Fifty Years of Observing Ann Arbor

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.