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Three-part harmonies help make Grand Rapids' indie-folk band The Crane Wives sing

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Grand Rapids indie-folk band The Crane Wives headline at the Blind Pig Thursday on a bill that includes Detroit’s With Hand in the Ocean and Austin, Texas-based Americana-rockers Union Specific .

Formed in late August of 2010, The Crane Wives just finished recording their debut album,"Safe Ship, Harbored." Using three-part vocal harmonies, eclectic instrumentation and a knack for dynamics, their original music ranges from whisper-quiet ballads to danceable grooves.

The Crane Wives are Kate Pillsbury (vocals, acoustic guitar), Emilee Petersmark (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dan Rickabus (vocals, drums, percussion), Tom Gunnels (banjaneer) and Ben Zito (bass guitar).

“One unique thing about us is our two female lead singers that both play guitar,” Gunnels told Grand Valley State University’s Cohesion Alternative News recently. “That is pretty uncommon among folk bands, along with our three-part harmonies. We get a lot of different influences coming in from everybody.”

The Crane Wives will play Thursday, July 18 at the Blind Pig, 208 S. First St. Admission is $5-$8 and the doors open at 9:30 p.m. Details at www.blindpigmusic.com or 734- 996-8555


Ypsilanti schools names Ford Early Learning Center principal

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Ypsilanti Community Schools selected a new leader for the Ford Early Learning and Family Center.

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Micki Berg

Courtesy of the WISD

Micki Berg, a principal from Sand Creek Community Schools, will join the newly formed school district for its first fall of classes this September. Ypsilanti Community Schools, the byproduct of consolidating Ypsilanti Public Schools and Willow Run Community Schools, officially launched on July 1.

Berg is an Eastern Michigan University graduate. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's in early childhood education and a specialist degree in educational leadership, according to a news release from YCS officials announcing her hiring.

Berg has nearly two decades of experience in early childhood education, both as a teacher and an administrator. She taught second grade at a private school in Detroit before teaching in Napoleon, Mich., for 14 years. She has been the principal at Ruth McGregor Elementary School in Sand Creek for the past four years.

YCS Associate Superintendent Laura Lisiscki said in a news release the unified district is "fortunate" to have someone of (Berg's) caliber overseeing the early learning program at Ford ELC, located at 2440 Clark Road.

"I've already met parents, staff and colleagues who have made me feel very welcome," Berg said. "The professional and collegial environment has been phenomenal."

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

Full finals results from the 2013 Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament

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Kanae Watanabe hits a ball during the women's 4.5 finals in the Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament on Sunday, July 14.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Related coverage:

There were 161 participants in the singles divisions of the 2013 Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament. Ten champions were crowned on Sunday at the University of Michigan Varsity Tennis Center:

Men's open
Jason Kerst (Ann Arbor) def. Sven Holcombe (Ann Arbor), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Men's 4.5
David Pickard (Wauseon) def. Masato Shimizu (Ann Arbor), 6-3, 7-5.

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Steve Kotre hits a backhand shot during the men's 3.5 semifinals at the Ann Arbor City Tennis Tournament on Sunday, July 14.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Women's 4.5
Carly Eckert (Dearborn) def. Kanae Watanabe (Troy), 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Men's 4.0
Rakesh Latchamsetty (Ann Arbor) def. Noe Erasga (Ypsilanti), 6-2, 6-2.

Men's 3.5
Gonzalo Ubillus (Ann Arbor) def. Joseph Arend (Chelsea), 7-5, 6-4.

Women's 3.5
Yoonkyung Cha (Ann Arbor) def. Faith Sparr (Ann Arbor), 6-3, 6-0.

Men's 3.0
Rossen Nedeltchev (Ann Arbor) def. Jong Seok Kim (Ann Arbor), 6-4, 6-2.

Women's 3.0
Sara Ryoo (Ann Arbor) def. Barbara Chobocky (Ann Arbor), 6-4, 2-1 (win by forfeit, injury)

Men's singles 50-plus
Joseph Taylor (Ann Arbor) def. Carey Culbertson (Ann Arbor), 6-2, 6-0.

Men's singles 60-plus
Wayne Snyder (Ann Arbor) def. Kris Vilas (Ann Arbor), 6-0, 7-6.

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

Ann Arbor Planning Commission will consider Tim Hortons drive-thru lane, Glendale condos this week

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Plans to construct a drive-thru lane to service a Tim Hortons restaurant on Ann Arbor-Saline Road will be considered by Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission on Tuesday night.

Abraham Ajrouch, owner of the Shell gas station at 2979 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, wants to construct a drive-thru window and single-lane drive-thru lane on the 1.44-acre site at the corner of Eisenhower Parkway.

Tim Hortons operates a 1,100-square-foot restaurant on the north end of the 4,089-square-foot gas station convenience store.

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The owner of the Shell gas station on Ann Arbor-Saline Road wants to construct a drive-thru to serve the Tim Hortons on the north end of the site.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

Ajrouch — who said a drive-thru lane is crucial for Tim Hortons’ business — wants to reconfigure the site to create space for the drive-thru, resulting in a net decrease of two parking spaces.

He would relocate an outdoor picnic area, install a brick paved pedestrian path, and install signage to caution pedestrians and drivers to stop before crossing.

The drive-thru lane would be accessed from the Ann Arbor-Saline Road curb cut and vehicles would loop in an east to south direction before existing, according to the plans. No changes are proposed to the gas pump islands.

Ann Arbor planning staff is recommending approval of the plans.

“The proposed revisions to the site provide an overall beneficial effect for the city by creating job opportunities from this drive-thru expansion, adding a gateway sitting area for pedestrians, convenient access to residents and patrons to food and drink, and additional landscaping to enhance the site,” a staff report says.

Also on the Planning Commission’s agenda is a proposal to construct a 16-unit multi-family condominium project on an unused lot on the west side of Glendale Drive, south of Jackson Avenue.

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The location on Glendale Drive currently has trees scattered around the property.

Ben Freed | AnnArbor.com

The project, proposed for a 2.64-acre site at 312 Glendale Dr., would involve demolishing two single-family residences and constructing eight two-family dwellings. The units would consist of ranch-style units with two bedrooms, and each unit would have its own entry and single car garage. Eight additional surface spaces are provided in the plans.

The estimated cost of construction is $2.3 million, according to the plans. Ann Arbor developer Jeffrey Starman owns the property.

Planning staff is recommending postponement of the plans so the developer can address issues related to building orientation, and utility and sidewalk easement. A staff report also says landmark trees should be protected and the soil should be tested for contaminants.

Planning Commission also will consider plans to add 31 parking spaces along the north driveway at the Glacier Hills senior living community at 1200 Earhart Road. The minimum required open space of 67.5 percent of the 31.47-acre site will be maintained, according to a staff report. Staff recommends the plans be approved.

Planning Commission will consider the three requests at its 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, July 16.

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.

Corridor plan for State Street wins approval from Ann Arbor City Council

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The Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously Monday night to adopt the new South State Street Corridor Plan, a city planning document more than a year in the making.

The plan, which includes land use and transportation recommendations for the 2.15-mile stretch of State Street from Stimson to Ellsworth, is now an official part of the city's master plan.

City Planner Jeff Kahan said the corridor plan was developed in response to significant changes that have taken place along South State Street over the past two decades.

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City of Ann Arbor

City of Ann Arbor

The Planning Commission determined that because of those changes — as well as strong demand to develop land in the corridor — the master plan's land use and transportation recommendations for State Street should be re-evaluated.

"Because of South State Street's concentration of high-activity uses, proximity to downtown and the highway, and lack of conflicting land uses, the corridor offers a unique opportunity to address community priorities such as transportation infrastructure, land-use patterns, sustainability, and economic development," the new plan states.

The plan states that corridor stakeholders — including residents, business owners, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Pittsfield Township, and the city of Ann Arbor — are unified in the desire to revitalize the corridor and develop a welcoming gateway that reflects the character of Ann Arbor.

The Planning Commission kicked off the public engagement process for the planning study in spring 2012. That included interviews with 50-plus stakeholders and two public meetings.

The public identified traffic congestion, aesthetic concerns, inadequate non-motorized facilities, poor wayfinding and a desire for more vital land uses as issues to be addressed, Kahan said.

The resulting corridor plan contains goals and recommended actions that tie directly to the city's sustainability framework, Kahan said.

Previous coverage:

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 City Council to consider limit on medical marijuana facilities

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The Ypsilanti City Council Tuesday night will consider an ordinance that would cap the number of new medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities in the city.

The new proposed ordinance comes after an emergency moratorium failed by a 3-3 vote in early June.

But this time it appears supporters of a cap have the votes to pass a permanent ordinance.

The emergency moratorium would have immediately prohibited any dispensaries from opening in the city, but needed to pass with four-fifths of council members approving.

Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson and Council Member Ricky Jefferson proposed the emergency moratorium because they said they had heard complaints from residents about the number of marijuana facilities.

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Richardson, Jefferson and Council Member Susan Moeller all voted in favor of it.

Mayor Paul Schreiber, Council Member Brian Robb and Council Member Dan Vogt voted against it. Council Member Pete Murdock abstained.

The new ordinance would allow six dispensaries and three grow facilities in the city, according to City Planner Teresa Gillotti.

Ypsilanti has the following dispensaries and grow facilities within city limits:

  • Ward 1 has two dispensaries, with one potential dispensary. The ward also has one grow facility and one potential grow facility.
  • Ward 2 has one dispensary.
  • Ward 3 has three dispensaries and one potential grow facility

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act passed overwhelmingly in Ypsilanti. In the 2008 vote on whether or not to legalize medical marijuana, Ward 1 voted 1,672 to 359 in favor of it. Ward 2 voted 2,278 to 577 in favor, and Ward 3 voted 1,833 to 441 in favor.

But the act doesn't include any language on the legality of dispensaries and grow operations, which has been a point of contention between supporters and opponents.

Schreiber said he voted against the emergency moratorium because the resolution stated that the issue protected "public peace, health, safety or welfare." Schreiber said he didn’t believe that the issue constituted a threat to public safety and warranted an emergency moratorium.

There were several medical marijuana facilities working to obtain licenses and Schreiber feared the city could open itself to legal issues.

Three operations had expressed an interest in opening in the city earlier this year. Those that have submitted paperwork wouldn't be impacted by the new legislation. GIllotti confirmed the owners of one operation had submitted paperwork but she did not respond to questions about the other two.

Schreiber told AnnArbor.com on Monday that he did support a cap on the number of facilities operating in the city and will vote in favor of the ordinance, giving council the necessary votes to pass a limit.

“I think at the time, I felt it was not a matter of public safety and welfare. I didn’t see that for this particular ordinance,” Schreiber said. “I did mention that I was in agreement with (Council Member) Murdock about capping the amount of licenses.”

“I intend to vote for the ordinance tomorrow night,” he added.

Schreiber said dispensary and grow operation issues remain “fluid” at the state level, which presents legal questions for local communities.

“The state needs to do a better job defining what local units of government are able to do. It would be risky for the city to be opening more medical marijuana facilities … and I think our community is well served with the number we have currently.”

Robb said he still opposed capping the number of medical marijuana facilities while Murdock said he didn't have a strong opinion one way or the other. Jefferson and Vogt couldn't be reached for comment.

Police Chief Amy Walker previously told council the current facilities have had relatively low calls for service, but she doesn't believe more would be good for the city. Between May 2012 and May 2013 all of the city's medical marijuana facilities had only five calls for service.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers, 1 S. Huron St.

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

Man pleads guilty to criminal sexual conduct involving child he met through Ann Arbor schools job

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A former Ann Arbor Public Schools employee pleaded guilty last week to inappropriately touching a 10-year-old child he met through his employment at the Community Education and Recreation office, according to police.

Ryan Erskine, 31, pleaded guilty Friday to assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct on a child, Hamburg Township police Officer Alysha Garbacik said Monday. The incident took place in August 2012 in a Hamburg Township home while Erskine was baby-sitting the child, Garbacik said.

“There was a week in question in August when he was caring for the child,” Garbacik said.

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Courtesy

Garbacik said Erskine met the child through his work as an assistant in the Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation School Age Child Care program. According to Erskine’s bio on the Rec and Ed website, he worked at Bach, Allen and Lawton elementary schools.

The inappropriate touching was not reported until October 2012, when Erskine was arrested. Livingston County Prosecutor William Valliencourt said he was originally charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct before accepting the plea deal.

Ann Arbor Public Schools spokeswoman Liz Margolis said Erskine was an employee of the district until October 2012. He started in 2001.

"We had learned about the potential criminal charges, so we put him immediately on administrative leave and then he was terminated," Margolis said Monday.

Garbacik said the Hamburg Township police are not investigating Erskine in relation to any other potential victims. Valliencourt said there are no other investigations into Erskine that he is aware of at this time.

Garbacik said Erskine refused to be interviewed by police before he was arrested.

The Livingston Daily reports Erskine told a judge, “I inappropriately touched (the victim) with intent to commit sexual desires.”

Valliencourt said Erskine is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22. Each of the charges of assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a maximum of five years in prison. The Livingston Daily reports the plea deal calls for no more than one year in jail.

Online records show Erskine is not lodged in the Livingston County Jail.

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

Majority of Ann Arbor council members against reducing public speaking times

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Ann Arbor City Council members have had some long meetings recently as they've dealt with issues that left them deliberating into the early morning hours.

Just since April, they've had meetings that have started at 7 p.m. and lasted until 3:11 a.m., 1:50 a.m., 12:55 a.m., and 12:30 a.m.

Another meeting was recessed at 11:31 p.m. and then continued four more hours — until 11:27 p.m. — the next Monday.

In addition to lengthy debates at the council table, long public comment periods have caused meetings to run late.

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All 11 members of the Ann Arbor City Council were in attendance Monday night as the council debated whether the reduce speaking times for members of the public.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Some council members say they'd like to see speaking times reduced — for both council members and the public — in order to make meetings more efficient.

But a majority of council members voted Monday night against reducing public speaking times from three to two minutes, fearing that could send the wrong message to the community.

"Democracy is about giving people an opportunity to speak," said Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward.

The idea of reducing speaking times at meetings was floated recently by the Council Rules Committee.

It was Council Member Jane Lumm's counter proposal Monday night that forced a voice vote in favor of keeping the three-minute limit for public comments.

"I certainly think there are instances when two minutes may be sufficient, but there are certain times when a speaker legitimately wants to make multiple points or in-depth arguments … and no matter how concise they are, two minutes is not enough," she said.

Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, said as someone who has addressed council from the podium in years past, she can assure that three minutes goes by very fast.

Lumm said it's OK if the council wants to try to limit the length of meetings, but it shouldn't do that "on the backs of the public."

The council ultimately decided to hold off on making any final decisions on council rules changes, including those regarding speaking. The council kicked the issue back to the Council Rules Committee, which is expected to come back Sept. 16 with a revised proposal.

While it seems evident now that there isn't support on council for reducing public speaking times, there might still be support for reducing council member speaking times.

Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, said there's even been talk about having a running clock at the council table so council members can do a better job policing themselves.

Under the current rules, council members are allowed to speak up to two times per agenda item — five minutes the first time, and three minutes the second time. The committee proposed dropping that to three minutes and two minutes, respectively, but that's still being evaluated.

Lumm said she'd rather see two speaking opportunities for council members that are each three minutes long. She feared two minutes wasn't long enough for closing arguments. She added there's been more robust discussion at council meetings lately and she doesn't want to lose that.

But there's a desire among at least some council members for shorter meetings. Council Member Sumi Kailasapathy, D-1st Ward, said she's not in favor of reducing public speaking times, but she would like to see meetings adjourn at a more reasonable hour.

Instead of meetings that last into the early morning hours, she said, the council should consider a policy where if a meeting goes past 11 p.m. it will be continued the next Monday — her thinking being that two four-hour sessions are better than one longer session.

Kailasapathy said it's difficult for people with full-time jobs and young children when meetings go past 1 a.m.

Mayor John Hieftje said some council agenda items are time-sensitive, so that would need to be given consideration if meetings are going to be recessed more regularly.

Council Members Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, and Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, argued in favor of reducing public speaking times to two minutes to make meetings more efficient.

Teall said she could support a three-minute limit for speakers who reserve one of the 10 spots to speak at the start of council meetings, but she would like to see two-minute limits otherwise. She made a motion for that Monday night but couldn't get support.

"Maybe for me, it is a bit about how long meetings go on," Teall said. "And certainly that was one of the major points that the Michigan Municipal League suggested — that nobody should be making decisions at 2 o'clock in the morning or at 2:30 in the morning."

Taylor argued reducing public speaking times to two minutes isn't anti-democratic, but rather encourages more people to come speak.

He said many people have told him they don't like speaking before council because of the time investment necessary to wait through other speakers who get three minutes each.

"For my part, I can stay up late — I don't mind," he said. "I think it's good and useful to listen. I signed up for this and it's not a burden to me to listen to people. I welcome it."

But he said the average citizen doesn't want to have to wait until 11:30 p.m. to get his or her two cents in and they would appreciate a swifter process.

He stressed that council members receive no shortage of input from the public on issues between the emails and phone calls they get, in addition to other interactions with constituents.

Council Member Sally Hart Petersen, D-2nd Ward, said reducing speaking times is "not meant to be a cure-all for meeting efficiency," but she thinks it's one step to make meetings more efficient.

She said she was fine with either a two-minute or three-minute limit on speaking times as long as it was the same for both council members and the public.

One of the issues that wasn't resolved before council decided to postpone the rules changes Monday night was whether to prohibit people from speaking at the start of a council meeting if they already reserved one of the 10 spots to speak at the start of the last meeting or the last two meetings.

The idea there, according to supporters, is to better accommodate the average resident who wants to come speak, whereas right now those 10 spots can fill up quickly by frequent commenters.

Council Member Chuck Warpehoski, D-5th Ward, proposed a policy to give priority to people who have not reserved a speaking time slot at either of the last two council meetings, but that raised questions about how that would be administered or enforced by the city clerk's office.

There seems to be strong support on council for another rule change that includes adding public commentary time to informal council work sessions.

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.


Ann Arbor superintendent hopefuls present 90-day plans to board, community

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Previous coverage: 4 things to know about the 2 AAPS superintendent finalists Recap: How the Ann Arbor school board picked 2 superintendent finalists

Ann Arbor Public Schools superintendent hopefuls Brian Osborne and Jeanice Kerr Swift each have one final shot to impress the community and school board Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Jeanice Kerr Swift and Brian Osborne

Courtesy

The two candidates are visiting the district this week to meet in more intimate settings with trustees, teachers, administrators, union officers, local philanthropists, business leaders, elected officials and other prominent members of the community.

Included in the days' events will be a second round of questioning from the board and a presentation before trustees and the public on the finalists' 90-day plans, which they would carry out during their first three months if selected as the next superintendent.

There also will be an opportunity for community members and the general public to ask questions of the candidates both days from 7-8:30 p.m. at Skyline High School, 2552 N. Maple Rd.

The Ann Arbor Board of Education is slated to select the district's next leader on Friday. Former Superintendent Patricia Green retired from AAPS July 9 after two years with the district.

Swift, of Colorado, and Osborne, of New Jersey, were chosen, along with four other semifinalists, from an initial pool of 61 applicants. The six semifinalists were interviewed on July 8 and 9, after which the board named Swift and Osborne to advance to the next stage of consideration.

Swift will tour the district and visit with key leaders on Tuesday, while Osborne will do the same on Wednesday. The schedule will be the same both days, with the public invited to attend two portions of the day-long events: the final presentations and board interviews from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. at Skyline, during which the finalists will share their 90-day entry plans, and Q-&-A sessions from 7 to 8:30 p.m., during which community members can ask the candidates any questions they may have.

Board President Deb Mexicotte said a 90-day plan is a very typical thing for a superintendent candidate to develop when vying for a leadership position in a new district, and a required thing to create when offered the job and preparing to take the reigns in that district.

Mexicotte said the board generally has received 90-day plans without asking from its finalists and even many semifinalists in previous searches; however, the board has not required the candidates in the past to present them publicly. During the superintendent search that resulted in the board hiring Todd Roberts, the superintendent prior to Green, the board had the finalists give a presentation to trustees and the community at a public meeting, but the presentation could be on a topic of their choosing, showing how they use data to operate the district and improve the education of children, Mexicotte said.

This time around, the board thought it prudent to have the finalists present their 90-day action plans to communicate thoroughly with the board and the community how he or she would "come into the district, build confidence, learn what (he or she) needed to learn and get to tackling some of the key areas" of need at AAPS, Mexicotte said. She added by presenting the plans publicly, stakeholders will be able to see and compare the leadership and communication styles of the two finalists.

Following the presentations, the Board of Education will engage in a second interview with the candidates that Mexicotte described as more individualized.

In the semifinalist stage, the candidates were asked a core set of 20 identical questions that emphasized visibility, communication, redistricting, finances and making tough decisions. In the finalist stage, the questions will be targeted toward Swift and Osborne's unique traits, experiences, philosophies and leadership styles, and the format will be less formal, Mexicotte said, adding trustees can ask questions about topics dear to them as well.

She described the second-round interviews as being an opportunity to get down to the "nitty gritty," to figure out what sets these two candidates apart and to explore the candidates' "fit" with the district. Topics that could be discussed include special education, transportation, human resources or personnel management, magnet programs or alternative schools, Mexicotte said.

"I think we are really, really lucky to have these two candidates in our final pool," she said. "Both are accomplished leaders and, in my opinion, both can do the job and both would be assets to our district...

"Now it's about finding the mutual fit we’re looking for. If both fit really well but maybe in different ways, it will be about weighing the better fit and weighing what we want and need, given the challenges facing our district right now and in the foreseeable future."

The evening community Q-&-A session will be facilitated by the board and the public will be encouraged to ask questions of the candidates. Each finalists also will be permitted a few minutes at the start of their session to introduce themselves to the audience and highlight a few points about who they are, why they want to be in Ann Arbor or their experiences.

Mexicotte said it will be long days for Swift and Osborne, days packed with meeting many new faces and answering many questions.

"I'm expecting really informative, action-packed fun days," she said. "... I hope it's a fun day for them. ... Interacting with the community in these kinds of settings should be fun and I think the right candidate for our district will think it's a fun process on some level. It's serious business, but I do think it's fun for them to see some of our schools and meet with the great people in our community."

Swift and Osborne will begin their respective days by having breakfast with a sub-quorum group of board members. Then Mexicotte will take them on tours of the district, stopping by several schools and meeting with some staff members and union representation from the various collective bargaining units, Mexicotte said.

Another small group of board members will have the opportunity to meet up with the candidates for coffee around 11, followed by lunch with the core members of the central administration team.

Then the 1:15 p.m. public meeting will take place, at which the finalists will present their 90-day plans to the board and answer questions. The meeting will be followed by another meeting with people from "all walks of our stakeholder groups," Mexicotte said, including parents, business owners, elected officials, community center leaders, philanthropic leaders, partners from the University of Michigan and others.

AnnArbor.com will be live blogging from both the 1:15 p.m. meeting and the 7 p.m. community Q-&-A. Check back closer to the meeting start times to catch the live blog.

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

Kerrytown's V2V to open store in Arbor Hills on Washtenaw Avenue

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Five weeks away from its official opening, the Arbor Hills shopping center on Washtenaw Avenue has added a new local tenant to its lineup: V2V.

Tes Haas, the owner of the women’s lifestyle boutique in the Kerrytown Market & Shops, signed a lease for a 3,000-square-foot space in the under-construction shopping center on Washtenaw between Huron Parkway and Platt Road.

“I didn’t really want to miss the opportunity to have stores on both sides of town,” Haas said. “Living here, and (Ann Arbor) being my hometown, I felt like it was a good addition.”

Haas opened V2V in Kerrytown in 1982, and later opened V2V stores in downtown Petoskey and Charleston, S.C. The stores sell stylish women’s clothing, accessories, gift items and home products.

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Tes Haas opened her first V2V store in Kerrytown in 1982.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Haas also owns retail shops named Emma in Petoskey and Chicago.

She said the V2V store on Washtenaw Avenue will have a similar feel as the store in Kerrytown — which will remain open — but there will be some differences in inventory. The new store will be slightly smaller than the roughly 4,000-square-foot space in Kerrytown.

“I think Ann Arbor is big enough and has enough people to have both stores,” Haas said.

“(Washtenaw is) just such a big corridor in town for shopping, and I think this complex is going to be a really great mix of locals and nationals with wonderful clothes, food and makeup,” she continued.

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Arbor Hills is scheduled to open on Aug. 22 on Washtenaw Avenue.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Renovations are underway and Haas said she’s trying to open the store when the entire shopping center opens on Aug. 22. Haas plans to hire 10 to 12 people to staff the new store.

V2V joins 17 other confirmed tenants opening at the four-building, 90,700-square-foot development. Tenants include a mix of national, regional and local businesses, including a restaurant by the Cafe Zola owners and a Running Fit store.

“We want the really strong local retailers,” said North Shore Properties Group co-founder Max Reiswerg, a partner in the development. “They’re the ones who give the project flavor.”

Reiswerg said they turned space over to tenants earlier this summer, and most are working on renovating their individual spaces. He said he’s working on finalizing another restaurant tenant and possibly a yoga studio.

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.

Pets are better left at home during Art Fair and other summer events

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flickr photo by milldrum

We live in an interesting time when it comes to pets, don't we?

Our thinking has evolved tremendously where the acceptance of pet dogs is concerned. They not only live inside our homes, but, in some cases, have activities outside of the home designed just for them, like agility classes.

It's great that we can include them if we would like when we attend public events — but should we all of the time?

Probably not.

That's why it surprises me to see so many dogs in attendance at summer events like the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair each year. It always seems to be the hottest week of the summer.

One can always see a handful of people that are having difficulty dealing with sweltering temperatures, not to mention the humidity.

Then there's the panting, uncomfortable and sometimes clearly physically and mentally distressed dogs being dragged along as the person at the other end of the leash browses and lingers at the crowded booths.

That's very troubling to me.

Thinking about a pet's comfort (which is what one should be doing as a caregiver), especially at the height of summer, is a constant challenge when you're away from home.

Most of our pets would probably love to go with us everywhere, to see what it is that we do when we're not with them, but not when the physical environment is unsuitable for them. Pets can't object to being lead around on a leash in 90-plus degree weather at an event geared toward humans.

“As the Ann Arbor Art Fair begins this week, we remind people to please leave your dogs at home,” says Deb Kern, HSHV marketing director.

“The temperatures are once again going to be over 90 degrees. The pads on your dog’s paws can and will burn on pavement in this type of weather. The Humane Society of Huron Valley receives dozens of calls each year during Art Fair about pets showing signs of heat exhaustion or dogs being left in an unattended car.”

The latter seems unthinkable, doesn't it?

I can attest to how quickly the temperature inside a vehicle can rise in just a few minutes while I make eight- to 10-minute pit stops in weather like this to ensure that my charges have enough fresh water, extra potty breaks and that the air conditioning is working.

Despite having a vehicle's windows cracked, temperatures can rise to 102 degrees in 10 minutes and 120 degrees in 30 minutes.

“We hope community members will do the right thing and leave their animal companions at home in the air conditioning,” Kern adds.

"But, if anyone sees an animal that might be suffering, we hope they will call our 24-hour Animal Rescue Team at 734-661-3512.”

It's difficult to not anthropomorphize pets, but in their own best interest, one can't expect them to live completely immersed in the human world, to include them in every aspect of our lives. It's unfair and goes against their nature. They're dogs, not humans.

And, I'm all-too-aware of some of my fellow humans' disdain for dogs. The faint scowl or perhaps a fearful glance on their face says it all — and I respect that. Where does the idea come from that others would enjoy sharing their leisure time with dogs in a public setting like a summer festival, whether they love dogs or not?

In many respects, bringing pets along to summer events like the Art Fair is not a mindful, safe nor courteous thing to do.

Lorrie Shaw leads the pets section for AnnArbor.com. Connect with her on Google + or e-mail her directly.

2 crashes slow Ann Arbor-area freeways

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Two crashes near the U.S. 23 and Interstate 94 interchange Tuesday morning were slowing traffic during the morning commute, according to dispatchers.

Washtenaw County dispatchers said there were crashes at eastbound Interstate 94 and U.S. 23 and northbound U.S. 23 and I-94 as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Michigan State Police troopers were still in the process of responding to those crashes, and dispatchers did not have information regarding how many vehicles were involved, if the crashes were blocking any lanes and if anyone was injured.


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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.

New survey asks if Ann Arbor would benefit from more downtown parks and open spaces

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Liberty Plaza, a mostly concrete park at the southwest corner of Liberty and Division streets in downtown Ann Arbor.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Do you think Ann Arbor would benefit from more parks and open spaces downtown? If so, how big should they be, what should they look like, and where should they be located?

The Downtown Park Subcommittee of the city's Park Advisory Commission is inviting the public to answer those questions and more in a new online survey open through Aug. 5.

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The city of Ann Arbor's Connecting William Street Plan recommends redevelopment of five city-owned properties downtown, with some consideration given to open space, but just how much open space there should be downtown remains an ongoing conversation.

Ann Arbor DDA

"We are excited to learn what the citizens feel is important when creating good public spaces," said Ingrid Ault, chairwoman of the Downtown Parks Subcommittee. "This survey is seeking to understand three key areas: 1) Determining if there is a need for new downtown parks/open space, 2) If yes, what would that space look like, and 3) How should additional spaces be funded if they are desired.”

The Downtown Park Subcommittee was formed in March, following completion of the Connecting William Street Plan, which recommended dense development on city-owned properties downtown.

The committee is working to assess the situation with downtown parks and plans to make a recommendation to the City Council this fall about use of city-owned properties as parks or open space.

The committee is focusing on city-owned properties in the Downtown Development Authority district — while maintaining awareness of additional nearby properties such as Liberty Plaza, where there's already a concrete park at Liberty and Division, and 721 N. Main and 415 W. Washington, where the city wants to develop greenway anchor parks as part of the Allen Creek Greenway.

The committee is planning to hold two public meetings in September to share the online survey results and further engage the community.

"We want to hear from as many people as possible to feel confident we are representing the community desires when we forward our recommendations to City Council in the fall," Ault said.

The committee hopes each person who participates will forward the survey to at least one other person. For more information on Ann Arbor parks, visit www.a2gov.org/parks.

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.

University of Michigan student group to host forum and vigil on race Tuesday in response to Zimmerman verdict

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The University of Michigan Black Student Union is holding a forum on race and a candlelight vigil on Tuesday evening in response to racial tensions sparked by the trial of George Zimmerman.

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A crowd of University of Michigan students gathered on the Diag in March 2012 in support of Trayvon Martin.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com file photo

The forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the Michigan Union and will be followed by a vigil.

"[Students are] keenly aware of the racial divide brought upon by the killing and subsequent verdict reached by the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case," a press release from the Black Student Union reads.

On Saturday, Zimmerman, who identifies as Hispanic, was found not guilty of second-degree murder. He fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a black teenager, in February 2012 while patrolling for the neighborhood watch in a Florida gated community. Zimmerman contended that Martin posed a threat, although it was discovered Martin did not possess a weapon when he was shot.

The Associated Press reported that vigils were planned for more than 100 cities across the country.

Martin's killing and Zimmerman's subsequent trial sparked a national debate on race.

"It is our hope that once individuals are allowed to exercise their fundamental freedom of expression, that at the end of the day we can bridge the gap and remain united as a student body.” Arnold Reed, a student leader of the Black Student Union, said in the release.

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

University of Michigan hospitals maintain top position in U.S. News & World Report ranking

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Newly released U.S. News & World Report rankings have named the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers as offering the best hospital care in the state for the second year in a row, officials said Tuesday.

U-M also tops the list for best hospitals in metro Detroit -- the third year it has held that title in the U.S. News & World Report ranking.

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The exterior of the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.

AnnArbor.com file photo

The top five hospitals in Michigan according to the 2013-14 U.S. News Best Hospitals ranking are:

  1. U-M Hospitals and Health Centers
  2. Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak (#2 in metro Detroit)
  3. Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids
  4. Harper University Hospital in Detroit(#3 in metro Detroit)
  5. Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit

This is the second year Michigan rankings of 178 hospitals have been available.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital rose in its ranking from last year: It is now the ninth-best hospital in metro Detroit for patient care -- up from 12th last year -- and the 11th-best hospital in the state -- up from 16th last year.

Nationally, U-M continues to be ranked among top institutions for the specialty care it provides. Three percent of the total 4,806 facilities surveyed by U.S. News earn such a national ranking.

Out of 16 specialty care evaluated by the ranking system, U-M landed a top-tier designation in 12 specialty areas -- including four in which it was listed in the top 20 in the country: Ear, nose and throat (No. 14); opthamology (No. 11); rheumatology (No. 15) and urology (No. 14). Last year U-M was in the top 20 for seven specialty care areas.

U-M's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital also received high marks in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Most notably, Mott was named the sixth-best hospital in the country for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery.

About 83 percent of patients would recommend U-M hospital care to friends and family, while 2 percent answered "probably or definitely not."

The response is similar to what patients at St. Joe's reported to U.S. News: 82 percent of patients said they'd recommend St. Joe's to friends and family, while 2 percent said they wouldn't recommend it.

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


Morgan and York offers a taste of Spanish-style bocatas and Andalusian gazpacho

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I understand that in Spain people don't eat to live, they live to eat — pretty much around the clock until they turn in for sleep around 3 or 4 in the morning. In fact, La Merienda is the name they give to their mid-afternoon sustenance between lunch and the 9 p.m. dinner hour. If you go to Spain to live like a Spaniard, you may be tired, but who cares with a bocadillo or a bowl of gazpacho by your side 24/7?

If a trip overseas is not in the cards you can still get a small taste of Spain if you stop by Morgan and York the "fine wines and specialty foods" store turned "bocateria" with delicious Spanish-inspired bocata sandwiches and Andalusian gazpacho.

It makes sense that if you've got a line on Cafe Japon's great baguettes, a deli counter with amazing cheeses and charcuterie from excellent purveyors, along with condiments like piquillo peppers and Italian mostardas, that you might get the idea to put them all together.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Morgan and York
1928 Packard, Ann Arbor, MI
734.662.0798
http://morganandyork.com
  • Hours: Mon-Sat: 7:30am (for coffee), 9:00am for everything else. Until 9:00pm. Sun: 10:00am - 4:00pm.
  • Plastic: All
  • Liquor: Although they sell beer, wine and spirits, you cannot purchase to drink on the premises.
  • Prices: Moderate. Sandwiches are $9-$13
  • Noise level:Moderate
  • Wheelchair access:Yes
Indeed, says co-owner Tommy York, the motivation to go into sandwich production arose because "many of the foods we sell are foreign to folks. We needed to get the delicious food we sell into peoples' mouths, and it seems that they will try anything on a pizza or in a sandwich! Americans trust sandwiches and we had all the fixins, so we took the sandwich route."

So why the "bocata" incarnation of the sandwich? York explains "We choose bocatas because nobody in the Ann Arbor area was making them…Jamon and butter is the first sandwich you will encounter when you arrive by plane to Barcelona, Spain. It is simple and delicious, and I fell in love with it on my honeymoon 22 years ago."

York says that at the store, the dry cured jamon serrano sandwich with Calder butter is their most popular bocata option, closely followed by the Caprese with tomatoes, pesto, and house-made mozzarella.

Tasting them makes it easy to see why they are popular. Thin slices of the dry, salty and slightly barnyard-y jamon serrano make the thick layer of butter on the chewy baguette taste extra sweet. As for the Caprese, the generous rounds of mozzarella were top notch, and the pesto was perfectly good. Out of season tomatoes were the weakest link when I tried this sandwich several weeks ago, but with ripe heirloom tomatoes it would shoot right to the top of my list. The classic simplicity and quality of these bocatas in particular reminded me of what you would find in Europe, with nothing hiding the distinct taste of each fine element.

The more complex Alsatian Reuben with garlic sausage, Swiss Emmental, and The Brinery's sauerkraut seemed to stretch the concept of "bocata," but was a Teutonic fusion that totally works.

Likewise, the meatloaf and mostarda bocata with a rustic country-style pate, arugula and sweet and spicy apricot mustard was probably not on many Spanish menus but tasted like what would happen if your mom's meatloaf sandwich went to university and came home from a study-abroad program. The spicy hot Cajun-style Tasso ham with the Brinery's Storm Cloud Zapper pickled beets was another study of cross-cultural genius made possible by the sandwich.

Among the only sandwiches that I probably wouldn't hurry to order again were the bresaola artichoke and fontina, because even though the description of "air-dried beef" and "long-stemmed Violetta artichokes" sounded amazing, the flavors were too muddled for me. I would also hold off on the cheesy ones — the comte and tomato and the gloucester and chutney. And not because they weren't good, but because of the distraction; it was hard to taste the flavor of the cheese with all the bread and condiments.

And speaking of cheese, it was Morgan and York's new single-serving cheese plates that gave me the idea to do a review of their prepared food options in the first place. It's a great idea to offer individual tastings of cheeses and charcuterie — also available for take-out or paired with their free Saturday and Thursday wine tastings.

However, I was a little disappointed. The cheeses, including small samples of Roquefort, Comte, Ulivio and Brie, were some of the more pedestrian examples from their cheese cave, in my opinion. They were served cold, no substitutions are allowed, and the portion was pretty tiny for the $10 price tag. I hope they might consider fixing those things because being able to have an in-store sampling of their cheeses and accompaniments is a great idea - especially with the wine tastings.

Their pumpkin-orange Andalusian gazpacho has a creamy color that I suspect comes from the traditional inclusion of soaked bread. The first time we ordered it had a seriously mouth-puckering vinegar punch that was almost too much for me, who used to beg my mother to let me drink the pickle juice when I was little. And my husband (who is admittedly a vinegar-phobe) said it was over the top for him.

However, on a second try the vinegar had been tamed, the texture was silky smooth and the flavor of garlic, cucumber, and tomato was appealing complimented by a garnish of tiny cubes of crunchy sweet green apple. Tommy York says their secret is using the traditional family recipe of a Spanish friend which is "real gazpacho, not Mexican salsa." He says "there is a whole lot of delicious olive oil in that recipe.. that is the other secret."

With the excellent Sweet Gem chocolate shop housed inside and slowly gentrifying environs on south Packard, the "Cheese, cheese, cheese" shop has been considerably spiffed up since its days as the Big 10 Party Store. There are now pendant lights and little tables and stools scattered around for seating amongst the wine bottles, cooler cases and specialty foods. You can linger with your laptop over pastry with coffee, or stop by for a soup and sandwich lunch. Tommy York says that in January they'll be installing a full commercial kitchen and are currently gathering ideas for how they'll expand the menu.

The number of restaurant options in the southeast Packard neighborhood is limited, so ordering some bocata sandwiches and gazpacho is a great way to have a tasty lunch in-house, or on the patio for La Merienda. I'm guessing it could only be better if you happened to pick up a chilled bottle of wine, and took a cue from the French for a little dejeuner sur l'herbe.

Kim Bayer is a freelance writer and culinary researcher. Email her at kimbayer at gmail dot com.

Ex-Ragbird Adam Labeaux offers safe haven from Art Fairs Friday at Crazy Wisdom

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Multi-instrumentalist Adam Labeaux will bring his heartland-soul sound to Crazy Wisdom Tea Room Friday night for a free show.

Michigan born, Labeaux’s music draws from a wide array of interests and influences, juxtaposing folk, soul, country, funk, jazz and rock in his songs about love, loss, sexuality, longing and hope.

Folks may recall the weekly open mic Labeaux hosted in Ypsilanti with the Dan Arbor Band (which would later evolve into Back Forty). He went on to become founding guitarist for the local, world-beat-influenced group The Ragbirds, and is now working as a solo performer and recording artist.

If you need a break from all the Art Fairs madness, than Labeaux promises to be the perfect diversion. You’re on your own for parking, though.

Adam Labeaux plays at Crazy Wisdom Tea Room, 114 S. Main St., at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 19. Admission is free. Details at www.crazywisdom.net or 734-665-2757.

Ann Arbor police investigating Friday robbery at Subway restaurant

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A man took cash from an register at the Subway on West Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor Friday evening and then fled on foot, police said.

Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said the robbery occurred between 6 p.m. and 6:19 p.m. Friday at the Subway, 2410 W. Stadium Blvd. Bush said the man entered the business, reached over the counter and stole cash from the open register.

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The man then fled the Subway and headed east toward Collingwood Drive. Ann Arbor police used a dog to track the suspect, but Bush said it appeared he eventually got into a vehicle and drove away.

The man implied he had a weapon during the robbery, but no one saw one, she said.

The man is described as black, in his 30s to early 40s, with hair cut close to his head. He's 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and was wearing a T-shirt, cargo pants and tennis shoes, Bush said. He was last seen on foot heading toward Collingwood.

The description of the man does not match the description of a suspect in three other robberies that occurred earlier this year in Ann Arbor, including one at the Biggby coffee shop on Stadium Boulevard.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).


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Reports: Michigan to play in high school football All-Star game against Ohio

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The West All-Stars take to the field in the East-West All-Star football game June 23 at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale.

Mark Copier | MLive.com file photo

The state’s top senior high school football players will soon be able to test their talents against the best competition from across the border.

Michigan and Ohio will face off in the inaugural Ohio-Michigan Border Classic on June 14, 2014, both states coaches associations have announced.

The game, to be held in Findlay, Ohio, and will pit each state’s top 40 seniors against one another. Each team will be selected by a five-person coaching staff.

The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association has previously sponsored an East vs. West All-Star game in June, held this year at Grand Valley State. That game will likely be ending with the formation of the Michigan-Ohio All-Star game, according to The O-Zone.

“We want to increase our range of communications and visibility as a state and promote our kids as much as possible and this move allows us to do that,” MHSFCA All-Star Game chairman Jim Sparks told MIPrepZone.

Tyler Palka of Saline, Michael Steinhauer of Chelsea and Tyree Waller of Lincoln participated in this year’s East vs. West game.

Ohio had previously played an annual All-Star game against Pennsylvania, before Pennsylvania stopped participating after this year. Ohio had won for four years in a row.

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com.

2013 Ann Arbor Art Fair facts: parking, hours, map and more

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Full coverage of the Ann Arbor Art Fair

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Artist Angela Mia De La Vega cleans off her sculpture of a girl at inside her booth at the 2012 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

The Ann Arbor Art Fair is actually four fairs, but one big event:

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is located in the streets surrounding Burton Carillon Tower at North University and East Washington connected by Ingalls Mall.

The State Street Area Art Fair is located on State Street, North University, East Liberty, Maynard and William.

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair has two locations, on Main Street and Liberty plus on State Street (from William to Madison).

Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair fills out the entire South University Avenue area and extends to State Street.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 through Friday, July 19; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. For visitor information call 1-800-888-9487 or visit TheAnnArborArtFair.com.

Traveling to the fair by shuttle: Air-conditioned park-and-ride shuttles run from four different locations. Shuttle service hours are Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shuttles run every 10-15 minutes.

This year's new, north side shuttle stop at Huron High School, 2727 Fuller Rd., offers 2 different drop-off points: Fletcher and Washington, or South University and Forest. Parking is free, and the round-trip cost is $3. Children 5 and younger ride free.

The Trinity Westside Art Fair Park & Ride Shuttle will pick up passengers from The Maple Village Shopping Center (155 N. Maple Road) at Jackson and Maple Roads, just off M-14. Parking is free, and the round-trip cost is $3. Children 5 and younger ride free. The shuttle stops at Washington and Main, and at Washington and State.

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority's TheRide will continue to pick up passengers from Pioneer High School, at 601 W. Stadium Blvd., and Briarwood Mall (near Sears) on State and Eisenhower. Parking is free, and the shuttle fare is $3 round trip, or $1.50 one-way for adults; $.75 one-way for students and AATA Fare Deal cardholders; and seniors, A-Ride cardholders and children 5 and younger ride free. The Main Street route will drop riders off in downtown Ann Arbor, at Main and William, while the South University route will drop off passengers near State St. Buses return to both parking locations from either shuttle bus stop.

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Artist Molly Barnes polishes her glass works at her boot in the 2012 Ann Arbor Street Art Fair.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

Parking and traffic: If the shuttle isn't your thing, know that you're facing lots of congestion and slow traffic. Check out conditions online using the Google traffic map for Ann Arbor.

Many downtown streets will be closed, including Main Street; see the PDF map linked to below (all blocks shown in color will be closed). Closures start Tuesday morning for setup.

City parking structures, which often fill quickly, will have all-day rates, and U-M parking decks will have evening and weekend parking. (Visitors may also try the library lot, with entrances on S. Division and Fifth Ave., which is open for business during Art Fair.) Rates are $12 per day, $6 after 5 p.m. Of course, organizations and private entrepreneurs will offer parking throughout the central city at varying rates; in general, the closer you are, the more you'll pay.

Special parking hints: The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has a system for keeping track of available parking spaces in all the downtown parking structures. Use it online or by phone at 734-761-9477. You may also reserve an all-day parking spot in one of the downtown Republic Parking structures in advance via the Park n Party website.

Bus detours: Regular Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus schedules will be affected by the fairs. Full details on the AATA website.

The coolest way to fair-hop: Renovated, air-conditioned A2 Art Trolleys will travel a loop between all four art fairs (with 8 stops) and run from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Trolley rides cost $1 per person per day (riders will get wristbands).

Wheelchairs/walkers:Wright & Filippis will provide wheelchairs on Main at William or State Street at Madison. For complete information, or to make a reservation, call 734-975-6800. University of Michigan Health System's Home Care Services will also provide wheelchairs. For info, call 734-975-3077 or send a message to wsiembor@umich.edu.

Weather: The Ann Arbor Art Fair is known for heat and, often, a nasty thunderstorm or two. Keep on top of conditions and forecasts with the AnnArbor.com weather page.

Art Fair app: A free iPhone application is available via Apple’s iTunes store. It was developed by Southfield-based jacAPPS and includes an interactive map of the fair (with geo-location, so users can see their current location in relationship to specific artists), with information about local businesses; AAAF events; the trolley; food; information booths; music stages; parking; and a comprehensive list of artists, with sample images of their work.

Food and drink: A variety of food options are available at the fairs' food courts, located on Liberty Street west of Main; on Ingalls Mall outside the Michigan League; and at the Michigan Union, South State Street at South University Avenue.

The Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., will be open from noon-8 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and noon-6 p.m. on Saturday for fairgoers looking for a cool seat and a bite to eat. Grilled bratwurst and hot dogs, signature Michigan Theater popcorn, soft drinks, and bottled water will be available for purchase, as well as beer and wine for customers with valid ID (no membership needed). Guests can choose to enjoy their snacks at tables in the air-conditioned Grand Foyer or on patio seating in front of the theater.

In addition, many restaurants will be serving outside their establishments.

For the kids: The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original will host the Art Activity Zone, with hands-on projects for adults and children, on Ingalls Mall off Washington St. between Thayer and Fletcher, Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Other Activities: Safari Adventures will be on-site at the Kalahari Resorts booth on State Street at South University for wildlife visits on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Cooling off: Kalahari Resorts and Conventions presents a misting station, on State St. at South University, highlighting water features found in Africa and translated at the Kalahari Resorts and Convention Centers in Sandusky. Stop by, cool down and view the beautiful display.

Test drive: Stop by the Chrysler display on Church St. to test drive a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500, Dodge Dart, Chrysler 300S, or Fiat 500L. Test drive the RAM 1500 and you can ‘Listen and Win’ some great prizes.

Entertainment schedules: There are three full-blown stages for live entertainment: The Fountain Stage located at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, at Ingalls Mall; Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair will host the 107.1 Main Stage, at Church and Willard streets; and the The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair’s iSPY Magazine performance stage will be on Liberty, between Main and Ashley. Full schedules available in a separate article.

Art-in-the-making: Artist demonstrations take place at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair in a tent under the big oaks on North University; and more demonstrations take place at Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair, Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and the State Street Area Art Fair. And look for the emerging artists areas in the South University Art Fair and the "New Art, New Artists" tent at the Street Art Fair, The Original, plus the Arts League of Michigan, an artist mentorship program, on State Street in the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

Ann Arbor Art Fair map and guide to download: Download the official Art Fair map here: A2artfairmap2013.pdf

Dowload the full Art Fair guide listing all artists at the Ann Arbor Area CVB website.

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