Royal Oak

Royal Oak students build landmine robot, file for patent

By Newsroom

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May 28, 2009

What started as just another high school robotics project could turn into a career-molding discovery for three Royal Oak High School students.Freshmen Gordon Stein, Max Schultz, and Julia Stavale built an autonomous robot that detects and locates landmines. It won the top award at the 10th annual World Robofest Championship at Lawrence Technological University this spring, and a $1,000 development grant from the Joint Center for Robotics at the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Warren. The students are filing for a patent for the robot called "Seeker" and are working in the rent-free office space of one parent's firm, Clawson-based Art/Design Group. "They will be refining it over the next several months," says Joel Stein, father of Gordon Stein, who helped guide the team. Stein challenged the Homemade Titanium Expos team to work on a project that not only exhibited their robotic expertise but tackled a humanitarian problem. They chose to focus on defusing landmines, (70 people are injured or killed every day by landmines) and researched patents to see what was out there. The Homemade Titanium Expos came up with an inexpensive vehicle robot that can be used to find some of the 100 million landmines buried in 70 different countries. Seeker cost $148 to build and weighs five pounds, light enough not to set off most landmines. It uses a metal detector sensor to find the mines and marks the spot with a fluorescent dye.Source: Joel Stein, parental supervisor of Homemade Titanium Expos and Lawrence Technological UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Main Street Oakland County hosts downtown preservation workshops

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 28, 2009

Oakland County's downtowns have spent decades turning themselves into some of Michigan's most vibrant urban centers, and the county isn't going to allow a few bad economic years to retard that progress.That's why Main Street Oakland County is being proactive this summer, with three workshops aimed at helping keep these downtowns thriving and continuing their development momentum. And this is while those downtowns are in slightly better shape than the overall state economy."The whole thing is about how to make it in a tough economy," says Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County.The workshops will feature local, state, and national experts for a range of urban issues, such as preservation and obtaining grants. The idea is to help downtown stakeholders get new perspectives on these topics and see how they can help each different downtown. The first workshop, set for June 19, will tackle issues like dealing with declining property values in a down economy and financing projects in a tough credit market. The second (July 17) will examine how to encourage new economy development in the downtowns and take advantage of historic assets. The last one (August 14) will tackle sustainability issues like LEED architecture.All will be held at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. For information, call (248) 858-1848.Source: Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland CountyWriter: Jon Zemke

A culinary tour ’round Royal Oak

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 27, 2009

There are all kinds of tours. Music tours, museum tours, pub crawls (it's kind of like a tour), tours of duty, and even food tours. Enter Culinary Escapes, a food tour company here in the Great Lakes State. And they are close to home, too. Check out the Royal Oak experience. And if you go on a tour like this, you might want to wear your fat pants.Excerpt:I was a bit of a skeptic, at first, about the need for a walking tour -- to restaurants in Royal Oak, Mich., near Detroit Hip eateries in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak are within close proximity to one another. And I've never had much problem finding food. But then I met up with our guide on this tour by Culinary Escapes, a company founded last summer. Marq Blanks handed us tiny earpieces with receivers we clipped onto our jackets. And we soon were trailing behind him around town, through farm market booths, past charming bakeries, striking (even scandalous) sculptures and tempting eateries, feeling like a cross between campus tour-goer and undercover culinary spy as he transmits historic, food and celebrity trivia en route to each stop.Read the entire article here.

Royal Oak’s North Coast Strategies, Cherrin Law Group plan growth

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 21, 2009

Most people know of Daniel Cherrin, the principal for North Coast Strategies and Cherrin Law Group, not so much from what his businesses have done as much as by what he has done.Daniel Cherrin, president of both Royal Oak-based firms, in his recent role as the press secretary for former Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrell, was the point person for questions about the city. The Michigan State Law School graduate served as a lobbyist for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. before starting his own firms. Now his client list ranges from the city of Windsor, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, Wayne State School of Medicine, and Fritz Enterprises in Trenton. All of his work deals with law, public relations, and government relations."I took the blue ocean strategy approach and took on the three areas with two companies," Cherrin says, explaining he has two companies because he can't bring non-law related work into his law practice.Right now, it's just him and the occasional independent contractor. He is still a registered lobbyist in Washington, D.C. and Canada. He also does work in Lansing and is hoping to bring in more businesses looking to navigate the tricky waters of government -- and hopefully bring a person or two to help him."I would love to develop enough business to grow and add people to Michigan," Cherrin says. Source: Daniel Cherrin, president of North Coast Strategies and Cherrin Law GroupWriter: Jon Zemke

Royal Oak plans to add 2 buildings to historic district

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 21, 2009

Two of Royal Oak's most notable homes are up for historic designation, the Orson Starr and George & Anna Hilzinger houses."We have styles of houses that were important to the population that was moving into Royal Oak at the time," says Ruth Cleaveland, chair of the Royal Oak Historic District Commission. "Over the years some of them were altered or town and are gone. There is no lasting impression."The Orson Starr House is possibly the oldest house in Royal Oak. Orson and Rhonda Starr created the first settlement in Royal Oak Township in 1831. They built a log cabin at what is now 13 Mile Road and Main Street on an 80-acre plot, and a wood frame house in 1845 at 3123 N Main, one block south of 13 Mile, which still stands today.The house has gone through several different phases. It served as the Starr family house until the early 20th Century, even serving time as a residence and funeral home. It was transformed into a bungalow in 1915 before being returned to its original design in 1982 by the Royal Oak Historic Commission. The other structure is the George & Anna Hilzinger house at 211 Knowles. George is the descendant of William Hilzinger, a local electric entrepreneur and cobbler in the late 19th Century. The family is also known as the one that ran Hilzinger Hardware store in downtown Royal Oak for most of the 20th Century.The Wood family from Britain built the New England Classic Cottage style house in 1864 at 126 Phillips Street. George & Anna Hilzinger bought it after that and moved it to Knowles so it could make room for the Daily Tribune building in 1946.The Royal Oak City Council added both of these buildings to the city's historic district. Source: Ruth Cleaveland, chair of the Royal Oak Historic District CommissionWriter: Jon Zemke

Medical marijuana in Royal Oak

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 14, 2009

Royal Oak is considering a medical marijuana growing zone and requiring sellers to push the product out of a storefront. Stoners, hold on to your bongs -- this would be for medical purposes only.Excerpt: "It will allow patients a safe, reliable place to access their medicine," said medical marijuana user Nicholas Schantz. The Royal Oak Planning Commission is considering a zoning ordinance that would make it mandatory for medical grass growers to sell their plant product in a store front dispensary in the city's busy business district. "It's the wave of the future, and the economy in this segment is really going to boom. Michigan needs jobs right now and this is one way to put Michigan on the cutting edge of an exciting new industry," Schantz said.Read the entire article here.

Prosper Spotlight: Oakland County’s Economic Outlook Luncheon

By Megan Pennefather

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Arts & Culture

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May 11, 2009

Yes, there is a light at the end of the economic tunnel, say forecasters. If the county can bear a few more months of hardship, it will be poised to emerge more prosperous than ever.

GREEN SPACE: Commuter Challenge week gets you out of your car (at least alone!)

By Newsroom

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Health

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May 7, 2009

Have you ever flirted with the thought of not driving -- or at least not alone -- to and from work each day? Well, next week has been tailor made for you.SEMCOG -- that's Southeast Michigan's metropolitan planning organization -- is promoting Commuter Challenge week with a variety of ways for commuters to participate.First off, signing up. You can attend the Commuter Fair at Campus Martius in Downtown Detroit on Friday, May 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign up in person and get some cool promo goodies. If you can't make it, head to SEMCOG.org/MIrideshare to sign up and then record your progress through the week.As if living better is not reward enough, there are some serious prizes on the table for participants. The Grand Prize is a one night stay at the Ren Cen Marriott along with meals at Signature Grill and 42 Degree North Restaurant. Other prizes include gift cards to Hard Rock Cafe, Fishbones, Opus One and Bookie's Tavern. There's also an iPod, a 31-day SMART bus pass, and Night Move passes.Now starts the week. Every day has a special focus, although all forms of alternative commuting -- car- and vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking and telecommuting -- are encouraged all week long. Saturday, May 9 - National Train Day At Amtrak stations across the country, and locally at the Detroit Amtrak Station (at W. Baltimore and Woodward in New Center), rail supporters will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Come by between 9 a.m. and noon to witness a presentation from the Mayor of Detroit followed by train exhibits, trip planning and much more. Monday, May 11 – Carpool / Vanpool / Flextime Day Explore your options about saving money with carpooling and vanpooling from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Compuware. There will be gas card prizes and info about pick-up and drop-off places and routes. Tuesday, May 12 – People Mover Day The Detroit People Mover will hold its first ever Midway - Lunchtime Carnival. Arcade games will be located at four People Mover stations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a chance to win, yes, prizes. The stations are: Renaissance Center, Cobo Center, Michigan Avenue and Financial District. Wednesday, May 13 – Ride the Bus Day Haven't tried the bus yet? It can be intimidating, but this is the day to try it. There are guided morning bus rides from several locations throughout the region, Bus 101 info sessions and even some free bus passes. Thursday, May 14 – Walking Day - Grand Opening of the Dequindre Cut Join the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and its partners in celebrating the official opening of the Dequindre Cut Greenway. A grand opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Woodbridge St. entrance of the Cut followed by food, activities and entertainment taking place at all three entrances of the Cut (Woodbridge St., Lafayette St., Gratiot Ave.) until 2 p.m. Enjoy cooking demonstrations from Eastern Market, guided walking tours of the Dequindre Cut from Inside Detroit and much more. Friday, May 15 – Bicycle Day - Annual Bike-to-Work Ride Join dozens of other cyclists and ride your bicycle to work downtown along Woodward (from Royal Oak or Ferndale) or Jefferson (from Grosse Pointe or Indian Village). A great way to get exercise and see the city in a new way, while commuting to work. Details are at the Detroit Bikes! website. Save some gas, lower your carbon footprint...it's all good!Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

State plans to upgrade Woodward crosswalks at 12 Mile

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 7, 2009

Crossing Woodward Avenue isn’t for the faint of heart, but even those people will have an easier time now that the Michigan Department of Transportation has approved a new crosswalk improvement project in Oakland County.MDOT plans to improve the 12 Mile Road/Woodward intersection between Royal Oak and Berkley. The project will provide more shelter for pedestrians with traffic calming measures and pedestrian countdown crossing signals. The median will also be landscaped.MDOT worked with the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) to plan the project and will work with WA3 to execute it. The $450,000 project could begin as early as next year.Source: Woodward Avenue Action AssociationWriter: Jon Zemke

Royal Oak in Bloom expecting influx of locavores

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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April 30, 2009

New words are being invented all the time for all the new ideas and thoughts and movements that are popping up all over the place. And "locavore" -- Someone who only eats food grown within 100 miles of home -- is another one. Locavores are expected to pack the 16th annual Royal Oak in Bloom May 10. Excerpt: Locavores — people who eat food grown or raised within 100 miles of home — will find vegetables and herb plants offered by as many as half the 60 vendors at the 16th annual Royal Oak in Bloom. This year, vendors expect an increase in locavores. Locavore was the Oxford American Dictionary’s 2007 Word of the Year. From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10, the parking lot by City Hall will be transformed into an open-air market for edible plants, flats of annuals, landscaping plants, and garden art and accessories. The event has become a Mother's Day tradition for many families. They have breakfast or brunch at downtown restaurants before or after walking around the booths set up at the municipal lot south of 11 Mile Road and east of Main Street. "We think this year more people are interested in vegetable gardening," said Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Shelly Kemp. "They see it as a way to save money, eat the freshest possible food, save energy and gain a sense of personal satisfaction." Read the entire article here.