Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ACO Home, Garden & Hardware plans to shut down under-performing stores in the region.
ACO Home, Garden & Hardware will close 14 stores across Michigan, including the one at 619 S. Adams in Birmingham. Michigan's largest independent hardware retailer, based in Farmington Hills, announced Thursday that the plan to shut down the under-performing stores aims to "improve and strengthen the company’s financial performance." “To ensure our long term growth and sustainability, we must always strive to manage our costs and allocate resources to areas of our business that make a meaningful contribution to our financial performance," President and CEO Dick Snyder said in a news release. The company is also in the process of remodeling other stores to lure shoppers and accommodate expanded merchandise. A blow-out sale is scheduled to …
You can use this gas price widget to always find the lowest price of the moment. Pro tip: Gas up early this week to save money.
Click here for a full-screen view of the gas price map. If you don't see a map of our local area, click the magnifying glass in the upper right to enter your address. Nationwide, gas prices were predicted to be lower this summer compared to the last three years, but that won't translate into savings at the pump this Memorial Day weekend, experts said. "Motorists this year are facing rising gas prices heading into the Memorial Day holiday," said Michael Green, a AAA spokesman, adding that Memorial Day 2013 would probably be the most expensive since 2011. In past years, prices have declined heading into early summer as oil refineries produced more gasoline to meet expected summer driving demand. This year, though, Midwest refineries haven…
Walkable and Livable Communities Institute expert Dan Burden helps people conceptualize what Woodward Avenue could be in Birmingham and beyond.
Birmingham resident Michael Kopmeyer loves having the ability to comfortably walk along many of downtown streets, neighborhoods, and business districts that to him, help comprise a true community. But that doesn't include the largest, and perhaps most important, roadway: Woodward Avenue. "I never walk here," he said while strolling along the busy thoroughfare near the city's gateway with a handful of residents and community stakeholders Tuesday morning. "I feel uncomfortable because of the traffic, because there are no sidewalks in many spots, and just the overall atmosphere." The critical, yet honest impression is exactly what organizers of the Woodward Avenue Action Association's (WA3) Complete Streets master plan hoped to get during …
In one week, Birmingham Patch will have a brand new design and a whole new way to connect.
Hi, everyone! I have some exciting news to share about Patch – we’re getting a whole new look. It’s coming in next week and it’s going to make Chesterfield Patch easier to use, and a better place to connect and share. The best part? You’ll be able to see it all on your mobile phone! Here’s what you need to know: Our site is being rebuilt from the ground up. The news will look better and be easier to comment on. And, you’ll find more local voices to keep you in the loop with the latest know-how and opinion. We’re adding Boards to make it easier for you to connect with each other, debate an issue, or announce your garage sale, graduation, or find a lost pet. More to say? It will be easier to start your own blog, too. You’ll soon be able to…
Patch readers have requested more photos.
Patch invites residents, groups, churches, experts, city officials, businesses and more to post in our Local Voices section. Our readers have also recently requested more photos from photographers. Share your work from around town or from around the world. Part of the Patch mission is to strengthen communities and improve the lives of their residents, but we can't do it without you. Our Local Voices section allows members of the community—from cooking enthusiasts to local politicians and everyone in between—to interact and post directly to the site. These posts then appear on the homepage, in the daily newsletter and are shared by editors via Facebook and Twitter. The best thing about sharing your stuff on Patch is it's your space so it's …
Sip and savor your way around Oakland County's eateries with Patch.
If you're hungry for the latest restaurant news from around Oakland County, we've got you covered! Read on to find out what's new, what's closed, what's coming and more. [Do you have more restaurant news to share? Leave a comment!] Peek Inside Hamlin Corners in Royal Oak: The new, much-anticipated Hamlin Corners, a sports-themed restaurant and part of the Hamlin Pubs chain, will open to the public on Thursday at 376 N. Main St. in Royal Oak. Royal Oak's Oxford Inn Rethinks Name Change, Plan of Operation: After announcing in January he was going back to his country roots, Oxford Inn owner Bob Higgins is rethinking what he wants to do. Higgins wants to make it clear the restaurant may change its look and menu but not its standards. What …
These obituaries were published on the websites of local funeral homes from May 15-22.
Our thoughts are with the friends and families of these people with Birmingham area ties whose obituaries were published over the past week: To publish an obituary on Birmingham Patch, make a post on the "Announcements" page.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Henry Ford board members voted against the multi-billion-dollar deal Tuesday afternoon.
The Beaumont and Henry Ford health systems merger has been called off after "different perspectives" emerged about the $6.4-billion deal. Henry Ford board of trustees' decision Tuesday followed six months of due diligence discussions involving hundreds of Beaumont and Henry Ford team members, according to Beaumont. “We have benefited greatly from our merger discussions and have great respect for our colleagues at Henry Ford,” said Gene Michalski, president and CEO, Beaumont Health System. “However, we found through our discussions that we are not aligned on how to achieve our vision for a model health system due to differences in our structures and business models.” In a letter to employees, Henry Ford CEO Nancy Schlichting wrote the …
Henry Ford ends discussions with Beaumont.
Beaumont Health System and Henry Ford Health System have ended discussions of a proposed merger to combine their operations into a new health system. “We have benefitted greatly from our merger discussions and have great respect for our colleagues at Henry Ford,” says Gene Michalski, president and CEO, Beaumont Health System. “However, we found through our discussions that we are not aligned on how to achieve our vision for a model health system due to differences in our structures and business models.” Today’s announcement followed six months of due diligence discussions involving hundreds of Beaumont and Henry Ford team members. “We are very grateful to our board members, physicians, nurses, leaders and other professionals who worked …
American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan shares ways local residents can support those affected by the disaster.
Dozens of people – including children – were killed when a massive tornado Monday afternoon ripped through the town of Moore, Okla., a suburb of Oklahoma City, according to the Associated Press. As search-and-rescue crews continue to dig through the rubble, many people are wondering what they can do to help those affected by the disaster. John Mozena, spokesperson for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan, said the organization should know more later today about exactly how much help is needed. "We're still in the assessment phase of what's going on in Oklahoma with our disaster assessment professionals," he said. "You see the photos of the devastation and it's just horrific, and the people in the town have lost everything." …
Pat Olson
12:17 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
No, I don't support trimming Woodward by a lane. I drive down or up Woodward at least four times a week. A lane is trimmed now while repairs or construction is taking place and significant disruption has occurred-if temporarily. Old Woodward and many others are good for walking. Retail stores are there and need public support. Woodward Avenue is a commercial road designed for transporting cars … more ›