New editor at the Courier

We've had a lot of staffing changes over this past summer at Heritage Media, but I'm happy to tell you all that I'm taking over as editor at The Ypsilanti Courier and Manchester Enterprise.

I'm Krista Gjestland, and I've been at Heritage since November as a general assignment and government reporter. Prior to that, I freelanced for Heritage for about nine months. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2011, where I earned a degree in journalism and worked at The Eastern Echo.

I live in Ypsilanti and am incredibly excited to help the city get the coverage it needs and deserves. I welcome any suggestions on how to move our coverage forward. As an Ypsilanti citizen I know what I'd like to see covered more, but I'd like to hear from you all as well. What issues in Ypsi are most important to you?

I'm always looking for more community contributors, bloggers and freelancers so please reach out to me if you're interested.

If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me at kgjestland@heritage.com, find me on Twitter @kgjestland or give me a call at 734-429-7380 ex. 18.

I'm also regularly stationed in our Community Media Lab, located at 215 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Ypsi. I'm there every Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. so stop in and say hi.

Finally, barbeque in Ypsilanti!

A few weeks after starting work as a full-time reporter for Heritage Media, I wrote an article on a local barbeque restaurant that was slated to open in Ypsilanti called Red Rock BBQ.

After months of chomping at the bit waiting for this restaurant to open, the day finally came this past weekend.

Let me preface this with one thing: I love barbeque. And not just slapping sauce on chicken wings. I mean slow and low smoked meats that melts in your mouth. I've had a fair amount, and I can be quite judgmental and often leave places a little disappointed.

Red Rock, however, did not disappoint. The restaurant officially opened April 20. My fiance and I headed in the next day. I had a half smoked chicken entree and he had a beef brisket sandwich. It was awesome. Large portions, incredibly tasty meat and sides that could have stood out as meals themselves.

I typically judge a barbeque joint most harshly on its cornbread. I'm incredibly picky because I've had both great and terrible cornbread. In my humble opinion, cornbread should be moist and be made with real corn. Again Red Rock did not disappoint. Not only did the cornbread have real kernels of corn in it, but it was so moist that when you picked it up it was sticky like a cupcake. Needless to say, I was in love.

Service was great, especially for opening weekend. The prices are decent, pretty low for a barbeque place. You can get a meat entree for $10-13 or a sandwich (pulled pork, brisket, etc.) for $7-9. You definitely won't break your bank eating here, and most of all I'd say you'll leave happy.

What made me most happy and excited after going to Red Rock was seeing how busy they were on their second day of being officially open. The majority of tables were filled, and so was a good chunk of the bar. Since I live here in Ypsi I love seeing local businesses do well. It's a sign that our community is thriving and can support more businesses.

My fiance and I liked Red Rock so much, we went back for lunch on Monday. He had a pulled pork sandwich and I opted for a salad with smoked chicken and beef brisket. And more cornbread, of course.

Fried dough heaven

I have the privilege of living in Ypsilanti. With that privilege comes a lot of inside knowledge about Ypsi that I think the rest of the county misses out on. There are tons of innocuous looking places, especially places to eat, that are treasure troves of fun and deliciousness.

One of these places in Dom's Bakery, located at 1305 Washtenaw Ave., just west of Eastern Michigan University's campus.

It struck me today, as I waited in line to get my half-dozen paczki (don't you judge me, I shared), that Dom's is an Ypsilanti Gem. Unlike commercialized donut stores, Dom's is cheap, fresh and awesome.

Anyone who's ever gone to EMU or lived in Ypsilanti already knows what I'm about to tell you. Dom's Bakery has the best donuts. Ever. In the entire history of donuts. No one does them better!

Why? Because nothing beats paying $.65 for a fresh long john the width of my wrist. And because fresh doesn't mean made within the last two days. A lot of the time it means within a day. More times than not I've ventured in for a tasty late night snack and received a warm, gooey, obviously just off the drying rack donut. As an EMU student, it was the perfect late night food. Now, it's a perfect early morning comforting treat.

If I'm going to eat something like a donut, I'm going to make it worth it. And Dom's makes it worth it.
So if you haven't experience the calorie-killing bliss that is Dom's Bakery, do it before you regret it. Now, if you'll excuse me I still have one more paczki left...

Willow Run’s ruling on Hicks expected May 25

Willow Run Community Schools announced that the Board of Education will make its ruling on the charges brought forth against Director of Special Education Laconda Hicks in a special meeting tomorrow, May 25, at Willow Run High School, with a closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Hicks, who has been on paid administrative leave since early April, had charges brought against her from the board prior to being placed on the leave. In a 27-page document submitted by the board, Hicks was charged, along with former Willow Run Superintendent Dr. Doris Hope-Jackson, on multiple counts. Amongst 15 charges brought against Hicks, it was alleged by the board that she received thousands of dollars in extra pay and benefits (at least $8,500 over the summer of 2009), and that she was given more than the district’s allotment of paid days off/sick leave. Hicks was also approved for a pay raise just days before the charges were announced.

“As President of the Board, it is my considered opinion that you abused your authority and that your misconduct and dereliction of duty as specified above is nothing short of shameful, reprehensible and inexcusable,” said Board President Sheri Washington in the document containing the charges. “It cannot be tolerated or condoned. It has adversely affected the District and has resulted in such a loss of confidence and trust in you, and respect for you, that you are unfit to continue in employment in this District in any capacity.”

The charges also allege that Hope-Jackson and Hicks treated co-workers, including teachers, other district administration, and parents and students, unprofessionally. The documents include direct statements from witnesses corroborating the allegations brought forth by the district.

The district began the due process hearing for Hicks on April 13. In an April 1 board meeting that lasted all of seven minutes, the school board voted 6-0, with Washington abstaining, to pursue the charges.

A source who testified in the proceedings said yesterday in a phone interview that “Laconda Hicks was able to successfully defend herself in the process.”

If they are found guilty, Hicks will face the possibility of termination and revocation of her contract, barring any further financial obligation to them from the district. Proceedings on Hope-Jackson have yet to begin.

5th annual Rock-a-thon Fundraiser at the Ypsi Senior Center

From Rebecca Dunkle at the University of Michigan Library:

The rock-a-thon (an idea that one of our seniors conceived of 5 years ago) gets seniors, friends, family, neighbors and special guests rocking in rocking chairs for the afternoon - some people pledge money to see others rock, others make a donation, some just come for the fun and camaraderie (and free popcorn, balloons, etc.)  We have had the Mayor, the Sheriff, the President of EMU and others as guests.

It is this Sunday, April 18, this year, 2 - 6 p.m. at the Ypsilanti Senior Center located on 1015 N. Congress St. I hope you can join us!

The Center offers programming for seniors in the daytime, mostly free (yoga, Tai Chi, art classes, nutrition and health classes, a low-cost lunch program, massage, gardening). And a number of community activities for all ages, including Ballroom Dancing, FLY Children's Art classes, community gardening, a meeting place for neighborhood associations and other community groups.

     

We operate on a budget of about $50,000/year, a very small amount of which is provided by the city of Ypsilanti; but most of it we raise through grants, fundraisers, private donations and rental income.

For more information about the event, contact Rebecca at rdunkle@umich.edu. 

Rebecca Dunkle for the Friends of the Ypsilanti Senior and Community Center

REBECCA DUNKLE

Director of Onsite Access Services and Distributed Libraries

University of Michigan Library

'Train Stops Here' Freighthouse benefit a success

Last night I had the opportunity to be one of the 220 or so guests at "The Train Stops Here" Freighthouse Benefit Auction.

It was my first REAL auction and boy did I have a good time. From shaking hands with the who's who of Washtenaw County in attendance, to watching those who aren't so effected by the economic downturn bid thousands of dollars for charity, it was a great night from start to finish.

State Rep. John Dingell and Senator Debbie Stabenow were among the attendees, as well as Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber and Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje.

There were some truly awesome packages being auctioned off including a car, a Bruce Springsteen signed guitar, four luxury vacations (including two to South Africa and one to Florida), private wine tastings, and many, many other deluxe gifts.

I was caught up in it all and even made a few bids! My first bid was well outside of my meager journalist salary as I bid $1,000 on a one week stay at a luxury resort with all spa visits, tours and gourmet meals included. I was outbid at $1,000, but got up to $1,150 before I was ousted by a $1,300 winning bid.

My other bid was for a week-long, all-expenses paid trip to Higgins Lake in northern Michigan. The cabin accommodates 14 people and, again, is all inclusive. This time STARTED the bidding at $1,000. (Can you tell that I'm really in need of a getaway?) John McMillan and Linda French, however, set out to win two things before they even set out to come into the auction. Unfortunately for me, the Higgins Lake vacation was one of them.

So there I was stuck in a heated bidding war with John and Linda. You have team a) Journalist salary, and team b) one of the best Ypsilanti business family's salary. Needless to say, I was outbid there too. :) (They are great people. I'm sure they'll enjoy the much-needed getaway as well.)

 

Although I walked away empty-handed (I bid on a couple other items as well, but I had a cap on those things), I had a wonderful time. In all, there was about $45,000 raised, including the Sidetrack's donation of all the proceeds from the cash bar sales last night, sponsors donations, admission prices and auction money raised.

I can say that even though I didn't win anything, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

More trail unveiled

Another stretch of the Washtenaw County border-to-border walking/biking trail is opening up in Ypsi soon. It starts near Water Street and Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti and follows along the northern shore of the Huron River for nearly a mile.
It should provide a nice, scenic environment for nature-lovers and outdoorsmen (and outdoorswomen, too).

Here's a link to more information about the trail, including a downloadable map of the entire trail as well.

Stabbing at Heritage Festival

At about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, officers responded to the scene where a fight broke out between five teenagers in the Childrens Village area of Riverside Park during the Heritage Festival.
As the officers arrived, approximately 150 teens all began running southbound toward Michigan Avenue causing a panic among visitors and vendors. One officer reported that “bystanders were screaming and vendors were hiding under their tables and closing their booths down prior to closing time.”
Many teens were trampled after an unidentified female yelled, “He has a gun.”
Moments later a second unidentified female was witnessed stabbing an unidentified male in the back with an object. The condition of the victim is unknown.

(There will be more to come on this story later this week and in next week's Ypsilanti Courier.)

Sights of the Circus

The Kelly Miller Circus was in town this past Friday at Ypsilanti's Riversdie Park. Clowns, high-flying acts, elephants, tigers and candy apples are all familiar sights at the circus and those staples were definitely apparent here.