Clawson – September 16, 2019

Clawson – September 16, 2019

by | Sep 16, 2019 | Clawson News

Three Cats Cafe Opens as Restaurant

Three Cats Café at 116 W. 14 MIle, dropped the “Café” from the name when it changes to full service dining Sept. 20. Three Cats was featured in Local Business News.

 

Uncle Andy’s Now in Clawson

Much anticipated, Uncle Andy’s Pizza- a long time favorite in Berkley – is now open for business in Downtown Clawson. Pick up a pie at 204 E. 14 Mile, and welcome Andy Nanooshi, owner, to town.

 

Join the Saturday STEAM Lab at the Blair Memorial Library

Harness the creative power of LEGO and programming to build an interactive experience. The STEAM Lab will engage the participants in science, technology, engineering, art and math activities through fun, hands-on experiences with exciting technologies. This event is a collaboration between the library and 24G.

Registration is open now for two sessions:

Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Learn About Marijuana Laws

On Sept. 11, a town hall meeting took place to help citizens better understand Michigan’s marijuana laws. If you missed it, click here to view the slides from the presentation.

 

 

Rebecca Calappi

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Ferndale – September 16, 2019

Ferndale – September 16, 2019

by | Sep 16, 2019 | Ferndale News

Now Accepting Applications for City Council

Following Councilman Dan Martin’s Sept. 9 appointment to Ferndale mayor, filling the seat left when former Mayor Dave Coulter stepped into the role of Oakland County executive in August, Ferndale City Council will now consider applicants to fill his vacancy.

The designated appointee will serve on Ferndale City Council through the end of the year, after which the individual elected in the Nov. 5 election will assume the position.

To be considered for this temporary city council appointment, complete the digital application. Resumes and/or letters of intent are also encouraged and can be sent directly to the city clerk, Marne McGrath, at mmcgrath@ferndalemi.gov. Previous applicants from the last council appointment application process can reapply with the same materials by sending or emailing a letter of interest to the city clerk.

Applications will be accepted through close of business on Tuesday, Sept. 17. City Council will review applications and make their recommendation at their Sept. 23 meeting.

If you have questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 248-546-4366 or email elections@ferndalemi.gov.

 

Trees to be Removed from Garbutt Park

The city, in collaboration with Davey Tree, identified several trees in Garbutt Park that present a falling hazard and must be removed immediately. The city had all of the trees in the park inspected after three trees fell this summer—two during storms, one on a calm day. Of the 30+ trees inspected, 11 were deemed probable or possible to fall in the next year.

With the failing trees located in or near the youth play structure and pedestrian/walking areas, the city is taking a “safety first” approach and will be removing the trees this month.

Following the removal of these trees, DPW leadership will work closely with the Sustainability Planner and Parks and Recreation team to identify a tree replacement and replanting plan with a goal of replacing every failed/removed tree.

If you have additional questions, call at 248-546-2525 ext. 602.

 

Rec Room Available for Teens

Once a month on Thursdays, the Ferndale Public Library hosts R & R: Reading and Rec Room. Teenagers are welcome with their friends to hang out and use the books, board games, iPads and even have a snack. The program runs Sept. 19, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12 from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. in room 216.

Funky Ferndale Runs Sept. 20-22

This weekend, bring the family to one of Ferndale’s premiere events: Funky Ferndale. The Funky Ferndale Art Fair is on Nine Mile Road West of Woodward. Use 200 West Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI for GPS.

There are parking lots throughout the city.

The DIY Street Fair happens across Woodward the same time as the Funky Ferndale Art Fair. Information about that show is at www.ferndalediy.com/

 

Rebecca Calappi

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net
‘Irish Pub, Gourmet Kitchen’ Marks Silver Anniversary

‘Irish Pub, Gourmet Kitchen’ Marks Silver Anniversary

by | Sep 13, 2019 | Berkley, LBN Community Series, O'Maras

‘Irish Pub, Gourmet Kitchen’ Marks Silver Anniversary

13
SEPTEMBER 2019
BY MATT JACHMAN
LBN Community Series
Berkley

Kevin O’Mara was never interested in climbing the corporate ladder.

Instead, “I wanted to make my own ladder,” said O’Mara, a scientist, restaurateur and health food devotee.

And he’s done just that, by running his own environmental- and product-testing laboratory for more than three decades, practicing yoga and clean eating that he says is adding life to his years, and building a successful restaurant that’s become a fixture in central Berkley over the last quarter-century.

KEVIN O'MARA

OWNER, O’MARAS RESTAURANT
O’Mara, 55, is the owner of O’Mara’s Restaurant at 12 Mile and Coolidge, an “Irish pub, gourmet kitchen” hybrid that he put together with a trio of brothers, Harry, Lewis and James Sawyer, whom he met as a teenager when they all worked in area restaurants. Kevin was by far the youngest of the four, but he had big dreams back in the early 1980s.

“I was working with Harry and I told him, ‘Some day we’re going to have our own restaurant,’ ” O’Mara said recently as he reflected on his namesake’s silver anniversary.

He’d started out as a dishwasher, worked his way into cooking and was running a restaurant kitchen, he said, by the time he graduated from high school. He went on to major in chemistry at Adrian College, paying his way with restaurant work.

Post-college, in 1987, he opened his testing lab, but he was never far from the restaurant world.

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“I never left the kitchen. I was never not on a kitchen project,” O’Mara said.

O’Mara and the Sawyers opened O’Mara’s in March of 1994 in what had formerly been a Chuck Joseph’s Place for Steak.

“The building was built by a restaurant man,” O’Mara said. “Chuck built a nice building so we thought we’d give it a try here.” They’d previously scouted for locations in several Detroit-area communities, he said.

Today, Harry is the head chef, James the sous chef, Lewis is the general manager and O’Mara is the owner and shareholder and a familiar presence to regulars there.

O’Mara’s makes most of its food from scratch, even soups, breads and many desserts; O’Mara takes pride in a menu that relies on fresh food with low sodium and no preservatives.

“It’s just a good place to go for a meal,” said veteran radio host Bob Allison, who hosts the “Ask Your Neighbor” show on WNZK (AM 690) on weekday mornings. Allison visited recently for lunch and a drink. “Their soups absolutely wonderful,” he said.

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“It’s good food, good service, good people,” said Alan Kideckel, who had stopped in with friend Michael Reynolds; both regulars, the two shot the breeze with O’Mara for a few minutes.

O’Mara’s lunch menu offers sandwiches like a half-pound burger, a BLT and a “World Class Reuben,” entrees like “Chicken O’Mara” (seasoned in Parmesan batter plus lemon, white wine and garlic), pan-fried Lake Superior whitefish and fish and chips, plus homemade soups and salads. Dinner entrees include filet mignon, New York strip steak and Irish pot roast, plus pork, chicken and seafood dishes. O’Mara’s also serves breakfast on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; that menu includes omelettes, frittatas, scrambles, crepes, pancakes, waffles and a variety of sides.

The menu changes every few months, O’Mara said, but the concept stays consistent: good, fresh food.

Kevin O’Mara had picked up beer-making skills while a college student (“I was thirsty,” he says), and in the beginning, O’Mara’s had one of the first microbrewery licenses in Michigan. But space was tight and O’Mara and the Sawyers wanted to focus on food, so they gave up brewing and began buying others’ craft beers after about eight years.

In the early days of small-scale, local brewing, he favored O’Mara’s own brand. “Now there’s a lot of people making really good specialty beer,” he said.

The restaurant has a small bar area with a fully stocked bar, a large dining room with an Irish-themed decor and wood accents and a patio for al fresco dining. A separate back room can be closed off for private gatherings.

“We have a lot of events here, from christenings to memorial services and everything in between,” O’Mara said.

They’ve also got entertainment: live Irish, folk, rock, jazz and blues music, mostly, but not exclusively, on weekend nights; regular Tuesday trivia nights (7-9 p.m.) and occasional appearances by comedians (next up, Dave Landau, 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Sept. 21).

O’Mara likes to think of the restaurant as a “chameleon,” he said, that can be formal or casual, depending on customers’ needs. Though not a “cool kids” place, he said, younger hipsters do find a place at O’Mara’s.

“I just love it. I love food. I love people. I love having a place that people can come to and meet,” O’Mara added. “And I take it seriously.”

O’Mara’s Restaurant is at 2555 West 12 Mile, Berkley, on the southwest corner of Coolidge and 12 Mile. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is 248-399-6750.

2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.
Berkley, MI  48072
248-399-6750

omaras.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LATEST POSTS

Ferndale – September 9, 2019

Ferndale – September 9, 2019

by | Sep 9, 2019 | Ferndale News

Friends,

I’m writing this from my favorite chair, with my favorite blanket, sipping on tea. Today is a “droopy” day, as my son calls it—cloudy, rainy, cool. And I love it.

I love these last weeks of summer. There’s so much to look forward to, so much to enjoy. To me, Michigan is at its finest as it’s about to change seasons. Now, I’m not saying I want to rush into anything. I have rules: No decorating for Halloween until it’s actually October and no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving.

What I am saying is to make sure you enjoy the moment you’re in, while you’re in it. I’m trying hard to practice this myself, especially as I’m training for a 5k.

Enjoy every moment, every day. I’m thinking about the Addison Oaks fall color tour mentioned below. I think I’ll enjoy that.

Have an awesome week,

Rebecca

Temporary Traffic Control on 9 Mile Road

 

 

East Nine Mile Road between Leland and Paxton will have temporary traffic control now through Oct. 1. The work is necessary to replace curbs, sidewalk and other items safely. As part of the development, new sidewalk and on-street public parking spaces will be installed.

During this time, traffic on E. 9 Mile will be reduced to one lane. A traffic flagger will be on-street to guide two-way traffic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Two-way travel will be maintained between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. and whenever no work is being performed.

The road will be open for the DIY and Funky Ferndale Art Fair. An alternate route on Hilton, Cambourne, and Bermuda will have posted signage as well.

 

Voice your Opinion on School Bond Issues

In March, Ferndale Schools will ask the community to approve a zero mill bond proposal. This means that the proposal, if approved, would result in the continuation of the current tax rate.

A ‘yes’ vote on this proposal would result in $125 million over the next six years for the students of Ferndale Schools. The plan for the bond money is to focus on three major areas: safety, sustainability and reimagining the educational experience within classrooms.

Please click the link to take the 2020 Bond Survey.

Ferndale Librarians Collaborate with School Staff to Expand Cardholders, Access

Every September, the American Library Association emphasizes the benefits of provided access to everyone who carries an active library card. While the Ferndale Library has more than 7,500 active cardholders, the Youth Services librarians are looking to expand even further this month, particularly to the 18-and-under crowd.

Ferndale’s librarians are in partnership with Ferndale Schools. As a district library, all Ferndale Public Schools students are entitled to Ferndale Library cards.

Ferndale’s Youth Librarians are making a concerted effort to get as many library cards to as many FPS students as possible. Librarians will be meeting with teachers and staff to highlight the library’s online resources and databases, as well as detailing access to the Michigan Electronic Library.

The only precondition required for students is that their parent or guardian sign a permission slip to be issued a card. As an incentive, the classrooms with the highest percentage of students signed-up by the end of September will be gifted a small classroom library of materials courtesy of the Ferndale Library. For more information, contact Ferndale’s Youth Services Librarians at 248-546-2504 ext. 694.

Funky Ferndale Art Fair Coming Sept. 20

Fashionable Ferndale’s downtown is a thriving business community with distinctive boutiques and bistros. Funky Ferndale Art Fair, while still a high-quality juried art show, showcases art that challenges the mind and sparks the imagination — artwork that does not sit quietly, but invites a reaction. Explore something new Sept. 20-22 in downtown Ferndale.

Rebecca Calappi

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net
Troy – September 9, 2019

Troy – September 9, 2019

by | Sep 9, 2019 | Troy News

Friends,

I’m writing this from my favorite chair, with my favorite blanket, sipping on tea. Today is a “droopy” day, as my son calls it—cloudy, rainy, cool. And I love it.

I love these last weeks of summer. There’s so much to look forward to, so much to enjoy. To me, Michigan is at its finest as it’s about to change seasons. Now, I’m not saying I want to rush into anything. I have rules: No decorating for Halloween until it’s actually October and no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving.

What I am saying is to make sure you enjoy the moment you’re in, while you’re in it. I’m trying hard to practice this myself, especially as I’m training for a 5k.

Enjoy every moment, every day. I’m thinking about the Addison Oaks fall color tour mentioned below. I think I’ll enjoy that.

Have an awesome week,

Rebecca

Troy Hosted 4th Annual Softball Game Troy Firefighting Volunteers vs. On My Own of Michigan Eagles

The City of Troy hosted a softball game – the 4th annual Troy Firefighting Volunteers vs. On My Own of Michigan Eagles on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Boulan Park. On My Own of Michigan, a Troy-based non-profit, challenged the Troy Fire Department to a charity softball game in 2016 and the firefighters accepted the challenge. The On My Own Eagles beat the Troy Firefighting Volunteers for the fourth time 10 – 4. The On My Own Eagles compete in the annual Special Olympics.

On My Own assists adults with intellectual developmental disabilities to live independently, maintain employment and enjoy an improved quality of life.

Yedavally-Yellayi Named Michigan Family Medicine Educator of the Year

The Michigan Academy of Family Physicians recognized Dr. Srikala Yedavally-Yellayi, affiliated with Beaumont Hospital, Troy, as the Michigan Family Medicine Educator of the Year. In addition to serving as director of the Beaumont, Troy Osteopathic Department of Medical Education Program, she is an assistant professor with Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine; and also, a Global Health director and Clerkship director for Family Medicine Undergraduate Medical Education. The MAFP presents the award each year to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to family medicine undergraduate, graduate and continuing education in Michigan.

 

Beaumont Hospital, Troy Winner of NRC’s Consumer Loyalty Awards

NRC Health announced winners of the 2019 Consumer Loyalty Awards. The “Top 100” includes Beaumont Hospital, Troy. To be included in the list, organizations had to achieve an ‘extraordinary’ high score on the NRC Health Loyalty Index – a single trackable metric and benchmark of health care consumer loyalty. The metric, a composite of seven critical aspects of loyalty, recognizes top performers in the health care industry.

Manufacturing Day

Showcase your company to our future workforce by opening your doors to high school students on Oct. 4 for Manufacturing Day. This opportunity provides a behind-the-scenes look at design labs, testing centers and manufacturing operations.  Last year, nearly 1,000 students visited 43 manufacturing sites. For more information, visit oakgov.com/mfgday  or contact Laura Robb at lrobb@michiganworksoakpark.org or 248-691-8437 ext. 2974.

Rebecca Calappi

Rebecca Calappi

City News Editor

To share your news, announcements, and events, please email citynewseditor@localbiznews.net