Ferndale Library Evacuated, Lot Closed After Pocket of Flammable Gas Found During Testing (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 21, 2016) Ferndale, MI – Firetrucks blocked the parking lot between Ferndale City Hall and the Ferndale Area District Library Thursday afternoon after workers taking a soil sample hit a pocket of flammable gas. The samples are being…
Federal Judge Blocks Michigan Ban on Straight-Ticket Voting (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 21, 2016) Detroit, MI – US District Court Judge Gershwin A. Drain placed four preliminary injunctions to prohibit Michigan from enforcing a new law that bans straight-ticket voting. According the The Detroit News, “the real question the court must answer, Drain wrote, is…
Patterson Presents Proposed Budget, Announces New 911 System (Office of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, July 21, 2016) There is a major public safety enhancement in County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s recommended three-year budget covering fiscal years 2017-2019. Oakland County provides for replacement of its 911 copper network which has reached the end of…
Renew for the Zoo Offering Free Animal Themed Signs to Promote Detroit Zoo Millage (Renew for the Zoo, July 20, 2016) ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Penguins, frogs and tigers are staking out their territory on lawns across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to encourage support of the Detroit Zoo millage renewal. The signs read, “Renew…
Community Mourns Loss of LGBT Rights Activist Jeff Montgomery (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 19, 2016) Detroit, MI – Jeff Montgomery, LGBT rights activist and longtime Executive Director for Triangle Foundation (now Equality Michigan) has died. Sean Kosofsky, Executive Director of The Tyler Clementi Foundation and former Policy Director for Triangle Foundation, shared the news Tuesday…
2016 Candidate Interviews & Ballot Issues (Frequently Updated) The oc115 believes in giving all political candidates a voice and a chance for readers to meet the people who want to represent them. So here is a series of video interviews. Not all races are listed, only those where we have an interview or story. “*”…
Downtown Ferndale Outdoor “Get Reel” Movies 7/21, 8/18, 9/15 (Event Page) Ferndale, MI – Downtown Ferndale present Get Reel 16, with free movies on the out door big screen on July 21, Aug. 18, and Sept. 15. The event is entirely FREE to you, your friends and the entire community. We hope you will join…
Reporter Food: Breakfast from the Daily Dinette (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 17, 2016) Ferndale, MI – I’m not usually a morning person (because I stay up so late writing), but if I do get up for early meetings, I enjoy popping into Daily Dinette as a quick breakfast option that is higher quality than fast…
15 Things we Love at the Rust Belt Market (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 15, 2016) Ferndale, MI – The Rust Belt Market is home to dozens of artisan vendors with a variety of locally made gifts and products for the home. This weekend oc115 decided to check out the market and share some of our…
Guest Column: The Value of Street Trees (Robert J. Gibbs, AICP, ASLA, July 15, 2016) Trees are an indispensable component of good neighborhoods. When the right species are planted in the right place and cared for properly, many benefits are realized. Street trees soften hardscapes, buffer pedestrians from moving vehicles, and create “outdoor rooms” that…
Celebrity Softball Helps Raise Money for Boys and Girls Clubs (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 11, 2016) Ferndale, MI – Abraham Lincoln taking a selfie. Boxing legend Thomas “the Hitman Herns” sitting in the bullpen of the neighborhood park watching local TV anchors playing softball with 1968 Detroit Tiger Ike Blessit and Royal Oak Mayor Jim…
Ferndale Comes Together to Talk about Race (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 12, 2016) Ferndale, MI – At a time of social tension around divisive national politics and grief over recent fatal shootings of black men by police, and fatal shootings of police officers in the line of duty, many are finding it a challenge to…
Cissell Gets Jail Time for Marijuana Charges (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 11, 2016) Pontiac, MI – In a courtroom surrounded by friends, family and supporters Andrew Cissell was sentenced by Judge Hala Jarbou on Monday to 90 days in Oakland County Jail for two felony marijuana possession charges. Cissell was given credit for 10 days…
FOIA Turns 50. Here is Why That Matters. (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 4, 2016) Washington DC – The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the law that requires the Federal Government to operate with transparency and to disclose information that is requested by the public (including the media). There are exemptions to what information can…
Police Chief’s Recommendations for Avoiding Traffic (Auburn Hills Police Chief Doreen Olko, July 2, 2016) We are all looking forward to a fun holiday weekend, I know I am. One concern we share with you is about traffic. Last weekend we heard from folks who got caught up in traffic northbound on I-75 north of…
We Got This #1: Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, Owner of Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio in Ferndale (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 1, 2016) Ferndale, MI – Women from around the world gathered in Washington DC on June 14 for the United States of Women Summit. The event featured a series of speakers celebrating the successes of women…
We Got This #2: Jaye Spiro, Owner of Mejishi Martial Arts in Ferndale (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 1, 2016) Ferndale, MI – Women from around the world gathered in Washington DC on June 14 for the United State of Women Summit. The event featured a series of speakers celebrating the successes of women while also…
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish (Guest blog, Nkenge Burkhead, Prevention Education Specialist, HAVEN, July 1, 2016) People often ask, “How did you get involved in this work?” This is a question advocates working to end domestic and sexual violence have been asked countlessly. Their answers are often filled with personal experiences. Many advocates identify as both survivor…
Clawson Skate Park, Hazel Park John R Plan Among Projects Vying for MML Award (Michigan Municipal League, June 30, 2016) Clawson, MI – Thirteen projects, programs, and initiatives involving communities throughout Michigan are vying for the statewide Community Excellence Award (CEA)—the most prestigious Michigan Municipal League honor. The communities involved in this year’s competition are…
Activist for Transgender Community Darnell Jones Dies of Cancer (Crystal A. Proxmire, June 30, 2016) Ferndale, MI – The LGBTQ community lost an ally and an activist Wednesday as Darnell Jones, Vice President of Gender Identity Network Alliance, died due to complications from cancer. Jones was a pharmacist by day and an activist at night,…