About six school districts in Oakland County – including the Bloomfield Hills School District and Rochester Community Schools – regularly test their buildings for the presence of harmful radon gas, while the remaining public schools either don't feel it is necessary or aren't aware of the need. To be clear, there are 28 public school districts in Oakland County, meaning there are hundreds of buildings where children will be starting classes this fall where the radioactive gas

Child Safe Legends of Tomorrow Gala Board chair Keith Pomeroy called Child Safe’s affiliation with Judson Center “a perfect union” when he welcomed the 320 supporters ($300 & $500 tickets) to the annual gala at the Townsend Hotel. The evening was chaired by Susu Sosnick and Christine and David Colman whom he also praised for planning “amazing parties.” Amazing is also what this reporter thought about Judson’s foster care navigator Melissa Covell. And not just for the insight

A class action suit against Bloomfield Township filed in April 2016 by the law firm Hanley Kickham, which has been largely successful suing municipalities for excessive water and sewer fees, received a mixed ruling from Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Dan O'Brien on Thursday, July 12, ruling for the township in some instances, and for the plaintiff class in others. Hanley Kickham lawyers argued that Bloomfield Township, like other municipalities, had raised taxes in violat

After a long four and a half months, downtown Birmingham's road construction project is nearing the finish line. The project has shut down Old Woodward from Willits to Brown streets, and Maple Road essentially through downtown, as the roads required a complete reconstruction, similar to Pierce Street and Hamilton in previous years. These areas had some of the oldest water and sewer lines in Birmingham, as well as a streetscape that was on a different grade than the road. Much

Birmingham residents discovered on Monday, July 16, that a watch was stolen from their home. The home, in the 700 block of Pleasant Avenue, is currently having renovation work done. Birmingham police are questioning contractors that were working in the home the day the watch went missing. The incident remains under investigation.

Rochester Community Schools on Tuesday, July 17 announced the name of buildings in the district, including the Dr. John M. Schultz Educational Campus, 1440 John R, and the RCS Caring Steps Children's Center, 3838 N. Rochester Road, both in Rochester Hills. The new names stay in line with the district's policy, with screening committees composed of district employees, parents, citizens and students, which was formed to determine the name of each building, said Lori Grein, com

Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, July 16, unanimously approved second quarter budget amendments that will increase the city's fund balance by nearly $5 million in 2018. The approval was given after a presentation of the city's Seven-Year Financial Forecast, which shows a structural fund balance surplus and increased revenues through 2025. The budget amendment included an increase in total revenues of about $7 million and increases in expenses by about $2 million, said

Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, July 16, unanimously granted conditional use approval and a recommendation to the state for a liquor license transfer to RH House, 2630 Crooks Road, for future alcohol sales. Plans were approved in March by the Rochester Hills Planning Commission for the 4,411-square-foot, full-service restaurant located at the former YaYa's Chicken location on the west side of Crooks, south of M-59. Because the former restaurant didn't serve alcohol, t

The closure of South Boulevard, between Coolidge Highway and Adams Road, in Rochester Hills and Troy, will be extended into early August, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) said. The project, which was initially expected to be completed by Saturday, July 21, started on Monday, July 16. The work includes a culvert replacement that carries the Borden Drain under South Boulevard. The road is closed in the project area. Once the culvert replacement is complete, the eas

Beaumont’s Drive for Life Invitational This year, Beaumont supporters combined the 23-year-old Drive to Beat Breast Cancer and the former Round for Life Golf and Tennis Classic into the Drive for Life Invitational comprising a Card Tournament at Bloomfield Hills Country Club and a Golf Tournament at Oakland Hills Country Club. The former, chaired by Julie Beals and Bobbi Polk, attracted 250 women for lunch, bridge or canasta, a brief patient testimonial and lots of conversati