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It’s been a rich, full summer for my daughter. Through Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, she went to Birthday Camp, Halloween Camp, Kitchen Camp, Dance Camp, and Alphabet Camp. We’ve been to festivals, parades, and a county fair. We even flew to Arizona to see my nephew and his family and swam in a raging creek in Sedona.
So what is the first thing Claire tells everyone about her recent adventures? “In ‘Zona, they have a green ‘Donald’s.”
That’s it. That’s the highlight. Sedona has a McD’s with teal arches. Atlas Obscura explains why. Apparently, nothing quite compares in the mind of a three-year-old!
Here’s hoping you had a lovely summer because around here it officially ends not with Labor Day or the vernal equinox but the Return of the Students – and the U-Hauls are already in evidence. Then again, all that high-rise construction made the traffic and parking situations downtown not that different from during the academic year, didn’t it?
Your news is here. Washtenaw Christian Academy has seen stunning growth thanks to the pandemic’s public school closures, median home prices are up, the birth rate is down, another U-M spinout company is a unicorn, and the menu at the Big House keeps getting fancier.
This is last week’s most-clicked link.
– Steve Friess, editor
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Ann Arbor-based HistoSonics, a U-M startup that sells noninvasive cancer treatment technology, announced last week that it was acquired by a consortium of investors in a deal that values the company at $2.25 billion. It follows Duo Security and Llamasoft as A2-founded businesses that became “unicorns,” or companies valued at more than $1 billion. Courtesy: HistoSonics.
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City asks consultants for new comprehensive plan draft: Council voted 8-2 last week to add $83,300 to the contract with Interface Studios so the firm can work up “an additional iteration” of the vision for a long-term land-use overhaul amid controversy from residents over its push for increased density, according to city records. That will bring the total contract cost to $883,990. Initially, the city hoped to have the new plan in place by November, then the end of the year, but even that is looking increasingly unlikely.
15,000 locals may lose health coverage under Trump law: That includes some 3,000 residents who could lose coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace next year and another at least 8,000 who may be cut off of Medicaid under its new work requirement, MLive reports. The projects come from Washtenaw Health Project executive director Jeremy Lapedis, who urged the county commission last week to “marshal the resources and the effort” to help the impacted families.
Birth rate drops, infant mortality rises: A new report from the Washtenaw County Health Department, based on data from 2017 to 2022, finds the number of live births plummeted in 2020, the first year of the Covid pandemic, and has not recovered. The 3,270 births in 2022 were 23 percent fewer than in 2003. Infant mortality rose from 4.6 to 5.7 per 1,000 births between 2011-13 and 2020-22, driven by more deaths among Black babies. While the mortality rate for White infants fell slightly, from 4.2 to 3.6, the rate for Black infants increased from 8.3 to 12.6.
Median home prices up 6.5 percent in Washtenaw County: That’s good for No. 13 of the state’s eighty-three counties year-over-year for the year ending in June, MLive reports. The 3,739 houses that sold averaged $407,374, the fifth highest mean in the state behind Leelanau, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Grand Traverse counties. Alger County in the U.P. saw the biggest percentage jump of 29.5 percent – to an average price of $239,500 – followed by Emmet, which was up 25 percent to $459,000.
County prosecutor eyes AG post: Democrat Eli Savit, re-elected last year without opposition, is in the race to replace term-limited Dana Nessel as the state’s top law enforcement officer next year, Eve Silberman writes in this month’s Observer. The forty-two-year-old Ann Arbor native and U-M Law alum sees the job of state attorney general as a key line of defense against President Trump’s aggressive attacks on progressive policies and touts endorsements from mayor Christopher Taylor and county clerk Larry Kestenbaum. His big challenge is increasing his name recognition across the state as he faces off with former gubernatorial candidate Mark Totten of Kalamazoo and Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald for the Democratic nomination.
U-M cancer-treatment startup valued at $2.25B in acquisition: A group of investors that include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Bezos Expeditions bought a majority stake in HistoSonics, which offers noninvasive tumor therapy technology approved in 2023 by the FDA, according to a press release. The sound wave treatment was developed at U-M in the College of Engineering and Michigan Medicine by a team led by professors the late Charles Cain, Zhen Xu, Timothy Hall, Jonathan Sukovich, J. Brian Fowlkes, and William Woodruff Roberts, the University Record writes.
Students are back en masse next week: Dorm move-in days start Monday, when more than 8,000 U-M undergrads are expected to arrive, the Record reports. To accommodate them, most parking meters in the area will be reserved for families with move-in unloading permits. Also, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Aug. 24, Thompson St. will be one-way southbound from Jefferson to Packard streets, E. Madison St. will be one-way eastbound from Thompson to State, E. Ann St. will be one-way eastbound from Zina Pitcher to Observatory streets, and Observatory will be one-way southbound from E. Ann to Geddes. In addition, several U-M lots will be converted to move-in only.
Hat enthusiast shows off her collection: Septuagenarian and retired IT specialist Diane Hall’s living room is overwhelmed by towers of boxes of all sorts of headwear, Cynthia Furlong Reynolds writes in this month’s Observer. Hall says her interest was sparked by a visit in the 1980s to the late great thrift/antique shop Treasure Mart near Kerrytown, where she bought a hat that “reminded me of playing dress-up with my grandmother’s hats when I was a small girl.” The collection was displayed at the Webster Township Historical Society’s annual tea this year and will be shown again at a meeting of the Dexter Area Historical Society in October.
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Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit, seen here speaking to Ingham County Democrats, is crisscrossing the state to raise his profile as he runs for Michigan attorney general in next year’s election, Eve Silberman writes in this month’s Observer. Courtesy Eli for Michigan.
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Attack survivor temporarily regains custody of dog: Ed Berger, whose partner Susan Hammerton died in a knife attack during a September home invasion, has been battling Hammerton’s daughter Elana James in court over who will keep Isabelle, a golden retriever. James took the dog to her home in Texas in January, but last week complied with a court order to return her to Berger while the case proceeds. Berger and Isabelle also were stabbed in the attack, MLive reports. Berger and Hammerton bought the dog together as a puppy nine years ago, but James argues that she should have custody as executor of Hammerton’s estate.
Graduate Hotel plans rooftop pool, bar: An added fifteenth floor would include a recreation and events space, according to a public notice issued by the city to residents within 500 feet of the E. Huron St. high-rise. The Graduate, formerly known as the Campus Inn, is owned by Hilton. Anyone wishing to weigh in before the hotel submits its petition for design review to the city can email planners Nederveld and architects Hobbs+Black here.
Orlando artist begins painting Liberty Plaza murals: Christian Stanley will adorn the walls with “horizontally flowing, two-dimensional geometric shapes that draw inspiration from park-related activities, the Huron River’s paddle culture, and the wildflowers planted throughout the plaza gardens,” according a social media post from Ann Arbor Art Center. He’s expected to complete the work, paid for by the city and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, by early September.
Mosquitos test positive for West Nile: Washtenaw County is one of several across the state where the virus has been detected this year, ClickOnDetroit reports. In all, forty-four mosquito samples have tested positive, although there’s only been one reported human case, in Livingston County. Experts warn that is likely to change, however, as August and September are peak months for West Nile infection.
Trinity Health suffers A/C outage: The hospital’s cooling system went out overnight on Aug. 10 and did not return until the next morning, MLive reports. Ambulance transports were diverted and elective surgeries were delayed because of the outage.
Religious school, on brink of closure, triples enrollment: Washtenaw Christian Academy in Pittsfield Twp. opens its fiftieth school year with more than 500 students from preK to 12th grade and has moved into 17,000 square feet of previously unfinished second-floor space, MLive reports. That’s a stunning turnaround from eight years ago, when it struggled to draw the 120 students they viewed as a minimum to stay open. Enrollment began growing sharply during the pandemic as parents sought alternatives to the virtual classes offered by public schools, and continued to rise even after Covid receded.
Dexter superintendent in running for state schools chief: Christopher Timmis, who announced he’ll retire at the end of this academic year, is one of seven candidates remaining in the running to replace state superintendent Michael Rice, according to a press release. The seven are due to be interviewed by the state school board on Monday and Tuesday; the board expects to announce finalists the following week and makes its decision on Aug. 26.
Petition drive launched to block $1B data center: Protect Augusta Charter Twp., or PACT, seeks to put a question on the November ballot to reverse the township board’s recent rezoning of 522 acres of farmland to allow for a 810-acre server farm near Milan, according to a social media post. PACT has until Aug. 26 to collect at least 561 valid signatures, equal to 15 percent of the number who voted in the 2022 gubernatorial election, MLive reports.
Wolverines open season ranked No. 14: That’s where U-M football landed in both major surveys, the Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 Poll, Sports Illustrated reports. The team’s outlook improved significantly after landing five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood of Belleville in a “name, image, and likeness” deal valued at $12 million. Ohio State was No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the AP survey; MSU is unranked. Michigan began the 2024 season ranked No. 9 on AP’s survey and No. 8 on the Coaches Poll but faltered early on and fell out the Top 25 by late October, only to end the season with an upset of No. 2-ranked Ohio State in The Game and then No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The season opens on Aug. 30 with a home night game against unranked New Mexico.
Peanuts, Crackerjack, and … cherry bomb chicken meatballs: Another season, another new menu at the Big House to make everyone wonder if Michigan Stadium is, in fact, a gigantic food court that offers a live football game. This year, vendors are adding smoked salmon dip, “Bloody Mary” deviled eggs, chorizo skillet queso fundido, and a wild Michigan mushroom and blackeye pea burger, among others. Sodexo Michigan Athletics senior executive chef tells WXYZ the new offerings reflect feedback from attendees: “One of the big things we got back was we are looking for fresher, we’re looking for more variety, and the ability to have gluten-free options and some lighter options.”
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NFL long snapper Taybor Pepper’s childhood interest in Pokémon was rekindled buying a birthday gift for a neighborhood kid in Dexter. A mutual acquaintance connected him with Pokémon aficionado James Finn (right), and the two have opened the Japanese collectibles shop Ginza Marketplace in Ann Arbor, Dave Algase writes in this month’s Observer. Courtesy: J. Adrian Wylie
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NFL long snapper opens downtown Japanese collectibles shop: Taybor Pepper, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year, is teaming up with Pokémon aficionado Jay Finn to open Ginza Marketplace, a store focused mainly on Japanese trading cards and collectibles, Dave Algase writes in this month’s Observer. Pepper, a Saline High alum and Dexter resident, played 100 pro games for five teams over seven seasons and still hopes to find a new team for the fall. But anticipating his career ending sooner or later, Pepper decided to seek a new venture inspired by travels to Tokyo and an interest in trading cards, anime, manga, and video games. The new shop takes the berth vacated by Your Media Exchange on S. Main St.
Kilwins to close after forty-two years: The ice cream and sweets shop’s lease expires at the end of the year, and owner Chera Tramontin tells MLive she’s not renewing because “the downtown economy is just not good right now.” Kilwins, founded in Petosky, is a national chain owned since 2023 by a private equity firm.
Cookies latest to close amid pot industry retreat: The shop shuts down next month as part of Canada-based TerrAscend’s decision to close all twenty of its dispensaries and four grow facilities in the state, Algase reports in this month’s Observer. That follows recent closures of Arbor Wellness, Leaf & Bud and Misty Mountain Cannabis. Meanwhile, retailer Pure Roots held on to its Ann Arbor location despite closing stores in Battle Creek, Lansing, and Center Line, Crain’s Detroit Business writes (paywall).
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Creature Conservancy marks twenty years with two fundraisers: This Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m., the Lodi Twp. nonprofit hosts “Now and Then,” a look at the exotic-animal refuge’s history since its start when someone abandoned Al the Alligator at an Ann Arbor vet’s office in 2005. Then, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 23, the conservancy hosts Al the Alligator Paint Night, where a local artist will lead attendees in efforts to create their own images of the famed reptile. Tickets for Saturday’s event are $50 and can be purchased here; the Aug. 23 event costs $40 per person and tickets are here. Both programs are restricted to people over age eighteen.
Nine groups share $2.2M from opioid settlement: The county commission this week voted to disperse the funds from its $16.3 million share of the proceeds of a national lawsuit against drugmakers, the Sun Times News reports. Addiction treatment center Dawn Farm gets the most, $351,408. The Shelter Association, Packard Health, Avalon Housing, Prevention@EMU, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital, Therapeutics, Home of New Vision, and the county’s Recovery Court will each receive between $200,000 and $300,000.
New leader takes helm at Shelter Association next month: The homeless assistance nonprofit’s board selected Nicole Adelman, now the substance abuse services director at the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan, to succeed Dan Kelly as executive director, according to a press release. Adelman has had a long local nonprofit career, having served as executive director of the Corner Health Center and Alpha House. She starts Sept. 8.
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By Jennifer Taylor
Friday: Catch an outdoor performance of veteran Detroit composer-pianist Demetrius Nabors and acclaimed Detroit smooth jazz saxophonist Yancy at the John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series. 7 p.m. Ford Lake Park, 9075 S. Huron River Dr., Ypsi. Free (parking, $20 per vehicle). (734) 635–5446.
Saturday: At the Arabian Nights Festival, catch traditional Arabian dance performances by the Thowra Debkeh dance troupe, authentic music on the tabla & the oud, and dancing to music spun by DJ Afrikano. Also, Yumma Jawad signs copies of her Feel Good Foodie Cookbook. Arabian food and crafts for sale. An adult must accompany kids thirteen and under. 5 to 10 p.m., 2|42 Community Center, 648 S. Wagner. $12.51 (children under 5, free) here and (if not sold out) via card at the door.
Sunday: Join Ann Arbor District Library’s Sea Shanty Singalong, where local traditional folk singer Ben Traverse discusses the history of this maritime tradition that enjoyed a popular revival via viral videos during the Covid pandemic. Followed by a sing-along of popular shanties. 1 to 2:30 p.m., AADL Downtown. Free. (734) 327–4200.
See the Observer’s online calendar for many more local events.
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