Education

Coverage of schools from pre-k and kindergarten through higher education, including trade and online classes.

Four new developments coming online in Auburn Hills

By Newsroom

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October 10, 2013

Auburn Hills -- and its developing downtown area -- is in a mini-construction boom with four new projects partially or mostly complete. The developments are an outgrowth of increased enrollment and demands for housing and other services for students and staff at Oakland University, Oakland Community College, Baker College and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. * The University Center will open in January and replace a restaurant and bar with a two-story building dedicated to educating local high school and college students. The first floor will have two classrooms in 4,800 square feet and host classes for colleges and universities located in Auburn Hills. The second floor will be home to the Avondale Academy run by Avondale Schools. The University Center is a partnership between the city's TIFA, Avondale Schools, Oakland University, Oakland Community College, Baker College and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. * The DEN, Downtown Education Nook, will be a relaxing hang-out for students to study individually or in groups and like the University Center open in January. The 1,564-square-foot facility is connected to a historic log cabin and will have two fireplaces and five study rooms. * Auburn Square Apartments: 97 apartments consisting of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The $9 million project will include 6,100 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, helping to increase foot traffic in the downtown area. Apartments are already leasing and move-in should begin in January. * A public parking structure will be owned and operated by the city and its Tax Increment Financing Authority. It will have space for 233 vehicles, with spaces connected to common hallways that lead to each floor of apartments. It should be open for business in November. All four projects are the result of work by the city's Tax Increment Financing Authority, which captures increases in the tax base in a designated zone and dedicates them to public improvement projects in partnership with private and other public investors. Source: Barbara Fornasiero, spokesperson, city of Auburn Hills Writer: Kim North Shine

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Vibe Credit Union brings e-banking to Birmingham

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Arts & Culture

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October 10, 2013

Vibe Credit Union's online and handheld-technology-driven style of banking has come to a new branch in Birmingham. Vibe's e-Center, or remote branch, at 163 W. Maple opened Sept. 25, adding to Vibe's other locations in Berkley, Canton, Livonia, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield and Sterling Heights. A downtown Royal Oak location will open later this year, says Tom Reagan, president and CEO of Vibe Credit Union. Vibe's new e-Center is staffed with a customer service rep who will tell customers how to use Vibe's mobile and online services, which include banking apps, mobile deposits, quick online loans and other programs geared toward different audiences. Vibe rounds out its banking services with rewards programs, lower fees and other offerings such as bill pay. An ATM is located at the e-Center, and Vibe has more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs. Vibe banking can also be completed by phone. “We are very excited to grow our business and reach out to new communities," Reagan says. "The design of this new eCenter was built around technology and a way for more people to bank differently.” Source: Vibe Credit Union Writer: Kim North Shine

Guest Blogger: Amanda Uhle

By Amanda Uhle

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Arts & Culture

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October 10, 2013

Since 826michigan, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center, opened its doors in Detroit it has not only assisted elementary- through high-school students, it's also made a difference for the adult volunteers donating time and smarts to their community. 826michigan Executive Director Amanda Uhle elaborates.

ROUGE MakeUp and Nail Salon expands in downtown Ferndale

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Arts & Culture

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October 3, 2013

The little red make-up and nail salon in Ferndale that built a customer base attracted to organic and vegan products and a creative staff is now a bigger space, still red in keeping with the name. ROUGE MakeUp and Nail Studio expanded into a neighboring store on Woodward Avenue and into space about twice its original size two weeks ago. Sisters Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, who worked as a make-up artist on shows and photo shoots in New York City and then traveled the country as an instructor for cosmetics lines, and Jeny Bulatovic, a manicurist who heads up a staff that has won Rouge Best Nail Salon honors for two years, opened Rouge in 2010. The salon has made a name for itself by offering personal service, helping customers through skin and nail disasters, and running a business that's fun and welcoming. They expanded their downtown Ferndale salon after they outgrew the first space in less two years. Source: Jeny Bulatovic, co-owner, Rouge MakeUp and Nail Salon Writer: Kim North Shine

Lawrence Tech’s bio-robotics lab gets $50,000 boost

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Arts & Culture

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September 26, 2013

A new bio-robotics lab that will teach Lawrence Technological University students studying biomedical engineering and robotics engineering is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the DENSO North American Foundation. The new human-robotic interaction facility is expected to be ready for learning by the end of 2013, says Lawrence Tech spokesperson Eric Pope, and prepares students to work with robots capable of high levels of artificial intelligence. The lab is expected to build a relationship between the Southfield-based university and the manufacturing and medical care industries. The new lab, as well as an existing lab, which is being updated, will be outfitted with wireless sensors, 3D technology, navigation control and software capable of guiding medical and manufacturing feats by guiding robots and their artificial intelligence. The mission of the DENSO foundation is to advance innovation in engineering technology. Eric Meyer, an LTU assistant professor who teaches biomedical engineering and developed the grant proposal, says in a statement that the goal is to build robots that can interact with humans effectively and safely. It's crucial because of the expanding use of robotic technology. Faculty from several departments in LTU’s College of Engineering are working together to build an innovative, multidisciplinary engineering program that can help develop next-generation robotic systems. Assistant professor Kun Hua works in LTU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and says in the same statement announcing the grant: “The use of sensors has taken robots to the next level of innovation. Sensors have increased the performance of robots through adaptive multimedia signal processing techniques, which allow the robots to perform several human functions." Pope says the strength of LTU’s robotics engineering program was recently cited in U.S. News & World Report's “Best Colleges 2014” guidebook. Source: Eric Pope, spokesman, Lawrence Technological University Writer: Kim North Shine

Freakin’ Unbelievable Burgers to open in Farmington Hills

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Arts & Culture

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September 26, 2013

Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers, a Flint Township gourmet burger restaurant that has landed on best burger joint lists and been called one to watch in the fast-casual restaurant concept, is opening its first metro Detroit location in Farmington Hills in late November. Founder and president Brent Skaggs, who operates two other separate restaurants besides the Flint Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers, says Farmington Hills was chosen for a foray into metro Detroit for a number of reasons. "We are franchising the concept. We started that in July this year. We wanted to go into a metro market," says Skaggs, who opened the Flint Township store in 2012. "We felt like Detroit metro was a great place and as we started looking around we found that Farmington Hills had the traffic counts, the demographics and we just liked the feel of the city." He is hoping to have a freakin' unbelievable experience by besting nearby national burger chains, including Five Guys and Smashburger, with his selection of Angus beef burgers that come with a selection of 43 toppings, served on a brioche bun. "We definitely will have competition, but we are a Michigan-based company so we're excited," he says. Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers is getting noticed nationally. It ranked 12th on fastcasual.com's Top 100 America's Top Movers & Shakers at the National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago, and industry publication, BurgerBusiness, called the restaurant one of the top new burger joints in 2012. The second Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers will move into a former Burger King on Orchard Lake Road and be renovated to fit the fast casual concept, an upscale version of fast food. Think Panera Bread, Skagg says, counter service in a sit-down arrangement. "The materials we use in the booths are nicer; so is the type of lighting. It's really a place you can sit down, watch a game, get a cold beer, a glass of wine…There's china, real forks. There's no tipping," Skaggs says. "It's a place you can get a burger fast and to go if you want, or to stay and enjoy if you want." Once opened, the restaurant will employ 20 full-time employees, Skaggs says, and 20-30 part-timers. Source: Brent Skaggs, president and founder, Freakin Unbelievable Burgers Writer: Kim North Shine

Holy Cannoli’s expands to OU campus

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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September 26, 2013

The reach of Holy Cannoli's family recipe for sweet-filled Italian pastry is expanding once again. The downtown Rochester bakery that opened in 2010 first expanded to a second store in Berkley in April, then started selling its goods last week on the campus of Oakland University. Traditional cannoli and cannoli chips will be sold at the coffee shop inside OU's Human Health Building on Squirrel and Walton roads. Holy Cannoli's, which come in several flavors, are also on the menu at D'Amato's in downtown Royal Oak, and can be found at Eastern Market on Saturdays and the Bank of Antiques store in Washington Township. Source: Nicole Franey, co-owner, Holy Cannoli's Writer: Kim North Shine

Guest Blogger: Marianne Dorais

By Marianne Dorais

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Arts & Culture

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September 26, 2013

It's common knowledge that arts programs are among the first to get the axe when K-12 budgets are cut. The ripple effect: with fewer artists, regions lose their creative and intellectual vibe. Marianne Dorais, executive director of Michigan Youth Arts, makes a case for for creative peoplemaking.

Start-up myNutratek focuses on youth health education

By Newsroom

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Education

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September 19, 2013

A new startup called myNutratek is working to help make health education available and accessible for kids. The Brighton-based company has launched a program that helps students become better educated about how to make healthy choices and live a healthy lifestyle. “There is nothing out there for kids,” says Tim Codd, parent of myNutratek. “There is a brochure and some billboards but there weren’t any options or programs for kids.” Codd started the company when his then 8-year-old daughter was bullied at school for being overweight. He resolved to spend more time with her and help her overcome her obstacles to living a healthy lifestyle. He quickly learned there were limited options for doing that and started myNutratek. The company is currently working with 1,000 kids at Howell Public Schools and a doctors group at Oakwood Health System to help spread its healthy-living gospel. The firm has also had 300 parents of students using its services sign up for the program to keep up with their children. “The kids have become the wellness directors for their families,” Codd says. MyNutratek and its team of five employees and one intern is working with downtown Detroit-based Marketing Associates to refine its growth strategy and prepare for scaling its message to a bigger audience. The firm hopes to expand regionally and across Michigan at first, then set its sights on bigger expansions around the world. Source: Tim Codd, parent of myNutratek Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Branding Birmingham

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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September 19, 2013

Downtown Birmingham is taking on the indoor shopping malls and big box retailers by promoting its 70-plus home, home accessory stores and home design businesses in one easy-to-shop district that comes with better atmosphere. The city's Principal Shopping District is working to capitalize on its home-related stores -- contemporary, rustic Italian, chic, and Northern Michigan styles among them -- with the branding campaign, BLUEPRINT: THE BIRMINGHAM HOME COLLECTION. The first Blueprint event was in May in connection with spring and summer decor updates. The next is the weekend of Oct. 3-5, the Fashion Your Home for Fall 2013. It will feature stores with trunk shows, sales and promotions, how-to seminars and more during the weekend. Check out enjoybirmingham.com's website or Facebook page for details. John Heiney, executive director of the Principal Shopping District that markets the downtown and downtown retailers, says the intent is not to say Birmingham is a better destination but an alternative seriously worth considering. "I wouldn't take it upon myself to say better or worse. What we're really saying is people may not know what a great destination Birmingham is for home furnishings and home accessories and items for the home," he says. "People may think of Birmingham more for its fashion or shopping and its restaurants," he says. "We have all that but when you think about home furnishings, gifts, dishware, kitchen items, cabinetry, and interior designers, we really do have quite a wide variety of stores and businesses that are all geared toward the home." Plus, he says, on days when shopping may be time-consuming it's nice to have the downtown with the atmosphere and environment. Like the May BLUEPRINT event Heiney and retailers expect a good turnout. "We think this is something that's going to grow every year," he says. "More and more customers are becoming aware of what we're doing and what we have her. We're just getting started." Source: John Heiney, executive director, Birmingham Principal Shopping District Writer: Kim North Shine