Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown Running for Lt. Governor (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 3, 2014) Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer has announced his running mate for the upcoming election – Oakland County Clerk and former State Representative Lisa Brown. The announcement came this morning, just a day after Schauer appeared with President Barack Obama in…
President Obama Visits Ann Arbor to Promote Minimum Wage Increase (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 2, 2014) The move is on in Michigan and across the country to raise the minimum wage, and to help promote the effort President Barack Obama came to Ann Arbor for a speech at the University of Michigan. Stepping off Air…
JCC Former President Linda Lee Passes Away (Ira Kaufman Chapel, April 1, 2014) Linda Lee, 69, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, died on 31 March 2014. She was a community activist, founder of Jewish Gay Network and past President of the Jewish Community Center. A Funeral will be held at IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL on Tuesday,…
Local Districts Named 2014 Best Communities for Music Education (Crystal A. Proxmire, March 27, 2014) The NAMM Foundation rates school districts across the county in music programs, and this year they have named 376 districts to their 2014 Best Communities for Music Education List. In Oakland County, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Ferndale, Oxford and Rochester Schools…
Middle School Students Learn How Not to Break Eggs in Engineering (W. Bloomfield Schools Press Release, March 27, 2014) Abbott Middle School students visited Engineering Academy at West Bloomfield High School to learn more about Engineering Academy and engineering, architectural and industrial technology courses that the high school offers starting in 9th grade. The middle…
WA3 Welcomes Mayors Metzger and Waterman to Board (Adapted from WA3 Press Release, March 12, 2014) 2014 and the recent mayoral elections bring three new leaders to the Board of the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3), a collaborative effort to promote the 11 communities along M1. From the far north is Pontiac’s mayor Deidre Waterman. …
WA3 Welcomes Mayors Metzger and Waterman to Board (Adapted from WA3 Press Release, March 12, 2014) 2014 and the recent mayoral elections bring three new leaders to the Board of the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3), a collaborative effort to promote the 11 communities along M1. From the far north is Pontiac’s mayor Deidre Waterman. …
MEAP Scores Released, Improvement in Reading Celebrated (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Feb. 28, 2014) Reading test scores for Michigan fourth graders improved for the fourth consecutive year, the Michigan Department of Education reported today. Results from the Fall 2013 Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) are reflective of what children had learned the previous…
Bridge Magazine Ranks Michigan School Districts (Crystal Proxmire, Feb. 9, 2014) Bridge Magazine looked at public school districts and public charters and compared them based on performance weighted by economics to determine how schools are performing compared to expectations. The publication used three years’ worth of data and ranked the schools. A score of 100…
Unlocked Car Left Running Unattended Stolen in Royal Oak, and More Crime Briefs (Royal Oak Police Dept., Feb. 6, 2014) Larceny from an Automobile 600 block of Woodlawn, 2-4-14 – 2-5-14, 11:00 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.: Complainant parked his vehicle on the street near his residence. When he returned to his truck he discovered an…
Mode Shift’s Road Map To Understanding SEMCOG (David Sands, Mode Shift, Feb. 2, 2014, orig. wearemodeshift.org/mode-shifts-road-map-understanding-semcog) It was a noteworthy 2013 for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. The organization not only helped jumpstart the new Regional Transit Authority, but it’s been busy developing a regional non-motorized transportation plan and conducting an analysis of rapid transit…
Cold Prompts School Closings for Tuesday (C. Proxmire, Jan. 27, 2014) School administrators across SE Michigan have declared Tuesday a “snow day” due to temperatures and wind chills below zero. Classes and events will be cancelled in many districts, including Berkley, Birmingham, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Public Schools, Pontiac, Rochester Schools, Royal Oak,…
40 Under 40 Announced, Public to Pick Top Winner (Oakland County Press Release, Jan. 27, 2014) Starting Jan. 27 the public can cast an online vote to choose the winner of the Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 under 40 Class of 2014. More than 500 applications and nominations were reviewed by a panel of judges,…
Oakland Chamber Network Learns From National Trends (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 27, 2014) Collaborating to improve the environment for business success is the core strength of Chambers of Commerce in general, and the Oakland Chamber Network doubles up on that principle by bringing 27 local Chambers together. At their annual meeting on Jan. 22, OCN…
Group Seeks Ballot Measure to Increase Minimum Wage (Mothering Justice Press Release, Jan. 27, 2014) Community organizing, social justice and labor groups today formed a committee to explore a ballot campaign to raise the minimum wage in Michigan. The minimum wage in Michigan –currently $7.40 an hour – hasn’t been raised since 2008, leaving many…
The Return on Investment from Michigan Passenger Rail (Dan Sommerville, Michigan Environmental Council, Jan. 26, 2014, orig. Michigan by Rail Blog) Passenger rail has been booming nationwide and in Michigan. Record-breaking ridership was recorded in 10 of the last 11 years (1) (2), and there has been a whopping 78% growth in Michigan ridership since…
In First US Tour, Haifa Symphony Orchestra Visits W. Bloomfield Feb. 20 (Berman Center for Performing Arts Press Release, Jan. 19, 2014) The Haifa Symphony Orchestra is touring the United States for the first time ever and will come with Israel’s premier violist, Avshalom Sarid. Avshalom Sarid is an accomplished violist, musical producer and teacher…
The Chaldean American Ladies of Charity Gala Feb. 1 (CALC Press Release, Jan. 19, 2014) The Chaldean American Ladies of Charity will host a Charity Gala on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield at 7:00 pm. The purpose of the event is to assist the nonprofit in providing resources…
Tips to Avoid Crimes Targeting Seniors (Troy Police Dept. Press Release, Jan. 8, 2014) Health Insurance Frauds Medical Equipment Fraud: Equipment manufacturers offer “free” products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered. “Rolling Lab” Schemes: Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals…
Tips to Avoid Crimes Targeting Seniors (Troy Police Dept. Press Release, Jan. 8, 2014) Health Insurance Frauds Medical Equipment Fraud: Equipment manufacturers offer “free” products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered. “Rolling Lab” Schemes: Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals…