When the Michigan electorate voted overwhelmingly in 2008 to allow the use of medical marijuana in the state, many didn’t expect the blowback the law is facing from local officials in the form of ordinances and moratoriums. But lawmakers in Lansing are also trying to refine and tweak the law, this time by proposing to ban so-called marijuana bars or clubs. The legislation — Senate Bill (SB) 17, which was referred out of the Senate [...]

The Huron Valley Schools athletic program has joined forces with the non-profit Huron Valley Education Foundation (HVEF) at the behest of the foundation’s trustees. The 501c(3) foundation has been in existence for about a decade and was formed to offer educational and enrichment opportunities to enhance the district and community at large. By joining the HVEF, the athletic department will benefit from cash or gift donations; the donors benefit by getting a tax write-off. Over [...]

Waterford Township native and singer/songwriter Todd Alsup is emerging as an exciting artist whose style blends pop with soul, Motown, and rock, for a passionate and soothing sound that’s honest and relevant. As an independent artist, he is marketing himself through Kickstarter to fund a music video for his lead single, “The Only Thing” by offering various incentives to donors. Alsup has been featured in Billboard Magazine, Performing Songwriter, and is endorsed by Yamaha. His [...]

A residence in the 1000 block of Cedar Creek Road in White Lake Township was broken into sometime between 9:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13 and 9 a.m. Monday, March 14. The suspect entered the home by throwing two rocks through the rear sliding glass door. A Gateway laptop computer along with an Xbox 360 was taken from the residence. The family was not at home at the time of the crime. Friends who were looking [...]

From Marcia Brown, West Bloomfield Township: After many months of anguishing over the false allegations and articles bashing my husband, (West Bloomfield Township) Trustee Lawrence Brown, I have decided to write this letter to the editor. We have enjoyed a marriage for over 40 years and I would not trade a day being with him. For all of my married life my husband has been dedicated to volunteering for his Jewish community, having served on [...]

It appears to be all but a done deal that the Republican-controlled Michigan Legislature will effectively ban step wage increases for teachers after a contract has expired and until a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached. House Bill (HB) 4152, sponsored by state Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), would also require that teachers pay for any increase in insurance benefits at the point in time that a contract expires and until a new one takes [...]

Although word of the potential sale of a county service building located in Walled Lake is bad news from the standpoint of a loss of convenience for some area residents, a significant windfall for the county, projected annual savings and even a boost in the city of Walled Lake’s tax base make the prospect of the building’s closing a little easier to swallow. According to county officials, services provided at the county’s West Oakland Office [...]

It’s one thing to win a championship, but it’s another to win two championships in a row. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes is now one of the few teams that can claim that distinction. The Lakers (22-5) claimed their second consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class D state title Saturday, March 19 with a 53-35 victory over Bark River Harris in the state finals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. It [...]

After a rough regular season and a second-place finish in the Detroit Catholic League Central Division, it was hard to predict how Orchard Lake St. Mary’s would fare in the state tournament. But the Eaglets are now three wins away from winning their fourth state championship. St. Mary’s (15-9) claimed its first regional championship since 2008 with a 49-48 victory over Catholic League rival Novi Detroit Catholic Central in a Michigan High School Athletic Association [...]

While the season of Lent means fasting and sacrifice for Christians around the globe, it also means it’s time for the annual tradition of fish fries at parishes and non-profit organizations across the lakes area. Fish fries have become a staple on Friday nights during Lent — the 40-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter, marking Jesus Christ’s resurrection — when abstinence from eating meat products is required for many Christians. The [...]