Independence Day in A2

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 for Independence Day, Monday, July 4. Safety services and water utility operations will maintain 24-hour schedules.

There will be no trash, recycling or compost collection in the City of Ann Arbor on the 4th. The 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, July 9. Commercial customers with weekly Saturday service through the city franchise with Waste Management will receive Saturday pickups without delays.

Looking for something fun to do around town Independence Day/weekend? Swim in the city's outdoor pools at Buhr and Fuller parks and Veterans Memorial Park Pool, which has just opened and with lots of specials planned, just in time for the holiday weekend! The Ann Arbor Skatepark at Vets Park and the canoe liveries at Argo and Gallup are all open on Independence Day. The Ann Arbor Farmers Market is open Saturday the 2nd — the perfect spot to pick up fresh, local holiday picnic ingredients. And don’t forget about golf. Play a round at Huron Hills or Leslie Park golf courses; or even give FootGolf a try, 4 p.m. at Huron Hills Golf Course. Bring your own soccer ball or rent one for $5. It’s fun for all ages, and no experience is necessary.

Go online for details about these and the many other Ann Arbor parks and recreation events and programs, www.a2gov.org/parks. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Fireworks 4-1-1

Planning to celebrate the July 4th holiday with fireworks? While the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act broadens the selection of fireworks available for home/amateur use statewide, it is important to know, there are still usage parameters per City of Ann Arbor ordinance (Section 9:266 of Chapter 115 Weapons and Explosives of Title IX). 

Fireworks usage is permitted only during certain timeframes and only around national holidays. The timeframe guidelines for the Independence Day holiday are:

• Use is prohibited prior to July 3 and after July 5. 
• Use is only permitted from 8 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5 with the following restrictions:
• Use is always prohibited on public property, including parks, school property, church property and the property of another person unless the person using the fireworks has the expressed permission of the property owner.  
• Use is always prohibited for persons under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
• Prohibitions apply to “consumer fireworks,” which are “fireworks devices that are designed to produce visible effects by combustion,” such as roman candles, bottle rockets, firecrackers and missile-type rockets. 
• Prohibitions do not apply to ground and handheld sparkling devices.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department notes that, this year, there are increased dangers of using fireworks due to the very dry conditions we are experiencing. If you still plan to use fireworks:

• Keep a ready source of water available. A connected hose is best, but a fire extinguisher or bucket of water will work, too.
• Wet down an ignition area at least 30 feet in diameter for ground fireworks. That way if sparks do hit the ground, the chance of a spark igniting a fire will be minimal.
• Light fireworks on a paved surface such as concrete or asphalt. If a hard surface is not available, select a dirt area without grass or vegetation. Keep fireworks away from any wooded or grassy areas.
• Keep an eye out for smoldering fires in the grass or shrubs for 30 minutes after the display is completed.  If in doubt, CALL 911.

Please be mindful of sensitivities of other residents, pets and neighbors as well. Veterans and military-support organizations emphasize that fireworks can be particularly troublesome for military and veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder. If you choose to use fireworks, please adhere to the ordinance, but please also use common courtesies, such as:

• Informing neighbors in advance of your fireworks plans.
• Limiting the frequency of your use during those acceptable usage hours.
• Cleaning up all debris resulting from your fireworks use (see disposal tip below).

Please note the following safety guidelines, as well, from Ann Arbor police and fire departments:

• The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals.
• After a fireworks display, never pick up fireworks right away that may be left over, as they may still be active. Fully soak used/dud fireworks in water, and dispose of in the trash, not in recycling.
• The risk of fireworks injury is more than twice as high for children ages 10–14 as for the general population. Children should never participate in setting off fireworks, and they should remain a safe distance way from where fireworks are being set off.
• Sparklers may seem harmless, but the tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. That is hot enough to cause third-degree burns. 

Additional safety guidelines (PDF) are available on the Ann Arbor Fire Department web page, or visit the National Fire Protection Agency website.

For more information about the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, which took effect statewide in 2012, see the frequently asked questions (PDF) on the State of Michigan website.

August election notes

Polls will be open in Ann Arbor 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2 for the Primary Election. For those planning to vote absentee, the Ann Arbor city clerk’s office will be open special hours on Saturday, July 30, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. for voters to pick up or turn in Primary Election absentee ballots. The city clerk’s office is located on the second floor of Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. On-street or lot parking is available off of Ann Street, east of Fifth Avenue.

The last day to register to vote in the August Primary is Tuesday, July 5, 2016.

The Aug. 2 ballot will include the street, bridge and sidewalk millage. Go online to learn about this proposal. For more ballot and candidate information, to check the status of your voter registration in the city or to locate your polling place, contact the city clerk’s office at 734.794.6140 or go online.

Section of Border-to-Border Trail to close temporarily

On Tuesday, July 5, a one-mile portion of the Border-to-Border (B2B) trail, between Geddes Dam and Gallup Park picnic shelter, will close for a reconstruction project. This section of the B2B trail will be completely closed during the entire duration of the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of September. Please go online for additional information about this project.

Huron River Day is July 10

Enjoy the beautiful Huron River with free family-friendly river activities during the Huron River Day celebration at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road in Ann Arbor, on Sunday, July 10, noon–4 p.m.

Come out and experience everything the Huron River has to offer! 

• Paddle a boat with $5 canoe and kayak rentals.
• Enjoy food and live music. 
• Prepare for summer adventures with paddling safety tips and free life jackets from the Huron River Watershed Council. 
• Learn more about rivers in the children’s tent with art and science activities. 
• Discover how streams work with the University of Michigan Natural History Museum.
• Enjoy a river-themed art exhibit.
• Catch fish, study river bugs and see live animals with the Leslie Science & Nature Center.
• Step into a butterfly house.
• Try out stand-up paddle boarding (SUP).
• And so much more!

Huron River Day musical entertainment will feature the Washtenaw Community College Jazz Band, Gemini and Hullabaloo. Ann Arbor's 107one with Martin Bandyke will have a live feed at the Gallup Canoe Livery from noon-2 p.m. A variety of local food trucks will be on hand with delicious fare throughout the event. Parking is available, but ride your bike to Gallup Park and your boat rental will be free.

The Huron River Day Celebration is sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation. Additional support provided by Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, the City of Ann Arbor, the Huron River Watershed Council and the Washtenaw Stormwater Advisory Group. Visit www.a2gov.org/hrd for details, or call 734.794.6240. 

Did you know, you can also be a volunteer at Huron River Day? Volunteers are needed for three shifts: 9–11 a.m.; 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; and 2–5 p.m. Help is needed with everything from setup and take down to, most importantly, working the following areas:

• Bike corral.
• Fishing station.
• Traffic direction.
• Children’s tent activities.
• Fun photo station.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ann Arbor's volunteer program, Give 365, any time or at 734.794.6445 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Update on MDOT construction projects

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is currently performing a construction project to rehabilitate M-14 from North Main Street to I-94. M-14 is expected to reopen to traffic on, or about, Aug. 20, 2016, and the project fully completed by November 2016.   

MDOT expects to begin work on the bridges of the M-14 and Maple/Miller interchanges beginning on June 27.  While this work is occurring, traffic will be maintained on south on Miller Road and north on Maple Road. Signed detour routes will be in place. It is expected that this work will be completed by July 18.

During the construction on the Maple Road and Miller Road overpasses, MDOT will also be paving portions of Barton Drive, the Barton Drive entrance and exit ramps and the North Main Street off-ramps. This work is expected to start on, or about, July 11 and is anticipated to be completed near the end of July, but it could extend into the month of August. The contractor is still working to finalize these dates.

Beginning on, or about, July 9 and continuing through July 16, work in the Huron River under the M-14/US-23 bridge will be occurring. The contractor will be placing protective field stone rip-rap at the bridge piers. The river will be available for recreational use during this time, however buoys will be placed in the river alerting users of the construction. After completion of the bridge pier rip-rap placement, work will continue on, and underneath, the bridge. Please proceed with caution through this area.

It is expected that M-14 will reopen on, or about, Aug. 20, 2016. Go online for more information about road construction work taking place in the city. Or visit the MDOT website.

Ann Arbor Art Fair, Thursday-Sunday, July 21-24

The annual Ann Arbor Art Fair will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city when it returns this year Thursday–Sunday, July 21–24. Find out which streets will be closed, and where to turn, on the city’s road and lane closures web page.

Get ready for your close up

Also drawing crowds during the Art Fair will be the CTN video greeting booth. The CTN booth will be located on North University between Thayer and Fletcher, Thursday–Sunday. Be sure to stop by to be on TV — all recorded segments will replay on CTN Channel 19 (Comcast Cable) and online. 

The CTN video greeting booth will also be at the Townie Street Party, the traditional kick off to the Art Fair. The Townie Party takes place Monday, July 18 at 5 p.m. on East Washington Street, between Fletcher and Thayer streets. 

Safety first

An extra measure to keep kids safe will again be in place at this year's Ann Arbor Art Fair. For the fourth consecutive year, identification wristbands will be available for kids to wear. If a child becomes separated, officials will know whom to contact just by looking at the child’s wristband. The parent’s or guardian’s name and cell phone number will be written on the underside, and the information will not be visible unless the wristband is removed. A wristband will not be removed from a lost child until a police officer is present, to ensure the officer can properly identify the parent/guardian during reunification. A police officer will remain present until the child is reunited with his or her parent or guardian. 

The wristbands will be available during the fair from several participating organization locations:

• *The Safety Service Plaza at Liberty Plaza (at the corner of Division and Liberty streets).
• American Red Cross booths.
• Art Fair information booths.
• Ann Arbor Emergency Management mobile command unit. 
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers (look for the yellow vests).

The wristband program is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Police Department, Ann Arbor Office of Emergency Management and the executive directors for the individual fairs.

*The Safety Services Plaza will be open each day during regular Art Fair hours. In addition to representatives from Ann Arbor Police and Fire departments, also present at the Safety Services Plaza will be Huron Valley Ambulance and American Red Cross.

2016 Concerts in the parks

You don’t always need a ball, racket or even a pair of tennis shoes to enjoy the parks in Ann Arbor. Sometimes, all you need is your senses. Music will fill the air during free, weekly concerts at two city parks this summer. 

It’s the Ann Arbor Civic Band’s 81st season! Concerts are held on Wednesdays at the West Park band shell in West Park (7th Street), 8–9 p.m. West Park has limited parking, so bike, walk or at least arrive early for a parking spot. Additional street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. A shuttle will be available for concert goers with mobility needs. Those needing assistance should park on 7th Street (between Huron Street and Miller Avenue). The 2016 schedule: June 29, Fourth of July; July 6, Children’s Concert; July 13, Great Movies; July 20, Got Swing! and July 27, On Broadway.

Sundays, July 31–Aug. 21, the Ann Arbor Senior Center will host outdoor concert events in Burns Park, 1300 Baldwin Ave. Gemini Brothers will sing songs from around the world; Klezmephonic will perform Gypsy/jazz music; the Rev. Robert Jones will bring his blues sounds; the Cadillac Cowboys will delight crowds with country music; and the last concert will feature toe-tapping fiddle and folk songs performed by Playin’ Chicken.

Go online for more information about concerts in the parks.

CTN features call out!

Do you have a story scoop and/or a favorite animal rescue or animal adoption organization? CTN wants to know all about it! 

CTN’s half-hour show, Happy Tails, features animals up for adoption and also provides viewers with an overview of the organizations. Past episodes of Happy Tails have featured the Humane Society of Huron Valley, Last Day Dog Rescue, Help4Wildlife.org, Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, Michigan Orphan Kitty Rescue and the Great Lakes Zoological Society. Organizations can be within Michigan, however show taping takes place at the CTN studio in Ann Arbor.

Entertaining stories and events are also being sought for the popular weekly news series, FYI. Stories must be of interest to the greater Ann Arbor community; and events must be within the Ann Arbor area, taking place in the months of July, August and September. 

Pitch your ideas or event to CTN to be up for consideration for coverage. Share your leads for Happy Tails and/or FYI with CTN Assistant Manager Melissa Bondy via email or at 734.794.6150.

Ann Arbor Shield on CTN

It’s not often you get an inside perspective from the other side of the police badge or courtroom bench. Now you can with one of CTN’s newest series, Ann Arbor Shield. Past episodes have focused on identity theft; policing experiences and trends over the decades; parking issues and parking lot safety; the detective bureau; and more.

The latest episode features 15th District Court Judge Joe Burke and Probation Officer Jennifer Babycz discussing drunk driving issues with host AAPD Officer Tom Kooy. Watch online anytime, or check out the CTN program guide to find Ann Arbor Shield on Channel 19.

Love a Park Days

Lend a hand, give your time, and join your neighbors to help beautify and clean up a park that needs a little love and attention. With 159 parks in the park system, there are lots of ways to support park maintenance and beautification efforts. The city brings the music, refreshments and tools; you bring the energy and desire to make a difference — and, together, a beautiful “park”nership blooms! Email or call 734.794.6445 to participate. And if you know of a park not on the list that could use some love, please share the location! 

Love a Park Days dates are below: 

• Wednesday, July 13, 10 a.m.–noon, Evergreen Park.
• Sunday, July 31, 1–3 p.m., Mixtwood Pamona Park.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m.–noon, Arbor Oaks Park and rain garden.
• Sunday, Aug. 28, 1–3 p.m., Burns Park and rain garden.

Good news

• The Ann Arbor Housing Commission and Avalon Housing hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 23 to celebrate the redevelopment and reopening of Miller Manor. The ceremony highlighted the renovations and the partnership between the two organizations to provide 24/7 services to over 60 previously homeless households currently living at Miller Manor. 
• Ann Arbor ranks No. 4 on Niche.com’s Best Cities to Live In 2016 list. Arlington, Virginia, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Columbia, Maryland, took the top three spots. Read more about what makes A2 among the best.