2014 Ferndale Blues & Music Festival Under Way

2014 Ferndale Blues & Music Festival Under Way (C. Proxmire, Jan. 26, 2014) The Ferndale Blues and Music Festival is under way, with the first two nights of live bands drawing fantastic crowds to several local bars including Rosie O’Grady’s, Dino’s Lounge, Howe’s Bayou, One-Eyed Betty’s, Sneaker’s, Bosco and Boogie Fever.  The fun continues through…

City of Troy Regains Top Spot in “Safest City” Crime Rankings

City of Troy Regains Top Spot in “Safest City” Crime Rankings (Troy Police Department Press Release, Jan. 25, 2014) CQ Press has released their “City Crime Rankings 2014: Crime in Metropolitan America:” (http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2013/cc2014.htm).  Troy is ranked as the 1st overall safest city in Michigan and 35th overall safest city in America (regardless of population size).…

Review Team Finds Financial Emergencies in Royal Oak Twp. & Highland Park

Review Team Finds Financial Emergencies in Royal Oak Twp. & Highland Park (State of Michigan Press Release, Jan. 25, 2014) Two separate, independent Financial Review Teams, appointed December 2, 2013 to examine the finances of Royal Oak Township and the City of Highland Park respectively, under Public Act 436 of 2012 (Local Financial Stability and…

Deputy County Executive Defends Patterson, Touts Oakland County Achievements (video)

Deputy County Executive Defends Patterson, Touts Oakland County Achievements (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 24, 2014) The day after local media swarmed on a scandalous profile piece published in The New Yorker, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson cancelled a speaking engagement with the Oakland Chamber Network, sending Deputy County Executive Phil Bertolini instead.  The…

Citizens for Fair Ferndale Recognized by County Commission (video)

Citizens for Fair Ferndale Recognized by County Commission (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 23, 2014) Could a commitment to civility improve political discourse throughout Oakland County?  Commissioner Helaine Zack was so impressed by a Good Neighbors Project and Civility Pledge in Ferndale that she decided to bring the idea to her colleagues on the Oakland…

Police Report: Bus Driver Assaulted by Brandon Twp. Student

Police Report: School Bus Driver Assaulted by Brandon Twp. High Alt. Ed. Student (Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Jan. 23, 2014) On 1/20/14 at approximately 2:30PM a Brandon High School Alternative Education student assaulted a bus driver on a High School bus. The incident was not immediately reported to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. ·         The…

Madison Heights Mourns Loss of Teacher, Volunteer Cristy Berger

Madison Heights Mourns Loss of Teacher, Volunteer Cristy Berger (Dignity Memorial and Madison Schools, Jan. 21, 2014) Cristy Berger, age 38 was born Anjwanette Cristina Barron on February 16, 1975 in Dearborn, Michigan. A lifetime resident of Madison Heights, she died on January 18, 2014 in Southfield, Michigan at St. John Providence Hospital. Beloved wife…

Details of UAW Contract with Ferndale Schools

Details of UAW Contract with Ferndale Schools (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Jan. 20, 2014) EDITOR’S NOTE:  Ferndale Schools is currently negotiating with all unions in hopes of wage concessions.  Read a letter from School Board President Jim O’Donnell at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/19/letter-from-ferndale-school-board-president-jim-odonnell-on-budget/, and a story on picketing at the School Board meeting at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/14/proposed-pay-cuts-to-teachers-and-staff-spark-protest-at-ferndale-schools/.  The union agreement…