Pocket Listing
You know how sometimes you’re in a group chat and you come up with a really funny comment and you text it to the group and… nothing? No “haha.” No 🤣. Not even the humble :). Just… nothing.
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Community
Louie’s Tale
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.
Read MoreQuestion Corner | June 2024
Q. I love the Hoyt Trail at Parker Mills County Park. However, sometimes the odor from the nearby wastewater treatment plant ruins a visit. Is there a way to know when the odor will be bad?
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Bicentennial Investments
The James L. Crawford Elks Lodge has a commanding presence at the northeast end of Sunset Rd., high on a hill overlooking the Huron River. The substantial brick-and-stone building has been a pillar of Ann Arbor’s Black community for eight decades.
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Symbiosis of the Red Bellied Woodpecker and the Eastern Bluebird
“The birds are from a mural by Jacob Dwyer on the Phoenix West building at 117 N. First St.,” writes Kathy Scott about May’s photo.
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MIFarmLink
Dohner compares MIFarmLink to “a matchmaking service that connects farmland owners and seekers who would otherwise never meet.” According to the Conservation District, land access is the greatest barrier for beginning farmers; meanwhile most farmland owners lack a succession plan. MIFarmLink neatly solves the problem with an online tool that lets owners list their available properties and farmland seekers post their professional profiles.
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Bob Lutz
For decades, Bob Lutz was one of the most influential executives in the auto industry, shaping models that ranged from the first BMW 3 series and Dodge Viper to the Ford Explorer and Chevy Volt. And now, after a succession of high-level jobs and dozens of distinctive vehicles, he’s once again making paper models.
Read MoreMarch 2024 Home Sales
At press time, the state’s database showed no March home sales in Pittsfield, Ann Arbor, or Superior townships; Scio Twp. reported sales for only half the month.
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This Old House
Residences designed by renowned Detroit architect Albert Kahn are rare—there are just six in Ann Arbor. But, Barbara Copi confides, she really wanted Noah and Lizzie Hurwitz and their three boys, to bring new life to its ornate spaces.
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Jolly Pumpkin Brewery and Cafe
“[April’s] I Spy is the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery and Cafe at 311 S. Main Street,” writes Silvia Ruiz.
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Camperships
“Sending kids to camp is an investment in our communities,” says Sally Lamkin, director emeritus of what’s now Washtenaw Camp Placement (WCP).
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Boundaries Books
First, the facts: We received 156 entries correctly identifying the Fake Ad for Boundaries Books on page 68 of the April issue.
Read MoreQuestion Corner | May 2024
Q. Why aren’t the wood planks used in the Argo boardwalk and elsewhere in our parks ever painted? Wouldn’t that help them last longer? And what about using composite materials? A. “We used treated pine boards in our boardwalks,”...
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Big Hearts
When public health prof Vic Strecher was asked to emcee the Big Hearts for Seniors fundraiser in 2018, “I didn’t know all that much about it,” he admits.
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Medical Thriller
Marschall Runge didn’t realize how many physicians wanted to write fiction until he signed up for a “Writing for Doctors” workshop—and found 300 others in attendance.
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Water Warriors
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.
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Juli McLoone
Sometimes the homeliest daily chores and most taken-for-granted possessions can reveal cultural trends, personal stories, and anthropological discoveries—if you study them like Juli McLoone does.
Read MoreHealthy Living & Wellness
A guide to healthy living and wellness in the Ann Arbor area. Click to read online Click to download a...
Read MoreSummer Camps and Activities
Ready or not, summer is coming! The Observer is here to help fill your children’s summer break with fun and adventure. If you’re looking for scientific exploration, rock climbing and outdoor play, or artistic development, we...
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