Ann Arbor Real Estate Talk

Saline Hospital in Saline, Mi affiliated with St. Joseph Mercy Hospitals  was just ranked in the Top 100 hospitals by Thomas Reuters Annual Report. They were awarded this in the Category of Small Community Hosptials.

I have visited Saline Hospital many times as I live in Saline and have 5 children. Enough said.

In one week I was there with a Broken arm, broken wrist and a broken thumb. Weird, huh? …and has never happened again. Living in a small community it is nice to be able to be there in 5 minutes and get the treatment we need.

According to The Thomas Reuters report, ”

If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as patients treated in the winning hospitals:

• More than 107,500 additional patients would survive each year.
• Nearly 132,000 patient complications would be avoided annually.
• Expenses would decline by $5.9 billion a year.
• The average patient stay would decrease by nearly half a day.

We are fortunate to live in an area where University of Michigan Hospitals were awarded top 100 for Teaching Hospitals and Saline Hospital for small Community hospitals.

Thomson Reuters has named University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in this years Top 100 Hospitals in the category of Large Teaching Hospitals.

Having had a child in a serious auto accident in 2007, I can attest personally to the excellent care she received in Motts Children’s Hospital.

The study done each year since 1993, evalutates the hospitals on the following criteria:

• mortality
• medical complications
• patient safety
• average length of stay
• expenses
• profitability
• cash-to-debt ratio
• patient satisfaction
• adherence to clinical standards of care

One of the best things about living in Ann Arbor is the excellent health care available to people throughout the State of Michigan.

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Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee Announces The Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund and The Ann Arbor Skatepark Endowment Fund

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee is starting its big-time fundraising with the formation of two funds at The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. One of the funds will support the design and construction of the skatepark, the other is an endowment to help the City pay for maintenance, improvements and upgrades. Ten percent of each gift to the Ann Arbor Skatepark goes to the endowment fund.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund supports the construction of a free public skatepark where Ann Arbor’s skaters can safely and responsibly practice their sport.

Donors to the Fund become partners in the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee’s efforts to promote healthy exercise and safe spaces for youth, while also involving young people in their community.

Your commitment to the Fund thus enhances Ann Arbor’s reputation as one of the nation’s safest, healthiest and most family-friendly places to live.

The Ann Arbor Skatepark Endowment Fund will support the ongoing maintenance of the Skatepark. Supporters of the Fund ensure that this important addition to the community’s outstanding system of parks and recreational facilities remains safe and attractive for generations of Ann Arborites to come.

Everyone who makes a commitment to the fund by February 28, 2009 will be honored as an establishing donor.To support the Ann Arbor Skatepark, email fundraising chair Jim Reische at jreische@a2skatepark.org.

For more information, contact Trevor Staples at (734) 223-9837 and visit a2skatepark.org

Argyle Advisors is a new company in Ann Arbor. It is owned by Rob Guilloz, who is the former IT Director at the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors.

Rob was the Mover and Shaker at the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors that kept all the 1000′s of Realtors up and running with the MLS and technology problems.I can testify personally that Rob is good and very responsive to calls when you need help.

Some of the service Argyle Advisors provides are:

• Technology Consultation
• Search Engine Optimization and Marketing
• Website Service
• Computer Training
• PC Set up
• Computer Optimization
• Software Install

For Realtors in the Ann Arbor Area, Argyle Advisors is also available for:

• Custom Listing Reports and Flyers
• Custom CMA Presentations
• Video Walkthrough Tours
• Listing Photos
• MLXchange Customization and Optimization
• Web and Email Hosting
• Domain Registration and Management

Argyle Advisors was founded on the premise that small businesses, individuals, and small non-profits should have access to he same services as larger firms at prices they can afford.

Visit his site at Argyle Advisors

RGuilloz@ArgyleAdvisors.com

Call 888-778-1068

The Ann Arbor District Library Board has voted to tear down the main library downtown and build a new one in its place.

Recently the Library posted a survey online with over 6,000 people responding. The survey asked how space at the library should be allocated, and about a proposed underground parking structure beneath the current surface lot next to the library.

More than half of those who responded to the survey, said Ann Arbor needed a renovated or new downtown library. Around 14 percent said they did not agree a new or renovated library is needed.

The 50-year-old building has been renovated twice already with the latest being in 1990.

I recently posted on all the new branch libraries in Ann Arbor have been built with sustainable design and materials.

The current building also does not comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards, although accomodations had been accomplished. This will be far better.

Ann Arbor is environmentally conscience, tearing down the older 343 S. 5^th Street building is not surprising as the survey results indicated most Ann Arbor residents were in favor of doing so.  With the community speaking the library board voted to move forward with the project.

The current cost is projected at 71M, and will include a new auditorium to seat 400, which is desperately needed as I have attended, with standing room only several events there. It is projected the renovation will be paid for with bonds, fund raising and a tax increase.

The new building will increase the square footage by 47% to over 160,000 S.F. and is designed to be four stories.

The Ann Arbor District Library web site can be found here.

The Ann Arbor Main Library is located at:

343 S. 5th Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Missy at MissyCaulk.com

Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor, MI is with out a doubt THE best place to get ice-cream. Started in 1934, it is a legend in Ann Arbor, MI. It is owned by two partners Jim Smith and Doug Raba, and many of the employees have been there for 30-40 years.

Jim, one of the owners born in 1952, can remember his dad making the ice-cream and milk. Horses use to bring the milk to the dairy in 10 gallon cans and it was homozenized on the spot.

In 1976, the volume was too demanding so they sold or “farmed” out their recipes to Stroh’s Ice Cream and Prairie Farms, a farmer’s co-op to handle the production.

Nestled in a neighborhood, known as The Old West Side, it is a landmark and legend in Ann Arbor. The building is NOT remodeled and maintains the ambience of the neighborhood ice-cream parlor of years gone by.

 Located at 602 S. Ashley, it is only a few blocks from down-town Ann Arbor, and close to the University of Michigan Stadium. Close enough to Pioneer High School; you will often see many teens there during the day. Neighborhood families will walk to the dairy and sit and enjoy the outside benches. Anyone who has ever lived in Ann Arbor, makes it a stop on there return visits.

There is usually a line to get in, but no one seems to mind. The employees are warm and friendly and will let you try as many flavors as you want.

Washtenaw Dairy, is known for their HUGE SCOOPS, of ice-cream, with a single being the equivalent of a double in most ice-cream places. My favorite is the Swiss Almond Chocolate, with tons of almonds throughout it. But, there are sooooooooo many yummy flavors to choose from, it’s hard to choose.

Washtenaw Dairy takes you back to your childhood, with outrageously good ice-cream, creamy and rich. When I want my clients to experience a “flavor” of Ann Arbor (no pun intended) we always stop by Washtenaw Dairy for an ice-cream cone to get our blood sugar up as we continue the search for the home they will fall in love with.

 An Ann Arbor institution, 70 years in the business, back when horses brought the milk in, huge scoops, ambience of yester-year, great employees and THE Biggest SCOOP around what more could you want?

Washtenaw Dairy is open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. If you anywhere near Ann Arbor, take the time to visit this old-fashion ice-cream parlor. You will be glad you did. Oh, did I mention they also have fresh donuts made daily? No, well that’s for another day.

You can even buy a T-Shirt.