“It was evenly matched game going back and forth,” Lincoln coach Bob Stowe said. “Huron controlled most of the match, but we had our opportunities.”

For Huron coach Steve Shelton, the key to the win was persistence.

“We had a lot of shots and opportunities, but we couldn’t put them in,” he said. “We were able to get through that, just kept fighting and got a few in.”

Skyline 8, Chelsea 0
Story | Boxscore

Skyline scored seven goals in the first half on the way to an 8-0 victory over Chelsea on Thursday.

Margo Apostoleris had three goals and two assists in the win, while teammate Cienna Rael-Whitsitt came up with two goals and an assist.

It has not been the easiest of seasons for Skyline because rain has wreaked havoc with practices and games. Still, it was Skyline's fourth win in five games.

Girls Tennis

Chelsea 7, Greenhills 1
Story | Boxscore

Fighting through “not ideal conditions,” according to Chelsea coach Matt Pedlow, the Chelsea girls tennis team rallied to play “smart tennis,” and defeat Ann Arbor Greenhills 7-1 on Thursday.

No. 4 singles Hannah Moore played her best tennis of the season, according to Pedlow, winning 7-5 (6-0), 6-4.

“She was quite aggressive, and stroked the ball well,” Pedlow said, adding that the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles all “played well and figured out how to win points.”

Chelsea swept the doubles matches with more strong play, and the No. 3 doubles team of Sam Sabara and Jordan Jacobs is 7-0 this season, while Genny Stubbs and Jaquelyn Barbour are 10-0.

Girls Lacrosse

Pioneer 17, Bloomfield Hills United 12
Story | Boxscore

Mercedes Reyes racked up nine goals and added four assists as visiting Ann Arbor Pioneer outscored Bloomfield Hills United 17-12 on Thursday night.

Sam Zwolan also had quite the evening, scoring four goals and assisting on five others. Pioneer (8-4) dashed to a 9-6 halftime lead and maintained its advantage despite a constant offensive push from United.

"After we got an early lead, it was pretty much an even battle," Pioneer coach Zachary Maghes said. "It was back and forth. We were fortunate to come out on top against a good team.

Girls Water Polo
Story | Boxscore

Kourtney Sattler scored a hat trick and assist, with her third goal being the game winner coming at 2:53 of the final quarter, to lead Dexter over Pioneer in girls high school water polo action Thursday.