Earlier in the episode, Chamuel's coach, Usher, described her as "an incredible student," and pulled out a pair of black-framed glasses (Chamuel's trademark) and put them on, saying, "I decided to go ahead and join the army of Michelle Chamuel supporters."

Regarding "Grenade," Chamuel said, during a segment focused on her one-on-one rehearsals with Usher, "The strategy behind the song is to pick a record that we can bring to life in a new way, and I can show a new type of vulnerability."

In the same segment, Usher said, "There’s no one like Michelle in this competition. She’s the new standard for what all of us are optimistic about. Something that is different." Chamuel is the last remaining member of Team Usher.

Usher's plan for "Grenade" was "to take everything away, and we make (Chamuel) the loudest instrument on it."

Check out how Chamuel executes Usher's plan below.

Shakira called the performance "spectacular" and said that while Chamuel always had great stage presence, she's now also "exuding a lot of confidence."

Adam Levine was blown away by how the number was designed, with additional musicians and back-up singers entering the stage as the song progressed. "Usually that stuff seems forced," Levine said; but he thought that the number's design not only worked for Chamuel, but that the performance was "one of the best of the night."

Blake Shelton, meanwhile, said, "I can’t believe such a big voice comes out of such a little human being. … That’s your best so far."

And Usher, who hooted and cheered as Chamuel finished the song, said, "So many people have these humps that they can’t get over in life, and you represent that. You represent true inner beauty, and the fact that you can tear down any barrier. That performance represents everything we love about life, and what you’re becoming. … I’m so happy you did that for the world."

Fans can vote for Chamuel through "The Voice"'s website until Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m. Tuesday night's episode of "The Voice" will reveal which 2 of the remaining 8 contestants are eliminated from the competition, by way of earning the fewest votes.

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

The 2013 MHSAA girls soccer state tournament begins with district play on Tuesday, May 28.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com file photo

Several Washtenaw County teams had successful regular seasons and will be looking to see if it translates into a lengthy postseason run. Here's a breakdown of each district involving Washtenaw County teams:

DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT HURON

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 1 District at Huron High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Skyline (15-2-1) at Howell, 7:30 p.m; South Lyon at Huron (10-5-3), 7 p.m.; Brighton at Pioneer (10-3-3), 5:30 p.m.

Semifinals (May 29): Skyline/Howell winner vs. South Lyon/Huron winner, 5:30 p.m.; Brighton/Pioneer winner vs. Pinckney, 7 p.m.

Final: Friday, May 31, 6 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Forest Hills Central District.

District outlook: The three Ann Arbor schools -- Skyline, Pioneer and Huron -- are the class of this district and one of the three is likely to emerge as a district champion. Which one, however, may not be so easy to guess.

Yes, Skyline did separate itself from the pack during the regular season, winning the program's first-ever Southeastern Conference Red Division championship while allowing a mere four goals the entire season, but the Eagles aren't head and shoulders above their crosstown rivals.

The Eagles just barely squeaked by Huron with a 1-0 result to clinch their league title and Pioneer is 8-0-1 since losing to Skyline and moving Mckenzie Sapp from defense to offense. She's had six goals and four assists since the move.

X-Factor: Goalkeeping. In close games, which playoff games rarely aren't, a solid goalkeeper is invaluable, especially if a game comes down to a shootout. Skyline's Tori Norris, who has only allowed four goals against all year, is one of the best in the state.

AnnArbor.com pick: Skyline.

DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT SOUTHGATE ANDERSON

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 1 District at Southgate Anderson High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Woodhaven (18-1) at Saline (11-8-1), 7 p.m.; Monroe (8-11-3) at Lincoln, 5:30 p.m.; Bedford at Belleville, 6 p.m.

Semifinals (May 30): Woodhaven/Saline winner vs. Monroe/Lincoln winner, 5:30 p.m.; Bedford/Belleville winner vs. Southgate Anderson, 7 p.m.

Final: Friday, May 31, 6 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Canton District.

District outlook: One side of the district bracket is especially strong with Woodhaven, Saline and a Lincoln team that's better than its sub-.500 record indicates.

Unfortunately, the two best teams in the district are probably Saline and Woodhaven and without seeding in district tournaments, there's nothing to keep them from playing each other in the first round. Woodhaven's 18-1 record is impressive, but many of the wins have come against less than stellar competition, whereas many of Saline's eight loses have been against some of the state's best teams, many of which the Hornets played tough.

It's a shame the first round would featured what may prove to be the best matchup of the district, but that's the luck of the draw sometimes.

X-Factor: Conditioning and sacrifice. A district opener that acts as a final is not ideal coming off of a long weekend. What team made sacrifices -- players skipping family vacations, barbecues and graduation parties for practice -- could pay dividends in the Saline vs. Woodhaven matchup.

AnnArbor.com pick: Saline.

DIVISION 2 DISTRICT AT DEXTER

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 2 District at Dexter High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Mason at Parma Western (6-10-2), 7 p.m.; South Lyon East at Jackson Northwest, 6 p.m.; Chelsea (5-7-3) at Fowlerville, 5:30 p.m.

Semifinals (May 30): Mason/Parma Western winner vs. South Lyon East/Jackson Northwest winner, 3 p.m.; Chelsea/Fowlerville winner vs. Dexter (12-4-4).

Final: Saturday, June 1, 3 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Edwardsburg District.

District outlook: The Dexter High School soccer team can never be overlooked in the postseason. Coach Scott Forrester always schedules tough competition for his teams during the regular season and it almost always pays dividends in the postseason.

The perennial Southeastern White Division champions, Dexter comes into the postseason looking to win its eighth district title in nine years. The Dreadnaughts are under the radar this year, honorable mention in the latest Michigan High School Coaches Association rankings, but they always seem to be playing their best soccer when it matters most.

Olivia Vollmers has six goals in her teams past four games, scoring at least once in each, and has 19 goals on the season. Look for her to make some noise in the postseason.

X-Factor: Mason. Dexter beat the Bulldogs 1-0 back on April 9, but there's a big difference between early season and postseason play. The draw could set up an exciting final.

AnnArbor.com pick: Dexter.

DIVISION 3 DISTRICT AT FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 3 District at Gabriel Richard High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Stockbridge at Father Gabriel Richard (6-8-4), 6 p.m.; Hanover-Horton at Clinton, 6 p.m.; Columbia Central (11-3-5) at Jackson Lumen Christi, 5 p.m.

Semifinals (May 29): Stockbridge/Father Gabriel Richard winner vs. Clinton/Hanover Horton winner, 6 p.m.; Columbia Central/Lumen Christi winner vs. Onsted, 4:30 p.m.

Final: Friday, May 31, 6 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Detroit Country Day District.

District outlook: The winner of the district at Father Gabriel Richard will get an unfriendly reward next week: a matchup with the winner of the Detroit Country Day district. The district features two of the best teams in the state in Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Detroit Country Day.

Of course, from a competitor's standpoint it may be exactly what these teams want: an opportunity to beat the best.

The district at Gabriel Richard High School isn't exactly full of slouches in its own right with seventh ranked Gabriel Richard and ninth-ranked Jackson Lumen Christi on opposite sides of the bracket. Richard's record isn't exactly reflective of its quality, but the fighting Irish spent much of the season cutting its teeth against larger schools in the area and Catholic League teams.

But if the Irish are going to be successful they need to find a way to score. They have played teams close all year, even in defeat, but haven't had much for offensive firepower.

X-Factor: Home field advantage.

AnnArbor.com pick: Father Gabriel Richard.

DIVISION 4 DISTRICT AT JACKSON CHRISTIAN

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 4 District at Jackson Christian High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Jackson Christian (2-13) at Jonesville (5-9), 5:30 p.m.; Blissfield at Grass Lake, 5:30 p.m.; Hillsdale at Saline Washtenaw Christian, 5:30 p.m.; Manchester (15-1-1) at Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Semifinals (May 30): Jackson Christian/Jonesville winner vs. Blissfield/Grass Lake winner, 3:30 p.m.; Hillsdale/Saline Washtenaw Christian winner vs. Manchester/Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy winner.

Final: Saturday, June 1, 5 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Hudsonville Freedom Christian District.

District outlook: The Manchester High School girls soccer program may be in its infancy, but the Lady Dutch are poised to show that there's more to Manchester soccer than the Reds across the pond. Manchester in its second year as a high school program, first as an MHSAA postseason participant, has racked up an impressive 15-1-1 record.

Chalk it up to beginners luck and a bit of weak scheduling if you like, but Manchester's 15 wins as a first year program are mostly tied to a strong core of athletes that we've seen lead the Lady Dutch on the volleyball and basketball court for years, including sisters Taylor and Jessie Manders. The Manders sisters are responsible for most of Manchester's scoring, which should come as no surprise to fans that followed the basketball season.

Working in Manchester's favor is the fact that it is competing in Division 4. Manchester High School is always on the edge in drawing up the classes and sneaking into the lower division means not having to face off against parochial powerhouses.

X-Factor: Shootout and playoff experience. The Manchester girls soccer team has never participated in the postseason but most of its players have as Class C basketball state champions this year and several deep volleyball runs as well, so these girls know all about gearing up for the postseason. Plus, the Dutch even got an intro to shootouts, winning a ridiculous 13-round shootout at the Hanover Horton Invitational.

AnnArbor.com pick: Manchester.

DIVISION 4 DISTRICT AT GREENHILLS SCHOOL

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

What: Division 4 District at Greenhills School.

Quarterfinals (May 28 at home sites): Arbor Prep at Newport Lutheran, 4:30 p.m.; Calvary Christian at Greenhills, 4:30 p.m.; Riverview Gabriel Richard at Taylor Baptist Park.

Semifinals (May 29): Arbor Prep/Newport Lutheran winner vs. Calvary Christian/Greenhills winner, TBD; Riverview Gabriel Richard/Taylor Baptist Park vs. Rudolf Steiner, TBD.

Final: Friday, May 31, 5:30 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Clarkston Everest College District.

District outlook: Greenhills is the class of this district and the fact that the Gryphons will be at home only makes it more likely they will prevail.

Arbor Prep is a newcomer to postseason play, having had to sit out last year in its first year as a program due to the mandatory MHSAA one-year probationary period. The Gators will get somewhat of an easy game in the first round against Newport Lutheran South, but have their work cut out for them after that.

The winner of this district gets the unenviable task of taking on the Clarkston Everest College District winner which will either be top-ranked Everest College, or whichever team beats last year's state runner-up.

X-Factor: Greenhills is already the strongest team in this district, so the fact that the Gryphons have home field advantage makes them a practical shoe in for advancement.

AnnArbor.com pick: Greenhills.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

The last Washtenaw County softball team to make it to Battle Creek was the 2011 Milan softball team, pictured above. Will any team have what it takes this year?

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo

This year seems poised to be different, with multiple teams coming off stellar regular seasons and looking to make a run to the state semifinals and finals in Battle Creek two weeks from this weekend.

But will those teams turn potential into reality? We'll find out starting Tuesday with district quarterfinal play.

DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT HURON

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file

What: Division 1 District at Huron High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28): Pioneer vs. Skyline, 4 p.m.

Semifinals (June 1): Dexter vs. Huron, 10 a.m.; Pinckney vs. Pioneer/Skyline, noon

Final: Saturday, June 1, 2 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Howell District.

District outlook: It’s been a down year for softball in the three Ann Arbor schools. And that could open the door for their neighbor to the West to come away with a district title.

Four of the five teams in action at Huron this week will come into district play with losing records. The exception is Dexter, which finished 21-8 on the year.

That record includes going 6-0 against the three Ann Arbor teams, with each win coming by an average of 10 runs apiece.

None of these teams saw Pinckney this year, making the Pirates a bit of a wild card. But Dexter has shown it has the firepower to get past everyone in this district, with three capable pitchers and an offense led by Savannah Krull, Taylor Pasamani and Brooke Lupi, each hitting better than .500 on the year.

AnnArbor.com pick: Dexter.

DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT MONROE

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com file

What: Division 1 District at Monroe High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28): Monroe vs. Temperance Bedford, 4 p.m.

Semifinals (June 1): Saline vs. Lincoln, 10 a.m.; Ypsilanti vs. Monroe/Temperance Bedford, noon

Final: Saturday, June 1, 2 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Gibraltar Carlson District.

District outlook: The top teams in the SEC will be down in Monroe for the week in what should be one of the most competitive districts around.

Last year, Saline lost its opening district game to Temperance Bedford. This year, the Hornets hope things will be different after they swept all of their potential district opponents en route to an unbeaten SEC season.

The Hornets should have an easier road to this year’s final: they face Lincoln, a team they swept by a combined 15 runs back on May 9.

But it will most likely see Monroe in the final to complete what’s been a competitive season series. Saline won two of three games, which were decided by a combined seven runs. Behind the area's top pitcher in Kristina Zalewski, the Hornets should be able to come up with a third win on the season.

AnnArbor.com pick: Saline.

DIVISION 2 DISTRICT AT CHELSEA

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file

What: Division 2 District at Chelsea High School.

Semifinals (June 1): Adrian vs. Onsted, 10 a.m.; Tecumseh vs. Chelsea, noon.

Final: Saturday, June 1, 2 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Battle Creek Pennfield District.

District outlook: Only four teams will be playing in the Chelsea district. But two of those teams were tops in the SEC White this year.

Tecumseh went 26-5-3 on the year and won the SEC White. Yet the Indians and Bulldogs split a doubleheader back on April 26, thanks to a complete game, one-run performance from Chelsea’s Rylee Rosentreter in the first game.

The winner of that game will face Adrian or Onsted in the final, and should have a good chance of taking a district title.

AnnArbor.com pick: Tecumseh.

District outlook: This one might as well be called the Huron League tournament, with five of the league's eight teams represented.

The Big Reds open the tournament with a game against Flat Rock, the only team from the district that appears in the most recent softball coaches poll.

The two teams played a two-run game back on May 13, with Flat Rock winning, 5-3.

AnnArbor.com pick: Flat Rock.

District outlook: Four Washtenaw County teams will head to Jackson County this week. But there will need to be an upset in the works for any of them to come back with a district title trophy.

Grass Lake is ranked No. 8 in the most recent coaches poll, going 30-3 on the year, including an undefeated 14-0 in the Cascades Conference.

Greenhills may have the best chance of pulling the upset. But if Grass Lake gets past the Gryphons, it could have a quick day Saturday.

AnnArbor.com pick: Grass Lake

DIVISION 3 DISTRICT AT MANCHESTER

Mlive Media Group file

What: Division 3 District at Manchester Lake High School.

Quarterfinals (May 28): Manchester vs. Adrian Madison, 5 p.m.

Semifinals (June 1): Addison vs. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 10 a.m.; Clinton vs. Manchester/Adrian Madison, noon

Final: Saturday, June 1, 2 p.m.

Winner plays: Winner of Hanover Horton district.

District outlook: The good news for the Lady Dutch is they aren’t in a district with Grass Lake, the Cascades Conference foe that handed them their only three losses on the year.

The bad news: Two-time defending state champions Clinton will be making the nine-mile drive to Manchester, and bringing its No. 2 state ranking with it. Manchester will need its A-game on Saturday morning to have any hope against the powerful Redskins.

The two teams didn’t play during the regular season, but are a good bet to face off in the second semifinal on Saturday (although the Lady Dutch’s quarterfinal against 19-8 Adrian Madison will be no walk in the park). And the winner of that semifinal is a good pick to take the district title.

AnnArbor.com pick: Clinton.

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.

Marshall Crenshaw

He's an acclaimed and respected songwriter and performer. With his 1982 debut, he created one of the iconic albums of the 1980s—and has followed that up with a string of occasional releases that invariably draw critical praise and enthusiasm from his fan base. He's a well-known music geek who even hosts a weekly radio show.

Wrapping all that together, recently Crenshaw has hit on a something-old / something-new / something-borrowed strategy for releasing his work. And perhaps surprisingly, he says he may even be done with album format for good.

The new plan involves an ongoing series of 3-song EPs (the second was just released). One song is brand new; one is a cover version of someone else's work; and one is a reworking of a classic from his own back catalog. The music comes out on a 10-inch vinyl record and digital downloads. And he's working with no record company at all; at the moment, the songs aren't even available from iTunes, although that is expected to change.

"It just came together in my mind that it should be vinyl and downloads," Crenshaw said in a recent phone interview. "I just kind of had it figured out in detail."

Note that while the music is available in an old format and a new one, it is not and will not be on CD.

"I like records and always have," Crenshaw said. "One of them is appealing to me and the other one isn't. It's just a matter of taste."

Focusing on one new song at a time helps draw out the best in his craft, he noted; he's pleased with the latest, "Stranger and Stranger," which he described as "atmospheric."

As for the wide-ranging covers—the first two are the Move's "No Time" and the Carpenters' "Close To You"—he says, "I think they're really cool choices ... You can suprise people."

And the reworked older songs offer lots of potential interest for fans: The new release features "Mary Ann," a song from his debut album, but in a version taken from an unreleased movie directed by Abraham Lim called "God is D*ad," in which a character is obsessed with that album.

The reworked old song on the first EP is another favorite from his first album, "There She Goes Again," recorded last year with the respected roots band the Bottle Rockets. That band will accompany Crenshaw on Saturday when he plays a rare date at The Ark.

Crenshaw and the Bottle Rockets have been working together quite a bit lately. On this tour, the band will play their own opening set, then act as the backing band for Crenshaw's—which should be a treat for fans of his, since he often appears solo.

When the two acts first connected, "It was really a blast. People got really excited and I got really excited," Crenshaw said. "I'm just lucky that they're willing to play my stuff ... They're really enthusiastic about it."

Asked about the difference between playing solo and with a band, he mused, "I like both, but I have to say the band thing really has a lot going for it ... I like the lone troubadour thing ... I do like both, but the band thing is great."

Crenshaw has been a New Yorker for decades, but his roots in Michigan run deep. Born in Detroit and raised in Berkley, he quipped that "I have about 250 relatives in Michigan" still, including his mother and his brother Robert, the drummer on his first two albums.

He recalled coming to Ann Arbor on some kind of school outing one spring at around age 14. "There was just something in the air that made me feel exhilarated at that time of my life."

And, no surprise, among his many musical interests is a love for the old Detroit / Ann Arbor music scene. As a teen he saw the Stooges, the MC5, the Up—and caught the Rationals several times at the Michigan State Fair. "That whole era is really vivid to me still," he said.

Whether you live, work, shop, dine or travel along Washtenaw Avenue, local officials working on the ReImagine Washtenaw project say they need your input.

The first in a series of public workshops aimed at getting community feedback on options for improving the corridor between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti is tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Washtenaw County Service Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave.

Download the poster for the workshops.

The idea is to create a safer and more inviting environment for pedestrians and bicyclists, meeting transit needs, addressing traffic congestion and land use, and creating a sense of place. Master plans, zoning ordinances and design guidelines are being updated to reflect those considerations.

Officials from the city of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township and the city of Ypsilanti are working with urban design and transportation consultants.

Additional partners include the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study.

More information can be found on the project website at http://www.washtenawavenue.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ReImagineWashtenaw or by contacting project manager Nathan Voght at voghtn@ewashtenaw.org or 734-222-3860.

After tonight's first public workshop, a second one will be held from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday at the Washtenaw County Service Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave.

The third workshop takes place from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Elementary School, 4250 Central Boulevard. The fourth takes place from 2-4 p.m. Friday at Eastern Michigan University inside Room 330 of the McKenny Union located where Washtenaw Avenue meets Cross Street.

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

Electric scooters made by Pittsfield Township-based Current Motor Co. are gaining popularity in South America, where the company has focused on expanding its sales base, according to a report in Concentrate Media.

Terry Richards, Current Motor's director of electric vehicle technology, takes Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority Director Susan Pollay for a spin at the unveiling of the electric vehicle charging stations in the Forest Avenue parking structure.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

According to the report in Concentrate, the company is attempting to hit a “break-even point” by selling 500 scooters in the next year in South America and the United States. The company has a team of 12 people and is looking to raise a Series B round between $5 million and $10 million in early 2014.

Read the story from 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.

The former Borders headquarters will be known as Wickfield Center according to managing director Brad Hayosh.

Photo by Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com file photo

According to the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds, Ann Arbor-based Wickfield Phoenix LLC now owns the property. Managing director Brad Hayosh said he purchased the property February 6 for approximately $6 million, slightly less than the listed price.

Official figures on the sale have not been processed by the City of Ann Arbor, but the most recent assessment on the property was for $3.34 million, making the approximate market value $6.68 million.

Hayosh said the property is still being redeveloped, with a new central lobby set for completion within the next couple of weeks.

“We’re going to call it the Wickfield Center,” Hayosh said.

“I went to school at the University of Michigan and the first house I lived on was on Wickfield Court, so that’s where the name comes from.”

The first business to move into the re-done space will be Gold Star Mortgage. The Ann Arbor-based company is leasing 68,000 square feet with an option on an additional 32,000.

“We’re announcing about 250 new jobs in 2013,” Gold Star CEO Dan Milstein, who already employs approximately 250 people in the Ann Arbor area, said in a previous interview with AnnArbor.com. “The new office space gives us room to grow and we plan on using that.”

Through other Wickfield entities, Hayosh also manages residential properties in Lansing and the Arbor Village apartment complex in Ann Arbor.

His newly acquired space consists of two buildings, one that’s approximately 87,000 square feet and one that’s about 243,000 square feet. They were built in 1970 and renovated in 1998, and the property has more than 1,200 parking spaces.

“We’re very excited about this property,” he said. “We think it’s a great building, tremendous location, with terrific parking and we look forward to using it to bring new business into town.”

Hayosh said that in addition to Gold Star, he is in negotiation with two or three other large tenants who are interested in moving into the property. The remaining available space is listed through Colliers International.

“There’s a lot of interest from companies that are already in the area and some from further out of town,” he said. “Hopefully within the next couple of weeks we’ll have more of the leases closed and ready to go.”

Wickman Phoenix LLC purchased the property from the Modern Woodmen of America. The Woodmen, a fraternal financial services organization founded in 1883, acquired the building from Waldenbooks Properties Inc. in December 2011 for approximately $5.25 million.

According to records from the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds, a mortgage on the property worth $6.49 million is held by Colorado-based Superior Investments XIX Inc.

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

One of two buildings left on the former Ypsi Mobile Village site that Ypsilanti Township would clear if it purchases the property.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

“That property is second only to Liberty Square for the problems that it faced from a law enforcement standpoint,” said township attorney Doug Winters. “I think just about every prostitution sting we ran involved that park.”

Now, the township is taking a new approach to purchasing and controlling development of the commercially zoned land in an effort to spur development down the East Michigan Avenue corridor and rebuild its commercial tax base.

At its May 13 meeting, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve purchasing the 6.5-acre site at 935 E. Michigan Ave. for $47,000. It will be purchased from the Washtenaw County Treasurer’s Office in a first-of-its-kind move in the area that allows the township to acquire tax-foreclosed property for public use.

The township is claiming stabilizing its commercial tax base is the public use.

“It’s the type of property that could become a cornerstone … or is part of the gateway heading east. It could be a continuation of the rebirth of East Michigan that we are seeing in isolated pockets,” Winters told the board during a legal report at the meeting.

A Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge declared the property a public nuisance for its high levels of crime and deteriorating conditions in 2010. It took the township further litigation for a judge to order the former owner to clear most of the property - two buildings remain.

The properties’ former owner, Cormello, LLC, filed for bankruptcy after clearing it of all but two remaining buildings in 2011. Paramount Bank took the property over, but it also filed for bankruptcy, and its assets were taken over by Level One Bank.

Level One requested the FDIC allow them to abandoned the property, and it is scheduled for the next tax foreclosure auction with a minimum bid of $47,000.

The township plans to acquire the property under the “first right of approval” stipulation that allows municipalities have first shot at a tax foreclosed property if it can prove that it is being acquired for public use.

The township is contending that it claim the property because rebuilding the commercial tax base is a public purpose.

Winters said the township’s commercial taxable value has dropped by 21.2 percent or $52,552,647 since 2007.

“We have lost so much of our commercial tax base in the last five years,” Winters said. “Between the decline in our commercial and industrial tax base, we have taken some big blows. And while we are seeing signs of rebirth, the commercial tax base needs to be stabilized.”

“First right of refusal” was previously used when the township claimed two residential homes for the purpose of neighborhood stabilization, but it has never been tried on a commercial property. But Winters said there is clear legal precedence.

“I think there are some questions about whether we can do this with commercial properties, but it’s all about re-establishing our commercial tax base,” Clerk Karen Roe said. “We could get those buildings down and we will be able to work with certain developers, and we can say ‘Yes, we like that development’ or “No, we don’t like that development’, and that’s absolutely crucial to the redevelopment of that corridor.”

In the corridor, the township has completed numerous blight abatement projects, demolished around a dozen deteriorating buildings, seen the renovation of several businesses and heralded the arrival of a new Taco Bell. Several new developments are in the works.

Township Planning coordinator Joe Lawson said the area is targeted for improvements that will make it more pedestrian friendly as part of the upcoming master plan revision.

Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo highlighted the resources the township and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department spent on cleaning up Ypsi Mobile Village.

“We invested a lot of dollars there,” she said. “And there’s a first time for everything.

View Larger Map

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

The intersection at West Michigan Avenue and Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township has been ranked Washtenaw County's most dangerous intersection.

Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com

An intersection’s rank is determined by two factors - crash rate and total crashes.

The ranks are based on statistics from 2011, which is the most recent accident data the Michigan State Police has released.

Washtenaw County Road Commission director Roy Townsend said the data helps the agency determine which intersections might need safety improvements and deserve closer attention from road officials.

The Road Commission also examines the type of accidents at each intersection. That provides insight as to what issue might be causing crashes.

Officials say Carpenter is especially busy because there are few north-south roads that run the span of the county’s populated areas.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Road Commission officials noticed that there were a significant number of accidents caused by cars turning left out of driveways near the busy intersection. The agency applied for federal safety grants and received funding to install narrow safety medians in the center of the road that will prevent left turns out of driveways near the intersection.

“Turning right in and right out is the safest thing, so when people turn left in and out and cross three to five lanes of traffic, that’s where you don’t see a car coming,” Townsend said, adding that today’s safety standards wouldn’t allow that many driveways built so close to the intersection.

Each year, the Road Commission applies for up to five safety grants, but competes with other road commissions and governments statewide. Some years it won’t receive any extra funds, and in other years it receives funding for up to three projects.

Five of the top 10 roads on the list are in Pittsfield Township and five are in the Washtenaw and Carpenter corridors. Townsend said that Carpenter is especially busy because there are few north-south roads that run the span of the county’s populated areas.

Whittaker Road turns into Huron Street and eventually Huron River Drive before curving west in Ypsilanti. Hewitt and Golfside Roads both end.

“That pushes a lot of traffic onto Carpenter,” Townsend said.

Likewise, Washtenaw and Packard are the two main direct thoroughfares between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the county’s two population centers. That means intersections in those areas also see the highest traffic counts in the county and those statistics nearly correlate to the dangerous intersections list.

High traffic volumes lead to delays and that leads motorists to take more chances, Townsend said.

“There is a high volume of traffic at some intersections period. So there is more delay and people have a tendency to take more chances,” he said. “You just have to keep looking at the intersections and hopefully find a way to reduce delay, and try to figure out what things you can do to improve to safety.”

For example, last year, the Road Commission added an additional right turn lane on westbound Washtenaw just before the Hogback-Carpenter intersection, which helped reduce delays.

Other safety projects scheduled over the next several years include the addition of a center left turn lane on Rawsonville at Martz Roads. Turn lanes will be added at the intersection of Curtis and Plymouth roads.

The shoulder will be paved and widened at Carpenter and Bemis where the road curves on Carpenter and a high number of cars are driving off the road. And there is a realignment project scheduled for the intersection of East Austin and Eisman roads.

“We continue to monitor the roads (countywide) and apply for safety funds,” Townsend said.

• Download the entire list of intersection crash totals:
• 2012WashtenawCounty_IntersectionCrashes.pdf

Aventura will open at 212-216 E. Washington St. in downtown Ann Arbor. The Spanish tapas restaurant and bar is opening in the former Mahek Indian eatery as well as the neighboring building.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Using food ingredients like padron peppers, Marcona almonds, olives, dates, boquerones, saffron, octopus, Manchego cheese and honey, Lelcaj hopes aventura’s small plates-style menu will bring something new and unique to Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor restaurateur Sava Lelcaj's latest venture is aventura, which is a short ways from her businesses babo market and Sava's Restaurant.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Lelcaj is opening aventura at 212-216 E. Washington St., just down the street from her existing babo market and Sava’s Restaurant. She signed a lease in February to take over the former Mahek Indian restaurant space, and purchased the neighboring building to create a multi-level restaurant with an outdoor deck.

The space, which is roughly 6,500 square feet on the first floor, has been gutted and Lelcaj hopes to start construction in the coming weeks and open aventura in September.

Plans include: a 36-seat bar that wraps around the middle of the buildings, a high-top seating area, a dining room with booths, a mosaic tile wall, a kitchen for cold foods upstairs and an open kitchen downstairs, an “intimate” cocktaileria lounge in the basement, a wine cellar, and a raised outdoor deck behind the buildings.

“This is such an adventure to us,” Lelcaj said. “We’re building these rooms that are so connected but so different. It’s just really fun because there are so many things happening in one building.”

Lelcaj hired a chef, who is experimenting with ingredients to create a menu. Lelcaj said it will be mostly Spanish tapas — some with an American twist — but the menu might also include some larger dishes that are meant to be shared. There will be a variety of pinchos, which are popular appetizers in Spain served on bread.

“Our chef, for us to sample, made one with herbed goat cheese, a pickled red pepper and a little drizzle of honey,” Lelcaj said. “It’s really simple, but you can really be creative. They make for fun spreads that people can share.”

Added Chene Peña, aventura’s creative director: “We’re really inspired by the flavor of foods. Boquerones on things add a little saltiness, and padron peppers, once paired with certain things, completely change the flavor.”

The restaurant will also offer a variety of homemade Spanish cocktails and a Spanish wine list.

Peña, who spent time living in Spain, said friendly service and a community-focused atmosphere will be important at aventura.

“We did love how friendly everyone was in Spain, especially in restaurants where it feels like they know you,” he said.

Lelcaj entered the Ann Arbor dining scene in 2007, when she opened Sava’s State Street Cafe in a small second floor space on South State Street. After expanding Sava's and then opening babo market, Lelcaj said she was ready for her next challenge.

“As a company, we were ready to do something else. …I think (aventura) fits in because this is just a little more mature. I feel like (each business) has its own personality, but they’re all so connected.”

Lelcaj and Peña have started hiring and training an aventura management team, and they will hire additional wait staff this summer.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Flickr photo by pbkwee

To finish things off, it makes sense to mulch everything in most cases, right? I find that it helps to keep the weeds down and with moisture retention — the latter is especially important in the dog days of summer when things are at their hottest.

Everyone has their preference when it comes to mulch when it comes to aesthetics, but when it comes to repelling a couple of unwelcome guests (slugs and snails) from the garden, one choice has become king: cocoa seed mulch.

I've used it in the past, and it does add a welcoming touch to my flower beds. It has the inviting, delicious aroma of, yes, you guessed it, chocolate.

Not such a bad thing, right? The smell doesn't last long — maybe a couple of weeks, unfortunately.

Well, there has been a bit of vague controversy where cocoa seed mulch and pets are concerned.

Remember that I noted the yummy chocolate aroma? It could be attractive to dogs, too, and as I've noted in the past, chocolate can be very dangerous to pets. The culprit? Theobromine. Dogs are known to be sensitive to theobromine and caffeine, chemicals that are called methylxanthines.

You see, unprocessed cocoa beans contain approximately 1 percent to 4 percent theobromine and 0.07 percent to 0.36 percent caffeine, but the theobromine content of processed cocoa bean shell mulch reportedly ranges from 0.19 percent to 2.98 percent.

Those who manufacture the product say that current processing technology offers chemical residues that are lower than in previous years.

I've seen quite a few posts online and on social media regarding the safety of this otherwise benign product, and a few years ago veterinary professionals decided to try set the record straight with some facts, using findings from cases that had come through their doors and analyzing the anecdotal data.

One of the cases involves a young dog, Calypso, who reportedly had consumed cocoa seed mulch and showed clinical signs like vomiting on the first day, and then the next day had a seizure and, sadly, died.

Dr. Steve Hansen, director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Poison Control Center, noted, "A big problem from the perspective of a toxicologist and a veterinary clinician is that if you have poisoning from methylxanthines, you get a progression of signs — vomiting, diarrhea, more vomiting, trembling, the heart rate kicks up, then it may progress to seizures if the dose is exceptionally high, with death being uncommon."

Vomiting a few times is consistent with this type of poisoning, but other clinical signs being absent until many hours later is not, as in Calypso's case.

"A necropsy would have likely shown that Calypso had an underlying condition that caused her death," Hansen said.

And in the times since, there has been no data pointing to the product as a cause for death in a canine, but they can experience illness if they consume the mulch; vomiting and loose stools being the primary symptoms. Findings do conclude of course that the higher the amount that's ingested, the likelihood of a wider range of side effects can result — for example, tremors, increased heart rate, and seizures.

As I've said, I've used cocoa seed mulch in the past and had favorable results. The one caveat is that one of our dogs will eat pretty much anything on the ground, so for that reason I don't feel comfortable using the product anymore.

In the end, dogs can become unwell after consuming cocoa seed mulch, and following a good rule of thumb is probably best: if you have a dog who gobbles up things indiscriminately, you will want to avoid using cocoa seed mulch on your property. Better safe than sorry.

Click here for a printable handout on the facts of cocoa seed mulch and pets.

Lorrie Shaw leads the pets section for AnnArbor.com. Connect with her on Google+ and follow her daily adventures as a professional pet sitter or email her directly.

Satori Shakoor

A press release has all the details.

The event will feature the talents of storytellers La’Ron Williams, Yvonne Healy, Judy Sima, and sisters Maya and Brooke Solomon. Jessica “Decky” Alexander and Martez Gibbs will share the stories of past SAC clients.

The event will be held at the Performance Network in downtown Ann Arbor (120 E. Huron St.) on Sunday, June 2 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($15 for those with a student ID) and $50 to also attend the “Milk and Cookies Storyteller Reception,” featuring Zingerman’s goodies.

Student Advocacy Center is the only independent organization providing free, non-legal advocacy for students in both general and special education. SAC has been advocating for students since 1975 through individual case advoacy, technical assistance and educational support. SAC works to ensure Michigan’s most vulnerable students stay in school and realize their right to a quality public education.

“SAC is deeply committed to helping the students who need it the most - students in foster care, students with mental illness or a learning disability, students struggling with disciplinary issues and those thinking about dropping out,” said SAC Executive Director Peri Stone-Palmquist. “Education is key for these students and we are thrilled to share some of their stories.”

To purchase tickets or learn more about the event (including sponsors and storyteller bios), please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/372215 or call 1-800-838-3006.

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

The Ann Arbor area could be in for a stormy week, the National Weather Service says, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms every day but Thursday. There’s a slight chance some of those storms could be severe Tuesday, with the greatest risk between 2 and 10 p.m.

A National Weather Service radar image shows thunderstorms moving across the state.

At 7:42 a.m., National Weather Service radar showed a long line of thunderstorms moving through the state, including Washtenaw County.

Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are also possible in the area Wednesday through Sunday as a warm and humid air mass settles over the region, the weather service said.

Forecasters said the chance for rain Tuesday and Tuesday night was 70 percent, with a high of 77 expected.

Wednesday, scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible. It will be cloudy with gradual clearing until skies become mostly sunny. It will be warm with a high near 85. The chance for rain is 30 percent.

Thursday will be mostly sunny with a high near 87.

The chance for showers and thunderstorms returns after 9 a.m. Friday. It will be partly sunny with a high near 83.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely over the weekend with highs in the 70s. Sunshine returns Monday with a high near 72 expected.

For updated forecasts and conditions anytime, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.

A judge deciding a punishment for a former Michigan Supreme Court justice has two very different recommendations in front of him.

Diane Hathaway

AP file photo

Hathaway's attorney has told a judge that probation and community service would be appropriate. But federal prosecutors want a year to 18 months in prison. They have detailed the many steps that Hathaway took to conceal assets that could have been used to pay her mortgage.

The scandal led to Hathaway's resignation in January and allowed Gov. Rick Snyder to appoint a new justice to the Supreme Court.

Ypsilanti police are investigating a home invasion reported Monday morning in which electronics were stolen.

Investigators responded at 5:30 a.m. Monday to the 10 block of Wallace Boulevard after being notified of the break-in. Police said an unknown suspect entered the home through a window.

Once inside, the thief swiped multiple electronics items from the home. Police did not release a detailed list of stolen items.

There was no suspect description available in the case Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ypsilanti Police Department at 734-483-9510 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).

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

Ann Arbor resident Maurice Archerbreak dances in front of a crowd at last year's African American Downtown Festival in Ann Arbor.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com fie photo

And that’s what takes place when rain happens to fall during the annual, all-day African American Downtown Festival. This year's event takes place on Saturday, June 1, from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. in the area around North Fourth Avenue and Ann Street in Ann Arbor.

“(Attendees) do not leave,” said AADF event coordinator Teesha Montague. “They do not leave. They may duck under one of the nearby stores’ awnings, or go into the stores for a while, but they do not leave. It’s amazing.”

The festival’s location lies at the heart of what was, at the middle of the 20th century, Ann Arbor’s African American business district, and the late Lucille Porter—who founded the festival in 1996—wanted to commemorate and celebrate this aspect of the city’s cultural heritage with a splashy, fun annual event that would remind locals of the neighborhood’s history.

And while the festival might celebrate African Americans’ life, history and culture in Ann Arbor, AADF intends to—and always does—draw a broad range of people.

“You see people of all religions, all colors, all ages,” said Montague. “And I love to see that—all these different people coming together and just having a good time.”

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

A 26-year-old Manitou Beach, Mich. man is charged with assaulting a guest at a hotel and then resisting arrest by Ann Arbor police officers after police said he kicked out a window on a patrol car.

Richard Hunley

Courtesy of WCSO

Richard Hunley was released on bond from the Washtenaw County Jail after being arraigned on the two charges. The criminal charges stem from an incident Friday night at a hotel in the 1400 block of Briarwood Circle.

Police were called to the hotel at 10:29 p.m. Friday after Hunley was accused of pushing another guest and punching him in the back of the head while the two were in the bar, Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said.

“As officers were investigating, they discovered Hunley in a hotel room and arrested him for the assault,” she said in a statement. “Hunley was combative with the officers and kicked out the police car window, shattering it.”

Hunley was eventually subdued by officers and held at the jail. Records show Hunley bonded out of the jail on Sunday.

The victim of the assault did not suffer any injuries, Bush said.

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

The new art installation inside Ann Arbor's police-courts building, otherwise known as the Justice Center, next to city hall. The piece, titled "Radius," was installed over the weekend by Portland artist Ed Carpenter.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

The city's latest piece of public art — titled "Radius" — measures 40 feet by 20 feet by 12 feet and is made of dichroic glass, aluminum and stainless steel, with integral LED lighting.

The piece starts in the corner of the Justice Center lobby, looking out at the intersection of Huron Street and Fifth Avenue downtown. It wasn't easily visible from outside on Tuesday morning, but it's expected to be more visible at night.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Some said they really liked it, others thought it cost taxpayers too much money, and one city employee admitted she walked right by it without noticing.

Amy McCuiston, a University of Michigan employee passing through the building Tuesday morning, said she really likes the new piece, which gives off blue, green, yellow and purple glows.

"I like it a lot," she said. "I like the different colors. It's peaceful. I think it's very soothing, too, because most people when they're coming in are nervous."

Art Bolzman had a different opinion.

"It's way too much. Why would you spend that kind of money?" said Bolzman, adding he would like to see the city buying less-expensive art.

Charles Reed, a court security deputy who works at the entrance checkpoint, has a clear view of the new artwork from his work station.

He said late Tuesday morning nobody had specifically paid a visit just to see the artwork yet, but he's expecting that to change once the word gets out.

A closeup of some of the finer details of the piece.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

The project won approval from the Ann Arbor City Council in an 8-2 vote in May 2012, with Council Members Jane Lumm and Stephen Kunselman objecting to it.

Lumm proposed canceling the project altogether and redirecting the $150,000 back to the Municipal Center project budget where the money originated. Kunselman joined Lumm in opposing the project, saying he thought there were better places for public art in the city.

The City Council is in the process of giving the city's public art program a makeover, changing the way future projects are funded and eliminating the controversial Percent for Art funding mechanism that since 2007 has channeled 1 percent of capital project dollars toward public art.

Carpenter specializes in large-scale public installations ranging from architectural sculpture to infrastructure design. He works internationally from his studio in Portland, Oregon.

His work can be found inside the Portland Justice Center, Michigan State University's Brody Hall, Rockefeller Center in New York, Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, a U.S. Courthouse in Seattle, Orlando City Hall and many other places.

Carpenter said in his original proposal that "Radius" is designed to involve as much of the lobby as possible, radiating from the southeast corner, visible from inside and outside, day and night. But the sculpture wasn't easily noticeable from outside on Tuesday morning.

Lighting in the piece's hollow center illuminate gleaming glass and anodized aluminum details. When sun strikes, the dichroic glass elements reflect colored light in luminous compositions.

"Like ripples from a stone tossed into a pond, 'Radius' emanates outward through the Justice Center lobby, a reminder of the interconnectedness of the public with the agencies serving them, and suggesting a network of cause and effect in the public realm," the artist's statement reads.

What do you think of the new piece? Take our poll below.

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

Ypsilanti Community Schools is discrediting a 2011 performance evaluation that rated new athletic director Lamanzer Williams unsatisfactory in his only previous athletic director position at Inkster High School.

Williams was hired in early May to be the first athletic director of Ypsilanti Community Schools, the new district being formed July 1 from the combined Ypsilanti and Willow Run districts. He was the first external hire of the new district following what Washtenaw Intermediate School District superintendent Scott Menzel called a "targeted recruitment for an external search."

Lamanzer Williams

During the hiring process, Menzel said he reviewed an October 2011 performance evaluation found in Williams’ personnel file at Inkster. Both that evaluation and an interim performance evaluation in January 2012 rated Williams unsatisfactory, and he was eventually terminated from his position at Inkster after one year, according to documents.

• View Evaluation

Menzel said after talking to multiple people at Inkster he discredited the evaluation because it was filled out only two months after his hiring and by an assistant superintendent, Jumanne Sledge, who has subsequently been imprisoned. He also said that Sledge was not Williams’ direct supervisor at Inkster.

“From our perspective, given all the information that we’ve gathered, that information is completely irrelevant,” Menzel said.

Williams is a 1993 Willow Run graduate who went on to become an All-American college football player at Minnesota before playing in the NFL. He has spent the past 13 years working in high school sports in Michigan as a coach and an administrator.

In the year since working at Inkster, Williams worked at Holland High School as its head football coach and academic and behavioral interventionist. Holland principal Justin Jennings said he evaluated Williams once and rated him “highly effective.”

LaToya King, who was hired to be the principal at Inkster High School in February 2012, said she evaluated Williams while she was his direct supervisor and rated him satisfactory.

“Under my direction and under my supervision, Mr. Williams was an exceptional employee,” King said. “Very detailed, very thorough, did everything that he was supposed to do.”

Williams was hired as the athletic director and dean of discipline at Inkster prior to the 2011-12 school year, the only year he worked in the district. Shortly after being hired, Williams said he was asked to also become the school’s football coach and director of security.

A performance review dated October 17, 2011 -- obtained by AnnArbor.com through a Freedom of Information Act request -- states that Williams failed to make written recommendations for athletic department improvement, hold monthly meetings with subordinates and communicate with superiors.

“There has been much data to suggest that this is a huge challenge for Mr. Williams,” Sledge wrote of communication. “By choice, he routinely opts out of decision making and overall school involvement.”

The report also states that in his role as director of security, Williams had held only one fire drill up to that point, and a result “has placed the entire high school in jeopardy of compliance.”

Williams called the review “bogus,” saying he held required meetings and filed reports that were ignored by his superiors. On each of his evaluations, he wrote: “I do not agree with ratings given.”

He provided copies of those reports to AnnArbor.com. The copies provided to AnnArbor.com do not appear in Williams’ file and are undated.

Williams’ evaluations were filled out by Sledge, then an assistant superintendent at Inkster who resigned during that school year while facing embezzlement charges from his time as associate superintendent of Pontiac schools. Sledge was sentenced last month to serve a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding a program receiving federal funding and ordered to pay $336,000 in restitution.

Following his October evaluation, Williams was once again given an unsatisfactory rating at a January 2012 interim evaluation, according to his file. Given an opportunity to submit evidence to the contrary Williams stated, “I do not have any,” according to a letter sent to him. Williams said that quote is inaccurate and that he does have contrary evidence. On the letter, Williams wrote: “I do not agree with the ratings given.”

According to a letter dated March 28, he was informed that he would not be offered a contract for the 2012-13 school year. His "personnel exit audit form" lists his reason for leaving as "terminated."

Williams said that he resigned from Inkster before being terminated, and that his resignation letter was omitted from his personnel file. King said she received Williams’ resignation letter and that multiple Inkster schools employees have filed lawsuits over performance evaluations and the absence of material in personnel files.

According to court documents, former Inkster High School math teacher Albert Gui filed a complaint in December 2012 against the district, Sledge, former principal Roy Harris, former assistant principal Thea Marsh and math department coordinator Shawn Smith.

The suit alleges several improprieties in Gui’s evaluation and claims Gui was terminated due to the evaluation. The case is ongoing.

Williams was hired at YCS after the new district interviewed four internal applicants, including the current athletic directors at Ypsilanti High School and Willow Run High School Jon Zajac and Matt Seidl. Menzel said earlier this month month the salary for the position would be similar to the $83,000 base salary set for assistant principals in the new districts.

Three local CEOs are among the finalists for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Michigan and Northwest Ohio region.

Yan Ness of Online Tech, Larry Freed of ForeSee Results and Peter Orr of MedHub will compete with 30 other finalists from across the region for 10 awards including the region’s “Master Entrepreneur.”

While their companies are at different stages of development, all three executives have overseen significant growth during the past two years.

ForeSee Results CEO Larry Freed is working on expanding his company's South American reach.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

ForeSee uses surveys and other tools to help companies determine the satisfaction of visitors to their websites. A new product, Session Replay, allows businesses to capture a customer’s website experiences and recreate it to analyze site navigation issues.

MedHub CEO Peter Orr (left) pictured with co-founder Thomas May is helping develop a Special Technology District in Dexter.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

The health care software startup was founded in 2011 and plans to grow to 20 employees by the end of 2013. MedHub helps academic hospitals document and manage the scheduling and data of residents and fellows in a fully-integrated system.

While many executives are applauded for consolidating power, Ness actually added a co-CEO this year at Online Tech, where they tend to have two of everything. The data center operator backs up and duplicates all of its processes to prevent the loss of any data.

The company also announced a $20 million investment deal in September that will support the launch of four new centers across the Midwest throughout the next two years.

Online Tech co-CEOs Yan Ness (left) and Mike Klein have overseen the company's recent growth and are preparing for further expansion.

Courtesy Online Tech

In addition to the local executives, University of Michigan alumnus Jonathan Opdyke was nominated in the New York region. Opdyke, co-founder and CEO of HookLogic, operates an office in the former Leopold Brothers brewery on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

Ernst and Young is a worldwide professional services company that has been honoring top entrepreneurs for more than 25 years.

The regional Entrepreneur of the Year award winners will be announced June 20 at an event in Detroit. Regional winners will be eligible for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year national awards to be presented in November.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. He is not related to Larry Freed. 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.