2009 – Page 145 of 148

Wayne State, DMC help make more high-risk kidney transplants safer

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January 13, 2009

A Wayne State University researcher has found a way to lower the number of kidney transplant rejections in high-risk patients.High-risk patients, such as those with HIV, usually reject new kidneys about half the time. Transplants conducted by Dr. Scott Gruber and the DMC Harper University Hospital’s kidney transplant program have been able to lower that number to 13 percent. Those patients also had shorter hospital stays.This has huge implications for those suffering from HIV. By lowering the rejection rate to that of the general population, HIV patients are living longer and better lives.DMC Harper University Hospital is among the few medical centers in the country studying the challenges and complexities of performing kidney transplants in the HIV positive population. Source: Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Wayne State’s Word Warriors web site dusts off seldom-used words

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Community Development

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January 13, 2009

Wayne State University has developed a new web site that help should scribes and storytellers become a little better acquainted with little-known words.Word Warriors, a play on words on the university's mascot, presents a dictionary of the words we tried to learn from vocabulary books in secondary school. They include some head scratchers, such as Yclept (Named or so-called) and Mastication (The act of chewing). Users can submit their words they have dragged out of the linguistic closet.The idea is that bringing these words back to the forefront of people's minds will give them a valuable communication tool to express thoughts and feelings clearly and concisely in everyday life. The project began from a casual conversation among four Wayne State employees that included vice president for marketing and communications, dean of the Honors College, director of editorial services, and a journalism instructor.Those creators hope the web site will provoke discussion about the English language and broaden people's communication abilities.Source: Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Even garbage is going green: Landfill’s methane potential source of energy

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Economic Development

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January 8, 2009

Garbage going green usually means something bad, something nasty and smelly. But not this time. This time it is something potentially good. The garbage stewing in landfills produce an enormous amount of methane gas each year. Researchers believe that the methane could be turned into energy.Garbage power has a nice ring to it.Excerpt: "There's great potential here. ... We're looking at a one-year horizon to have the facility permitted, constructed and operating," said Tim Faas, Canton's municipal services director. "We always look to try innovative things where they make financial sense. Creating our own utility authority, this is another example of that." The project is preliminary, yet promising. Engineers estimate the landfill on Lilley could generate up to eight megawatts of energy -- enough electricity to power about 5,000 households. Read the entire article here.

Michigan is hoping new tourism campaign bucks recent trend

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Economic Development

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January 8, 2009

Michigan gets cold and when it gets cold it snows and when it snows people ski, and snowmobile, and ice fish. Why not capitalize on the free-from-the-sky snow? That's what Michigan is hoping to do. The state dropped a pretty penny on promoting its wintry attractions and is hoping that you and your friends (in and out of the state) are going to hit the slopes. Excerpt:Most of the record promotional spending comes from the state's lawsuit settlement with the big tobacco companies. Travel Michigan will use about 85 percent of its ad budget outside the state because "we know we need to bring in new visitors" to make up for declining in-state travel, Zimmermann said. Until now, the ad effort has focused on three Midwest markets: Chicago, Cleveland and Indianapolis. But it will expand to Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Ontario this year. And the national ads will push the envelope even further. The award-winning "Pure Michigan" TV ads feature the voice of Michigan-raised comedian Allen, the score from the movie "The Cider House Rules" and pictures of the state's tourist attractions. Read the entire article here.

Smaller spaces for renters and buyers becoming more attractive

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Arts & Culture

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January 8, 2009

Sometimes smaller is better. Renters and buyers are considering smaller places these days. The economy probably has something to do with it. People want to save money but financial considerations aren't the only motivation. Some are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by having less stuff.Excerpt:The obvious appeal is that they are, for the most part, less expensive. Empty nesters and young professionals are also drawn to the eco-consciousness of smaller spaces that require less water and energy. They also enjoy features such as stainless steel kitchens, industrial touches and on-site amenities such as party rooms and health facilities. "People want that high-quality finish, but they don't need the 2,000 and 3,000 square feet of space," said Chadd Fox, developer of Research Lofts in Detroit, near Wayne State University. Fox said he and partner John Biggar have attracted unprecedented sales since opening in early 2007. "We are 70% sold and closed and that truly is what I believe to be the best-selling product in the marketplace right now," Fox said.Read the entire article here.

Rent-a-Farmer concept started by Ferndale resident

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Arts & Culture

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January 8, 2009

You can rent a table and a car and a pony so why not a farmer, too? Thanks to Ferndale resident Trevor Johnson you now can. Through Rent-a-Farmer, the business started by Johnson, he hopes to change the way we think about food, keeping it local and less stressed, and ultimately healthier.Unfortunately, there is no rent-to-own option.Excerpt: That's where Johnson comes in. He's looking to carry a new food revolution on his 24-year-old shoulders, educating people about the food they eat, where it comes from, why it's grown the way it is. He wants to help people to "foster that food revolution in their front and back yards." To that end, Johnson has started his own business called "Rent-a-Farmer," which offers clients the chance to use the expertise of real farmers to help them grow fruits and vegetables in their back yards. "This is not about going back to the farm," said Johnson, who graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in horticulture. "It's about bringing the farm back to us."Read the entire article here.

Cities along proposed commuter line look to funds depots

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Community Development

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January 8, 2009

It's getting closer and closer and closer. And, soon, coming to a city near you, will be a depot station for it. Cities running along the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter line are looking for funding for their rail stations. It's another step forward, and closer to all aboard. Excerpt:City of Dearborn officials have said they have a three-phase plan in place to complete the city's new high-speed rail passenger intermodal station that will be a part of an Ann Arbor to Detroit commuter rail line. If funding is allocated, the station would sit on the south side of Michigan Avenue just east of Brady near the Henry Ford.But Dearborn isn't the only city looking for funding for an updated station, as each city on the line -- Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Wayne/Westland and Detroit -- have plans for new or updated intermodal stations, according to city of Dearborn Director of Economic & Community Development Barry Murray.Read the entire article here.

Oakland University branches out into downtown Rochester

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Arts & Culture

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January 8, 2009

Looks like Oakland University is seeing the advantages of urbanism after all. The university is teaming up with the Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester, designating the hotel as the university's officials conference center and preferred destination for guests. University's officials called the hotel one of the area's "premier" hotels, a place that will significantly enhance the school's culture.The partnership is expected to bring more foot traffic and business to Rochester, which has one of Metro Detroit's most vibrant city centers. Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills and is the stereotypical suburban-style commuter campus.The Royal Park Hotel is one of Metro Detroit's top downtown hotels, on par with The Townsend in downtown Birmingham and the Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby hotels in downtown Detroit. It's designed to look like old English manor.The hotel is on the south side of University Drive, a few blocks east of Main Street. It overlooks the banks of the Paint Creek and the Paint Creek Trail.Source: Oakland UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Riley Skate Park 70 percent done, set to open this summer

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Arts & Culture

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January 8, 2009

Riley Skate Park might not look like much now, but it will definitely be a sight to behold in a few short months, according to Bryan Farmer, a recreation supervisor with Farmington Hills.The skate park is nearly 70 percent complete and construction is set to resume this spring. Farmer expects it to be done and open by June. A number of skateboarding teams and vendors from across the U.S. have already inquired about it."We have had a lot of skateboarders interested in coming out for the grand opening," Farmer says.Riley promises to be one of the most innovative skate parks to come around southeast Michigan in a long time. It goes beyond the normal concrete hills, ramps and rails of the standard Midwestern skate park. It includes features such as an 8-foot-tall cylinder that looks like a sewer pipe built into the ground instead of above it. There are also a variety of in-ground pits and ditches, giving the park a "West Coast" feel.Local officials are raising money to bring in extra features such as lighting and webcams to the 29,000-square-foot park. Riley occupies a corner of Founder's Sports Park at 35500 Eight Mile Road between Gill and Halstead roads near the Farmington Hills Ice Arena. More than 722,000 people come through the park each year. That number is expected to dramatically increase after the skate park is finished. City officials believe the skate park will become a regional attraction, bringing in nearly 200 people each day.The skate park is named after George Riley of the Riley Foundation who gave $500,000 toward the $850,000 project. For information on the project, contact Farmer at (248) 473-1805 or BFarmer@fhgov.com.Source: Bryan Farmer, a recreation supervisor with Farmington HillsWriter: Jon Zemke

Dexter moves forward with plans for Mill Creek Park

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Economic Development

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January 8, 2009

Dexter is getting ready to make a major expansion to its park system next year. Excerpt: Dexter officials now have an idea of what the new Mill Creek Park will look like and they hope to start construction on it sometime next year. The plan calls for a combination of urban park with recreational resources and natural areas filled with trees, shrubs and small woodland creatures. The concept is the work of Ann Arbor-based JJR. Village officials plan to add more design details this year while applying for state funding. "It could change once we get into the design phase," says Allison Bishop, community development director of the village of Dexter. Read the rest of the story here.