For decades, Oakland County officials have been road-blocked from trying to build a north-south conduit through western Oakland County. But as officials begin realizing this week, the time and energy expended paid off and now the dream is becoming a reality. Yesterday, Tuesday, May 31, crews began construction on the largest modern roundabout in Oakland County to date in Commerce Township, a project that will connect M-5 and Pontiac Trail with Martin Parkway. Officials with [...]

After a bloody conflict in which 600,000 Americans of all walks of life — soldiers and civilians alike — perished and the United States embarked on the long and arduous road to reconciliation, people began observing what was then known as Decoration Day, a day of healing, remembrance, and memory. Initially enacted to honor Civil War veterans, the holiday was extended following World War I — when another 117,000 soldiers were killed — to honor [...]

If you’ve always dreamed of living on a lake, now is the time to buy, according to real estate professionals who specialize in marketing lakefront properties around Oakland County. But while the current market conditions continue to favor buyers, the county’s lakefront market has become more competitive among buyers when it comes to move-in-ready homes; so, if you’re serious about buying, you’ll probably need to strike a deal fast. While inventory still remains high overall, [...]

Some people across the state of Michigan are looking to get their eggs the old-fashioned way, and lakes area residents are no exception. A few residents in the area have constructed chicken coops in their backyards to house chickens that will produce eggs, a trend that seems to be growing and has prompted action in a few west Oakland communities. “People want organic, home-grown food and they want sustainability. It’s a hot topic across the [...]

Nothing beats the bursting flavor of a sun-kissed tomato straight off the vine, the brilliance of greenhouse flowers and the mouth-watering flavors of homemade raspberry jam. With the turn toward natural and organic foods, farmers markets are cropping up in many lakes area communities and, in most cases, netting more patrons than ever before. Beginning this month, open-air farmers markets will start selling their products, including a wide variety of freshly cultivated perennials and annuals, [...]

Almost one year after a statewide ban on smoking in public places officially took effect, the prohibition has shown to have affected restaurants and bars across the lakes area in different manners. Under the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Act, smoking and the use of all other tobacco products — including non-cigarette tobacco and smokeless tobacco — is prohibited in all public places and food service establishments throughout the state. Besides protecting patrons from [...]

It’s that time of year again when tuxes are rented, limousines are booked, and girls everywhere are busy looking for the perfect shoes to go with their equally perfect dress. No, it’s not wedding season — which is only a few weeks away from hitting its summer peak — but it’s certainly prom season. Over the next few weeks, lakes area high school students will be preparing to attend what many consider to be a [...]

Incidents of the most serious crimes rose in six the 11 lakes area communities during 2010 and, for the most part, larcenies or assaults were common denominators. Several lakes area police chiefs attribute the spike in those crime categories to financial duress as a result of economic problems under the pretext of the unemployment rate that rose to 14.3 percent in January 2010. Local police annually compile criminal activity statistics and forward them to the [...]

With the snow almost entirely melted, southeastern Michigan has entered into that ugly transition period between the last vestiges of winter and the beginning of spring. This also marks the time of year when lake levels begin to rise from their winter levels due to melting snow and spring showers, and thus begins the careful guessing game played by the Oakland County Water Resources Commission (WRC) to maintain the legal lake levels currently established on [...]

Significant discussion has echoed off the walls of capitols and city and town halls across the state about the perceived mass exodus that’s taking place in Michigan due to the economy and a job market that may be experiencing growing pains as policy leaders attempt to move the state away from tried-and-true manufacturing to a more knowledge-based private sector. And while the state hasn’t experienced the loss of hundreds of thousands of people over the [...]