• Speech hit its target, GOP locals say
John McCain got his message across to voters Thursday night that he is going to Washington to make change and won't buy into party politics, according to a group of local Republicans who watched his acceptance speech.

• U-M football fans: Where's the water in stadium?
Mary Watkins couldn't find a drinking fountain at last Saturday's Michigan football game and refused to pay $16 for a round of water bottles for her party of four.

• EMU students feeling pinch of education costs
How many of you have had to take out student loans, Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin asked a group of 11 students.

• Mentor, donor save each other Both lives were at stake
Dale Ensor was desperate when he walked into a 12-step addiction recovery program five years ago.

• Spark has new site for Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor Spark announced a new location Thursday for its proposed business incubator in downtown Ypsilanti, two months after a deal to put the incubator in a different spot fell apart.

• 6th annual Kidney Walk staged at Mill Pond
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is expecting more than 300 people to participate in the sixth annual Brighton Kidney Walk, coming up Saturday, Sept. 6.

• A high school helping hand Mentors ease freshman transition
No matter how long ago it was, the mere thought of that first day as a high school freshman can start a flock of butterflies swarming in a person's stomach.

• Aria Booksellers owner to auction furniture pieces
Signature pieces of furniture found inside Aria Booksellers for the last six years, will be auctioned beginning Sept. 15 as the store's owner moves from a storefront operation in downtown Howell to the Internet.

• Brighton-based Green Panel tries to power up interest in sustainable energy
When Adam Harris and Jenifer Keliikuli opened shop a little more than a year ago, their business plan had a green tint: Finding business uses for solar energy.

• Brighton community to roast Jim Winchel
Longtime Brighton community leader Jim Winchel will be the object of a Dean Martin-style roast on Tuesday at the Crystal Gardens Banquet Center on Grand River Avenue in Genoa Township.

• COMMUNITY CALENDAR
FRIDAY

• Dawn Patrol fly-in Sunday
Doug Burnie has been working at the Fowlerville Rotary Club's Dawn Patrol fly-in and pancake breakfast since 1965.

• Dental clinic to open
The Livingston Community News

• High school equestrian competition begins this weekend
New head coaches are sure to make an impact with area high school equestrian programs this fall.

• How to help
Willow Run Community Schools is looking for adults 18 years and older to volunteer as mentors for high school students in the district's new graduation-coach mentoring program called "Kids Need Connection.''

• Hunch leads to an arrest
As soon as they saw the mugshot, detectives knew they were on to something.

• Livingston team joins hurricane aid
About 17 Livingston County volunteers have been working with the American Red Cross to help thousands affected by an active hurricane season.

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
MONDAY

• Locals encourage Detroit Lions sale
Steve Gafford and Dick Lewis have seen false hope before when it comes to the Detroit Lions.

• 'Moving Wall' comes to area
Marilyn Maine, whose brother, William Light, was killed in Vietnam, is looking forward to visiting The Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

• Pinckney woman in national cookbook
Once they've tasted it, people never forget Dorothy Aschenbrenner's pumpkin chiffon pie.

• Plans progress for a new Livingston County hospital
Leaders at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System are reaching out to their potential new neighbors, even though they remain months away from sealing a land deal that would move the county's only full-service hospital to Marion Township from the city of Howell.

• Putnam board will meet to discuss high court appeal
Putnam Township officials will meet Monday to determine if they will continue to fight a court ruling allowing a 498-unit manufactured housing development on 144 acres zoned for agricultural use.

• RECREATION CALENDAR
EVENTS

• Volleyball teams sport new coaches South Lyon's new coach inherits talent galore
Normally there's a transition period for a new coach.

• Willow Run asks for adult mentors
Willow Run Community Schools has set up a new mentoring program for high school students as a way to combat the district's low graduation rate and students' poor performance on standardized tests.

• Woman takes on Livingston franchise for Two Men and a Truck
Tera Darnell had her eye on a future in business and marketing.

• Suspect in jogger attacks arrested
Ann Arbor police say they have arrested a suspect in last weekend's attacks on two young women who fought off abduction attempts in separate incidents while they were jogging.

• Michigan delegation glowing after speech
If there were concerns about her toughness or ability to answer her critics since becoming the most well-known political unknown in America, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin certainly negated them among the party faithful Wednesday at the Republican National Convention.

• Helping hands for older homeowners U-M program finds tenants to share costs
Carol Tice, 76, doesn't do as much gardening as she used to because it bothers her back. So when Ken Luzynski recently planted some chrysanthemums and did some weeding at her home in Ann Arbor, Tice said she "wanted to hug him.''

• More trail sections open to public
Two more segments of Washtenaw County's ambitious border-to-border trail are officially opening to the public.

• Augusta Twp. again looking for fire equipment storage
For the second time in nine months, Augusta Township officials are looking for a place to store fire equipment.

• BUSINESS NOTES
Personal achievements

• How it works
The HomeShare program helps find ways for seniors to stay in their homes. The program matches homeowners with renters, who may be graduate students or anyone in need of low-cost housing who wants the comforts of a home-living environment and enjoys living with others.

• Project to fix Miller Creek
The city of Ann Arbor has begun a project to stabilize the west bank of Miller Creek along Huron Parkway north of Glazier Way.

• Revolution in research is brewing at U-M Google book-digitizing well under way
It's called the Espresso Book Machine because it can generate a book in about the time it takes to brew a potent cup of cappuccino.

• August as dry as dust
It's not a record, but it looks and feels like one.

• Skyline welcomes its first students
By the time Kristal Jaasjelainen's class headed for lunch Tuesday, the Ann Arbor Skyline High School teacher had seen her first success.

• Preparing for disasters is way of life for former Red Cross worker
As the peak of the Atlantic storm season hits the southern United States, Washtenaw County residents are answering the call for help.

• Adams adding engineering
When school starts Thursday, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Adams Academy will add engineering to their list of subjects to study.

• Ypsilanti city renews building agreement
The city of Ypsilanti renewed a management agreement with supporters of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, a move that will allow the group to begin renovating the historic Depot Town structure and reopen it.

• Dexter's prospects
With several shuttered buildings available in Dexter for redevelopment, the village Planning Commission is exploring ways to encourage developers to take a look at its quaint downtown.

• Some big storms to watch right now:
Tropical Depression Gustav: The level-three hurricane that many feared could be the next Katrina has been downgraded to a tropical depression. The storm did minimal damage to New Orleans, but continues to produce heavy rainfall in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas.