metromode - In The News

Growing Hope growing roots in Ypsi

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Growing Hope is an Ypsilanti-based nonprofit that promotes dirty hands. Ok, not really. But they don't mind if you do. What they really promote is community gardening and education, and they finally have a home on Michigan Avenue, west of downtown Ypsi.

Pure Michigan extends its tourist reach

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan is the place to be for the summer. Well, hopefully. Pure Michigan is launching an ad campaign that is larger in scope than years past. They have $17.5 million to work with, nearly $5 million more than last year.

One D gets 800 Gs in funding

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Transforming and revitalizing Detroit won't be cheap. So, it's a good thing One D just received this pretty nice gift - 800 grand in grants.

Ann Arbor Spark receives financial spark from Superior Twp.

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ann Arbor Spark, a talent and business incubator for Southeast Michigan, just received a boost in funding from Superior Township. Spark had been looking for contributions to expand their offices from Ann Arbor into Ypsi. Looks like they got some.

Report says most parents don't want their kids tested on

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Parent's don't want their kids experimented on? What, you serious? OK, so, all joking aside, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital produced a report on such a thing. It's not really so much experimentation as it is medical research. The other side of this coin is that, through such research, advances in medicine are discovered.

$4 billion invested in SE Michigan last year

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Good news, dudes. A report released Tuesday by the Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan on business attraction and expansion successes during 2007 said four big ones were invested into the region. Nope, not $4, or thousand, or million - but $4 billion!

Local businesses collaborate on Mott playhouse

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

C.S Mott Children's Hospital has some new construction going on. No, not a new wing filled with state-of-the-art medical equipment. It's actually a bit smaller and not so high-tech. But it is for the kids. It's the Mott Storybook Cottage. When it's all said and done, it'll be a 90-square-foot playhouse, built by local companies with local materials.

Metro Detroit's 'Aerotropolis' ready for lift off

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

"Aerotropolis" is the 25,000 acre zone that lies between Detroit Metro Airport and Willow Run Airport. And, finally, after 12 years, the acreage may be ready for development. The hope is that this "hub" will attract and become home to logistics companies, international headquarters, mixed-use developments and spin-off services.

Over a million gallons of Biodiesel used in Wayne County

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Biodiesel was introduced to Wayne County as an alternative form of fuel in June 2006. Since then biodiesel use has topped one million gallons with most of in Wayne County going toward the Department of Public Services fleet.

Yucking it up in yoga class

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The class starts off with a chant similar to Santa Claus - something like, "ho ho ho." Then a half hour of laughing that range from a giggle to a belly buster. Of course, it's not all a barrel full of laughs, there is some stretching and breathing and, obviously, yoga.

Detroit has the talent, it's time to unleash it

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

So, a group in Detroit is planning to bring in 1000 creative jobs. Tim Smith, president of Skidmore - a Royal Oak design firm - writes in the Detroit Free press that it's not always about the jobs but the actual work. Keep the work in mind when filling these 1000 jobs.

Detroit's electronic music festival grows in ticket sales and volunteers

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This year's Detroit Electronic Music Festival - Movement - will take over Hart Plaza on May 24-26 with double the volunteers and triple the ticket sales of last year. Moby, Richie Hawtin, and Carl Craig are just a tiny fraction of the performances taking place.

Renewable energy gaining steam in Michigan

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Local alternative energy leaders are trying to push through a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which ensures that a certain percentage of energy used by electrcity companies comes from renewable sources.

Kick out the jams with a rare A2 Records anthology

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A2 Records was founded by Hugh "Jeep" Holland, a University of Michigan student, and it boasted quite an impressive lineup of '60s Michigan rock groups, such as MC5. Jeep died in 1998 and left A2's masters with his brother Frank. England-based Ace Records purchased them and this Tuesday will be bringing these rare albums together into one product.

Detroit rock city, and everyone knows it!

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite all the hipsters with their asymmetrical haircuts, the crashing of bowling pins, and the babbling of local drunks, the Magic Stick is still all rock 'n' roll. Everyone's played there, or will eventually play there. It's almost a rite of passage for Detroit rockers. And so naturally Rolling Stone lists the venue as one of the Best Rock Clubs around.

Local heart goes national

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There may be a new device on the market to help older guys and dolls pump blood through their bodies, and, guess what? Yep, it was made in Ann Arbor. The DuraHeart System is up for trials to see how well this contraption works. If all goes well, which similar devices have already shown, this little thing will start improving and lengthening precious lives.

It's time to ride in Ypsi

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Put the peddle to the metal, kind of. Bring out the bikes, if you haven't already, and shake the rust from the chain during a bike ride through historic Ypsilanti on May 4.

Shedding light on solar energy

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It's almost time to bring out the sun chairs and the kiddie pools. It's going to be fun in the sun for the next handful of months. However, while you're all getting tan and barbecuing, maybe it's time to think about the sun in another light, so to speak. And if you live in Ann Arbor, this might be an easy option.

Speaker event: Cultivating creative culture at Cranbrook

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lookin' for a discussion about how SE Michigan's cultural institutions can position the region as a creative hotspot using social media? Well, look no further. Join Nettie Boivin, Media Mix Director of BrainGain, and Lori Laurent Smith, Group Director of Global New Business for Orgainic, Inc. for an evening of light refreshments and heavy talk at the DeSalle Auditorium on the lower level of Cranbrook Art Museum.

Livonia orthopedic firm acquires more bones

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One orthopedic firm grabs another. The Livonia-base Michigan Orthopedic Services moseys on over to Ann Arbor and acquires Koch's Orthotic Prosthetic Service, Inc.

ACC President to receive 2008 Woman of Achievement and Courage Award

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, President and CEO of the American Arab and Chaldean Council, is one of five women to receive this year's Woman of Achievement and Courage Award.

Rail study between Howell and Ann Arbor leaves the station

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The commuter line between Howell and Ann Arbor is inching closer and closer. A study, important to the life of the project, is gearing up now that the Livingston County Board of Commissioners has approved a $15,000 contribution that will go toward the $150,000 cost of the study.

Mass transit massing up

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More talk, and more talk, and more talk. The private backers of the mystery transit line up Woodward are meeting with the public organizers of the transit line (currently being studied) that will run from Hart plaza to the State Fairgrounds.

Dearborn showcases environmental efforts and resources

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Are you braggin' Dearborn? The city has started a feature called "Green and Clean" on its website that shines a light on the environmental and habitat preservation efforts of Dearborn.

Wayfinding signage in Ferndale for the wayfaring stranger

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not sure where some of Ferndale's historical sights are? Well, just wait until next summer. Ferndale was granted $120,000 to improve signage pointing to historical buildings and cultural attractions.

The D draws comparisons to Pop City

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Detroit's crystal ball might be Pittsburgh. The city of steel isn't the city of steel any more. The industry feel out, they lost population, and the city hit hard times. Now, they're pulling themselves out.

Sound familiar?

4th generation autoworker paints tribute to Ford's F-series

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:14:38 GMT

Tom Colaluca is following in his father's, grandfather's, great-grandfather's, and great-great grandfather's foot steps as an autoworker for Ford. And he's taken it a step further by painting a mural commemorating the F-series pickup, and his family's legacy, on an empty space on the old Dearborn Glass Plant.

Diesels and Hybrids hitting the streets

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Diesel-powered and hybrid vehicles are expected to nearly triple in the next half-dozen years. By 2015, these types of grocery getters are expected to make up nearly 17 percent of auto sales in the United States.

Evironmentally friendly options at DTE Energy

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

DTE Energy, through a program called GreenCurrents, provides 2.2 million electric customers the option of choosing environmentally friendly renewable energy for their homes and buinessess. Right now, 8,000 customers have jumped on board since last April. GreenCurrents has become one of the fastest growing voluntary renewable energy programs in the country.

Most brownfield grants go to Michigan

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Of course, Michigan wishes it didn't have so many of these waste sites, but, at least the state is getting help with them.

The EPA awarded 19 brownfield grants, equalling $8 million, to the state of Michigan. The 19 grants were the most received by any state inside the Great Lakes region.