Ann Arbor shares bicentennial celebration planning update

As the city?s 200th-year anniversary approaches, in 2024, the Ann Arbor Bicentennial Coordinating Committee is working to plan 12 months of thoughtful, meaningful projects and events. The committee has been bringing together community partners and is sharing a status update on planning efforts, including:

• Ann Arbor Public Schools? compilation of historic images for use in local history curriculums at its elementary and middle schools.
• A2 SmartTours, a collection of self-guided tours available via smartphone.
• Contributions and support from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation to honor local trailblazers.
• The bicentennial marketing committee created the bicentennial website, www.a2bicentennial.org, and also manages the online events calendar, coordinates bicentennial merchandizing and strategizes and executes social media efforts.

Ann Arbor City Administrator Milton Dohoney also emphasized the importance of community involvement and shared specific ways individuals, businesses and organizations can get involved with the celebration. Read the full update!

Fairview Cemetery Stroll

A stroll through Fairview Cemetery can provide a unique way to learn about Ann Arbor's history. Throughout the fall, visitors can walk through the cemetery and pause at seven sites that have been identified as significant to Ann Arbor or Fairview Cemetery history. A sign at each site features information about the notable person laid to rest or other historic significance of the site. The cemetery is owned and operated by the City of Ann Arbor and is located at 1404 Wright St. Find more information about Fairview Cemetery online.

Expanded services for fall leaf management

The City of Ann Arbor is expanding services to help residents manage their seasonal leaves for 2023. While mulching is best, both for lawns and the environment, compost carts are the next best option. But if you must use paper yard bags, please don't overstuff them. If you can't lift them, neither can city drivers. Through Dec. 15, the maximum number of yard bags that can be left at the curb for collection is increased to 20 bags.

In addition, residents and their landscapers have access to unlimited leaf drop off at the Ann Arbor compost facility. Please remember, do not put leaves in the street and do not burn the leaves!

Looking for wood chips for your landscaping? You can pick them up for free at four locations around the city. Go online for pickup sites and to learn more about fall leaf management.

City taking steps to reduce plastic in compost

The types of manufactured compostable products that will be accepted for processing at the city compost facility is changing. The City of Ann Arbor, in collaboration with the city compost site operator, WeCare Denali, will only accept compostable products made of *fiber beginning Jan. 1, 2024. This change supports efforts to reduce contamination in the final compost product and reduce windblown litter at the compost site.

*Simply stated, the city advises, if an item is plastic, it is not accepted.

The Compost Manufacturer?s Alliance (CMA) offers a variety of certifications to products that have met industry standards for properly breaking down through composting technologies, including compost windrows (mounds of compostable material) like those used at the Ann Arbor compost site.

Still, the city goal of reduce, reuse, recycle remains the best way to reach environmental goals.

• First, strive to reduce materials used.
• Second, find ways to reuse what has already been produced.
• Finally, recycle material that conserves energy and saves natural resources like metals and paper.

The city is sharing detailed information about CMA-W certified material, including lists of products and distributors, to assist residents and businesses with understanding the changes to compostable materials.?

Stay alert

On Sunday, Nov. 5, it?s time to adjust our clocks to ?fall back? an hour for the end of daylight saving time. With the sun setting earlier and more hours of darkness, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are cautioned to be extra alert to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) has reported that this time of year, about 70 percent of pedestrian crashes take place in dark conditions; and approximately 65 percent of bicyclists? deaths happen in the dark. Human error, according to SEMCOG, has contributed to 94 percent of crashes. Let's work together to keep our roadways, bike lanes, paths, parking lots and sidewalks safe for all.

Another important safety reminder: If you missed this step in October during National Fire Prevention Week, it?s also time to change and test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors!

Veterans Day schedule + appreciation

City of Ann Arbor municipal offices, including the customer service center at Larcom City Hall and the 15th Judicial District Court at the Ann Arbor Justice Center, will be closed Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, for Veterans Day. Safety services and utility operations will maintain 24-hour schedules. Curbside trash, recycling and compost service will also continue without interruption. Find details, including information on disposing of leaves, trash, composting and recycling, online.?

There?s still lots to do, especially for vets, on Veterans Day. To show appreciation to all who served and are serving, Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation again this year will offer free activities for active and retired military veterans.

• Veterans Memorial Park Indoor Ice Arena (2150 Jackson Ave. | www.a2gov.org/vets) and Buhr Park Outdoor Ice Arena (2751 Packard Road | www.a2gov.org/buhr) will offer free ice skating and skate rental for military veterans Saturday, Nov. 11. Buhr Park open skating is offered 2:45?4:30 p.m. and 7?8:45 p.m. Veterans Memorial Indoor Ice Arena open skate times are 1?2:30 p.m.
• Military veterans can play golf and receive a cart for free at Huron Hills Golf Course (3465 E. Huron River Drive | www.huronhillsgolf.com) Saturday, Nov. 11.
• Mack Indoor Pool (715 Brooks St., inside Ann Arbor Open School | www.a2gov.org/mack) will offer free swimming to military veterans Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.?5 p.m.!

Ann Arbor appoints interim police chief

Ann Arbor has appointed a new interim police chief, effective Oct. 21, following the retirement of Interim Chief Aimee Metzer. Ann Arbor City Council made the appointment of former Deputy Chief Patrick Maguire official at the Oct. 16 Council meeting.

Maguire has served in the Ann Arbor Police Department since 2000, and has extensive patrol, detective and management experience. He also was a K9 handler.?

Please join the city in sending appreciation and well wishes to both Metzer and Maguire in these next chapters.

Diversity, equity and inclusion in Ann Arbor

Continuing with efforts to prioritize accessibility and inclusivity for all community members, the City of Ann Arbor has recently expanded its new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) unit. Led by Director of Organizational Equity Laura Orta, who joined the city in this new role in 2022, the DEI unit is now welcoming Data Analyst Kelly Reynolds, formerly of the Ann Arbor mayor?s office, and Accessibility Coordinator Tracy Byrd, who previously served with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) as mobility services coordinator. Together, their efforts will work with the community to enhance accessibility and inclusivity within the city organization and city as a whole.

A2 Fix It feedback wanted

Potholes, an abandoned bike, graffiti and more ? these are all issues the city needs to know about.,A2 Fix It has been the reporting system used in Ann Arbor for nearly a decade to help issues get identified and addressed.

Perhaps you've made a maintenance report through A2 Fix It? If so, the City of Ann Arbor wants to hear from you! Please share your feedback on A2 Fix It, describing your user experiences, via a simple, five-question online survey. Your input is appreciated.

No November 2023 elections in Ann Arbor ? but prepare now for 2024!

Please be aware, there are NO ELECTIONS scheduled for the city of Ann Arbor in November 2023. The Nov. 7 Special Election in select Washtenaw County communities DOES NOT affect city of Ann Arbor voters.

You can, however, take some steps now to prepare for the busy 2024 elections year. For instance, if you?ve never voted in Ann Arbor, check your voter registration status at the Michigan Voter Registration Center. If you need to register to vote in the city, you can do so now on the site or visit the Ann Arbor City Clerk?s office at any time during regular business hours to register in person.

Planning to vote absentee in 2024? When Michigan?s Proposal 2 passed in 2022, voters gained the option to make a single request to have an absentee ballot automatically mailed to them for every election going forward. Convenient, right? No more waiting in lines at the polls to vote in person on Election Day. And no more having to fill out separate applications to request an absentee ballot before elections. But automatically receiving an absentee ballot in the mail for every election may not be the best option for everyone.

Make a one-time request for all upcoming absentee ballots if you:

• Prefer to vote absentee.
• Prefer to receive your ballot in the mail.
• Have a single permanent address.
• Do NOT use the USPS mail forwarding or mail holding service.
• May forget to submit the application to have your ballot mailed to you.

Does this sound like you? If so, automatically receiving an absentee/mail ballot for all upcoming elections may be your best option. Look for more information coming soon in the mail; or, in the meantime, email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Sign up to automatically receive information/applications to request an absentee ballot by mail if you:

• *Frequently move addresses or have more than one residence.
• *Regularly use USPS mail forwarding or mail holding services.
• May occasionally prefer to vote in person rather than to vote by mail. (You still have the option to vote in person, even if you receive an absentee ballot.)

*USPS will not hold or forward ballots, so you could be at risk of not receiving your absentee ballot in time.

Does this sound like you? If so, signing up to automatically receive an application to request an absentee/mail ballot for elections may be best for you.

Regular absentee voters can expect to get more information in their mailboxes soon about how to sign up for the permanent ballot list or to remain on the application list. Still not sure which option would work best for you? Have questions? Want to discuss with a real person? Contact the Ann Arbor City Clerk?s Office at 734.794.6140 ?or? [email protected].

Visit www.a2gov.org/elections and follow the Ann Arbor City Clerk's Office on Instagram ? @a2cityclerk ? for elections news and information all year round!?

Tower tracks wildlife in Ann Arbor

A new resource to help track wildlife presence and migration has been installed at Huron Hills Golf Course (HHGC) in Ann Arbor. A Motus Tower has been installed near the HHGC sixth hole in a collaboration between the City of Ann Arbor, the Kalamazoo Nature Center (KNC) and the Kalamazoo Valley Bird Observatory (KVBO). The HHGC installation fills a critical gap in the tracking system, which spans throughout the state. Since late September, the HHGC tower has already tracked state-endangered and state-threatened bird species. Learn more about this exciting initiative!

Thanksgiving and expressing thanks

City offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23 and 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Trash/compost/recycling collection will be delayed due to the holiday. Pickups regularly scheduled for Thursday will instead take place with a one-day delay, on Friday the 24th; and Friday collections will be delayed to Saturday the 25th.

With the holiday seasons approaching, some residents and vendors like to take this time to show appreciation to the municipal employees who collect the trash, maintain the roadways, keep our community safe and provide other vital city services. While a friendly smile, wave or even a note of thanks are always welcomed and greatly appreciated, anything more is actually prohibited for employees to accept.

According to the City of Ann Arbor?s Conflict of Interest employee policy, city personnel are not permitted to accept gifts, meals and food items, gift baskets, gift cards, etc., of any dollar value. This policy is not intended to diminish the importance of the work city staff does, but instead is in place to protect transparency in city operations and to maintain the public trust.

Partly cloudy in Council chambers

City Council chambers is adorned with a new ceiling mural entitled ?They Will All Be Dreaming.? Painted over the weekend of Oct. 20-21 by artist and Michigan resident, Tess Marhofer, the work stemmed from the desire to bring a touch of escapism into the everyday environment. Marhofer used acrylic paint and brushes while perched on scaffolding to reach the raised portion of Council chambers. Staff and visitors are encouraged to look for themselves, with the artist?s reminder that, ?even amidst the chaos of life, there?s a tranquil world above, waiting to ignite our imagination and provide a sanctuary for dreamers and thinkers alike.?

CTN highlights

Check out what?s happening at CTN!

Santa Satellite Network 2023

Kids! Zoom in and talk to Santa live from the North Pole on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5:30?8 p.m. Kids will have six minutes to tell Santa their holiday wishes (one slot per family). You must sign up to schedule your spot.?

Then, on Dec. 15, 6?8:30 p.m. on CTN Channel 17, tune in with friends and family to watch the entire program!

Viewing options:

• Comcast Cable (in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas only) ? CTN Channel 17.
• CTN Live Stream.
• YouTube ? YouTube/ctnannarbor

Tune in to watch ?

Adventures In Parenthood ? Brayden Moore, public relations chair for Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan (DMUM) chats about the largest student-run organization on campus.?

Around Ann Arbor ? Artoberfest 2023.?

Around Ann Arbor ? Farmers Market Food Truck Rallies.?

Around Ann Arbor ? Escanaba In Love is Nov. 9?18 at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti. For a full list of showtimes and to purchase tickets online, visit ptdprodctions.com.?

City Round Up in 60 Seconds ? Leaf Collection Guidelines 2023.?

CTN One Night Workshop Smart Devices ? Monday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m., this is open to the public! (Scroll to "workshops offered" section of the page to see the program flyer.)?

CTN Sports ? Dexter @Skyline Football, Sept 29.?

CTN Sports ? Saline @ Pioneer Field Hockey, Oct. 16. 5

CTN Sports ? Pinckney@Pioneer Football, Oct. 20.?https://youtu.be/gh8MDylogk4?si=cyoRz2f0dMEvPMdp

FYI ? Lisa Gentz, program administrator for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, discusses how millage dollars are hard at work; the annual Ann Arbor Green Fair; and take a peek at Mack Indoor Pool.?

FYI ? Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Co-founder Lisa Bee and Brian Kung, franchisee, discuss this homegrown business and the new location at the 777 Building; Amal Walks Across America; and take a peek at Island Park.?

FYI Halloween Spooktacular.

FYI ? Christina Morales Hemenway discusses her new feature film, Tommy Hollywood & Katie Encino Move to the Midwest to Get Real; Washtenaw Community College's non-credit personal enrichment courses; and take a peek at the Bryant Community Center.?

Park Peek ? Bird Hills Nature Area.?

Senior Moments ? Brittany Patton, City of Ann Arbor recreation supervisor and Ann Arbor Senior Center director, talks about events and activities at the center.?

Senior Moments ? Photographer Susan Kelly and watercolor/multimedia artist, Margaret Kelly; the Kelly sisters talk about their artwork and exhibits in and around Ann Arbor.?