West Bloomfield Beacon

Published December 17, 2018

Ring in the new year with size and style

METRO DETROIT — New Year’s Eve is a special kind of holiday. Following the hustle and bustle of a month mostly dedicated to Christmas, the final day of the year can sometimes be an afterthought. But those who are hosting parties can benefit by upgrading electronics and configuring decorations.

Published December 17, 2018

Metro Detroiters share experiences with working on holidays

METRO DETROIT — There’s no place like home for the holidays — with family gatherings, stories of yesteryear and delicious meals. But for some, it’s another day at the office, whether that office is in a squad car, inside an emergency room or behind a snowplow.

Orchard Lake couple Debra Ernst and Max Ernst are big donors to Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

Published December 14, 2018

Orchard Lake couple donates $8M to Beaumont

ORCHARD LAKE — Max and Debra Ernst, of Orchard Lake, donated a total of $8 million to Beaumont heart and vascular care at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

Published December 13, 2018

Men robbed by gunman at condo complex in West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield Police Department is investigating a watch theft that occurred at around 2:45 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 500 block of Bentley Drive, near Maple Road.

Published December 13, 2018

The Friday 5 — Dec. 14-16

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published December 12, 2018

Dealership asks for socks, warm clothes for veterans

ROCHESTER HILLS — The holidays are a time for giving, and the staff at Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram are announcing their effort to pick up some clothing items for homeless veterans.

Published December 12, 2018

Faraway holiday traditions decorate local homes, hearts

METRO DETROIT — During Christmastime, Birmingham resident Rita Dunker, 63, doesn’t have to look far to find what takes her back to her childhood growing up in post-war Germany in the small country town of Weseke. Dunker frequents the annual Birmingham Winter Markt, described as a European-themed wonderland in Shain Park in Birmingham.

Published December 12, 2018

Holiday music provides a soundtrack for the season

METRO DETROIT — According to the Christmas classic, there’s no place like “Home for the Holidays.”

The Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Township has wetlands and wildlife.

Published December 11, 2018

Proposed wetlands bill would cause environmental ‘degradation,’ groups warn

METRO DETROIT — A bill recently introduced to the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee is causing concern about potential threats to local wetlands, lakes and streams.

Published December 11, 2018

Explore Aretha Franklin’s music, social impact at Detroit Historical Museum

DETROIT — The legacy of Detroit’s Queen of Soul lives on in the heart of the city. Until spring 2019, the Detroit Historical Museum in Midtown is celebrating the life and music of Aretha Franklin in a special exhibition inside the museum’s Kid Rock Music Lab.

Published December 11, 2018

Good deeds go a long way on regional Mitzvah Day

METRO DETROIT — Any day is a good day for a mitzvah. On Dec. 25, nearly 1,000 volunteers of all ages will roll up their sleeves and make the community a little bit better with some mitzvahs of their own — that means good deed, in Hebrew — during the 22nd annual Mitzvah Day.

Published December 10, 2018

Proposed wetlands bill would cause environmental ‘degradation,’ groups warn

METRO DETROIT — A bill recently introduced to the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee is causing concern about potential threats to local wetlands, lakes and streams.

Published December 6, 2018

UMatter program encourages students to seek help when needed

WEST BLOOMFIELD/WALLED LAKE — High school. Bullying. Social media. Homework. Stress. Throw in some teenage angst, and that’s easily a recipe for depression.

Published December 6, 2018

The Friday 5 — Dec. 7-9

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published December 5, 2018

Darryl the turkey sighted in West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Nov. 27 the Police Department posted that the township has received numerous calls about a turkey hanging out in the area of Middebelt Road, south of Walnut Lake Road.

Published December 5, 2018

Options abound to spruce up your home for the holidays

METRO DETROIT — Whether you’re into dazzling displays in a rainbow of colors, officially licensed products featuring beloved characters, well-worn vintage nostalgia or holiday kitsch, there’s no shortage of options for adorning your home for the holiday season.

Published December 5, 2018

A twist on the sweet seasonal standard: peppermint

METRO DETROIT — From our décor to our lattes, it seems that as soon as the calendar flips to December, our hearts go out in search of candy canes. There’s something about the taste of peppermint that’s not only indicative of the season, but also serves as sweet nostalgia of cozy holidays gone by. So why not load up on some sugary, minty, red-and-white goodness while you can?

Published December 3, 2018

If Michigan repeals its bottle deposit law, will residents still recycle?

LANSING — Hold tight, Cosmo Kramer. You might want to hold off on that big bottle deposit scheme, because there’s a chance the Great Lakes State won’t be offering 10 cents back for cans and bottles anymore.