Meet the Women of the Royal Oak Police Department

Interested in law enforcement? Come meet the female officers of the Royal Oak Police Department and discover the personal rewards of a law enforcement career on Wednesday, February 27 at 6 pm at the Royal Oak Police Station.  Young women, ages 16 and up, who are interested in a law enforcement career are invited to hear ROPD’s female officers provide insight and answer questions on:

• Recruit training
• Work-life balance
• The personal rewards of being a Royal Oak police officer
• Opportunities within the police department

The event is free and light refreshments will be provided.

“Our female officers have varied backgrounds. Their contributions and skills bring something unique and valuable to our department,” said Chief Corrigan O’Donohue. “This is a fantastic opportunity for young women looking for a challenging and rewarding career to spend time with and ask questions of our officers.”

For more information contact Sgt. Renaud at Karlyw@romi.gov. RSVP here.

Jubilate Deo

In a special symphonic and choral performance, “Jubilate Deo” will bring to life the global aspect of the traditional Psalm 100 text, “O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands.” By setting it in seven different languages and drawing from a wide spectrum of musical influences, each movement combines some characteristics of its language-group’s musical culture with the composer’s own musical language. The Earth sings as one in Liturgical Latin, Hebrew & Arabic intertwined, Mandarin Chinese, Zulu with African drums, and Spanish.

On Friday, March 15, at 8 pm, The Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra with John McLaughlin Williams directing and the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale with Pasquale Pascaretti directing will present “The Consecration of the House” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “Jubilate Deo” by Dan Forrest at the Seaholm Wagner Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (60+) and college students, and free for 18 and under. They are available at the concert or on-line at The Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra.

Discounted Tickets Through the Library

Get discounted tickets for the Harlem Globetrotters and Paw Patrol Live by using the Royal Oak Library promo code ROYALOAK at 313Presents.com/RoyalOakPublicLibrary. The Harlem Globetrotters will be playing Saturday, March 2 at 2 pm at Little Caesars Arena. Discounted prices are $48.50|$38.50|$28.50|$21.50 Paw Patrol Live is February 28 through March 3 at the Fox Theatre.  Discounted prices are $54.00|$44.00|$34.00|$26.00|$19.00.

Fun for the Family

Load the family in the car and set your GPS to the Royal Oak Farmers Market on March 9 to hear the “Bestest Concert Ever” from 5 to 8 pm, with performances by Bill Grogans Goat, Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits, The Burros, Motor City Irish Dance, and Detroit Youth Volume. In addition to the concert, enjoy activities such as animal fun with Dan the Creature Man, red carpet photos, a crazy hair salon, face painting, cupcake decorating and a silent auction. Mac Shack, Mean Weenie and The Little Donut Factory will be on site as well as Dark Horse Brewery for food and drink. And, new this year is the famous Upside-Down Van. All the profits for the evening go to the Royal Oak Optimist Club. Tickets are $5.00 per person, children under 3 free. Advance tickets are available at royaloakoptimists.org. For more information, call 248.246.3276 or email Paula Messner at actingoutkids@yahoo.com.

Celebrate Royal Oak

The Royal Oak Schools foundation provides funding to support special school initiatives. You can help by eating, drinking and making merry at Celebrate Royal Oak, an extravaganza of food, beer and wine, which will be at the Mirepoix cooking school above the Royal Oak Holiday Market on Friday, February 8, from 7 to 10 pm. The event features wine and beer selections from Holiday Market, a walking buffet of fine foods and desserts, and a charity raffle. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at royaloakschoolsfoundation.org.

Coffee House Fundraiser for Starr Warming Center

Hazzan Steve Klaper will lead an evening of music, food and fun on Saturday, February 9, from 7 to 10 pm to support the warming center at Starr Presbyterian Church. The coffee house will be at the Starr Presbyterian building on the SW corner of 13 Mile and Crooks. Klaper, one of the leaders of the Song and Spirit Institute for Peace is a Jewish troubadour, ordained cantor, and a maggid, which is a spiritual storyteller and preacher. He draws on his Orthodox Jewish roots and over 40 years as a professional musician, to share mystical chants and melodies, sacred tales and wisdom from a variety of traditions and to entertain folks of all backgrounds.

Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Potholes

Where do potholes come from?

Potholes develop when snow or rain seep into the soil below the road surface.  When the temperature drops, the water freezes, expanding and pushing the pavement up.  When the weather changes and temperatures rise, the soil returns to normal levels, but the pavement often remains raised, creating a gap between the street and soil beneath.  When vehicles drive over those gaps, the pavement cracks and falls into the hollow space, creating another pothole.

Why hasn’t the pothole on your street gotten filled yet?

Rather than crisscrossing the city responding to individual complaints, Royal Oak’s Department of Public Service crews systematically work their way down streets filling every pothole. This approach is a more efficient use of staff and equipment.  However, if a pothole is very large or if the location is determined by the police department to require immediate attention, they may respond immediately.

How can you report a pothole?
The best way to report a pothole is to use the city’s online Report a Concern form. Reports are forwarded to the DPS, a work order is created, and barring any other weather events, the repair is made within 24 hours.

Aging in Place Task Force

When you’re older, it can be nice to move someplace with more support. But for many it’s a greater comfort to stay in their homes. The Senior Services Aging in Place Task Force works to help meet their needs. They will meet on Thursday, January 31, from 6 to 8 pm at the Leo Mahany / Harold Meininger Senior Community Center.

Royal Oak is Recycling Everywhere

Re-use, re-use, re-use is the theme at the Farmers Market where you will find a bin for collecting plastic bags and also one for collecting egg cartons. Patrons and vendors alike are taking advantage to re-use the bags and cartons rather than sending them to the landfill.

The public library has added a plastic bag recycling collection bin and used battery bucket in the south vestibule. Clean plastic bags, including zip lock bags and heavy plastic handled bags can be recycled, but please remove the zipper portion from the top of the zip lock bags.

Drop in for a Card Game

Drop in for company and cards at the senior center. A different game each day:

Rubber Bridge – Mondays at 12:15 pm – Drop in with a partner to play or come early if you have no partner, they will try to pair. Cost $1.

Pinochle – Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. Drop in for pinochle and meet new friends. Cost $1.

Duplicate Bridge – Wednesday at 12:30 pm – Drop in with a partner to play. For more information visit roduplicatebridge.org. Cost $2.

Euchre – Thursdays at 12:30 pm – Drop in to join experienced players who like to play Euchre. Play 8 rounds of cards. Cost $1.

Call 248.246.3900 for more information.

Friends of Fungi

They’re not plants, but they grow all over. Fungi, the plural of fungus, include yeasts, molds and mushrooms. The study of fungi is called mycology.  If you want to know more about these fascinating organisms, then The Friends of Fungi Mycology Club is the place for you. Their next meeting is Wednesday, February 13, at 7 pm at the Royal Oak Senior Center. There is no pre-registration or cost for this program. Everyone is welcome.

Snow Plow Tracker

You may have noticed that the weather last weekend was more like what we expect from a Michigan winter. But, was it a snow emergency? A snow emergency is anything over 4 inches. But if you want to be sure, call the Snow Emergency Hotline at 248.246.3442 24 hours. When a snow emergency is in effect, you must remove your vehicle from residential streets, or it will be ticketed and/or towed. Keep your vehicle off the streets until plow trucks have gone through the area. Once a snow emergency is called and plowing begins, it takes 24 – 36 hours to plow all the city streets. You can get more information and see the plowing progress by checking the snow emergency tracker. Located on Royal Oak’s charming Main Street, Hyatt Place Detroit / Royal Oak is just steps away from Stagecrafters, Royal Oak Music Theatre, and Emagine. Join the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting for the new Hyatt Place on Thursday, January 17, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Still Have your Christmas Tree?

If you’re still vacuuming up pine needles, you may want to take that Christmas tree to one of Oakland County Parks recycling site. The recycling program ends January 27, so don’t wait. The following 11 Oakland County Parks take Christmas trees for recycling 9 am to 4 pm, seven days a week through January 27:

• Addison Oaks County Park, north of Rochester
• Catalpa Oaks County Park, Southfield
• Glen Oaks Golf Course, Farmington Hills
• Groveland Oaks County Park, near Holly
• Independence Oaks County Park, near Clarkston
• Lyon Oaks County Park, Lyon Township
• Oakland County Farmers Market, Waterford
• Orion Oaks County Park, Orion Township
• Red Oaks Golf Course, Madison Heights
• Springfield Oaks County Park, Davisburg
• White Lake Oaks Golf Course, near Waterford

There is no charge to drop off trees, but all plastic, tinsel and wire must be removed. No commercial trees are accepted.

Helping our Furry Friends

The Royal Oak Animal Shelter works to provide a haven for lost animals or animals given up by their owners, to reunite lost animals with their human companions, and to provide the best possible adoptions of available animals into the homes best suited to their personalities. The Animal Shelter Committee will meet on Thursday, January 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Police Conference Room.

Get Outside and Get Involved!

The Royal Oak Nature Society is a non-profit volunteer organization established to protect, promote, maintain and improve Royal Oak’s two nature parks, Tenhave Woods and Cummingston Park.  They are also in the process of developing the Royal Oak Arboretum, behind the Royal Oak Senior/Community Center. They have a number of great opportunities to get involved.

Patrolling the parks:

This is a good activity for families/friends to do together. It entails:

• Cleaning up litter
• Walking the trails and reporting obstacles blocking them
• Walking along the Tenhave fence line to report fence breaches or gaps under it

Participating in park maintenance projects:

Volunteers must be high school age or older.  This is a good choice for community service. Volunteers help by:

• Assisting in the battle to remove invasive species
• Maintaining a path inside part of the Tenhave Woods fence line and repairing fence breaches
• Keeping trails clear of encroaching weeds
• Removing fallen trees and branches from the trails and fences
• Lining trails with logs

Email Michelle Watson for more information or to volunteer.

If you are interested in leading nature walks, email Bob Muller.

To lend your talents to the Nature Society’s fundraising, communications, stewardship, education or programming efforts, call 248.246.3380.

Welcome a New Business

Located on Royal Oak’s charming Main Street, Hyatt Place Detroit / Royal Oak is just steps away from Stagecrafters, Royal Oak Music Theatre, and Emagine. Join the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting for the new Hyatt Place on Thursday, January 17, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Grief Support Group

If you or someone you love needs a safe and supportive environment to express feelings and better understand the grief process, there is a grief support group at the Senior Center on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month at 10:30 a.m. This service is offered at no charge to anyone mourning the loss of a loved one. The group will be facilitated by Claudia Been, MA, Grief Support Manager at Hospice of Michigan, Oakland County, State of Michigan Licensed Counselor and Social Worker. There is no fee.

Royal Oak Food Truck Rally

Did you know that, at one time, so much rhubarb flowed through the Royal Oak Farmers Market, that Royal Oak was considered the rhubarb capital of the world? Well, there probably won’t be a whole lot of rhubarb, but there will be a great selection of other foods at the Food Truck Rally, so roll into the Royal Oak Farmers Market for free fun, great food and entertainment on Wednesday, January 9, from 5 to 9 p.m.

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Ready to Have “The Talk”?

Would you like to be free of the responsibilities of home ownership, have ample opportunity to socialize and enjoy some of the other benefits of senior living? If so, you may be ready for the talk. A representative from American House Senior Living Community Hazel Park will be presenting and leading a discussion on downsizing, veterans’ benefits and more at the senior center on Tuesday, February 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Program will include lunch. Register by January 31 by calling 248.246.3900.

Southern Comfort Auditions

Southern Comfort is based on the true story of Robert Ead, a transgender man with ovarian cancer, who lives in rural Georgia with his chosen family of transgender friends. Like all families, they have their struggles and sometimes fall short, but ultimately, they hang on with tenacity and hope, refusing to be sidelined by any obstacles. The folk and bluegrass-infused score celebrates the true meaning of family and being your authentic self.

Stagecrafters will hold auditions for their production on Sunday, January 27 and Monday, January 28. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. The production will include 11 performances in April and May. Get more information or register to audition.

A Day On, Not A Day Off

The MLK Jr. Service Day began in 2017 to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a ‘day on’ instead of ‘day off’ and inspire members of the community to get involved with local organizations past January and throughout the year.

The communities of Berkley and Royal Oak will honor the life Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the third annual Day of Service on Monday, January 21 at Royal Oak High School. The event will begin at 7:45 a.m. with a light breakfast, followed by inspirational performances from students. Admission is free with the donation of one or more of the following items:

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Feminine hygiene products
Socks (children and adult)
Deodorant
Toilet Paper
Playing Cards

After the morning program, at about 9 a.m., participants will have the opportunity to join various onsite and offsite volunteer activities. Onsite, participants will be able to help collect and sort items for area charities, and craft blankets for the Children’s Hospital. Offsite volunteer areas include Yad Ezra, The New Foster Care, Neighbors Building Redford, Brightmore and Cass Community Social Services. Sign up.

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If You’re Not a Polar Bear, Swim Indoors

It’s great weather for indoor swimming. Grab your cap and trunks and head over to Royal Oak Middle School or Royal Oak High School for open swim during the following winter open swim hours:

Royal Oak Middle School
Now through March 9
Monday evenings, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. for children and adults, 8:30 – 9:45 p.m. for adults only (lap lane)
Thursday evenings, from 8:45 – 10 p.m. for adults only (lap lane)

Royal Oak High School
January 12 – March 16
Saturday afternoons from noon – 1:00 p.m. for children and adults

Open swim is $5.00 for adults and children over 5. Ages 5 and under are free. Senior citizens (retired and ages 60 and up) are free with pass for city residents. Passes are available at the Continuing Education Office. Discount punch cards are available for $40 for 10 visits. Cards can be purchased at the pool during open swim.