I'll be introducing the newsletter this week while Dayton is still away in France. I’ve been working with him as an intern since late May, the same month I graduated from U-M with a degree in English. This last week, my sister has been staying with me at Vail House, a student cooperative where I’ve lived for the past year. On Tuesday, we saw Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, a movie about family, loss, and a sympathetic, googly-eyed shell — I’d recommend it to just about anyone.

In the news, Michigan Medicine nurses rallied again for a new contract, a man robbed a bank, and a suspect was arrested in a series of pharmacy robberies. TheRide seeks an increased levy, and the city administrator is hosting meetings to ask for ways to improve downtown. The Art Fair kicked off today, the Michigan Summer Beer Festival comes to Ypsi this weekend, and Washtenaw County holds its first Vet Fest on Saturday.

—Nicholas Moore

The county’s Covid-19 snapshot reports 1,463 cases in the two weeks ending yesterday, up by about a hundred from last week’s 1,358. The county is once again at a “medium” CDC risk level, up from “low” last week. The weekly test positivity rate is 12.9 percent according to MI Safe Start, down from 14.7 percent last week. There are 204.6 cases per 100,000 residents.

A man robbed the Chase Bank on E. Stadium last Saturday, ClickOnDetroit reports. The man threatened the teller by implying he was armed before driving away in a silver sedan. Anyone with information is asked to call the AAPD tip line, (734) 996-3199.

A man suspected of a series of pharmacy robberies was arrested earlier this month after a worker slipped him a tracker in a fake pill bottle, ClickOnDetroit reports. He reportedly admitted to five similar robberies in the last two months, stealing more than $40,000 worth of controlled substances by threatening staff with what turned out to be a BB gun.

August’s Democratic primaries are heating up. Mayor Christopher Taylor and his allies on city council want to continue pushing for rapid growth and climate mitigation, while a more cautious opposition headed up by mayoral candidate and former councilwoman Anne Bannister wants to move more slowly. Jim Leonard reports in the July Observer.

TheRide is asking voters to triple its regional tax levy on the Aug. 2 ballot, Leonard reports. If voters approve, the current 0.7 mill tax will be upped to 2.38 mills, or an extra $168 annually per $100,000 of taxable value. With that money, the AAATA hopes to create an express route between Ann Arbor and Ypsi, expand hours of operation and bus frequency, upgrade stations, and more.

The US-12 ramp to southbound US-23 closed yesterday for water main permit work, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Traffic will be detoured using Platt and Willis roads until Aug. 3.

A proposed train between Ann Arbor and Traverse City, under discussion for more than a decade, got a $1 million boost from the state legislature, WXYZ reports. The money will fund a study to determine the viability of a passenger train between the two cities – the latest attempt to revive passenger travel on the Great Lakes Central Railroad north of town.

Ann Arbor is inviting input on downtown improvements. Hosted by City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr., there’s an online meeting on Wednesday, July 26, an in-person session on August 8, and another virtual meeting on August 9.

Ypsilanti Community High School hired a new principal, MLive reports. Chelsea Harris-Hugan has previously led YCS’ Achieving Career and College Education program, and also worked as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, curriculum director, early childhood director, and a principal in the Oak Park School District.

Around 1,000 nurses at Michigan Medicine rallied in support of a new contract Saturday, the Detroit Free Press reports. The crowd at Fuller Park demanded an end to mandatory overtime, better compensation, and contractually enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios. Michigan Medicine’s current proposal includes annual pay of $121,541 by nurses’ fourth year and a 5 percent raise every year for four years.

The first Washtenaw County Vet Fest is this Saturday, July 23, MLive reports. Running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the free event will include live music, raffles, a free lunch, and service providers for veterans. Veterans are encouraged to bring their families to the event.

The Michigan Summer Beer Festival is Friday and Saturday in Ypsi’s Riverside Park. More than 100 Michigan breweries will offer over 1,000 beers. A day pass is $50 to $65, and food will be available for purchase.

Wallethub ranked Ann Arbor as the country’s most educated city yet again, ClickOnDetroit reports, beating out competitors like Washington, Madison, San Francisco, and Boston. At 56.7 percent, the Ann Arbor metro area has the highest share of bachelor’s degree holders aged twenty-five and older.

Third Mind Books, specializing in the “Beat Generation,” opened last month on E. Washington, Jan Schalin reports for the Observer. It’s the culmination of a dream for owner Arthur Nusbaum, a Southfield native who’s loved the beats since his college days at the U-M.

A pop-up shoe store runs until Sunday in Maple Village, MLive reports. Located in the former Stein Mart store, it offers shoes for men and women, including flats, boots, heels, and sandals, though sneakers are limited.

Zingerman’s is offering a discount on hand-painted, Art Fair-themed posters until the 24th. Customers can use the code ARTFAIR at checkout to get $50 off their purchase.

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original, is looking for volunteers, ClickOnDetroit reports. Volunteers will help with booth sitting, site set-up and tear-down, assisting artists, and answering questions. Look online for a full list of roles and a signup form.

Friends In Deed hosts an urban rappelling fundraiser on July 30. Participants in “Over the Edge” commit to raising at least $1,000 for the privilege of rappelling down the fourteen-story Graduate Hotel. The nonprofit hopes to raise $150,000 to provide emergency services and a pathway out of poverty for Washtenaw County families.

The Humane Society is reducing adoption fees for an “Empty the Shelters” event, ClickOnDetroit reports. Through the end of the month, dog and cat adoption fees will be just $25 with an adopt-one-get-one-free offer for kittens.

By Jennifer Taylor

21 Thursday: Make a surgical (or rambling) visit to the Ann Arbor Art Fair to check out well-known street artist David Zinn’s “Chalk the Walk” demonstration and try your hand with the available chalk (sidewalk at Fifth St. & Liberty St., Thurs. & Sat. 1–3 p.m., rain date Fri. 1–3 p.m.). While you’re there, see some other art: the Fair is our perennial multi-day tent city within a city, housing 800 artists in 3 separate fairs. It runs today through Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. (Thurs. & Fri.) & 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (Sat.), downtown Ann Arbor. Free admission. (800) 888–9487.

22 Friday: Play disc golf with illuminated baskets at a Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission Disc Golf Glow Night. 9 p.m.-midnight, Rolling Hills County Park. 7660 Stony Creek Rd., Ypsilanti. $5 Drop in.  $6 (nonresidents, $10) vehicle entry fee. 484-9676.

23 Saturday: Catch chic Detroit neo-honky-tonk trio The Whiskey Charmers (5–6 p.m.), and the Jared Deck Band (6:30–8 p.m.), an alt-country ensemble fronted by Deck, a young singer-songwriter with a powerful voice, at The Ark Stage. See Art Fair Entertainment for live music and other performances on 3 stages. Free. Palio parking lot at William & Main.

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

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