StoneFruit Social To Open In Ann Arbor, Replace Wolverine Sushi

Happy Halloween, Ann Arbor! Hope your day is full of king-sized candy bars!

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ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

☕️ StoneFruit Social: Ohio-based StoneFruit Coffee Co. is expanding to Ann Arbor with a new concept called StoneFruit Social. Set to open by the end of the year, the 2,500-square-foot café and bar will be located inside Foundry Lofts, in the old Wolverine Sushi space (413 E Huron Street). The café will offer coffee and breakfast in the morning, transition to brunch around lunchtime, and become a bar in the evening.

🏠 Proposed Mobile Home Park: Property owners and developers have received a green light from Trial Court Judge Carol Kuhnke to proceed with a proposed 500-unit mobile home park north of Ann Arbor (on land on both sides of U.S. 23 north of Warren Road). The decision ends a two-and-a-half-year legal battle with Ann Arbor Township, which had been resisting the development. Kuhnke ruled that a 1975 court order allowing mobile home development on the nearly 140-acre site remains valid. The township had previously denied the project's plans, but must now approve or deny the resubmitted plans. The case may continue to see legal disputes, but for now, developers intend to move forward, citing the area's significant housing demand.

🍺 U of M Liquor License: The University of Michigan Board of Regents has voted to apply for liquor licenses for the Crisler Center, Michigan Stadium, and Yost Ice Arena. If approved, the licenses for Crisler and Yost could be implemented as early as this season, while Michigan Stadium's will be considered later. The move follows Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's July bill allowing alcohol sales at public university stadiums. The athletic department will develop procedures to comply with state laws and ensure responsible serving.

🚁 Helicopter Laser Pointer: A 52-year-old Washtenaw County man is behind bars for allegedly shining a green laser pointer at a Michigan State Police helicopter. The incident occurred outside The Congregation, a Detroit bar and café, on October 28, 2023. Captured on video, the man was seen directing the laser toward the helicopter just after 9 p.m. and was arrested ten minutes later. Lt. Mike Shaw stressed the dangers of pointing lasers at aircraft and said efforts to track down offenders will continue.

🏈 Michigan Football Tracker: Week 9 of 13

• Current Record: 8-0

• Current Rank: According to the AP poll, #2 in the country. The first College Football Playoff ranking comes out tonight at 7 PM.

• Last Saturday: Michigan had a bye.

• This Saturday: Michigan plays a 7:30 PM home game against Purdue (2-6). The Wolverines are 32-point favorites.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

🍰 Cake Shortage: After the closing of a Livonia bakery, Michigan’s iconic dessert, Sanders Bumpy Cake, faces a holiday season shortage. Despite actively seeking a new bakery partner, Sanders has yet to find one that can maintain the product's hallmark quality and taste. For now, the cakes are still available through Sanders' website and in stores across Michigan. However, once the existing supply runs out, it's unclear when they'll be restocked. First created in 1913, Bumpy Cake comes in flavors like chocolate fudge, vanilla buttercream, and carrot.

☀️ Clean Energy Future: The Michigan Senate has passed an energy reform package aiming for 100% "clean energy" by 2040. The package includes four bills focused on clean energy goals, labor requirements, and job training. SB 271 mandates that from 2030 to 2034, electric companies must rely on 50% renewable energy. By 2035, renewable energy should make up 60% of a utility's energy sources. The 2040 clean energy portfolio can include renewable sources, as well as new and existing gas plants with a 90% carbon capture rate, nuclear, and biomass energy. The bills passed with a party-line vote of 20-18, with all Republican amendments failing.

🗑 Proposed Contamination Bills: Democratic legislators in Michigan have introduced a comprehensive package of "polluter pay" bills aimed at tackling the state's environmental contamination issues. Spearheaded by Sen. Jeff Irwin and Rep. Jason Morgan, both from Ann Arbor, the legislation seeks to increase transparency and enforce cleanup of polluted sites. Michigan currently hosts approximately 27,000 contaminated locations, more than 13,000 of which are abandoned.

ON THE MARKET

2 Bed | 1 Bath | 980 Sqft | $350,000

5 Bed | 4 Bath | 2,516 Sqft | $850,000

7 Bed | 6 Bath | 6,461 Sqft | $2,650,000

ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Natasha | 2 years | Rottweiler

Purple People Eater | 3 years | Pigeon

That's all for now! Have a great week in Tree Town!

- Andrew

P. P. S - Hudsonville Ice Cream has launched 3 Little Debbie Christmas-themed flavors for the holidays

P. P. P. S. - To support tree planting and forest protection efforts, the Michigan DNR is hosting its 5th annual, Bob Ross-inspired “Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K”