Trucks + heavy equipment shine at public works open house

Here?s your chance to paint a plow, to touch a giant truck and more! All are invited to the City of Ann Arbor Public Works Open House Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, 10 a.m.?1 p.m. at the Wheeler Service Center, 4251 Stone School Road. This free, family-friendly event for children and adults gives an up-close look at the vehicles and equipment that keep our city safe and clean, including street sweepers, solid waste and other heavy-duty trucks from the city fleet. This is also a great opportunity for young people to learn about viable career opportunities available in public works. Don?t miss the fun!

A2Votes! State General Election Day is Nov. 8

The State General Election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Now is the time to prepare and, if you choose, to even vote early. Residents wanting to register to vote and voters who want to apply for/pick up/turn in absentee ballots can do so now at the Larcom City Hall city clerk's office or at a satellite location on the University of Michigan campus. As Election Day approaches, the U.S. Postal Service recommends in-person drop off rather than mailing absentee ballots and applications to ensure timely receipt. Secure, official drop boxes are also located throughout the city to return completed and signed absentee ballots (only). Note: drop boxes are only for returning absentee ballots, NOT for applications for absentee ballots. Ballot applications must be turned in to the city clerk's office or at a satellite location.

The two satellite city clerk?s offices on the University of Michigan campus provide greater convenience and accessibility for students and residents alike. The satellite offices are located at the U-M Museum of Art (UMMA), 525 State St.; and on north campus, at the Duderstadt Center, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd. The satellites offer extended hours and, just like the city hall location, friendly, knowledgeable staff who can answer all of your election questions.

Key points to remember:

• Are you ready to vote? Check voter registration status; locate your precinct to vote in person; view your sample ballot; request and check absentee ballot status; and more at the Michigan Voter Information Center: www.michigan.gov/vote.
• Polling places are open 7 a.m.?8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.
• Find out line length at your polling place before you go to vote at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Elections/Pages/Line-Tracker.aspx.
• Find information from the Ann Arbor City Clerk?s office, including office hours; reminders; tips on voter registration, voting absentee, in-person voting; and more at https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=915. And visit www.a2gov.org/elections for complete voting and Election Day in Ann Arbor information.

Meet the candidates

Ann Arbor Community Television Network (CTN) and the League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County (LWVWC) are giving voters the opportunity to learn about and hear directly from local candidates. CTN Election Marathons air on Channel 16 Sunday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m.?4 p.m. and 8?11:45 p.m. ?and? Monday, Nov. 7, 8:15 p.m.?12:05 a.m. Watch online at https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/watch/3?channel=1&_gl=1*xahuj4*_ga*MTMwMTM0NTA2NS4xNjAwMjA5NDQw*_ga_C4FQNBDNEJ*MTY2NzMyNjcwMS40MzEuMS4xNjY3MzI2NzMwLjAuMC4w.

CTN?s complete 2022 election coverage features:

• Candidates Comment, Ann Arbor Mayor 2022 ? Eric Lipson: https://youtu.be/XQzhlBl2keI.
• Candidates Comment, Ann Arbor City Council 2022 ? Jenn Cornell, Ward 5: https://youtu.be/9oUVLCw4bC0.
• Candidates Comment, Ann Arbor City Council 2022 ? Jonathan Hoard, Ward 5: https://youtu.be/6AgnSWam_to.
• Candidates Comment, Ann Arbor Mayor 2022 ? Christopher Taylor: https://youtu.be/1kBW-p2RZwM.
• LWVWC 2022 ? Michigan House of Reps Candidates Forum, District 48: https://youtu.be/uPolHYNujZs.
• LWVWC 2022 ? Ann Arbor Public School Board Candidate Forum, Part 1 of 3: https://youtu.be/TqrBjC7_g28.
• LWVWC 2022 ? Ann Arbor Public School Board Candidate Forum, Part 2 of 3: https://youtu.be/OBZEMU2HopY.
• LWVWC 2022 ? Ann Arbor Public School Board Candidate Forum, Part 3 of 3: https://youtu.be/aXN4Kn2Brtc.
• LWVWC Candidates Forum 2022 ? Ann Arbor Mayor: https://youtu.be/NIZLyXlwcBY.
• LWVWC Candidates Forum 2022 ? Ann Arbor City Council Ward 5: https://youtu.be/w57Y0RG52PQ.
• LWVWC Candidates Forum 2022 ? Washtenaw Community College Trustees: https://youtu.be/epLaBqlWnY4.

Reflection, appreciation ? and recreation! this Veterans Day

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. 11, 2022, for Veterans Day. Safety services and utility operations will maintain 24-hour schedules. Curbside trash, recycling and compost service will also continue without interruption. Visit https://www.a2gov.org/departments/trash-recycling/Pages/default.aspx for details, including information on disposing of leaves, trash, composting and recycling.

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. On Friday, Nov. 11, veterans can enjoy free golfing at Huron Hills Golf Course, swimming at Mack Indoor Pool and ice skating at Veterans Memorial Park Indoor Ice Arena. And at Leslie Park Golf Course, veterans will receive a free power cart when 18 holes of golf is purchased. This small gesture is a way to say thank you to veterans for their selfless service.

Subscribe today: Ann Arbor Water newsletter

The new City of Ann Arbor water services brand, Ann Arbor Water, has launched its first newsletter, focusing on the city?s three water utility services ? drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management. Stay up to date with the latest information by subscribing to the monthly newsletter at https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIANNA/subscriber/new?topic_id=MIANNA_121. Miss the November issue? Catch up at www.annarborwater.org.

The mission of Ann Arbor Water?s now-unified approach is to ensure the health of the community by providing high-quality that protects and preserves the Huron River and the environment, for which, the city notes, we all are stewards.

Seasonal reminders

Stay alert

On Sunday, Nov. 6, 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) reports 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, contributes 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!

Keep it light

Fall leaf season is here, in force. 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. And please remember, do not put leaves in the street and do not burn the leaves ? both of these actions are against the law (http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-324-11522)! Learn more about fall foliage disposal at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/trash-recycling/Pages/Compost.aspx.

Keep ?em clear

Once winter weather arrives, residents can also play an important part when it comes to fire hydrants. If able, residents are asked to help keep fire hydrants adjacent to their property or in their neighborhoods free from snow and ice. Leaving a 3-foot clearing around hydrants can provide easy access to firefighters in the event of fire.

Let safety be your guide this season and always!

Thanksgiving + expressing thanks

City offices will also be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, 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 25th; and Friday collections will be delayed to Saturday the 26th.

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.

Good news!

• Congratulations to Sydney Parmenter, City of Ann Arbor emergency management coordinator, who was named Emergency Management Professional of the Year for Communities >100,000 population by the Michigan Emergency Management Association (MEMA). The award was presented at the annual MEMA conference Oct. 10. Parmenter was recognized for her emergency preparedness work with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, enhancements to city-wide public emergency alerting via Everbridge and coordination emergency response efforts on multiple incidents including an extended power outage, a flooding event, major water main break requiring a boil water advisory and a chromium release into the Huron River. She also completed the city?s five-year hazard mitigation plan, which outlines how Ann Arbor residents experience local hazards, activities individuals have taken to prepare for local hazards, and activities the city should take to enhance city-wide preparedness and resilience.
• The City of Ann Arbor has been awarded a mini grant from The Funders Network to support our Aging in Place Efficiently work, ?Developing Legal Services Models for Community Stabilization,? an important part of our A2ZERO plan for achieving a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030! Details at https://www.fundersnetwork.org/congratulations-to-our-partners-for-places-mini-grantees/ and learn more about this effort at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability-Me/Families-Individuals/Pages/Aging-in-Place-Efficiently.aspx.
• Community Television Network of Ann Arbor (CTN) has been recognized with several Philo Festival of Community Media Arts Awards. Over 150 entries were submitted this year from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. The award-winning programs are:
  • CTN first place honors ?
  • Empowerment/Inspirational Category: Ann Arbor Inclusive #63 ? Miss Wheelchair Michigan, Tim Nagae, CTN Ann Arbor.
  • Magazine Program Category: FYI 2021 Producers Dana Denha, Rob Cross, CTN Ann Arbor.
  • News Category: FYI 2021 Producers Dana Denha, Rob Cross, CTN Ann Arbor.
  • Ann Arbor Public Schools first place honors ?
  • Empowerment/Inspirational Category: AAPS Class of 2021 Thanks Their Teachers, Ann Arbor Public Schools Scott Nadeau, Video & Internet Stuff, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Public access producers first place honors ?
  • Empowerment/Inspirational Category (Non -Professional Division): Ann Arbor Tonight: At Home, Zachary Damon Producer/Host Ann Arbor Tonight; At Home, Valentina Castellani Interview.

CTN highlights

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

Santa Live

Kids are invited to Zoom in and talk to Santa live from the North Pole on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30?8 p.m.! Kids will be given six minutes to share their holiday wishes directly with Santa. YOU MUST SIGN UP to schedule your spot to Zoom in, at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4CAFAA2BAAF94-20221. Then tune in with your friends and family to watch the entire program on Dec. 8, 6?8:30 p.m. on CTN Channel 17!?

Viewing options: Comcast Cable ? CTN Channel 17 | CTN Live Stream ? https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/watch/4 | YouTube ? YouTube/ctnannarbor.

Tune in today to watch ?

• Ann Arbor Drinking Water Survey: https://youtu.be/Pq5wKOxAgHE.
  
  City Round Up ? The City of Ann Arbor has merged all water services under one umbrella, Ann Arbor Water. Here is a quick promo to explain: https://youtu.be/TVL5ChU3Fzo.
• What is a Resiliency Hub? Watch this brief promo on Ann Arbor's Resiliency Hub, a community-serving facility to support residents and coordinate resource distribution and services before, during or after a natural hazard event: https://youtu.be/_bix1TNSVPM.
• FYI ? Alexis Ford with Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichol?s Arboretum shares how these local institutions can be enjoyed year round; Trick-or-treat on the River at Gallup Park; Oakwood Cemetery Enactment Tour: https://youtu.be/HjvX-OK8GPY.
  
  FYI ? Halloween Edition: https://youtu.be/4jyxI3t_46E.
• FYI ? Derrick Miller, executive director of Community Action Network (CAN), shares this organization?s vision on closing the socio-economic gap in Washtenaw County; the Ann Arbor Housing Commission hosts a meeting on the Catherine and 4th Street development in the city?s historically Black business district; and Storyfest: https://youtu.be/WTUW3WfjYdo.
• CTN SPORTS 2022 ? Saline at Pioneer Football, Sept. 30: https://youtu.be/TXyYSRUAZfA.
• Ann Arbor Inclusive ? Michigan Trackchair owner Bryan Wilkinson, with 22 years using a wheelchair, shares information on the AXIS Trackchair that was launched this year by Action Trackchair: https://youtu.be/iZ72Z4XlIRk.
• Adventures in Parenthood ? With guest Pamela Good, CEO of Beyond Basics, learn how this non-profit is working diligently to close the literacy gap: https://youtu.be/cNtTVZkk2JM.