Karen Moorhead Ann Arbor Area Real Estate

Okay Ann Arbor, have I got some good news for you:

New Exciting Borders Store is open: 3140 Lohr Road, Ann Arbor close to Saline, Michigan. 734.997.8884

But even more exciting is the music coming to this new store: SARA BAREILLES This is all via 107.1 FM

Our very own Martin Bandyke is attending Saturday, February 23rd at 12:30PM!! Sara will be signing CD's and we get to meet our very well loved Martin Bandyke.

Border's Bookstore is headed in Tree Town (Ann Arbor to most people). We love our parks and schools but we really also love our bookstores and now there is going to be a new Borders to meet everyone! Hope to see you there.

If you would like some information about the Ann Arbor Area please feel free to call me:

Karen Moorhead

Keller Williams Realty

Ann Arbor, Michigan

734-660-4785

If the snow out your window is getting you down, don’t despair! We have the first annual Indoor Triathlon coming to the new YMCA.

Date: Sunday, March 30^th, 2008 @ 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Address: 400 West Washington

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Phone information: 734-996-9622

Website: http://www.annarborymca.org

This is the perfect event for anyone who hasn’t done a triathlon before and the distance is determined by the time. You are competing for the most distance in 15 minutes with each event. What fun!!

Event Time Allotted

Swim (lap pool) 15 minutes

Transition 1 5 minutes

Bike (stationary) 15 minutes

Transition 2 5 minutes

Run (treadmills) 15 minutes

Winners determined by total distance traveled.

Registration is limited to 50 individuals.

Volunteering/Information

Contact Dave Morris @ dmorris@annarborymca.org

The University of Michigan has an incredible music program and this week the following events are occurring:

University Symphony Orchestra Feb 5 8pm Hill Auditorium

Concert Band performance Feb 6 8pm Hill Auditorium

Chamber Choir Feb 8 8pm Hill Auditorium

Jazz Festival Feature Concert Feb 9 8pm Power Center Buy tickets

Chamber Players Feb 10 4pm Britton Recital Hall

University Philharmonia Orchestra &

University Choir Feb 12 8pm Hill Auditorium

Help for the UM events:

http://uuis.umich.edu/events/calendar.cfm?sponsor=155 UM Music Events Calendar

http://www.umich.edu/~info/mapsAndDirections.html UM Campus Map

The schedule for Ann Arbor Symphony is at this website: http://www.a2so.com/main.html

Hearts for the Arts Fundraiser Feb 9 8pm Travis Point

Help support the A²SO's education and outreach programs that will reach over 45,000 area youngsters this year!

This event features:
- champagne reception
- elegant dinner
- live auction
- silent auction

Outside of the "U" as we call the UM in Ann Arbor there are other wonderful venues:

Here are the artists at the Ark on Main Street @ 8 pm

Eddie Shaw Feb 7 http://www.theark.org/

Mustard's Retreat Feb 8

Peter Mavey Feb 9

Rock & Roll Fans http://www.blindpigmusic.com/

We have something for you too. This is Ann Arbor after all.

Bob Marley Birthday Bash Feb 9 8pm Blind Pig

Kate Voegele Feb 11 8 pm Blind Pig

A wonderful resource for music for the greater Ann Arbor area and this index covers all of the Detroit area as well: http://www.annarbors107one.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.concerts

Hope you enjoy and if you have any questions about what Ann Arbor Area has to offer please feel free to call:

Karen Moorhead

Keller Williams Realty

(734) 660-4785

There is a wonderful public elementary school I want to share with everyone. It is the Ann Arbor Open School @ Mack. It is a magnet school that anyone can attend no matter where they live in the Ann Arbor Public School District and bus transportation is provided. It is the elementary school my children attended and there are many differences from a traditional school and a wonderful way to grow up.

The philosophy is different at the Open School and that's the way it was meant to be. The following are characteristics of the classrooms:

• Children attend multigrade classrooms.
• Children learn at their own pace, not by someone else's guidelines.
• The school has many community field trips and use the outside experience for learning.
• Teacher's use democracy in the classrooms.
• Small group learning occurs throughout the building.
• The school tagline is, "we are all gifted, so we don't need grades". This was written tongue in cheek but happens to be the way they view life @ the Open School. The report cards are long and detailed but NO GRADES like A, B, C, and D.
• Parents are welcome in the school, classroom and are expected to assist in volunteer activities.
• The school goes up to 8^th grade therefore kids can stay in a smaller tighter community for the middle schools years. There is a lot of history to getting to this point and it is interesting but I will stop short by saying, it is interesting and I would love to discuss it over coffee if you would like more detail.

This is a wonderful school and from personal experience I have to say we teased a lot about no one winning the science fair because everyone is a winner at the Open School, but after attending the Open School my kids:

• have positive self worth and respect for different cultures, points of views, family styles and religion.
• excelled in research projects because at the Open School you have time to get into topics from a very early age.
• enjoyed school from the beginning and took incredible field trips (Montreal in 4^th grade, overnight camping trips and day trip all over the Ann Arbor city.) The teachers are totally dedicated to the children and the philosophy. There is nothing traditional about the Open School, but I would recommend it highly.
• The school also is the only K - 8^th grade public school in Ann Arbor. The middle school program was being developed when my oldest attended and now is a huge success of its own with people looking for a better option than traditional large middle schools.

The school currently has enrollment by lottery. My daughter who is a freshman in college started at the Open School when you had to stand in line to attend and we started in line in January two days prior to the enrollment date. The principal allowed the parents to camp out in the halls and gym at nights to stay in the line. They eventually changed the enrollment method because it was just too crazy.

Currently parents must attend an orientation session and visit a classroom prior to getting your name on the lottery list for entrance. Here are the dates:

2/20/08 7:00 p.m.

3/9/08 1:00 p.m.

3/15/08 10:00 a.m.

Is Ann Arbor Open utopia? No, but it is a wonderful elementary school where kids thrive and parents form lasting relationships. It is also open to ALL OF THE ANN ARBOR SCHOOL DISTRICT AREA.

Ann Arbor Open @ Mack

Phone number: (734) 994-1910

If you would like to know more details please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email and I would love to go into more detail about this alternative program.

Karen Moorhead

Keller Williams Realty

(734) 660-4785

Chelsea is a wonderful town west of Ann Arbor and it is a place difficult to leave. You can ask Jeff Daniels about that. It is so idyllic that he has never even left. He does leave for town to do his movies, but he and his wife have decided that staying put and raising a family here in Chelsea, Michigan is exactly what they wanted.

Chelsea has been named the best affordable suburb in Michigan!

It is a wonderful town and its benchmark in town is this lovely clocktower and it is home to small businesses and the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company used to be here, but they have grown so much that they moved behind the clocktower in a separate building and are open to the public.

The Chelsea Teddy Bear Company also shares its wonderful town with the Purple Rose Theater which Jeff Daniels started and you can view some remarkable productions.

Another hot spot for locals as well as people visiting for the theater is the Common Grille. This is a restaurant you can depend on for a wonderful meal.

Last but certainly not least is the charm of the homes in this area. I have yet to take photos of the farm land that is within a few miles (2 or 3 miles) of this lovely town. But here is a home that was built when the town was developed. I hope you enjoy the view and please call if you are interested in more details about Chelsea, Michigan.

I hope you enjoyed the introduction to this remarkable town and please rest assured I haven't even touched on the award winning library or schools or community feel.

Call me if I can show you the town or a home in Chelsea, Michigan and I look forward to sharing this great place in person.

Karen Moorhead

Keller Williams Realty

(734) 660-4785