Marijuana Engagement and Outreach

On November 6, 2018, Michigan voters approved Proposal 1, creating the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act. This proposal to legalize adult-use (recreational) marijuana was approved by Royal Oak voters by a wide margin of 69 percent to 31 percent. Michigan law allows communities to permit, ban or place restrictions on marijuana-related businesses. The Royal Oak city commission is currently taking steps to study and evaluate allowing marijuana growers, safety compliance facilities, processors, microbusinesses and retailers in Royal Oak. A brief description of the types of marijuana-related facilities can be found here. While researching this issue, the city’s goal is to provide information and receive as much feedback as possible from its residents. Royal Oak asked residents to submit their questions on legalized marijuana. Here’s what you wanted to know.

New Police Station Construction Begins

The construction of Royal Oak’s new police station is slated to break ground this spring. The P11 parking lot (east of the farmers market) is slated to close on Wednesday, March 27 to make way for it. During construction, the farmers market will remain open. Parking will be challenging until the new 11 Mile Road parking deck is opened in June. In the meantime, there will be:

• Free valet parking on Saturday for the Farmers Market.
• Large strolling shopping baskets for customers to store while they pull their car around, and volunteers to help customers with curbside loading and unloading.
• Free parking for Market patrons at Superior Fish (40 spaces) during Market hours on Saturday.
• 23 new on-street parking spaces on Third Street east of Troy.
• 20 spaces and additional handicap spaces in the P4 lot, between the library and the police station.
• Spaces near the 44th District Court, which were previously marked for court staff only, are now available for public use on Saturdays and Sundays. Please read signs carefully as there remain more than a dozen spaces near the court for a private medical practice. These private spaces are not available during market hours.

You can review the site plans and learn more about the police station project at rethinkro.com.

We’d love to know what you think! After you read this week’s City News, please take a moment to answer some quick questions that you will find at the bottom of this page.

Be a Know-It-All For a Cause

Support the Royal Oak Elks’ Blessings in a Backpack effort and dazzle your friends with your trivia talents at Trivia Night to on Friday, April 12, from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Royal Oak Elks at 2401 E. Fourth Street. There will be a cash prize for first place, a 50/50 auction, a silent auction and a cash bar. Tickets are $30 or $275 for a table of 10, and include entry, snacks and pizza. They are available at blessingsinabackpackmi.org/events.

Calling All Artists!

The Royal Oak Commission for the Arts is excited to announce another round of the popular Art Explored program. The 2019-2020 Royal Oak Commission for the Arts’ Art Explored program is now accepting applications for work to be included in a temporary display of public art in downtown Royal Oak. For more information please refer to the official call for artists. The application deadline is May 1, 2019.

If you are an artist, non-profit or public school looking for grant information, you may also be interested in their listing of arts and culture grant opportunities

Senior Day at the Zoo

Senior citizens who live in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are invited to enjoy a special free day at the Detroit Zoo. Senior Day features live music, tractor train tours, bingo, zookeeper talks and a senior resource area. Tri-county seniors age 62 and older and a caregiver will receive free admission and parking on Saturday, April 24, from 10 am to 3 pm. For more information, visit Detroit Zoo.

The Phillipines – Islands of Endemics

The Philippines are a birders paradise. This country is made up of isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean near Asia, providing a perfect spot for isolated bird species to evolve. Boasting 7107 islands, the Philippines can also boast of having 657 species, of which 214 are endemic. Join Don Burlett, president of Oakland Audubon, as he leads our visit seven of these islands in a quest to see many of the islands’ birds. We’ll also enjoy the landscape, history and culture of these islands. “The Philippines – Islands of Endemics” will be Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 pm at the Royal Oak Middle School. There is no pre-registration or cost for this program.

Work has already begun on the water main rehabilitation. The city has authorized the use of Maudlin Park for staging materials. Beginning Tuesday March 12, the current lane closures between Woodward Avenue and Cooper Avenue were extended to Coolidge Highway. One lane will be open in each direction for travel, and left turns will be prohibited to help with traffic flow and reduce back-ups.

The city’s contractor plans to begin setting up their staging area at Upton Park and delivering materials to the site this week. Construction on the city’s water main is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of March 18. There will be no interruption in garbage and recycling pick up.

You can visit www.romi.gov/currentprojects to view the 2019 project map, find copies of mailed construction notices, and read about the city’s various construction projects.

Boeing Boeing at Stagecrafters

A hilarious, fast-paced farce, “Boeing Boeing” is about Bernard, a happy bachelor who has carefully arranged his life so that his three stewardess fiancées don’t land on his doorstep at the same time. Everything is fine until Boeing develops a faster jet, wreaking havoc on Bernard’s schedule. When all three girlfriends land at the same time for a visit, Bernard flies into a full-blown panic. With help from his bewildered friend Bob and skeptical housekeeper Berthe, Bernard scrambles to keep his fiancées from meeting each other. Filled with dizzying twists and turns and door-slamming entrances and exits, Boeing Boeing is a classic bedroom farce that’s sure to be a load of laughs. Performances will be March 22-24, 28-31, April 4-7. Tickets are available at stagecrafters.org.

Apply for Spirit of Main Street Micro Business Grant

Sixteen Main Street Oakland County downtowns, including Royal Oak, have until April 30 to apply for up to $2,500 in grant money to support the attraction, retention and growth of small businesses in their downtowns.

The grants, called the Spirit of Main Street Micro Business Grants, are the result of a partnership between Main Street Oakland County and Genisys Credit Union. To be eligible, activities must support the creation, relocation or expansion of a micro business and may include location renovations and preparation, signage, and marketing materials and efforts. In 2018, the recipients included Royal Oak’s Motor City Gas.

“Genisys Credit Union is always looking at ways to help improve the communities we serve,” said Genisys President and CEO Jackie Buchanan. “This is why we are excited to partner with Main Street Oakland County on the Spirit of Main Street Micro Business Grants. These grants help attract and retain small businesses and in turn, build stronger local economies and communities.”

Under the terms of the grant, a minimum dollar-for-dollar match must be provided by the applicant. For more information and to find application forms, go to MainStreetOaklandCounty.com, and click on the “Services & Trainings” tab. A second round of funding is planned for August.

Main Street Oakland County is comprised of Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Clarkston, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Township, Hazel Park, Highland Township, Holly, Holly Township, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Leonard, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Royal Oak, South Lyon and Wixom.

Friends Annual Book Sale

You can never have too many books! Right? So, visit the library for the Friends Annual Book Sale, which is sponsored by the Friends of ROPL to raise funds for library programs. Thousands of gently used and new books and DVDs for all age groups will be on sale.

 The Friends Member Preview Night kicks off the sale on Thursday, March 7, from 5 to 8 pm. Membership may be purchased at the door. Regular sale hours are Friday, March 8, 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday, March 9, 10 am to 3 pm; and Sunday, March 10, 1 to 4 pm. For more information or to volunteer, call 248.246.3700.

Sondheim on Sondheim

Part musical revue, part documentary, Sondheim on Sondheim gives us an intimate portrait of famed songwriter Stephen Sondheim in his own words and music. Through archival video footage interwoven with live musical performances by a talented cast of eight, audiences get insight into the man behind the genius. Featuring an array of songs from his storied career, Sondheim on Sondheim is a moving, funny and fascinating look at the man and his art, an engaging and entertaining show for all lovers of musical theatre.

Tickets are available for the Stagecrafter performances through March 10 at the Baldwin Theater. Veterans and active military personnel and their immediate families are eligible for a buy one ticket, get one half price ticket discount on Thursday, March 7. Limit of six tickets. Some exclusions may apply.

Students (with a valid ID) are eligible for a half-price ticket discount for the Thursday, March 7 performance. Student discount tickets are available at the door the evening of the performance. Students must show their current student ID at the box office window (one ticket per student ID). Doors open at 7 pm.

Help First Responders Help You

When a person living alone calls 911 and is unable to open the door, firefighters must break through a door or a window causing costly damage to the person’s home and wasting valuable time. The Royal Oak Fire Department’s residential lockbox program is designed to get quick access to adults living in their own homes during medical emergencies — especially senior citizens. When you suffer a fall, stroke or heart attack, every second counts. The lockbox — which contains a key to your home — reduces the likelihood of property damage caused by first responders forcing entry into your home in response to an emergency call. The lockbox program is open to all Royal Oak residents who either live alone or are left alone on a regular basis and have a condition which may cause them to need immediate assistance due to being incapacitated or unconscious. This includes the elderly, physically handicapped or residents recovering from a major injury or surgery. For more information, go to romi.gov/1271/FAQ-Residential-Lockbox.

Wildlife Conservation Gala

Join the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) for an extraordinary evening as they celebrate their third annual Wildlife Conservation Gala, presented by Ford Motor Company, on Saturday, March 16, from 6 to 9:30 pm. Themed “Saving Birds Around the World,” the event will celebrate the DZS’s global wildlife conservation efforts.

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a sit-down dinner in the Detroit Zoo’s iconic Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, a brief presentation on the DZS’s expansive work in bird conservation, as well as the presentation of the 2019 Nautilus Award. This award is given to an individual whose efforts have made a profound impact on the future of wildlife and embodies the DZS’s mission of Celebrating and Saving Wildlife. The evening will also feature a raffle with the chance to win “zoonique” prizes.

Presentations will include fascinating stories about current fieldwork with penguins in the Falkland Islands and Antarctica, as well as reports on long-term preservation efforts in the Great Lakes region with piping plovers and other species.

In 2018, the DZS was recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the work of Tom Schneider, DZS curator of birds, who has spent nearly two decades leading the captive-rearing component of the federal recovery plan for Great Lakes piping plovers.

The DZS’s wildlife conservation efforts are making an impact around the world. In the last few years alone, the DZS had led and/or supported field conservation programs on six continents. These programs include rescuing and rehabilitating imperiled gorilla populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, assessing populations of Eurasian otters in Armenia, rearing and releasing nearly extinct toads in the U.S. and abroad, and many more.

This is a 21-and-older event. Cocktail attire. All proceeds benefit the Detroit Zoological Society’s wildlife conservation programs.

Tickets $250 and up.

Cops and Doughnuts

Got questions about crime or crime prevention in Royal Oak? Whether it’s something you’ve wondered about forever or a sudden curiosity, this is your chance to ask.

Submit your questions to: surveymonkey.com/r/TRFVKLY and a panel of personnel from the police department and 44th district court will use your questions to develop a series of topics to discuss at the Crime Prevention Council’s annual Cops & Doughnuts on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30 pm at the Churchill Community Education Center. Cops & Doughnuts provides residents with an opportunity to discuss crime trends, safe neighborhood initiatives and whatever topics are submitted in the survey. And, just to sweeten the pot – FREE doughnuts will be provided courtesy of State Rep Jim Ellison.

Special Meeting on Legalization of Marijuana

Michigan law allows communities to permit, ban or place restrictions on marijuana-related businesses. The city commission is currently taking several steps to study and evaluate allowing marijuana growers, safety compliance facilities, processors, microbusinesses and retailers in Royal Oak. While considering this issue, the city’s goal is to provide information and receive as much feedback as possible from residents. On Monday, March 4, from 6:30 to 9 pm, the City Commission will hold a special session to discuss this issue.

The agenda for the March 4 work session is:

• Overview of Marijuana Laws & Businesses – Craig Aronoff, Aronoff Law
• Marijuana Use in Public Places – Laura Bassett, Dickinson Wright
• Impact on Local Enforcement – Chief Corrigan O’Donohue, Royal Oak Police Department
• City Commission Q&A
• Public Comment

Residents will also be able to watch this work session on WROK Cable TV and on Facebook Live. The city invites residents to provide thoughts on the topic by clicking on surveymonkey.com/r/marijuana-web.

The Library Network Catalog App

You can do your book business wherever you are. The Library Network catalog app is now available for your mobile device. You can easily connect to library resources and your account from your phone or tablet. With the app you can:

• Access your account 
• Search the catalog
• Renew items
• Place holds
• Pay fines

For Apple iOS devices search in the App Store for TLN Library Catalog.
For Android devices search in the Google Play Store for TLNmobile.

Mo-Mo-Motown and 70s Soul with Sheila Landis

Sheila Landis utilizes her falsetto to good advantage as her bandmates perform hits from the soulful legacy of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. A side-tour to Philadelphia in the early 1970s introduced what came to be known as “Philly Soul”, with its smooth pop favorites by tight-knit vocal groups such as The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners that still ring sweet and true. Come out for a free feel-good concert with Sheila at the Royal Oak Public Library on Saturday, February 23, from 3 to 4:30 pm.

Oklahoma! Auditions

Celebrating its 75th year, Oklahoma! was the first collaboration of brilliant songwriters Rodgers & Hammerstein. This beloved play opens in the Oklahoma territory just after the turn of the century, when cowboys and farmers eked out a living on the Western frontier. When farm girl Laurey meets Curly, a handsome cowboy, sparks fly and a rocky road to romance begins. With lively dancing and buoyant melodies, Oklahoma! is a satisfying slice of Americana that’s fun to perform and sure to please. Stagecrafters will present Oklahoma! on May 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, June 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 2019. Possible add-on: June 6. Auditions will be March 9. Audition information.

Have a Voice in City Government

You can get involved in your hometown by volunteering to be a part of one of Royal Oak’s boards, committees or commissions. A list of the city’s boards and committees and a current list of vacancies are posted on the city’s website. There is currently one position open on the Parks, Recreation and Senior Citizens Advisory Board and there are two positions open on the Environmental Advisory Committee. If you are a Royal Oak resident and would like to apply to be on a board or committee, you can do so by filling out an application online or picking a paper application in the City Clerk’s Office. Learn more. Students are also encouraged to participate. The student application can be found at: Application for Student Representative on City Boards and Commissions