Royal Oak Review

A crowd gathers on Fifth Street in downtown Royal Oak to witness the lighting of an ice menorah during the Royal Oak Jewish Center’s inaugural menorah lighting event last year. This year, the event will take place as a socially distanced drive-in Dec 13.

Published December 8, 2020

Royal Oak Jewish Center to host drive-in menorah lighting

ROYAL OAK — From 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, the Royal Oak Jewish Center will host its second annual menorah lighting event to celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, with a twist.

Published December 8, 2020

‘Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams’ goes virtual

ROYAL OAK — As with many annual in-person events, Beaumont Royal Oak’s fourth annual “Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams” has gone the way of 2020 — digital.

Published December 8, 2020

LeVasseur, Royal Oak city commissioner, resigns to move farther north

ROYAL OAK — On Nov. 23, the Royal Oak City Commission accepted the letter of resignation offered by Commissioner Randy LeVasseur approximately three and a half hours before the start of the meeting.

Published December 8, 2020

Royal Oak seeks public input on parking meters

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak officials are asking residents and visitors to fill out a public online survey to help update and streamline the downtown parking meter system. The survey will be available through Dec. 18.

Published December 8, 2020

Less money, more time helps make the season bright during COVID-19

METRO DETROIT — Families are being asked to celebrate the holiday season in a more intimate way as they stay at home amid COVID-19, making this the perfect year to start new traditions and make lasting memories together.

Published December 8, 2020

Holiday light shows make season bright amid COVID-19

METRO DETROIT — Families across the country are being asked to stay home to help curb COVID-19. But as we’ve all experienced by now, too much together time can easily dampen the Christmas spirit.

Published December 8, 2020

Avoid getting scammed when shopping from home this season

METRO DETROIT — With Michiganders following state guidelines to stay home, wear masks and limit social interactions, online shopping is perhaps more popular than ever this holiday season.

Published December 7, 2020

Music venues, musicians try to get by during pandemic

METRO DETROIT — Kicking back with a cold brew while watching live music at your favorite watering hole basically has been put on hold since March.

Published December 4, 2020

Schools face substitute teacher, support staff shortage amid COVID-19

METRO DETROIT — Educating students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an ongoing challenge.

Published December 4, 2020

Baby red panda makes debut at Detroit Zoo

ROYAL OAK — Scarlet, the 25th red panda born at the Detroit Zoo since 1999, recently made her first public appearance after her birth in the early morning hours of July 1.

A Suburban Collection Farmington Hills Nissan employee makes a donation to the Drive Away Hunger campaign.

Published November 20, 2020

Drive Away Hunger campaign hopes to donate 1 million meals

METRO DETROIT — Food is a basic need, but for some families, it’s become their biggest challenge.

Published November 20, 2020

Normandy Oaks Park slowly moving toward completion

ROYAL OAK — On Oct. 31, the city of Royal Oak and Oakland County partnered to offer walk-throughs at the future site of Normandy Oaks Park, 4234 Delemere Blvd., near Crooks and Normandy roads. Several families made the stroll in Halloween costumes.

Longtime Royal Oak City Attorney David Gillam worked his last day with the city of Royal Oak Nov. 13 and was set to begin his new position as village administrator and clerk in Wolverine Lake, a 1.68-square-mile village in Commerce Township, Nov. 23.

Published November 20, 2020

Longtime Royal Oak city attorney leaves to serve hometown

ROYAL OAK — Longtime Royal Oak City Attorney David Gillam, 61, is saying goodbye to the city for the third, and final, time.

Published November 20, 2020

‘Discovery of the Lincoln Time Capsule’ documentary now online

ROYAL OAK — Royal Oak Schools and WOAK, the district’s student broadcast channel, recently produced a nine minute and 32 second documentary called “Discovery of the Lincoln Time Capsule.”

Published November 20, 2020

Beaumont hospitals reinstate visitor restrictions as COVID-19 cases rise

ROYAL OAK — Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak, Troy, Grosse Pointe and Taylor are limiting the visitation of family and friends to protect patients, staff and the community as COVID-19 cases in the region and state continue to increase, according to a Nov. 9 Beaumont Health press release.

Published November 19, 2020

Clawson Public Schools goes remote for three weeks

CLAWSON — During an emergency meeting Nov. 16, the Clawson Board of Education unanimously approved a three-week pause from the district’s hybrid — both in-person and remote — learning model, as recommended by Superintendent Tim Wilson.

State rolls out COVID-19 exposure notification app

Published November 19, 2020

Michigan rolls out COVID-19 exposure notification app

LANSING — MI COVID Alert is a new statewide COVID-19 exposure notification app that lets users know whether they might recently have been exposed to COVID-19. It uses randomly generated phone codes and low energy Bluetooth technology instead of GPS location to protect privacy.

Published November 18, 2020

‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ at home with your favorite holiday music

METRO DETROIT — This holiday season will be different for many because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a “Blue Christmas.”

Published November 18, 2020

Veterans group celebrates Veterans Day remotely

METRO DETROIT — Recognizing Veterans Day Nov. 11 was a challenge for most people given the COVID-19 quarantine, but the Metro Detroit Veterans Coalition forged ahead with a virtual alternative to its annual parade.

Published November 18, 2020

It’s beginning to look — kinda — like Christmas

METRO DETROIT — COVID-19 has taken a lot of celebrations away from us this season. Will it take out the season of giving, too? Not if retailers have a say in the matter.