My Town Archives - Ann Arbor Observer

Ella in Furs, Forrest Tucker in the Parking Lot

Feb 24, 2025 | Community, My Town |

I was sorting hotel room keys one afternoon in 1978 when I looked up to see Ella Fitzgerald approaching the front desk at the Campus Inn. “Miss Fitzgerald would like to check in,” a man accompanying her announced.

The Wisdom of Soupy Sales

Jan 27, 2025 | Community, My Town |

I had a seminal experience in sixth grade. I rearranged my school schedule to maximize my exposure to the wisdom of Soupy Sales.

Canine Civilization

Jan 27, 2025 | Community, My Town |

Swift Run—I love the image the name conjures. I love the dusty parking lot, never empty, and the crabapple tree along the fence line of the little-dog park. I once saw an old woman gathering the sour fruit; I wondered what she was going to do with them but was too shy to ask.

Scarves at St. Andrew’s

Dec 23, 2024 | Community, My Town |

Seeing guests leave the warmth of St. Andrew’s on a cold winter morning, Maureen had an inspiration: An experienced knitter, she could make scarves for them! She invited us, her sisters in PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization, a women’s service group) to a knitting bee at her home. “This was over 20 years ago,” recalls her daughter Kate Martin.

Minding the Poll Book

Nov 25, 2024 | Community, My Town |

Why did you sign up to be a poll worker on Election Day? I did it to see another side of our process and to make sure that every citizen got to vote in the manner of their choosing.

Middle Earth and the Peace Sign Necklace

Oct 25, 2024 | Community, My Town |

One Saturday in May 1971, I was a sixth grader on a mission: I wanted to buy a silver peace sign necklace. At the store Middle Earth on South University, in the heart of the campus, I looked carefully at the young woman with wire-rimmed glasses behind the counter. She had frizzy hair, a macramé belt, large hoop earrings, and a choker-style necklace. She looked a little like Janis Joplin and was wearing a T-shirt with the word REVOLT and a picture of a clenched fist. This young woman looked like she would be just the right person to help me.

Weathering Milton

Oct 25, 2024 | Community, My Town |

“I will happily trade Florida’s hurricanes for Michigan’s blizzards,” muttered our son Benjamin as he spent his birthday bolting metal hurricane shutters over the windows of his St. Petersburg townhouse, anticipating a second major hurricane in two weeks.

“That’s my FJ!!”

Aug 26, 2024 | Community, My Town |

Russ told Sam and Ray that they shared something rare: both owned a vintage Toyota FJ Cruiser. Furthermore, Russ had just opened his July–August Car and Driver and found the full-page “What to Buy” column at the end, extolling the 2007–2014 FJ Cruiser.

The West Side in the 1950s

Jul 25, 2024 | Community, My Town |

My formative years, from grade school through twelfth grade, were spent in a house my grandfather built on Miner St. I can’t imagine a better place to get started in life.

Louie’s Tale

May 24, 2024 | Community, My Town |

In early May of 2023, Sarah Stein, general manager of the restaurant Anna’s House, was prepping for the 6 a.m. rush. Her gaze lighted on the pond just beyond the patio. A mother duck glided serenely across its surface, followed by eleven adorable ducklings. One of them immediately stood out: unlike his brown or yellow siblings, his feathers were white.

My Pitch

Apr 26, 2024 | Community, My Town |

In 2023, I heard about Pitch@ WCC, an annual competition held by the Entrepreneurship Center at Washtenaw Community College. This was it, I realized. The perfect opportunity to see if my idea was worth something.

Water Warriors

Apr 26, 2024 | Community, My Town |

As a lap swimmer for more than thirty-five years, I hardly noticed the water aerobics classes at my pool. This was, of course, before I reluctantly joined them.