State Training Fund Grants Awarded: Businesses in Oak Park, Auburn Hills & Ferndale Included (Adapted from Oakland County Press Release, Dec 8, 2014) Thirteen Oakland County companies received almost $700,000 from the state’s Skilled Trades Training Fund, enabling them to hire nearly 1,300 new employees while upgrading the skills of more than 700 current employees.…
State Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton Honors Sister and Public Education in Farewell Speech (video) (C. Proxmire, Dec. 7, 2014) (scroll to bottom for video) At the end of three terms in the House of Representatives, Ellen Cogen Lipton of Huntington Woods said farewell with a sentimental speech honoring her sister and touting the importance of…
SOCRRA Accepting Styrofoam at Drop Off Center (Compiled, Nov. 30, 2014) SOCRRA [Southeast Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority] is now accepting Styrofoam at their Drop-Off Center in Troy, starting December 1. You can now drop off the following items: Cups and takeout containers Egg cartons Rinsed meat trays Food trays/lunch trays (No Styrofoam peanuts) All…
Happy Thanksgiving from Grant School 2014 (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 27, 2014) At Grant School in Ferndale there is a Thanksgiving tradition of a shared meal and a performance by the little ones. The three and four year old preschoolers sang a turkey-themed song before joining their proud parents for a feast of turkey,…
Ferndale Sixth Graders Learn About Giving Through Food Pantry (C. Proxmire, Nov. 26, 2014) Last week the kids at JFK School learned something that many Ferndale area grown-ups may not even know about: a food pantry right in their own community! Sixth graders from Greg Williamson and Elaine Zold’s classes took a field…
Guest Column: Thanksgiving for the Goodness of Regional Philanthropy (Kurt Metzger, Mayor of Pleasant Ridge, Nov. 25, 2014) A November 11 Detroit News Editorial, entitled “Foundations think out of box to aid Detroit,” paid credit to the foundations who came forth to help fund the Grand Bargain and move the Detroit bankruptcy process to…
Transit Summit Connects Business, Faith, Education Communities and More (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 22, 2014) Who cares about public transportation? Judging from the diverse crowd at the Build Business Build Transit summit on Nov. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit, it’s pretty much everybody. The summit brought together people in the faith community,…
Happy’s Pizza Founder Convicted of Multi-Million Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme (US Department of Justice Press Release, Nov. 21, 2014) On November 19, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a federal jury after deliberating 4.5 hours convicted the president and founder of Happy’s Pizza of conspiracy to defraud the United States…
Happy’s Pizza Founder Convicted of Multi-Million Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme (US Department of Justice Press Release, Nov. 21, 2014) On November 19, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, a federal jury after deliberating 4.5 hours convicted the president and founder of Happy’s Pizza of conspiracy to defraud the United States…
Republicans Seek to Change County Elections and Electoral College Vote Distribution (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 17, 2014) Five Republican State Representatives from Oakland County have introduced legislation that would change the election date of the County Executive from Presidential Election Years to Midterm Election Years. HB 5953 was introduced Nov. 12 by Klint Klesto of…
Red Cross Blood Drives – Ongoing List of Opportunities to Save a Life (compiled, updated Nov. 16, 2014) Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. Eligible donors with all types are needed, especially those with O negative, A negative and B negative. To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment,…
Ferndale Area Chamber Honors 2014 Award Winners (Crystal A. Proxmire, Photos: Bernie Laframboise, Nov. 14, 2014) The Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and Oak Park Alliance Celebrated some of the community’s favorite businesses at their annual awards gala on Nov. 13. Held in the new Twist Night Club, the event featured several tables of auction items…
Garden at JFK Grows Vegetables and Community Spirit (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 11, 2014) The last of the kale has been harvested. The samples of farm fresh foods have all been consumed by curious and hungry children. And the Friday afternoon produce stand has been packed away for the winter as the community…
Medicare Changes: Hotline Help and Presentation Dates for General and LGBT Communities (AAA1-B Press Release, Nov. 7, 2014) The Area Agency on Aging 1-B’s (AAA1-B) Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is partnering with Affirmations to offer LGBT Medicare beneficiaries free information and assistance on Medicare and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plans during open…
Ferndale Schools Closes DLC, Modifies Alt. Ed Program (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 7, 2014) For years anxious neighbors around the Taft Building at Allen and Fielding in Ferndale have complained about fights, drugs, and even incidents of weapons used in and around the building that housed adult alternative education programs for the Ferndale School District.…
Accident Sends Car into Comerica Bank in Oak Park (Crystal A. Proxmire, photos: Aaron Tobin, Nov. 6, 2014) A three car accident in Oak Park sent an SUV through the windows of Comerica Bank at 10 Mile and Greenfield Thursday afternoon at around 4pm. Oak Park resident Aaron Tobin stopped to take photographs and spoke…
SOCRRA Offers $6 Recycling Bins in November (SOCRRA Press Release, Nov. 3, 2014) SOCRRA and its 12 member communities are pleased to offer a special sale on recycle bins during the month of November, 2014. Residents of Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy…
Election Stories and Resources for Nov. 4, 2014 (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 30, 2014) Nov. 4 is Election Day and there are many resources available to help people make informed decisions. The Oakland County Clerk’s Office provides a wealth of information on their website at http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/elections/Pages/default.aspx, including: How to Vote: Find out if you’re registered…
Prosecutor Speaks on Dangers of Sexting, Bullying and other Crimes (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 31, 2014) Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper does not like seeing kids on a professional basis, whether it’s because they have gotten in trouble or because they are a victim. The internet and cell phones make it easy for young…
Prosecutor Speaks on Dangers of Sexting, Bullying and other Crimes (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 31, 2014) Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper does not like seeing kids on a professional basis, whether it’s because they have gotten in trouble or because they are a victim. The internet and cell phones make it easy for young…