A lot of posts today

Yesterday was a busy day in the city so I have posted 5 things today.  Please read through them at your leisure.

Kurt

Wireless Ypsilanti

Making Ypsilanti a Wireless city is an important step to separate ourselves from our neighboring cities. It provides the convenience of wireless access on the streets of our city but it does more. A city wide wireless network allows us to share something we already have with our neighbors who can’t afford it and may need desperately (students of all ages, the unemployed neighbor trying to find a job, the new business that needs a couple of months to get on their feet, etc.) A wireless city also sends a message that this is a developing community moving forward which is far different from the image a lot of out-of-towners have of the city. A wireless city Will encourage people to move here and in this housing market we need to distinguish ourselves as much as we can.

Steve and Brian are really getting this Wireless Ypsilanti thing going. On Monday Steve and Brian were on the WDET Show ‘Detroit Today.’ Since all WDET Shows are recorded and available to stream you can hear it if you click here look up the show ‘Detroit Today’ March 10th, 2008 and then jump to 1:13 on the timeline.

I was told by Brian that Wireless Ypsilanti has been providing the radios with Wireless Ypsilanti money in exchange for the businesses to share bandwidth (some business donate back the cost $50). I think it is now time for the community to take away the financing from Steve and Brian and start supplying funding. You can do your part by donating money or by purchasing your own Meraki Receiver and plugging it into your router – the radios are only $49.00. If you already have broadband please purchase a radio and share with your community. Of course if you need another reason to get rid of Comcast your Comcast user agreement doesn’t allow you to share but some of the DSL suppliers do.

Visit WirelessYpsi and view their Frequently Asked Questions Page for more information.

Final Blueprint is in

Last night the folks from HyettPalma gave a presentation about their blueprint for Ypsilanti. I thought the presentation went well and their vision was a good vision. They certainly didn’t perform $50,000 worth of work or anywhere close to that but I got the impression that hiring them was part of becoming a ‘Blueprint’ town which gives us well over our $25,000 in state benefits so it was money well spent (by Ypsilanti not the State).

What they seemed to do was rewrite the communities words from the previous vision session. The meeting was a bit of a Rah-Rah session telling the community of our vast improvement over the past 16years when they last surveyed the town. I was also happy to see they made it a point to convince the DDA to strongly encourage businesses to stay open later, get rid of part-time businesses in the district, get shop owners to create nice window displays and leave them lit until at least midnight and they wanted to get more activities going at the Riverside Arts Center. They also advised redoing the road/break planters on Michigan Ave to allow left turns. All of the suggestions were comments stated by the citizens during HyettPalma’s information gathering sessions. I said it before we didn’t need them to tell us what we need and that $50,000 was a ridiculous amount of money to pay for a service like theirs.

What HyettPalma was able to do which many members of the community can’t is put the things we want in writing and under the BluePrint plan which is run by the state their suggestions need to be considered seriously. What we really need to do is get rid of the clicks in this city and encourage everyone to work together. There seems to be an organization or a board for every block in this city and it seems they never work together nor does it seem that they openly accept people from outside their organization to join or make suggestions.

One thing HyettPalma made it a point not to consider were possible solutions offered by the community. I think once their recommendations have been digested we need to have another public meeting where we discuss solutions. Break people up into groups like they did at the park planning session and see what you get. A lot of the suggestions are easy to fix but some businesses and building owners don’t have the knowhow or money. For example facade clean-up and Window Displays are easy problems to cure. We have talented people in this community that could help with window displays and we have volunteers that could help with clean-up and painting. In a public forum the community would get to know the plight of some of the business and building owners and the owners would get to know and understand the community. Isn’t the personal relationship with business owners and their ability to respond quickly to the needs and desires of the community a major reason to have local businesses over chain stores?

I think the Vision sessions held by HyettPalma and about Riverside and Frog Island parks were great ideas and I would like to encourage all of the organization to host annual vision sessions with the community. Opening up these sessions would help bring in volunteers, donations, and most importantly good ideas.

Find the Blueprint here.
Find the Powerpoint Here Of course a Powerpoint without a presentation doesn’t do much good.

I know Steve Pierce videotaped the session but I didn’t see it posted yet. In fact he did more than videotape the session Wireless Ypsi streamed the entire session live.

Kurt

It all Happens in April Event #3

This is good in more ways than one, the bands should be great and the money goes to a good cause. Remember that the Corner Brewery is smoke free. I hope to see all of the people that have been writing to the Hamburger Helper Folks and asking them for money show up. There are 76 comments on the Help Our Towns site which means the Corner event should be packed.

“Fullfreight Banjo” benefit for the Ypsilanti
Frieghthouse brings nine banjo acts to the Corner
Brewery in Ypsilanti on April 5, 2008 Ypsilanti- Nine
of the area’s best banjo-based bands and performers
will amass at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, Mich.
from 5-10 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2008 for
“Fullfreight Banjo,” a concert benefitting the Friends
of the Ypsilanti Frieghthouse (FOYF).

The event is being organized by Ypsilanti “crabgrass”
band Black Jake and the Carnies. All nine acts will
include a banjo. The line-up for the evening is: Anna
Ash and the Family Tree, Annie Palmer, Andru Bemis,
Black Jake and the Carnies, Bone Orchard Revival, The
Hummingbirds, The Lucas Family Band, Mutual Kumquat
and The Red Butlers. (Links to performers Web sites
and profiles can be found at
www.myspace.com/fullfreightbanjo.)

Built in 1878, the Ypsilanti Freighthouse is listed on
the State Register of Historic Places. In September
2004, the building was determined to be in violation
of numerous building code standards and the city’s
insurance carrier cancelled the policy immediately,
forcing the city to close the building. The three-year
closure has left an irreplaceable void in the
community as the Freighthouse had served as the city’s
largest community center, hosting a wide variety of
events central to Ypsilanti community life.

“Most of us in the band live in Depot Town, within a
few blocks of the Freighthouse,” said Caleb Brokaw of
Black Jake and the Carnies. “We’re all anxious to see
the Freighthouse re-opened, and, as musicians, a
benefit concert is a natural way us to offer help.
It’s our hope that, beyond what funding this event
raises, it’ll raise awareness and encourage others in
the community to think creatively about what more they
can do.”

“The FOYF board is thrilled that we’ve been chosen by
Black Jake and the Carnies for public relations,
awareness and fundraising. We eagerly look forward to
the Fullfreight Banjo Fundraiser at the Corner Brewery
and hope everyone in the community will come to the
event and share their Freighthouse memories,” said
FOYF co-chair, Bonnie Penet.
Ypsilanti’s Community Records is generously supporting
the event by providing sound for the concert,
“Community Records is proud to be a part of the
Fullfreight Banjo Fundraiser for the Ypsilanti
Freighthouse. We held our wedding reception there in
2004 and we’ll always have a special place in our
heart for the Freighthouse,” explained Jesse and Amy
Morgan, President and Vice President of Community
Records.
The all-banjo benefit will showcase performers with
styles ranging from Americana to indie to bluegrass.
“I’m delighted at the response we’ve received from the
artists we invited,” said Brokaw. “This promises to be
a very memorable and very uniquely ‘Ypsi’ event.”
Donations of $5 will be accepted at the door. Those
under age 21 welcome with parent/guardian.

It all Happens in April Event #2

Elisabeth Thoburn is an Art History Professor at WCC. Last winter break she went to Pakistan to see some of the most significant monuments and art work in the world. Her passion for seeing these things wasn’t stopped because of the turmoil that was was brewing. While she was there former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Even the complete shutdown of the country didn’t stop Elisabeth from traveling to the sites she had intended to see.

Elisabeth has taken her experience in Pakistan and has developed a multi-media presentation which she will present on April 10th. I talked with her a little about her adventure and the talk is certainly something you should not miss.

Title:

Why Pakistan? Why Now?

Date/Time/Location:

Thursday, April 10, 2008 7 PM at the Liberal Arts Building Room 175 (College Theater).

Subject and Speaker:

Between December 2007 and January 2008, Arts Club faculty advisor and full-time WCC instructor, Elisabeth Thoburn, conducted research in Pakistan to study ancient cultures, such as the Indus River Civilization, Gandharen Buddhism, Hindu Temples and Islamic Architecture as well as the current political situation. In this travel report she will share her experiences, including the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto which threw the country into civil unrest and turmoil. This talk is geared to anyone with an interest in current events, arts, religion, history and culture.

Cost:

This event is free and open to the general public as well as the WCC community. Spread the word!

There will also be Fundraiser for the WCC Arts Club

The Fundraiser will have selected photographs from Pakistan and picture frames for sale.

It all Happens in April Event #1

Here is your chance folks, ‘Team Smoot’ is hosting open recruitments for the first time ever and it will be at this event. Shoot me an email and let me know you are volunteering and you will be a member of ‘Team Smoot’ for that day and depending on your work ethic you might be voted in for good. Look below at the prize categories I think we should take them all. Email me if you want to join our Team and win all of the prizes.

The Following taken from http://capturethetrash.weebly.com/

Capture the Trash

On April 12, 2008 join us to take part and clean up Riverside and Frog Island Park!

The Ypsilanti communities have joined forces in order to clean-up Riverside and Frog Island Parks!

We challenge you to come out for the day and compete against other community groups to see who can collect the most trash, who can get the dirtiest, and more importantly who can take home the title of “the trashiest group!”

The event will go on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the starting point will be in Riverside Park near the circle drive. If you have any questions about the actual event you can contact us at ypsieagles@gmail.com

Stay tuned to the webpage for updates and teams!

Awards:

Most unique piece of trash-This award will be based on who can find the most unique piece of trash the day of, whether it be a muffler, window, screwdriver or anything you can or can not imagine!

Muddiest team- Considering this is based around a river we know that some of you are going to be willing to get down and dirty in order to pick-up our city so we are awarding you for going the distance.

Most bags of trash- This award is based on who is the fastest and most efficient team, natural items (limbs, leaves, etc.) do not count! Only man made counts here and we are looking to see who can fill the most bags!

Largest piece of trash- The team that can find the largest piece of trash whether it be part of a car or a mattress will be awarded!

Most team spirit- We want to see you excited about this and work together so the team with the most spirit and excitment the day of will take home a prize!

Trashiest group- The big award, the trophy and victor to the following year will hold the title! This will be a combination of the above awards. Who ever collects the most, willing to go the distance for a GREEN community will be up and challenged to come back the next year to defend their title!