Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Deadline Nears (Oakland County Press Release, Nov. 28, 2013) Counselors in Oakland County’s Veterans’ Services Division are ready to help totally disabled veterans meet the Dec. 5 deadline to retroactively claim their homestead property tax exemption for 2013. Under a new Michigan law, Public Act 161 of 2013, totally disabled…
Small Turtles Not a Good Pet Choice: Risky and Illegal (Oakland County Health Dept. Press Release, Nov. 27, 2013) According to the Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) small turtles with shells that measure less than four inches in length…
Senator Stabenow Speaks to Women Elected Officials (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 25, 2013) In her over 34 years in public office, Senator Debbie Stabenow has seen the faces of leadership change in Michigan and in the nation. In particular she’s witnessed the impact of increasing the number of women holding elected office. On Nov.…
Royal Oak’s Holiday Magic Parade Brings Communities Together (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 25, 2013) The Royal Oak Holiday Magic Parade brought people from all over SE Michigan together for an afternoon of fun. Students from Southfield, Ferndale, Royal Oak and Detroit marched in the parade. Many community groups did as well, including Brownie Troops,…
Free Kids Environmental Calendar, Order Online (Oakland County Water Resource Commission Press Release, Nov. 24, 2013) For the ninth year in a row the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office (WRC) is proud to offer its 2014 Kids’ Clean Water Calendar free of charge to the public. The Kids’ Clean Water Calendar was designed to…
Ellen Cogen Lipton Shares EAA Concerns, Education Alternatives (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 21, 2013) As Democratic Vice Chair of the Education Committee of the Michigan House of Representatives, Ellen Cogen Lipton saw first-hand the way The Michigan Education Achievement Authority has taken shape. Beyond that, she has looked into the results of having the…
Salmon in the Classroom Comes to Ferndale’s Kennedy School (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 19, 2013) The sixth graders in Greg Williamson’s class at Kennedy School in Ferndale have some company in their classroom this year as they get to raise nearly 200 fish until they are large enough to be set free. The Salmon in…
New Testing Standard for Teachers Announced (Michigan Dept. of Education Press Release, Nov. 15, 2013) Better prepared and effective teachers will be available for Michigan students with the advent of a more rigorous teacher certification exam this year. “We want the best and brightest teachers in Michigan classrooms,” said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan. “Increasing the…
Coolidge Offers After-school Basketball Mentoring Program (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Nov. 13,2013) More than 50 Coolidge Intermediate School students are getting lessons about life and the game of basketball on the court each week as part of an After-School Basketball Mentoring Program. “As educators, we are naturally focused on improving our students’ academic needs. It’s…
View: Ferndale Fights for Fair Funding for our Schools (Karen Twomey, Nov. 8, 2013) I am writing you as a board member, teacher, parent, neighbor and friend of education. Recently, Michigan State University’s Education Policy Center published a school finance analysis for our state which describes a crisis of long-term disinvestment, demographic shifts, and structural…
Easy Night for Most Oakland County Mayors and Other Election Results (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 6, 2013) Election Day is over and in cities across Oakland County candidates are dealing with the wins and losses of the democratic process. For most of the Mayors facing re-election, the night was an easy one though, since most…
League of Women Voter’s Guide for Oakland County Cities (League of Women Voters Website, Nov. 3, 2013) November 5, 2013 City Election VOTER GUIDES Voter Guides for the November 5, 2013, City Election for Oakland County will be available on or before September 23, 2013.If you are a candidate for office and have questions about…
Just 4 Kicks Fundraiser Shows Ferndale Parent Talent (C. Proxmire, Nov. 3, 2013) JFK parents and supporters pulled together Saturday night for a fundraiser full of love and hilarity. Just for Kicks was held at The Loving Touch and raised money for the school’s camp program. Teachers dressed up in 80s garb and did the…
Sheriff Bouchard Gives Hunter Safety Tips (Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard Press Release, Nov. 2, 2013) With deer hunting season rapidly approaching, many sportsmen and women will take advantage of the opportunity to share time with their friends, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. The hunting season offers much in the way of sportsmanship and camaraderie,…
FS-PTSA Fall and Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair Nov. 9 (Ernest Truant, Nov. 8, 2013) Want to support the Ferndale School’s PTSA, and check out some great gift ideas? The Annual Fall and Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair takes place Nov. 9 from 10am to 5pm at Ferndale High School. Tickets are $1, and kids 10 and under are free. Strollers are…
Crystal’s Council Speech on Voting in Honor of Marty & Dennis Hoeppner (given at City Council by oc115 Editor & Publisher Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 28) I am here because there is a tradition that I think needs to be continued and honored. For as long as I have been back living in Ferndale and…
Miss Representation Screening at Ferndale High School- Monday, Oct. 28 (Citizens for Fair Ferndale Press Release, Oct. 21, 2013) Last year, CFF coordinated carpooling to a screening of Miss Representation at Oakland University. We also donated two copies of the film to the Ferndale Public Library. Ferndale High School and Ferndale Youth Assistance are sponsoring…
Ferndale’s Grant School Seeks Votes for Special Needs Tools (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 15, 2013) Grant teacher Kristy Kuhn is taking part in an online voting contest that can help her classroom get a student ball chair, Boardmaker Plus computer software and a membership to Starfall.com, a website that helps teach reading. The contest is…
Green Infrastructure Encouraged at Storm Water Conference (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct 4, 2013) Water resource professionals from throughout the region gathered in Southfield for the first Regional Storm Water Summit, hosted by Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, Pure Oakland Water and Lawrence Tech. University. In addition to learning about funding approaches, storm water…
Green Infrastructure Encouraged at Storm Water Conference (Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct 4, 2013) Water resource professionals from throughout the region gathered in Southfield for the first Regional Storm Water Summit, hosted by Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, Pure Oakland Water and Lawrence Tech. University. In addition to learning about funding approaches, storm water…