Results from our Web polls

The results of our last three online polls:
Which is most important to you:
A) Good Schools, 37 percent
B) Good Roads, 8 percent
C) Low Taxes, 30 percent
D) Public Safety, 34 percent
A total of 136 votes cast

Which will have the best football record this season:
A) University of Michigan, 58 percent
B) Michigan State University, 33 percent
C) Eastern Michigan University, 5 percent
D) Detroit Lions, 4 percent
A total of 102 votes cast

Which government entity do you pay the most attention to:
A) City government, 44 percent
B) Township government, 16 percent
C) County government, 4 percent
D) State government, 36 percent
A total of 50 votes cast

Hikone-Ann Arbor Exchange Program Fundraiser

The dozen AAPS students who are headed to Japan on Oct. 31 held a fundraiser at bd's Mongolian Grill Tuesday night. Here are a few photos from the event, including celebrity servers and some of the students. Read the story in the Oct. 8 edition of A2 Journal.

Lawton Run-A-Thon

Here are some photos from today's Lawton Run-A-Thon.

My Night As A Queen

During the last 10 or so years I'm sure I've covered more community and 4-H fairs than any other journalist in the county.
Each year, I've been on the "fair beat" and, truth be told, I've enjoyed every one.
At the end of fair season, I'd proclaim to my editors that I deserved a crown as queen of fair coverage.
I never got one.
That is ... until this year.
And it didn't come from an editor, rather from the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau.
Along with naming me its Ag Communicator of the year Thursday night, I was surprised (REALLY, REALLY surprised) to receive my very own tiara AND matching sash with Ag Communicator '09 written on it in silver glitter!
And not only did I wear both all night during the annual meeting, but also all the way home. You should have seen the doubletakes from other drivers.
The plaque was beautiful, but the tiara and sash, they are priceless.
There are a precious few moments in life that one remembers forever. This is one of them.
I was fair queen for a night and it was a dream come true.

Hollander's Cooking Class

Tom Hollander is offering cool cooking classes at his Kitchen and Home store in Kerrytown. Here's a look at today's Tailgate Brunch Class taught by guest chef Marge Biancke.

Haisley Picnic

Scenes from the annual Haisley Picnic held Friday night.

Flashover Training

Firefighters from across Washtenaw County are participating in "flashover" training at Ann Arbor Fire House No. 6 by Briarwood Mall all weekend. They are experiencing the signs of a fire from the beginning until it erupts and everything in the room bursts into flames, also known as a flashover fire.
Firefighters are able to see the stages of the fire and learn how to get to a safe haven with trainers from Oakland Community College teaching them what to do. The hands-on training followed several hours of classroom training.

Ford employees build play structure

Back To School

Students at Pattengill Elementary head back to school Tuesday.

Brandon and Shani Inge Day at Mott

Wow. Talk about an amazing role model for kids. Detroit Tiger third baseman Brandon Inge (in red shirt)was at C.S. Mott Hospital this morning for Brandon and Shani Inge Day, so named for the couple's generous contributions (and time spent with the kids) at the hospital. Also there was Paws, a very popular Detroit Tiger mascot.
Inge fans of all ages filled Mott's courtyard area this morning.
Here are a few scenes from the event that attracted national media to the hospital. See the Sept. 10 paper for the story and more photos.

AAPS Teachers at Welcome Back Day

I'm not sure who was more excited about the start of school, Superintendent Todd Roberts, or the auditorium full of teachers, support staff and administrators he addressed at Pioneer High School Tuesday morning.
The room and hallways were buzzing with raw electric excitement -- despite the (way too) early hour.
For anyone who knows me, it takes something special to get me out of bed at 6 a.m., (I'm the queen of late night), but the opportunity to introduce myself to as many of the district's teachers as possible, met my strict criteria.
Here's a sampling of photos of the people I met.