West Bloomfield Beacon

Published January 12, 2021

Hollywood’s Kristen Bell promotes Oakland County’s mask campaign

OAKLAND COUNTY — For those set on heading out in public with the idea of forgoing a mask, award-winning actress Kristen Bell has a message: Let it go.

Published January 11, 2021

Teachers get clever to create home classrooms

METRO DETROIT — Karen Forsyth, a teacher at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, has her fingers crossed that there won’t be any more toilet paper shortages for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published January 10, 2021

Local resources available for those suffering from mental health strain

METRO DETROIT — While the physical effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are readily visible, there are other issues that can fly below the radar and affect people in many unseen ways.

After nearly 30 years as the director of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, Clara Bohrer recently retired. Bohrer is pictured in 2010 with former First Lady Michelle Obama and local resident Cameron Thomas-Shah after the library was one of five in the United States to be awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Published January 10, 2021

Longtime West Bloomfield library director retires

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Nearly 30 years ago, Clara Bohrer received a phone call to inform her that she had been hired as the director of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library.

Brad and Francine Oppat, of Farmington Hills, started a new business in the midst of the pandemic.

Published January 9, 2021

Despite pandemic, local residents forge ahead with new businesses

WEST BLOOMFIELD/TROY — Last April, Farmington Hills resident Francine Oppat received a call with the kind of news many around the country have gotten since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published January 8, 2021

Healing through music during dark times

METRO DETROIT — The COVID-19 pandemic has been painful for everyone.

Published January 8, 2021

Family Video moves to close last stores

METRO DETROIT — Family Video’s roots go back to the 1970s, when founder Charlie Hoogland found himself “stuck” with a bunch of videos his family’s business, Midstates Appliance & Supply Company, had accumulated as a distributor of Hollywood movies.

Published January 8, 2021

New West Bloomfield library director takes the helm

WEST BLOOMFIELD — As someone who grew up in Troy and served as the Troy Public Library director for more than 13 years, it was going to take a pretty good opportunity for Cathy Russ to leave her position there.

Published January 7, 2021

Residents object to possible closing of 100-year-old Keego Harbor school

KEEGO HARBOR — According to Keego Harbor resident David Emerling, there was a “huge amount of uproar” when people learned that the West Bloomfield School District was considering closing Roosevelt Elementary School, which at over 100 years old is the longest continuously operating school building in Oakland County.

Published January 7, 2021

Community gathers to give families, children’s hospital a happy Christmas

METRO DETROIT — Nearly 20 years after their newborn daughter, Erin, died due to severe heart defects, Tammy and Cliff Patton have given back to their community.

EasterSeals Michigan has resources available to help community members receive mental health services.

Published December 28, 2020

EasterSeals offers free online survey to assess general mental health

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The topic of mental health is receiving more attention than perhaps at any other point in history.

Published December 21, 2020

Recycling Authority provides tips to be less wasteful for the holiday season

OAKLAND COUNTY — While it is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season can also be one of the most wasteful.

Published December 21, 2020

Save money without sacrificing sentimental value

METRO DETROIT — Many people feel the financial impact of COVID-19, but financial experts at Greenpath Financial Wellness believe that shouldn’t stop them from celebrating, sharing joy and making this season special.

Published December 19, 2020

Always home? Reduce energy usage to save money

METRO DETROIT — In the early months of 2020, most children spent their weekdays at school and most adults spent their weekdays at a job, both of which likely meant that the energy needed to heat or cool the air around them, and to power computers, tablets and phones, might have been paid for by someone else.

The Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter planned to host a virtual luminaire lighting ceremony Dec. 21, which is the winter solstice. The event honors those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Published December 18, 2020

Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter hosts winter solstice event

METRO DETROIT — With the COVID-19 pandemic still sweeping across the nation, the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter plans to host a virtual event to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Published December 18, 2020

New year, new booze

METRO DETROIT — Is it just us, or has it been cocktail hour for the past… oh, nine months or so?

Published December 18, 2020

COVID pushes ‘The Nutcracker’ and Shakespeare to the web

METRO DETROIT — On a blustery cold afternoon in December, 17-year-old Jenna Altman braved the freezing elements in a tiara and pointe shoes to perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Published December 16, 2020

Oakland County Brownfield Consortium receives $600,000 EPA grant

OAKLAND COUNTY — Six municipalities across Oakland County are set to receive grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.

Published December 15, 2020

Police, Coast Guard offer safety tips for winter lake recreation

GREATER WEST BLOOMFIELD — The passing of yet another summer in Michigan means a lot of people will be out of the water for a while.

Published December 15, 2020

Resident starts support group, writes book for those grieving the loss of a pet

WEST BLOOMFIELD — In the latter part of 2002 and into early 2003, there were some rough periods in the life of local resident and West Bloomfield High School graduate Micky Golden Moore.