This was a rough news week with the flash flooding in Texas that swept away so many young people as they were out enjoying their summers. The whole thing is just so sudden and horrific; I spent so many of the summers of my youth at camps just like that one, never even considering that such dangers could lurk in the same waters that brought us such joy and adventure.

Closer to home, unfortunately, we have an item this week – the drowning death of a local eighteen-year-old in Lake Michigan – that is also incredibly tragic. In both cases, we should all be reminded how important it is to be careful and alert regardless of our swimming aptitude and even in and around what seem like calm, familiar rivers and lakes.

Your news is here. Jazz Parks gets high marks, that desolate stretch of N. Main St. north gets some much-needed attention, scammers try to trick elderly mall walkers as well as Art Fair participants, and council steps up to fill gaps created by Trump cuts.

– Steve Friess, editor
…with help from Anna McLean 

U-M epidemiologist’s NIH grant application goes missing: Belinda Needham was told in October that her funding request would be considered at an upcoming meeting, but that meeting was canceled after President Trump took office in January, the Chronicle of Higher Education writes (free w/registration). Needham’s is one of more than three dozen applications that have “quietly disappeared” from the NIH’s online grants portal, the publication reports. The administration has also “terminated more than 1,300 grants and delayed payments for more than a thousand others. Needham, who teaches in the School of Public Health, suspects hers was singled out because she wants to study how teens’ exposure to structural racism impacts their heart health later in life. Trump and his appointees deny structural racism exists and oppose studies about it. Needham has applied to join ACLU litigation seeking to ensure that “proposals are reviewed fairly, without political interference.”

A2 taps city funds to replace some of lost $1M EPA grant: The money, awarded last year, was intended to expand the city’s solar-powered resilience centers, but the Trump administration rescinded it in April, according to city records. While the city is challenging the revocation, council moved this week to mitigate the impact by spending $430,000 to upgrade operations at the Peace Neighborhood Center and Green Baxter Court Community Center. 

Prof proposes personalized prenatal care plans amid maternity-care crisis: A dearth in OB-GYNs that makes it difficult for some women to get to doctors is prompting the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to recommend allowing more telehealth visits for low-risk pregnancies, ClickOnDetroit reports. U-M physician Alex Peahl, a co-author of the ACOG plan, says that this would expand access to care while enabling practitioners to focus in-person visits on higher-risk situations.

Council OK’s $600K study to reimagine N. Main St.: The firm, Transportation Engineering Design, will consider ways to improve the crash-prone section of the state-controlled corridor, MLive reports (paywall). Engineers will be expected to offer as many as three redesign concepts to improve safety by next June.

$50K sought for N. Main train overpass mural: Council this week approved a plan by TreeTown Murals to paint the WATCO trestle near Depot St., according to city records. The project will cost $150,000 but TreeTown Murals managing partner tells a2view that they’ve already raised $100,000 and will launch a crowdfunding effort in coming weeks for the rest. TreeTown, which also painted the flowery “welcome” mural on the trestle over W. Huron St., is still working out the design for the blighted overpass and its wing walls and hopes to start painting later this summer. For more information on how to contribute, email Thiefels.

Locals bash plan to replace nightclub, bar with high-rise: Developer Ryan Talbot, who wants to build a ten-story, 280-unit apartment complex on a site that includes the building at First and Huron streets now home to Live and Last Word, faced a rancorous audience at a public meeting this week, MLive reports (paywall). Talbot said both businesses would likely be relocated and that the bar could become a rooftop cocktail lounge in the new building. Several attendees nonetheless complained about the loss of favorite local haunts amid the relentless drive to build vertically in Ann Arbor.

County commission OK’s $11M senior services plan: Funded by a millage voters approved last year, the new Office of Aging Services will oversee programs that include nutrition assistance, transportation, housing support, and senior center funding, WEMU reports. Ten senior centers across the county will each receive $200,000 annually. In May, the board also allocated $600,000 for one-time funding for food and housing services to make up for federal cuts in those areas.

New community center near Depot Town approved: The HighScope Community Learning and Resource Center will convert part of Ypsi’s long-vacant Forest Avenue Baptist Church into classrooms and office spaces for local non-profits, WEMU reports. HighScope president Alejandra Barraza says future phases will include “installing green energy systems and an auditorium,” pending council approval.

Jazz Parks rated “effective” in first review as AAPS superintendent: Parks stepped into the role amid a $25 million budget shortfall, a depleted fund balance, and staff layoffs, MLive reports (paywall). For her first evaluation, she was rated 2.883 out of 3, and board president Torchio Feaster says he “felt very good about the fact that she’s stewarded us through a difficult time.” Parks, who became interim superintendent in November 2023 and was appointed permanently in March 2024, has helped stabilize district finances, rehired laid-off teachers, and overseen the launch of new school construction projects funded by a $1 billion voter-approved bond. Feaster says Parks has room to improve but the board is “thankful and proud of the work she’s done so far.”

U-M seeks input in launch of presidential search: In an email to members of the university community, the regents invited the public to weigh in on the search via this questionnaire for those with university logins or by sending email or nominations to this address for the search firm, Spencer Stuart. This is a different firm than the one that led to the hire of now-former president Santa Ono, who served less than three years and left abruptly in May to pursue a failed bid for the presidency of the University of Florida.

LSA alum lands deal with Mark Cuban on “Shark Tank”: Julia Dixon, who graduated in 2018, secured a $250,000 investment deal for her startup ESAI, an AI-powered platform that helps students navigate the college admissions process, according to a U-M media release. Her pitch of an “ethical AI” tool that helps students build a personal brand drew an offer from the former Dallas Mavericks owner, whose investment will give him a 5 percent equity stake. ESAI, with more than 550,000 users and a viral TikTok presence, partners with schools and nonprofits to assist students who can’t afford expensive college-admissions consultants.

$4M lottery ticket sold in Dixboro: The winning $30 scratcher was one of three purchased by a fifty-year-old Wayne County man at Superior Market at 5700 Plymouth Rd., WXYZ reports. He chose to remain anonymous and to accept $2.7 million as a lump-sum payout. He said through the Michigan Lottery that he plans to pay off his home and travel with his new fortune. 

Local teen drowns in Lake Michigan: Eighteen-year-old Xavier Randolph of Ann Arbor Twp. was found dead in the water between Saugatuck and Holland on Tuesday following a four-hour search, WWMT reports. Authorities say Randolph, who attended Washtenaw Christian Academy in Saline, was swimming off a boat and without a life preserver when he went missing. A family friend, who has launched a “food train” to support his family, writes on Facebook, “Xavier was one of the nicest young men I’ve ever known.”

Ypsi motorcyclist killed in I-696 crash in Royal Oak: Troopers say the twenty-year-old man died Saturday after hitting a BMW that had been disabled in an earlier crash and left in a construction zone, CBS News reports. The BMW driver, a thirty-year-old Clio woman, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in the earlier accident.

Man who dumped body charged with human trafficking: Fareed Hajjar, fifty-seven, of Dearborn is accused by Wayne County prosecutors of driving forty-two-year-old Brazilian woman Suzan Ferreira to a Novi hotel to engage in sexual acts for payment on June 22, 2024, CBS Detroit reports. Ferreira’s body was found in a rural culvert along Earhart Blvd. in Northfield Twp. eight days later. In January, Hajjar pleaded guilty to concealing her death and was given a two-year suspended sentence and 150 hours of community service in March, according to MLive. Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the new charges this week, and said the investigation into Ferreira’s death continues. 

Nineteen-year-old fireworks shooting suspect arrested: Alphonso Cooper Jr. of Romulus was apprehended at a Washtenaw County home on Monday after allegedly openly firing near Detroit’s Ford Fireworks show on June 23, ClickOnDetroit reports. A seventeen-year-old Romulus boy and a twenty-two-year-old woman were hit by bullets amid a dispute between Cooper and the boy over $200, police say.

Lawsuit over mold at women’s prison to proceed: Federal judge Stephen Murphy ruled the Michigan Department of Corrections does not have qualified immunity from being sued after inmates at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Pittsfield Twp. became ill from toxic mold, the Michigan Advance reports. MDOC had sought to throw out the case, arguing that it responded reasonably to complaints of mold through “ameliorative efforts.” The plaintiffs said that inmates were given inadequate cleaning supplies, forcing some to clean cells and floors with menstrual pads or their fingernails. 

Packard-Platt speed trap yields thirty-four stops in ninety minutes: A concerted effort last week by police to curb dangerous driving in the southeast area was part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries that result from crashes, according to an AAPD post on Facebook. Packard from Fifth Ave. to Turnberry Dr. is one of three corridors chosen for stepped-up enforcement due to high rates of injuries and fatalities. AAPD said the aim of the enforcement “wasn’t to write tickets,” but it’s unclear whether stopped motorists were ticketed or received warnings. AAPD was also busy over the holiday weekend issuing forty-two parking tickets and having twelve cars towed near the popular Argo Cascade, MLive reports (paywall).

Elderly mall patrons pressured into costly purchases: The adult children of alleged victims tell Dave Algase in this month’s Observer that their parents were coerced with high-pressure sales tactics to purchase wildly overpriced skin care products and devices at a Briarwood business called Beauty Essentials. One man said his father, an Ann Arborite with dementia and sciatica, was repeatedly lured into the store while walking in the mall for exercise between mid-December and mid-February and charged more than $42,000. Beauty Essentials was part of a long-standing, shadowy network operating similarly under various names throughout the U.S. and beyond, with many complaints online. Briarwood declined to comment through a public relations firm specializing in crisis management. The store shut down in April.

Scammers target artists ahead of Art Fair: Fraudsters posing as organizers or third-party vendors have been soliciting money and personal information from participants via social media, WXYZ reports. Longtime street performer Mark Braun says that he contacted Angela Klein, executive director of the Original fair, after receiving a suspicious email, and she confirmed a spike in scam attempts. Klein says the fair does not use third-party vendors and would never message artists from unofficial accounts. Artists are urged to verify any outreach before engaging.

Sushi slip-up at Taste of Ann Arbor: Tabe, the new upscale Asian fusion restaurant on S. Main, set up a sampling table on the street during the June 1 event without realizing it needed to register in advance with the sponsoring Main Street Area Association, Tabi Walters writes in this month’s Observer. After a sidewalk negotiation with MSAA officials, Tabe relocated to the sidewalk outside its front door. Manager Mike Yu said that the team is excited to participate in future festivals – with permits next time. 

Ypsi parade features 100-year-old “Rosie”: The grand marshal of the state’s oldest Fourth of July parade was Delphine Klaput, one of thousands of women who staffed factories and offices where the machinery of World War II was built, according to WEMU. Klaput, who worked in a factory in Maryland, led a procession of Ypsilanti Community Rosie Brigade marchers dressed in the workers’ iconic blue coveralls and red polka dot headscarf. Kaput, according to a biography provided by Michigan Rosies, moved to Royal Oak in 1952 and has lived with her daughter in Ypsi since her husband’s death in 2021.

Nuuyuu Collective replaces 16 Hands at Kerrytown: Mackenzie Schuch, who opened the consignment shop in 2024, needs the larger space because the twenty booths she has are usually rented, she tells Dave Algase in this month’s Observer.  Meanwhile, The Kitchen Loft is opening a sister store in Schuch’s former berth near its existing storefront. Owner Gretchen Gill Woods says The Knife Spot will also have space to host classes and cooking demonstrations.

Historic Manchester Mill reborn as event space: The River Raisin mill, which dates back to the 1800s, was restored by Dawn Donnelly and her husband, Ken Magee, and is now accepting tours and bookings, the Sun Times News reports. The space, now known as Manchester Mill on the Water, features exposed stone walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a spiral staircase in the upstairs bridal suite, Donnelly says.

White Lotus Farms to open café, bakery: The Zeeb Rd. store, which combines the former sites of Mancino’s Pizza and Grinders and HOTWORX fitness studio, also will feature farm-grown produce, handmade cheeses, and botanical skincare products, MLive reports (paywall). Managers of the farm, which supports the Tsogyelgar Buddhist community, hope the Scio Twp. shop gives customers a year-round option closer to town to buy their goods, especially during winter. It is expected to open in August. 

CAN Back to School Drive begins: The Community Action Network has launched its annual effort to collect bookbags, crayons, folders, binders, and other supplies with the creation of its Amazon registry. The public can also drop off materials and donations of new merchandise by Aug. 15 at the CAN office at 809 Taylor St. Other items sought include loose-leaf paper, rulers, scissors, and erasers. CAN stuffs the backpacks with supplies and distributes them to families across the county.

Volunteers sought for Frog Island Park cleanup: The effort, overseen by the city of Ypsilanti, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon July 19, according to an online posting. Helpers will pick up litter and do some park maintenance. Registration is not required but is available here.

Foundation offers driver’s ed to underserved students: Three Pioneer High moms launched Drive Forward, a program that aims to offer thirty-six Pioneer students free courses in the upcoming school year, Shelley Daily writes in this month’s Observer. The initiative began after Dani Jones, the Observer’s media director, learned her son’s friend couldn’t afford the $700 for driver’s training. Jones, Kristy Kaiser, and Alison Petersen formed the nonprofit and secured $10,000 to start, with a goal of raising as much as $40,000 for this year’s pilot project. To help out or get more information, email [email protected].

By Jennifer Taylor

Friday: Catch Celtic music and dance by visiting and local performers, take part in kids activities, stock up on traditional craft items, and grab food and beer at the two-day Michigan Celtic Festival. If you go on Saturday, you can catch the corgi races starting at 2 p.m. (sorry, no other pets allowed). 5 to 11:30 p.m. (Fri.) and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat.), Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. Fri. $8 (kids age 17 and under, free) at the gate only. Sat. $18 at gate, $15 in advance ($10 at gate, $8 in advance for seniors over 65, $5 for ages 6-17, free for kids under 6, first responders and active military.)

Saturday: Enjoy a family night out at Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy’s Full Moon Campfire and Bat Count, the group’s annual survey of big brown bats as they emerge from their daytime resting place to hunt insects. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray, and snacks; locally cut firewood appreciated. Campfire lighting at dusk. No pets. 8 to 11 p.m., Conservancy Farm, 8383 Vreeland, Superior Twp. Free, donations welcome. Contact [email protected] or (734) 484–6565 for more information. 

Sunday: Watch teams from across the country compete in the 2025 RowFest National Championships, one of the country’s largest flatwater rowing events. Rowers in multiple age categories compete in more than 350 sprints, relay races, and other events on EMU’s newly upgraded Ford Lake rowing course. July 12 to 20, various times, Ford Lake Park beach, 9075 S. Huron River Dr., Ypsi. Free.

See the Observer’s online calendar for many more local events. 

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