Michigan Football Hangs Championship Banner While NCAA Files Punishment

Monday, August 12: Morning, Ann Arbor! We’re starting today’s newsletter off with a local mystery. Does anyone know why this tiny island in the Huron River is called “Gumby House Island”? I can’t find any answers online.

Reminds me of when a group of high school students tricked Google into renaming their school’s street Harambe Drive. Classic.

Read Time: 3 minutes

Reader Count: 2,511 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 2.09%

🏈 Football Drama: While Michigan was busy hanging their 2023 National Champions banner, the NCAA issued former Head Coach Jim Harbaugh a four-year show-cause order and a one-year suspension for recruitment violations during the pandemic. Now an NFL head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers, Harbaugh’s lawyer likened the ruling to being in college and getting a suspension from your high school for not signing your yearbook. Michigan responded by naming Harbaugh an honorary captain for August 31st’s season opener against Fresno State. Incredible.

It’s worth noting this NCAA ruling is separate from the Connor Stallions/sign-stealing allegations. That investigation is still ongoing.

🍎 A2 Wellness Fair: Next Saturday (August 24) Homes Campus (112 Jackson Plaza) will host the Ann Arbor Wellness Fair from 10 am to 3 pm. Designed to promote health and wellness throughout the community, the fair will offer fitness classes, yoga sessions, meet-and-greets with U of M athletes, and a wellness market. You can reserve tickets to the fair here.

🪴 Native Plant Sale: The Matthaei Botanical Gardens is hosting a Michigan-native plant sale this Saturday from 11 am - 4:30 pm and this Sunday from 10 am - 4:30 pm. A wide range of native plants grown in the Gardens will be available for purchase.

TODAY’S SPONSOR: TheRide

🚌 More Service, More Often: TheRide is expanding service hours systemwide starting August 25. Learn more at TheRide.org

🍒 Low Cherry Production: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested federal disaster aid for Michigan’s sweet cherry farmers after bad weather has significantly dropped this year’s harvest numbers. Initial numbers indicate this year’s harvest will be 30-75% lower than in previous years. As a state, Michigan produces 20% of the country’s sweet cherries (80% of which come from the Grand Traverse area).

🦍 Baby Gorilla Watch: Early Thursday morning the Detroit Zoo welcomed their first-ever baby gorilla. First-time-mom, Bandia, has kept the baby so close to her that the zoo has been unable to determine the baby’s sex. To prepare the gorilla troop for the new arrival, the zoo staff carried a stuffed baby gorilla around to show the troop how to safely interact with a baby.

🎸 Thursday’s Sonic Lunch Concert: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

• Style: Alternative, Indie, Pop

• Popularity: 150K monthly Spotify listeners

• Top Song: “Old Love” with 10.5 million plays

• Links to Listen: Spotify or Apple Music

• Concert Details: This Thursday from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm on the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor

   

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ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Beetle | 4 months | Shepherd, Terrier

Power | 4 years | Domestic Shorthair

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

- Andrew

P. P. S. - There is a silent disco party on Main Street this Saturday night and next Saturday night

P. P. P. S. - A local Redditor made an Ann Arbor-inspired word search

P. P. P. P. S. - Now that the Big10 includes West Coast teams, the iconic map commercial had to be remade

P. P. P. P. P. S. - Interested in advertising in the Michigander? Fill out this form. Just one spot left in August and September - first come, first served.