Woodward Talk

Published April 23, 2015

Berkley School District asks residents for $58.9 million bond

BERKLEY — Several years of studying the Berkley School District’s infrastructure led the administration to form a list of improvements to make, and on May 5, residents will vote on whether or not to approve a $58.9 million bond for improvements.

In 2013, the district hired Integrated Design Solutions to study the district’s infrastructure, and IDS submitted a 512-page report outlining several issues and recommendations that totaled $120 million. The district then brought in SHW/Santec to comb through the study and highlight the most critical needs.

Published April 23, 2015

Positive reinforcement

FERNDALE — A new program from the Ferndale Police Department, in collaboration with local businesses, seeks to reward children for safe behavior and cultivate a positive relationship between police and youth in Ferndale.

Ferndale Police Sgt. Baron Brown worked with the two 7-Eleven stores in town, as well as the McDonald’s on Woodward Avenue, to create the helmet safety program.

Published April 23, 2015

Ferndale receives grant to spruce up green space near railroad

FERNDALE — Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Canadian National Railroad and America in Bloom, the city of Ferndale will be upgrading a park that lies next to the railroad and expanding the green space to a currently unused area.

Community and Economic Development Department staff, along with staff from the Department of Public Works and the Parks and Recreation Department, worked on the application for the grant, which provides funds to cities to beautify areas surrounding CN railroad tracks.

Published April 23, 2015

Residents to vote on Headlee renewal, street and park bond

FERNDALE — Ferndale residents will vote on two ballot proposals May 5 that would allow the city to levy nearly 11 mills for residential streets and city parks, and continue the same city services.

The first proposal is asking residents whether or not to approve a renewal of the 2011 Headlee override that currently levies about 5.4 mills and is set to expire Dec. 31. The Headlee renewal would bring in about $2.6 million annually for the city, or about 15 percent of the city’s revenue.

Published April 23, 2015

Water, sewage study could see rates go up 2.8 percent in 2016

FERNDALE — A recent water and sewage rate study by Plante Moran could see the rates in Ferndale go up 2.8 percent next year as the city looks to achieve a target modified working capital level in the next five years.

Brian Camiller, with Plante Moran, presented the findings of the study to City Council prior to the regular council meeting April 13. The goal, Camiller said, is for the city to have roughly $3 million of modified working capital, up from the current $2.5 million, to pay bills, debt and cover any emergency repairs.

Published April 22, 2015

Michigan International Women’s Show celebrates 20 years

NOVI — Men, you might as well look away now.

There will be a lot to see and do during the 20th annual Michigan International Women’s Show from April 30-May 3 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

“It has definitely grown,” Beth Anderson, executive show manager of Southern Shows, said. “It has changed, and we hope that everyone enjoys it as much today as they did 20 years ago when it first started at the Novi Expo Center.”

Published April 21, 2015

Jazz pros, students to celebrate music of past and present at April 30 concert

DETROIT — Local leading jazz musicians will be sharing a famous stage with some aspiring jazz greats of tomorrow when the University Liggett School Jazz Band opens for the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra on April 30 at the Music Hall Jazz Café.

Published April 20, 2015

All aboard to the DIA

OAKLAND COUNTY — On May 9, residents can catch a free ride to and from the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the museum’s County Days program.

The program, which is provided four times a year for tri-county residents, is a good opportunity for people to get downtown and see a return on their investment, explained Thomas Guastello, chair of the Oakland County Art Institute Authority.

The investment was the 2012 voter-approved, 10-year, 0.2-mill levy to provide free DIA admission for Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County residents.

Published April 20, 2015

Don’t be behind the curve on roundabouts

With the right frame of mind, drivers navigating a roundabout in metro Detroit can turn going in circles into a positive experience, according to road and driving safety representatives.

Construction recently began on an upcoming roundabout at 14 Mile Road at Orchard Lake Road at the border of West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills, according to Craig Bryson, spokesman for the Road Commission for Oakland County. The RCOC expects the project to be finished this autumn.

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Published April 17, 2015

C & G Newspapers staff writer wins prestigious fellowship

C & G Newspapers Staff Writer Kevin Bunch is one of 10 journalists nationwide selected for the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting’s 17th annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists. Bunch writes about Eastpointe and Roseville for the Eastsider, and he has carved out a niche as C & G Newspapers’ science writer.

Published April 17, 2015

C & G Newspapers staff wins seven awards

Five members of the C & G Newspapers team took home awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter’s annual Excellence in Journalism competition at the San Marino Club in Troy on April 15. The awards recognized work from 2014.

Published April 15, 2015

Sheriff’s Office celebrates 195 years in the community

OAKLAND COUNTY — From catching criminals on horseback in the 1820s to using helicopters today, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has maintained the same values it was founded on nearly two centuries ago, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

“It has really evolved, but the mission is the same: to have honorable men and women do all they can to make this a great community,” Bouchard said.

Published April 15, 2015

As Earth Day nears, experts discuss new trends in camping technology and conservation

METRO DETROIT — Ain’t progress grand? Our phones rarely keep us tethered to the wall anymore. Thanks to email, our messages are as fast as lightning and don’t require a stamp. With MP3 players, we don’t have to wait for the radio disc jockey to play our favorite tune.

With so many changes in our everyday lives, it only makes sense that other activities we’re used to — like camping — would evolve with the times, too.

Published April 15, 2015

Experts discuss new trends in camping technology and conservation

With so many changes in our everyday lives, it only makes sense that other activities we’re used to — like camping — would evolve with the times, too.

Published April 15, 2015

New water heater efficiency standard might drive up price tag and size

METRO DETROIT — Starting April 16, water heater manufacturers must comply with mandatory new standards issued by the U.S. Department of Energy geared toward conserving energy.

The new water heaters will be larger in size, due to increased insulation, and will have more expensive price tags, but they will save more energy.

Published April 15, 2015

Children’s productions take center stage

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Children who enjoy live theater are invited to check out two productions coming to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts this month.

“My Heart in a Suitcase” is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. April 21.

Published April 14, 2015

Local and student artists will refresh downtown art exhibit

FERNDALE — For the past three years, residents and visitors in Ferndale have been able to walk in any area of the downtown district near Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue and see a piece of art.

Whether it was the Belier Rouge red ram at the corner of West Nine Mile and Livernois Street, or the Bent Brush sculpture at East Nine Mile and Woodward, art has been scattered across the city as part of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority’s “ARTWN” art exhibit since 2012.

Published April 14, 2015

Berkley searches for new parks director amid personnel changes

BERKLEY — The search is on for a new Berkley Parks and Recreation Department director after City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa decided not to merge the parks department and Department of Public Works following personnel turnover.

At the beginning of February, Bais-DiSessa shuffled the management of the parks department by moving Director Tom Colwell to deputy director and placing Deputy Director Theresa McArleton into the interim director position.

Published April 14, 2015

Coolidge construction expected to begin in less than a month

BERKLEY — Now that the snow has cleared and spring is here, construction is set to begin on Coolidge Highway north of 12 Mile Road no later than early May.

Last July, the Berkley City Council approved the city pursuing an advanced-construction option from the Oakland County Federal Aid Committee that would allow the city to pay all costs up front for the Coolidge construction project, and then get a partial reimbursement from the Michigan Department of Transportation during the 2016 fiscal year.

Published April 14, 2015

DPW, parking highlight mayor’s State of the City address

FERNDALE — In opening the annual State of the City address April 9, Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter started with one simple question for all those in attendance — why do they work or live in Ferndale?

By outlining several cost-saving techniques implemented by numerous departments and talking about plans to continue to study parking in the downtown district, Coulter hoped to confirm for everyone that they made the right choice.