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By Kim Marrone
Director of Economic Development & Planning, City of Oak Park

IN OAK PARK, WE CONTINUE TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES SOAR, NOW WITH THE HELP OF A REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The new South Oakland Area Regional (SOAR) Chamber of Commerce primarily serves members in Oak Park, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge and Hazel Park. SOAR replaces the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and will now better focus on supporting businesses in Oak Park and other surrounding communities by providing networking opportunities, business support and advocacy, community partnerships and professional resources.

The idea to expand the reach of the former Ferndale Chamber of Commerce to Oak Park and beyond began with a meeting between SOAR President/CEO Joy R. Wells and Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan in November of 2019 to discuss logistics. Although the impending pandemic brought some hiccups, it also allowed enough downtime for the creation of SOAR to be worked out.

Since then, the Chamber has held networking events and worked to engage the hundreds of businesses that encompass South Oakland County.

The SOAR Chamber of Commerce is focused on B2B (business-to-business) networking opportunities. Most of the events are designed to encourage members to get to know each other, exchange ideas, and share information about resources, such as virtual Coffee Connections or in-person After Hours networking events. The Chamber offers a monthly e-newsletter, which highlights member businesses and community events. Of course, a business doesn’t have to be located in any one of the primary communities to be a member. I encourage everyone to sign up on their web site to receive their e-newsletters and event notifications. A kickoff networking event will be scheduled in the near future somewhere in Oak Park.

To say I am excited to have the SOAR Chamber of Commerce as a resource to us in Oak Park would be an understatement. When I first began working in the City of Oak Park it was something our business community asked for but never had. We worked off and on with the Ferndale Chamber to include our business community but our businesses never really felt connected. When they made the decision to include other communities and expand into Oak Park, I was elated.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION PROMOTE the economic growth and stability necessary to allow our community to continue to thrive, but it also mirrors many of the same values we have in Oak Park. One of the SOAR Chamber of Commerce’s main tenets is diversity and inclusion, something we work to include in all of our decisions and practice in Oak Park. The SOAR Chamber also puts a high value on partnership, collaboration, connection and service.

The Chamber’s values are not only exhibited in the outreach events and services, but also in those that comprise the Board. Currently, the SOAR Chamber Board of Directors consists of 50 percent business leaders and 50 percent local government officials, all of whom are committed to listening to, identifying and addressing the needs of their communities. In Oak Park, Mayor Marian McClellan and myself sit on the Board and we are looking for local Oak Park business owners who would love to join the board as well. If you are an interested business owner looking to get involved please reach out to me.

With such representation and involvement from Oak Park leaders, and the same commitment from our South Oakland County neighbors, I am certain the SOAR Chamber of Commerce will become the regional heart of economic and community development. The more diverse voices we have at the table, the better prepared we are to secure resources and opportunities for the benefit of all our members.

I cannot wait to see what is in store for this next chapter of economic growth and stability.

To learn more about the SOAR Chamber of Commerce visit www.southoaklandarearegionalcc.org or call (248) 542-2160

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Photo ©2021 by Bennie White

THE OAK PARK CITY COUNCIL IS THE LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNING BODY FOR THE CITY OF OAK PARK. City Council is comprised of a Mayor, a Mayor Pro Tem, and three City Council Members who are elected at-large. The voters elect the Mayor and the City Council Members, while the Mayor Pro Tem position is determined by the greatest number of votes by the voters in the previous election.

Currently, Marian McClellan serves as the Mayor of Oak Park, Julie Edgar serves as the Mayor Pro Tem and Soloman Radner, Carolyn Burns and Shaun Whitehead all serve as Council members. Whitehead is the newest addition to the Council; he was sworn-in in January of 2021 after former Council Member Regina Weiss resigned because she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. From January to November of 2021, Whitehead served as an appointed member to Council because of the timing of the vacancy from Weiss’ resignation. Following the November 2021 election though Whitehead joined his peers as an elected member of Council.

In the last year the Oak Park City Council has witnessed a great deal of change, both in relation to the pandemic and how the City has been transforming. In 2020, Oak Park joined communities across the nation taking precautions to best protect the health and safety of employees and residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City facilities have since opened to the public, but safety measures remain in place. And, despite the challenges COVID has presented a great deal has been accomplished in Oak Park.

“Despite the obstacles presented by Covid, especially the inability to meet in person, we surprisingly accomplished a lot in 2021,” said Mayor Pro Tem Edgar. “We got new trash receptacles to keep our city cleaner, we held steady on water rates, passed a fair housing ordinance, and began planning for a new dog park that could open in the spring.”

Mayor Pro Tem Edgar also serves as a member of the Dog Park subcommittee and City Council liaison to the Parks & Recreation Commission.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS ALSO BEEN BOOMING in Oak Park, a great deal of which is driven by policy.

“Small businesses, especially little restaurants, are the engine of our local economy,” said Mayor McClellan. “And so much of what has been opening in Oak Park has been changing us from a once subpar community to one that is spectacular.”

The new businesses in the Water Tower Social District have brought new food, beer, coffee and additional beverage selections to the City. And, the revitalization of the Nine Mile Corridor is another example of vision, dedication and innovation coming together to further build on Oak Park’s thriving community.

The development of the FedEx Ground Distribution Center at the former Detroit Armory site helped shift Oak Park from a surviving community to one that is thriving. Building on the original 2015 armory site announcement, as of today, the City of Oak Park can officially say that the former Detroit Armory site will now be fully developed in the coming months. Between FedEx, the new Forgotten Harvest headquarters and a newly approved development by OPUS Development Company, Oak Park is again welcoming new businesses.

The site approved for the OPUS spec build out is 17.3 acres, where a 275,484-square-foot warehousing and storage spec building will be constructed.

A diverse community, a dedicated community, a patient community and a community represented by committed, forward thinking and experienced officials have all led to a thriving community. And…more is yet to come!

“The change in this City is astounding,” said Mayor McClellan. “Our trajectory has completely changed, for the better.”

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THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SEAMLESS ELECTION, OAK PARK. Thank you to the 5,098 voters who cast a ballot and supported the democratic process. Thank you to those who supported the City of Oak Park by renewing the Public Safety millage and the Solid Waste millage. Thank you to those who ran for City Council, showing that their dedication to this City is unwavering. Thank you to all the volunteers and Oak Park staff who worked this election, allowing each voice to be heard.

Elections are the crux of the democratic process, a culmination of each voice in a community. In Oak Park we have a diverse community, one where I am proud to say each voice is heard and represented. This election reaffirmed that those elected to represent the best interest of Oak Park have considered the individual needs of residents while also focusing on the long-term vision and success of the community. As the City Manager, I am grateful for the trust the City Council and the community has instilled in me to help transform Oak Park.

And, as the 39th City Council was sworn-in on Nov. 8, with Marian McClellan as Mayor and Carolyn Burns and Shaun Whitehead as Council Members and Julie Edgar as Mayor Pro-Tem, I am certain we will continue to push forward on the path of excellence.

FOR A COMMUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, many factors must align. Community goals, short-term and long-term visions, practicing of the policies preached, funding to implement the policies and projects, and trust and patience in those elected and appointed to serve. In Oak Park, the stars have aligned for this success and as we move into the next phase of optimization, I am eager to see how our community continues to come together, building on our diverse pool of ideas.

As my excitement for Oak Park’s future continues to build, I must congratulate Mayor McClellan and Council Members Burns and Whitehead for their success at the polls. The resounding confidence this community has in our leaders is a sign of greater things to come.

I also want to congratulate the leaders of our neighboring communities who were elected, and re-elected too. For Oak Park, Southeast Oakland County and the entire Metropolitan Detroit Region we must be able to work together with our neighbors, to share ideas, collaborate and celebrate each other’s successes, for if one of us is successful, we all are.

AND FINALLY, WHILE I HAVE EXPRESSED MY GRATITUDE for the passage of the Public Safety and Solid Waste millage renewals, I must take a moment to highlight what this means for Oak Park. With the support of these fundamental funding mechanisms, residents will continue to receive the services they have come to expect, such as community policing and environmentally friendly solid waste practices.

And, with these services being supported by millage revenues we will continue to not only provide them, but also utilize our General Fund dollars to support additional services and projects to optimize Oak Park.

So, thank you again Oak Park for showing up to support your community and helping us to continue down our path of excellence.

Sincerely, City Manager Erik Tungate
City Of Oak Park

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Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

NINE YEARS AGO, CITY MANAGER ERIK TUNGATE told me that when economic development reaches a certain level it gains momentum and starts snowballing. Looking around at our stagnant City in 2011, it didn’t seem likely. Fast-forward to now and that stagnation has turned into momentum, and now Oak Park is where it’s happening. Many years of gathering community input, detailed planning, acquiring funding, ordering equipment and installing it are culminating right now. It’s an exciting time to be in Oak Park.

This momentum has occurred because of several different projects, ideas, and of course bountiful support. First, we began to beautify the City by planting gardens of cheerful yellow sunflowers. Flowerpots on main streets also started to appear, bringing pops of color and the feeling that folks around here cared about keeping up appearances. Spirits were raised and hope was reborn.

Then, new City signs sprung up. The tacky cyclone fencing at I-696 and Coolidge was replaced by a memorable, award-winning gateway to the City of Oak Park. It brands and beautifies the City and welcomes walkers and those on bikes.

Improvements to Nine Mile Road have also been creating momentum. The Nine Mile Redesign is changing the trajectory of that neighborhood. The street diet, the new trailhead, pocket parks, bike lanes and back-in parking for businesses and the attractively landscaped pocket parks at Sherman and Seneca are among the new amenities helping us to attract families to that area. The linear park on the south side of Nine Mile will only encourage more families to visit the area. Lovely new fencing in that area also has added some visual unity.

ELEVEN MILE ROAD IS ALSO GETTING A MAKEOVER; It has been rezoned so abandoned tool-and-dye shops can be reborn as bistros like Oak Park Social, breweries like Dog & Pony Show Brewing and Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, and an upscale coffee/entertainment center called Berkley Coffee in Oak Park. We also are taking advantage of the new state law that allows Social Districts, encouraging people to visit the local businesses and meander from one to the next. This once under-used district is transforming into a fun destination for young folks, though my husband who is not so young also loves going to Dog & Pony for a coke and some BBQ.

While we love our businesses and improving our corridors, we also love our parks and our dogs in Oak Park. I know from walking and talking to voters that we own a lot of dogs in Oak Park. And, with such a population a dog park only seemed appropriate. The Dog Park Committee of the Recreation Commission is making plans for a beautiful dog park on Scotia past Albany for dogs of all sizes. With plans on this plugging way, we hope to have more updates too.

Other projects of interest that are helping to popularize Oak Park forward include supporting new housing alternatives to meet the needs of young professionals who prefer to bike or bus around without car costs. The City has secured one loft development for Nine Mile right by a bus stop and a Mogo Station.

WITH SO MUCH PLANNED WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO THE FUTURE for ways to maximize our development dollars by cooperating with neighboring cities and writing grants together to benefit the region. We are also working with Berkley and Huntington Woods to qualify for beautification grants and road diet funds. We will be adding specialized gardens that absorb flood water in the city. I’m very proud of these multi-City initiatives!

Our diverse, friendly residents are our greatest asset in attracting young singles, couples and families. We are developing Oak Park in accordance with our vision based on our hometown values. A great deal of new infrastructure, new events and new energy has already happened or is in final planning stages. The best is yet to come.

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Photos ©2021 by Bennie White

THOSE DRIVING ALONG NINE MILE RD IN RECENT WEEKS have witnessed a ninja-like play structure popup, lollipop-inspired structures lining parts of the park, and several other play structures finding their permanent placement.

All of these structures along the Nine Mile Linear Park are meant to bring inspiration, fun and enjoyment to those who live in and visit Oak Park. The sensory panels will increase awareness and social interaction, the ninja warrior course will increase children’s agility (and fun) and the other amenities will allow for spinning, jumping, swinging, and bouncing!

For the Linear Park, a great deal of research and review was conducted by City officials and industry professionals to ensure it is safe for use by children, families and the community as a whole. Additionally, in the Spring, landscaping will be installed to serve as an additional buffer between the equipment and the road, and fencing will soon be placed around the Sensory Station. The City will also be installing additional traffic-calming measures on Nine Mile to complement the ones installed at the beginning the Nine Mile Redesign project. Safety is the highest priority of this park, followed by fun of course!

To add to the fun, several pieces of public art will also soon be added, providing more beauty for the community to enjoy. And, while the addition on the Linear Park certainly signifies transformation of the Nine Mile Corridor, this is just the latest improvement.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THIS AREA HAS BEEN TRULY TRANSFORMED, with dedicated bike lanes, a road diet, lovely pocket parks and a stately trailhead. And wait – there’s more! Following the completion of the Linear Park, a connector park along the Linear Park, between Troy Street and Nine Mile Road, will also be added. Once complete, this small passthrough park will act as an extension of the Linear Park, connecting the neighborhood to the south to the Nine Mile Corridor. It will include many new play elements for children:

• Small Zip Line – A fun way for kids to travel from one end of the park to the other.

• “Sensory panels” – Proven to increase awareness and social interaction.

• Two play features (one spinning, one bouncing) that are accessible to children with mobility devices (for example a wheelchair).

Amenities for adults also being added include benches and a picnic table (accessible by wheelchairs) to relax in the shade.

The Nine Mile Redesign is a largely grant-funded public improvement project that aims to transform the Nine Mile Corridor into a walkable, vibrant public space packed with amenities for users of all ages and abilities. Through the added amenities discussed above, Oak Park is well on its way to completing the original vision.

All of the incremental pieces of the Nine Mile Redesign are coming together to create a string of meaningful public spaces for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to visit, stay, play and shop. Together, Oak Park is revitalizing the Nine Mile Corridor by providing the amenities and increased recreational opportunities residents desire, ultimately sparking a new beginning for Oak Park.

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By Mary Meldrum

FORGOTTEN HARVEST IS CELEBRATING THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS AT 15000 8 MILE ROAD (at Hubble, a quarter-mile east of Greenfield). The new campus is a 78,000-square-foot purpose-specific building large enough to bring all their employees under the one roof. The warehouse will have ample space to house, sort and refrigerate more fresh nutritious food for Metro Detroiters. Chris Ivey has been with Forgotten Harvest since 2018, helping to make sure no one in Metro Detroit needlessly goes hungry. Chris’ daily responsibilities include marketing and communications both internally and externally for Forgotten Harvest. He also recruits volunteers and works with the Development Department as they do fundraising for the organization.

“This new warehouse will have volunteer opportunities for approximately 60-70 people a day. We have two ways Forgotten Harvest accepts food.” One method is receiving large bulk loads from distributors and manufacturers. They also have their grocery trucks, the smaller box trucks that travel to Kroger, Trader Joes, Meijer’s and Costco where they rescue nutritious food from those organizations. This includes the “seconds” or the ugly or bruised fruits, which are all still edible, just not the prettiest.

Chris goes on to explain the new warehouse: “Right now, the grocery rescue is picked up in morning and delivered in the afternoon. With the new model, all the food will be brought into the new warehouse, sorted by food type and mixed more equitably at every distribution site with the larger bulk loads, so they can be delivered daily in a more equitable mix of food types to every location. This will result in a more balanced plate for everyone receiving our services,” explains Chris.

“Right now their distribution network looks very balanced, but if you look down the line, not every distribution place gets the same type of food. Forgotten Harvest is a large organization and reconfiguring the distribution process is a big job. The goal is to make sure each delivery site gets a balanced nutritional plate. We don’t order our food. We get what we get. Right now, we will have a lot of potatoes, onions and things like that. With the new model we will have a better variety and deliver the right food at the right pace at the right time.

“WE SHOULD HAVE THE WHOLE STAFF UNDER ONE ROOF by next Summer. The pandemic proved that the access and distribution network is very fragile because it’s led by volunteers. The access points to the services we provide are the biggest challenge. To have a distribution point in every neighborhood is the need and our goal.”

As Chris explains, “We can’t make it sustainable, and then all of a sudden we’re not there. We have to set it up to keep it up, once a community starts to count on us.”

The other challenge is volunteers. Fortunately, last year Forgotten Harvest had over 13,000 volunteers who gave 55,000 volunteer hours. They always need more and look to corporate, church groups, youth groups, etc. to help out.

When asked about his vision for Forgotten Harvest, Chris shared that “A peek into the future of the organization has me super excited. Our strategic plan will be Board-certified soon. Next June we will be into the new building. It’s a sense of excitement for where we are going.”

Chris is a long-time Metro Detroit resident and the father of two daughters, one in college in Michigan and one a junior in high school. Chris takes advantage of as much of Michigan’s offerings as he can.

Forgotten Harvest
21800 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, MI 48237
Phone: (248) 967-1500 | Fax: (248) 967-1510

 

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By Jane McNamara

THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS HAS BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE LAST YEAR with resilience and strength. The Recreation Department and Library continue to quickly adapt to the changing circumstances created by the pandemic. The City has also welcomed many new staff members that have quickly embraced the community.

The Library is open for 30-minute visits and curbside service is still available. Programs are being offered as a mix of in-person and online. Storytime has continued as well as special youth events such as Super Saturdays. Adult programming has resumed in-person with a bevy of interesting lectures. The City also welcomed a new Children’s Librarian, Calla Sundin, to the community over the summer.

The Recreation Department never stopped providing fun to residents. Our Teen Council has resumed in-person meetings and continues to organize and sponsor community service and events. Senior programming, like weekly films and lunch-bunch has begun again in-person. Residents can look forward to exciting events throughout the year. Information is available by checking the City’s newsletter, the Hometown Herald, and by signing up for the City’s weekly e-blasts at www.hwmi.org.

Adults and children alike can enjoy the new Gaga Ball Pit at Burton Field, brought to the community by Seamus Lux as his Eagle Scout project. The Recreation Department also welcomed Lauren Fletcher as Program Specialist. If you see Lauren at the Rec., give her a warm welcome!

THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE MASTER PLAN. The Planning Commission, staff, residents and planners have all played an integral role. The Master Plan will incorporate the Anti-Racism Plan and values established last year to ensure future development is committed to justice, fairness, and peace for all. The innovative ideas brought to the Commission during the planning process will mean that Huntington Woods continues to become more vibrant and welcoming.

Public Works has continuously worked hard to make sure that infrastructure is updated and services maintained. Residents can now enjoy new infrastructure and roads after a construction-heavy Summer, brought to you by the additional funds in the general fund after the Public Safety millage was passed. During the storms in July and August, crews worked tirelessly to clear trees and keep the community safe. City staff also opened the doors of City Hall to function as a cooling and charging center.

Residents will be met with some new faces at City Hall as well. Jane Kaminski will welcome you at the front desk and help take care of building permits and general inquiries. Michelle Jenny will answer water billing and property tax questions and concerns. As always, residents can continue to utilize the drop boxes for bills and election materials.

The City Commission continues the search for City Manager. The diligent search will ensure that the wonderful legacy that Amy Sullivan left will be continued. Stay up to date on all City happenings by visiting the City’s Facebook Page, e-blast and website.

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By Torri Matthes

BERKLEY PARKS & RECREATION TAKES PRIDE IN BEING A SMALL BUT MIGHTY DIVISION in a vibrant and active city. Berkley is home to nine parks (seven of which fall under Parks & Recreation’s supervision), eight baseball fields, ten tennis courts, and a Community Center.

The Department consists of five full-time staff and a number of part-time staff who work within the Community Center, our outdoor maintenance team, summer day camp, and senior transportation. Staff also partner with community groups, youth league sports organizations, and many others to offer a variety of recreation services including over 100 youth, adult, and senior programs and activities throughout the year.

Following the community’s 2021-2025 Recreation Master Plan, Parks & Recreation is working to implement and update new play equipment, improve seating and picnic facilities, increase accessibility in parks and open spaces and increase more shade and trees within the parks.

Over the past year, the Parks & Recreation Department eagerly held a park-naming contest and grand opening for Berkley’s new Oxford Park that contains a new restroom facility, walking paths, new play equipment, and splash pad which opened in June 2021.

Additionally, the Department installed a new play structure and play equipment at the Tot Lot Park in Spring 2021, and a new play structure will be coming to the Community Park in Fall 2021.

The Berkley Parks & Recreation Department works because of our dedicated staff and wonderful volunteers who all love Berkley and come together to provide great experiences for the residents and those in surrounding communities.

 

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BERKLEY IS THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER REAL ESTATE IN METRO DETROIT. The city’s expanding effort for inclusivity has made it home to more than 15,000 residents and embodies an undeniable urban vibe with beautiful tree-lined streets.

Nestled within 2.62 square miles of choice locality surrounding a charming downtown, Berkley has been called one of the best places to raise a family, one of the safest cities in Michigan and, most recently, designated as Michigan’s #1 Suburb by GoBankingRates in 2021.

The City offers a slate of full-service amenities to residents and visitors alike while preserving the warmth of a small tight knit town. Residents enjoy living close to beautiful park spaces, attending a variety of citywide events, exploring a revitalized downtown district, and the walkability of an affordable suburban city.

Berkley has become a prime location for both commuters and independent entrepreneurs who have created a unique and charming downtown filled with independent retailers, restaurateurs, and tavern-keepers. With this, our Berkley Downtown Development Authority (DDA) serves as the City’s economic development arm helping new businesses start up and existing businesses thrive and grow in Berkley’s downtown district.

THE DDA SUPPORTS OUR BUSINESSES WITH GRANT PROGRAMS, design support, advertising initiatives, streetscape improvements, as well as by hosting a variety of different events to showcase our vibrant downtown. The DDA district consists of businesses along 12 Mile Road between Coolidge Highway and Greenfield Road, and Coolidge Highway between 11 Mile Road and 12 Mile Road.

Explore all that Berkley has to offer by visiting www.berkleymich.org.

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By Sara E. Teller

ODD FELLOWS’ ANTIQUES OPENED IN 2000, RECALLED CATHY GAGNON, aunt of owners Don and Virginia Vensel. But the building’s history itself dates back much further. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) began in 18th Century England when it was highly unusual to find people helping others in need without recognition. Thus, anyone who decided to go this route was considered “odd.”

Since 1923, the Berkley building served as the Odd Fellows’ meeting hall and, thus, the name carried over when it became a retail shop. The IOOF motto is “Friendship, Love & Truth,” symbolized by triple links, which are visible on the 1923 cornerstone of the building.

With third-party antique and collectible dealers now setting up 50 booths and selling an eclectic array of everything from timeless furniture to vintage records, linens and books, Depression era and Mid-Century modern knick-knacks, toys, and many more one-of-a-kind finds, there’s lots to explore. And that is precisely why Odd Fellows’ Antiques is a prime go-to for Berkley residents to hang out, even if it’s just in between appointments.

“It’s a nice, friendly family setting,” Gagnon said. “We have a lot of people who just stop in to sit down. Some come in between their doctor appointments, or while they’re waiting for test results at Beaumont down the street and need to fill the time.”

WHEN ODD FELLOWS’ ANTIQUES FIRST BEGAN, IT ENCOMPASSED ONLY THE FIRST FLOOR of the building. Soon after, it branched into the bottom level as interest grew and inventory blossomed. Now, there are two stories of antiques to browse, and the space is at max capacity. As a bonus, the building sits directly adjacent to Clark’s Ice Cream shop and the well-known outdoor area in between with an arrangement of vintage seating to enjoy a cone or simply rest on those warm summer days.

The pandemic has somewhat changed how Odd Fellows’ does business. As a shop that invites in many elderly patrons, the owners are extra cautious. They require that everyone, vaccinated or not, wear masks and they, themselves, follow strict cleaning protocols and distancing guidelines. As far as interest in what the shop has to offer, that has never waned.

“We would just hate to see someone bring it home to their grandchildren who can’t get vaccinated, you know?” Gagnon said. She added that Odd Fellows’ has “excellent customer care” in general and “takes extra time and care to wrap all items.” She and the Vensels enjoy being in Berkley because of the “open, close knit, and friendly community.” They have acquired a regular following and always welcome newcomers who wander in from time to time.

Odd Fellows’ is a member of the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce and is typically involved in many community events throughout the year. Unfortunately, as Gagnon explained, involvement over the last couple of years has diminished amid the pandemic. She is hoping to see more of this happening again soon.

The antique mall generally holds a couple special merchandise sales in January and later in the year. Patrons can subscribe to the store’s mailing list to receive an email with exact dates. For more information about Odd Fellows’ Antiques, 3248 12 Mile Rd., please visit oddfellowsantiques.com, or call 248.399.6098.

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