Saturday, December 29, 2012
Birmingham Patch covered a lot of amazing and inspirational stories in 2012. Here's a look at our favorites.
The news doesn't have to be all bad. In 2012, Patch talked to some amazing people doing some amazing things for the Birmingham community. As we look back on the year that was, here's our favorite feel-good stories from the year. After Racial Note Controversy, Seaholm Students Say 'It's Cool to Care' In April, two Seaholm seniors — Nick Resnick and Rebecca Rosen — sat down to talk to Patch about Seaholm High School's Cool to Care program, which looks to combat bullying by bringing high school students into Birmingham elementary schools. Teen Teams Up With Candy Shop to Sweeten Lives of Young Cancer Patients Birmingham resident and Hillel Day School student Miles Menuck worked with Birmingham's Sweet Thing last year to donate more than $650 …
Friday, December 28, 2012
From the 'Fifty Shades' series to 'Gone Girl,' here's the most checked-out books at Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library in 2012.
From the summer reading titles everyone was talking about, to the controversy surrounding the 50 Shades series, 2012 was a year for the books. Whether you were reading them the old fashioned way or on a Kindle or Nook, Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library was there for all the trends. Baldwin's librarians have pulled together a list of the most popular books at the library this year: perfect if you're looking to catch up with what's hot or need a good book recommendation while you're snowed in this weekend. The following titles are listed in alphabetical order. All were published in 2012 and were put on hold by more than 45 readers at any given time: To check out any of these books, visit Baldwin Public Library — next to Shain Park and The …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
From presidential politics to battles over Birmingham's new liquor license policy, we've got your round-up of the most important political stories from 2012.
Whoever said "it's all politics" must have been talking about 2012 — or at least, 2012 in Birmingham. With the year beginning and ending with a major election, to a dozen protests and new city ordinances in between, 2012 was a big year for politics in Birmingham. Here's the stories that were getting people's attention and getting them to the polls this year: Nov. 8: City to Move Forward 'As Best It Can' After Charter Amendment Loses at the Polls City Manager Bob Bruner said despite the loss, he doesn't expect a similar amendment to go on the ballot any time soon. Nov. 7: Rinschler, Fenberg Re-Elected to School Board, Charter Amendment Fails During the Nov. 6 general election, Bloomfield Hills Republican Mike McCready took the 44th District…
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
From South Bar, to Mitt Romney, to Sean Combs, these were the stories Birmingham Patch readers read the most.
2012 was a big year for Birmingham, especially if you're into police news. From the drama at South Bar — including the bar's eventual closure in the spring — to the rifle-toting teen that resulted in a high profile court case, there was plenty of news. And from the number of comments, Facebook "likes" and clicks, it was also a big year for Birmingham Patch while we strived to provide you with the news and information you need about your city and neighborhood. Taking a look at those numbers, we've compiled a list of the top 10 stories from 2012. Here's what made the big headlines this year: 1. South Bar to Close Following Monday Morning Shooting in Birmingham Three men were arrested following the shooting in July, during which no one got …
Monday, January 2, 2012
Despite the rejection of a proposed Woodward Avenue light rail line and a planned regional transit center in Troy, proponents of a regional transportation system remain optimistic.
The story: Light rail proponents began 2011 with high hopes for a Woodward Avenue line that would run from downtown Detroit north to Eight Mile and, potentially, even farther north, connecting the city and suburbs. A proposed regional transit center in Troy would have provided connecting routes throughout the area. By year-end, hopes for both the light-rail line and the transit center had been dashed. In December, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Gov. Rick Snyder rejected the light rail plan in favor of a bus rapid transit system that would be less expensive and quicker to implement. And, the Troy City Council voted 4-3 during the same month to end a regional transit center project that was 12 years in …
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Patch looks back on the top high school athletes from in and around the Oakland County.
Oakland County Patch sites were there to cover many of the biggest moments in prep sports in 2011. Here's a list of 10 of the top athletes, based on their incredible performances during the past year. This lists focuses on athletes from schools in Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Troy and West Bloomfield. Agree? Disagree? Tell us the comments. Make sure to check out our list of top 10 high school games this year in Oakland County. Click here for part one and here for part two. West Bloomfield Cross Country; Track and Field Erin Finn was easily the most dominate high school athlete in Michigan this past year. The girls cross country star won the Division 1 state championship this season, nearly set a …
Friday, December 30, 2011
Statutes regulating film incentives, heating aid, business taxes and public safety mergers also take effect.
Local residents, workers and employers are affected by Michigan laws that took effect in late December or will do so as calendars flip to 2012. Gov. Rick Snyder this year signed legislation regulating home foreclosures, charter schools, student bullying, teachers' unions and other areas. Take a look at some of what's now the law of our state as a new year starts: Mortgage lenders must provide a list of nonprofit consumer counselors with the first foreclosure step so borrowers can seek immediate advice. Two bills signed Dec. 22 also provide additional time and ways for owners to arrange modifications such as interest rate reduction and principal reduction to cut monthly payments. To minimize solicitations by for-profit "rescue" advisers, …
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Here are the top 10 games of 2011, including Ferndale over Berkley in basketball and Avondale topping Andover in soccer to head to the state finals.
Patch covered a lot of high school games in Oakland County this year – from the basketball playoffs in East Lansing to regular season lacrosse to the state football finals at Ford Field. To celebrate the end of 2011, our sports staff put together a list of the top 10 games we've covered this season. This lists focuses on schools from Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Troy and West Bloomfield. Agree? Disagree? Make sure to sound off in the comments and tell us the top games you saw in 2011. We ran the first part of the top 10 list on Tuesday: 10. Berkley tops Ferndale, 71-67 9. Birmingham United beats Grosse Pointe South 8. Royal Oak edges St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 21-20 7. Clawson tops Macomb Lutheran …
Joan Duncan
3:06 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012
Mitch Albom's "The Timekeeper" more ›