Come On and Take a Free Ride! Skoop INC is Coming to Royal Oak This Summer

With free parking every Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting June 6 in all four downtown structures, and Skoop starting up, there’s no such thing as a bad parking spot in Royal Oak.

The private pedicab service, Skoop, will give free rides in downtown during the free parking promotion. Three pedicabs will operate in June on Thursdays from 5 to 11 p.m.; Fridays from 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. then 6 p.m. to midnight; and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Superheroes Invited to Walk for Miracles at Detroit Zoo

Superheroes of all ages are invited to Beaumont Children’s “Walk for Miracles” at the Detroit Zoo, Saturday, June 15.

On-site registration opens at 7:30 a.m. The walk starts at 8:15 a.m. All proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network programming at Beaumont Children’s.

Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero or fantasy character. Children will meet Super Beau, the Beaumont Children’s mascot bear, and other popular fairytale and comic book heroes. Each child will receive a superhero cape. Walkers will also have the opportunity to meet former Detroit Red Wing defenseman Jason Woolley.

Breakfast and refreshments are included with each walk registration.

Walkers must register for the event and make a minimum donation: $20 per adult and $5 per child, ages 3 to 14. Children 2 and under are free. Walk registration also includes same-day family admission to the Detroit Zoo. Additional fundraising is encouraged. Visit www.beaumont.org/walk-for-miracles to register in advance.

Business Leadership Training Available from Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center

Oakland County business owners interested in improving their leadership skills are encouraged to enroll in Oakland County “Business of Leadership” classes.

The Business of Leadership classes begin in August and are designed to address the special demands faced during the growth stage of a successful business. Effective leadership improves employee morale, customer satisfaction, product/service quality and profitability. As small businesses grow, more advanced leadership skills are required to manage progress and rapid change.

Classes are offered in two cohort models. The first is aimed at manager-level participants who supervise at least two people. This class meets once a week for six weeks, starting Aug. 9.

The second is for C-suite level employees, primarily CEOs and business owners. It starts Oct. 18 and runs for five weeks. A broad range of topics will be covered, including situational leadership, leading with personality style, leading with emotional intelligence, effective communication skills for managers, problem solving and making effective decisions.

The Business of Leadership courses are taught by One Stop Shop Business Center business counselors and Oakland County human resources professionals. Both the manager level and C-suite level cohort courses are limited to 20 people per class. The enrollment fee is $500, with a $100 discount available for early registrants if paid two weeks or more in advance. Classes are expected to fill quickly. Register at AdvantageOakland.EventBrite.com.

Mental Health Fair May 29 at Beaumont, Royal Oak

Beaumont Health and Easterseals Michigan are hosting a free mental health fair Wednesday, May 29, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The fair will take place in the South Tower lobby at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, 3601 W. Thirteen Mile Road. Free parking is available in the South Tower parking structure.

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoon May 17-18

The Detroit Zoological Society and Michigan Humane Society, in collaboration with more than 40 local animal welfare organizations, will co-host the spring 2019 Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo on Friday, May 17, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens will be available for immediate adoption to loving homes at one of the nation’s largest off-site companion animal adoption events.

City Launches “Thank You for Parking” Campaign

Royal Oak is partnering with local businesses to launch a ‘Thank You for Parking’ campaign to encourage visitors and residents to park in one of the nearly 2,000 available spaces in the three city-owned downtown parking garages.

Four downtown Royal Oak businesses joined in on the campaign, offering anything from free fries to 15 percent off a purchase for parking in a garage. The promotion is designed to raise awareness of the multitude of parking options throughout downtown Royal Oak. Each week of May, a different business will provide a discount or special.

Plan On Attending Free Document Shredding Events at the Oakland County Farmers Market

Free document shredding has been offered by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office since 2005 as a way to prevent identity theft. Oakland County Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with Sheriff Michael Bouchard, is pleased to expand this important service for Oakland County residents. In May, the sheriffs will be in the market parking lot on Friday, May 10, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Royal Oak Schools Recognized as “Green”

This month, all elementary schools, Royal Oak Middle School and Royal Oak High School were recognized by Michigan Green Schools for the 2018-2019 school year as a “Green School.” To be awarded this status, schools participated in at least 10 specific activities established by the organization. Jennifer Van Every, fifth-grade teacher, is the Green Schools coordinator for Upton Elementary and oversees Eco Club at the school. She said the students enjoy making a difference at the school with their green efforts. “As a Green School, our students get the opportunity to participate and champion efforts in their community, school and hopefully at home too,” Van Every said. “The drive really comes from the students and their ideas to make our school a better place that lives in harmony with the planet.”

Pinky’s Rooftop Opens in Downtown Royal Oak

Pinky’s Rooftop restaurant, above Diamond’s Steak & Seafood in downtown Royal Oak, is now open.

With a vintage vibe, the rooftop location has dining and lounge seating with an outdoor garden.

Pinky’s occupies the space where Red Fox English Pub was when the steakhouse on the ground floor was Cantino Diablo’s.

Downtown Business Owner’s Meeting

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Save the date for the Downtown Business Owners’ meeting at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. On the agenda is a discussion about free parking in the garages in June. The DDA has approved a budget figure to provide up to eight days of free parking in the garages in June to celebrate the grand opening of the new 565-spot parking deck. The DDA wants to know whether business owners prefer the eight days be consecutive through one week (plus one day), or whether we should split up the days throughout the month (every Friday and Saturday in June is another option). There will be time for discussion and then a brief vote by those in attendance. Please RSVP.

Bar Louie Opens in Downtown Royal Oak

The popular national restaurant Bar Louie opened in Downtown Royal Oak, occupying the former Blackfinn space at 510 South Main Street. Chad Apap, manager, is excited to be part of the Royal Oak community.

“One of the reasons we chose Royal Oak is because we believe in the development going on in this town. We know that there are a lot of changes going on right now. We want to be a part of that development and grow with the community,” he said.

The college plans to bring a new culinary arts program to the campus. It currently offers the program at its Orchard Hills campus, and would move it to Royal Oak after construction is complete.

Preliminary plans for the new building project show it will include a large kitchen, dining room and gallery up to three stories tall with an open garden area at ground level. Faculty and administrative offices would be located on the third floor of the new structure and most of the second floor would be dedicated to a banquet area.

Royal Oak Named Tree City USA

Royal Oak was named a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Foundation in honor of the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management.

Last year, using funds from the community development block grant program, 688 trees were purchased and planted.

Royal Oak is one of only two municipalities in Michigan to have earned Tree City USA designation since the award’s inception in 1976.

Waddle With the Penguins at the Zoo

Celebrate World Penguin Day at the Detroit Zoo on Thursday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center. Guests can enjoy zookeeper talks and hands-on learning activities that will focus on the 18 species of penguins around the world and the risks they are facing.

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Dear Friends,

I’m honored to be the new editor of City News. Through City News I’m hoping to connect with each of you, to bring you closer to your community and maybe even tempt you to try something new.

Supporting local businesses is so important to a thriving community. Often, it’s the small business owners who support school functions, civic clubs and sponsor city events.

These entrepreneurs are critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It’s wonderful to support these folks and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating them through City News.

I’d like to know what bits of info interest you the most: Upcoming events? New businesses? A little of everything?

Reach out!
Rebecca Calappi
citynewseditor@localbiznews.net

Royal Oak Approves Sale of Parking Lot for OCC Expansion

Oakland Community College will pay Royal Oak $650,000 for a city-owned parking lot to expand its campus in the city. Royal Oak city commissioners approved the sale of the land near the college’s campus at Main Street and Lincoln Avenue.

OCC officials appeared before the City Commission back in December when they announced plans to expand their campus and buy a 55-space lot on the north side of the campus facing Main Street. OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano at the time said the college plans to build a new block-long building facing Main Street.

The college plans to bring a new culinary arts program to the campus. It currently offers the program at its Orchard Hills campus, and would move it to Royal Oak after construction is complete.

Preliminary plans for the new building project show it will include a large kitchen, dining room and gallery up to three stories tall with an open garden area at ground level. Faculty and administrative offices would be located on the third floor of the new structure and most of the second floor would be dedicated to a banquet area.

Sunset at the Zoo Promises a Roaring Good Time

The Detroit Zoological Society’s annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, June 7, from 7 to 11 p.m.

The “Asian Forest”-themed, 21-and-older gala is held rain or shine, and the Detroit Zoo closes at 1 p.m. that day in preparation for the festivities.

Sunset at the Zoo offers a strolling supper with tastes of signature dishes from 45 of the area’s finest restaurants as well as desserts and zoo-themed specialty drinks. The evening also includes live music, dancing under the stars, entertainment, live and silent auctions, and access to many of the Detroit Zoo’s award-winning animal habitats as the sun goes down.

This year’s event supports the major renovation and expansion of the tiger habitat.

Advance tickets for Sunset at the Zoo can be purchased online at detroitzoo.org/sunset.

Get Out in Nature

On Saturday, May 11, a “Pond Life” program begins at 2 p.m. at Tenhave Woods. Park at Lexington/Marais lot, go to the Lexington entrance and follow the Pond Life signs. Participants will sample the vernal pond for what is living in it, and peek inside viewing trays to examine what they find. Come and learn about the interesting aquatic wildlife of Dragonfly Pond. There is no preregistration or cost for this program.

Oakland County Farmers Market

Farmers market season is starting up, and the Oakland County Farmers Market is no exception.  Make your shopping list and head to 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. The hours are 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday through the end of April. Beginning May 2, the market will be open from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. For details, call 248-858-5495.

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