A2ZERO Week is June 4?10

More than a dozen events are planned for the third annual A²ZERO Week in Ann Arbor Sunday?Saturday, June 4?10! From music to tours, cocktail crafting to trivia (and so much more), the diverse lineup of events make learning about sustainability and carbon neutrality easy to understand and lots of fun! Plus pick up a passport from partner, Ann Arbor District Library, to log your participation, and you could even win some great prizes.

June 1 marks the three-year anniversary of the adoption of the A²ZERO Plan to achieve a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality in Ann Arbor. A²ZERO Week commemorates the plan adoption and celebrates the work of the city and its sustainability collaborators in unique, fun, interactive ways. Also ? save the date for this fall, when the sustainability celebration continues with annual Mayor?s Green Fair Friday, Sept. 22.

To learn more about A²ZERO and for a full schedule of A²ZERO Week events, visit www.a2gov.org/a2zeroweek.

Join the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run Green Team

The Annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Run takes to the city streets Sunday, June 4, 2023. Take a look at the course maps to steer clear of road closures at https://dxa2.com/dexter-ann-arbor-course-maps/.

A sustainability focus will be included as part of this year?s run, which falls on the kickoff day of the city?s A²ZERO Week. Volunteer with the effort! Green Team members will help ensure materials are separated into proper containers as they're discarded ? trash, recyclables and compost ?with two shifts available, 7?10 a.m. and 11 a.m.?3 p.m. Learn more at https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MI/Dexter/DXA2.

Wishing good luck to runners and thanks in advance to volunteers!

Know where to turn

With construction ?season? in full swing, find out in advance where detours may interrupt your travels around Ann Arbor. Sign up to receive planned road and lane closure notifications, and see a list of temporary traffic control plans in progress, at www.a2gov.org/roads. In addition, the city provides road closure notices to WAZE, a free app can be downloaded to a phone or other mobile device.

Ann Arbor recognized for environmental leadership

Ann Arbor has been recognized with a gold status for environmental leadership by the statewide Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program! As part of the annual MGC Challenge, local governments were awarded bronze, silver or gold seals of achievement reflecting community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and resilience, recycling, environmental justice and more. Learn details at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=974.

Parks summer news

Guided hikes | Outdoor pools | Golf championships | River fun | Farmers market | And SO much more!

What?s cooking at the market?

The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is the place to be this summer for local food, local treasures and local chefs! Check out live cooking demonstrations 11 a.m.?noon Wednesdays, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2 and Sept. 13, at the market, 315 Detroit St. in Kerrytown. Each featured chef will use fresh market ingredients to create a seasonal culinary delight ... while offering cooking tips and free samples, of course! Kicking off the series this month will be Allison Anastasio from the Newton in Ypsilanti. Learn more about the market and the cooking demo series (presented by Edible Wow Magazine) at www.a2gov.org/market. And follow the market on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/a2market and Twitter https://twitter.com/a2market.

Canoeing, kayaking and SUP for all

Did you know Ann Arbor canoe liveries offer a variety of classes for individuals interested in taking up a water sport? There are several upcoming classes available for all skill levels (ages 13 and up) including a class for seniors! All the classes require preregistration. Dates, fees and more can be found at https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog/index/a10c69e58d9a4acc7017ea86601d9b71?filter=c2VhcmNoPSZjYXRlZ29yeSU1QjcwMDUlNUQ9MQ==.

Gallup Livery ?

Recreational Kayak Instruction: Mondays, June 5, June 26 or July 10, 5:30?7:30 p.m. Learn basic strokes, techniques and safety before heading out to explore Gallup Pond in a kayak. Instruction, kayaks, paddles and lifejackets provided!

Kayaking for Seniors: 9?11 a.m. Wednesdays, June 14 and 21; July 12 and 19; and Aug. 2 and 9 (each session is two classes). This class allows participants over age 50 to kayak on the Huron River, accompanied by trained support staff. Participants are fitted to a kayak, given basic kayaking instruction, and along with trained guides, set out for a practice session on the river. There are easy kayak launch docks making it simple to enter and exit the boats. Kayaks, single or tandem, paddles and lifejackets provided!

Argo Livery ?

Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP): Tuesdays, June 13, June 27, or July 11, 5:30?7:30 p.m. SUP is fun, easy to learn and is a great workout out on beautiful Argo Pond. Instruction, boards, paddles and lifejackets are provided!

Outdoor pools are open!

All three City of Ann Arbor outdoor pools (Buhr Park, Fuller Park and Veterans Memorial Park) are now open for the 2023 swim season! Pool punch passes are on sale at each facility. The card is good for daily admission for you and your family members. One punch per visit per person, and it is valid for all open swim and lap swim times. Punch passes are not valid for master's swim times.

Fees:

• 10 punches: $40.
• 25 punches: $100.
• 50 punches: $187.50.
• 100 punches: $350.

For location hours, pricing and offerings, including learn-to-swim classes, visit www.a2gov.org/pools. See also information about (and the schedule for) the new combined swim team, the Octopods, at www.a2gov.org/octopods.

As of May 29, you can register for private swim lessons at each pool for swimmers ages 3 to adult. Each private lesson is 30-minutes long and customized to meet the needs of the swimming participant. Please call the pool to find out dates and times available; space is very limited. Private lessons are for one participant only. Fee: Half hour $15 resident; $18 nonresident. Buhr Park Pool, 734.794.6234 | Fuller Park Pool, 734.794.6236 | Veterans Memorial Park Pool, 734.794.6235.

Don?t miss your chance: Registration open for annual golf championships

Sign up today for the men's and senior golf championships at Leslie Park Golf Course. The men's, July 14?16, is open to amateur golfers of all ages and is a 54-hole, stroke play competition that is flighted after 36 holes. $165/$155 for early entries received by Monday, June 26 (final deadline is Monday, July 10).

The senior event is Aug. 19-20 and is a 36-hole, stroke play event, flighted after the first round. Open to golfers ages 50 and up (super seniors, ages 65 and up). $90/$85 for early entries received by Monday, July 31 (final deadline Wednesday, Aug. 16). Visit the website to sign up. https://secure.rec1.com/MI/city-of-ann-arbor/catalog/index/6ce730aac40d76534549795800bb6233?filter=c2VhcmNoPSZjYXRlZ29yeSU1QjY5ODQlNUQ9MQ==

Photograph: 2022 Men?s Championship winners pose with their trophies

Hike & Hang

Looking for a new way to explore the Ann Arbor parks system? Eager to meet new people? The new Hike & Hang program may be just the answer. Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation staff will host weekly guided hikes through a different park in the city of Ann Arbor every Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m. starting June 6. Path conditions may include paved, unpaved and boardwalks. Hikes will range from 2-3 miles depending on the park. All level of walkers are welcome. When you register, you will receive a weekly email with instructions on where to meet within the selected park. Each walk will be weather permitting, and a weather determination will be made at 3:30 p.m. the day of the walk. Registration is required for this free activity. To sign up, email Marianne Fulton, [email protected], with your contact information.

Juneteenth holiday

City of Ann Arbor municipal offices will be closed Monday, June 19, to observe Juneteenth. Collection of trash/recycling/compost, however, will continue as regularly scheduled.

Juneteenth is a holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, following its establishment on the North American mainland in 1619. City Council approved Juneteenth as a city holiday in 2021 via Resolution R-21-182.

County clean-up days

Residents can dispose of and recycle household items in a safe and sustainable manner. Washtenaw County Clean-up Days will be held throughout the area this summer, with the next event planned for June 24 in Northfield Township. Registration, required, is going on now. Register, find details, locations and the calendar at www.washtenaw.org/cleanup.

CTN highlights

Check out CTN?s wide range of programs available to watch online now!

Soapbox ? Ann Arbor's Juneteenth Celebration: https://youtu.be/Y9_1pr5oP9U.

Soapbox ? Veterans Radio: https://youtu.be/HB0SiM2F6Y4.

Soapbox ? Yassoo Greek Festival: https://youtu.be/mxqtc26-eqs.

Ann Arbor Inclusive ? Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND): https://youtu.be/UEkCjihAGb4.

Around Ann Arbor ? Emagine Theaters: https://youtu.be/oUqokNN7tgc.

Around Ann Arbor ? The Michigan Taiwanese American Organization (MITAI): https://youtu.be/hSFVcZrRt30.

Around Ann Arbor ? Washtenaw County Health Department: https://youtu.be/9gfJE_8RYWk.

Around Ann Arbor ? Ann Arbor?s NAACP Juneteenth Events: https://youtu.be/9HGCIzUHJ1s.

CTN SPORTS 2023 ? Saline/Milan at Pioneer Girls High School Water Polo, April 28: https://youtu.be/L_Asc-gTxgw.

CTN SPORTS 2023 ? Skyline at Pioneer High School Girls Soccer, May 2: https://youtu.be/ZJMocqxXhqQ.

CTN SPORTS 2023 ? Dexter @ Skyline High School Girls Soccer, May 16: https://youtu.be/EafhTzfhfGo.

CTN SPORTS 2023 ? Pioneer @ Skyline High School Girls Lacrosse, May 8: https://youtu.be/tHiOxfpH28I.

CTN SPORTS ? Top Plays of the Season, Spring 2023: https://youtu.be/n-VH6Q220D0.

CTN?s Community Resource Student from Community High School Final Project: https://youtu.be/9ISy3x6wcSQ.

Time for fireworks?

If you?re planning to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, please remember to do so safely and responsibly. For starters, per Michigan Fireworks Safety Act 256 of 2011 (PDF), fireworks usage is permitted only during certain timeframes and only around national holidays. For the Independence Day holiday this year, fireworks may ONLY be discharged in the city: Thursday, June 29?Tuesday, July 4, until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.

*****Also note, fireworks use without permission is ALWAYS PROHIBITED at:*****

• City parks.
• Schools.
• All public and private property that isn?t your own.

Further, anyone setting off fireworks that cause a fire resulting in property damage will potentially face civil and criminal liability.

Please be aware of these important safety reminders as well:

• Keep a water source ready to spray embers from fireworks. Drench the entire area where you?ve been using fireworks when done.
• Toss used fireworks into a bucket of water for at least 24 hours before disposing.
• Don?t try to reignite fireworks that won?t go off.
• Don?t launch fireworks into forests or fields. Dry grass or leaves could ignite.
• Keep fireworks away from your face and eyes.

More information is available on the National Fire Protection Association website.?

Fireworks also pose a risk to pets. Visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website for tips on how to keep pets safe for the holiday and all summer long.?

According to the National Fire Protection Agency Fireworks Fires and Injuries report, fireworks started an estimated 12,264 fires in the U.S. in 2021, including 2,082 structure fires, 316 vehicle fires, and 9,866 outside and other fires. These fires caused 29 civilian injuries and $59 million in direct property damage.?

If you plan to use fireworks, please follow the laws, do so safely and be courteous by letting neighbors know in advance. This includes being mindful of any military veterans or others who may be sensitive to the noise associated with fireworks.