Woodward Talk

Published April 30, 2013

2013 Detroit Jazz Festival creates unity in jazz community

DETROIT — The Labor Day weekend is still a few months away, but already it’s promising to be another great one for jazz lovers and the city of Detroit.

Published April 24, 2013

Modes, routes discussed at bus rapid transit meeting

FERNDALE — With roughly a year of research and studies in the books, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments went to the public April 17 to discuss the Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis.

At St. James Catholic Church in Ferndale, SEMCOG representatives talked with inquiring community members about bus rapid transit, the system deemed to be the most logical along the 27-mile Woodward corridor from the Detroit River to Pontiac, as well as the most cost-friendly.

Published April 24, 2013

Ferndale DDA to install first on-street bike rack on Woodward

FERNDALE — The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority has not been coy about making downtown Ferndale an easy location to reach and navigate by any transportation means necessary.

In the past year, the DDA has installed five on-street bike racks in different locations in Ferndale, including Nine Mile Road, Troy and Vester streets. In May, a sixth on-street bike rack will be installed on Woodward Avenue, the first of its kind on that street.

Published April 22, 2013

Ferndale mayor talks growth despite tight budget in State of the City

FERNDALE — Mayor Dave Coulter didn’t try to hide the fact that Ferndale has seen better financial days during his 2013 State of the City address April 18 at Local Kitchen and Bar in downtown Ferndale.

In fact, Coulter basically led off with it after thanking his fellow elected officials.

Published April 16, 2013

Berkley to participate in DIA’s Inside|Out program

BERKLEY — This summer, Berkley will help the Detroit Institute of Arts achieve its goal of bringing the museum to the masses.

Published April 16, 2013

Berkley city councilman selected to study at Harvard

BERKLEY — This summer, Steve Baker is heading off to Harvard — not as a college student, but as a representative of his community.

Published April 15, 2013

Artist provides communitywide project for JCC

OAK PARK — With a rather large canvas in front of him containing everything from stars and flowers to people and hands, Daniel Cascardo stood back from his work of art April 11 at the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park and handed paint to every person who came to him.

Published April 10, 2013

Luddites’ latest is a ‘Twisted’ take on acoustic music

After almost 21 years together, the Luddites still haven’t suffered the ubiquitous “creative differences” that have shattered bands less than half their age.

The 11-piece acoustic group will celebrate the release of their fourth CD, “Twisted In,” with a concert starting at 9 p.m. April 13 at PJ’s Lager House. Bass player David Giovannucci, one of the original Luddites from those early days in August 1992 when they started as a five-piece acoustic act, said friendship and mutual respect have kept them going all these years.

Published April 10, 2013

The lesser-known benefit of recycling

In the bin

Come garbage day, most curbside recycling bins are stuffed with paper, plastic and glass bottles, cans, and cardboard, but there’s a whole lot more that can be added to the heap.

Published April 2, 2013

Men’s Club brings in $135K-plus for community

HUNTINGTON WOODS — It’s hard to believe that an event the magnitude of the Huntington Woods Men’s Club service auction could continue to grow, but it may have just experienced its most successful year ever.

Published April 2, 2013

BHS teacher named best in Oakland County

BERKLEY — Angie Church received two of the best surprises of her life in the span of just two weeks.

The first came when the Berkley High School teacher attended a staff meeting after school and was greeted by a crowd that included dozens of her co-workers and friends, as well as her parents, husband and 5-year-old twin daughters. The congregation had gathered to announce that she had been selected as BHS’ nomination for the 2013 Oakland County Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year award through Oakland Schools.

Published April 1, 2013

Our Lady of La Salette School to close in June

BERKLEY — After 70 years of educating students in the local Catholic community, Our Lady of La Salette School will close down at the end of the 2012-13 school year, due to declining enrollment.

Published March 27, 2013

Despite cold temperatures and damaging fungus, local nurseries are getting ready for gardening season

Though spring seems to have lost its way en route to Michigan, it won’t be long before temperatures finally rise and the ground thaws to welcome new plants and flowers into eagerly awaited gardens around metro Detroit.

Just like in fashion boutiques, there will be lots of trends that customers will be clamoring for at their local nursery this year as they plan their landscape design. According to Erma Rhadigan, co-owner of Ray Wiegand’s Nursery in Macomb Township, this year’s most popular bloom choices are going to be bright, warm colors.

Published March 27, 2013

Spring into projects: Seasonal cleaning can include much more

With spring here — at least according to the calendar — many homeowners look to the state of their houses after the long, dirty winter and aren’t happy with what they see.

Carpets are soiled by salty boots; driveways start cracking from the months-long freeze/thaw cycle; and muddy messes are exposed in backyards that will be used for entertaining, come summer.

Now is the time to fix those problems, according to local contractors, before warm-weather fun beckons and the summer home- improvement rush begins.

Published March 19, 2013

BHS students to perform play about mental illness

BERKLEY — When Berkley High School theater students bring their next production to the stage this weekend, their goal will be to not only entertain, but also to educate and inspire.

Published March 13, 2013

Home energy savings grant ends March 31

FERNDALE/HUNTINGTON WOODS — This month marks the last chance for local homeowners, tenants and landlords to take advantage of a golden opportunity to save hundreds of dollars on annual energy costs.

Published March 13, 2013

FHS students set to perform ‘The Sound of Music’

FERNDALE — The Ferndale High School auditorium will be alive with “The Sound of Music” this month, when FHS theatre students will bring the classic Broadway musical to the stage.

Published March 13, 2013

Berkley pursuing new sources of revenue for Ice Arena

BERKLEY — The city will soon bring in outside companies to fill largely unused space within the Berkley Ice Arena in order to earn greater revenues and make the facility self-sustaining.

City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa and Parks and Recreation Director Tom Colwell appeared before the Berkley City Council March 4, seeking approval of the project. Members of council expressed unanimous support and enthusiasm for the plan, praising Colwell for developing creative ways to keep the Ice Arena afloat.

Published February 28, 2013

Woods to spend $65K for lobby security upgrades

HUNTINGTON WOODS — City officials are moving forward with a project to make the Huntington Woods Public Safety Department safer for employees and visitors.

The plan includes $65,000 worth of renovations to the building’s lobby area in order to increase its security against any potentially violent incidents. It was approved unanimously by the City Commission Feb. 19 and will utilize money from the city’s capital improvement fund to enter a design and construction agreement with the Royal Oak-based firm Interior Systems Contract Group (ISCG).

Published November 28, 2012

Local artists featured at nation’s largest pottery sale

Nearly 140 skilled artist entrepreneurs will bring some 40,000 pieces of handcrafted pottery to this year’s Potters Market, now in its 37th year.

A holiday tradition in metro Detroit and the largest all-clay pottery sale in the U.S., the event will feature talent from all over the state. The artists run the Potters Market as a collective, handling everything from constantly restocking the shelves throughout the weekend to checking customers out lickety-split at one of the 14 cash registers.