Publication select ▼
City honors state champions
FERNDALE — The city of Ferndale honored state champions from Ferndale High School at the April 10 City Council meeting.
The council approved two resolutions honoring the high school’s boys basketball team and the district’s winter guard team for their state title wins during the last month. Pictured are representatives of the winter guard team with mayor Melanie Piana, left, and councilwoman Raylon Leaks-May, right.
The boys basketball team defeated Grand Rapids South Christian on March 25 for its first state championship since 1966. The 28-member winter guard team, composed of students from the middle and high schools, won its third state title since 2018 on April 1.
Ferndale’s Memorial Day Parade route changes
FERNDALE — The route for the city of Ferndale’s Memorial Day Parade has been changed due to construction on Woodward Avenue.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, one block north of West Nine Mile Road on Livernois, a news release states.
The parade will proceed north on Livernois to West Oakridge. Marchers will head west on West Oakridge to Pinecrest, then head south to West Nine Mile. The parade then will travel east to Livernois on West Nine Mile.
The parade will be Ferndale’s 105th annual Memorial Day observance.
“A focal point of the observance is the reading of the Honor Roll, the names of local veterans who died since Memorial Day 2022,” the news release states. “Participants will take to the streets with veterans, scout troops, Ferndale Public Schools marching bands, elected officials and representatives of service organizations. This year’s observance marks the return of Michigan Fallen, which has marked the occasion with placards honoring state residents who have died in overseas conflicts.”
Earth Day climate march, rally and fair coming to Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK — From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 at Royal Oak Centennial Commons Park, 221 E. Third St., the Oakland County Earth Day climate march, rally and fair will take place. The march will begin at 10 a.m., the rally will take place at 11 a.m. and the fair will run for the duration of the event. Some of the attractions will be a Ford Mustang Mach-E, an electric school bus, and live music by Detroit Celtic Revival, Detroit Party Marching Band and Judy Insley. For more information, visit turnoaklandcoun tygreen.com/oakland-county-march.
Short film screening
FERNDALE — The Ferndale Area District Library will be hosting a short film screening at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at its 222 E. Nine Mile Road location.
The short film, called “Quintessence,” is eight “distinctive short films” by two Detroit artists/filmmakers, M. Saffell Gardner and Nancy J. Rodwan. The film is a “34-minute screening of their unique video creations. The program includes four films by each artist and will be followed by a Q&A,” a news release states.
“My video project is an ongoing practice related to ethereality,” Gardner said. “Something on the edge of what one may dream or hear. The videos I create are just on the boundary of sound and imagery. To add depth to my videos over the years I’ve collaborated with musicians and dancers including Marion Hayden and Alex Harding.”
“My art is usually influenced by music, literature, and current events,” Rodwan said. “When making films I generally like to mix things up and include live action, animation, puppetry, and archival footage.”
This event is free and open to the public.
April is the Month of the Military Child
LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed April as the Month of the Military Child, which recognizes the important role military children play in supporting their families during deployments, relocations and other challenging circumstances.
According to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, there are more than 17,000 children of service members in Michigan who are directly affected by military deployment.
Local communities are encouraged to schedule activities in support of military children. That could include promoting the Month of the Military Child on websites along with links to resources for military families, special announcements at spring sporting events, or military-themed projects and observances at home or in schools.
The DMVA synchronizes strategic, legislative and fiscal initiatives designed to build and sustain military readiness, care and advocacy for veterans and cultivate purposeful partnerships. Branch operations include Michigan Veteran Homes, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, Army National Guard and Air National Guard which stand in support of the department’s mission to serve every member. For more information, visit michigan.gov/dmva.
