More than Just a Pretty Trunk: How Trees Enhance Complete Streets

More than Just a Pretty Trunk: How Trees Enhance Complete Streets (Jeff Prygoski, orig. Transportation for Michigan, Dec. 19, 2103) Roads and sidewalks have undergone dramatic transformations in communities with complete streets policies. More than 90 Michigan communities have passed complete street policies, which contain a variety of design elements that foster a safer, more…

Hazel Park Opens Outside Enrollment, Plans to Close Elementary

Hazel Park Opens Outside Enrollment, Plans to Close Elementary (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 18, 2013) In an effort to offset debt and declining enrollment, the Hazel Park School District has opened up enrollment to neighboring counties and made plans to close one of the elementary schools. ENROLLMENT EXPANDED TO WAYNE AND MACOMB COUNTIES The measures,…

DNC Chair, Michigan Dems Rally For LGBT Equality (video)

DNC Chair, Michigan Dems Rally For LGBT Equality (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Between the Lines, Dec. 18, 2013) As Republicans continue to condone the hateful, anti-gay comments of their Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema, Democrats brought out the big guns for a community forum at Affirmations featuring Democratic National Committee Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “In…

Moeser Resigns, Ferndale School Board Seeks Applicants

Moeser Resigns, Ferndale School Board Seeks Applicants (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 18, 2013) Charles (Chuck) Moeser turned in his resignation Tuesday night after over 20 years on the Ferndale School Board, including ten as Board President. The Board has 30 days to find someone to appoint who will fill his position.  The partial term ends…

Police Seek Package Thief in Independence Twp.

Police Seek Package Thief in Independence Twp. (Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Dec. 18, 2013) INCIDENT:  14:00 hours – Independence Township  Larceny     #13-193402 SUMMARY: Deputies responded to the 4500 block of Ava for a report of a larceny just discovered.  The homeowner states there were packages delivered to the residence and left on the front porch. …

Ferndale Rotary Pancake Breakfast Brings Out the Best

Ferndale Rotary Pancake Breakfast Brings Out the Best (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 18, 2013) In the decked-out dining room of Blumz, kind-hearted Ferndalians and friends gathered for the annual Rotary pancake breakfast.  In addition to buying a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs, guests brought winter clothing items for the warming tree. Scholarship winners Christopher…

Holiday Ice Festival-Goers Celebrate the Snow

Holiday Ice Festival-Goers Celebrate the Snow (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 15, 2013) Ferndale’s annual Holiday Ice Festival had something that it’d been missing for several years before that – snow!  As the weekend storms hit the Ferndale area, festival-goers ventured to 9 and Woodward for shopping and fun.  Santa Claus had kids and adults on…

Woman and Child Kidnapped, Held for Ransom from Ferndale

Woman and Child Kidnapped, Held for Ransom from Ferndale (Lt. William Wilson, Ferndale Police Dept., Dec. 13,2013) Coordinated efforts between the Ferndale Police Department, Michigan State Police, and Detroit Police Department resulted in the rescue of a woman and her 12 year old daughter after they were carjacked and kidnapped by gunman and terrorized for…

Pleasant Ridge Picks John Zech For Interim City Manager

Pleasant Ridge Picks John Zech For Interim City Manager (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 13, 2013) After interviewing five potential candidates, the Pleasant Ridge City Commission has chosen former Wayne City Manager John Zech to serve as Interim City Manager while a long-term replacement for Sherry Ball is sought. Zech retired from Wayne in 2010, after…

Legislators: Abortion Insurance Must Be Purchased Separately

Legislators Accept Petition, Abortion Insurance Must Be Purchased Separately (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 12, 2013) In a vote almost along party lines (62-47 by the House and 27-11 in the Senate), Michigan legislators approved a ban on health insurance providers from providing abortion coverage as part of their plans.  Instead women will be required to…

Deadlines For CDL Drivers… Fast Approaching

Deadlines For CDL Drivers And Their Medical Providers Fast Approaching (Michigan Secretary of State Press Release, Dec. 12, 2013) Secretary of State Ruth Johnson strongly encourages Michigan residents with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) to self-certify to which type of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation they perform to avoid losing CDL privileges after Jan. 30.…

How Michigan Funds Schools

How Michigan Funds Schools (Kevin Deegan-Krause, orig. Ferndale Friends/ KevinDeeganKrauseForFerndaleSchools.com, Dec. 10, 2013) Please put away your notes and let’s begin our discussion of school funding with a high-stakes multiple choice test: 1. Does Michigan fund schools from:                         A. Local sources         B. Federal sources C. State sources 2. Does the revenue come from:                                  …

Girls Share Whiskey at Ferndale Sleepover, Sending One to Hospital

Girls Share Whiskey at Ferndale Sleepover, Sending One to Hospital (Crystal A. Proxmire, Dec. 10, 2013) Three fourteen-year-old girls are in trouble after sharing a fifth of Canadian Club Whiskey at a sleepover on E. Breckenridge in Ferndale Friday night.  According to The Daily Tribune, police were called to the home at about 11:45 pm…

DNR Encourages Safety and Fun When Ice Fishing

DNR Encourages Safety and Fun When Ice Fishing (Department of Natural Resources Press Release, Dec. 10, 2013)   For many people, fishing is the most relaxing way to spend the day. And in the winter months the most popular angling activity is ice fishing. To those who have never tried it, ice fishing is sometimes looked…

Finnegan’s Monsters are Invading Ferndale!

Finnegan’s Monsters are Invading Ferndale! (Jacki Smith, owner of Candle Wick Shop, Dec. 7, 2013) Home by home, room by room, child by child, monsters are invading!   Finnegan’s Monsters!   Don’t worry, these adorable, handmade plush monsters by Finnegan Mueller are the kind of monster Ferndale, MI likes.   He is making a special, friendly batch that…