Friends,

One of the best parts of being City News editor is I get to see all the good we humans do for each other around the holidays. From toy and canned food drives to charity events and volunteering opportunities, my heart is happy.

I’ve always loved the giving time of year and I’m trying to instill that spirit of generosity into my kids year-round. I had them help me donate to the Macomb Foster Closet, which gives foster kids two free wardrobes each year. I love this charity for several reasons. There’s no middle man. Our donations go from our trunk to their shelves. We are helping children in our area. And my kids are adopted. Luckily, they didn’t spend any time in foster care, but it’s a path many children have to take.

What are some of your favorite charities? Why? Let’s see if we can get a shout out to the ones that mean the most to us. Together, we can make an even more caring community.

Rebecca

Shop Offers Jewelry Made by Local Artisans

Elaine Jager, founder and owner of Elaine B. Jewelry in Ferndale, is an artist first and a jeweler second. The Charlottesville, Virginia, native trained in metal material studies and apprenticed with a master jeweler, but she was also a glassblower who worked part-time in her family’s restaurant business.

“I was always an artist,” Jager said. “Jewelry just became a way to make a living with my art.”

Read More…

Local Business News Presents VinoTalk with John Jonna

Increase your knowledge of Chianti (with or without fava beans) in the latest edition of VinoTalk with local wine expert John Jonna.

New Parking App in Downtown Ferndale

The new Park Ferndale App is here. Download it in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.  It is so easy to use, you will be wondering if you did it right.  Check it out!

Local Business News Presents VinoTalk with John Jonna

John Jonna has more than 30 years of professional expertise in the wine business. Check out what he has to say about Chianti (with or without fava beans) in the latest episode of Vino Talk.

Jonna, a member of the Detroit Wine Society who has also served on the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council board, has signed on to provide a recurring video broadcast, “VinoTalk on LBN,” to impart his wisdom not only about wines, but about food and other culinary issues.

Friends,

I blinked and missed November.

At my house, we’re in full-blown celebration mode. After Thanksgiving, we celebrated my dad’s birthday. Then my twins’ birthday is midmonth. My family Christmas party and my birthday sit back to back on the calendar. Christmas comes through like a freight train, and after a week of putting toys together and picking packaging out of the rug, we celebrate the New Year.

I’m pre-exhausted.

But this season, I’m doing a few things for myself. I signed up for a virtual race to run, walk or crawl at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m also determined to enjoy a cheesy or classic (I haven’t decided yet) movie without multi-tasking. And I have my heart set on finding a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas in a store. A story of mine is published in the book and I’d just like to see it somewhere.

What are your plans for the holidays? Email me at citynewseditor@localbiznews.net so I can pick up a few new ideas for my family.

Rebecca

Ferndale Recognized for Sustainability

Ferndale was recognized as part of the 2019 Michigan Green Communities Challenge for its commitment to sustainability projects. The city was one of 36 communities that received awards at the annual Michigan Sustainability Conference.

Ferndale was awarded a Silver Certification and recognized specifically for its full LED streetlight conversion, which is in process and is set to be complete by the end of 2019.

For more information, including a look at the other 35 communities to be awarded, visit the MGC website.

County Exec, Mayor Meet at Affirmations

Oakland County Executive David Coulter was joined Nov. 26 at Affirmations by Ferndale Mayor Daniel Martin, Mayor Pro Tem Greg Pawlica, and council members Dennis Whittie and Julia Music as he signed Resolution 19250, which will expand county policies to include employment protections for gender identity and expression, veteran status, familial status and marital status.

Friends,

Last week, I took my first mom-cation. I went to Seattle, and for the most part, traveled around by myself. I had a wonderful time. Beyond the sights I saw and the food, I met some interesting people—Tony the bartender at Rocco’s, Richie the shoe salesperson at Nordstrom, the fish-throwing guy at Pike’s Place.

One of the best things of my profession is how it has made me so curious about people. I’ll ask anyone anything. Usually, I can get some great insight, and at the very least a telling response to my questions.

It was great to get away, but now I’m back and in the throes of the holidays. Thanksgiving in a few days, then we launch into “birthday season” at my house, and of course Christmas.

Be sure to check out Local Business News for some great holiday shopping ideas while you’re looking through the Black Friday ads, too.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Rebecca

Ferndale Recognized for Inclusive Policies

For the second year in a row, Ferndale received a perfect score for inclusive policies by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute—one of four cities in Michigan to do so.

The two foundations developed the Municipal Equality Index, which ranks cities across the United States by examining how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are of the LGBTQ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services law enforcement, and the city leadership’s public position on equality.

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Visit a Hindu Temple

Take a guided one-hour tour of the Bharatiya Hindu Temple’s main worship area. The Temple was inaugurated in 1981. Since then, it has grown significantly in terms of activities, building expansion and size of the congregation. Following the tour, lunch is “on-your-own” at the Star of India Restaurant in Ferndale.

The tour is Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $4. Register now.

Holiday Showplace

Whether you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas or in the market for something crafty, come and check out the Holiday Showplace.

Ferndale Parks & Recreation will showcase vendors who specialize in handmade jewelry, art, home decor and so much more.

Bring your shopping lists on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kulick Community Center.

Inclusive Holiday Survey

A successful inclusive housing plan is shaped by the community it serves. Help the city shape Ferndale’s plan by taking the inclusive housing survey and share the link with friends and neighbors. The more feedback given, the more meaningful the results.

Ace High Pomade Moves to Ferndale

Local pomade makers Ace High announced last week, the company would be moving to a storefront on Woodward in Ferndale. While it won’t be a retail spot for the craft haircare product manufacturer, it will give the company space to expand.

VinoTalk

In this week’s Vino Talk, wine expert John Jonna talks about pinot noir. Just in time for your Thanksgiving table, you’ll have the best vintage to tantalize the taste buds of your guests.

Law and Order Night

On Friday, Nov. 8, seven City of Ferndale employees and volunteers were honored at the Ferndale Elks’ awards banquet. Law and Order Night, a longstanding Elks’ annual event, recognizes and thanks those individuals for their distinguished service to the City of Ferndale.

Check out the full list of winners and congratulations to this year’s honorees!

Holiday Showplace

Whether you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas or in the market for something crafty, come and check out the Holiday Showplace. Ferndale Parks and Recreation is showcasing vendors who specialize in handmade jewelry, art, home decor, and so much more!

The Holiday Showcase opens Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kulick Community Center. Stop by for some one-of-a-kind gifts.

Lead Levels in Water

In recent weeks, several neighboring or nearby Metro Detroit cities announced that water testing has revealed lead values that exceed the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)‘s Action Level. This led residents to inquire about the state of Ferndale’s municipal water supply.

In January of 2019, the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act announced new water sampling requirements to better detect possible lead in drinking water. These changes require all communities with lead service lines and older housing stock, including Ferndale, to do more sampling than was done in the past. Before 2019, water tests were required from five properties with lead service lines annually; the new requirement is 30. This new sampling method has resulted in higher lead results for some communities—not because the water source or quality has changed, but because of the stricter sampling procedures.

The results of Ferndale water testing shows:

• three properties out of 30 with lead levels elevated above EGLE’s Action Level (the Action Level is not a health-based standard, but rather a level that triggers the need for additional actions, such as increased sampling)
• 27 properties out of 30 with safe levels
• An average 90th percentile lead level—or an average of the three elevated levels—of 15.3 ppb/parts per billion

Click here for more information.

Ice Festival Hits Ferndale Dec 14

Ferndale’s traditional Holiday Ice Festival freezes downtown Dec. 14. The fun runs from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Schiffer Park. Come for plenty of traditional holiday activities for the whole family to enjoy including more than 50 ice sculptures, ice carving demonstrations, visits with Santa and hayrides around downtown.

For more information, email the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority at info@downtownferndale.com.

November is Vaping Awareness Month

Ferndale High School is partnering with The American Red Cross, on a “No Vaping” awareness initiative.

Buy a shirt or wristband through the school to raise awareness and money for the cause. Shirts are $10 and wristbands are $5. Purchase these items by contacting FHS Assistant Principal Shaun Butler at shaun.butler@ferndaleschools.org to arrange purchase and pick-up or delivery if you cannot get to the school.

Holiday Showplace

Whether you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas or in the market for something crafty, come and check out the Holiday Showplace on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerry Kulick Community Center.

Ferndale Parks and Recreation will showcase vendors who specialize in handmade jewelry, art, home decor and so much more.

Interested in being a vendor at the show, submit an application.