Friends,

I did it! I ran my first 5k race. I went into it thinking I wasn’t going to make it, that I was going to let myself down. But, you know what? It was great.

I ran my personal best time. I finished in the upper half of my age group. I got a medal. I didn’t do as well as the pace runner who was pregnant and finished a 10k five minutes behind me. And I certainly didn’t run as well as the lady who didn’t even break a sweat when she was passing me.

But for someone who never thought to run a race, but here am. And I have to say, I’m pretty proud.

Next on my list is the Kona Chocolate 5k in November.

Rebecca

Pesha Named New Ferndale Fire Chief

Joseph Gacioch, city manager, announced that Fire Marshal Jack Pesha is the new fire chief for Ferndale.

Pesha is a 19-year veteran of the Ferndale Fire Department, serving as firefighter/paramedic, fire marshal, and most recently as the department’s interim fire chief. Pesha held the interim role since April, following the retirement of longtime fire chief, Kevin Sullivan.

The announcement comes after a thorough and rigorous national recruitment effort—typical of executive leadership positions within the city. After interviewing the top candidates identified in the national search, the panel unanimously agreed that Pesha was the best individual to assume the department’s top leadership position.

As he moves into his new role, Pesha plans to continue the fire department’s recent focus on community engagement. “I’m looking forward to building on the relationships I’ve developed with citizens and business owners, continuing our investment in the safety of Ferndale’s special events, and finding new opportunities to work with and engage the community,” Pesha said. “I’m honored by the community’s trust, and thankful for this opportunity.”

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City Approves Partnership with Ring

At the Aug. 26 meeting, Ferndale City Council approved a partnership agreement between the Ferndale Police Department and Ring—a technology solutions company that aims to reduce crime in neighborhoods and make communities safer. Residents and law enforcement agencies use Ring’s ‘Neighbors’ app to share and access hyper-local crime and safety information in real time—a neighborhood watch for the digital age.

The ‘Neighbors’ app—available on iOs and Android—is free for police departments and the public.

The app allows residents to:

• Share and comment on real-time crime and safety events in neighborhoods
• Post information relating to critical incidents to keep Ring Neighbors informed about issues in the neighborhood
• Assist police department operations and investigations by sharing information and video from home security cameras

While residents using the ‘Neighbors’ app have the opportunity to share video with the police department, it’s completely voluntary and police cannot view or access video without an owner’s approval.

Visit the FAQ page for more information about how the program works, or for questions or additional information, contact Detective Matt Goebel at 248-546-2387.

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.

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.

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.

Friends,

Where did the summer go? It seems like forever ago that I picked my kids up from their last day of school, but at the same time, I’m pretty sure it was just last week that I packed my last lunchbox.

I’m on the fence about back-to-school. I miss my alone time and being able to work uninterrupted. I do not miss the morning routine, folders, papers, cold, germs and everything else that comes with a new school year. Buying school supplies, a first-day outfit and shoes, meeting new friends and catching up with the friends we didn’t see over the summer is fun for me, though. So, I’m torn.

Whatever your back-to-school feelings are, I hope you have a great kick-off to fall. And if you could, please head over to the City News Facebook page and give us a like.

Rebecca

Adult Open Gym

Drop-in basketball is offered Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. between mid-September and mid-May at the Kulick Center for adults ages 18 and over. The fee is $4 per visit or purchase a visit pass for a discount of five visits for $10. Learn more about the city’s Kulick Community Center.

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

Skatepark Opens Sept. 14

Get out your skate boards and shine up your skates, the new Ferndale Skate Park opens Sept. 14. Join the fun for a ribbon cutting ceremony, skateboarding contests, bounce house, giveaways, live music and more.

Contests will include skateboards and bikes. To participate, you must be at the skate park and registered by 11:30 a.m.

Now Accepting Applications for Temporary Mayoral Appointment

With Dave Coulter’s resignation as mayor following his appointment as Oakland County Executive, Ferndale City Council will now consider applicants to fill his vacancy.

The designated appointee will serve as Ferndale’s mayor through the end of the year—which coincides with the end of Coulter’s term—after which the candidate elected in the Nov. 5 election will assume the position and begin a new two-year term.

To be considered for this temporary mayoral appointment, complete the digital application. Resumes and/or letters of intent are also encouraged and can be sent directly to now through Sept. 3 at 4 p.m.

City Council will review the applications and is expected to make an appointment recommendation at their regular Sept. 9 meeting.

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

Funky Ferndale Art Fair Coming Sept. 20

If you’re in the market for original pieces of art, save the date for the Funky Ferndale Art Fair on Sept. 20-22. 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.

Bakers Needed

Calling all bakers for The Great Ferndale Cake Off: Season 2 (2019 Member Appreciation). Admission is open to all current Friends of the Ferndale Library members. Click here to submit as a baker.

If you are not a current member, you can sign up right now or join the Friends on the day of the event, which is Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. Baking contestants have to sign up by Sept. 15.

Friends,

Less than three years ago, I quit my job in corporate communications and went headlong into freelancing. I called it, “my adventure.” Since then, I’ve been especially aware of taking risks and doing things that scare me.

Well, I’m heading into another adventure next month. I’m running my first 5k.

I’m not entirely sure how I got talked into this. I’ve never liked running. In fact, I’ve warned people that if you see me running, you should probably be running, too.

Yet, here I am in the middle of training week five.

I’m using a couch-to-5k app, and if we’re being honest, I still identify way more with the couch aspect than the 5k aspect. I’ve also developed an obsession with running clothes, updating my playlist and keeping my newly chopped hair out of my face without looking like a sweaty Medusa.

The struggle is real, y’all.

The event is Women Run the D on Sept. 15 on Belle Isle. I have no idea if I’ll keep up with running after the race, but I’m enjoying the challenge and proud of my accomplishment already. My goal is to finish in the top 500 in my age bracket. Keep your fingers crossed!

Rebecca

Coulter Name Oakland County Executive, Steps Down as Mayor

On Aug. 16, Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter accepted an appointment to serve as Oakland County executive. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners selected Coulter to fill the remaining term left vacant following former executive L. Brooks Patterson’s death on Aug. 3—an appointed position that will run through December 2020.

To serve as Oakland County executive, Coulter had to resign his mayoral position.

“Mayor Coulter has been a tremendous leader and friend of Ferndale for ten years,” said Joseph Gacioch, Ferndale city manager. “While we hate to lose him a few months earlier than planned, we have processes in place specifically for situations like this and we will lean on them, as well as the strong direction and leadership of our city council, to move forward successfully.”

Power Outage Planned for Aug. 22

Charge your phones, a schedule power outage is coming to Ferndale Thursday, Aug. 22. Some residents will experience a brief power outage as DTE works to transition electrical customers to their new substation infrastructure, located at Nine Mile and Hilton.

The transition is part of a planned infrastructure upgrade that will provide area residents with access to an upgraded electrical system and more reliable power.

During the transitions, power will be turned off for customers for up to three hours. Changeovers are being scheduled by area/neighborhood.

Two areas will be affected:

• The north side of Marshall Street on the south, the east side of Livernois Street on the west, the south side of Leroy Street on the north, and the west side of Woodward Avenue on the east. Work is scheduled to begin in this area at approximately 9:30 a.m. The interruption could last as long as three hours.
• The north side of Leroy Street on the south, the west side of Allen Street on the west, the north side of W. Troy Street on the north, and the west side of Woodward Avenue on the east. Work is scheduled to begin in this entire second area at approximately 1:30 p.m. The interruption could last as long as three hours.

DTE reports that all affected electrical customers have received direct communication from the utility company about this planned work. If you have not received this communication, or if you have additional questions, please contact the Community and Economic Development Department at 248-546-2363

Skate Park Opening Scheduled for Sept. 14

Join the fun for the official skatepark grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, skateboarding contests, bounce house, giveaways, live music and more.

Contests will include skateboards and bikes. To participate, you must be at the skatepark and registered by 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14. The events runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ferndale Schools Receives Recognition

Ferndale Schools was recognized as being an Equity Innovator by the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center.

According to the Great Lakes Equity Center, “Congratulations! Your district’s innovative work with the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center), a project of Great Lakes Equity Center, was rigorously evaluated and deemed the most noteworthy example of the pursuit of educational equity by an education agency for the 2018-2019 school year. Selected from several applicants, we are pleased to inform you that Ferndale Public Schools is the recipient of the Equity Innovator Recognition.”

The district equity efforts will be showcased at the Equity Innovator Recognition Ceremony in September. At the Equity Innovator Recognition Ceremony, FPS will be honored for dedication and commitment to students in ensuring all students access to and participation in safe, inclusive, high-quality education regardless of and responsive to race, sex, national origin and religion.