News

Conversation goes curbside in Ypsilanti

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As the world of recycling changes, residents express skepticism and optimism. [Format: Subheading]

On Aug. 9, the Ypsilanti Department of Public Services director Ron Aker announced in the mayoral bulletin that the city’s curbside single-stream recycle pickup program will no longer accept glass, milk cartons or juice boxes. In a press release, the Western Washtenaw Recycling Facility (WWRA) in Chelsea, where materials are sorted and recycled, said the decision was due to no guarantee that containers placed in curbside bins will be properly recycled due to a high rate of broken glass received in single-stream. “I reuse lots and lots of glass, but that’s just really upsetting to me,” said Lisa Bashert, an active community member with a heart for the environment.

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Building community power center of Ypsilanti Sustainability Commission

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On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the Ypsilanti Sustainability Commission met at Ypsilanti City Town Hall, where Commissioners heard from three community members. First, Dave Strenski, a representative of the group “SolarYpsi” asked the Commission for help in crafting grant proposals for solar power initiates in the city. The groups’ goal is to help the public access knowledge on solar power and offers a community focused on helping people generate solar power in their home and community centers, while advocating for utilities to push for a quick switch to renewable energy. “Solar Ypsi is nothing more than a website and friends, no nonprofit status,” Strenski said.

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Ypsilanti youths recognized for their authorship

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YPSILANTI — On July 1, Eastern Michigan University’s chapter of Upward Bound, a federally-funded college-prep program, announced winners of it’s writing challenge for youths enrolled in its six-week summer program working to offer high schoolers experience in various careers. The five writing challenge winners are: Cara Altherr, for her essay on acceptance of LGBTQ people of color, Alexis Herron, for her essay on abortion rights, Selena Calzado, for her essay on immigration, Davonna Washington, for her essay on police brutality, Mareka Ray for her essay on the opioid epidemic. The challenge was born out of a partnership between Upward Bound and Washtenaw County news outlet, Concentrate, as part of its reporting program called “On the Ground Ypsi.”
“I want these writers to think of themselves who’ve done impressive professional work and perhaps taken the first steps towards a professional career in writing,” said Patrick Dunn, Concentrate’s managing editor, who’s fascinated the writing challenge in the journalism workshop he’s teaching in Upward Bound’s summer programming. Dunn’s essay prompt challenged students with answering how they would solve their community’s greatest challenge. Students spent the weeks of July drafting and revising their essays ahead of the Summer Academy Closing Ceremony on July 25, where five winners were announced.