Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! At the moment, I’m particularly thankful that our readers didn’t get too angry with me for my errors in last week’s introduction. The creek where the beavers have built their dam is Fleming, not Fowler, and it is on the grounds of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, not Nichols Arboretum – Matthaei and the Arb share social media channels but not waterways! My bad and my apologies, but cool that I get to mention the beaver dam again and urge the MBGNA folks to keep making videos.

Anyhow, a shortened week demands a shortened greeting. The news is here for you when you want it, some of it inspiring and some distressing. Take it as you will and have a lovely holiday.

– Steve Friess, editor

Forty arrested in anti-Israel sit-in at U-M administration building: The arrests came after a demonstration on the Diag organized by Students Allied for Freedom and Equality on Friday calling for Michigan to divest from companies associated with the Israeli military morphed into a takeover of the Ruthven Building, the Michigan Daily writes.  Some protesters occupied the building for five hours before they were forcibly removed. On Saturday, SAFE and fifty-three other U-M student groups posted a statement on Instagram chastising president Santa Ono for not meeting with the demonstrators.

Dingell “rattled” by pro-Palestinian protest at DNC: The Ann Arbor congresswoman was attending an event at the party headquarters in Washington D.C. last week when demonstrators and police clashed, The Hill writes. The situation scared her “more than January 6th did,” she told the Detroit News. With exits blocked by protesters, it took about an hour for police to evacuate Dingell and nine other Democratic members of Congress.

AAPS fund balance falls: An annual audit found the district had $12.8 million in reserves, or 4.1 percent of its expenditures as of June 30, MLive reports (paywall). The district’s policy calls for keeping a balance of at least 6 percent. Outgoing superintendent Jeanice Swift called the document a “sobering report” and noted the district had lost some of its federal funding.

Former city attorney accuses city of misusing housing funds: Bruce Laidlaw has filed a lawsuit accusing his former employer of using money intended to help homeless people for the new city election center and to pay off city debt, MLive reports. Laidlaw, city attorney from 1969 to 1991, believes the city has violated the Freedom of Information Act and has not been transparent in its financial dealings.

City weighs ban on gas-powered leaf blowers: Three councilmembers have proposed a measure that would make their use a violation punishable with a $500 fine, according to city records. The aim is to require the use of more eco-friendly power, but the measure wouldn’t kick in until 2028 to give homeowners and gardening companies time to phase out the use of gas. The ordinance also would restrict leaf-blower use to weekdays to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pinball Pete’s may give away to high-rise: The popular arcade is one of several South University businesses to be replaced by a seventeen-story mixed-use apartment complex under plans submitted to the city last week, WXYZ reports. Fans of the twenty-seven-year-old business have launched SavePetes.com to marshal support.

Harbaugh out for The Game after U-M settles with Big Ten: Michigan agreed to abide by the head coach’s three-game suspension in exchange for the conference dropping its investigation into the sign-stealing scandal, the Associated Press reports. The team remains under scrutiny by the NCAA and could be subjected to further punishment. The day after the settlement was announced, Michigan fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge for failing to cooperate with the NCAA probe, ESPN reports. The Wolverines are narrowly favored to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.

Team wins No. 1,000, plans to photoshop Harbaugh into photo: Michigan became the first team in college football to reach four digits when they survived an upset scare from Maryland at College Park on Saturday. Acting head coach Sherrone Moore says they will digitally add his suspended boss into a celebratory photo, MLive writes.

Missing Ypsi woman found dead near US-23: Betty Reed, seventy-eight, left her home on Sunday and had been seen near Milan and York Twp. asking people for directions, MLive writes. Her body was found in a field Tuesday afternoon near Carpenter Road. Police believe she drove off the roadway, got out and wandered off. Her dog, Cali, was with her and has been reunited with the Reed family.

Ypsilanti Twp. woman charged in hotel stabbing death: Litara S. Jones, forty, was arraigned last weekend on a charge of open murder in the slaying of Jermaine Javon Wright, forty-three, of Inkster at the Days Inn in Pittsfield Twp., ClickOnDetroit writes. Jones was denied bond. Anyone with information can call police at (734) 822-4911 or an anonymous tip line at (734) 822-4958.

Four plead guilty in Ypsilanti Twp. gambling scheme: Thirty-seven gaming machines and computers were seized at the Stony Creek Internet Cafe as part of a joint investigation between the state Gaming Control Board and the attorney general’s office, according to a press release. Owner Connie Durham, seventy, of Romulus, pleaded guilty in August of last year to a felony charge and was sentenced to a year’s probation and fifty hours of community service. Now four employees, all from Ypsi, have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and been sentenced to community service. 

M Den suffers overnight burglary: Police believe the heist at the S. State St. location was pulled off by three suspects who smashed a window on the second story early Friday, MLive reports. The incident cost the store about $2,000 in merchandise and physical damage, police estimate. Anyone with information can call (734) 794-6939 or email here.

Five vehicles stolen on one night: Two were taken from 2000 block of Pauline Blvd., one each from the 3000 block of Gettysburg Rd., the 3000 block of Rumsey Dr., and the 2000 block of Georgetown Blvd. late Nov. 15 or early Nov. 16, according to a Facebook post from the AAPD. A sixth car on Pauline had a smashed window. Anyone with information or home-camera video footage should call the AAPD Tip Line at (734) 794-6939 or send an email here.

A2 unveils state’s first curbside EV chargers: They are mounted on utility poles on N. Ingalls St. across from the U-M School of Nursing as a part of a $54,000 pilot program using money from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, a city press release says. Mayor Christopher Taylor told ClickOnDetroit the program will be expanded. “It’s going to be a location-specific decision based on the life history of the pole, the availability of electricity on the wire, but where we can, as we can, this is something we are excited to do.”

Saline residents alarmed by discolored water: City manager Colleen O’Toole reassured people at a town hall holding jars of brown water that the city’s water is “well within safety parameters” for drinking, the Saline Post reports. One of the city’s wells failed last year, and while it awaits state approval to bring a new one online, it’s been flushing pipes less often. Noting residents’ complaints about poor communication on the issue, the Post pointed out that it’s been inviting officials to post news and announcements on its site since 2012, but the city “has not done so.”

Pandemic struggles lead to United Way merger: The Washtenaw County entity ceased to exist in October when it was subsumed by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Trilby MacDonald writes in this month’s Observer. The consolidation is necessary because of declining payroll deductions that came to a head during the Covid years. United Way chapters across the country are merging to reduce costs and improve fundraising efficiency. 

U-M surgeon brings kidney transplants to Africa: Every year since 2013, except for the Covid years of 2020 and 2021, sixty-six-year-old nephrology professor Jeff Punch spends about seven weeks on the continent training local teams to do the life-saving operations, Cynthia Furlong Reynolds writes in this month’s Observer. Before the program began, African patients whose kidneys failed were consigned to a lifetime of dialysis or a trip to India for surgery. The Susan T. Buffett Foundation has granted $50 million to expand the training program to twenty additional countries.

Milk & Froth opens downtown: The artisanal ice cream shop in Detroit celebrated the opening of its Ann Arbor location over the weekend, according to an Instagram post. It’s in the former Prickly Pear location on S. Main and will be open year-round. Milk & Froth is known for making small-batch frozen treats without additives, as well as vegan options. 

Michigan native brings an NYC staple to campus: Hamtramck-born Esam Almulaiki’s goal of bringing a New York-style bodega to Ann Arbor took a while, but Bodega Bros is now open on North University in the space previously occupied by Silvio’s Organic Pizza, Dave Algase writes in this month’s Observer. Almulaiki’s family runs five of the deli-grocery shops in NYC, but finding suppliers and contractors to build the space here took longer than he had hoped.

Bakery-cafe replaces Matty J’s in Saline: Andrea Cocciolone and Rose Richards are long-time friends who decided to change careers and go into business together with Arise, MLive writes. The new business has a range of baked goods and breakfast options as well as coffee and espresso from Hyperion Coffee Co. Matty J’s closed in April. 

Make a gift,  throw a pie: Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston is trying to raise $10,000 with a pie-eating contest Tuesday. For $5 a vote, supporters can encourage  their favorites in a livestreamed contest among the nonprofit’s staffers; you can check out  the competitors  in this TikTok video. For $100, donors will also get  the opportunity to “pie” the Network’s executive director, Alex Gossage. 

Polar plunge raises $6,100 for Special Olympics: Forty U-M students slid into a four-foot tank of 36-degree water at the Sports Coliseum on Sunday in the Cool Schools Polar Plunge, the Daily writes. Students from Ohio State crushed Michigan, however – they  raised nearly $13,000 in the same event in Columbus.

Rockin’ for the Hungry aims to provide 1 million meals for Washtenaw families: Personalities from 107.1 FM will broadcast live outside the Kroger store at 400 S. Maple St. from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 to raise money and take in nonperishable food donations for Food Gatherers, ClickOnDetroit writes. Gifts will be matched by the Harold & Kay Peplau Family Fund, Kroger, and Power Hour Sponsors, making a $5 donation enough to provide twenty meals to Washtenaw County residents in need. Donations can also be made online, by phone at (734) 761-2796, or by sending a check to Food Gatherers at 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

U-M star Blake Corum gives out 600 turkeys: For the third straight year, the Wolverine running back is providing free birds to Ann Arbor families, SI.com writes. This year is a personal best for Corum, who gave otr 200 in 2021 and 300 last year. He funds “Give Back 2 Give Thanks” with money he earns from licensing his name, image, and likeness deals.

By Jennifer Taylor

Thursday: Work off some turkey before you even eat it by joining in the Thanksgiving parkrun USA, a timed but noncompetitive 5K run/walk. 9 a.m., Lillie Park South, 4365 Platt Rd. Free, but first-timers are requested to arrive at 8:45 a.m. and pre-register here.

Friday: Pick up a few gifts at the opening of the Guild of Artists & Artisans’ Holiday Artist Market, a juried show and sale of works in various media and styles by over fifty area artists. Featuring jewelry, functional and decorative ceramics, small and large paintings, prints, fiber art, wood carvings, and more. Every Tues. to Sat., thorough Dec. 23. Also, every Fri. and Sat., artist trunk shows. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Gutman Gallery, 118 N. 4th Ave. Free admission. (734) 662–3382. 

Saturday: See the Purple Rose Theatre Company’s revival of “Diva Royale,” directed and written by company founder Jeff Daniels. It’s a comedy about three Midwestern stay-at-home moms on a trip to New York City prompted by their love for Celine Dion and the movie Titanic. Every Wed. to Sun., through Dec. 23. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Thurs. to Sat.), and 2 p.m. (Sun.). Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $34 to $52 in advance here and by phone, and (if available) at the door. (734) 433–7673. 

Sunday: Take your inner train-lover to “Rails on Wheels,” an annual Southeast Michigan model train show and sale, with vintage and modern model trains and equipment on more than 125 tables, plus large operating layouts. Food available. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Admission $5 (kids age 12 and under, free with an adult; early bird admission at 8 a.m., $10).

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

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