Community Corner

Teacher Protests, Stranger Danger Seminars, and Kidney Donor Found Through Facebook

Here's a look at stories from Michigan Patches this week, including public protests and discussions about Gov. Snyder's cuts, a stranger danger video aimed at preparing kids for stranger encounters and a look at ACCESS as the organization turns 40.

Hundreds Join Protests in Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield 

of other public sector workers from the region in Ann Arbor on Monday to protest Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed budget cuts and the state's new emergency financial takeover law. The protest was one of many We Are One rallies held throughout the state and country on the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including , where about 250 teachers and supporters held a candlelight vigil.

Legislators Talk Redistricting, Gov. Snyder's Cuts

It was standing-room-only at state  Saturday in Farmington, and the topic for discussion was redistricting. Barnett invited Christina Kuo, director of Common Cause, a nonpartisan and nonprofit advocacy organization, to talk about how lines are being drawn around political districts following the 2010 census. On Thursday in Birmingham, from Kiwanis members, some of whom  criticized the governor's tax reform plan and proposed cap on the Michigan film incentives. 

Martial Arts expert Denny Strecker has offered the community a free seminar on how to fight off an attacker after he heard about four recent attempts in Shelby Township where a man has tried to lure children into his vehicle. 

Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Leaders at the organization talked with Dearborn Patch about what has changed over time, and what the future holds for one of the country's largest nonprofits serving Arab Americans.

The small, but determined cast of Lutheran High School North's production of Cinderella have faced numerous setbacks, but the show must go on. After changing directors a month into rehearsal, losing a stepsister one week before curtain and meeting the orchestra with only one rehearsal left, the cast will perform April 14-16. Check out a of rehearsal photos. 

Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wyandotte officials, grappling with the state's budget uncertainty, informed 25 educators they would not have jobs next school year. Some may be called back to work–but that's dependent on the state budget.

Jeff Kurze of Royal Oak was reunited this week at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak with the kidney donor Kurze's wife found for him on Facebook. Ricky Cisco responded to a Facebook status by Jeff Kurze's wife, Roxy, last November, and donated one of his kidney's to Kurze two weeks ago. 

Forty-eight teams of middle school students–with names like Sisters of Oz, Reading with the Stars, The Bookbusters and Dumbledore's Army–showed off their book trivia knowledge at Northville High School on Wednesday. The quiz-bowl-like event drew a record 227 students, many of whom were dressed in costume, to answer questions about the seven books they had to read.  

The Frankel Jewish Academy’s Diversity Club hosted students from Gabriel Richard Catholic High School of Riverview Thursday to help all the teens get to know others of a different faith. Frankel club president Anna Eisenberg, 18, of Birmingham, said that the annual event is designed to help religious school students prepare for higher learning. “When we leave and go into college, it’s important to know that you can find similarities and relate with others,” she said. 

A 36-year-old Macomb Township woman was pinned between two vehicles early Saturday after a good Samaritan's attempt to tow her car out of ditch in Chesterfield went terribly wrong. 

How do students and schools prepare for the ACT? How important is the test for admission into college? Fenton Patch talked to high school administrators and several university admissions officials to find out how important the sometimes dreaded test is. 

The Wooden Spoon, a new "artisan market, gourmet carry-out and bistro" is coming to Brighton. Steve Pilon, executive chef for Oak Pointe Country Club, plans to carry fresh produce, hard-to-find culinary specialties, and Michigan-made products like Mama Mucci's Pasta of Canton, Zingerman's Delicatessen of Ann Arbor, Cantoro Italian Market of Livonia, and Erie Bread Company of Monroe.

Cooking for Special Diets columnist Alissa Malerman writes from Berkley about the Dinner Divas, an Oakland County group working to ease the transition for those who've recently been diagnosed with conditions that require special diets. She also offers up news tidbits from the gluten-free world, along with delicious recipes.

Dexter has a new store in town. Lucky Haskins Antiques which opened in mid-March, features jewelry, toys, magazines and books, furniture, and collectible knick-knacks for every collector. The store is located right of Main Street in downtown Dexter and is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

Rochester-based Trent Design has been busy lately, designing and implementing a guerrilla marketing campaign for Art X Detroit. The company planted yellow X's all over downtown Detroit, and even illuminated the side of the Detroit Public Library with a giant projected X.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Birmingham