Dexter

Legacy Land Conservancy expects big year in 2010 for green belts

By Newsroom

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January 13, 2010

The Legacy Land Conservancy finished 2009 strong but expects to easily out flex that performance early this year.The conservancy --think of it as the non-profit greenbelt for Washtenaw and Jackson counties-- closed five deals in the closing weeks of 2009. That means a little less than 200 acres of woods, farms and wild areas are now protected from development because the conservancy controls their development rights."We have projecting moving forward now," says Susan Lackey, executive director of the Legacy Land Conservancy, formerly the Washtenaw Land Trust. "In the first quarter or half of 2010 we expect to make or exceed that number."Those deals will protect high-priority acreage, meaning property that is farmland, near the Huron River or near the Pinckney and Waterloo recreation areas.Source: Susan Lackey, executive director of the Legacy Land ConservancyWriter: Jon Zemke

Local libraries see uptick in popularity with down economy

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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October 21, 2009

Dexter and Saline's libraries are watching more and more people take advantage of their services these days. Those free DVD rentals are an obvious hook, but could it mean we'll see an uptick in literary appreciation?Excerpt:Library directors across the area are reporting increases in usage, in part, they say because of the economy, and in some cases because of new or expanded buildings.Computer usage is at an all-time high in area libraries with people job hunting or applying for unemployment benefits.Read the rest of the story here.

AATA pilot project gets real-time bus info to riders

By Newsroom

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Development News

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October 14, 2009

Few things are as depressing as waiting and waiting and waiting in inclement weather for a bus named Godot, ...except, of course, watching your bus pull away just as you get to the bus stop.The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is trying to eliminate such things with a new pilot program via Shepherd Intelligent Systems. The University of Michigan spin-off is testing technology that would let users see exactly where buses are located in real time."This iis really focused around the riders," says Adrian Fortino, CEO of Shepherd Intelligent Systems.The mobile technology lets bus riders see the real-time location of the bus they want to catch through active maps on a website or smart phone application. It also supplies accurate predictions (within a minute) of when a bus will arrive at its stop using text messages. The technology comes from the Magic Bus program U-M uses for its buses.The pilot program will focus on Route #6 for the rest of this year. It could be spread throughout the rest of the AATA bus system next year.Source: Adrian Fortino, CEO of Shepherd Intelligent SystemsWriter: Jon Zemke

Video Dexter Does Research Too

By Keith Jefferies

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Economic Development

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October 14, 2009

Dexter Research doesn't live in A2's shadow but rather thrives alongside the city that U-M made famous. And even as the economy has struggled this 70 person Dexter-based company has hit a comfortable stride, finding new applications and industries for its thermal detectors.

VANGUARD USA hires 2, plans to continue staff expansion

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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October 14, 2009

One of the leading photography accessory manufacturers calls Whitmore Lake home, and continues to grow in the small lake town just north of Ann Arbor.VANGUARD USA has just hired two new people for its local U.S. headquarters, expanding its payroll to 21 people. It plans to hire a handful more people within the next year as it continues to revamp and upgrade its product portfolio."It appears to be nothing but growth on the horizon," says Jody Lamb, marketing manager for VANGUARD USA.The company got its start in 24 years ago when Anne Lee, a native of Taiwan, began making tripods and ball heads for cameras. One of her colleagues had ties to Ann Arbor and persuaded to open up her U.S. office in Dexter shortly after she started the firm. A few years later it moved to Whitmore Lake and expanded its portfolio to include more photography equipment, such as camera bags.The company went international in the 1980s, expanding into the Japanese and European markets. It even started offering hunting/outdoors equipment in 1997. Today VANGUARD USA employs 3,000 worldwide. The company recently overhauled its product line, causing it to focus more on advertising and getting the word out about its new products. That has prompted the recent expansion of the Whitmore Lake office."There has been a great need to focus on marketing and customer outreach," Lamb says.Source: Jody Lamb, marketing manager for VANGUARD USAWriter: Jon Zemke

A Strange Brew Of Beer And Community

By Julianne Mattera

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Arts & Culture

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September 30, 2009

Michigan has the fifth highest number of microbreweries in the nation, and the Ann Arbor area is doing more than its fair share to keep those numbers up. From Ypsi to Dexter to Milan, locally brewed ales, lagers and stouts are not only becoming the beverage of choice, but also bringing community together in unexpected ways.

Doors open on new Jolly Pumpkin brewery in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Development News

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September 23, 2009

There is one more place to drink a microbrew or two in downtown now that Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales has opened the doors on its new Ann Arbor location. The Dexter-based craft brewery took over the old Peppers bar space at 311 S Main St. The focus is decidely on food, but there will be some beer brewed onsite in a small three-barrel brewing system. "It's really cool," says Daemon Jefferies, head of packaging at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. "The food is really good. They have one of the best burgers I have ever had."The new space offers two floors of seating for up to 160 people indoors, including two bar areas and a room in the back for private parties. There will also be a roof-top deck and patio area with additional seating. The deck is set to open later this fall.The locally famous microbrew's Dexter operations are for production only. Most craft breweries combine both a restaurant and production brewery. There are plans to add a tap room to the Dexter facility later this year to accommodate tourists who want see where most of the beer is brewed. Source: Daemon Jefferies, head of packaging at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan AlesWriter: Jon Zemke

Dexter’s MediaOnion hires 3, prepares for expansion

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 23, 2009

Susan Hardin and her new employees are just starting to peel back the layers of Media Onion.The Dexter-based company provides online conference management services, and is in the midst of a product redesign. That has forced Hardin to change from a one-person consulting firm to employing three people, with plans to add interns this fall. More hires are likely as the 6-year-old start-up prepares to launch its new product in January."I'd like to keep it small but there is a lot of room for development," Hardin says.The Dexter resident was inspired to start the company when she was working for the University of Michigan and couldn't find a program to help her manage conferences. She created her own program and has since turned it into her full-time job."The excel spreadsheet method just wasn't working," Hardin says.She now provides these services to the university and other customers. That client list is expected to grow next year with the debut of the new product. Hardin also expects to add some support and marketing staff, along with other personnel, within the next year, too.Source: Susan Hardin, CEO and owner of Media OnionWriter: Jon Zemke

Dexter Pharmacy goes for new mixed-use building

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 16, 2009

The Dexter Pharmacy is angling for a new multi-purpose home in the village.Dexter-based A.R. Brouwer is proposing to build an 22,000-square-foot multi-use building on Baker Road. The 2-story building would replace the old Color Box site.The first floor would feature retail space for the pharmacy. The second floor would be dedicated to office space.The Village Council is considering the proposal and needs to sign off on it before construction can begin.Source: Allison Bishop, assistant village manager for DexterWriter: Jon Zemke

Akasha Crystals fills out Ann Arbor’s 101 N Main

By Newsroom

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Development News

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September 2, 2009

Akasha Crystals has come a long ways since Adam Kasha started selling aquarium rocks from the back of his car while going to school at the University of Michigan.That was in 1988, when he took a $5,000 loan from his parents and paid his rent late to go into business. Today, Akasha Crystals, soon to become Akasha US Inc., is a $20 million company, growing and moving into One North Main building in downtown Ann Arbor. The new space is meant to serve as the launching pad for some big growth."It's really time for us to spread our wings," says Adam Kasha, president and founder of Akasha Crystals. "We have been building up and now is the time."The company, which sells aquarium rocks to the likes of Target and Pier One, employs about 20 people, has a separate Chinese arm and uses three third-party warehouses in Ann Arbor, Dexter, and California. It will occupy the entire third floor of the One North Main Building, along with some extra storage space on the fourth floor.This is the first time One North Main, 101 N Main St, has been full. The 11-story high-rise has gone through a number of owners since it was built in 1989. The mixed-use building houses retail space on the first floor, office space on the middle levels, and residential overlooking the corner of Main Street and Huron Avenue above that.Akasha Crystals had already been located in downtown and had three showrooms spread across the area. The move to One North Main allows it to unify its products into one showroom, along with conference rooms and offices for each employee. Akasha Crystals expects to grow into the space as it marches toward becoming a $50 million firm within the next few years."We could double the staff of the company," Kasha says.Source: Adam Kasha, president and founder of Akasha CrystalsWriter: Jon Zemke