West Bloomfield Beacon

The Orchard Lake Museum recently reopened to the public after being closed for more than a year.

Published September 24, 2021

Orchard Lake Museum returns to in-person visits

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Sept. 12, the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society hosted its first in-person event in more than a year — the “Grand Reopening Open House” at the Orchard Lake Museum.

Published September 24, 2021

Owner has a long history with his Corvette

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Bert Bernardi was 23 years old when he purchased his dream car: a 1974 Chevrolet Corvette.

Published September 23, 2021

West Bloomfield library removes time restrictions, opens study areas

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Township Public Library has advanced to its latest phase of a plan to return to normal operations, returning to pre-pandemic hours.

Published September 22, 2021

Take small steps now to be prepared when disaster strikes

METRO DETROIT — Fire, flood and storm damage could strike at any time. The difference between disaster and making it through could hinge on how much one is prepared for the worst.

Published September 22, 2021

Oakland County promotes substance use recovery, even during COVID

OAKLAND COUNTY — As the world slowly returns to some form of normalcy, celebrations that were once postponed because of the pandemic can finally be observed, and the anticipation makes them that much sweeter.

Published September 22, 2021

Coping with the pandemic in the classroom

METRO DETROIT — In April 2020 — one month after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed schools statewide because of COVID-19 — Warren Consolidated Schools staff members established a social and emotional learning committee.

Published September 22, 2021

Orchard Lake residents to decide $4.5M facilities bond in Nov.

ORCHARD LAKE — Residents of Orchard Lake will have a local proposal to consider Nov. 2.

Published September 21, 2021

Police investigating allegations against local lawmaker

METRO DETROIT — A local lawmaker has been stripped of his committee assignments and has been served with a personal protection order by a colleague in the state House of Representatives.

Published September 17, 2021

Hospitals, labs stretched thin as Delta variant surges

OAKLAND COUNTY — There’s no doubt about it: COVID-19, and specifically the virus’s Delta variant, has tightened its grip on metro Detroit, and medical professionals at multiple levels are feeling the squeeze.

A West Bloomfield Schools bus heads out to begin its afternoon route.

Published September 16, 2021

Birmingham, Bloomfield districts struggle to find bus drivers

BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD/WEST BLOOMFIELD — It took some finagling, but public health experts and school administrators were able to figure out how to get kids back into classrooms this fall.

Published September 10, 2021

West Bloomfield residents help grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Like others before him, when West Bloomfield resident Mark Kuhn agreed to take part in a charity bike ride that benefits Make-A-Wish Michigan, he didn’t do so with the intent of making a long-term commitment.

Published September 9, 2021

Silver medalist, Berkley native recounts journey that led to Olympic dreams

BERKLEY — More than a month ago, weightlifter Kate Nye was in an arena in Tokyo waiting to go before judges in an attempt to pursue her dreams of becoming an Olympic medalist.

Published September 9, 2021

Pandemic creates ‘crazy’ journey overseas for West Bloomfield woman’s family

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield resident Alison Schwartz recently returned from a “crazy” journey overseas.

Published September 8, 2021

Experts discuss dorm room glow-ups

METRO DETROIT — As colleges and universities welcome students back, those who opt to reside on campus are faced with the challenge of how to decorate often small and blank-walled dormitories.

Published September 8, 2021

It’s time for a screen time reset

METRO DETROIT — Screen time has been in the spotlight for years, and there are even apps that monitor and enforce limits on the amount of time users spend on a phone, tablet or other electronic device.

Drummer and “huge” Rolling Stones fan Brian Pastoria, of Warren, got an autograph from Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts after they both appeared in the book “Sticks ‘N’ Skins.” Watts died Aug. 24.

Published September 8, 2021

Local fans, musicians remember drummer Charlie Watts

METRO DETROIT — Rock ‘n’ roll fans around the world were saddened when Charlie Watts — one of music’s best-known drummers who, for decades, provided the backbeat for the Rolling Stones — died Aug. 24.

Published September 8, 2021

West Bloomfield's Township Center District Overlay making ‘slow but steady’ progress

WEST BLOOMFIELD — In 2015, the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees created what is known as the Township Center District Overlay on Orchard Lake Road, from 14 Mile Road to about a quarter mile north of Maple Road, according to Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan.

Michigan Chapter Walkers — like those pictured here — will return to the Detroit Zoo for the annual Alzheimer’s Association Detroit Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall.

Published September 8, 2021

Walkers hope to make strides in battle against Alzheimer’s disease

ROYAL OAK — Alzheimer’s disease stole Colton Dale’s chance to get to know his grandfather, who developed it when Dale was very young. What sticks in Dale’s mind is the way his otherwise stoic father reacted to his own father’s deteriorating mental state.

Published September 7, 2021

RTA finalizing master plan on area’s transit needs

OAKLAND COUNTY — For the past several months, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan has been holding open houses to gather information for an update to its regional master transit plan.

Published September 1, 2021

West Bloomfield, Walled Lake schools return to class with mandatory masks

WEST BLOOMFIELD/WALLED LAKE — Folders, pencils and new sneakers all took a backseat last week to the most important back-to-school item for West Bloomfield School District and Walled Lake Consolidated Schools students: masks, of course.