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Fifty Years of Observing Ann Arbor

Fifty Years of Observing Ann Arbor

Jun 24, 2026 | , |

When we were reflecting on how to report on our fiftieth anniversary, we decided to turn the mirror to our audience, and ask how the Observer has impacted them beyond staying up on what’s happening in our corner of the world. We were delighted to hear not just from readers, but also advertisers, former employees, and past and present contributors. It was a powerful reminder of how tightly the Observer is knit into this community. Here now are some of the stories they shared. Some are surprising, some are funny, some gave us goosebumps, and you might want to get the tissues, just in case.

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Patricia M. Garcia

Patricia M. Garcia

Jun 24, 2026 | , |

Patricia Garcia was born in Grand Rapids, the second of three daughters, and the family later moved to Lansing and Kalamazoo to follow her father’s career. A World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Howorth, he worked as a barber when Garcia was young, and her mother stayed home. She recalls visiting his shop on her days off of school: “We’d play checkers with my dad and spin in his chair, and he’d cut our bangs.”

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A People’s History of Art Fair Bingo

A People’s History of Art Fair Bingo

Jun 24, 2026 | |

Like many beloved cultural institutions, Art Fair inspires a mix of appreciation, vigilance, irritation, dread, and anticipation from those lucky enough to have experienced it. Certain things have a tendency to repeat. Patterns emerge. So naturally, the event lends itself well to that storied pattern-noticing game, bingo.

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Naturalist Shawn Severance

Naturalist Shawn Severance

May 26, 2026 | , |

Shawn Severance’s path to becoming a naturalist was winding, not strategic, but nevertheless seems meant to be because of all the skills she developed along the way. After earning a degree in animal physiology at MSU, she moved to Ann Arbor in 1994 to study developmental neurobiology at U-M. She earned a second master’s degree in landscape architecture, leading to years of work in green building, teaching, and campus planning at WCC before joining the parks commission.

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Educator and Human-Rights Champion

Educator and Human-Rights Champion

May 26, 2026 | , , |

Kathy Kosobud, a longtime Ann Arbor resident and educator, received the David McMahon Human Rights Award from the Michigan Education Association in April. The award honors moral and ethical leadership in the fields of human and civil rights.

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Question Corner | June 2026

May 26, 2026 | |

The demolition and clearing of three major buildings (a motel, an office building, and another building used by a church congregation and others) south of the intersection of Stadium Blvd. and Washtenaw Ave. [next to the plaza that houses Trader Joe’s and other businesses] were completed many months ago. But the large signs of the former occupants still are in place. Why?

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Author Camille Pagán

Author Camille Pagán

Apr 24, 2026 | , , |

Camille Pagán’s novels regularly reach bestseller lists, her work has appeared in national publications, and her career gives her a reason to travel. But she’s happiest in Ann Arbor, where her life is structured around school schedules, familiar streets, and the dependable calm of a Midwest town.

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Our Intersecting Lives

Our Intersecting Lives

Apr 24, 2026 | , , |

We present to you five strangers who all either live or work in Ann Arbor. Although they don’t know each other, they’re all connected in the little ways that make a community: frequenting the same spots, walking the same sidewalks, common heritage, similar interests and motivations.

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The Restaurant Kids Are All Right

The Restaurant Kids Are All Right

Apr 24, 2026 | , , |

For many first-generation immigrants, restaurants were about survival, demanding long hours and leaving little room for anything else—something I experienced, our family life structured entirely around the business.

But for these second- and third- generation immigrant restaurant kids of Godaiko, La Piña Loca, and Q Bakehouse, the formula has changed. Though the kinship remains, the experience is evolving.

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All the Lonely People

All the Lonely People

Apr 24, 2026 | , , , |

People experience loneliness when “perceptions of their social relationships don’t match what they would ideally like them to be. Not everyone who feels lonely is truly alone and not everyone who is socially isolated feels lonely,” says University of Michigan social epidemiologist Lindsay Kobayashi. The importance of third places—low-cost or free community spaces like parks, coffee shops, and libraries where people can find connection outside of home (a first place) and work (a second place)—is becoming a more popular topic in public health research.

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Next Stop for a Small-Town Wonder?

Next Stop for a Small-Town Wonder?

Apr 24, 2026 | , |

On March 1, the Kiwanis Thrift Sale received a stunning donation from Don Butcher: a handmade replica of the 1950s-era Ann Arbor railroad he crafted himself over sixteen years. At 720 square feet, the model is big enough to fill a three-car garage.

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May 2026 Health and Wellness

Apr 22, 2026 | |

For those looking to set or maintain personal wellness goals this year, we are here for you! Whether you are looking for a new physical challenge, seeking social or emotional support, or feeling inspired to join a group class,...

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