The heinous terrorist act perpetrated recently on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and its 140 preschoolers, staff and clergy brought the international scourge of antisemitism frighteningly right into our backyards. Among the numerous blessings that came out of the day was that no one but the shooter was killed, by his own hand; law enforcement, led by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and West Bloomfield Police Chief Dale Young, performed stupendously after having prac

We normally reserve our editorial position on ballot issues until just prior to an election but are weighing in now on a November ballot question that may likely be facing the Michigan electorate this year – the Americans for Citizen Voting amendment to the state Constitution. To get this amendment on the ballot, backers of this proposal had to collect 446,198 signatures on petitions, which is 10 percent of the votes cast in the last election for governor. The petition drive

We are led to believe that Birmingham officials and members of the city commission are nearing an end to work on a lease with the Next senior citizen group for the building at 400 E. Lincoln, the new home for this non-profit group which for decades has provided services and programs directed at the senior (50+) population in the city and neighboring communities. Our concern, however, is the rumor that some members of the city commission may be attempting to introduce a propos

Politics are a promise game. We all know that those running for office – and even once they're in office – offer a gallon of promises and usually deliver on a pint. So we are particularly pleased with the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees, and Supervisor Mike McCready in particular, for keeping their commitment to the residents of the community on updates regarding the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan – something sorely lacking in the previous administration. A transformative s

Most likely the majority of residents in Birmingham would agree on one thing about The Community House (TCH) in the city: It would be ideal if the iconic building on Bates Street in the city remains as is and continues to serve as a gathering place for the community. The only question is who will own the building, a decision that will most likely be made by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren of the business court division where the case is pending. So it could

This is not the first time that we have questioned what two Oakland County members of the state House of Representatives are either drinking or smoking. We refer to the recent proposal by six House members to eliminate school district property taxes for homeowners who do not have children attending public schools. The two representatives we single out from the pack are Republicans Matt Maddock from the Milford area of Oakland County and Republican Shriver of the Oxford area.

Like the rest of the Birmingham community, we are watching with interest to see how the issue surrounding The Community House building shakes out in the next few weeks. Officials with The Community House announced in early November that the organization was going to change the name of the group as it forms a community foundation to continue the non-profit mission of the organization and in the process sell off the iconic building on Bates Street in the downtown area. As part

Transparency is the current government buzzword. Yet it remains remarkably illusive in all levels of leadership, from federal to state to county levels, which not only jeopardizes the government itself, but leaders who represent us, and those of us ‘every day folk’ who rely on the decisions they make. Michigan is one of just two states in the entire country which exempts the governor and state legislature from the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Along with Massachu