Summer in Review: Events, New Businesses, Outages and More

We shared a lot of information this summer and want to make sure you didn't miss a thing, so here are some highlights:

Business

Brew Jus features gourmet sliders with homemade beer-based sauces and is located inside the Rust Belt Market.

The outdoor bar is attached to The Oakland and features craft cocktails in a more casual environment.

"I couldn't ask for a more supportive city," says Jack Aronson, co-founder of Garden Fresh Gourmet, which is expecting record sales and working on a new stuffed burger lineup.

Easy Like Sundae is located at 172 W. Nine Mile Road and offers 10 flavors of fat-free, soft-serve frozen yogurt.

The downtown restaurant marked its grand opening Aug. 4.

Torino on Nine Mile rolls out new hours and a revamped menu.

The "Dog Days of Summer" event at Level One Bank raised funds for the Animal Welfare Society of Southeastern Michigan.

Who has the best burger in town? How about the best outdoor dining? Here are your picks for Readers' Choice.

The cafe will open under a new name in the basement of St. Benedict's Church in Highland Park, Huffington Post Detroit reports.

Have you checked out the new store in downtown Ferndale yet?

Events and community

View photos from the weekend of gay pride events.

It was a "black tie and sneakers" event as residents explored the city's 11 public art sculptures as part of the ARTWN initiative.

"This is the point," Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter said of the city's most-talked-about public art sculpture. "How boring would it be if we all had the same opinions and liked the same things?"

Check out photos from the second annual barbecue and whiskey sampling event.

[Have great summer photos to share? Upload them to our community gallery!]

Residents and business owners who are fed up with the event and the activity that precedes it sound off on Facebook.

We've got the scoop on news, interesting tidbits and people profiles from Saturday.

One family says they've been dealing with rats for three years. Find out what local officials recommend to help combat the problem.

How would you feel about a community swimming pool in Ferndale?

"The gay community is under attack in this state," said Affirmations Executive Director David Garcia, who took the first 24-hour hunger strike shift.

An event was held to celebrate the educator, who has spent more than 40 years with the district.

Kate Pohjola departed the position of library director as of Aug. 23.

“The city appreciates his 39 years of service,” City Manager April Lynch said in a press release. “Byron had a lot of pride for the City of Ferndale, and you knew it as soon as you hit our borders."

Elections, government

Craig Covey of Ferndale loses his seat to the Huntington Woods resident; Republican candidate Steven Zimberg, also of Huntington Woods, ran unopposed to represent the new 18th District.

"For me to not be involved in some sort of advocacy or political work is, for me, unthinkable," said Craig Covey, who was defeated in the August primary by fellow Democrat Helaine Zack to represent the new 18th District of the Oakland County Commission.

Council members also approved the sale of a city-owned property on Livernois that will be renovated into an art studio/fabrication shop.

The political action committee is supporting Amy Butters, Jim O’Donnell, Raylon Leaks-May and Kevin Deegan-Krause for the Nov. 6 school board election.

Citizens for Better Education throws support behind Keith Warnick, Katrina Collins, Jim Pfleger and Bradford Parks.

Police and fire

Three homes in Ferndale were burglarized while the residents were inside, police said.

"Had we still been dry I think we would've had multiple fires," Fire Marshal Brian Batten said of July 4. "Nothing stayed in anybody's yard."

Police said two people were targeted but not injured by a masked man with a semi-automatic rifle.

No one was hurt in the blaze, which occurred at a manufacturing processing plant on Northend.

Reward money is available through Crime Stoppers connected to series of incidents in southern Oakland County and western Wayne County.

Police have arrested a Detroit man after a chase through parts of Ferndale and Detroit. He fled the scene with a tot in his arms. Police said he was driving a stolen car.

The officer suffered minor injuries and has been released from the hospital, according to Ferndale police.

Obituaries

Cause of death unknown for Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, who died in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Clyde Baker, 62, of Howell, died after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle in Burns Twp.

Donald Gattes, 49, of Ferndale, died while leaving work. "He was truly a wonderful person," said City Manager April Lynch.

Bancroft spent more than 40 years working with Ferndale Public Schools and is remembered as an "innovator" in the district.

Power outages, storms

A severe thunderstorm whipped through Ferndale, battering the area with powerful winds and hail and knocking out power to more than 2,500 DTE customers.

Check out these user-submitted photos from the severe thunderstorms that hit Ferndale, leaving more than 1,200 DTE customers without power.

DTE representative Scott Simons discusses the recent outages and explains how restoration is prioritized.

DTE Energy responds to some of the questions commonly asked by local residents concerned about power outages.

Schools

Goliday takes over the Eagles varsity basketball team for former coach Tom Staton, who resigned from the position in June.

John F. Kennedy School is listed as a 'focus' school, meaning it is among the 10 percent of schools with the widest achievement gaps.

District outlines research-based school improvement plans to 'systematically address student achievement.

The School Board held a regular meeting August 20.

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