Jolly Pumpkin to add restaurant to Dexter facility and taproom
Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is adding a full service restaurant to its main brewing facility, the ultimate complement to its already popular taproom.
Dexter
Washtenaw County’s 5 most innovative high school classes
The modern high school curriculum doesn't look quite like it did a decade ago. While the core subjects remain, new ideas about how to teach to the next generation are finding their way into the classroom. Concentrate highlights five of the most innovative high school classes in the county.
Washtenaw County schools catch the International Baccalaureate bug
The rush to establish International Baccalaureate schools in Washtenaw is on, with a regionally supported high school in Ypsilanti achieving high marks, a programme in Dexter and, now, Ann Arbor vowing to establish its own program track. But will these efforts complement or compete against each other?
Jolly Pumpkin ripens business with more tap rooms, distribution channels
Dexter-based Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is growing by capitalizing on a number of revenue streams. This includes adding tap rooms across Michigan and opening up more distribution channels for its popular beers. Jolly Pumpkin opened new tap rooms in its Dexter home last year and in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood last April, where it employs about 50 people.The artisan ales company currently has four tap rooms across Michigan is looking to open a few more. "We will continue to find new locations and open up Jolly Pumpkin tap rooms in Michigan," says Ron Jeffries, founder of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. It's part of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales' plan to focus its growth in the Great Lakes State. Its distribution in Michigan is up 70 percent over the last year. The 11-year-old brewery is aiming to produce 12,000 barrels of beer this year, which would be up from 8,000 barrels in 2014. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is pushing to sell more of its upscale brews in chain retailers. The brand is currently in a number of super markets, like Busches, Whole Foods and Kroger, but it is looking to add more chain restaurants to its distribution roster. "Our sales team have been making great strides for us," Jeffries says. The growth has allowed Jolly Pumpkin to hire more and more people. It currently has a employee base of just more than 200 with its tap rooms. A staff of 25 people mans the brewery in Dexter after hiring three people in the last year, and it's looking to hire three more now. "We are currently looking for more people," Jeffries says. "We have been interviewing people for the last month."
Border To Border Trail creates connectivity by shrinking gaps
The development of the Border to Border Trail has always been known for its potential for creating a walkaway across Washtenaw County for pedestrians and bicyclists ...and for the sizable gaps that keep it from doing just that. Advocates for the trail have been pushing to bridge those gaps this year, which include closing small breaks in the county’s big cities and creating large sections in its more rural areas. The idea is to get more of the region's non-motorized traffic off the road and onto the Border To Border Trail. "You avoid putting a whole bunch of cyclists and pedestrians on the same road," says Bob Krzewanski, chair of the Friends of the Border To Border Trail. "Motorists usually don't look for cyclists and pedestrians." A couple of those major gaps that advocates want to close include small but critical sections in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti has budgeted money to build a pedestrian bridge over the Huron River at Riverside Park and Michigan Avenue, which will enable it to connect the Water Street development, downtown, and Depot Town, through the Border To Border Trail and its park system. Ann Arbor is making plans to build a pedestrian bridge over the Huron River, too, this time where Maiden Lane crosses the river near the University of Michigan Health Center. Currently, users of the Border To Border Trail need to cross the vehicular bridge next to traffic. Creating a smaller pedestrian bridge underneath it will provide some much needed space between people and cars. "It (the Maiden Lane bridge) was built with space underneath," says Larry Deck, board member of the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition. "There are concrete pads there where the trail bridge should go." Both Deck and Krzewanski are optimistic that funding packages for both projects could come to fruition within the next year and construction starts soon after. There are larger gaps in the Border To Border further outside the cities, such as a smaller section at the very eastern edge of Washtenaw County and a large section between Ann Arbor and Dexter. "The segment in between Ann Arbor and Dexter is problematic," Krzewanski says. "To get it off road you need to get private property easements." But both are confident these sorts of large projects will get done within the next few years, despite the obstacles ahead. They see a growing demand for this sort of recreational opportunity as what will really make a complete version of the Border To Border Trail a reality. "A lot of people say they would go out to walk or bike if they has some place to do it," Krzewanski says. "This gives them that opportunity." Source: Larry Deck, board member of the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition; and Bob Krzewanski, chair of the Friends of the Border To Border Trail Writer: Jon Zemke
A guide to hosting your wedding in Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit
The sun is out, birds are singing and couples are looking to tie the knot in the best and most memorable way possible. Eater offers a guide for brides and grooms to be. Excerpt: Duck and cover because summer means wedding season. Time to pull out your cocktail dress and prepare to overindulge and celebrate happy unions. While many couples will opt for the traditional reception halls around town, Southeast Michigan's restaurants provide some great options for hosting celebrations. So pour yourself a glass of bubbly and tighten your tie. Here are 20 awesome restaurant locations that transform for the big day. Read the rest here.
Thomson-Shore smooths out acquisition to grow
Acquisitions are normally heralded as happy things, win-win experiences for everyone involved. Thomson-Shore learned over the last year that is not always the case. The Dexter-based book publisher acquired PublishNext and its subsidiary the Seattle Book Company last year in an effort to broaden its publishing platform. The idea seemed great on paper. In reality it turned out to be rocky at first with old management from the company not fitting well with the new ownership. After a few months Thomson-Shore replaced that leadership and promoted one of the employees from within to manage it. "Since then it has done quite well," says Kevin Spall, president of Thomson-Shore. "It's growing very fast." The 43-year-old company also rebranded PublishNext and the Seattle Book Company as Thomson-Shore Publishing Services and Thomson-Shore Distribution Services. "It's an easier message," Spall says. "There was some confusion when customers would call." Straightening all that out helped the company grow over the last year. It has hired six people, expanding its staff to 160 employees and the occasional intern. It’s also looking to hire another three people, primarily in manufacturing right now. Source: Kevin Spall, president of Thomson-Shore Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
According to science Jolly Pumpkin is 6th best beer in Michigan
Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin Brewery ranks six out of the twelve best beers in the Mitten. Or so says Thrillist online magazine. And, frankly, we take serious issue with that assessment. Don't get us wrong, there are many fine Michigan brews on their "scientific" list. But sixth? Puh-lease. Jolly Pumpkin easily ranks in the top three. So say we all! Excerpt: "Jolly Pumpkin is all about those rustic, country style, sour beers, and if the whole sour thing seems off-putting to you, don’t worry about it. Most folks who think they don’t like sour beer wind up liking Jolly Pumpkin’s sour beer, so much so that their facilities last year maxed out at around 4-5,000 barrels. And although this is a beer list, you should also eat their food. Trust us." Read the rest o' the list here.
Dexter-based kSpace Associates creates 5 new jobs
Last year turned out to be quite the year for kSpace Associates. The Dexter-based tech firm tied for its best year ever (2011) in terms of revenue generated. "A good chunk of that was solar panel metrology tools," says Darryl Barlett, CEO of kSpace Associates. "We anticipate we will have similar sales level in 2015." The 23-year-old firm develops and manufacturers diagnostic tools for the semi-conductor industry. In addition to solar metrology sales, several sales of its MOS Ultrascan system, which measures the curvature and bow of semiconductor wafers, were made to Chinese firms. Those spiking sales allowed kSpace Associates to hire four people over the last year, expanding its staff to 26 employees and the occasional summer intern. The new hires include an optics engineer, a sales engineer, a field service technician, and an office assistant. It is currently looking to hire a software developer. The company is also looking to pump up its sales of LED-based metrology products in 2015. The firm also landed a Small Business Innovation Research grant to develop new products. The first phase of the grant is worth $150,000. "Phase 1 is a six-month project," Barlett says. "We hope to apply for Phase 2 by the end of the year." Source: Darryl Barlett, CEO of kSpace Associates Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Doodling counts: A Q&A with artist David Zinn
Ann Arbor artist and illustrator David Zinn's public art chalk creations have been ricocheting around the Internet lately and we thought it was high time we had a chat with him about the state of art -public and otherwise- in our community.
