A Day At The Ann Arbor Skatepark

The Artist Within

"I started painting furniture because people didn't have furniture," explains artist Jane French. "And if you had a chair sitting out in the hallway, it wouldn't be there very long. Somebody would put it in their apartment. So I thought, 'Well, I'll just paint furniture on the walls,' and that's what I did. And then I started painting plants on the walls. And then I started thinking, 'Well, you know, just because we live in public housing doesn't mean we're not rich,' so I started painting elegant things on the walls." Read the story.

Dog Days Of Winter

Backyard Chickens

When the city of Ann Arbor finally made it legal to keep backyard chickens, Old West Side resident Eileen Dickinson figured she'd give it a try. Nearly six years later, Dickinson is raising her third flock of hens. Read the story.

The Beatles Have Invaded

Beatles Yellow Submarine vinyl figures by Titans.

SnowBuddy

There's a new sidewalk snow removal service in Ann Arbor's Water Hill neighborhood, and it's called SnowBuddy. Read the story.

Closing Time

After nearly two decades operating the Liberty Car Wash near downtown Ann Arbor, business owner Charlie Foster closed up shop on Wednesday. Read the story.

No More Sunsets

A view from the One North Main office building in downtown Ann Arbor, which is losing several of its west-facing windows and views as a new hotel is build immediately adjacent. Read the story.

End Of An Era

This month marked the end of John Hieftje's 14-year reign as Ann Arbor's mayor. City Council Member Margie Teall, who served alongside Hieftje for the last 12 years, also stepped down. Hieftje, an Ann Arbor native, is the longest-serving mayor in the city's history, going back to the 1850s. Go here to read an exit interview with Hieftje. Go here to read coverage of his council sendoff.

Foggy With A Chance Of Rain

Mark Schauer In Ann Arbor

On the eve of Tuesday's election, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer rallied local Democrats in Ann Arbor, delivering his final pre-election speech before a large crowd on the University of Michigan campus. "We stand here at the doorstep of changing the direction of our state," Schauer said, addressing a mix of college students, local community members and elected officials gathered inside Annenberg Auditorium. Before the rally, Schauer visited downtown Ann Arbor businesses, including Old Town Tavern, Sweetwaters and Frita Batidos, chatting it up with patrons and employees. Read the story.

Chess Match Of Mayoral Proportions

Ann Arbor mayoral candidates Bryan Kelly, left, and Christopher Taylor play a game of chess following a mayoral candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters Wednesday night inside CTN studios. They had to clear out before they could finish, so they called it a draw. The two candidates will face off again in the Nov. 4 election.