Guest View: Governor Snyder and Direct Control (Bill Boyle, March 24, 2015) Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder signed an executive order that moved the state’s school reform office from the Department of Education to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. That may be one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever written. But, as a…
Guest View: Governor Snyder and Direct Control (Bill Boyle, March 24, 2015) Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder signed an executive order that moved the state’s school reform office from the Department of Education to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. That may be one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever written. But, as a…
Pontiac Council Declines Letting Voters Decide on Road Funding (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 29, 2015) The roads in Pontiac are in far from ideal condition, but the option to raise taxes to fix them won’t go on the ballot in the near future. A ballot proposal was presented to Pontiac City Council at the Jan.…
Michigan Students will get SAT Instead of ACT Starting in 2016 (Michigan Department of Education Press Release, Jan. 18, 2015) All Michigan high school juniors will begin taking the SAT as the state-administered college assessment exam beginning in 2016 after the College Board won the three-year competitively-bid contract, the Michigan Department of Education and Department…
Laugh and Learn: Financial Literacy for Teens at Troy Library Feb. 8 (TPL Press Release, Jan. 17, 2015) Your ability to manage your money directly affects your ability to have the life you want. Join us as we laugh and learn with Colin Ryan, motivational speaker, author and comedian. His inspiring and hilarious workshop turns…
Michigan Same Sex Marriage Case Not Yet Heard by SCOTUS, Jan. 16 Possible (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 12, 2015) The Supreme Court has bumped up the date for all cases from the Sixth Circuit, including the case of the Hazel Park lesbian couple fighting for equal access to marriage. According to Dana Nessel, the case…
Clawson Home has Music-Synced Christmas Lights (video) (Timothy Boyer, Dec. 23, 2014) My wife Krista and I saw this house last year. This light show is one the best. It’s not over the top. We’ve never seen a light show synchronized with a radio station. It’s really cool. If you like driving around looking for…
Results from the Fall 2012 MEAP tests were released statewide this week. In Ferndale, the Curriculum & Instruction Team has reviewed the Ferndale School’s student results which include Grades 3-9. Ferndale’s results show significant increases in proficiency in reading, math, and science. Barbara Evoe, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction says…
Oakland County Clerk and former Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown also spoke at the event, discussing the recent wave of anti-women legislation in Michigan, including HB5711 which put severe limitations on abortion clinics. She explained how no women had been allowed to testify at the committee hearing where the bill was discussed, and how she was banned from speaking for a day because she used the word “vagina” when talking about it.
Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch spoke to over 250 people at Coolidge Intermediate School on Dec. 6 about proposed changes to the State’s education system, the legislation for which is being modern taxpushed quickly through by conservatives in Lansing.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday December 15, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Leroy Street, Fenton, Michigan 48430. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mental Health Association in Michigan.
For more on Ferndale Schools go to http://www.ferndaleschools.org.
For individual school and district data, visit www.MISchoolData.org and click on Dashboard & School Report Card button located on the left.
Snyder did sign into law 11 other bills, including those that establish more stringent requirements before a political party will be recognized in Michigan, and requirements that Independent committees must file quarterly spending reports with the State. Other bills require all ballot or petition language must be submitted to the Secretary of State prior to circulation.
The bill, Senate Bill 754, can be read in its entirety at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2011-SIB-0754.htm.
The State House of Representatives passed HB 5187 today. If the bill progresses through the Senate and is signed by the Governor, it would cap the number of County Commissioners in any county to 21. It would also take away the authority of the current body to draw the new district lines. If passed, Oakland County would then have 30 days to jettison four elected officials and re-draw the District lines.
State Rep Ellen Cogen Lipton will be hosting a town hall meeting to discuss changes to home heating assistance programs on Friday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) in Ferndale. She and Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) and Gilda Jacobs, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services will be on hand to talk about these programs and proposed changes at the State level that will affect funding.
The City of Ferndale was among four cities denied storm cleanup funds for the damaged caused by high winds and fallen trees over Labor Day Weekend. On September 8, 2011 Mayor Dave Coulter signed a declaration calling the cleanup efforts a state of emergency, which is one of the requirements for a Homeland Security natural disaster grant.
Mitten Movie Project is a host of a celebration for independently made trailers, animations, shorts, and videos- the vast majority being based in the metro Detroit area. Perhaps my favorite thing to see, other than my stunning performance as goofy-real estate agent in “The Mystery Word”, was spotting a glimpse of Ferndale’s DIY festival used as the back drop for the cleverly named “Ménage-Detroit.”
14th District State Senator Vincent Gregory, who is from Southfield but represents Ferndale and other neighboring communities, visited the Ferndale Public Library on Thursday, April 14, 2011 to meet with constituents to discuss the State budget and other concerns. Tomiko Gumbleton, Ferndale City Councilperson and current aide to State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, was also on hand to answer questions. A handful of interested residents turned out to meet with the Senator.
Of all the artists in the State who submitted their work, it was Ferndale artist Charles Pompilius who was selected by former Governor Jennifer Granholm to paint her portrait to hang in the State Capitol. The painting will be unveiled on May 6 in a special ceremony in Lansing.