<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3">Hello Neighbors,</font></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Here are a few things you should know and/or do.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;">DON'T PUT OUT YARD WASTE -- Until your trash day beginning APRIL 6th -- <span style="font-weight: normal;">Let's not make this Yard Waste Gate, you have been given notice.</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">There was an ordinance passed against Yard Waste too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;">POSSIBLE GARDEN DAY? -- <span style="font-weight: normal;">Would you be interested in a multi neighborhood Garden Day? We could have activities for kids, information sessions, gardening classes, perineal exchange, plant sale, etc. Contact me if you think this is a good idea. prospectparkneighborhood@comcast.net </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;">Are Moving and Planning on Renting Your Home? --<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Be advised that if you rent a home in the city of Ypsilanti you need to contact the building department before doing so. They have a form for you to fill out and I believe you need to have it inspected.</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROSPECT PARK SUMMIT #2</span> - Wednesday April 1st (I believe 7pm) Once again folks are invited to come share their feelings about Prospect Park and offer suggestions of ways to improve the park but more importantly show your support for the park. This meeting is a joint meeting of the PPNA, EPPNA, HESNA, and Miles Street. We will be walking the park as we discuss. Bring your kids since they are primary users of the park and their opinions matter too.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Community Emergency Response Team Training</span> - As a member of the Ypsilanti Citizen Police Academy I can tell you how nice these classes are. My guess is that the C.E.R.T. training course will be very worthwhile. Information can be found below.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Home Weatherization Money Coming to the County -- </span>I am an advocate of sealing homes and making them use less energy. The numbers are stagering and you'd be surprised at how much money you can save with minimal investment. In a lot of older homes a few tubes of caulk will save as much energy as new windows. Information on FREE weatherization can be found below (low income isn't what it used to be).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Art Classes at the 'What is That Gallery</span> -- look below for information. If you haven't been to the gallery YOU NEED TO CHECK IT OUT. The owners are fantastic community people, the art is great and varied, and the exhibits change often</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">_______________________________________________________________________________</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Tahoma">What is That Gallery, Art
Classes!<br></font><br>
</p>Friends,<br>We are looking ahead to our next session of classes here
at the What is That Gallery in downtown Ypsilanti. We have adult and youth
classes in a variety of subjects including acrylic, watercolor, ceramics and
much more. This 6 week session runs from April 13-May 23. I am
attaching a flyer for this session, please feel free to print out as many as you
need. I'm also including a registration form for your easy access. If you
register by April 3, you will save $6/session!<br><br>We are excited to be
bringing art education to down town Ypsi. Thanks for your help in getting
the word out to those who will benefit.<br><br>For a detailed listing of all
classes, times and prices please check out our blog at
<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT338"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT339"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.whatisthatgallery.blogspot.com/">www.whatisthatgallery.blogspot.com</a></span></span><br><br>Thanks and feel free to call or email
with any questions.<br><br>Peace,<br><br>Jaclyn Morrow<br>Education
Director<br>What is That, a Gallery of Fine Art and Craft<br>734-485-0113<br>130
W Michigan Ave, Ypsi<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">_______________________________________________________________________</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">County Gets $4.1 Million Weatherization Grant<br>Stimulus funds to aid 600 low-income homes in Washtenaw<br>By Mary Morgan<br>March 10, 2009<br><br> <br><br>Washtenaw County's weatherization program, which typically serves about<br>100 homes annually out of a $350,000 budget, is getting $4.1 million<br>over the next 18 months from the 2009 federal stimulus package. That<br>amount will allow the program to weatherize 600 homes - and lower<br>utility bills - for low- to moderate-income families during that period.<br>To ramp up for this influx of federal funding, the program will be<br>hiring staff for the duration of the grant, which runs from April 1,<br>2009 through Sept. 30, 2010. Aaron Kraft, program coordinator, said<br>there are two full-time employees now (including him), plus a private<br>contractor who does inspections. Kraft expects they'll need seven<br>full-time staff in the office to handle outreach and applications, four<br>more inspectors and double the number of general contractors that they<br>use to work on these projects.<br> <br>In addition to the increased number of houses they'll be able to serve,<br>the amount that can be spent per house has roughly doubled, Kraft said.<br>Not including administrative costs, about $4,500 will be available for<br>each home. The program covers houses, mobile homes, townhomes and<br>condominiums, but not usually apartments in large complexes, Kraft said.<br>Those funds pay for an energy audit/home inspection, which reveals ways<br>in which a home's energy efficiency can be improved. That includes a<br>"blower door" test to depressurize the house - basically, taking a<br>powerful fan and sucking out the air to exaggerate the effects of air<br>leakage through cracks around doors and windows. They'll also do a meter<br>reading on the refrigerator - if it's an energy hog, the program might<br>pay to replace it with a more efficient model.<br> <br>For many homes, Kraft said, installing insulation in the attic, walls<br>and foundation "gets the most bang for your buck." They replace all<br>light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, but they don't often replace<br>windows - that's often beyond the program's budget, and it's not where<br>you'll see the most energy savings, he said, calling that a myth<br>generated by Wallside Windows.<br> <br>The inspection also looks at general health and safety issues, like<br>whether there are adequate smoke detectors. They'll also check to make<br>sure there's no carbon monoxide emissions from a faulty furnace or hot<br>water heater.<br> <br>Federal guidelines, based on poverty levels, have changed for income<br>eligibility, Kraft said, so more people qualify for the weatherization<br>program. You automatically qualify for assistance if you're receiving<br>Michigan bridge cards (formerly known as food stamps), or if you receive<br>supplemental security income (SSI). Priority is given to the disabled,<br>elderly and families below 125% of the federal poverty level, Kraft<br>said.<br> <br>Beyond that, you qualify if you fall at or below these annual income<br>levels:<br>1-person household: $21,660 <br>2-person household: $29,140 <br>3-person household: $36,620 <br>4-person household: $44,100 <br>5-person household: $51,580 <br>6-person household: $59,060 <br>7-person household: $66,540 <br>8-person household: $74,020 <br>(For each additional person, add $7,480) <br>Income is calculated going back the previous 90 days, so if someone was<br>making more than these levels but has been laid off recently, they might<br>qualify.<br> <br>The grant is part of a much larger amount expected for Washtenaw County<br>from federal stimulus bills passed in 2008 and earlier this year. Other<br>federal funding, such as $3 million for the purchase and rehab of<br>foreclosed property, was discussed at the March 4 Board of Commissioners<br>meeting, where some county staff members mentioned the weatherization<br>funds and pointed The Chronicle to Kraft.<br> <br>Much of the federal funding hasn't been allocated with specific dollar<br>amounts, so in that way the weatherization program is ahead of the game.<br>The funds flow from the U.S. Department of Energy, and are administered<br>locally via the county's Employment Training and Community Services<br>(ETCS) department out of its Harriet Street office in Ypsilanti.<br>Handling such a dramatic increase will be challenging, Kraft said. In<br>the past, they've relied on word of mouth and local nonprofits or<br>community organizations to make referrals. Or people might be made aware<br>of the program when they call the county's 2-1-1 information line.<br>They'll probably change their approach to outreach, he said, in order to<br>get more people enrolled.<br> <br>So what if the program doesn't spend all the funds?<br> <br>"Oh ... not an option," Kraft said.<br> <br>If you think you qualify or would like more information, call the<br>weatherization program 734.544.2948. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3">_______________________________________________________________________________________</font></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3"><br></font></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3">Press Release</font></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3">CERT PROGRAM<br></font></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="3"><br></font></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">The Ann Arbor Police Department/Office of
Emergency Management in conjunction with the Washtenaw County Office of
Emergency Management is now accepting applications for the Washtenaw County
C.E.R.T. Team (Community Emergency Response Team)
Training.</font></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The (CERT) Program
educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their
area and trains them in basic disaster response skills. Using the training
learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in
their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders
are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to
support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency
preparedness projects in their community.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">To become a CERT member,
you will have to take the CERT training.<span style="">
</span>Applications for Washtenaw County residents are now being accepted at
the Ann Arbor Police Department or on the Police webpage.<span style=""> </span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">This training course will run every Thursday night
from April 5<sup>th</sup> to May 14<sup>th</sup><span style=""> </span>from 6:30 – 9:30 pm with the final
exercise and graduation on the morning May 16<sup>th</sup> <span style=""> </span>.<span style="">
</span>The course is a combination of classroom sessions and hands-on training
in scene assessment, fire safety, emergency medical response, team organization,
disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue.<span style=""> </span>The course will also provide information
on topics such as, local threats, hazards, county and city emergency management
initiatives and incident command and terrorism.</font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Attendance at all classes is required for certificate of
completion. </font></font></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">Citizens interested in participating in this
course should call Crime Prevention Specialist Adele El-Ayoubi, ICPS, with the
Ann Arbor Police Department at 734-994-8775 or log on to the City website at
</font></span></span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT242"><a href="http://www.a2gov.org/" target="_blank"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style=""><span style="">www.a2gov.org</span></span><span style=""><span style=""></span></span></font></font></a></span><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> . The C.E.R.T. Training Course Application
deadline is Friday, March 20th , 2009 at 5:00 pm at the Ann Arbor Police
Department.<span style=""> </span>All applicants agree to
a background investigation and will be notified if they have been accepted into
the course.<span style=""> </span>Seating is limited, so
please submit your application as early as possible.</font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style=""><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">If you have already completed a CERT course in
your workplace, reside within Washtenaw County, and are interested in join the
Washtenaw County Team, please look for instructions at our
website.</font></span></span></p></div></body></html>