Ann Arbor is going to the birds. 

Ann Arbor City Council recently approved an ordnance that allows for the keeping of hens inside the city limits. The permit limits homeowners to four, and they must all be hens. Simply put, hens don’t crow. 

(Left( Beautiful Araucans, also known as Easter Egg Chickens. They lay eggs that vary from light brown to blue.)

.Lauren Fetzer, 23, admits- she has been bitten by the chicken bug.  “I am a bona-fide chicken farmer,” she says holding a large, mostly white hen named Mrs. Lakenvelder.

“I never thought I would enjoy this, but we really do enjoy our girls.”

There have only been 11 permits for chickens inside the city limits since June 2008. Given the growing trend towards keeping chickens as backyard pets, it seems likely that Ann Arbor will host more Chicken Farmers as spring approaches. 

Ann Arbor joins several other cities across the US that allows for the keeping of chickens. From New York City, to LA, the movement towards chicken farming has gained momentum in the past several years, with web sites devoted to the keeping of back yard hens gaining members every day.

 K.T. La Bubadie says her site, www.backyardchickens.com  gets 500 hits a day, and boasts over 55,000 hits their first year. They have even expanded to a BYC store- with shirts that have sayings such as “chillin’ with my peeps” or “My pet made me breakfast.”

Why has this movement caught on? Some call it the Martha Steward Phenomenon.  Some suspec

t the Martha Stamp has contributed to the interest in keeping chickens. She dedicated a show to keeping chickens, introducing a few of her favorite hens.

Others say it’s the movement back to using food that is organic, and locally grown. 

"All around, we benefit- and I like the fact that our kids will see where their food comes from." says Fetner. The chicks that the Fetner's ordered last year are now the ones that are producing the eggs in their small flock. On average, she collects 2 to 3 eggs a day, more then enough for her family and neighbors.

Helana Scappaticci of Plymouth says her eggs taste better then the ones she gets at the store. “They are fresher, taste so much better and are much better for you,” Scappaticci says.

“I send my son out to get eggs and we make them right then,” says Scappaticci. “They taste so good.”

Scappaticci and Fetzer agree that knowing what their chickens eat and how they live make them feel better about eating the eggs their chickens produce. 

“We feed the hens organic food,” Fetzer says. “I know my hens are organic and their eggs have no added hormones or anything. Plus, they eat my kitchen leftovers.”

According to Fetzer, Mrs. Lakenvelders favorite food is blueberries.

While chicken keeping is new to Ann Arborites, Michigan has more then it’s fair share of chicken keepers. At La Bubadies online chicken forum at www.backyardchickens.com , the Michigan thread has over 12000 comments.

Even the by-product of chickens, their manure, has its benefits. According to La Bubadie, their manure provides a great nitrogen-rich addition to any compost heap.  

It appears that many chicken farmers enjoy the entertainment their chickens provide. Nick Strayer, 15, has had chickens since he was 8. Each chicken has a name and he has no problem telling you who is nice and who is not so friendly. 

Most will eat from his hand, and sit on his shoulder while he does chores. According to Strayer, they are quite entertaining. (See photo right)

“I just enjoy watching them, they always are doing something,” says Strayer. 

Strayer who lives in Chelsea, Mich. has a mix of bantams and large chickens. “I think the bantams are funny and really active,” says Strayer. “But I want larger chickens next time.” 

Chickens are no match to predators; fox, opossums, racoons and dogs all consider chicken a good meal. “I lost 10 one weekend from a ‘possum. It was really bad,” says Strayer. 

Keeping chickens safe is the most important thing for urban chicken farmers to consider. While fox are not often seen in Ann Arbor,  dogs, opossums and racoons are. A safe coop must be built. 

Examples of Chicken Coops from simple to elaborate

Many sources of coops can be found on the internet. The site www.A2chickens.com has several local people who build coops. Coops range from simple to complex. No matter what they look like, as long as they protect the hens from predators, bad weather and cold breezes, they work.

Other then a good coop, feed with added calcium is needed as well as a source of clean water. In Southeastern Michigan, a heated waterer is needed in the winter. 

Tractor Supply in Whitmore Lake has supplies for chickens. They just got chicks in this past weekend. They are for sale, 6 at a time. “They are straight run, however.” says the store manager. 

“We’ll be out of chicks by this weekend I think,” she says. Straight run means that you take your chances- you can get males or females. This poses problems for Ann Arborites, who must only house hens.

Pullets, female chickens are in demand and often much harder to get then straight run chickens. Pullets range in price from about $2 to over $5 for a day old chick, whereas their male counterparts are often half that price. 

Kimberely Emmert raises chicks to sell. About an hour north of Ann Arbor in Linden, she hatches out several batches of chickens each spring. Every chick is sold by the first weekend she advertises and people still want more. “I just love my chickens,” says Emmert. “I guess everyone else does, too.”

Fetner and a few friends ordered their chicks from McMurrys Hatchery, one of the most popular hatcheries, and a source of "Mail order chickens".

As of April 20th, McMurrys had no pullets available. The first date pullets will be available is mid June. This does not surprise too many. According to Thomas Kriese who host Urban Chickens and has a Facebook page dedicated to keeping chickens, there is a shortage this year. 

There is one other problem with mail order chicks-the number that must be shipped in order to ensure a survival rate.

McMurrys ship a minimum of 25 chicks per order to ensure survival. Chicks are only a day old when shipped, and very fragile.

Tammy Fisher, a teacher in Ann Arbor has ordered chicks for her class to raise. For her last batch a few years ago, she had a bit of a surprise when the chicks arrived.

"On ordering the chicks the hatchery told us to expect 20 percent to die. So, we ordered the minimum 25. Since it was really cold that February, they sent us 32- thinking attrition might be greater then 20 percent," says Fisher.

"I guess we are good chicken farmers- only two died. So, we ended up with 30 chicks that needed homes." Fisher says she had quite a few chicks turned chickens living in her garage before she found homes for the rest. 

It is possible to buy hens that are already laying. Kids will often sell their chickens after the 4-H fair is finished in July. You can even find them on Craigslist. 

The A2citychicken , a web site dedicated to chicken farmers in the Arbor Area can direct you to many local sources for chickens that are already laying, coops and advice for keeping hens in the Ann Arbor area. 

If you want to learn more about urban chicken keeping, you might want to check out Keep Chickens- a comprehensive guide to keeping chickens in urban settings. 

Want to keep hens in Ann Arbor? Click here for a permit!

Could He have been saved?

http://www.easternecho.com/content/emu-student-collapses-basketball-court-pronounced-dead-hospital


Thomas Rayborn Hill III had no indication of how serious his condition was when he felt weak on March 10 during a basketball game at the REC IM at Eastern Michigan University.
According to those present at the REC IM that evening, Hill fell several times and reported feeling short of breath. Hill eventualy collapsed and was transported to St. Josephs hospital in Ypsilanti, MI where he was pronounced dead.

Could he have been saved?

The short, sad, answer is probably not. While autopsy results have not been released on Hall, sudden deaths are often caused by Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) . In many cases, first indication of the disease is sudden cardiac death.

While HOCM is seen in all age groups, the saddest cases are seen in young athletes. The American Heart Association reports that 36% of sudden deaths are due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The AHA estimates that 50% of HOCM cases have no known cause. The other 50% seem to be inherited.

HOCM often has no warnings signs. If there are, they can mistaken for being tired, or worse yet, lazy. The primary warning signal is a heart arrhythmia- not seen, and often not felt by those afflicted.

Signs that should not be ignored: sudden weakness, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Most important for coaches,trainers and participants-any time an athlete faints, HOCM should be suspected and quick medical treatment initiated.

Once a patient has suffered cardiac arrest, there is a very small window of opportunity to provide life saving treatment. The only way to correct an arrhythmia is through defibrillation- an electric shock provided by a machine.

Once someone's heart has begun a fatal arrhythmia or heart attack, the window of survival is quite narrow. According the the American Heart Association brain death occurs within six to ten minutes. The availability of a Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) is essential.

AED’s are available to the public-but at a cost. An AED is often in excess of $1500. In the average gym, six or more are necessary for each area of the gym.

Of course, someone has to know how to use them. Classes are taught by Red Cross- and often part of a simple CPR class. Despite training being available, there needs to be someone present and willing to use the AED.

What could have been done?

“He needed to stop when he first felt something, and defiantly after he collapsed the first time, “ says Sara Wilchowsky, an exercise physiologist at Eastern Michigan University. “ “If he did not know enough stop himself, someone needed to get him to stop. It’s the only thing that could have saved him .”

There are ways to find out if you have HOCM. The AHA has come up with a 12 question list for screening student athletes. If any of the questions are answered “yes”, athlete should be further evaluated for cardiac issues.

Wilchowsky believes that every student athlete should have at the minimum an ECG-a electrical record of their heart beats, before beginning a sports program. This test can sometimes pick up subtle changes that indicate a heart issue.

“But, really, the best way to test for HOCM is with an echocardiogram,” says Wilchowsky.

Screening for student athletes


A echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. Totally non-invasive and painless, it can pick up the thickening of the heart wall that indicates HOCM. The results are immediate. However, most insurances do not cover the test for sports physicals.

Like Wilcowsky, many sports physicians also believe this should be part of an initial screening for student athletes.

This past March, Chelsea Community Hospital offered cardiac screenings free of charge for student athletes. According to an article in the Ann Arbor News, http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/03/free_heart_screenings_set_for.html these were provided as a service to the community.

These screenings provided an ECG as well as a simple cardiac echo. If any red flags appeared, they could return to their regular MD and undergo further screening.

In the A2 News article, Dr. Steven Yarows, chief of medicine at Chelsea Community Hospital said it was like “looking for a needle in a hay stack.”

Yarows, the father of two, felt it important enough to get his children echos before they began a sports program. 

The physician goes on to say in the Ann Arbor article “Why not do it for everyone else?"


According the the American Heart Association, 850 persons a day die from SCD. In a March 2007 study, about 1-20,000 deaths occur in student athletes of high school age a year..

Assignment: Edit this short article. At the bottom, note what changes you made and why you made those changes.

A suspect who robbed an 84-year-old woman was captured with the help of an Ann Arbor Police dog named Czar and his partner, Officer Jeff Robinson.

Police said the woman was walking to her car at the Krogers on South Maple Road at about noon when the suspect came up from behind her, grabbed her purse, then ran off.

Czar and Robinson tracked the suspect and found the purse about 400 yards away. They continued tracking eastward ending in the 800 block of South Maple Road where witnesses told Robinson that the suspect ran into an apartment at the __________complex.

The suspect was found in the apartment of a releative and taken into custody.

The suspect is an 18-year-old Ann Arbor man. Pending arraignment on Sunday, he is being held at the Washtenaw Country on the count of unarmed robbery, a 15-year felony.

The Ann Arbor woman was uninjured and her personal property returned.

“It’s an excellent job by Officer Robinson and his dog,” said Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Pat Ouellette. “The dog was a key component to taking the suspect into custody and recovering the purse.”

Clinton Profile....

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/c/hillary_rodham_clinton/index.html


http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalpersonalprofiles/p/HillaryClinton.htm

For this entry, I am primarily referring to the TImes article, unless I mention USLiberals. I did this for the contrast, again, personal reasons.



I chose to find a profile story on Hillary Clinton. I admit this was for purely personal reasons, as she is someone I have found complex, and in all honesty, don’t think I would like her as a person if I met her. Ah, but I found out more, and this article made her seem much more "human" to me- a nice thing!

What I liked was the profile piece made her seem likable- in spite of being called “fierce” and using words such as “bitter’ in describing both her and her political campaign in the last election. While these words seem to point towards subjectivity, the writer has done well using their comments to not seem subjective, but rather descriptive- yes, close bedfellows, but important difference.

The profile piece never describes her in a physical manner- which makes me wonder if it had been a male, would the same standards apply? I sense a bit of “over correction” in this tendency. This article did make me move into other articles, and that was nice- I learned more. Perhaps a benefit of online news?

The article in the Times did not discuss her marriage, as the first one did USLiberals. I think that is okay, as it did mention (and perhaps needlessly so) her as the “FIrst Lady” and the fact she traveled to more then 80 countries. Perhaps this was in support of her being chosen as Sec. Of State? Not sure.

I do not pick up any sort of opinion in the Times article, but do in the USLiberals article. I think that is because the USLiberals article was written for, well, US Liberals.

In both cases, I did come away with a nice understanding of Ms. Clinton, and while she still would not have gotten my vote (Obama is just...Obama), I do think meeting her would be great. She is really an outstanding woman- and one that perhaps we should point our young woman toward emulating- Brittny, move aside!

Chicken query letter

Dear Midwest Living:

Who would have thought that keeping chickens could cause a debate in city council? In Ann Arbor, it has been come a hot topic during council meetings, sparking conversations on both sides of the fence.

In early 2009, the keeping of chickens within the city confines became legal in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor has modeled their ordinance after a similar one that Madison, Wisc has in effect. As in Madison, certain restrictions apply- to protect both the hens and the nearby homeowners.

Only a small handful of permits have been applied for in Ann Arbor due to the timing of the legislation passing. However, it’s clear the movement is catching on across the midwest. It’s expected that this sping more permits will be issued in Ann Arbor. The sale of chicks has increased according to hatcherys; more homeowners are interested in taking up raising hens, both for the eggs as well as the entertainment chickens provide to their urban owners.

I think your readers would like to read about keeping chickens in their own back yards. There are numerous benefits- including answers to the most pressing question of all; Chickens provide outstanding fertilizer for gardens, with minimal smell. In addition, their eggs are more nutritious then store brought eggs. The hens do provide entertainment with minimal work once the coop is built. As people consider their food sources, people find knowing where their eggs come from is a benefit. And perhaps of greatest interest to readers- back yard chickens come in “Designer Hens” varieties! They can (and do) get hens to match their homes decor.

I think the time is here for an article outlining the purchasing and care of chickens in a urban envoinment. There are many possible side bars that can spring from this; a tie to your cooking section on the use of eggs, the benefits to gardens, and of course, the joys that chickens bring to their owners.

I look forward to hearing from you,


Annika Kramer
4109 Sylvan Road
Grass Lake, MI

Story Outline

I would like to look at the move towards eating locally, and the moves that people have made in our area because of this phoneme.

I want to interview Community Farm, a local farm that grows in community gardens. I also would go to the farmers market in various communities and interview the growers and merchants that take the time to sell their products there.

I would try and interview people at the markets, and ask why they have chosen to go to the Farmers Markets, or invest in Community Farm. In addition, I would look on the web to see if there are any other articles and ideas that I can get more ideas from.

I do not think I will focus on the economy, as I believe it might be more expensive to eat this way. But, I would as a few why they chose to spend more in order to support Community farm and the Farmers Market, since spending is a choice.

The other idea that I have is keeping Chickens. I know this is a hot topic in A2 right now- and think it's interesting.

I have looked at few web sites, and spoken to a few people- McMurrys sells chicks and has seen their sales soar in the past few years. A lot of classrooms are hatching chicks again- which is also kind of interesting.

I would like to interview people that have worked to get chicken keeping legal in A2, and also talk to some that are opposed. I would also go to the web and see what is needed to keep chickens in the city- and the cost per egg (chickens do not lay an egg a day, but rather 2 eggs for every 3 days on average- but not in the winter, where they go on strike...which I feel like doing!)

My lead would probably be simple and to the point. Why does Mr. so and so want Chickens in his small yard on Washtenaw? I need to work on my leads, as I tend to get my first sentence and then work from there.

I believe that working on the Chicken Story will probably be what I end up doing. I think it's timely, and interesting, and different from most things- and it's interesting to many, I would think. :)

Outlne of final story.

While there are no roosters crowing in the Smiths back yard, there are chickens. Thanks to a recent change to the laws in Ann Arbor, the Smiths can keep 4 hens- enough to keep their family, and their grateful next door neighbors in eggs for most of the year.



"The eggs are good but this is hardly a cost effective venture!" says Smith. She stands in front of their homemade coop holding Mrs. Lakenvelder, a large mostly white hen who seems very content in her arms.

It seems as if keeping chickens has more to do with keeping chickens as pets rather then the eggs they produce. A pet with benefits, according to Smith.

According to many, the eggs taste better then store brought eggs.  Mother Earth News magazine has an article discussing the differences, including a heathful  1/3rd reduction in chloresterol.

Grocery store eggs are often older then two weeks since they have been laid. Home eggs are often less then a couple hours old-and fresh eggs are certainly better then older eggs. The hens are allowed to be out, are fed food that the owner controls. 

Need to match your coop with your house? Designer eggs are even possible-the shells can be colorful in hues that are multicolored- brown, green or even a pinkish tinged eggs come from specialized hens bred to produce "easter eggs". It gives new meaning to Green Eggs and Ham- although once you crack the egg, they all look the same.

Turns out there are more benefits to keeping the hens then their eggs. They are quite entertaining. The term pecking order comes from hens and their social status within their group. Watching hens walk around, scratching for something under the surface, clucking at each other, occasional chicken tag, it's like watching water or fire- it's always changing. These are very busy girls.

Even the byproduct of keeping hens- manure- can be beneficial. Many chicken owners turn it into compost for the garden. Here is an article about making Chicken Manure tea. While not a topic of dinner conversation, knowing what might benefit your plants seems like a good idea. 

"All around, we benefit- and I like the fact that our kids will see where their food comes from." says Fetner. The chicks that the Fetner's ordered last year are now the ones that are producing the eggs in their small flock. On average, she collects 2 to 3 eggs a day, more then enough for her family and neighbors.

Fetner and a few friends ordered their chicks from McMurrys Hatchery, one of the most popular hatcheries, and an impessive source of "Mail order chickens".

To keep chickens inside the city limits, you have to order just hens. This is to cut down on the crowing that rooters are known for- while enjoyable to some, it does have it's opponents. 

McMurrys has solved this dilemma with orders of only female chicks available- more expensive then "straight run" where the chicks are not sexed before sending out.

Pullets, female young chickens are in demand and often much harder to get then straight run chickens. Pullets range in price from about $2 to over $5 for a day old chick, whereas their male counterparts are often half that price.

There is one other problem with mail order chicks-the number that must be shipped in order to ensure a survival rate.

"Our first order of chicks the hatchery told us to expect 20 percent to die. So, we ordered the minimum 25. Since it was really cold that February, they sent us 32- thinking attrition might be greater then 20 percent," says Tammy Fisher, a teacher at Honey Creek Community School who ordered chicks for her class to raise a few years ago.

"I guess we are good chicken farmers- only two died. So, we ended up with 30 chicks that needed homes." Fisher says she had quite a few chicks turned chickens living in her garage before she found homes for the hens. 

While Fetner ordered  day old chicks, many choose to get hens that are already laying. This also quickens the egg laying process- a hen does not lay eggs until she reaches the age of at least 15 weeks. You also can get 4 hens instead of 25 chicks.

A quick look on Craigslist provides a few chicken farms in the Ann Arbor area. The A2citychicken , a web site dedicated to chicken farmers in the Arbor Area can direct you to many local sources for chickens that are already laying, coops and advice for keeping hens in the Ann Arbor area. The price of a hen ready to lay is about $15. 

While there have only been 11 permits for chickens inside the city limits since June 2008, the numbers seem likely to increase since orders of chicks have increased for the SE Mich area.  According to the Facebook group, Urban Chickens, there is an anticipated shortage of chicks available this year.

 Chicken keeping is fun, and provides organic, free range eggs for your family to enjoy. It is becoming a serious hobby for many. Perhaps this is the Martha Stewart phenomena- she has touted the benefits of keeping chickens in her magazine and blog. When you have chickens in your back yard, you control what they eat and how they live. "It's all good."

If you want to learn more about urban chicken keeping, you might want to check out Keep Chickens- a comprehensive guide to keeping chickens in urban settings. 

Want to keep hens in Ann Arbor? Click here for a permit!

Left- Martha Stewarts Chicken Coop

There is something different about  Teresa Chambors, 29. Brown eyes behind glasses, blond hair and a mid-length pink dress and bright red shoes, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about the Eastern Michigan University student.

She moves a bit slower than other students. She opts to take the elevator whenever possible. Her hands often shake as she attempts to write. But Chamber still manages to hold onto her 3.7 GPA.

It's what you can't see that makes Chambors different.

 Chambors has someone else's heart beating in her chest. 

At the age of 12, Chambors entered a maze of doctors, EKG's, cardiac echos and heart catherizations. Dr. McDonald Dick, head of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of MIchigan Hospital delivered the devastating news.

Chambors had Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia. Her heart would begin to  beat too quickly, often as a result of anxiety. Unlike others hearts, hers could not stop its frantic pace- in many cases, it can lead to sudden cardiac death. 

Chambors also had developed Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart has sustained irreparable damage. Because hers had been working overtime, the damage was done and was permanent. 

Chambors said she spent the next 10 years taking drugs to help her ailing heart function.  The condition ruled her life with numerous hospitizations, doctors visit and tests to monitor her health.  Often only able to stay away for five or six hours a day, Chambors said her social life, the pinnacle of most high schoolers' experience, was non-existent.

"High School was hell," says Chambors. 

Eventually the drugs stopped working and Chambors said her heart was getting weaker. She developed blood clots that traveled to her kidneys,  destroying 35 percent of their function- a condition she still has today. Chambors said she was hardly able to get up four stairs without stopping to catch her breath. It was clear, she needed a new heart. 

In July  2001, Chambors was placed on the "list". She joined the other 2000 plus people waiting for hearts in the USA. Many die waiting for their chance at a new life.

On January 26,  2002, Chambors said she got the call from the University of Michigan- a heart that matched had just become available. After seven months and two days waiting, her tiring heart was removed and another placed in her chest.

Chambors was the 498th heart transplant done at the U-M. 

Much later, Chambors said she was told her heart would have probably only lasted another two weeks. 

Chambors would love to meet her donor family. She has sent several letters, thanking them for their gift of life; thus far, she has not heard from the family. 

Chambors says she  considers such people like Dr. David Dyke and the other doctors and nurses on the heart transplant team her friends. She spent more time in the hospital then she did at school for those 10 years and said she forged stronger bonds with them then fellow students.

Mark Brown, a nurse in the new Cardiovascular Center at the U- M remembers Chambors pre- transplant. 

“You get to know them if they are frequent flyers,” says Brown. 

Chambors certainly qualified for that status- unable to actually account for all her days hospitalized, Chambors recalls several stints longer then a month. 

"The worse experience of my life was being on a vent." says Chambors. "It's like feeling you can't breath and you have to suck air through a straw." 

Chambors was on a ventilator two times, eventually getting a tracheostomy.

Chambors considers herself lucky. She says her transplant was considered one of the top 10 matches ever done at the U-M. Her chance of rejection, always a concern, is low. According to Chambors, this also means she has to take less medications daily then if the match was not as good.

As it is, Chambors says her meds still run a staggering $400-$500 a month- with insurance. Without drug coverage, she estimates her costs would quadruple.

Chambors still lives with her parents in Canton, and her "very important dogs."  She loves to talk about her pets, her beading and her card making instead of talking about her health. 

But, there are things that remind her. The medications make her tired. She must get eight to nine hours of sleep a day to keep up her energy. She takes the elevator and walks slowly to conserve her strength. Chambors carries a water bottle all the time as she says she is always thirsty, another side effect of the medications she must take daily for the rest of her life.

Chambers qualifies for federal disability. But she chooses to go to school, which disqualifies her for assistance. That's just fine with her. She says she just wants to blend in with other students and experience college with as much normalcy as possible-something she missed earlier in life.

Chambors was hospitalized last month, missing two weeks of classes which put a damper on her winter semester.  She said she is grateful to her professors for working with her and assigning work over the internet.

Dr. Lisa Bank, her ecology professor at EMU says she is keeping up- better than some of the other students who don’t have the excuse of illness. 

“They (professors) were great- I had my laptop at the hospital and was able to keep up on assignments and emails,” says Chambors. " I think I might keep my A average.”

Contacts :  Teresa Chambors- Phone 330-232-2828

Story Angles

I would like to use the Martin Bandyke story that just happened in Ann Arbor. Martin John was laid off from the local station 107one- as far as I know, the only station that is germane to A2, and very important to the area. It appears to be owned by a larger company- and that company appears to not be located in A2. From what I can tell, with the tiny amount of looking, it is a rather large conglomeration and therefore, as much as I perceived 107one as local, it really was not. Martin John brought that feeling to the station, which is valuable in itself

There are a few angles I would think about- I know I would probably choose the profile of Martin John, but could also look at a few other ideas.

First would be the profile- He has been in A2 for 3 years (or close to) and A2 radio really has been about this station, which features Martin on the weekdays, as well as a nice segment called Fine Tuning on Sundays. He also is very involved in the local music scene, and knows a lot about the areas talent. He did a lot of community service, and was involved in a lot of local fund raisers, inc the Humane Society of Huron Valley. All in all, an interesting guy, and one worth a nice profile.

My second idea would be to look at the A2 radio scene- and how it has evolved and why it's facing such pressures financially. This is a big change for the station, and certainly a big risk. Why is radio in trouble? Is this a nationwide trend? What has satellite radio done to the local markets?

I would also think about doing something like "the day of a DJ" I think it would be interesting to see what others do, as well as looking at what Martin John did.

I also think an article looking at the local music scene would be nice- Martin did a lot with locals, and it would be interesting to hear more about them, and how important someone like Martin is to their getting noticed. Even if he is still not on the radio, I would guess that he will continue to be involved and finding out from him what he thinks about local talent would be neat, too.

Leads and other important things....

Ann Arbor seems like a quiet town. Next to its news noisy neighbor Detroit, what can happen in such a small town? Plenty, says Greg Stejskal, former FBI agent that was based out of Ann Arbor for over 25 years. 

During his career Stejskal has been involved in the unibomber case, the Oklahoma City Bombing case, the first case of internet threat brought to the attention of media- just a few cases that had ties to the Ann Arbor area.

********************************************************************************

Imagine someone told you that the MLB knew about the use and abuse of steroids years before it became the cover of SI. Imagine you were the person that told the MLB commissioner that steroid abuse was a  problem and no one did anything about it. Imagine your frustration when the public outcry was so riotous that it was the cover of every newspaper for weeks- ten years after your investigation. If your name was Greg Stejskal, there would be no need to wonder- you would know.

************************************************************************************

In his years at the helm of the Ann Arbor division of the FBI. Greg Stejskal has seen many criminals do stupid things. When a suspect jumped into a lake in _____township, surrounded by FBI SWAT team members with guns drawn, Stejskal knew this was the top of the list for his Darwin Awards given out during  his career. 

Questions....

These are questions I would ask.

I am hoping to garner an interview with the woman who has just secured (Not 100% sure about this- it's still kind of U of M gossip...but I have a very close contact. She is at a conference until Thursday...am planning on calling her on Friday) the biggest grant given for research on High Risk pregnancy and sleep apnea.  This project has been in the works for YEARS and just in the past month, it has been determined that there is a tie between sleep apnea/deprivation and preeclampsia.  And NO I am not sharing names just yet! :-)This is not going to be announced to the public for another couple of weeks as I understand it. Still trying to get more info....

Tell me a bit about your background? 

Do you have children yourself?

Where did you do your schooling?

Where did you begin your research? 

What led you to the U of M?

What decided this particular field of research?

Who is this grant from?

Why?

How did you gather your information?

Sample size?

What do you hope is the outcome of this research?

What do you see this research leading to next? (or depending on where things go, see if she is willing to share other things she is working on....the biggest issue with this is the "scoop" factor. If this grant is indeed as big as  I am told, I million for a single person..., that's a lot of money esp. today.)

beginning to muse about profile...

I have a couple of ideas-
One-
Just getting into the market. what would make someone decide NOW in this market, that they will change their jobs to do something that seems SO risky

Another -''Alexander Frey returns to UM for a concert"

Living off the Grid- Families that have chosen to use alternative sources of energy and how they do it.

http://www.off-grid.net/

This is a web site for people that have chosen this sort of life style. It is very broad...and not centered in Mich, but I would look here for ideas on where to look further.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/1820211.html

This is an article where a family in Vermont will experiment with 6 different energy sources.

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning_environment/planning/wind_power/about.html

This is a site that is just dedicated to Washtenaw Co, energy plan, specifically a wind generator. I did not know WC was doing this!

http://www.hbawc.com/mr_builtgreen.cfm

This is a site that is just for WC also- I think this would be a personal interview possibility.

I would also call those people that are advertising on the billboards that are all over town, but strangely cannot find them on the net.

http://www.meadowlarkbuilders.com/green.asp

This is one site, but not sure if its the same as the ones on the billboards.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-04-12-off-the-grid_x.htm

As much as I dislike USA, I would also try and approach some of their sources.

A rather energetic woman, certainly intense in nature, she still seems comfortable in her own skin. Always ready to claim her shortcomings, she also emanates a seriousness that clearly shows she has an opinion and in certain company, will indeed let you know how she feels, be this right or wrong. While she should be out of place in the classroom, being older then many of her instructors and classmates, this does not seem to bother her. She has a purpose, and nothing will detour her from this. Instead, she has a comfort and ease with learning, born of desire and the wisdom that age provides.

10 feature story ideas....

1)Changes small business are making in order to survive the current economic challenges.

 A business story

Identify local business that is making it in this economy, and the changes that they are making in order to stay in business. What their view is on the coming year

2) Equine Rescue, a labor of love

Profile

CANTER, And other equine rescue groups. Slaughter is now outlawed in the USA, and this has caused the numbers of unwanted horses to rise significantly. With hay prices at an all time high, Rescues are suffering greatly

3) Mr. T- and his new heart

Medical

Follow the story of a patient that has gotten a new heart- both the positives and negatives. UMMC has a great transplant program, and has performed huge numbers of transplants- there have to be organ donors and loss with all the gain. Complex to say the least! (would be difficult as the laws demand privacy-)

4) How Facebook is bringing people together- even those that are older

Not 100% sure

Talk to the people that gave rekindled friendships on Facebook esp from High school. How has this changed things for people?

5) Community Farm- Stay Local and loyal

Enterprise

Talk to community Farm people and see what their thoughts are and what they serve for the public

6) Living off the Grid- the story of a family that has made it happen

Profile and numbers

Find someone off the grid, see what they are doing and how it works for them

7) The life of a farm vet on the road

Profile and unfamiliar visitor

The Farm vet is alive and well! Its a life that is hard and harkens back to  a different kind of lifestyle 

8) Children of Iraq vets face the holidays

Profile, kind of...

Talk to the programs that provided for kids and talk to the families that have benefited from this

9) FoodGathers face their toughest year ever

Numbers as well as overview

Talk to FoodGathers and find out how their fundraising has gone over the past few years.

10) 2nd careers- why are so many people changing?

Numbers, overview as well as profile

find students that are older and what they are doing back in school!

Some day my book will come...some day my book will come!

So, this is a bit late, as Amazon slipped on their prime shipping promise, and my book has finally hit my door- it only took a week, instead of the promised 2 day turn around that I pay "prime bucks" for! :)

So, this may be TOO late, but I shall complete anyway!  

This is my article- entitled Equestrian Deaths Spread Unease in the Sport.

This was in the New York Times, and I chose it for many reasons, primary that these are people I know, in a sport I love, and it's a fairly clear, unbiased look at the issues that are causing problems for the associations that govern the sport.  There was a lot of press around this time, and even more followed shortly after, as we had 2 horses die at our largest Eventing competition in the US just 3 weeks after this article appeared. This has generated a lot of press, but towards a somewhat limited audience. God Forbid PETA ever gets involved! :-)

So, this is a feature piece, that is both a profile as well as an overview story. The Overview part is towards the end, and sums up the profile fairly clearly.   

It is somewhat newsy, but since they are talking about a phenomenon that is happening and has been happening over the past several months, with an organization looking at the possible causes, I feel it falls more into the Overview category. 

The profile of Darren is important, but interesting, as when this was written, Darren was still in the hospital and unable to fully communicate. (He has since made a complete and amazing recovery.) So, while a profile, Darren himself could not speak for himself. There are some nice follow-up stories where Darren does indeed speak for himself, and since Darren is very colorful, it's always interesting to hear what he has to say! 

I think this article could have had more numbers added to it- if the focus was indeed to be about the sport. If it was to be about Darren, then the numbers are unnecessary. If this had focused just on Darren, then talking about all that he has accomplished and the horses and riders he has helped would have added a bit to his creditability.  The irony of Darren being head of the safety committee is not addressed as it might be, too.

What I do like is that she presents things as clearly as possible to an audience that is unfamiliar with the sport.  She has a nice picture of Darren as a lead in, and does not (thankfully) use the picture of the fall in the article. The online version had links to other articles that were more aggressive in their style.

Overall, I think this is a good article, fairly presented, clearly written and deals with a tough subject well.

This was the morning we all dread- Late, Late and snow and ice.   Why that always seems to happen? But I am in class, on time and on this blog!

My goals for this class are to hone whatever writing ability I may have. While I am past the point of thinking I could ever have a career in journalism, I still admire the ability to be able to impart information in such a way.  Jo Mathias...I always look for her stories.  I think I might tend towards the sappy, but forgiving such things and moving past them is my goal right now. 

I read the article on Sanjaya Gupta with great interest- I worked with him for several years at the U. He was amazing then, and I know he will be terrific in what ever path he chooses. His ability to communicate is truly impressive- even then, as an intern, wet behind the ears, he was who patients wanted to talk to- because he was able to impart information in an accessible way. I feel great hope for a lot of the new administration with the choices BO is making (Oh dear- what horrid initials!) to support him in his very difficult job of turning the country around!

This is the beginning of my blog for Feature Writing!! 

So, here we go!

getting closer to the end of time.

I begin this blog with a huge sigh. It's been a long road, and yet, I feel we just started. This class, much more so then my other 2 classes, have been my life, my focus.

I think I have had a good understanding of what style is from the beginning of the class. I am not sure, however, if I was able to articulate it as well as I should, and that is where I learned the most about style as a writer, and as a student, too. I have always had an understand of audience, and have been fairly successful in writing for a specific audience outside of school. This has NOT been the case in school. Perhaps my distance of 20 odd years, perhaps my worry of getting it right has been a factor, but, it's clear to me that this process has been essential in my growth as a student.

Style as a student writer is a bit more difficult. I am still trying to decide how to meld those worlds, to create something that works for me. I realize as I write this that I come up against a particular road block for myself. I am someone that gets things right, and therefore, anything less then an A feels like a failure to me. I am just not a half-assed person.I carry this thru in all aspects of my life. If I am going to ride prelim, then damn it, I am going to be the absolute best I can be, given whatever shortcomings I may meet/have.

However, I also know that my writing style is pretty important to me, and as far as my voice as a writer must feel true- to myself, my ideas, and my purpose. So, now, with this class, my papers, my blogs, I must somehow create a comfort place for myself. Every person has a preference in what they read, and what style they appreciate. I know my writing will appeal to some, and not to others. My husband is a great example. He does not enjoy reading prose, poetry or literature that does not have purpose- action fiction, okay, but other sorts of writing does not appeal to him as it does to me. I know I will run up against this as I approach my next semester of writing, which, probably, will be non-existent with Chem, BioChem, Genetics as well as A and P. :-)

So, what has come to my attention is this- I want to write for my audience- that sounds strange, but stick with me here. I am grateful for the clarity that peer review has created for me, and grateful for the edits that Dr. K has provided- but as a way to hone my voice, not change it. But, I am not going to try and become something that I am not. How do I know what my audience is? I am not sure... When I write for USPC, I know it's kids, and horse kids. That one is easy for me; in all honestly, I just reach back a bit and I am there. I do think that I will write for more then that, perhaps after this science part of school is done. the one thing I know, and have gotten in touch with again, is that writing is very important to me. I am not as capable of sharing my feelings IRL, long story there, but in words, with language, I feel like I can give feeling and texture to the world as an artist does with paint and a brush. I am perhaps too sappy at times, and that worries me, but overall, it may also be where my strength exists.

So, style is creating what we want for who wants it. In that, it's tricky. It's subjective. In the end, style actually is as some suggested in their blogs earlier. It is how you wear your words, your way of creating a paper, book, essay, that reflects who you are, while reaching out to your reader in a way that they can absorb what your point, ideas are. So, Style is actually who we are, but as writers, rather then humans. It's not stagnant, but motionfilled, like water in a river. The banks are there, but the words can wash up on them, creating small disruptions that actually work, as long as the banks stay solid (Grammar, word usage, etc) you can succeed. (at least I hope so!! :-) )