Cristina Sheppard-Decius: Moving On After 15 Years of Transforming Downtown Ferndale

Cristina Sheppard-Decius: Moving On After 15 Years of Transforming Downtown Ferndale (Guest View by Cristina Sheppard-Decius, former Executive Director Downtown Ferndale, June 12, 2015) Cristina Sheppard-Decius recently left her position as Executive Director for the Ferndale DDA.  This is her letter to the Ferndale community: I have had the privilege and honor to serve my…

Commerce Township Approves Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities Ordinance

Commerce Township Approves Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facilities Ordinance (compiled, June 12, 2015) Westend, a news magazine serving NW Oakland County, reports the Commerce Township Board of Trustees voted to approve a zoning ordinance to regulate medical marijuana cultivation facilities.  The unanimous vote happened June 9.  Twelve or more pants in one building equals a “cultivation…

Snyder Signs Bill Allowing Agencies to Deny Adoption for LGBT People, and Single Individuals

Snyder Signs Bill Allowing Agencies to Deny Adoption for LGBT People, and Single Individuals (C. Proxmire, June 11, 2015) HB 4188, 4189 and 4190 have been signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. The bills allow adoption agencies to refuse placing children in homes with LGBT parents, even if that agency receives state funding. According…

Less Than 12 Hours Remain to Help Ferndale Qualify to Win a $100,000 Dog Park!

Less Than 12 Hours Remain to Help Ferndale Qualify to Win a $100,000 Dog Park (compiled, June 10, 2015) The fifth annual PetSafe Bark for Your Park contest is reaching the end of the first round, and Ferndale has a good chance of reaching the finals supporters can rally enough votes in the final hours. Voting for the first…

Wave of Investment Coming to Ferndale With Garden Fresh $231 Million Sale

Wave of Investment Coming to Ferndale With Garden Fresh $231 Million Sale (Crystal A. Proxmire, June 9, 2015) After months of negotiations a deal has finally been reached for Campbell’s to purchase Ferndale-based Garden Fresh Salsa for $231 Million and a solid commitment to stay and grow in the Ferndale Community. Jack Aronson signed the…

Registration Open for 8 Week Entrepreneurship Class in Ferndale

Registration Open for 8 Week Entrepreneurship Class in Ferndale The Ferndale Small Business Collaborative (FSBC) will present the Build Institute’s Build Basics course in Ferndale this summer. The eight-week class provides business training for aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Participants receive education in money management, business planning, market research, legal matters, accounting, professional development, and more.…

OCC and Pontiac Creative Arts Center Celebrate Together

OCC and Pontiac Creative Arts Center Celebrate Together (C. Proxmire and Mike McGuinness June 6, 2015) Two Pontiac-based art programs paired together Friday night for the Oakland Community College Faculty and Student Art Exhibition. The opening featured about 80 pieces of painting, mixed media, pottery and more. The Pontiac Creative Arts Center is at 47 Williams…