Ferndale Changes Council Meeting Start Times

Ferndale Changes Council Meeting Start Times (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 18, 2014) After weeks of surveying the community and discussion at council meetings, Ferndale City Council has voted to move council meeting start times to 7pm from their traditional 7:30pm. Councilperson Melanie Piana voted against the earlier start time, having stated in earlier discussions that…

Hazel Park Schools to Expand Great Start Program, Restructure K-5s

Hazel Park Schools to Expand Great Start Program, Restructure K-5s (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 17, 2014) Students at Webster Elementary in Hazel Park will be assigned to other schools in the fall so that the district can expand the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) which gives four-year-olds a pre-school learning and childcare experience. The decision…

School Funding Discussions Feb. 18, Advocacy Trip Feb. 19

School Funding Discussions Feb. 18, Advocacy Trip Feb. 19 (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 16, 2014) The Ferndale School Board and other advocates are focusing some of their efforts on Lansing as they grapple with the problem of less funding for public education. On Tuesday, Board Trustee Kevin Deegan-Krause will give two presentations on school funding,…

Lisa Brown and other Catalyst Award Winners Announced

Lisa Brown and other Catalyst Award Winners Announced (Equality Michigan Press Release, Feb. 14, 2014) Equality Michigan today announced the recipients of their annual Catalyst Awards, being presented at the organization’s Annual Dinner on February 22 at Motor City Casino. Equality Michigan’s Catalyst Awards recognize individuals and organizations for excellence in service to Michigan’s LGBT…

Jim O’Donnell’s State of the Ferndale Schools Address

Jim O’Donnell’s State of the Ferndale Schools Address (Jim,O’Donnell Ferndale Schools Board President, Feb. 14, 2014) NOTE:  Ferndale School Board President Jim O’Donnell presented this speech on Feb. 12, 2014 to the community through a Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce gathering held at Local Kitchen and Bar.  Below is the full text of the speech…

Ferndale Police Report: Burglar Tracked by Footprints in Snow

Ferndale Police Report: Burglar Tracked by Footprints in Snow (Lt. William Wilson, Ferndale Police, Feb. 13, 2014) On 02/11/14 at about 1:40 p.m. officers responded to a home on Ardmore where residents reported their home was burglarized. The couple reported they left their home in the morning and when they returned, found somebody had broken…

Ferndale Superintendent Takes Pay Cut, Hopes Others Will Too

Ferndale Superintendent Takes Pay Cut, Hopes Others Will Too (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 12, 2014) Concessions continue as Ferndale Schools tries to negotiate their way out of a $2.4 million budget shortfall by asking employees for temporary pay cuts.  Superintendent Gary Meier and Director of Finance Maureen Adams accepted 7.38% reductions in their contracts for…