Small Business and SEO

Learn how customers find your business online and how to promote your business using search engine optimization and smart campaigns in Google Ads with speaker Erin Burns.

In this workshop, discussions will include best practices for:

• Improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results, on all devices
• Creating a free Google My Business listing
• Advertising your business on Google

The seminar is on Nov. 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Be sure to register for this event.

Lech Walesa, Former President of Poland, to Present Varner Vitality Lecture

Lech Wałęsa, the former president of Poland, will be this year’s Varner Vitality Lecture keynote speaker. He will speak about the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, his country’s struggles against Communism and also take questions from the audience through moderator Carol Cain, columnist for the Detroit Free Press and host of CBS-TV62’s television program Michigan Matters.

The Friday, Nov. 15 program will begin at 7 p.m. in Oakland University Founders Ballrooms A and B.

Click here to submit a question for the discussion.

Bring the Today Show to Downtown

How cool would it be to have the Today Show visit Downtown Rochester? Lend a hand in bringing the national program to Rochester by going online and explaining what you like about Main Street and why they should come here.

City Breaks Ground on Public Works Building

The city broke ground on a new Public Works facility building Nov. 4. Frank Rewold & Sons is working with Rochester to bring this project to completion.

Chamber of Commerce Hosts Holiday Expo

Begin the holidays at the Downtown Rochester Holiday Expo on Monday, November 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Park Hotel. Over 50 businesses will be showcasing products and services, just in time for the holidays. Attendees are encouraged to shop, discover holiday ideas and inspirations and explore all that the businesses have to offer. Register for this event here.

City Meetings Broadcast Live

Stay in the comfort of your own home and stills stay up to date on what’s happening in Rochester. You can watch live broadcasts and re-runs of city meetings on cable television and on the city’s website, rochestermi.org/webcasts. City Council, Planning Commission, and Downtown Development Authority meetings are broadcast live on Rochester TV channels (Channel 17 on Comcast and Channel 10 on WOW).

Festival of Trees

The Downtown Rochester Festival of Trees is a holiday spectacular unlike any other, featuring trees, wreaths, tablescapes, porchscapes and centerpieces designed and donated by the Metro Detroit community.

The Festival kicks off on Friday, Nov. 22, with the Cocktail Preview from 7 to 10 p.m.

The event will be open to the public on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy the amazing holiday decorations, kids craft station and more. All proceeds benefit The Big, Bright Light Show.

Do it for Daniel

Rochester Area Youth Assistance is hosting a conversation about suicide and presenting the documentary, “Do It for Daniel.”

This free event will be Monday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Rochester Community Schools Administration Center. Registration is required: raya-mi.eventbrite.com.The Nov. 5 ballot has a zero-tax increase building and site sinking fund proposal for Rochester Community Schools. The sinking fund would provide a sustainable mechanism to repair, replace and buy new facility and infrastructure items, enhance security, and upgrade technology throughout the district. Residents would invest directly in their school system by keeping tax dollars local.

Mastering the Art of Networking

Learning the Ins & Outs of Building Business Relationships

In business for yourself? Trying to climb the corporate ladder?

• Learn how to conduct “One on Ones” and why they are important
• Learn how to listen to other’s offerings and needs
• How to train others to look for your needs
• Why Know, Like & Trust are so important

This workshop consists of two, one-hour meetings with 15 to 20 people per session. You must attend the first meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6, to attend the second meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13. If you register for the first meeting, you are automatically registered for the second meeting.

Attend Mastering the Art of Networking on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 8:45 to 10 a.m. at Guardian Angel Cemetery, 4701 Rochester Rd, Rochester.

Register here.

Chief Financial Credit Union Featured

Local Business News featured Chief Financial Credit Union and how the hometown financial institution became part of the community. Read more.

Mount Avon Cemetery Fall Clean-Up Begins Nov. 1

Citizens who have loved ones at Mount Avon Cemetery, it’s time for fall clean up. All personal items must be removed from the cemetery by Friday, Nov. 1, including pots, shepherd hooks, personal items, etc. City staff will remove everything from spaces beginning Nov. 1. The city will not be responsible for lost items.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the fall clean up at Mount Avon Cemetery, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 248-733-3700.

For more information about Mount Avon Cemetery, please visit www.rochestermi.org/mtavon

Nov. 5 Ballot Has Sinking Fund Proposal

The Nov. 5 ballot has a zero-tax increase building and site sinking fund proposal for Rochester Community Schools. The sinking fund would provide a sustainable mechanism to repair, replace and buy new facility and infrastructure items, enhance security, and upgrade technology throughout the district. Residents would invest directly in their school system by keeping tax dollars local.

Friends,

We had a beautiful fall day this past Friday, so my kids and I played hooky and went to the cider mill.

The weather was perfect: cool temps, blue skies and the sun was warm on our backs. The apples were plentiful on the trees and the pumpkins were picture-perfect in the fields.

Going to the cider mill is so romanticized in my head. I always think about how cute I’ll look in flannel and boots; how adorable my kids will be running through the orchard; how wholesome we’ll be out in nature gathering our food. In reality, I look like an actual farmer (not the goal), the kids are running because they’re afraid of bees and our farm-to-table apples cost a whopping $26 for a half of a bushel. The doughnuts are even insanely expensive at nearly $9 a dozen.

But some aspects of the cider mill are priceless, such as convincing my kids we have to pick doughnuts off the trees because they’re best when fresh. They weren’t 100% persuaded, but they didn’t want to take any chances either, so they saved a produce bag just in case we rolled by any doughnut trees.

It’s always best to be prepared.

Rebecca

Dillman & Upton Gets Facelift

Visit the new Dillman & Upton showroom filled with refreshed ideas for every room in your home.

The grand re-opening is Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. Join the design staff and manufacturer reps for a drink, food and good cheer. State-of-the-art displays include products and cabinets for laundry rooms, mudrooms, kitchens, baths and more.

Family-owned and operated for almost 110 years, Dillman & Upton continues to be a major supplier of quality construction products and home renovation services located at 607 Woodward Street in Downtown Rochester. For more information call 248-651-9411 or visit www.dillmanupton.com.

Fleece and Thank You Breaks Record

It was an official record-breaking Fleece and Thank You event. As certified by Guinness World Records, 1,271 heroes made 2,016 blankets for hospitalized children on Saturday, Sept. 21. Rochester Community Schools and the entire greater Rochester community worked together to make this happen.

Sample Ballots Now Available

Sample ballots and absentee ballots are now available for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. If you already applied for an absentee ballot, you should have received your ballot by mail in early October.

Coffee Talk

Join the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce at the popular Coffee Talk event. Bring your two-minute elevator speech and a stack of business cards for speed networking over coffee.

Agenda:
8 -8:30 a.m. – Networking
8:30 a.m. – Program begins
10 a.m. –  Program ends

Register here for the Oct. 25 event.

I got my flu shot today. It came with a spiffy purple bandage with some weird design on it. I figured if I was going to take my kids to get their vaccination, I should lead by example.

It’s not going to help put their minds at ease, though. It will be a battle to get them in the car, out of the car, and then when it’s over and they’ve undoubtedly survived the ordeal, they’ll be mad at me for a while.

My conscience is clear.

However, if this year is anything like last year, I’m not sure who was more traumatized—them or me. They gave me a run for my money. When kids don’t want to do something, like get a shot, they suddenly become slippery, wet noodles with superhuman strength that can fit in any crevasse. I had no idea it was going to be so hard to get a 50-pound kid out of a Ford Fusion. By the time we got in the doctor’s office, we were all sweaty, some were crying, and no one was happy.

I guess this is part of the reason I run 5ks. Wish me luck.

Rebecca

Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Named 2020 Michigan Superintendent of the Year

 Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaner has been named the 2020 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators. The award was announced Monday, Oct. 7.

The Michigan Superintendent of the Year Award is presented by MASA to a member who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole.

Farmers Market Last Call

The farmers market will be wrapping up its season at the end of the month. Be sure to stop in and get fresh produce before the market closes for the season on Oct. 26.

Leaf Pick-Up Begins Week of Oct. 21

Beginning the week of Oct. 21, crews will be out picking up leaves at the curb. Grass clippings, pet waste, municipal waste and tree limbs are strictly prohibited.

Also, please do not park your vehicle on the piles of leaves in the street; this could potentially create favorable conditions for a fire under your car.

Curbside pickup will continue until Nov. 29 and is dependent upon weather and the rate the leaves fall. Visit http://rochestermi.org/508/Leaf-Collection for more information.

Student Group Wins National Award

Students at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Pediatric Interest Group were recognized as the group of the year by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The students were honored for their dedication to the community, fundraising and advocacy for pediatrics.

Hydrant Flushing Week of Oct. 14

The Water and Fire Departments will be performing the annual hydrant flushing during the week of Oct. 14. GLWA water users will have the hydrants in their area flushed on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Additional flushing may occur on Thursday, Oct. 17 on an as-needed basis.

Residential areas served by the municipal well will have their hydrants flushed on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Residents should avoid using water during the flushing period. After flushing activities are complete, your water may be temporarily discolored. If discoloration occurs, you may want to flush your own water service piping from a faucet or valve before the water enters your water softener, such as from an outside hose bib.

For additional information please contact the Department of Public Works at 248-651-5165 or email at DPW@rochestermi.org

Watch Out for Deer Crossing

As the weather changes deer are moving more, increasing drivers’ chances of having a deer-related accident. Deer are more active at dusk and dawn, but the animals can appear at any time. Please drive with caution.

The most serious crashes occur when motorists swerve to avoid a deer and hit another car. The state police recommend braking firmly, holding on to the wheel and bringing the vehicle to a complete stop.

Deer are herd animals and typically travel single-file. If you see one deer crossing, there’s a good chance there is a group of them.

Click here for more information from the Oakland Press.

Trick-or-Treat Rochester

Watch the streets of Rochester come to life with ghosts, ghouls, superheroes and more as children trick-or treat with the downtown merchants. Children can then meet at the corner of East Street and E. University for a costume parade at 5:15 p.m., followed by a Halloween Fest in the Farmers’ Market Lot. Trick-or-treating begins at 3:30 p.m.

If you get hungry for something not so sugary, stop by the firehouse from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Third and Water for a kids craft and a Spaghetti Dinner benefiting Rochester Area Youth Assistance.

For more information, visit www.downtownrochestermi.com/trick-or-treat-downtown

Officer Paves Way with Doughnut Love

Stoney Creek School Officer Drehmer was surrounded by her fan club at Rochester Estates Mobile Home Park Friday, Oct. 4. She had just dropped off Yates Cider Mill donuts. Believe it or not there wasn’t even one left for her. She loves those kids.