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schmidt-top-in-progressAndy Meisner Treasurer TOPFerndale Elks Honor City Employees, Senior and Citizen of the Year
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 11, 2016)GT ad 06
Ferndale, MI – The Ferndale Elks know the value that city employees bring to the community, so each year they honor one from each department – nominated by their supervisor – as well as an outstanding senior and citizen.
Joanne and Dick Wilcock received the Senior Citizen of the Year Award together.  This big-hearted couple has been a part of local activism and many events that make Ferndale great. Volunteer efforts include Fido Does Ferndale, Woodward Dream Cruise, FernCare, the Memorial Day Parade and Service just to name a few. They also helped make the City’s Human Rights Ordinance a reality.  Former Senior of the Year Jeannie Davis presented the award.
When Motor City Pride decided to move their iconic LGBTQ celebration to Hart Plaza in Detroit, Julia Music and friends knew there had to be something in Ferndale for the thousands MBREW draft oneof people that would show up expecting rainbows, dancing, activism and a community known for embracing diversity of all kinds.  Music is currently the Chair of the Ferndale Pride event.  She also is a strong advocate for the transgender community. She organized a candlelight vigil after the Orlando nightclub tragedy, helped grow the community-led MardiBras event to collect feminine hygiene items for homeless women and started the Ferndale Adoption Network. These and other efforts, all while teaching middle school and caring for her son, are what led her to be selected as Citizen of the Year.  Councilperson Greg Pawlica did the honors.
An “unquenchable thirst for knowledge” is what has made Building Inspector Chris Loveless the City Hall Employee of the Year. Loveless came to the City as a Master Plumber four years ago and moved quickly to the Inspector position.  According to Building Official Marc Howell, Loveless “displays care, thought and protection as he guides residents through the construction process.”
Deshawn James had never worked in a court before coming to Ferndale’s 43rd District Court. garden16_kate_baker She did come with clerk experience from the State of Michigan and according to Judge Joseph Longo she “picked it up right away.”  The Judge said Deshawn never says “that’s not my job,” and has already earned the reputation “You’re not allowed to ask the judge, you have to ask Deshawn.” Her knack for keeping the court’s guidelines “well-handled” made her an obvious choice for Court Employee of the Year.
“It’s rare that our entire department agrees on something, but this year the vote was unanimous,” said DPW Director Loyd Cureton of this year’s DPW Employee of the Year Rosanne Simon.  With more than 28 years of service to the City of Ferndale, Simon makes sure that residents, business customers, and staff are always well-informed and well-received when they come to the cozy DPW headquarters on East Cambourne.  Cureton says Simon is the DPW’s “den mother,” and was honored to present her with the award.
Another long-time member of the City of Ferndale family is Firefighter of the Year David Beveridge. Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan presented the award to Beverage who has been fighting firesoc115_leavesad and saving lives for the past 30 years in Ferndale.
As part of Oakland County’s Narcotics Enforcement Team Officer Matt Goebel helps to minimize the impact of drugs like heroin, crack and meth on the Ferndale community.  This year Goebel investigated the death of a person who had been left to die on the lawn of a Ferndale residence after getting tainted heroin.  Goebel’s investigation led to breaking up a heroin ring.  He was also instrumental in making the case that 8 Wood Motel and Motorama were businesses that harbored drug and criminal activity, leading to the City revoking their business licenses.  Those businesses remain open while they are being appealed in court.  Goebel was honored as Police Officer of the Year, with Police Chief Tim Collins presenting the award.  “Overall he’s just great at his job,” Chief Collins said.
Learn more about Ferndale Elks Lodge #1588 at http://www.elks1588.com/.
20161104_joanne-and-dick-wilcock_senior-of-year 20161104_david-beveridge-firefighter-ferndale20161104_chris-loveless-ferndale-city-hall-employee-of-year20161104_deshawn-james-court-employee-of-year-ferndale20161104_julia-music-citizen-of-year 20161104_rosanne-simon-dpw-employee-of-yearschmidt-ad-in-progressAndy meisner Treasurer BOTTOM temp