Royal Oak Review

Published February 24, 2021

Third segment of I-75 modernization project begins

OAKLAND COUNTY — On Feb. 11, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Oakland Corridor Partners presented the plan for the third and final segment of the Interstate 75 modernization project in Oakland County, scheduled to start Feb. 26.

Published February 24, 2021

MCC tuition rates to increase slightly next year

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb Community College students will see an increase in their tuition next year.

Disability Network Oakland and Macomb’s Center for Independent Living is located at 709 John R Road in Troy.

Published February 23, 2021

Disability Network pens letter requesting vaccine priority for disabled Michiganders

METRO DETROIT — A letter of appeal requesting that disabled Michiganders, and their caregivers, be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine has been sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ offices.

Published February 23, 2021

Home aquariums get popular amid pandemic

METRO DETROIT — As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and people are confined to the comfort of their own homes, many are looking for new hobbies and things to do.

Published February 23, 2021

Restaurants get creative to find, afford basic supplies

METRO DETROIT — Deni Smiljanovski, the owner of Lazybones barbecue restaurant in Roseville, remembers what it was like this time last year to keep his cooler stocked and his customers fed.

Published February 23, 2021

Grosse Pointe Park residents, officials speak out after KKK flag placed in home window

GROSSE POINTE PARK — A Ku Klux Klan flag displayed in the window of a Grosse Pointe Park home has sparked outrage in the community.

Published February 23, 2021

Rally attracts hundreds to Grosse Pointe Park to declare, ‘Hate has no home in Grosse Pointe’

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Hundreds of local residents took to the streets in Grosse Pointe Park the afternoon of Feb. 21 to show support for a Black Grosse Pointe Park family after a neighbor put a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing the family’s home.

Royal Oak City Commissioner Sharlan Douglas, a Royal Oak Civic Foundation trustee, prepares to make the first donation to the foundation’s Fight Local Hunger fundraising campaign. Donors have until March 1 to contribute to the fundraiser.

Published February 23, 2021

New Royal Oak Civic Foundation focuses on hunger needs

ROYAL OAK — The newly formed Royal Oak Civic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, launched the week of Feb. 5 with an inaugural fundraiser to benefit three organizations: Blessings in a Backpack, the Open Hands Food Pantry and the Salvation Army.

Anana — a female polar bear brought to the Detroit Zoo from the Cincinnati Zoo in January 2020 to breed with male polar bear Nuka, 16 — died Feb. 8. Nuka killed her in a breeding attempt.

Published February 22, 2021

Detroit Zoo mourns polar bear death during breeding attempt

ROYAL OAK — Hot on the heels of the ecstatic Jan. 28 announcement that female polar bear Suka, 8, had successfully birthed twin cubs via male polar bear Nuka, 16, the Detroit Zoo about-faced into tragedy.

Published February 22, 2021

Ed Nahhat to virtually premier original comedy, ‘Hope Canyon’

ROYAL OAK — While live theater has been put on the back burner during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ed Nahhat, longtime attorney, Royal Oak High School drama coach and founder of Shakespeare Royal Oak, used the downtime to finish a comedy he had begun writing a decade ago.

Howie Airriess, who died Jan. 24 at the age of 73, shakes hands with a police officer while sitting in a Corvette driven by his longtime friend and fellow Clawson Lion, Clive Brown, during a Clawson Fourth of July parade on Main Street.

Published February 22, 2021

Clawson remembers Howie Airriess

CLAWSON — The “little city with a big heart” likely will not forget Howie Airriess, who made a big impact on the 2.2-square-mile city of Clawson, Michigan.

Published February 22, 2021

Be on the lookout for vaccine scams

METRO DETROIT — Scammers have no shame. Law enforcement agencies continue to report solicitation schemes and identity theft rackets from ill-intentioned folks taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published February 22, 2021

Fire destroys Ferndale home, several pets perish in blaze

FERNDALE — A fire at a home in Ferndale in early February destroyed the home and took the lives of several pets.

Published February 22, 2021

Berkley bridal gown shop showcases frozen wedding dresses

BERKLEY — A bridal gown shop in downtown Berkley has been getting a lot of notice recently for a very cool reason.

Published February 21, 2021

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan offering services in uncertain times

METRO DETROIT — Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan is providing services and resources to society’s most vulnerable, during a tumultuous period due to the ongoing pandemic.

Published February 20, 2021

United Way raises awareness of assistance through its 2-1-1 program

METRO DETROIT — When in personal or financial trouble, getting help can be difficult — even more so when you don’t know where to look.

Published February 20, 2021

Riding the wave of pandemic sales

METRO DETROIT — From a low of leaving a show after just a day to a high of months of great sales, the boating industry has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than other industries, likely because its product is designed to be used in the relative safety of outdoors.

William Breeding, of Eastpointe, pictured, is trying to get the word out about a Salvation Army program that helped him get back on his feet.

Published February 19, 2021

Eastpointe man aided by Salvation Army program

EASTPOINTE/WARREN — Eastpointe resident Willian Breeding was homeless, out of a job and unsure what to do about his future. A Salvation Army program changed all of that.

Published February 19, 2021

Wojno bill seeks to restore unemployment benefits to 26 weeks

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s veto of a $220 million deposit into the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund raised questions for some about recent bipartisan legislation that would temporarily extend unemployment benefits for new filers.

Published February 19, 2021

Macomb County businesses sue state officials for damages over closures

MACOMB COUNTY — Samuel Backos said his restaurant, Ernie’s, has been “devastated” by state-ordered closures officials said were put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said local restaurant, bar and banquet properties have been left “virtually worthless” and that their employees have suffered through “a very depressing time.”