The University Record, February 21, 2000

Grounds gears up for snow removal

Charles Scott (front) and Mark Cornwell examine equipment that will spread salt that has been treated with a new de-icer. Grounds and Waste Management staff were preparing for the snowstorm scheduled to bury southeast Michigan under 6–12 inches of snow before the weekend.

The new de-icer is clear and nearly odorless and is being tested on roadways as well as sidewalks, says Cornwell. It will be used to pretreat areas that will later be scraped and plowed and ‘works just like no-stick sprays on a frying pan,’ he said. Snow removal equipment can more easily remove even packed snow if it has been treated.

In addition, the de-icer helps minimize the amount of damaging salt that is used to keep roads and walks clear during the winter. Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services

Photos

Quilt display part of Botanical Gardens’ ‘Out of Africa’ programs this month

‘Hollis-Yancy Jamma,’ part of an exhibition titled ‘Piecing Memories: African American Quilt Makers’ on display at Matthaei Botanical Gardens through March 3, was created in honor of relatives by Elaine Yancy-Hollis. Yancy-Hollis, one of eight quilters who shared the stories of their quilts at a Feb. 12 program, used a variety of fabrics to reflect differences in texture and the personalities of family members. She traced each relative’s hand.

The quilt show is part of ‘Out of Africa,’ a month-long celebration of Black History Month at the Botanical Gardens. Docent Gail Lauzzana, who developed the ‘Out of Africa’ theme, says the quilts tie in with the Botanical Gardens because most textiles come from plants. Also, Lauzzana notes, many traditional quilt patterns feature leaves and flowers.

Detroit quilter and artist Carole Harris curated the exhibition. For information on other ‘Out of Africa’ programs, call 998-7061 or visit the Web at www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg. Photo by Mary Jo Frank