West Bloomfield Beacon

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.

West Bloomfield resident Al Stokes wrote a children’s book that features three stories with alternate endings.

Published February 23, 2021

West Bloomfield resident publishes children’s book

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Life recently took an interesting turn for West Bloomfield resident Al Stokes.

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

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 22, 2021

West Bloomfield, Walled Lake school districts return to in-person instruction

WEST BLOOMFIELD/WALLED LAKE — Both the West Bloomfield and the Walled Lake Consolidated school districts have returned to offering in-person instruction.

Lakeland Baseball is offering a discounted price for local youth to play recreational baseball.

Published February 21, 2021

Rec baseball set to return to West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Last year, even recreational baseball wasn’t completely spared from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Keego Harbor advances previous retail and housing market analysis study

KEEGO HARBOR — In upcoming years, Keego Harbor residents could see some changes to the look of their city.

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.