West Bloomfield Beacon

Published July 16, 2019

PONTIAC — The Pontiac-based nonprofit Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan provides families with basic pieces of furniture.

Published July 16, 2019

Learning to drive in the 21st century

METRO DETROIT — Smartphones, navigation systems, touch-screen music controls and more: It seems that teens learning to drive these days have more distractions than ever to filter out while they concentrate on the task at hand.

Published July 16, 2019

Head games: How football is striving to make the sport safer

METRO DETROIT — Concussions and head injuries have long been a part of football, but over the years, more information and increased education have been key to improving the overall safety of the game.

Published July 15, 2019

SCOTUS gerrymandering ruling likely to have ripple effect

METRO DETROIT — A 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision on June 27 is likely to impact the redistricting timeline in Michigan.

Published July 11, 2019

West Bloomfield police, Kroger team up to fight hunger

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The police departments of West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake are teaming up with Kroger for a food drive benefiting a half-dozen charities.

Published July 11, 2019

The Friday 5 — July 12-14

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published July 9, 2019

Oakland County committee adopts Fair Chance Hiring Policy

OAKLAND COUNTY — Potential employees of Oakland County will no longer have to disclose if they’ve been convicted of a crime now that a new policy has been approved.

Published July 9, 2019

Borrow a buddy with pet volunteer programs

If you’re an animal lover, you know all too well the pangs of wanting to adopt all of the sweet homeless cats and dogs left in shelters.

Published July 9, 2019

Oh Deer: Experts offer tips on how to keep deer from dining on your landscape

If you live in an area frequented by deer, your home’s lush landscape — especially your prize tulips, roses, day lilies and hostas — will inevitably turn into a midnight snack.

Published July 9, 2019

Behind the Wheel: Shelby Township woman celebrates 50 years of owning Firebird

Maria Carpenter, of Shelby Township, recently celebrated a milestone anniversary with her 1969 Pontiac Firebird convertible, and she has the pictures to prove it.

Published July 9, 2019

Temporary polling locations announced for special election in West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD — There’s a special election in West Bloomfield Township next month, which officials say is critically important to funding nearly 70 percent of the police officers, firefighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers in the community. The same election will also decide the continued development of the township’s safety path.

Published July 8, 2019

As outages continue, commission reports energy grid is up to snuff

On a blistering hot afternoon Monday, July 1, many across metro Detroit sat in the dark without power — and that means AC too.

West Bloomfield resident Mike McKinstry has launched his own fishing show, which includes some of his adventures on a kayak. The show is called “Bassquatch Hunter TV” and can be found on Waypoint TV.

Published July 3, 2019

West Bloomfield resident launches fishing show

Around this time two years ago, West Bloomfield resident Mike McKinstry was entrenched in a marketing career until he had what he referred to as an “aha moment.”

Published July 2, 2019

Wet weather complicates risks of garden problems

METRO DETROIT — With wet weather more the rule than the exception in recent years, home vegetable growers can plan ahead with eyes equally set on the sky, the thermometer and their plants to prevent potential problems.

Published July 2, 2019

Amid lifeguard shortage, a need for swim lessons surfaces

METRO DETROIT — When Oakland County Parks and Recreation Manager of Operations Sue Wells was a teenager, a dark tan and sun-lightened hair were the true indicators of a successful summer break.

Published July 2, 2019

Immigrants recount their personal ‘independence days’

METRO DETROIT — In the middle of the night Aug. 2, 1990, May Mulla and her parents were asleep in their homeland of Kuwait when “we woke up surrounded by tanks.” Iraqi forces had invaded the small Middle Eastern country.

West Bloomfield will be consolidating its classes and activities for senior citizens in a former fur business at Orchard Mall on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield Township.

Published June 26, 2019

West Bloomfield to open senior services location at Orchard Mall

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield Township continues to be a popular destination for senior citizens — so much so that the township board previously had to issue a moratorium on the opening of new senior living facilities there due to an oversaturated market.

Published June 26, 2019

Behind the Wheel: Cadillac comes home again

Hazel Park resident Phil Guadagni’s 30-year journey with his 1950 Cadillac has come full circle — starting in Michigan, traveling to Florida and then returning back to the Mitten, just a short walk from where it all began.

Published June 26, 2019

The Friday 5 — June 28-30

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published June 25, 2019

Learn the do’s and don’ts of dumpster rental

METRO DETROIT — With spring and summer cleaning comes a need for a place to put all that junk. While it can feel good to declutter and eliminate years of remodeling leftovers and junk that isn’t fit to donate, sometimes it becomes too much to put out on the curb.