City Clerk Looking for Election Inspectors

If you would like to help with the next election, the city clerk is looking to hire election inspectors.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter in Michigan and a U.S. citizen. Election inspectors earn $12 per hour, which includes training and election day.

Elections are Nov. 5, 2019, March 10, 2020, Aug. 4, 2020 and Nov. 3, 2020. Return the application to the city clerk for consideration.

F45 Fitness Studio to Open First Metro Detroit Location

Backed by actor Mark Walhberg, fitness studio F45 Training is slated to open its first location in Metro Detroit within a year. Woodward Corners by Beaumont is going to be the home of the workout facility. A second location in Troy is on the docket to open as well.

New VInoTalk Online Now

Wine lovers, be sure to check out the new edition of Vino Talk with John Jonna. This episode features two favorites: pairing wine with cheese.

Get Educated on Recycling

Join an expert on Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. to learn recycling facts and myths. Participants will also hear

how to recycle more and recycle correctly. The burning question of what happens to recyclables after collection and why some things cannot be recycled will also be addressed. Join the fun as an expert from SOCRRA walks you through the earth-friendly process.

Click here to register.

Two New Ladder Trucks Head Into Service

The city announced the delivery of two new ladder trucks.

The new trucks are 2019 Sutphen SLR 75. It is 75 feet long and carries a large hydraulically lifted aerial ladder, which is attached to the back of the vehicle. The new trucks replace a 1997, and a 1998 Spencer, rear-mount, 65’ ladder truck.

“In addition to the longer aerial ladder, the new trucks carry 115 feet of ground ladders and provide us with additional reach over the older models,” Fire Chief Dave Roberts said. The new trucks also have a water pump with a rated delivery of 2,000 gallons per minute, exceeding the delivery rating of the older trucks of 1,500 gallons per minute.

Purchasing these trucks from Sutphen Corporation helps the Troy Fire Department standardize the fleet, an operating model that they have been working toward over the last several years. The addition of these two new vehicles means that five of six of the ladder trucks have been produced by Sutphen Corporation. The one remaining ladder truck is scheduled to be replaced within the next year or two with the Sutphen SLR75 model ladder truck. All have similar operations and maintenance.

Aerobatic Teams Fill the skies at OCIA Open House & Air Show

The Phillips 66 Aerostars will once again tear into the skies at 250 mph over the Oakland County International Airport Open House & Air Show in four Extra 300L aerobatic planes. They will join other aerial performers at the Sunday, Aug. 11.

Admission is free. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle.

The air show begins at 2 p.m.

Suicide Prevention Training Available

Suicide is a significant public health problem and is the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 34 in the United States and in Michigan. For each suicide death, family and close friends are at higher risk for suicide themselves. Many others are affected in a variety of ways, including those providing emergency care to the victims and those who may feel they failed to prevent the death.

The Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force has developed a plan to focus and coordinate suicide prevention efforts in Oakland County.

On Aug. 13 from 8 a.m. to noon, join safeTALK for a one-day training session for anyone aged 15 and older. The purpose of the training is to teach the verbal and non-verbal signals that someone is having thoughts of suicide as well as to connect those people to potentially life-saving resources.

For more information, contact Kat Polmear at 248-858-7171 or polmeark@oakgov.com.

Beaumont Hospital, Troy Earns National Recognition

Beaumont Health’s Troy hospital earned national recognition by U.S. News & World Report in the “America’s Best Hospitals” rankings. Beaumont, Troy is ranked No. 3 in Michigan and Metro Detroit.

Additionally, Beaumont, Troy is nationally ranked in four medical specialties based on objective measures for 2019-20:

Cardiology & Heart Surgery – #38
Diabetes & Endocrinology – #26
Ear, Nose & Throat – #46
Neurology & Neurosurgery – #46

Beaumont, Troy also earned “high-performing” rankings in six medical specialties: Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; Geriatrics; Nephrology; Orthopedics; Pulmonology and Urology.

MITroy – Putting City Hall Into Your Hands

The city rolled out a municipal Smart Phone App – MITroy. This new app will provide more proactive public engagement and a better connection to all of the services, resources and information Troy has to offer. Whether it is issue reporting, city news, event calendars, department directories, paying bills, or finding parks and facilities, this “whole” city app will house it all in one user-friendly app branded just for Troy.

MITroy App will interface with the city’s Service Request system, Cityworks, which will allow users to submit service requests such as code enforcement issues or pothole concerns, from a mobile device and receive status updates. MITroy App will also provide easy access to city department contacts, provide targeted information, and supply another way to receive details on important city events. Users will also be able to provide feedback to the city.

Residents can also sign up for CodeRed emergency notifications through the MITroy app. CodeRED is Troy’s public safety emergency alert system. Receive emergency notifications via mobile alert, email and/or phone by signing up today. CodeRED, a reverse 911 system, provides real-time safety information in a community emergency. From evacuation notices to severe weather alerts, CodeRED is Troy’s system for sharing time sensitive emergency alerts.

Sign up for the app on Google Play Store or iTunes – search for MITroy.  

Gov. Whitmer Announces Winners for 2019 Governor’s Service Awards

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission today announced the 43 winners of the 2019 Governor’s Service Awards. The winners are individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were selected for their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.

This year, two Troy citizens are being honored. Danielle Boyer and Amogh Gowda were named as Youth Volunteer of the Year.

Boyer, at the age of 18, has dedicated her volunteer efforts to educate students in Oakland County on disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, most notably the students of International Academy East in Troy. Her amazing efforts led to creating Benzene Buddies – a weekly after-school program with programming lessons and robotics field trips, as well as many other programs to engage her community. She also started a weekly newsletter and wrote at-home coding lesson plans for parents to allow them to be a part of the learning process. One of her most rewarding and notable accomplishments, however, has been Every Kid Gets A Robot – where she invented an educational robot that is affordable for children.

Gowda is dedicated to saving lives through organ donations. After hearing the experience of a teacher waiting for a kidney transplant, the teenager saw the impact that an organ donor could make. Amogh, 17, developed an innovative way to support education on the issue. He founded “Gift8Lives.org” – a campaign for various organ donation-related outreach activities within his community. He interviewed experts in the field and learned the best ways to strengthen his campaign. He also started the Gift8lives Club at Troy High School to educate his peers about the issue.

Upcoming Friday Frolic Cancelled

Friday Frolic for Aug. 9 is canceled because there are other events offered by local churches that will have an impact on attendance. Mark your calendars for the next Friday Frolic on Sept. 13.

For more information about the Troy adaptive recreation program, visit the city website.

Summer Concert Series a Great Way to Enjoy the Season

Dust off your dancing shoes and head to Boulan Park on Crooks Road between Big Beaver and Wattles Roads for some fabulous music on select Thursdays this summer. Stay after work, grab a bite to eat, and listen to music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and relax with friends as a variety of music fills the air. Food will be available from food trucks and Harold’s Italian Ice starting at 5:30 pm and there are plenty of picnic tables.

The Aug. 8 concert features Brushes with Broadway with Tom Butwin & Musical Guests.

Tom Butwin is a four-time Detroit Music Award nominee and recently starred as “Jesus” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Since 2003, He released many albums and EPs, the most recent being 2018’s The Superstar EP and 2016’s collection of classic musical theater songs, A Different Stage. Butwin is an Athens High graduate.

Troy Restaurant Week is Back

Enjoy vibrant, savory, seasonal menus crafted just for Troy Restaurant Week from Sunday, Aug. 18 through Friday, Aug. 23.

The week-long event features 22 fine dining and family restaurants throughout Troy. Most menus include three courses and range from $15 to $45 for lunch and dinner. You can make reservations and view menus on troyrestaurantweek.com. Not all participating restaurants are offering deals for both lunch and dinner so be sure to check out the website.

The 22 participating restaurants include: 2Booli, Bahama Breeze, Benihana, The Capital Grille, Crispelli’s, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, Granite City Food & Brewery, La Saj Lebanese Bistro, Lebanese Grill, Loccino Italian Grill & Bar, The Melting Pot, Morton’s The Steak House, NM Café at Neiman Marcus, Ocean Prime, Picano’s Italian Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Seasons 52, Sedona Taphouse, Shield’s Restaurant Bar Pizzeria, Station Square Kitchen + Bar, and Steelhouse Tavern.

Save a Life: Donate Blood

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. But according to the American Red Cross, supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.

Please consider making a generous donation to the Red Cross lifesaving blood supply. To make it easy, the Troy will host an entire week of blood drives this summer at the following convenient times and locations:

Monday, July 22 | Fire-Police Training Center | 4850 John R | 9 am-6 pm
Tuesday, July 23 | Troy Community Center | 3179 Livernois | 9 am-9 pm
Wednesday, July 24 | Troy Community Center | 3179 Livernois | 9 am-9 pm
Thursday, July 25 | First Presbyterian Church | 4328 Livernois | 11am-5 pm
Friday, July 26 | Troy Community Center | 3179 Livernois | 9 am-8 pm

Donation appointments can be easily scheduled by calling 313-300-9617 or 248-524-1147, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or by using the free Blood Donor App. Walk-ins are welcome, but a photo ID or Red Cross Donor Card will be required at the time of donation. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds, and be in good general health.

Check Out the New Feature on Sonic Alert

Each week at Local Business News, we feature a small business with a huge footprint. Last week, we introduced readers to Sonic Alert in Troy. Read all about it here.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors at The Stage Nature Center

Now that the Polar Vortex is safely in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to enjoy the outdoors at The Stage Nature Center. The nature center trails are open daily from dawn to dusk for walking only – no pets, biking, running or collecting. In addition to open trails, the Nature Center is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this summer. Many programs are offered to educate people about animals and their habitats.

Registration is required for all programs, and you can register online at stagenaturecenter.org. Call the Stage Nature center at 248.688.9703 to check on program availability.

Programs are all offered by the Troy Nature Society, a nonprofit organization that has an agreement with the City of Troy to conduct educational nature programs at the SNC. TNS Members receive discount for events that require fees. Donations for free events are also kindly accepted.

The Stage Nature Center is located at 6685 Coolidge Hwy., between Square Lake Road and South Boulevard Visit stagenaturecenter.org  for more information or call 248-688-9703.

Beaumont, Troy Invites Veterans to Free Wellness Fair

The Heart and Vascular Services department at Beaumont Hospital, Troy will host a free Veterans Wellness Day Fair on July 31.

“As a team, we promote heart-healthy lifestyles as well as preventive care,” said Jenna Mallard, exercise physiologist, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Beaumont, Troy. “With so many returning troops coming home to America, we thought it would be an excellent idea to provide a free health screening for them as well as veterans of all ages.”

The free event will be from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, July 31, at Beaumont Health Club, 1555 E. South Blvd., Rochester Hills, which is near Beaumont, Troy.

Veterans can expect:

• baseline vital checks
• education about nutrition, stress and exercise
• a consultation with a Beaumont Health Club nutritionist or Heart and Vascular exercise physiologist

Registration is not required. For more information, contact Mallard: 248-267-5656 or jenna.mallard@beaumont.org.

Troy Firefighter Memorial Fundraising Efforts Underway

The Troy Fire Department launched a fundraising project to establish a permanent Firefighters Memorial at Firefighters Park on W. Square Lake Road, east of Coolidge Hwy. The memorial will honor the members of the Troy Fire Department who have provided this valuable service to our community.

The Troy Fire Department staffs the largest municipal fire department in Oakland County and the largest combination career/volunteer fire department in Michigan with up to 180 volunteer firefighters working out of six fire stations and currently 11 uniformed career staff members.

The Firefighters Memorial pays tribute to past members who committed their time and effort to providing a cost-effective and efficient model for community fire protection.

Contributions are accepted by check or online and are tax-deductible.

Donate to the 25TH Annual Food Fight to Tackle Childhood Hunger at Four Convenient Locations in Troy

You Can Make a Difference for a Hungry Child this Summer

Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan is hosting invites the 25th annual Hunger Free Summer Food Fight to Tackle Childhood Hunger now through July 26.

When school lets out for the summer, nearly 300,000 children in the community lose access to school-provided meals. The Hunger Free Summer Food Fight is an annual food and fund drive collection in which organizations throughout Southeastern Michigan compete to raise the most meals.

The Food Fight is a contest to collect food and dollars to help feed hungry children. Area businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to donate to this food-drive program.

The top five food items needed are: Peanut butter, oatmeal/cereal, tuna fish, canned vegetables and canned fruit.

Food collection bins are at Troy City Hall at 500 W. Big Beaver at the east and west entrances, Troy Public Library at 510 W. Big Beaver, Troy Community Center at 3179 Livernois at the south and east doors, and Public Works Department at 4693 Rochester Road.

If you would like to make a secure online donation using a credit card go to: www.gcfb.org

Cash donations will also be accepted for this food drive. Make checks payable to: Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan and drop off at the Community Affairs Department in City Hall. All donations are tax deductible.  Only non-perishable food items should be donated.

Pinkies Up! Enjoy a Spot of Tea and Learn a Bit of History

Thursday Teas at Two is a refined walk through history. Register in advance as space is limited. Guests are welcome to bring their own china cup and saucer for the full experience.

July 25 the talk will focus on the history of Corktown. Art history expert and author Suzanne Bilek will share the history of Corktown’s historic homes and neighborhood institutions, some of the oldest in Detroit. Learn about past and modern Irish residents, Corktown’s historic connections to Ford Motor Co., and contemporary artists living and working in the area.

Thursday Teas at Two is held at Old Troy Church from 2 to 3 p.m. Troy Historical Society members pay $7, non-members are $8.

Troy-Based Flagstar Bank Partners with Detroit FinTech Bay on Accelerator Program

The Flagstar Mortgage Tech Accelerator Program is now available to help start-up companies in their earliest stages. Flagstar Bank and Detroit FinTech Bay partnered to aid newborn companies with developing technology solutions for the mortgage industry.

Start-ups piloting or incubating breakthroughs in all facets of the mortgage business including mortgage origination, processing, marketing, servicing, compliance, sales, underwriting, credit, and quality assessment would be considered for financial assistance.

It will be hosted at Detroit FinTech Bay, the FinTech Consortium’s hub in Detroit. Remote and online participation may be possible on a case-by-case basis, but all participants will be expected to travel to Detroit.

For more information, click here. The deadline to apply is July 27.

Register Now for Hummingbird Walk

On Saturday, July 20, explore the fascinating behavior of hummingbirds while observing them feed from the nectar feeders and native flowers at the nature center. From 8:30 to 10 a.m., participants will learn about the lives of these small, colorful, speedy birds and attempt a close-encounter at handheld feeders. Participants will also get to take home their very own handheld hummingbird feeder.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant must enroll and pay the fee.
Fee: $8. Troy Nature Center Member Fee: $6

TNS Members: Use Promo Code MEMBER19 for discount
Stage Nature Center
6685 Coolidge Highway

Library Hosts Books and Brews

Join other readers in discussing the July book Where the Crawdads Sing at Joe Kools, 1835 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy. Register here for this sip-and-talk event.

Roar for Dino Day at the Pool

Head back in time and experience the fun of dinosaurs at the pool. Friday, July 26, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., families can learn about fossils from The Stage Nature Center. Mark your calendars! The cost $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents.