In the News

Mindy Kaling hearts Zingerman's

AnnArbor.com Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The former cast member of The Office and now star of The Mindy Project waxes enthusiastic about Ann Arbor's most famous deli.

Excerpt:

"Mindy Kaling, perhaps best known for her work on "The Office" and "The Mindy Project," became something of a Zingerman's devotee during the time she spent in Ann Arbor filming "The Five Year Engagement" in 2011. She waxed ecstatic about the deli (and its Reuben sandwiches) in a blog post last fall, but clearly Ann Arbor's food mecca is still on her mind."

Read the rest here.

New $9M U-M research center will help restore and protect Great Lakes

Waterworld Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Fresh water may be our region's very greatest asset. But we haven't always treated it as such. U-M is out to change that.

Excerpt:

"With a $4.5 million, three-year grant from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, and an additional $4.5 million from the University, the new University of Michigan Water Center, will provide solid scientific framework for more efficient and effective Great Lakes restoration.The Erb Family Foundation is a supporter of the University's sustainability initiative. Established in 2007, the Foundation aims to nurture environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant communities in metropolitan Detroit and to support initiatives to restore the Great Lakes basin."

Read the rest here.

U-M grad named College Entrepreneur of 2012

Entrepreneur Wednesday, December 19, 2012

He may now be attending Duke but U-M grad Bryan Silverman's company Star Toilet Paper operates out of Ann Arbor. Bathroom time will never be the same.

Excerpt:

"Jordan found research showing that Americans respond favorably to advertising in public restrooms, including signage above urinals, and came up with the idea to print coupons on toilet paper. The siblings went to work, building their startup, Star Toilet Paper, with less than $1,000 of their own cash. "Anything we could, we figured out ourselves and saved money," Bryan says.

Star buys recycled toilet tissue rolls in bulk wholesale and has a printer place coupons on the top ply."

Read the rest here.

Ypsilanti ok's DTE plan to build $4M solar array on landfill

AnnArbor.com Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Revenue for Ypsilanti, clean energy for DTE customers, a productive use of landfill space. This smells of win-win.

Excerpt:

"The proposed Ypsilanti project would cover about 4.5 acres of the 7-acre property near Spring Street and

just north of the westbound Interstate 94 Huron Street exit.

The city would lease the property to the company for $9,778 per acre, or $44,000 a year. A one-time construction payment of $20,000 must be made within 30 days of the execution of the lease.

The city receives $35,000 per year for the lease of the existing, large digital billboard that is currently on the property. City officials said the billboard would not be affected by the solar project. Both leases together would generate about $75,000 per year for the city."

Read the rest here.

Chairman of the Fed to speak at U-M next month

Ford School at University Of Michigan Wednesday, December 12, 2012

As part of their public policy talks the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is bringing in Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to give a free-and-open-to-the-public talk on January 14th.

Learn more here.

Local teens select Best American Nonrequired Reading for 2012

The Michigan Daily Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Dave Eggers is a well-known author, publisher (McSweeney's), screenwriter, and the founder of the very cool literay non-profit 826. Every year he serves as editor on the annual anthology The Best American Nonrequired Reading. This year, Eggers is assisted by Ann Arbor area students, who will help select the stories, comics, and essays that will appear in the collection through the 826MIchigan chapter.

Excerpt:

"The group consists of approximately a dozen students and two facilitators who meet for two hours every week to discuss material that could possibly be included in the anthology. The students represent about six different high schools from the Ann Arbor area. When searching for material, the panel acquires texts in a few different ways.The series is considered “nonrequired” because it is a compilation of more unusual texts."

Read the rest here.

Ann Arbor is a "magnet" for retirees

The Wall Street Journal Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Local writer Julie Halpert chats up Ann Arbor's appeal to retirees, the local battles over taxes, and the region's top price real estate.

Excerpt:

"The city's learning programs are a big attraction. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan has 120 study groups that focus on topics such as philosophy, history, social science and the performing arts. Instructors are volunteers; many are retired or current professors at the university. About 700 people age 50-plus take classes each year, paying $20 for a membership and $40 for a 15-week class.

A similar program, called Elderwise, has attracted about 300 students. The 50 classes this fall included "How the Supreme Court Changed America" and "Ancient Greek and Roman Theater." Membership is $30, and each course is $5."

Read the rest here.

U-M Researchers show that cell phone use is contagious

The Huffington Post Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Much like the yawn, researchers have found that cell phone use begets more cell phone use.

Excerpt:

"In 2011, two researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study in which they observed pairs of young people roughly between 16 and 25 sitting at tables in dining halls and restaurants in and around campus. They recorded cell phone use in 10-second intervals, noting if one or both people checked a mobile device within each 10-second span, according to the paper published in the Human Ethology Bulletin."

Read the rest here.

Ann Arbor's Ice Cube develops next gen of NHL players

Toronto Sun Wednesday, December 05, 2012

In the last 16 years more than 200 NHL players have been developed at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor's Ice Cube.

Excerpt:

"Right inside the door is a reception counter, with gleaming trophies from USA Hockey's victories at the last four world under-18 championships inside glass cases. Photos of the teams celebrating their victories are on the walls.

To the left, there's a hallway filled with framed USA Hockey sweaters from world junior championships and other international competitions along one wall, the medals won in those competitions in the corner of the frame. On the other, photos of the former members of the program who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League are displayed.

It's a long hallway."

Read the rest here.

Why talent stays (or leaves) Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor Chronicle Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Successful software developer Bill Merrill has made Ann Arbor his home for over a decade. Now he's leaving. And it's not because he's going to take a job somewhere else. Can something be learned from his reasons for going? Dave Askins makes some great observations and links to his interview with Merrill.

Excerpt:

"Whether a guy like Merrill stays or leaves Ann Arbor ultimately isn’t up to other folks – like me, for example – who’ll likely serve out their productive lives here. But I think we’d probably “do it up” better if we measured success not by how long people like Bill Merrill choose to stay, but by how open we are to hearing their thoughts while they’re here – whether that’s a short time or forever."

Read the rest here.

At 63 years, bookbinder is U-M's longest-serving staff member

USA Today Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Maybe the time was right. With digital information becoming the defacto practice in the land, 81-year-young Jim Craven is leaving his bookbinding post after more than 6 decades.

Excerpt:

"For more than 63 years, Craven has bound books and conserved artifacts on Michigan's Ann Arbor campus.

On Friday, the 81-year-old Craven leaves campus, retiring as the longest-serving staff member in the university's history.

He began working part-time at the university in 1947 while he was still in high school in a bookbindery in the basement of the Hatcher Graduate Library."

Read the rest here.

Bus from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti faster, more frequent

AnnArbor.com Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Ridership is growing on local buses and new route planning is helping to make the system better for all. The bus from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti along Packard will be 8 minutes faster now that it's traveling a straight path.

Excerpt:

"On the branch from downtown Ypsilanti, the number of trips will continue to be two per hour, but the trip time will be reduced by 18 percent by providing a more direct route along Packard. On the other branch, the number of trips will increase from two to four per hour."

Read the rest here.

U-M is very well endowed indeed

The Street Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Okay, now that we've got your attention... maybe you'll be interested to learn that the University Of Michigan is has the seventh largest university endowment in the country. Top of the list? Harvard, Yale, and the University Of texas - Austin.

Excerpt:

"The University of Michigan, with the largest football stadium in the country (capacity: 109,901), has one of the most dedicated alumni communities in the U.S., and that no doubt has helped its endowment fund make the top 10.

Ann Arbor is considered one of the most affordable and enjoyable college towns in the country, and the constant influx of people for school-related activities has led the university to use some of its funds for nearby parking facilities costing millions of dollars in recent years."

Read the rest here.

A visit to Bubble Island

The Eastern Echo Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Ever walked past a bubble tea joint and think to yourself: what the heck is that? Well, wonder no more.

Excerpt:

"Bubble tea has been popular in southeastern Asia for a few decades now, and its popularity seems to be spreading to every metaphorical corner of the globe. In our corner is Ann Arbor’s Bubble Island, located in the downtown area at 1220 S. University Ave.

The first thing you notice upon entering the quaint little cafe is its chill, laid-back atmosphere, complete with a couple of invitingly comfy couches. Cute drawings are scattered around the front counter. The menu hangs on the wall to the right of the waiting line, listing some of the more popular options."

Read the rest here.

Nicola's Books celebrated in writer anthology

Deadline Detroit Wednesday, November 28, 2012

A trio of Michigan bookstores made the cut in a collection of essays called: My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop. Among them, Nicola's in Ann Arbor gets a shout out from author Nancy Shaw.

Excerpt:

"Shops in Ann Arbor, Petoskey and Gaylord get prose hugs from women with unsurprising affection for places that sell what they create. Essays on these reader resources appear in My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their

Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop, a hardback published Nov. 13:

* Nicola’s Books, Ann Arbor (selected by Nancy Shaw)

* Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord (Katrina Kittle)

* McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI (Ann Patchett)

Its publisher describes the 384-page collection as "a joyful, industry-wide celebration of our bricks-and-mortar stores and a clarion call to readers everywhere at a time when the value and importance of these stores should be shouted from the rooftops." Eighty-four authors contribute."