Labor Day

There will be no trash, recycling or compost curbside collection services in Ann Arbor on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. Monday pickups will occur on Tuesday, and the rest of the collections will occur one day later throughout the week. The normal Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday, Sept. 10. For information on the city’s solid waste services, please visit www.a2gov.org/solidwaste.

Municipal offices, including the Ann Arbor Customer Service Center at Larcom City Hall and the 15th Judicial District Court at the Ann Arbor Justice Center, will be closed on the holiday Monday. Safety services and utility operations will maintain 24-hour schedules throughout. Learn more at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=909.

Quality Water Matters

The September issue of Quality Water Matters features information from the Ann Arbor water treatment plant manager regarding the chromium spill in the Huron River, the city’s response and how the city will continue to test water intake at Barton Pond to ensure drinking water continues to be safe to drink. The issue is available online at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/water-treatment/Documents/quality_water_matters_newsletter_september_2022.pdf
(PDF).

Water treatment plant project planning underway soon

The City of Ann Arbor is launching a planning project to rehabilitate the city’s water treatment plant (WTP). The original WTP was constructed in 1938 — with expansions in 1949, 1965 and 1975, and treatment improvements in 1996, 2000, 2007, 2013 and 2020. To ensure continued reliable, high-quality water service, the city must now plan for significant infrastructure investments. The Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant Facility Plan will evaluate the operational, maintenance and regulatory needs of the plant and will include strategic planning, an alternatives analysis and a small pilot plant to evaluate new technology, all with community engagement taking place throughout the planning process.

The city provides drinking water, drawn from both surface and groundwater sources, to approximately 125,000 people residing in the city of Ann Arbor and in Scio and Ann Arbor townships. More information on the Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant Facility Plan project is available at https://a2wtpfacilityplan.com/.

Mental health helplines

Crisis services and support from mental health professionals can now be reached in two different ways, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Community members in need may call local resource Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH – 734.544.3050) or may call or text a new national helpline launched in July (988).

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national behavioral health initiative, backed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This service is designed to provide a more appropriate pathway for mental health emergencies than 911 and offers both text and chat functions. Learn more at https://988lifeline.org/.

A direct call to WCCMH will also connect you to local mental health professionals every day and hour of the year. Learn more at https://www.washtenaw.org/916/Our-Services.

Become an A2ZERO ambassador

The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) is assembling its next group of community members to serve as A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality plan ambassadors. The ambassadors will participate for approximately 12 weeks beginning in November; and ambassador applications are being accepted now through Friday, Sept. 30.

The A2ZERO program provides insights, connections, collaboration opportunities and information for individuals interested in helping the City of Ann Arbor achieve a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. The A2ZERO Ambassadors program, modeled after the seven strategies of the ambitious A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, covers:

• Equity and environmental justice.
• Community sustainability, climate change and climate action.
• Energy efficiency, beneficial electrification and renewable energy.
• Water efficiency, water quality, stormwater and the local watershed.
• Transportation and choices to move around the community. 
• Achieving a circular economy: waste reduction, composting, recycling, sustainable purchasing and material reuse.
• Local food: how to grow it, eat it and find it.
• Personal and community resilience and emergency preparedness.
• Tying it all together: A2ZERO and You.

Do you want to be an ambassador for our environment and a cleaner, healthier future? Learn more at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=908.

Circular Ann Arbor

Learn about “circular Ann Arbor” via a new series coming to CTN. Making the Old New: Stories of Circularity will show what a circular economy looks like in action. Watch the promo, https://youtu.be/JpNa9CwvxEc, to learn why and how the circular economy plays an important role in our everyday lives and how you can participate. Among the inspiring stories featured in this series are businesses and organization owners of color who draw on family traditions to talk about and relate to “circular economy." Their experiences help demonstrate how to apply these practices on a larger, community scale! Episodes of the Stories of Circularity series premiere this fall on CTN Channel 16 and CTN online. More information on this series can be found at www.a2gov.org/ctn or email [email protected] with questions.

Ready? Or not

September is National Preparedness Month, and ready.gov is urging all to take this opportunity to focus on readiness. https://www.ready.gov/september The 2022 theme is “A Lasting Legacy: The life you’ve built is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family.” Learn about the practical ways individuals and families can be organized in advance of unforeseen disasters, including:

• Build a kit.
• Make a plan.
• Protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.
• Teach young people about preparedness.

Find the details at www.ready.gov/september.

The City of Ann Arbor wants to make sure you know about emergencies and incidents right away. The city joined Washtenaw County's emergency notification system, powered by Everbridge, in August 2020 to send alerts about issues that may affect your safety. This system, www.washtenaw.org/alerts, allows the city and county to contact thousands of community members in seconds via phone, email or text in emergency situations.

The success of this service, however, relies on YOU. Having your latest contact information on record in the system is the only way to ensure you can be contacted in an emergency. Please sign up for emergency notifications. It only takes a minute to enroll!

Game-day streets and parking reminders

University of Michigan football season is upon us, which again brings about game-day street closures and on-street parking restrictions in certain stadium-area neighborhoods. Per City Council resolution, street closures begin three hours before each game until the end of the game, except for southbound South Main Street, which will be closed beginning one hour before until the end of each game.

Game-day street closures

• East Keech Street between South Main and Greene streets.
• Greene Street from East Hoover to Keech streets, limiting access to parking permit holders.
• Westbound right-turn lane on East Stadium Boulevard (onto South Main Street) just south of the Michigan Stadium.
• South Main Street between Pauline and Stadium.

On-street parking restrictions

It’s important for residents to remember on-street parking is restricted for some stadium-area streets on U-M football home-game days. On-street parking restrictions will be in effect 8 a.m. to midnight — including for the first home game, Saturday, Sept. 3 — for portions of:

• Scio Church Road.
• Franklin Boulevard.
• Snyder Avenue.
• Berkley Avenue.
• Potter Avenue.
• West Keech Avenue.
• Edgewood Avenue.
• South Main Street.
• Edgewood Place.
• Brown Street.
• South Fourth Avenue.
• South Division Street.
• McKinley Avenue.
• Dewey Avenue.

Details can be found at www.a2gov.org/parking; view the on-street parking restrictions map at https://www.a2gov.org/services/Documents/U-M_Stadium_Events_Parking_Restrictions_MAP_2019-Snyder_extended_west.pdf (PDF). See also the football game schedule on the University of Michigan website, https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/schedule.

Know before you go

Planning to attend a game? Keep up with scheduled road and lane closures in Ann Arbor, whether due to construction or special events, via the city road or lane closure webpage, www.a2gov.org/roads. Here, you can also sign up for alerts, via the envelope icon, and can use the WAZE map for a visual representation of closures. In addition, the WAZE app can be downloaded to a phone or other mobile device.

State General Election notes

It’s not too early to start thinking about the State General Election, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. There are steps you can take now to prepare, including reviewing the changes that have taken place; checking your voter-registration status, and registering to vote if you’re not already; and by deciding whether you want to vote in advance of Election Day, via absentee ballot, instead of in person at the polls. Read on to get Election Day ready …

If you voted in the primary election in August, you may already be aware of the changes that have taken place for some voters due to 2020 Census results, most notably for polling locations. In addition to some location changes, Ann Arbor precincts have been renumbered to follow a consistent, chronological order (1–53). In other words, you may still be assigned the same precinct and polling location, just the number may be different. All registered voters in Ann Arbor should have received a new voter ID card in the mail over the summer to indicate their newly numbered precinct — or, for a smaller group of voters, to indicate a new polling location. Voters can also easily find this information (and more!) at www.michigan.gov/vote. Check it out!

Need a ballot to vote absentee? Apply for your ballot today.

• Registered voters can print, fill out — and be sure to sign — the online application to request a ballot. The PDF form can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/25delrio/2022-AVApp-Aug---Nov-dual-English.pdf?rev=944340613213430782c63ac79ade543f&hash=CF304D5B97B239240194E424C7916E37. Completed applications can then be: scanned and emailed to [email protected] | or mailed or dropped off to the Ann Arbor City Clerk’s Office, 301 E. Huron Street, Second Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
• Registered voters with a valid Michigan driver’s license can simply visit www.michigan.gov/vote to fill out and submit the ballot application online. No printing necessary.
• Once the ballot-request application is submitted and processed, absentee ballots will be mailed to voters. Voters who turn in applications in person at the city clerk’s office (within 40 days before Election Day) can get a ballot on the spot.

Once you have your absentee ballot in hand, fill it out, sign and date it, and turn it in. Absentee ballot return envelopes are postage-paid; and the United States Postal Service recommends returning ballots at least seven days in advance of the election. Completed ballots can also be turned in at the city clerk’s office; at either of the *two temporary satellite offices on the U of M campus; or in one of the designated drop boxes around town (see locations at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Elections/Pages/Absentee-Voting.aspx#ballotbox).

*You read that correctly: The Ann Arbor City Clerk’s office will have two satellite locations at U of M for the State General Election! In addition to the to the University of Michigan Museum of Art site that was opened for the election in 2020, an additional satellite office will be at the Duderstadt Center on north campus.

If you have questions about where to vote, ways to cast your ballot, how to check voter-registration status or have any other elections questions, visit www.michigan.gov/vote. For Ann Arbor-specific elections information, visit www.a2gov.org/elections or contact the city clerk's office at 734.794.6140 or [email protected].

Walk, bike, drive safely

With summer vacations ending and schools back in session, the streets of Ann Arbor are bustling again with more vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Check out these reminders of how to be safe when you’re out and about:

Pedestrians:

• Cross at marked crosswalks.
• Give motorists enough time to see you and stop.

Residents:

• Be sure to keep vegetation on your property trimmed to allow for safe passage on sidewalks and proper visibility near crosswalks. If you see vegetation obstructing visibility, please report to the city via the A2 Fix It app or online at https://www.a2gov.org/services/Pages/Report-a-Problem.aspx.

Bicyclists:

• Ride on the road when possible — and obey the traffic signs and signals.
• Use bike lanes when available. To report vehicles parked in marked bike lanes, please call the police nonemergency phone number at 734.994.2911.

Motorists:

• Give yourselves plenty of commute time and be patient.
• Slow down in or near school and residential areas.
• Watch for children in between parked cars and other objects.
• Look for clues — such as safety patrols, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds — that indicate children might be in the area.
• Be extra alert at crosswalks, and stop when pedestrians — with or without a crossing guard — are present to cross.
• Watch for crossing guards and remain stopped, out of the crosswalk, until everyone is out of the roadway.
• Give bicyclists at least 5 feet of space on the road. (And thank you for not parking in bike lanes!)
• See a school bus? Whether you are driving on a two-lane roadway (with or without a center turning lane) or a four-lane roadway (without a median separation), all traffic — in both directions — must stop when a bus stops for passengers. (Also visit Michigan State Police online to find information on school buses and other safety tips: https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/ohsp/safety-programs/school-bus-safety.)

Learn more at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/engineering/transportation/Pages/default.aspx.

Sustainability corner

Catch up on the latest from the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI). For more information, including registration links, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Newsletter-Events/Pages/default.aspx.

Subscribe to the OSI Newsletter — Every two months, OSI send out a detailed newsletter highlighting some of the sustainability-related activities unfolding in the community. If you aren’t already, consider subscribing by filling out this short form: https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Newsletter-Events/Pages/default.aspx.

Solarize — If you have been thinking about installing solar at your home, summer is the perfect season to research and make informed decisions. OSI’s Solarize program is a great resource to help you navigate the terrain. For details, visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability-Me/Families-Individuals/Pages/Ann-Arbor-Solarize.aspx. To learn more, to sign up for a Solarize event or to be added to the Solarize mailing list, contact Julie Roth, the Ann Arbor Solarize program coordinator, at [email protected].

Resident Race to Zero Energy Challenge — The Resident Race to Zero Energy Challenge is a home energy competition run in partnership with the GreenHome Institute. From multiple months, participants will reduce their water and electric bills through a variety of efficiency improvements – and the household with the largest reduction in energy usage will win $500. Other prizes will also be available, based on improvements in Home Energy Score, decreases in water usage and more. For more information, see the Resident Race to Zero Energy Challenge.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Plant-based Challenge, Sept. 11–17, 2022 — OSI is delighted to partner with numerous A2ZERO ambassadors and VegMichigan to bring you our first-ever plant-based challenge. If you want to have fun, learn more about plant-based eating, get some delicious recipes, and learn about plant-forward restaurants in Ann Arbor, considering joining our weeklong challenge. More information is available at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability-Me/Families-Individuals/Pages/Plant-Based-Challenge.aspx.

Bandemer Park Workdays, third Tuesdays, 8:30–10 a.m. — OSI has adopted Bandemer Park and holds a monthly workday there with GIVE365 (on the third Tuesday of each month, except December–February). If you are interested in volunteering to help maintain Bandemer Park with OSI (by picking up trash, removing invasives, clearing brush from trails, etc.), please email Melissa at [email protected].

Ann Arbor Solar Stories — The first Thursday of each month, 7–8 p.m., this one-hour online event is hosted by the GLREA. Hear from Ann Arborites who have gone solar, and have a chance to ask them all your questions! Register for "Thursday Night Energy Events" to receive meeting links.

Autumnal Green Fair — Save the Date! The second annual Autumnal Ann Arbor Green Fair is fast approaching. This year’s fair will be held Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in downtown Ann Arbor on both Main Street and the Library Lane and lot, 6–9 p.m. Applications for this year’s event will be sent out in September.

A2 Local Food Festival — Save the date, Thursday, Oct. 13, 5–10 p.m., at the Kerrytown Farmer’s Market. Join us for the first Ann Arbor Local Food Festival, an event to celebrate and enjoy the abundance of this year’s harvest from local farmers. More details can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability-Me/Families-Individuals/Pages/Local-Food-Festival.aspx.

Good news!

Livebility.com has recognized Ann Arbor as No. 2 on its 2022 list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. Read all about it at https://livability.com/best-places/2022-top-100-best-places-to-live-in-the-us/top-100-2022-ann-arbor-mi/.

CTN highlights

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

Adventures in Crafting — Find out the easiest/low-hassle way to make slime at home: https://youtu.be/3BjloSV0c08.

Adventures in Crafting — Marble art: https://youtu.be/JLBe188Ajo4.

Ann Arbor Inclusive — Able Eyes is a virtual tour hosting site that allows users of varying abilities the opportunity to see and explore places prior to visiting using virtual tours "Know Before you Go": https://youtu.be/jub5LJGubZk.

CTN’s Camp TV Summer 2022 — This summer, CTN has been teaching video production to Ann Arbor Public School students, ages 11-15. During the two-week sessions, the TV Lights, Camera & Action Video Camp covers script writing, how to be on-air talent, how to operate in-the-field video cameras, lighting techniques and more. The students' final work will be featured on CTN Cable TV and YouTube. Learn more about this program at https://news.a2schools.org/and-action-new-rec-ed-camp-teaches-practical-skills-in-video-production/. Campers from this year’s week-long, Rec n Ed media camp produced their own TV talk show: https://youtu.be/LSFmzy-pdQI.

FYI — Ann Arbor At Center (A2AC) Interim Executive Director Kate Robertson discusses the search for a new leader and an update on the organization; rappelling with Friends in Deed; and the Fire Muster: https://youtu.be/PlTPhdIo91s.

FYI — Taylor Greenshields, founder of Fundamental Sound Co, explains why Fun Fest 22 is the local music event of the summer; Rolling Sculpture Car Show; and Summer at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum: https://youtu.be/FZlZWbgjl-k.

FYI — Laura Bird, director of PTD’s production of One Slight Hitch, shares how this intergenerational farce about all the mishaps leading up to Courtney’s wedding is must see; Therapeutic Riding and Pro Wakeboarding/Surfing: https://youtu.be/ikn3xOUi1EQ.

Introduction to The Circular Ann Arbor Series — Educational and informational video program for City of Ann Arbor Solid Waste Management department to promote the “circular economy” project for local businesses and the general public to explain the importance of an environmentally friendly community and infrastructure: https://youtu.be/JpNa9CwvxEc.