CLOSE
Editions

0 2796

Story by David Stone
Photos by Bernie Laframboise and others

DO NOT CALL MIKE LENNON A POLITICIAN. He much prefers the title “public servant,” because he truly believes a government official is there to serve the will of the people, not their own agenda. This comes across when he describes the characteristics of an ideal councilperson. He mentions things like, “You have to vote with your heart and your conscience…you can’t keep everybody happy…you’re at the will of the people and what they want.”

Public service is in Mike’s blood. His father, Bernie Lennon, was mayor of Ferndale and also an Oakland ff-ml-officialCounty commissioner at the only time that the Commission had a Democratic majority, according to longtime family friend Danny Reedy. Bernie Lennon also served the Blanchard administration as Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, and also ran the Michigan State Fair.

Mike attended the Ferndale Public Schools. He went to Roosevelt Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High, and Ferndale High School. He was a Ferndale Police Officer from 1977 to 2002. And then he served on the Ferndale City Council from 2003 to 2015. He also worked for Garden Fresh Salsa for seven years, until they were bought by Campbell’s. Now, according to Lennon, he is “working on his golf swing.”

Mike Lennon loves Ferndale. He can’t say enough wonderful things about his town. He calls Ferndale a “walkable, bikeable community” full of “nice restaurants, nice bars, nice boutiques, specialty stores.” He says that “if you walk 9 Mile you’ll be fascinated by the different types of stores, what you can buy, and what you can eat.”

He also pointed out that Ferndale hosts many large public events during the summer, and “we just passed a bond last year for our parks and roads.” He also points to the fact that people come here because “they can buy a house at a good, reasonable price.” When asked, point-blank, why a business should locate in Ferndale, he says, “Because you’re going to the customers.”

Acknowledging a problem exists, Lennon says “the current council is working on a parking solution.”

Time spent in city government gives a person a close-up look at government at the state-level, too. So it should not come as a surprise that Mike has opinions about our leaders in Lansing. While he is quick to point out that “we have a good state represen-tative” (Robert Wittenberg), he is highly critical of others in state government for putting their party ahead of Michigan’s needs. He says that revenue-sharing is nonexistent” and that they are “wiping out little cities one by one.”

“They don’t vote with their heart and soul,” observes Mike, “that’s what I did.”

On a much more personal note, I asked our sports-loving beer-drinking former councilman if there was anything no oneml jgknew about him (and would be printable). It took a few moments for Mike to come up with an answer because, as he said, “What you see is what you get.” After some thought, he says, “I like a romantic movie now and then.” Also, besides reading the newspaper regularly, he enjoys the work of such novelists as Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and James Patterson.

 

Craig S. Covey on Mike Lennon
CRAIG COVEY (a candidate for Oakland County sheriff) worked with Mike, both as a fellow councilman and later, when Craig was mayor. Covey mentioned that Mike “took over after his younger brother, David, lost his life in a car accident.” He described the two brothers as “very honest and forthright…they were the original voices to ‘tell it like it is’… both brothers always tried to represent the working people, the average resident, ff-ml-gcwith common sense and no nonsense.” I asked Craig if he had any really good Mike Lennon stories. “There are plenty of good stories I could share, though not all of them in a family newspaper,” Covey replied. Covey said Mike “could use gruff and salty language sometimes, and more than once a four-letter word escaped his mouth with him not always realizing the microphone was picking it up.” Craig’s favorite Mike Lennon story took place at Como’s. The two were sitting at the patio bar and Mike “remarked how great it was that he was there with hundreds of women. He said, ‘Covey, you and I are the only guys in the whole place.’ I had to point out that it was ‘First Wednesday,’ also known as lesbian night at Como’s.

Mayor David Coulter
I WAS NOT SUPRISED WHEN MAYOR COULTER described Mike Lennon as a “pretty blunt guy who overflowed with pride for his children, who doted after his Mom and who teared up on his last night of Council. He’s got ff-ml-mayor-dca huge heart he doesn’t always show, but it’s part of what makes him special.” Coulter “always appreciated Mike’s sense of humor and ability to lighten up serious discussions.” Dave sat beside him on the council, and tells how “many times after I’d get up from the table for some reason I would come back to candy wrappers and other trash in my chair. At first I’d pretend it wasn’t there, but it didn’t take long to learn to always check my chair first.” Most of the things his girlfriend, Sue McCleary, told me were things I had also heard from others. She mentioned that “Mike loved this city (and) everyone loves him,” that “his family lived here forever,” and how it is “their heart.” However, she did mention two things no one else said. She told me that he never spoke from prepared notes, rather, he always spoke off the cuff. He responded to every question from his heart, without notes. And, Sue told me that Mike is so trusted in this city that “everyone (still) calls Mike Lennon when they have issues” they can’t seem to solve. Mike regularly takes calls from Ferndale residents who don’t know where else to turn with their problems.

When asked about the future, Mike just smiles and politely refuses to answer. Sue clarifies this by quoting one of Lennon’s favorite saying, “You never show your line up before game time.”

But whatever is in store, Ferndale will continue to benefit from the presence of Mike and the Lennon family for a long time to come.

Thank you, Mike, for making Ferndale a wonderful place to live and work.

If some happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat emasculation and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What humanity talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you have to look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

0 1561

Story by Ingrid Sjostrand

A COMMUNITY THAT LEARNS TOGETHER, builds a stronger and smarter connection; this is the philosophy behind the Ferndale elementary merger that will be fully transitioned by the 2016 – 2017 school year.

Currently, Ferndale runs three separate elementary schools: Roosevelt, Coolidge and JFK. In 2012, the Ferndale School Board developed a strategic plan to eliminate some of the district’s issues, and merging the three is one of the biggest steps. The plan was developed to create a set of long-term goals for the community based on three pillars, which are explained by Ferndale Superintendent Blake Prewitt.

“First was achievement, which means everything in the school district should be about student achieve-ment; second was sustainability – you can’t do anything unless you are financially stable, and the third pillar was equity,” he explains. “This District has a long history of segregation and not necessarily being equitable between Caucasian and African American and upper and lower socio-economics.” The elementary schools will be restructured, with Roosevelt Elementary housing kindergarten through second grade and John F. Kennedy Elementary teaching third through fifth grade starting in the 2016 -2017 school year. The sixth grade will move into the Ferndale High and Middle School building.

Prewitt says there were many reasons for the merger, one of the biggest being that none of the elementaries were anywhere near capacity. “It was pretty easy to figure out that with our population we didn’t need three buildings,” Prewitt says. “We could fit probably 700 to 800 more students into each building than what we had, so we really needed to go down to two buildings.” Jodi Mackley Berger is a Ferndale resident of over 20 years and has two sons at JFK elementary. She sees the merger as wholly positive.

“No longer will there be the total economic discrep-ancy between the two buildings. Many of us who live in Ferndale see equity as a significant factor in life!” Mackley Berger says. “We are now ‘One Ferndale,’ and the kids won’t see one school as the haves and the other as the have-nots.” Community feedback has been a huge factor in the strategic plan and the merger, according to Prewitt.

“We talked to our high school students about their elementary experience being separate, and they pretty much unanimously said that once they got to seventh grade and middle school they learned about these other kids and could create these really good friendships. We thought, ‘Why couldn’t we have done this earlier?’” he says. “We are a small enough community that there’s no reason to keep it separate.” This is the mindset Mackley Berger has taken too –bringing students together earlier will only build better relationships. Many supporters of the merger have cleverly termed it “Team Ferndale.”

“Students will get to know each other before middle school since being in the same buildings K-5, special education services will be more equitable, rather than being focused in one building,” Mackley Berger says. “The best result, I predict, will be kids from all parts ofthe Ferndale district being friends from Pleasant Ridge, Ferndale, Oak Park and Royal Oak Township.”

There has been some negative feedback too, mostly from parents who worry it will disrupt their child’s learning experience. Prewitt ensures parents that the transition will be easy for students and a lot of work has been done during the 2015/16 school year to ensure a smooth change.

“We’ve done concerts together at each building, having students meet the principals; the principals have been going to PTA meetings at both buildings to make sure the parents know them,” Prewitt says. “We will be doing a big event in August in the build-ings for all the new students, kindergarten will do a ‘jump start’ where they come four days early so they can all get to know each other and get to know the teachers.”
He also says not as many students will be moving as some perceive. With Coolidge closing, the fifth and sixth graders are going to the middle school and the third and fourth grades are all going to JFK together. “It’s not like some districts, where kids are leaving their friends,” Prewitt ensures. “This is everyone following so from a kid perspective it’s not going to be that harsh.”

ferndale-superAdditionally, he points out that parents and teachers will all be able to work more closely together now too.
“From the student perspective it’s been good and from the parent perspective, especially from parents that thought one building was looked down upon over another, being able to get rid of that perception is great,” Prewitt says. “For the teachers to be able to work with their colleagues in the same grade level so that they are working on teaching the same curriculum and working on teaching the same kids, it’s very positive.”
Mackley Berger has attended all the Strategic Plan meetings and has an educator’s perspective too. She is currently an English teacher at Avondale schools, and has worked in education for over 20 years.

“I am really happy to have been on the board of CLEAR, a parent activist group, because we spent over one year working to foster transparency and get progressive school board members elected,” she says. “I see this great change as being a precursor to the Team Ferndale merger.”

Cambridge International Curriculum

Another major transition as part of the Strategic Plan is the implementation of the Cambridge International Curriculum in Ferndale schools. There are two major international programs: Cambridge and the International Baccalaureate (IB). The School District chose the Cambridge program due to its flexibility and the ability to mold the program to a district’s needs, according to Prewitt.

“With Cambridge, we can look at what’s a good fit for the district and look at some of the things the M-Step is testing and try to make sure we align properly with the state, as well as looking at what’s already going well achievement wise,” he explains.

Only some of the plan will be incorporated into the elementary; it will play a bigger role in middle school with the Cambridge science, English and math curriculums in place. Ferndale’s current open classroom program will stay a part of the elementary structure as well.

“Being an educator for over 20 years, I can honestly say that Ferndale schools are great!” Mackley Berger says. “The open classroom philosophy in our elementary schools is far more engaging and college-preparatory than traditional classrooms, and many people are excited about the new Cambridge Curriculum being incorporated in all of our buildings too.”

Overall, the implementation of the merger and the Cambridge International curriculum are in place to create a more unified Ferndale and while some have left the district due to the changes, Prewitt says overall enrollment is up.

“It’s the first time it’s been up probably in ten years; both in resident population and in school of choice we saw some level of increase,” he says. “I do think it’s the programming changes in elementary and really focusing on trying to bring us back together as a community school.”

Mackley Berger reiterates that Ferndale is already a strong and progressive community, and these changes will only help embrace and support that.

“My favorite part about living and attending school here in Ferndale, is the Ferndale vibe! It’s just a great, down to earth, open-minded, progressive place to live and raise children! We love it,” she praises. “We have a great public library that supports our kids’ learning, we are surrounded by artists and people who value creativity, so many great neighbors. In the future, I see our district as working even more diligently to support our students living near/below the poverty line, and I intend to be part of that.”

If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states united to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most essential aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong heartiness problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction switch on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual disfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

0 1804

Story by Megan Fleming

Pig & Whiskey — featuring BBQ, whiskey, beer, and music — returns to downtown Ferndale July 15-17.

Co-hosted by Metro Times and Woodward Avenue Brewers, this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever: Nine Mile Road will be closed east of Woodward, providing more room to enjoy the party.

THE FOOD AND DRINK
More than a dozen southeastern Michigan eateries will have their best pork, beef, and barbecue dishes available for purchase. Jay Ray of Jay Ray’s BBQ, is returning to Pig & Whiskey for the second year. Of all the events he does, he said he enjoys this Ferndale bash the most. “It’s a great atmosphere, great music, and all great people that come down,” Ray says. Jay Ray’s will be serving ribs, pulled pork, mac and cheese, a loaded sweet potato (which he says was a huge hit last year), and he’s messing around with a “few cool ideas,” too. Joining Jay Ray’s for the second year at Pig & Whiskey are Zeke’s Rock ‘n’ Roll BBQ, Rub BBQ Pub, Old Carolina Barbecue Company, Woodpile BBQ Shack, Smoke Ring, Rubbed, and the Mac Shack.
Here’s a full list of vendors: Smoke Ring, Jay Ray’s BBQ, Detroit BBQ, Hog Wild, Stonewood Smokehouse, Crooked River, Old Carolina Barbecue Company, Taste ‘n’ Tell, Red Wood Grill, Zeke’s Rock ‘n’ Roll BBQ, Shredderz food truck, Union Joints, Rubbed, Rub BBQ Pub, Alley Taco, Smoke Shack, Woodpile BBQ Shack, and the Mac Shack. There will be plenty to drink, with six kinds of beer and more than 30 whiskeys available. You’ll be able to buy tickets for food and drinks when you arrive. Make sure to bring your appetite!

THE MUSIC
No summer festival would be complete without a packed lineup of bands. You’ll be able to catch the performances on a stage set up on East Troy Street. This year’s set features something for everyone, with a wide variety of musical styles. Friday’s lineup kicks off with Goober & The Peas, followed by Stone Clover, Holy White Hounds, and Le Voyage. Saturday will be a packed set, featuring eight bands: Electric Six, The Handgrenades, Earth Engine, Ohtis, Honebabe, The Blueflowers, American Mars, and Billy Brandt. Mustard Plug, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, the Beggars, Tart, Jill Jack, Mega Wedge: A Ween Tribute Band, and Kevin Thibodeau & the Cast Iron Horns will close out the show on Sunday.

*** The weather will be hot, the food will be good, and the music (and drinks) will keep you dancing. For a look at all the fun from last year’s festival, check out this album on Facebook. Mark your calendars, and for updates or more information, visit pigandwhiskeyferndale.com. Pig & Whiskey is from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, July 15 , 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, July 16, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 17; on East Troy Street in Ferndale; admission is free, but tickets must be purchased for drinks and food; all ages welcome.

If something happened with our heartiness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat emasculation and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.

0 6979

Story & photos by Jeff Lilly
Illustration by Gary Bedard.

We hear a lot about humanity’s effect on the natural environment and the creatures that inhabit it. Usually, the story is about how humans alter the landscape to make it more suitable for our needs, destroying habitat in the process. However, there are several species of animals that not only can coexist with humans, but thrive in the habitats we alter and create. Not all of these species make for good roommates, though.

ff1265454NEW_Page_2_Image_0003Meet the rat. Rats have been with humanity since the beginning, when we first started to live together in bands and communities. Where there are humans, there is waste, and thus a food source. Where humans take shelter and build structures, rats can live, too. When humans moved about, by ship and stage and rail, rats hitched a ride with us. These days, they’ve learned to use our roads, railroad tracks, and sewer lines as highways of their own, making travel easier and helping them to spread. They also reproduce quickly; a mature rat can bear a new litter of pups every three to four weeks.

Ferndale has a rat problem. You might have heard about an infestation under a neighbor’s garage. You may have seen them running along the streets at night. Maybe you have some yourself, nesting under that doghouse or in that woodpile.

“We get a lot of calls in the spring,” says Joseph Gacioch, Chief Innovation Officer and Assistant City Manager for the City of Ferndale. Rodent activity can be more noticeable then, with melting snow both providing convenient sources of water for rats, as well as uncovering food sources hidden by snow. But rats are around all year long.

Besides basic health issues — rats have been known since antiquity as harborers and carriers of disease — they can also do quite a bit of damage to home and property. Rats can chew through practically anything; wood, drywall, insulation board, even concrete block, brick, and lead pipes. Rats can gnaw the insulation off of electrical wires, causing shorts and fires. They can tunnel under slabs and foundations. They can chew the bottoms out of plastic garbage cans to get at what’s inside. They’re also hard to keep out; a rat can squeeze itself through a hole the diameter of a half-dollar.

“We’ve seen a large increase in calls about rats,” Says Dale Stepaniak, co-owner of Pest Masters, an exterminator located in Livonia that contracts with the City of Ferndale. “We used to get rat calls once a month. Now, we get them once per day.” Stepaniak also notes that, “We have an issue with rats in most of Metro Detroit.” He’s gotten calls from Redford, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak, Livonia, and other local cities, all of which have seen a “significant increase” in rat activity in the last few years. But why? Both Stepaniak and Gacioch point to the last recession as a possible piece in the puzzle. “We had all of these vacant homes, all of these people walking away from their houses.” Stepaniak says. The relatively large number of vacant properties in Detroit, right across 8 Mile Road, also contributes to the problem.

So what can we do about it? One of the biggest things is to eliminate neighborhood food sources. This means cleaning up dog droppings (rats love them) and not throwing out bread or seeds for the squirrels. Make sure you don’t leave pet food outside in bowls overnight, and if you store it outdoors, make sure it’s in a covered night before pick-up, and use metal bins with tight-fitting lids if you can. Unharvested vegetables, left to winter over in garden beds or boxes, can also be an invitation to rats.

But the number one source, Stepaniak says, though it pains many nature-lovers’ hearts to hear it, is bird feeders. “At least half of the jobs we do, we find a bird feeder on the property, or at a property next door.” He explains. This isn’t to say you can’t ever feed the birds, but “If your neighborhood is fighting rats, and you’re (feeding birds,) then you’re a culprit.” The thing to remember is that even if you don’t have a food source, they may still pick your yard to settle in. Stepaniak talks of a recent job where “They were living under a gentleman’s deck.

You could watch the rats go from under his deck, across the back yard next door, down the side of the house to a house across the street. No fault of this guy…they were feeding across the street, but living under his deck.” Another thing we can do is eliminate cover and shelter for rats. This means elevating your woodpile (at least 12 inches above the ground,) clearing away debris from the back of your garage, and eliminating clutter and hiding places, including unused vehicles and old tires. Keep your shrubs and grass trimmed, as well. “We have codes. We have property maintenance guidelines.” Gacioch explains. “If you follow them, you help eliminate the opportunity for rats to move in.”

Meanwhile, the city is doing its part.

“The Building Department now requires an inspection prior to demolition of a property,” Gacioch says. A pest expert now has to sign off on a property, saying there are no rats. If there are, they have to be exterminated and the property re-inspected before demolition can commence. Otherwise, the rats will scatter and move to new locations. New construction now must have rat walls, foundations that extend into the ground to discourage burrowing. Ferndale is also sharing resources and coordinating with neighboring cities on strategies to combat rat infestations. They’re also using modern technology to combat the ancient enemy, including utilizing geo-tracking to keep tabs on infestation sites and their spread.

Ferndale is curently working with Pest Masters on an extermination program along Troy Street. It’s a big challenge, Stepaniak says, because the businesses along 9 Mile, which include grocery stores and restaurants, have a large number of dumpsters in the nearby alley. While the businesses will get tips and suggestions, eliminating the food source entirely may be impossible. On the other hand, Stepaniak cites a successful recent program along the rail line. CN worked with the City to cut brush and eliminate clutter along the wall, and a series of traps has greatly reduced infestation there.

How do you know if you have rats? Besides seeing them in action, look for holes in the ground, under foundations and sheds. Entrances to rat warrens will typically be about the size of a soda can. While a rat or two might be handled by snap-traps or a bit of poison, larger infestations should be handled by an expert. Stepaniak shows me a brochure with an array of modern, scientifically-designed rat poison feeding stations, like the kind used along the rail line. They’re securely locked and inaccessible to pets and children, rain-proof so the poison doesn’t get spread around in the environment, and, most importantly, attractive to rats. Pest Masters will inspect and re-fill the traps on a schedule until the problem is eliminated.

The war against rats will never end. After all, they’re survivors, and have thrived despite thousands of years of efforts to stop them. But using our biggest advantage — our brains — and a bit of care and cunning, we can turn back the current tide.

For more information on how to fight rats, Ferndale has a page up on the city website. Go to www.ferndalemi.gov/Services/Code_Enforcement/Pest_Control

Pest Masters: www.pestmastersmi.com or call 1-800-934-4770.

If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat emasculation and other states united to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What humanity talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a status called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this curing passes into breast milk.

0 3316

Story and photos by Malissa Martin

The Boston Tea Room has something for everyone, according to owner Heatherleigh Navarre. “We like to say that we are a bookstore, a tea room, and that we sell products for your spiritual journey, no matter what journey that is.” Lee said.

ff12678_Page_1_Image_0001Navarre opened the first Boston Tea Room in Wyandotte and a second store in Ferndale in 2009. She outgrew the space after five years and moved across the street to a bigger store two years ago. “We opened up a second location on this side of town because we had a lot of clients who, honestly, didn’t want to have to drive all the way downriver. So they kept really encouraging and asking for a shop on this side of town,” Navarre said. She says Ferndale’s downtown atmosphere is a good fit and attracts a lot of business. “We have a lot of people who walk in the shop just because they see all the beautiful crystals, jewelry, or candles in the window, and they may not have any idea that we’re doing tarot card readings or psalm readings behind the curtain, but they’re really intrigued by what they see. So we have a lot of clients that just come in to shop or to browse,” Navarre said.

The Boston Tea Room offers over 60 mostly organic loose-leaf teas, and has complimentary tea of the day for patrons. “I have people who come in every day just to see what tea is in the pot and we love doing tea tastings and that kind of thing. So we really have something for everyone. We’ve got the retail and we’ve got the services. We also have the tea cafe area where people will come in and sit and chat with each other,” Navarre said.

ff12678_Page_1_Image_0003The Boston Tea Room aims to provide spiritual support and items such as cards, crystals, books, CDs and DVDs to help nurture people on their spiritual journey, no matter their chosen religion. “So if you come from a Catholic upbringing, we have The Boston Tea Room: Helping Guide People on their Spiritual Journey jewelry with the saints on it or little pocket saints that you can carry with you. If you’re exploring the Buddhist path or Buddhist philosophy we have Buddhist mala beads and statues and that kind of thing. If you’re interested in investigating earthcentered, pagan traditions we have books and items for that,” Navarre explained.

The tea room also offers home and office blessings, meditation classes, tarot classes, tea tastings, mediumship classes, how to read the crystal ball, how to read tea leaves, and much more. “One of my favorites is we’re combining the new trend of adult coloring with the tarot. It’s like an adult coloring tarot session where your coloring a tarot card and you get a little mini reading of what it means,” Navarre said.

Navarre is a big supporter of Michigan artists and has rotating art shows. The Boston Tea Room sells items by Michigan artists such as jewelry, pottery, and embroidered tea towels to name a few.

The Boston Tea Room is located at 224 West 9 Mile Road. Operation hours are Monday to Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Sundays from noon to 6:00 P.M. Call (248) 548-1415 or visit them on the web at www.bostontearoom.com

If some happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states united to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

0 2396

Providing Trusted Advice in Ferndale for over 13 Years

Story and photo by Jenn Goeddeke

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WIFE/HUSBAND TEAM of Eric Uzzle (agency owner) and Peggy Uzzle (executive account manager) take the stress out of selecting insurance coverage. During a recent meet at their open-plan office (at 733 E. 9 Mile Rd), I was instantly impressed by their relaxed, upbeat attitude. With many years of joint experience servicing the needs of both local and State-wide customers, Uzzle and Uzzle have consistently offered diverse, competitive insurance and financial options.

Their primary vision is, “…to protect our customers’ assets and to help them build wealth.”

This is not your average agency: they pride themselves on a very personal, family-oriented style. Using a system that incorporates a completely ‘onlinefriendly’ (paperless) approach is what they consider to be one extra key to their success. This gives all customers the flexible option of either face-toface consultations, or doing business remotely via the internet (or both, as preferred.)

An additional component of their winning business approach is, naturally, a high level of customer service. In their words, “…we go the extra mile to give people good service, and the best price for the product.” This often means working long hours to ensure customers have all their questions answered in a timely, accurate manner.

Uzzle and Uzzle both mentioned enjoying the diversity of clients in Ferndale- a City which has both a strong Community feel, and also attracts a growing number of young professionals.

The Uzzle and Uzzle Agency have a wide variety of services to offer, in addition to the traditional auto, home, motorcycle and renters insurance policies. They always have a member of their staff who is dedicated to providing financial advice/options. Services offered include: Mortgage protection; Life insurance; Annuities; Disability insurance, Commercial insurance and coverage for rental properties. Clearly, quite an impressive array of policies to choose from!

For a no-pressure quote, feel free to stop by their office soon- or reach out using the contact information listed below.

Eric & Peggy Uzzle can be reached via phone: 248-544-8100, or by fax: 248-544-1492. Their after-hours number is: 800-255-7828. Customer Service is provided 24 hours a day. For email questions, direct to : ericuzzle@allstate.com or peggyuzzle@allstate.com. The Uzzle and Uzzle Agency office address is: 733 East Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, 48220 (NW Corner of Nine Mile and Hilton). Office hours are: M-F, 8am- 5pm; Sat, by appointment only; Sun,

If some happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat emasculation and other states coupled to erectile malfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong heartiness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this curing passes into breast milk.

0 1854

By: Rudy Serra

Q: MY EMPLOYER WITHHELD MONEY from my pay for damage to a company vehicle. I sued in Small Claims Court, but the judge wouldn’t listen to me. Can you help me? How do I appeal?

A: The short answer is that you probably cannot appeal. It is probably too late for a lawyer to help you in district court. You may want to contact the Michigan Employment Security Commission.

The rules that govern small claims court say that: “A judgment of the small claims division may be modified or vacated in the same manner as judgments in other civil actions, except that an appeal may not be taken.”

In most cases, you could appeal to the circuit court, but not in small claims. The exact application of this rule varies slightly from place to place. In the state’s largest court (the 36th District Court in Detroit) and in other districts, the judges employ one or more magistrates. I explained the difference between a judge and magistrate at state and federal levels in an earlier column.

Courts with magistrates often assign a hearing on small claim matters to a magistrate. In such cases, there is often a local rule under which the decision of the magistrate can be appealed to the district judge. Aside from that situation, the judgment of the court in a small claims case cannot be appealed.

The rule does allow a small claim decision to be “vacated” or “modified.” If you have new evidence, such as receipts that contradict your former employer or photographs that show there was no damage, you may be able to get the judge to reconsider.

This is difficult because there is a separate rule for “reconsideration” of a decision on a motion, and it requires that you make a request within seven days. Technically, it should not apply in small claims, but it is a good reason to make any request to modify the decision quickly.

Regarding the help of a lawyer, you are probably going to be on your own. The rules do not allow attorneys to represent clients in small claim cases. The judge is supposed to be informal, to enable a non-lawyer to get the help they need. If you want a lawyer, all you have to do is hire one who is willing to help, and then tell the judge you want to “remove” your case from the Small Claim Division and have it filed in regular District Court.

Unfortunately, you cannot wait until your small claim is decided, and then remove it. You are not entitled to an appointed lawyer. You have to hire your own. If you consult with a lawyer, they will probably tell you it is too late for them to do much to help you. You should have requested “removal” at your hearing.

You may want to consider filing a complaint against your former boss with the Michigan Employment Security Division. They are an administrative agency and not a court. They might be able to help you. If you signed an agreement to any responsible for the kind of damage you caused, you may be stuck. Even if you did, the MESC could decide that the agreement is illegal. It may be worth the inquiry.

If slightly happened with our soundness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states united to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

0 1641

By: Ann Heler, President

WE’RE HAVING OUR 8TH ANNUAL DINNER, Friday, May 6, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We are going back to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. Just the right size, lots of our lake and river history, and a great view of the Detroit River. Price is $50 per ticket. You can send a check to FernCare: 459 E. Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI 48220 or go to the website www.ferncare.org and pay through PayPal. Strolling dinner and Hans Barbe on the piano.

The Great Garage Sale is Saturday, June 11, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Once again, this is in conjunction with the Ferndale Seniors Trunk and Treasure and this year, the Ferndale Arts and Cultural Commission Art Fair at City Hall. You can bring items you wish to donate to the sale to the clinic on Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10 any time between 9:30 AM and 7:00 PM.

Clinic Appointments: 248-677-2273 You will definitely have an appointment within the month.

If slightly happened with our heartiness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states connected to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What folk talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

0 2002

By: Blake Prewitt, Superintendent, Ferndale Public Schools

LAST WEEK THE FERNDALE SCHOOLS Board of Education unanimously voted to request a sinking fund millage be added to the August ballot. A sinking fund millage is a limited property tax, considered a “pay-as-you-go” method for funding building maintenance and infrastructure projects. No debt or interest expense is incurred with a sinking fund. The tax is levied each year and the revenue generated from this levy is designated to building upgrades or repairs only. Sinking fund revenues cannot be used for general fund expenditures (i.e., paying staff.)

Our reasons for requesting this millage are threefold:

• All current funding given to us by the state is needed in the classroom. Over the past decade, there have been severe cuts to the state’s per pupil allocation, which is the primary source of funding for the district’s ongoing operations.

As part of the ongoing restructuring process, the District has identified $13 million worth of projects over the next 15 years that are critical improvements to school safety, such as building and site repairs. Suspending these facility repairs would result in more expensive emergency repairs in the future. With less money to begin with, many districts are forced to make this difficult choice between educational integrity and structural integrity.

• We are not alone in this need. We are one of the few districts in Oakland County that does not currently have a sinking fund. The state’s lack of education funding has put increasing strain on school districts across Michigan, and Ferndale is no exception.

• There’s no alternative. After perpupil allocations, the only additional means available to fund the district is to ask voters for approval to levy mills for a sinking fund – funds to renovate and maintain facilities – and mills for debt, more commonly known as a bond.

As you know, the community recently passed a bond in 2012 for $22 million. However, the original amount of work identified in 2012 was to cost over $35 million. The law on bond funds prohibited the district from asking for that amount, and so the project was scaled down, leaving many issues unresolved.

The sinking fund would allow the district to systematically respond to critical school safety needs and building repairs, ultimately reducing the total cost while prioritizing student safety.

For more information, please visit: www.ferndaleschools.org/district/fac ilities/sinking-fund/. Thank you for carefully considering this important issue.

With Eagle Pride,
Blake J. Prewitt, Ed.S. Superintendent

If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this physic is not for use in women, it is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.

Prev1...464748...81Next Page 47 of 81
© 2024 - Ferndale Friends | webmaster Loudbaby