METRO DETROIT — Spring has sprung, and it’s now time to clean out the garage or the basement, or perhaps revamp the kitchen or redecorate the bedroom.

NOVI — Local children’s author and illustrator Caroline Kerfoot, of West Bloomfield, spoke to students at Orchard Hills Elementary School in Novi March 25 about her book, “Hi, I’m Fox!”

NOVI — Over 250 people attended the Novi Educational Foundation’s annual Green Gala Fundraiser April 15 at Suburban Collection Showplace. The event, which was presented by Feldman Automotive, netted just over $56,000 for the foundation.

NOVI — The Novi Community School District was represented by four teams at the robotics world  competition this month. The teams included two middle school teams and two high school teams — Frog Force and the new and less-well-known Automated Amphibians.

DETROIT — A leader of a national drug ring and money laundering scheme will serve a long term in prison after the Universal Product Code on a Sony PlayStation box led federal agents to make a bust in Novi.

NOVI — The Oakland Schools STEMi Truck made an appearance at Novi Meadows Elementary School April 3-6 to introduce fifth grade students to the many things they can do with science, technology, engineering and math skills.

NOVI — Spring has officially sprung as Michigan’s unofficial orange state “flowers” — construction barrels — are in full bloom.

NOVI — For the first time, the annual Novi High School musical will include a matinee performance this year in an effort to attract more children and older people to the show.

NOVI — The Novi Public Library received an unprecedented amount of participation in its online strategic planning survey, according to preliminary results facilitated by ReThinking Libraries LLC.

NOVI — The Novi City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 3.93 acres of land, located at 25901 Beck Road, from Novi Funeral Home LLC, during its regular meeting March 20.

NOVI — Residents of the historic Lake Wall subdivision, which was first deeded in 1919, have rallied after the city of Novi took legal action to remove the access privileges to Walled Lake of one of their neighbors, which they fear could remove lake access for all of them.

FARMINGTON — A popular science teacher kicked off his spring break with a big bang as he was presented the award for the Oakland County Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year at the start of his sixth period earth science class at North Farmington High School March 24.

NOVI — Scientists from around the world flocked to Ann Arbor March 16 to honor Novi resident Wilbur Bigelow, a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, with a surprise 100th birthday party.

NOVI — March is Social Work Month, and the Novi Community School District has a social worker who has been working in the district for nearly 30 years with her focus on students who have special needs.

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Public Schools Board of Education held a community dialogue March 15 on the positive and negative effects of students using social media at the Maxfield Education Center, 32789 W. 10 Mile Road in Farmington.