Help Fight Plant Blight

Tue, 02/27/2007 - 4:10pm by Debbie G.

The Natural Area Preservation is holding a training session on Thursday, March 8, noon-5 p.m. for volunteers interested in assisting with the prescribed ecological burn program. Without prescribed fires, invasive plants gain a competitive edge, threatening the existence of native plants like upland boneset and oval ladies tresses.

Here Come the Sandwich Boards

Tue, 02/27/2007 - 3:14pm by Debbie G.

The Ann Arbor City Council has approved a pilot project to allow stand-alone sandwich boards within the DDA district beginning April 1, 2007. The Community Standards Unit monitors signs in public right of ways. To contact Community Standards with a comment or complaint you may either call (734) 994-1788, or e-mail CommunityStandards@ci.ann-arbor.mi.us.

Embracing Eatonville at UMMA Off/Site

Sun, 02/25/2007 - 4:47pm by muffy

There is still time to visit the photography exhibition Embracing Eatonville at the University of Michigan Musuem of Art Off/Site (through March 18th).

Located in Orange County, Florida, Eatonville was the first incorporated African-American community in the nation. Today, it is perhaps best known for its annual showcase of arts, literature and culture that celebrates native daughter Zora Neale Hurston.

The current exhibition "celebrates the spirit and character of Eatonville through the work of contemporary photographers Dawoud Bey, Lonnie Graham, Carrie Mae Weems, and Deborah Willis, each of whom have created a new body of work for this exhibition as they explore the importance of place to individual and collective identity".

Reading in a Magazine about Google's Book Project

Sun, 02/25/2007 - 4:26pm by annevm

Jeffrey Toobin is one of my favorite writers, so I was immediately drawn to his article “Google’s Moon Shot: The Quest for the Universal Library” in the Feb. 5 issue of The New Yorker magazine. You, too, can read about what Google is doing with its book digitization project in Ann Arbor and elsewhere, just by picking up this issue of The New Yorker from one of our libraries -- or read the article at The New Yorker web site.

Go Team Go!

Thu, 02/22/2007 - 4:23pm by Debbie G.

Let’s put the trees back in Tree Town. Join a Tree Team and help replant trees lost in Ann Arbor due to the emerald ash borer infestation. Volunteers interested in forming a neighborhood or school area Tree Team, please call Global ReLeaf at 800-642-7353 or visit their website to register a team.

Rain Gardens, Green Roofs and Organic Lawn Care

Thu, 02/22/2007 - 3:31pm by Mazie

Project Grow has linked up with the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program for a series of programs. They will be offering classes throughout March on how best to protect our vulnerable local watershed.

The first class on rain gardens and how they can reduce runoff will be on Wednesday March 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Leslie Science Center. Dave Russell will discuss plant and soil selection and other ways to improve our local water quality.

Other classes will be on green roofs and organic lawn care.

No fee is required, but donations are encouraged. Check out the class calendar for the "2007 Gardening For Water Quality Series".

You can also call 734-996-3169 for more information.

45th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit!

Tue, 02/20/2007 - 3:48pm by anned

Forty-five years ago today, John Glenn successfully completed the first American manned orbital mission aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962.
To celebrate the anniversary of this event, NASA has added some interactive features to their website. Visit nasa.gov to take an inside look at the Friendship 7, explore bios and a photo gallery, and conduct virtual interviews with the surviving Mercury astronauts. You can also watch a 30 minute special online on NASA TV: 45th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit, at 7pm on February 20th.

Circus and theater combine in this production of "Alice in Wonderland"

Sat, 02/17/2007 - 10:10am by emilyas

One Chicago theater company, Looking glass Theater, is setting out to combine theater, dance, music and circus into a production of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The play, called "Looking glass Alice," is currently playing at New York's New Victory Theater. The next stop of the tour is in Philadelphia's Arden Theatre in May and then the troup returns home to Chicago in June. For more information you can read an article on NPR that discusses the acrobatics in the play, or check the Looking glass Theater's website for images, video and tour dates.

Keep The Heat On

Wed, 02/14/2007 - 7:29pm by Debbie G.

The State of Michigan has a new website, Be Winterwise, to assist qualifying seniors and low-income customers who may be eligible for help in paying heating bills. The 2007 Michigan Energy Assistance Directory, developed by the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm, provides information on private and public programs that offer energy assistance, and a county by county listing of utilities, programs and resources available. There’s also energy savings tips for your home and energy efficient products lists.

Senior Resource Alliance Update

Wed, 02/14/2007 - 10:21am by Mazie

The Senior Resource Alliance of Washtenaw has changed its name. It is now the SR Alliance of Washtenaw. This local organization is a member of the Society of Certified Seniors, a national group of accredited advisors to seniors.

This consortium of county service providers helps seniors in a variety of ways from estate planning to home remodeling. By their joining together seniors benefit from cross referrals to the right professional expert. And there is no charge for this help!

For more information call 1-800-385-1273.