West Bloomfield Beacon

Published August 25, 2020

METRO DETROIT — The 100 days that fill the gap between Memorial Day and Labor Day may be known as some of the most fun for teens, who spend their summer breaks travelling from one destination to the next, but for public safety experts, those 100 days signify something much different.

Published August 25, 2020

Behind the Wheel: Ford models are a family affair

WARREN — "She’s got her elbow on my car,” Warren resident Bob Gaines teased when his daughter, Dawn Gaines, momentarily leaned on her dad’s 1968 Ford Galaxie 500.

Published August 25, 2020

Conservationist says restoring nature starts at home

METRO DETROIT — Addressing global damage to nature seems overwhelming, but author and researcher Doug Tallamy says that even small changes in your yard can make a difference.

Published August 24, 2020

Oakland County seeks to renew, increase millage for parks

OAKLAND COUNTY — Earlier this month, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted to add a 0.35-mill proposal to the Nov. 3 ballot to fund the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department, since the current millage is set to expire next year.

Published August 21, 2020

Michigan State Fair goes virtual this year

METRO DETROIT — The Michigan State Fair is usually an end-of-summer tradition packed with carnival rides, live entertainment, exhibits and much more. This year’s fair, presented by Ram Trucks, is still on.

Published August 20, 2020

Retail, housing studies show Keego potential

KEEGO HARBOR — Mayor Rob Kalman recently touted the city’s “tremendous potential.”

Published August 20, 2020

Detroit Medical Orchestra members take part in project involving famous violinist Joshua Bell

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Members of the Detroit Medical Orchestra recently had the opportunity to be part of a musical collaboration with violinist Joshua Bell.

West Bloomfield School District Adult Education students are pictured at a local Dairy Queen. Dawn Hanford, who is the adult education coordinator for the WBSD said, “Last year, we had over 38 nations represented.”

Published August 20, 2020

Adult education program helps newcomers to the country adjust to their new life

WEST BLOOMFIELD — For those who want to take their appreciation for life to a higher level, a good place to start may be to speak with adult education teachers and students.

Published August 20, 2020

Sylvan Lake resident has book of photos published during pandemic

SYLVAN LAKE — Earlier this year, Sylvan Lake resident Zach Oshinsky had some pretty big plans.

West Bloomfield Township intends to eliminate the need for a service currently provided by Comcast by building its own fiber network.

Published August 20, 2020

West Bloomfield prepares to take ownership of fiber network

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Between now and October, some West Bloomfield residents may notice some digging going on near their homes.

Published August 20, 2020

Orchard Lake officials reflect on the loss of former city clerk

ORCHARD LAKE — Some people may not expect to hear words like “friendly,” “caring” and “personable” used to describe government officials.

Published August 20, 2020

West Bloomfield resident awarded $1,500 scholarship

WEST BLOOMFIELD — When Bob Mellen joined the West Bloomfield Optimist Club in the 1980s, little did he know at the time that the club would eventually go on to create a scholarship to remember his “dedication to youth within our community.”

Published August 11, 2020

Agriculture experts: Don’t plant unsolicited mystery seeds

METRO DETROIT — While some of the unlabeled seeds have reportedly now been identified as common plants including cabbage, mustard, lavender, rosemary, sage and various flowers, agriculture experts have issued clear guidance about what to do and what not to do if any mystery seeds arrive in your mailbox.

Published August 11, 2020

MoGo sees positives, negatives in expansion during pandemic

OAKLAND COUNTY — Last year it was announced that MoGo, the bike sharing service in Detroit, would be expanding to the cities of Ferndale, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Oak Park.

Published August 10, 2020

State opioid overdose rates increase during pandemic

METRO DETROIT — Stress and isolation are being identified as triggers as statistics show substantial increases in opioid overdoses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published August 7, 2020

Girl Scouts implement new STEM-focused badges and activities

METRO DETROIT — The Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan are encouraging interest in science, technology, engineering and math in their Scouts through new programs and the addition of 24 new badges.

Published August 7, 2020

Area Agency on Aging offers online program for caregivers

METRO DETROIT — The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is taking its caregiver class, the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program, and hosting it online so those caring for a sick loved one can still learn despite the pandemic.

Published August 6, 2020

West Bloomfield plans for half days in person, half online for K-8, online only 9-12

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The roadmap for what the upcoming school year will look like has begun to become clearer for West Bloomfield School District parents and students.

Published August 6, 2020

Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital sees decrease in number of COVID-19 patients

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Michigan, the news has been better at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

Published August 6, 2020

Parks and Recreation millage approved by West Bloomfield voters

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Local voters showed strong support for West Bloomfield parks, approving the renewal of an existing parks and recreation millage ballot proposal by a wide margin in the Aug. 4 primary election.