METRO DETROIT — Monroe resident Traci Longenbarger has been breaking barriers for women in the trades for a decade now, working as a female carpenter.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Carl Schepmann remembers all the hardships and successes of building Esplendido Mexican Cuisine with his wife, Gina — from Poncho’s in New Baltimore and Jimmy’s Pizza in Shelby Township to what Esplendido is today.

BERKLEY — A notable Berkley restaurant has closed, but another will soon replace it this year.

CLAWSON — Vigilante Kitchen, a restaurant designed to give some of the overlooked people in society a chance, will be moving into 76 W. 14 Mile Road in Clawson following its approval at the April 22 Clawson Planning Commission meeting.

ROYAL OAK — After years of upsetting parking in downtown Royal Oak, the city is researching prospective new parking vendors.

EASTPOINTE — Tenisia Evans said her passion is to help others. When someone was in need of work with no one to watch her kids, she stepped up to the challenge, having always wanted to open a child care center.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution to use  $721,800 from the public safety capital fund for the expansion and renovation of Fire Station No. 1 at a Township Board meeting April 14.

ROSEVILLE — An art studio in Roseville served as a hub of protest April 19 involving a gas station chain replacing a piece of the city’s past.

ROYAL OAK — Several local businesses received a letter regarding next year’s Rochester Road resurfacing project that has raised concerns and questions about the potential impact on parking.

ROYAL OAK — Several local businesses received a letter regarding next year’s Rochester Road resurfacing project that has raised concerns and questions about the potential impact on parking. 

SOUTHFIELD — At a March 24 meeting, Southfield City Council members unanimously approved a request to rezone the parcel at 16400 JL Hudson Drive from regional shopping zoning to an overlay development district to permit the renovation and reuse of the former Plaza Hotel for mixed-use apartments and support services for the New Foster Care.

BIRMINGHAM — At the Birmingham City Commission meeting April 7, the commission unanimously voted in favor of a resolution that approved the proposed Willits and Bates Project design.

TROY — At a meeting April 8, the Troy Planning Commission unanimously approved the recommendation for a conditional rezoning of a subject parcel from NN (Neighborhood Node) and R-1B to RT, as a part of the Village of Hastings residential project, located in the Telford Ridge subdivision near the east side of Livernois Road and the north side of Square Lake Road.

ROYAL OAK — The public was called to City Hall during the April 8 Planning Commission meeting to voice their opinions about the proposed master plan of 2050.

EASTPOINTE — The city of Eastpointe is looking to connect with small business owners who are affected by the ongoing construction around the city.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Once school is out for summer, construction will start on the roadway and right of way along 11 Mile Road from John R Road to Lorenz Street, implementing changes that aim to improve safety and walkability.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — With construction looming along the Nautical Mile, business owners are understandably worried about its impact.

ROSEVILLE — An outspoken Roseville artist, known for the vibrant murals on his Utica junction studio, is trying to block a new gas station and convenience store from moving in.

UTICA — The Utica Reptarium has been planning on expanding to another building just across the street with an additional 30,000 square feet on Van Dyke Avenue in Utica called the LegaSea Aquarium.

OXFORD — The Metamora Golf & Country Club ownership group announced that they have acquired Boulder Pointe Golf Club in a sale that closed on Friday, Feb. 28.