PHOTOS: Problematic Downtown Balcony Gets New Support

New wood posts are added to brace the once sagging balcony.

Contractors were back at the North Main Lofts in downtown Royal Oak on Tuesday morning, replacing stanchions with wood columns to hold the one-time sagging balcony in place. Last week, contractors added temporary bracing, shims and tension to level the drooping balcony at the corner of 11 Mile Road and Main Street that has been tied up in lawsuits for more almost three years. Read more about the drooping balcony and how architects, structural engineers, builders and the homeowners association continue to try to straighten out things in court.

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Michigan State Fair Planned To Be Revived in Novi

The Great Lakes State Fair is in the works for Labor Day weekend at Suburban Collection Showplace.

After a three-year hiatus, a plan is underway to bring the Michigan State Fair back this summer. The revamped fair would be called the Great Lakes State Fair and would be held at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi on Labor Day weekend. Blair Bowman, owner of the Showplace, announced the plans to revive the fair at the Novi City Council meeting Monday night. He said the proposed fair has been well received, and he wanted to formally let the city know of the plans. "Michigan is the second largest agricultural producer in the nation, and we should have a state fair," Bowman said. The first State Fair was held in Detroit in 1849, making it one of the longest-running fairs in the country until it was discontinued in 2009 by Gov. Jennifer …

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Guide Dog Back to Work After Being Attacked by Pit Bull in Downtown Royal Oak

Witness from Wyandotte describes seeing the pit bull pinning the guide dog to the ground by the throat.

A guide dog is back to work after being attacked by a pit bull Saturday on Main Street in Royal Oak. “The dog is showing no lasting effects,” said Rochelle Kniffen, director of communications and marketing for Leader Dogs for the Blind of Rochester Hills. The blind client and instructor working with the dog are also doing fine, she said. The pit bull broke loose from a 10-year-girl staying with the dog in the sidewalk cafe of the Burgrz restaurant, 410 S. Main. “I heard the girl scream and looked up to see the pit bull scrambling after a seeing eye dog and a blind man who were passing by," Lana Louys of Wyandotte, who was dining at the restaurant’s outdoor area, told the Daily Tribune. "The pit bull pinned the (guide) dog to the ground and…

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High School Sports Highlights

Monday Highlights: Berkley Baseball Finishes Undefeated in Division

The Bears beat Lathrup 7-3 Monday to stay perfect in OAA Gold; Country Day baseball wins Royal Oak Tournament over the weekend.

* home team  in all CAPS Berkley over LATHRUP, 7-3 A 7-3 win at Lathrup on Monday secured an undefeated record for the Berkley High School varsity baseball team in the Oakland Activities Association Gold division. Brad Burke gave the Bears (19-8; 12-0 OAA Gold) six solid innings on the mound. He gave up three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out four batters. Taylor Morrissey was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs. Dugan Fernandez was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Berkley travels to Birmingham Groves on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. for a nonconference game. Country Day over Waterford Kettering, 6-4 (at Royal Oak) No lead was safe against Country Day on Saturday. Down to its last out, the Yellowjackets erased Waterford Kettering’s 3-0 lead to win the…

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Royal Oak OKs Sidewalk Plans, Fireworks Rules, Party Bus Recommendations and More

City Commissioners hear from residents during a lengthy public hearing on the sidewalk improvement program as well as recommendations for new ordinances at Monday night's meeting.

In a meeting marathon that lasted until 11:42 p.m., the Royal Oak City Commission approved a list of items on its agenda at Monday night’s regular meeting at City Hall. After a lengthy public hearing during which many residents asked Interim City Engineer Matt Callahan questions about the 2012 Sidewalk Improvement Program, commissioners ultimately approved a special assessment roll for the replacement of deficient concrete sidewalks and installation of new sidewalks within an area bounded by North Main Street, East 13 Mile Road, North Campbell Road, East 12 Mile Road, Stephenson Super Highway and East Farnum Avenue. Residents who live within the target area who wish to make an appeal, were directed to put their appeal in writing to the …

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Bike, Dine, Dance: Celebrate Royal Oak's Non-Motorized Transportation Plan

Don't miss the end-of-ride party, with complementary beer, wine and DJ.

Celebrate the passing of the long-sought non-motorized transportation plan earlier this month by the Royal Oak City Commission with a progressive dinner/dance on bicycles Thursday.  "The pace will be leisurely," said Tom Regan, one of the community bike ride organizers. "New and occasional cyclists are especially welcome." Check out the event listing on Facebook, too. "No RSVP is required, just saddle up your bike and join the fun," Regan said. The spotlight for non-motorized plan should be on Regan, said Eric Brown, the founder of Urbane Apartments. "Royal Oak now joins the likes of Ferndale and others who see biking as an important function of our local economy. Tom has worked tirelessly on this project and to now see it come to fruition…

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'Destroy This Place' Discuss Telepathy, Their Chicago Comrades and Their New Album

The local indie-rock quartet are set to release a split 7" single with Hospital Garden at the Berkley Front.

There's something supernatural about Destroy This Place. Everything seemed to fall together for this foursome and, pretty much from the get-go; nothing was spoken, no specific styles were schemed for; they plugged in, clicked and crackled out their unforced sound of signature forcefulness. "It's pretty telepathic," said guitarist/singer Ryan Allen, "we've gotten to the point where we've developed sort of a kinetic energy between the four of us." The other three, of said-four, is guitarist/singer John Nelson, bassist Monday Busque and drummer Sean Sommer. Born between two Detroit pop/rock groups of the late 00's (the scrappier sugar-punk of New Grenada and the 90's indie shred skater shake-ups of Friendly Foes) the Ferndalian/Royal-Oak …

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List: Memorial Day Events In Royal Oak and Surrounding Communities

At parades, cemeteries and in private, families will honor those who served their country.

Memorial Day weekend – the first holiday weekend of summer, as it's called, is a few days away – a time for parades, picnics and perhaps a cottage-opening trip up north. It's also a more solemn occasion for many families, as befits the name Memorial Day. Graveside visits, flag placements and memories of former service members are part of the late May ritual for millions of Americans. In Royal Oak a parade begins at 9 a.m. near Main Street and Harrison, heading north on Main to Second and east to the Royal Oak Veterans Memorial for a ceremony. "The Memorial Service has always been a very solemn event at which we as a community join together to remember our veterans," said Carlo Ginotti, Co-Chair of the Memorial Parade Committee. “This year…

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