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

Park Improvement Begins at Sullivan Park

According to the city, the contractor will begin removing the existing playground equipment at Sullivan Park this month. New playground equipment and fall zone surface material will be installed.

Portions of the park will be closed during construction for safety purposes. The project should be complete with three weeks, depending upon the weather. The scope of the project will be limited to the park and is not expected to affect access to adjacent residential or commercial properties.

During construction, there may be intermittent parking restrictions to allow for construction equipment to gain access to the park. If needed, “No Parking – Tow Away Zone 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.” signs will be posted well in advance to allow for various construction operations. There will be no change in the trash pickup dates and the trash will be taken care of as usual during the construction operations unless otherwise notified by the city.

On-Street and Surface Lot Handicap Parking Free Through February

Parking for disabled people is free in many areas of Downtown Royal Oak through February 2020.

Free parking is offered at nearly two dozen recently added on-street handicap spots and all surface lots. (Normal parking rates apply at all city-owned parking structures.)

The locations of the on-street handicap parking spaces — located on Washington Ave., Center St. and Seventh St. — were selected to minimize the distance to the nearest ramp or dropped curb, and to provide a safe aisle adjacent to the parking space.

Check out the map for detailed locations.

Bucharest Grill Coming to Royal Oak

The famed Detroit restaurant, Bucharest Grill, is planning a new location outside the city limits right in Royal Oak. Set to open in Woodward Corners, the restaurant will offer carry-out only. The owner is hoping to open in the late spring.

Mammals of Tenhave

Ever wonder what creeps around Tenhave Woods? Dress warm and attend “Mammals of Tenhave” at Tenhave Woods on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. Park at the Lexington and Marais lot, and meet at the Lexington entrance. Participants will look for signs of the mammals that live in Tenhave Woods. There is no preregistration or cost.

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

Take a Peek Inside the New Police Department and City Hall

Take a look inside the new police department and city hall.

The basement of the police station is coming along. Plumbing and mechanical units are being installed. City Hall is further along with interior walls, windows, stairwells and more in place.

Both buildings are expected to open to the public in 2020.

FireSide Hearth and Home Featured

On a blustery winter night with the snow coming down, sitting in front of a fire is the perfect thing to do. A fireplace that’s well done sets a cozy ambiance in a home and turns an ordinary wall into a focal point.

“Are you looking for heat and efficiency or ambiance?” asks Daniel Crank, store director for FireSide Hearth & Home in Royal Oak. “What are you looking to get out of it? Are you looking to bring down your gas bill or zone heating?”

Read more of the article posted by Local Business News.

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

Coping with the Holidays

Claudia Been, MA, grief support manager at Hospice of Michigan, will lead a discussion on ways to cope with the holidays while honoring the memory of your loved one.

The holiday season can be a particularly bittersweet when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. The presentation is Friday, Dec. 20, at 10:30 a.m. It’s free to attendees but call 248-246-3900 to register by Dec. 13.

Age-Friendly Community Initiative

The Age-Friendly Royal Oak Initiative started gathering information about how to make Royal Oak more age-friendly. Residents of all ages are encouraged to take a survey to help collect information.

This survey focuses on aspects of our community that are important for the health and well-being of all residents. It also explores what might help residents age in place, or age in the community.

The findings will help show the strengths of Royal Oak and help identify opportunities for improvement.

Coffee Club

Have You Heard About the new Coffee Club? John Lindell Arena invites you to the new Coffee Club Skate for adults on Friday mornings from 10:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.

All levels welcome. This session includes a free 30-minute group lesson. Stay after the skate for coffee and donuts.

The Royal Oak Handbell Ensemble

The Royal Oak Handbell Ensemble returns on Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. to perform a variety of secular and sacred holiday music pieces. The ensemble showcases Schulmerich handbells with occasional use of hand chimes, percussion and other instruments.

Enjoy live music at the Royal Oak Public Library in the Friends Auditorium for these free performances, which run about 90 minutes.

‘Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams’ to Brighten Hospital Stays for Kids

Once again, Beaumont Children’s is asking for the community’s help. All you need is a flashlight.

“Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams” was created by the Beaumont Children’s Pediatric Family Advisory Council at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. This year, the event runs Dec. 1 – 25.

Beginning each night at 8 p.m., pediatric patients will shine flashlights from hospital windows and look for community members standing outside the hospital to shine the light back at them. It only takes a few minutes, but often means a great deal to young patients and their families.

Each night between Dec. 1 and 25, event participants will gather on the sidewalk near the Medical Office Building and across from the East entrance.

Everyone is encouraged to register online in advance. This will help promote a comfortable flow of people and traffic each night of the event.

Birds, Bugs & Blooms

The “Birds, Bugs & Blooms” speaker program is being held on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Oak Senior/Community Center (3500 Marais). Join photographer David Stimac for an evening exploring some of his favorite images made over the past two years in Michigan along with a few side trips, too. Highlights include winter waterfowl, spring warblers and lots of summer orchids and butterflies. There is no preregistration or cost.

Holiday Magic Marketplace 2019

The Holiday Magic Marketplace lights up the Royal Oak Farmers Market on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 9 p.m.

It’s an evening of fun for the entire family. Santa will arrive, there will be free entertainment as well as beverages. Get a start on your holiday shopping and decorations, too.

The Age-Friendly Community Initiative

The Age-Friendly Royal Oak Initiative is gathering information about how to make Royal Oak more age-friendly. The group now needs the input of residents of all ages.

The survey focuses on aspects of the community that are important for the health and well-being of all residents. It also explores what might help residents age in place, or age in the community.

Detroit Zoological Society Helps Give New Life to Old Electronics

Bring your tired TVs, your dusty DVD players and wretched radios from your teeming basements and the Detroit Zoological Society will help give them new life. The Detroit Zoo will collect old and obsolete electronics on America Recycles Day, Friday, Nov. 15.

Electronics can be dropped off for recycling from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the 10 Mile Road parking lot near the gazebo. The DZS will accept all electronics, including radios, printers, computers, televisions, VHS and DVD players and cell phones.

Cell phone production – and its reliance on an ore found in Africa called coltan – is damaging wild habitats and decimating populations of gorillas and other animals. A sustainability talk at the Great Apes of Harambee at 12:30 p.m. will offer guests a greater understanding of how recycling old cell phones can help animals in the wild.

Beaumont Health Recognized as a ‘Pioneer in Quality’ by the Joint Commission

Beaumont Health has been recognized by The Joint Commission as a 2019 Pioneers in Quality Solution Contributor in electronic clinical quality measures, also called eCQMs. Beaumont is just one of 12 hospitals and health systems to be named in The Joint Commission’s Pioneers in Quality: Proven Practices Collection 2019 for submitting a Proven Practice.

Beaumont’s Proven Practice helps inform Pioneers in Quality program activities and identify trends that help hospitals overcome eCQM and health IT barriers and challenges.

Public Advisory for Drinking Water Customers

The City of Royal Oak released a public advisory Oct. 27 for nearly 24,000 water customers after testing – which targeted known lead service line locations – found lead concentrations exceeding the Action Level established by the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. This advisory is meant to provide the steps the city will take moving forward, which include more testing and an extensive public education campaign.

How to Talk Politics

In an age of painful politics, how do we find what we have in common? Dr. Kevin Deegan-Krause, associate professor at Wayne State University, will discuss the rise in polarization in America’s political system and some practical steps that we as individual citizens can take to strengthen communication with those who see the world in a different way.

Contact Mick Howey at 248-246-3724 or michaelh@ropl.org for more information. Be sure to register for this event.