Readers of AnnArbor.com were asked to vote for the best place in Washtenaw County to enjoy ice cream. After a week of voting, and with more than 50% of the total votes, Washtenaw Diary was crowned the best place for ice cream. Stucchi’s of Dexter and Stucchi’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt of Ann Arbor rounded out the top three.
For over 75 years, Washtenaw Dairy has been serving their customers more than just generous portions of mouthwatering ice cream. Whether it is milk and cheese for local businesses or ice cream on a warm day, Washtenaw Dairy is an Ann Arbor institution for dairy. In addition to their selection of quality dairy products, Washtenaw Dairy is also known for their fresh home-made delicious donuts.
Washtenaw Dairy is located at 602 South Ashley Street in Ann Arbor. For more information or to order a dozen donuts, call (734) 662-3244 or visit their website.
This week “Best Of” is looking to find the Best Thrift or Secondhand Shop in Washtenaw County. Cast your vote on AnnArbor.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card.
Did you know Charles Reinhart Company agent, Linda Forster, is on the Board of Washtenaw Camp Placement Association?
Washtenaw Camp Placement Association (WCPA) passionately believes that attending summer residence camp is a unique life experience that provides children an opportunity for growth in social, emotional, and physical well-being. Through community support, WCPA works to connect at-risk children to camps.
Linda was recently spotlighted by WCPA for contributing tremendous amounts of time and energy to the nonprofit for decades. Linda’s passion for the mission of the organization is clear and her dedication is inspiring. She understands how summer camp impacts children as well as how valuable and meaningful the experience can be.
“Camp is a level playing field; each camper is just one of the gang and free to be a kid,” said Linda Forster. ”They leave behind baggage such as poverty or a troubled family situation and can just be a kid.”
The Charles Reinhart Company is proud to support Washtenaw Camp Placement Association! For more information about WCPA or to make a donation, visit their website.
Over 1,100 amazingly talented artists from across the globe travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan in July for one of the nation’s best art fairs. The Ann Arbor Art Fair is comprised of four award-winning independent art fairs – the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; the State Street Art Fair; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair taking place simultaneously throughout downtown Ann Arbor. The art fair is a free event; bringing over 500,000 visitors downtown to experience the art, live performances, delectable food, sidewalk sales and activities for the kids.
Date & Times:
Wednesday, July 20 – Saturday, July 23
Wednesday – Friday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Park & Ride:
- Park for free at Pioneer High School or Briarwood Mall (near Sears) and ride the AATA’s The Ride. The shuttle fare is $1.50 each way for adults, $0.75 for K-12 students and AATA Fare Deal cardholders, and free for seniors, A-Ride cardholders and children 5 and younger.
- Trinity Westside will pick up passengers from The Maple Village Shopping Center, where parking is free. Round trip transportation is $3. Children 5 and younger can ride for free.
Getting Around the Fair:
Cool off from the heat in the air-conditioned A2 Art Trolleys, travelling a loop around all four art fairs. A trolley ride is $1 per person per day and children 12 and under ride for free.
Information Booths:
Information booths are located throughout the art fairs and are staffed by trained volunteers who can help answer your questions.
Live Entertainment:
- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair – The Fountain Stage at Ingalls Mall
- Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair – The 107.1 Main Stage at Church and Willard
- The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair – iSpy Performance Stage on Liberty
> Download the Official Ann Arbor Art Fair Map
> Download the complete guide to the 2011 Ann Arbor Art Fair
Just outside of downtown Dexter is the home of Mike & Erin Penn. The local couple completely renovated the inside of their duplex home, converting it into a single-family home just in time for the arrival of their first baby boy.
Mike and Erin submitted a video to “Desperate Landscapes” in an effort to win a nationwide contest to have their yard made over on DIY Network’s annual one-hour special of “Desperate Landscapes.”
Jason Cameron, host of Desperate Landscapes, credited the couples’ great personalities as one of the reasons they were chosen for the $25,000 project. In addition, the unique layout of the space was a project the show had never done before.
Watch the complete transformation, which will air on Wednesday, July 13 on the DIY Network.
Something interesting has happened in the last couple of weeks. The national media is beginning to change its tune about the health of the housing market. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday there are communities that have already recovered from the housing recession and many others are on their way. We’ve seen significant change in the Ann Arbor area market for well over a year, but were hard-pressed to get the message out when with media was saying the opposite.
The WSJ used 3 criteria to gauge whether the worst is over and recovery has begun. The first factor was employment. With unemployment at 6.2% in April, Ann Arbor is 3 percentage points below the national average, which puts it in a stronger position than several markets spotlighted in the article.
The second yardstick is the rental market. There was a flight to rentals when the recession hit here. That option is rapidly disappearing for many because vacancies have become very difficult to find. This will have the effect of encouraging more people to buy in order to find housing.
Third is the number of foreclosures. A high rate of foreclosures can bring down the value of other homes and create an expectation for buyers that they will find a bargain price. Foreclosure listings have all but disappeared in most of Washtenaw County, signaling a return to a balanced market.
What is happening with prices? It is very difficult to quantify. The federal tax credits of 2010 drove down averages because they created a spring spike in sales in the modestly priced end of the market. Year-to-date statistics are skewed by this anomaly. They are definitely rising in many areas where inventory is low and multiple offer situations are occurring. They are beginning to rise in many other neighborhoods and communities because excess inventory has been absorbed. The upper end of the market is seeing more activity this year than we’ve seen in the last 2 years, although inventory is still high and buyers are expecting to negotiate.
The greater Ann Arbor area is strong in all of the indicators the WSJ considers to be important. At Reinhart, we’ve known for some time that the worst was over. It was only fair, since we were on the leading edge of the housing recession, that we lead the way out of it too. Now a critical mass of pockets around the country is building and the national media is beginning to take notice. In fact, Forbes ran a similar article right after the WSJ’s. Momentum is upward and will gain steam as more areas turn the corner. That’s good news for Washtenaw County.
Peters Building Company, headquartered in Saline, is building homes that have proved to stand the test of time.
Legacy Heights is a neighborhood of newly built, beautiful, spacious, semi-custom homes in Saline, MI. These Peters Building Company new construction homes are built with unsurpassed attention to detail and quality. Designed to bring comfort, convenience and luxury to your daily life, Legacy Heights is a premier subdivision with ¾ acre lots. In addition to being located in the Saline Area School District, Legacy Heights is close to downtown Ann Arbor with Pittsfield Township Taxes.
Available Features:
- $300,000 to mid $400,000 price range
- Walkout Lost & View out Lots available
- Side Entry Garage
- Full Brick Front
- Andersen Casement Windows
- Deluxe Kitchen & Master Bath Suites
- ¾ Acre Lots
If you would like more information about Legacy Heights, please contact Debbie Leutheuser at (734) 323-7067.
Today we are featuring Deborah Engelbert’s Ann Arbor Area Farm Listing – 6959 Kennedy Road, Stockbridge, MI 49285.
What distinctive features set this home apart?
This custom build 3800 sq ft ranch has an additional 3800 sq ft in the lower walkout level. The great room features a massive stone fireplace and several windows providing natural lighting. A large kitchen with plenty of storage, this 8 bedroom home is perfect for a large family.
What are the advantages of the location & neighborhood?
In a rural setting, this magnificent estate on 196 acres is peaceful, private and quiet. Just outside of Ann Arbor, the homeowner will have the advantage of paying low township taxes in addition to being close to Ann Arbor, Jackson and Lansing.
What amazing views will the new homeowner be able to enjoy?
The new homeowner will be able to enjoy views of wildlife, as well as the woods, meadows and pond.
What makes the price of this home so great?
In addition to over 7000 sq ft of living space in the home, there are 3 large barns in great condition: 100 x 40; 38 x 120; and 42 x 100.
If you would like more information about 6959 Kennedy Road, Stockbridge, MI 49285 or if you are interested in scheduling a showing, please contact Deborah Engelbert at (734) 475-9600.
The Charles Reinhart Company has added a new feature to our website to make it easier for you to plan your Sunday Open Houses. Users are now able to search Sunday Open Houses and select which ones they would like to attend. A Map with step-by-step directions to each Open House is then available to print.
How to Map Open Houses:
- Visit ReinhartRealtors.com and search Open Houses, then choose which open houses you would like to attend. Click on “Add to Tour” in the top right corner if you are interested in attending the Open House. By doing so, you can compile all of the homes you are interested in touring in one place.
- After you have added all of the homes you are interested in touring you can view a map of all locations by clicking on “View Map & Print Route.”
- For driving directions, enter your starting address, check ‘fastest route’ and then click “Get Directions.” Google will give you step-by-step directions to each house you would like to tour, making it even easier to plan your Sunday.
The extreme winter weather all over the United States has forced the cancellation of 750 blood drives, resulting in a shortfall of more than 28,000 blood and platelet donations. With an extreme blood deficit, the Red Cross has created an incentive program in an effort to encourage more blood donations. Anyone who donates blood at the Reinhart Blood Drive on Friday, February 25 will automatically be eligible to win free groceries for a year*!
To make an appointment online to donate blood go to www.redcross.org and enter the sponsor code: CRCR. We encourage you to schedule an appointment early so that you get the time you want.
If you have any questions, please contact Ed Ridha at (734) 669-5920.
*Free groceries for a year a $5,000 value.
The Charles Reinhart Company held their Annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, February 10th at Barton Hills County Club, celebrating the accomplishments of 170 agents and six office managers.
Charles Reinhart Company President, Dave Lutton, presented the company’s highest honor, the Charles Reinhart Award to the top earning agents of 2010.
Agents earning the honor were:
Congratulations to the 2010 Charles Reinhart Award Recipients!
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