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ON MARCH 10TH, 2020, VOTES APPROVED A $125 MILLION BOND TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. DUE TO RISING PROPERTY VALUES AND EXPIRING DEBT, THIS BOND WAS MADE POSSIBLE AT NO TAX INCREASE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

While the bond will ensure every classroom in the District is updated, the most significant investment is the construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art Ferndale Lower Elementary School. The District is pleased to report the progress on the building and has plans to welcome students in the Fall of 2024.

The new Ferndale Lower Elementary at 90,000 square feet will be 50 percent larger than the current building and will expand classroom sizes while integrating high-efficiency heating, cooling and advanced classroom technology for every student. The design also features exterior spaces for outdoor learning and has incorporated some nostalgic elements from the existing school building.

CONSTRUCTION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2023, AND YOU CAN TAKE A VIRTUAL “FLY-THROUGH” OF THE BUILDING and outdoor spaces right now at www.FerndaleSchools.org/bond. While small modifications may be made during construction, this video will give you a great look at what to expect from the new Ferndale Lower Elementary.

To learn more about all of the bond projects please visit our Ferndale Schools web page where we update the community on all of our bond projects as they are completed www.ferndaleschools.org/bondprojects.

To all of our neighbors, thank you for your steadfast commitment to ensuring our students have the optimal learning environment. Your investment in their future will be the bedrock of our lifelong-learning community for generations to come.

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By Jill Hurst
Photo by David McNair

“Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell About It.”

THE LINES ABOVE ARE POET MARY OLIVER’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING. I COULDN’T SAY IT BETTER, SO I DIDN’T.

Ten years ago we fell backwards off a ladder in New York City and landed in Ferndale. When we staggered to our feet and looked around, we weren’t quite sure what to make of it.

One thing we liked from the beginning was the sunrise over the rail-yard at the end of our street. The rail yard runs parallel to Fair Park, which was a tiny, sad pocket of debris and graffiti when we moved here. In a gentle show of thoughtful progress, as opposed to thoughtless change, Fair Park has been freshened up over the years. Pine trees, a small art installation. Talk of a wildflower garden. It is a place of short meditative walks and friendly meet-ups. We have enjoyed watching Fair Park take a breath and own its unique place in town.

We were a little ragged back then, just like the park. There were those who looked at us with wary disdain because we are – eeeks – renters! And, yikes, look at the graffiti of bumper stickers on the back of our (paid-for) VW Passat station wagon.

Anyway, we learned to enjoy the raised eyebrows, partly because we found a small group of kind folks who took us in, gave us shelter. The landlady who had nothing to gain from renting to us, but said “I like everything about it,” the friend who sent me to my job at Bubble & Bark, which served as a haven and sanctuary for my entire family for almost nine of the past ten years. A sanctuary with dogs and pie.

WHILE BUBBLE PROVIDED SHELTER AND DAILY RITUALS, my other job with Ferndale Friends gave me a reason to walk the streets and fulfilled my need to become acquainted with every person and visitor in this town. I loved each meeting, I agonized over the writing and gained new respect for postal workers and paper delivery folks during my brief time as a “hurler.”

Bubble and Bark closed last Fall and Ferndale Friends publisher Stephanie Loveless hopes to retire after this year. Big changes. I will carry both in my heart and soul forever. I wrote about Bubble and Bark for this issue, but wanted someone who has known Steffie longer and worked more closely with her to share thoughts. I turned to my dear friend and former FF editor Jeff Lilly for this.

Jeff said, “Stephanie Loveless has always been committed to the ideals of small journalism – its importance in covering the local stories, the everyday stories, the quirky and challenging stories that larger news outlets ignore, the counterculture, the controversies, and the upcoming people, places, and things that are woefully under-represented. It’s one thing to be aware, to read and consume. It’s something else entirely to produce, with limited time and resources, beating bushes for leads, for revenue and advertisers, for supplies. Then there’s the problem of distribution! But on foot, or by bike, she made it happen. It’s an all-day, everyday, thankless sort of job, but Steffie has risen to the challenge, lived and breathed it, from the days of Jam Rag to Ferndale Friends, so many years of toil and trouble to create her uniquely strange brew. She’s enlightened her community, and for that we owe her many thanks.”

Thank you, Steffie and Sue. Yes, yes, I’m late. I keep looking for that e-mail “Hurst, you’re killing me!”. Okay. Hitting send.

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By Jill Hurst

Farewell to Ferndale’s Beloved Bubble & Bark

MY EIGHT YEARS AT BUBBLE AND BARK WERE A SOAP WRITER’S DREAM: CORE FAMILIES, COMPLICATED HEROES, MISUNDERSTOOD VILLAINS, SEXY ESCAPE ARTISTS AND “ROOT FOR” SUPER-COUPLES.

With characters named Miracle Curry, Lola Lapierre and Porkchop Skillman, and life, death and everything in between, who wouldn’t want to watch?

In 2006, our “root for” super-couple, Kelly McKinstry and Julie Andrews, had a “long-term story objective.” To build a place they’d be comfortable bringing their own dogs. They did some location-scouting before settling on the space at 686 Livernois.

Kelly: “From the minute we walked into the building, I knew. It always felt like home.” This was a good thing, because they lived at Bubble for the first three-and-a-half years!

At the beginning, it was just “the girls” as J. and K. are known around town, along with groomer Robin Serrano. As they built the business from the ground up, welcoming dogs (early cast included Coogi, Peanut Butter and Sunshine, Ernie, Cooper S, Daphne, Opal, Bruiser) and parents into the Bubble family, they realized that they needed to expand the “supporting cast,” and started to hire staff. We all arrived with different “character motivation” but we had one thing in common: The dogs.

A FEW FLASHBACKS FROM STAFF:

Matt Webb: “Bubble & Bark was a really special place for me. Kelly and Julie hired me at a time of life when so many others wouldn’t and that allowed me to build the life I wanted. There were so many dogs I loved being able to spend my days with and I still think about and miss to this day,” including Dexter S, Samson K, Bailey C, Cooper S., Rodney Dean, whose back story included a long stint at an animal hospital.

“I drove in horrible snow conditions to Bubble & Bark for a job interview and they hired me on Christmas Day 2008. The best part of the job was that at Bubble & Bark the dogs were actually happy to see me. One of my favorite moments was when I realized that one of the ‘non- human friendly’ boarding dogs finally accepted my love after about a week of me laying on the floor and talking to the dog. Working for BBark also heightened my love for little dogs, as I was a big-dog kinda’ guy.”

Then, from the last two workers cast;

Maggie Kozma: “Julie and Kelly welcomed me into a family when they hired me. Working there felt like being part of a team of ‘star seeds’.”

Seth Kalis: “My favorite memory would be the time Kuma’s mom told me how Kuma doesn’t typically like men he doesn’t know but he loved me. That really made me feel I was helping make a little bit of difference in Kuma and his mom’s life…I learned what it’s like to have a job I’m truly proud of.”

Me? I have so many favorite memories: The Christmas tree, the smell of Oats-for-Coats shampoo, the sound effects of the Friday dance party…but my favorite thing about Bubble and Bark was a recurring storyline that involved dogs who needed a place to be in times of trouble or transition.

Megan Roby: “Julie and Kelly were always willing to be a resource to those in need.” Sometimes they were dogs we’d known for years, sometimes they made their entrance after a house fire or days of living in their parents’ car because of sudden homelessness. Sometimes the owner could pay at the end of their story arc. Sometimes they couldn’t. No matter. “Where else would they go?” said Julie.

The first time I experienced this, I knew the Bubble & Bark show was a show worth watching. The joy and tears and laughter it brought to its family of dogs and the audience of staff and parents was something we were all lucky to be a part of.

When you let yourself love with all your heart, there’s a chance your heart will break at some
point. That is what happened when Bubble got their “cancellation notice” in 2022. We had to figure out how to write our final episode. I’ll never forget the faces of the parents as the girls delivered the news.

CALLS WERE MADE, CLEANING HAPPENED. The daycare staff handed out tiny index cards with the dogs’ friends written on them, so that best friends could stay in touch. People came in to get some final bench chat time with Julie. The dogs played, blissfully unaware.

On Friday, September 30, 2022 the dogs had their last dance party and Bubble & Bark pulled the shades and locked the door for the last time. Most of the daycare cast had Covid the last week, so Julie and Kelly ended as they started, working together from open-to-close.

Looking back, Julie talked about meeting and falling in love with the dogs, following them through their lives and watching them get old. The parents? “They trusted us with their dogs. That was huge. An honor.”

Kelly recounts the end of the move out. It was 4:00 A.M. “There was such an amazing moon, the building was glowing. I looked at it and thought, ‘Goodnight Bubble’.”

In the Fall of 2006, Julie Andrews and Kelly McKinstry opened Bubble & Bark. They created more than just a terrific dog show. They created a gathering place, a sanctuary. On behalf of the Bubble & Bark community (two- and four– legged) thanks, girls.

 

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By Sara Teller

WHERE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF FERNDALE, LIKE POLICE, FIRE, AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ARE ESTEEMED FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY, THE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY, BRINGS VALUE BY INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS RESIDENTS.

“We measure our success in community engagement and satisfaction with our programs, parks, services, and outreach efforts,” explained Recreation Manager, Emanuel Johnson.

Currently operating out of Incubizo, which is only a few blocks from City Hall, P&R not only provides ongoing community programming, but assists in providing safety shelters and services during severe weather events, mass power outages, evacuations, and other emergencies, and has made efforts to improve outdoor public spaces with paved pathways, adaptable features, and accessible amenities. The Department also offers a Ride SMART/Ferndale Community Transportation program, providing transportation to Ferndale residents throughout the city and within a five-mile radius. The program is open to all residents.

Johnson said, “We provide the community with healthy outlets for all ages and abilities, life-changing experiences, safe spaces, and connections to nature and to each other. In functioning as a dynamic department, we consider ourselves the heart of our community.” The Department’s focus has always been on inclusivity, and staff members strive to ensure all visitors can access and utilize park features. The past few months have brought about many changes – some good, some not so good. For starters, unfortunately, the pandemic reduced available staff to maintain the Kulick Community Center, and it has been permanently closed. The City has slated it to be reverted back to school ownership.

Johnson said of this new development, “Facility problems that already existed were exacerbated and ultimately rendered the facility inoperable.”

In November of last year, former Parks Deputy Director Lisa Bryant also left to take a position with the federal government. Since her departure, P&R has welcomed two full-time staff members – Robert Burch, from the City of Pontiac, now serving as Deputy Director, and Program Specialist Matthew King, who leads youth and adult sports programming.

STILL TO COME IN 2023, JOHNSON SAID, “WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF POSITIONS that we are looking to fill in the next few months. Specifically, we’ll be looking to hire two part-time recreation aides, a new seasonal camp director, and several seasonal camp counselors for our thriving summer camp program. Our team members share a passion for serving the community and work hard to bring programs, improvements, and joy to every resident and participant. We work to provide a space where our staff can bring their whole self to work to help make magical moments for the community.”

2023 will also mark the first year in which the splash pad at Martin Road Park will open for a full summer season. The pad will be available to the public every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10:00 A.M to 8:00 .PM.

“We’re hoping to kick-start [the season with] our concessions stand and offer the community some delicious food options at Martin Road during park hours,” Johnson said. “We’re also looking forward to our upcoming special events that include the return of our Gravity Art Fair & Skate Contest on June 10, our Movies in the Park series, and our annual Ferndale Fall Festival on October 7.”

IN ADDITION TO THESE FESTIVITIES, P&R IS WORKING HARD TO SOLIDIFY THE REMAINDER of 2023’s sports leagues and is continuing to ramp up amenities and programming opportunities.

“Residents should look for- ward to the Wilson Park Improvement Project, which begins construction in late-spring or early-summer and will see amenities add- ed to the park that include a new walking path, a new shade structure, a new basketball court, parking lot improvements, and a new accessible water fountain, among others,” Johnson said.

The Wilson project is backed by more than $300,000 in grant funding that Department staff worked hard to secure over the past four years. Grant-funders include the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Oakland County, the Community Foundation’s Ralph C. Wilson Legacy Grant, and America in Bloom.

“We’ve also secured grant funding to help sup- port several future projects at other parks, so keep an eye out for upcoming announcements,” he added. “We are continuing to utilize our community partners to offer some of our programs (shout out to Ferndale Public Schools) as we continue to plan for a new home for our Parks & Recreation operations.”

FERNDALE’S P&R DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS and donations to continue bringing free family events like EGGstravaganza and Movies in the Park to Ferndale residents. The staff welcomes residents to apply for a position on the Parks & Recreation Commission (P&RC), a volunteer board made up of Ferndalians who advise, provide input, and suggest direction for Parks & Recreation programs and projects. Anyone looking to volunteer for one or more events can also add their name to the volunteer contact list available online.

“For donations, please feel free to add any dollar amount during checkout when registering for any of our programming online,” Johnson said. He added, “We’re continuously working to seek and secure funding to improve our parks, public spaces, programs, services, and offerings. We work hard to secure sponsorships and grants for our programs and projects to help minimize their impact on resident tax dollars. If any business is interested in sponsoring a program or park feature, contact Director LaReina Wheeler at lwheeler@ferndalemi.gov.”

The Parks & Recreation Department can also be reached Monday through Saturday at 248-544-6767 or via email at recreation@ferndalemi.gov.

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THE OAK PARK PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME STAFF CHANGES, BUT THOSE JOINING THE TEAM, AND RETIRING OUT, HAVE SEVERAL TRAITS IN COMMON. THE MOST IMPORTANT? THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE OAK PARK COMMUNITY TO ENSURE SAFETY.

Oak Park Public Safety Sgt. Walter Duncan being honored

“The Oak Park Department of Public Safety has always taken pride in recruiting the best and the brightest in the Public Safety profession,” said Public Safety Director Steve Cooper. “There is no better illustration of this than the officers who either have retired or are retiring in the immediate future.

“Each one of these officers has carved out distinguished careers and I am extremely proud to have served along-side them. Although their departure will be sorely missed, we look forward to the development of our newer officers as they prepare to take over these leadership roles. The Oak Park Department of Public Safety has always and will continue to place a premium on honesty, integrity, dedication, hard work, customer service, building positive relationships, etc.”

RECENT OAK PARK PUBLIC SAFETY RETIREMENTS:

  • Sgt. Maureen Bergman: Retired after 25 years of service in Sept. 2021;
  • Det. Matthew Theisen: Retired after 20 years of service in July 2022;
  • Lt. Samantha Kretzschmar: Retired after 28 years of service in Aug. 2022;
  • Sgt. James Vernier: Retired after 23 years of service in Sept. 2022;
  • Sgt. Walter Duncan: Retired after 23 years of service in Oct. 2022;

NEW OFFICERS SWORN IN ON SEPT. 6:

  • Samuel James: Joined the Oak Park Public Safety Department with six years of prior law
    enforcement experience;
  • Brian Blackburn: Joined department with five years of prior law enforcement experience.

Due to a combination of recent retirements and newly budgeted positions, the City of Oak Park continues to recruit for individuals to join the Public Safety team.

“The City of Oak Park values the rich diverse and inclusive environment that our residents bring to our community. In an effort to mirror that diversity and inclusivity in our workforce, Oak Park continuously recruits the most qualified, diverse and experienced candidates for the position of Public Safety Officer,” said Human Resources and Operations Director Megan Burke. “We understand that by having diverse perspectives ‘at the table,’ we will be able to better serve the best interests of ALL, instead of just a few.”

For more information on open positions in the Public Safety Department visit oakparkmi.gov.

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CITY MANAGER ERIK TUNGATE WAS RECENTLY NAMED THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE EXECUTIVE OF
THE YEAR FOR 2022 BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (ASPA) DETROIT METROPOLITAN CHAPTER.

This award is given annually to individuals whose career in public service has been impactful on the communities they have been chosen to represent and has contributed to the advancement of the public interested and the prestige of the public service profession.

“To serve as a public service professional is a calling and I am honored that my passion for helping others has been recognized by ASPA-Detroit Metropolitan Chapter,” said Tungate.

ASPA’S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE through promoting the value of joining and elevating the public service profession, building bridges among all who pursue public purposes at home and internationally and achieving innovative solutions to the challenges of governance.

“City Manager Tungate is a key leader in public service,” said President-Elect of the ASPA-Detroit Chapter Courtney Flynn. “Through strong fiscal policies, long-term economic development goals and a deep connection to the communities he has served, City Manager Tungate has positively impacted the Metro-Detroit region.”

Tungate has been a committed public servant since 2005, which is when he began his career in public service as the Executive Director of Community & Economic Development for the City of Hamtramck. From there, Tungate went on to serve as the Business Development Manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Senior Project Manager of National Business Attraction for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an Economic Development Officer for Wayne County and Acting City Manager for Hamtramck. Tungate’s success in these positions led him to the role of Oak Park’s City Manager in 2012.

TUNGATE HAS SERVED AS OAK PARK’S CITY MANAGER FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS, a timeframe in which he has bolstered the City’s financial health and implemented policies that allow the community to thrive. Some key examples that highlight how Tungate’s skills and leadership abilities have led to a thriving community include:

  • The once dry City of Oak Park reformed its liquor/alcohol regulations and is now home to two micro-breweries, a social district and other establishments that offer such libations, creating greater opportunities for economic development.
  • The City’s tax base substantially growing, in part, due to economic success. Such economic success includes the full development of the former Detroit Armory Site, and n ew local businesses regularly opening.
  • A focused commitment to the health and wellness of the Oak Park community, which is currently being exemplified by a complete assessment of the City’s parks and recreation amenities through the Elevate Oak Park project. With this project, like all projects in the City, citizen engagement is of the highest priority.
  • The leveraging of resources through working closely with neighboring communities and entities to create more opportunities for community success can be found.

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By Jenn Goeddeke

MEETING CINDY WILSON, THE OWNER OF INNOVATIVE HEARING SERVICES IS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! WE RECENTLY MET FOR COFFEE, WHERE SHE REFLECTED ON HER SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS AN AUDIOLOGIST IN A GENUINE, HUMBLE, AND PROFOUND WAY.

Wilson is enjoying her semi-retirement, having closed the physical doors of her business on June 30th of this year. However, Wilson feels she has plenty more to accomplish in life as she transitions into retirement, and shares details of her career, plus some great advice for those with any type of hearing loss issues.

What is involved in being an audiologist?

My niche has been auditory processing evaluations, which are a special series of tests that look at what you do with what you hear. For example, how’s your ability to sequence; how do you process noise; or how is your auditory memory? There are lots of skills to analyze. If the evaluation could be done without a break, it would take less than two hours. However, most clients need a break.

Four factors overlap: Attention; language; processing; cognition. By the time a client gets to me, there was most likely a problem. I have specialized in working with children diagnosed on the spectrum, too.

What inspired you to enter this field of work?

There were multiple factors. The specific degree I wanted was not offered in Michigan. When I first went to college, I knew that I wanted to work with children. Originally, I took courses in Special Education, then I transferred to regular education classes. But I was not enjoying the classes. So, I took an exam offered by MSU which matches a person’s skills and interests to careers. Then I went through the coursebook, and selected classes based on the top two categories. I made a wonderful choice to study audiology! I lived with a mother who had hearing loss, plus I have a hereditary hearing loss condition for which I had surgery.

How did your career progress?

I started my career at Children’s Hospital in Detroit and moved to private practice in 1999 after my husband died. The business name changed from Innovative Therapy & Hearing Services. I gained a reputation for being able to test the kids nobody else could test! The other population I have served is those who need hearing aids. This involves fitting them, making adjustments, and coaching my clients throughout. I am proud of the work I have done for my patients. I have done a good job and I have loved my career!

What have been some favorite aspects of your career?

Mostly, the satisfaction of helping people in a personal way and forming relationships. I say this because I have worked with entire families, from birth on up to old age. For example, when I have a patient who is a baby, I am naturally seeing the parents also. It’s not just about giving 15 minutes for an appointment. I have been able to decide how to spend my time. Of course, that’s a luxury some don’t have, due to financial demands. I have enjoyed making a difference in patients’ lives.

Have there been any aspects that you have disliked?

I wasn’t cut out to run a business, as I dislike being the boss! Fortunately, I had an employee named Tracy Ravary with me the whole time and she assisted me in all ways. Tracy paid bills, handled the paperwork, and was also my tech with hearing aid check-ups. She is wonderful!

Do you have any advice for those who may need help with their hearing?

I would recommend you visit a qualified audiologist. Not everyone realizes they have hearing loss. Many came to understand this due to the masks worn throughout the Covid19 Pandemic, as they could no longer recognize speech without a visual cue. There may be an aspect of sticker shock, as some aids may cost three to four thousand dollars. I encourage people to consider it as a daily cost, which over three or four years would amount to less than a daily cup of coffee. Additionally, I emphasize that the patient is paying for a high level of technology, plus analysis and customer service.

When should someone reach out to get help with their hearing loss?

Don’t wait for a big problem! It’s best to start wearing a hearing aid when there’s a small issue – then, your brain can adjust more effectively. If you’re not doing well with the hearing aid, go back for modified settings. Or go and see someone else, as a different approach could be night-and-day in results. I know this from personal experience! Possibly, the aid has been adjusted to your Rx level immediately, instead of slowly adapting the strength. The contrast between what you remember hearing, and what you hear today could be so different that everything sounds too loud initially. Modern aids often adjust automatically/electronically, but not all do.

Are there certain ways that people adjust to hearing loss?

Not everyone can adjust at the same pace. There is a lot of grief surrounding hearing loss. I began to ask questions like, “are you here because you noticed a problem, or because your wife noticed?” Often the patient is not feeling it, but the spouse is!

Why did you close your doors?

It became complicated due to what is known as “third-party payers.” I refused to just sell to the highest bidder, leaving my patients to the whim of the world. I needed to know I could send my patients to a place where they could receive a particular type of hearing aid, and it’s not the most common one. I closed my doors on June 30th of this year and gave my patients a list of very competent specialists. It has been disappointing, but I feel good about my choice. I am not fully retired yet, more in transition. I still see some patients, such as pediatric ENT referrals. It’s hard to turn anyone down because I want to help! An alternative is for patients to go to Children’s Hospital for specialized care.

How would someone become an audiologist?

These days, it would require a four-year post-graduate degree, with an undergraduate degree in a health-oriented field. I have a two-year master’s degree and a one-year clinical qualification. I did not need to return for my doctorate later on, as I felt it was unnecessary. You would expect to work with a wider range of ages, from infant through to geriatric.

Would you like to share any additional information or opinions with readers?

Yes, I would like to address over-the-counter hearing aids. There is certainly a big difference in quality. If you have mild hearing loss, it won’t hurt to try this kind of hearing aid. However, the problem is, there’s no evaluation, and no help to figure it out. The counseling part is missing. If the aid is not doing its job, and lands in the drawer, please don’t assume all aids are like that! Hearing aids that I prescribed even had multiple profiles for different experiences, such as music.

Finally, as a segue, Wilson shared information on another of her life passions:

I am a practitioner and instructor of Jin Shin Jyutsu which is light touch energy/healing work to release tension. It is beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit. I have been involved with this for 30 years, and I have a few private patients. I would like to increase my work with this practice.”

We wish Wilson all the best in her future endeavors!

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THIS IS REGINA WEISS, YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE. Over the past two years I have been honored to serve the people of Oak Park, the community that my husband and I have called home since 2013.

We chose to settle in Oak Park because it is such a welcoming and diverse community. Some of my favorite things to do in Oak Park are going to the Oak Park Farmers Market and other city events, riding my bike along the 9 mile bike lanes and through the woods of Shepherd Park, and enjoying a meal from Tai Fai or a drink at Berkley Coffee, Dog & Pony Show, or Unexpected Craft Brewery.

While working in Lansing for you I have been able to help hundreds of people navigate the unemployment insurance agency as well as other state services. I have also fought hard to ensure that our schools and local communities have adequate funding. We are not there yet, but I believe that we have made tremendous strides in the two years that I have been in Lansing.

Please reach out to me if you ever have any ideas for changes to state law, or if you need help navigating state agencies. You can reach out to my office, and my staff and I will be happy to help you. You can send me an email at regina.weiss@house.mi.gov or leave a voicemail at 517-373-0478.

I HAVE ENJOYED SERVING THE ENTIRE OAK PARK COMMUNITY over the past two years,
however that will come to an end in 2023. Every ten years our state redraws the legislative boundaries for our congressional, state senate, and state house districts in a process called redistricting.

In 2021, for the first time ever, this process was not done by the legislature but was instead handled by a group of citizens through the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. While this process was not perfect, I believe that the end results were better than what an overly partisan Lansing legislature would have come up with.

Although I won my election in November, I will no longer be serving the entire community of Oak Park due to redistricting. While I am disappointed that redistricting has split our community between three new state house districts, I have a good relationship with both new representatives, Jason Hoskins and Natalie Price, and know that they will do a fantastic job. I hope to continue to represent Oak Park east of Coolidge, and I will always do my best to help the entire City of Oak Park.

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THERE’S A NEW BIRD IN TOWN. IT DOESN’T FLY, IT DOESN’T HAVE FEATHERS AND IT DOESN’T CHIRP. IT DOES MOVE SWIFTLY THOUGH.

This Bird comes in the form of an e-scooter.

In July, the City of Oak Park approved a 12-18 month pilot program for shared electrical scooters (e-scooters) with Bird Rides, Inc. The pilot program was initiated to ensure e-scooters fit the needs of the Oak Park community, including mobility, equity and safety priorities.

Bird aims to make cities more livable by reducing car trips, traffic and carbon emissions. The company’s scooters, developed by an in-house team of leading engineering and vehicle design experts, also provide a naturally socially distanced way to get around and offer residents without cars another transportation option.

FEW COMPLAINTS REGARDING E- SCOOTERS HAVE BEEN LODGED WITH BIRD and the City thus far, but there is a certainly a learning curve on the do’s and don’ts of riding an e-scooter with Oak Park.

Some of these DO’s and DON’Ts are:

  • DO only have one rider on an e-scooter at a time;
  • DO wear a helmet;
  • DON’T ride if you are under the age of 18;
  • DO ride a Bird e-scooter ride on the sidewalk, unless there is a bike lane. Bike lanes always take precedence for use;
  • DON’T park a Bird in someone’s front lawn or anywhere where they are blocking sidewalks, walk paths, driveways or roadways.
  • DO use the Bird App to report issues with the e-scooters, such as they are parked in the wrong spot or not working (not the City website, GOVQA, or calling City staff).

Other means to report issues with Bird e- scooters is by emailing hello@bird.co, oakpark311@bird.co for parking issues or by calling the Bird 24/7 support line at (866) 205-2442.

IN ADDITION TO BIRD PLACING E- SCOOTERS in the Oak Park community, the company also offers the following features to riders.

  • COMMUNITY PRICING: Bird’s inclusive Community Pricing Program offers a 50 percent discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans and senior citizens. Those who qualify can sign up by downloading the Bird app, creating an account and emailing proof of eligibility to access@bird.co.
  • Free Rides for Healthcare Workers and Emergency Personnel: Bird offers free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel. Those who qualify can sign up by emailing a copy of their medical identification card, name and phone number to together@bird.co. Eligible riders receive two free 30-minute rides per day.

Those who are interested in providing feedback on the E-scooter Pilot Program are encouraged to take a quick online survey at https://forms.office.com/r/WZB2vvRXNt. The feedback from the survey
will help the City of Oak Park understand the impact of e-scooters on the community.

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

THE CITY OF OAK PARK’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BUSY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHILE MANY PEOPLE WERE STILL WORKING FROM HOME, SOME MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WERE HAPPENING HERE IN OAK PARK.

The Eight Mile Corridor has received a lot of attention the past few years with the final vacant parcel of the Armory Site currently being developed. The new development is a 295,000 square-foot industrial warehouse building. The majority is already leased to Tire Wholesalers but the remaining 92,000 is still available.

Photo by Bennie White ©2022

The new Forgotten Harvest headquarters was constructed and had their grand opening. This is a great organization we were thrilled to have remain in Oak Park after considering several possible other cities. Some other projects along 8 Mile are underway and should be moving forward soon.

A FEW OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN 2020-2022 are the new Savvy Sliders development currently under construction on Greenfield Road near 8 Mile.

On the 11 Mile corridor from the Water Tower to Coolidge we created a Social District. This new district was allowed during COVID and has now been added permanently by the State of Michigan Liquor Control. The social district allows people to get a beverage in one of the establishments in the Social District and drink it outdoors anywhere within the district.

The City is currently gathering public input on creating a new pocket park there as well paving the parking lot, adding green space and other amenities for the public to enjoy. The District now has Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, Dog & Pony Show Brewing Company, Oak Park Social, Berkley Coffee, TRV/FIT, and soon to come are The Oakparker and Salud Eleven.

Photo by Bennie White ©2022

THE CITY WAS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT in the City of Oak Park. The Development is on Nine Mile with a bus stop directly in front. The developer is the Ferlito Group who recently broke ground. The City is hoping to do future mixed use developments along Nine Mile Road.

We are also very excited for the Jax Car Wash on Greenfield Road near 11 Mile. This project is on the site of the old McDonalds. Construction has just begun there. With so many exciting things happening in Oak Park we have also seen our home prices increase year over year with many young families moving in. We welcome all the new residents and businesses as they are what make Oak Park the great diverse community it is.

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