City Commission OKs Bianchi Flats site plan proposal
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The City Commission Dec. 16 unanimously approved the first reading of the rezoning of 723 N. Main St. to a planned unit development.
The rezoning will allow the construction of the “Bianchi Flats,” as named by owner Michael Bianchi. The proposed building was created by Krieger Klatt Architects. Bianchi Flats will be a four-story building and have 24 multiple family dwellings. The petitioner requested the PUD approval
due to the original zoning requirements that had forbidden strictly residential-use buildings.
On Nov. 12, the PUD site plan went before the Planning Commission and a public hearing was held. The plan was approved by the Planning Commission and sent to the
City Commission with five recommended deviations from the required zoning standards.
It was requested by the Planning Commission to not have commercial use on the ground level as well as to not require a 10-
THERE IS A NEW KING IN TOWN AT THE DETROIT ZOO
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Detroit Zoo has a giant addition who is sure to turn some heads.
In all his glory, Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo.
Kalu is bringing the fire, as he is described as a playful and exciting addition to the lion enclosure. But, he is here for a specific reason: to breed and create new lion babies.
Kalu was born on Sept. 10, 2015, in Denver, according to mammal supervisor Flo Yates. Kalu was then relocated to Oklahoma, where he grew up with a variety of different lions, females and males, of all ages.
This upbringing makes Kalu a special addition to the Detroit
Photo provided by the Detroit Zoo
Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo.
School districts to honor MLK through annual day of service
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
OAKLAND COUNTY — Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak schools once again are partnering to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service.
The school districts’ annual “A Day On, Not a Day Off” event will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Berkley High School, 2325 Catalpa Drive.
The event will begin with breakfast followed by speakers and choir performances. After the yearly Freedom Walk, attendees can participate in making blankets and cards and sort through donations.
“It’s a small way we can honor Dr. King’s lifetime of work with our community,” Berkley School District Superintendent Scott Francis said in a prepared statement. “All three districts are committed to keeping diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of our schools to create an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of belonging. The greater community can all honor Dr. King by joining us, and doing the same.”
Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said the day is about
connecting with the community and helping support local charities.
“Each charity that benefits from this event relies upon donations like ours, and we’re just very happy to be able to help and help educate the community on this day of celebration and honoring service that Dr. King personified,” she said.
Clawson Public Schools Social Media
Director Megan Homanick stated the event is a wonderful opportunity for the staff to come together and give back to the community.
“We’re just really glad to be part of it and we love partnering with Berkley and Royal Oak,” she said. “We’re three school districts that are all very close together, we share a lot of the same community members. It’s such a wonderful partnership, and this is just a great opportunity.”
Donations of items will go to the Redford Brightmoor Initiative; Cass Community Social Services; the Judson Center; and Royal Oak First, A United Methodist Church.
Acceptable donations at the event include nonperishable foods such as canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars and boxed food items. Other items
The Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak school districts will be holding their day of service event, “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” honoring Martin Luther King Jr. later this month.
that will be accepted include new children’s books for infants to middle schoolers, toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream and feminine products. Unopened diapers of all sizes, socks of all sizes, underwear for men and children, and adult
winter hats will be acceptable as well.
“Just year after year, it’s a strong event in our community,” Fitzpatrick said. “Different people come out — depending on their availability — with generous donations from folks of their time and also of their talent, in
See MLK on page 10A
File photo provided by Clawson Public Schools
SECOND FRONT PAGE
LibCabinet unveiled by Royal Oak Public Library
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK —- “Vicki” has arrived.
The Royal Oak Public Library’s brand new library vending machine, “Vicki,” was unveiled on Dec. 19 at the Woodward Corner Market at 30955 Woodward Ave.
Library Director Sandy Irwin and members of the Royal Oak Public Library Board of Trustees celebrated the arrival of the LibCabinet with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The cabinet was made possible by a donation from the estate of Victoria Dickinson. The name “Vicki” is
in honor of Dickinson, a longtime resident of Royal Oak and former library board president.
The cost of the cabinet, software, hardware, shipping and labor came out to be $33,500. Most of the money was taken from the $50,000 donation from Dickinson to pay for the LibCabinet.
The Royal Oak Civic foundation also contributed $2,000 to help start up the project.
“We have been thinking about a way to better serve the residents on the north end of Royal Oak,” Irwin said. “I got an email, a newsletter that showed the LibCabinet at another library over in the Kent District, and I thought it was a good idea.”
Irwin said that the LibCabinet was a way to connect with the greater community of Royal Oak and provide a place to take out books that are in an accessible place.
“I think that for people who don’t really like coming downtown, this is a way to provide them with that reading material so they can have it in their hands again,” she said. “I also think that being right over by the hospital, if people need to spend some time over there with their loved ones, they can stop in, check out a book and be good to go.”
The special thing about this LibCabinet is that to check out a book, a
STAGECRAFTERS TELLS STORY OF ‘THE COLOR PURPLE’
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Stagecrafters is bringing the heat of rural 1900s Georgia in its production of “The Color Purple” to the main stage of the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave.
The story focuses on Celie, an African American woman who is learning who she is after suffering abuse at the hands of her father and husband and getting her children taken away from her.
The show will play throughout the
month of January on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Opening night will take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10.
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays with the final show taking place at 2 p.m. Jan. 26.
“The first night is going to be extremely energetic, because the cast really wants to have an audience right now,” Director Jerry Haines said. “We want to tell the story, we want to tell the Celie story, and we want to tell it in an honest way.”
“Vicki” is available to anybody who has a library card with one of the many libraries associated with The Library Network in Oakland County.
Photo provided by Sandy Irwin
Photo provided by Stagecrafters
Ryan Kayla as Sofia, Kaela Green as Celie, and Terri Manning as Shug will be performing in the Stagecrafters production of “The Color Purple” Jan. 10-26 at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave.
See
CRIME WATCH
Unattended firearm stolen from McDonald’s bathroom
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 8:51 a.m. Dec. 19, an unknown person stole the complainant’s firearm after leaving it unattended in the bathroom of a McDonald’s at 423 W. 11 Mile Road.
Tablet stolen from unlocked car
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 12:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Dec. 19, an unknown person stole a tablet from the complainant’s unlocked vehicle near East Lincoln Avenue and South Campbell Road.
Tools stolen from unlocked car
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 3 and 3:30 a.m. Dec. 23, an unknown person stole various tools from the complainant’s unlocked vehicle on Roseland Avenue near 12 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.
Verbal argument leads to car damage
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 12 p.m. Dec. 15, an unknown person damaged the complainant’s vehicle after a verbal altercation on Coolidge Highway near Samoset Road.
Vehicle stolen from driveway
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 5 a.m. Dec. 13, an unknown person stole the complainant’s vehicle from a driveway near Maxwell Avenue and West 11 Mile Road.
— Taylor Christensen
NEWS & NOTES
Christmas tree recycling services go until Jan. 10
ROYAL OAK — Need to get rid of your Christmas tree? Recycle it at the curb during the holiday tree collection available through Jan. 10.
On regular recycling collection days, place trees by the curb by 7 a.m. and be sure to remove all decorations, lights, stands, tinsel, etc. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag. Improperly prepared trees will not be picked up until corrected.
After Jan. 13, residents can dispose of trees at SOCRRA, 995 Coolidge Highway in Troy, by appointment only through April 4. Call (248) 288-5150 for details.
Historical Society euchre tournament
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Historical Society will host a euchre tournament at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Pronto!, 608 S. Washington Ave.
The event will begin at 6:15 p.m. for registration, and a euchre rule review will start at 6:55 p.m. The first deal will be at 7 p.m.
The cost is $25 to play, which includes light appetizers and prizes. There will also be a full cash bar available.
To preregister, visit royaloakhistoricalsociety.com.
Compiled by Taylor Christensen
Shrine Grade School open house
ROYAL OAK — Shrine Catholic Grade School and Early Childhood Center will host an open house for families interested in the district at Shrine Catholic Grade School, 1621 Linwood Ave. in Royal Oak.
The event is open to families who want to learn about the grade-level curriculum, clubs and extracurricular activities and take a tour of the classrooms from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 26.
Families can see the preschool through fifth grade classrooms and explore Shrine’s integrated athletics, STEM programs, fine arts, music and service opportunities from preschool through 12th grade.
To register for the event, visit shrineschools.com.
Corewell Health Children’s receives $1.6
million
in grants
ROYAL OAK — Corewell Health Children’s has recently received $1.6 million in Children’s Miracle Network Grants.
The grants will be used to enhance pediatric programs at Corewell Health Children’s locations, and more than 60 programs received funding.
“The success of the Corewell Health’s Children’s/CMN partnership relies upon the generosity of the entire community,” Matthey Denenberg, M.D., chief of pediatrics for Corewell Health, said in a press release. “Individuals, corporate partners and hospital team members all contribute to provide our pediatric team the opportunity for ongoing advancement in medical care for our youngest patients. Together, we can give children exceptional care that positively impacts their lives.”
The grants included funding for the pediatric social work program, pediatric epilepsy research support, child life therapist program, Corewell Health’s Teen Safe Driving Initiative, more than 480 bike safety helmets for the annual Bike Day event and the purchase of neonatal intensive care unit equipment including ventilators and pediatric vision screeners.
For more information on Corewell Health Children’s, visit corewellhealth.org/SEchildrens.
HOMES
6A/JANUARY 8, 2025
ROYAL OAK REVIEW
CONSIDER DE-ICING METHODS AND THEIR IMPACTS DURING THE WINTER
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As the winter season continues in Michigan, residents will likely have multiple different preferences for removing ice from sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and roads.
During the winter, snow or ice storms and colder temperatures can cause issues to certain driving and walking areas.
“Each year, 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet,” an excerpt from the Federal Highway Administration’s ‘Snow & Ice’ page states. “Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement annually. Every year, nearly 900 people are killed and nearly 76,000 people are injured in vehicle crashes during snowfall or sleet.”
Many people might prefer using salt, as (sodium chloride) is often used to address these issues by melting current ice patches or preventing potential ice issues. According to “Pros & Cons of Road Salt in Winter” from Bridgstone Tire, road salt can lower the freezing temperature of water and sprinkling salt on icy patches can melt them.
“The effectiveness of road salt in winter depends on the amount of salt used. Since road salt crystals are larger than regular table salt, the pressure from vehicles driving over salted roadways can also increase road salt’s effectiveness,” the Bridgestone Tire webpage states. “More salt is needed to manage ice as temperatures drop further below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.”
A lot of residents may prefer salt because it’s a cheaper and effective option, though the environmental impact of salt can be a concern.
“The most common deicing agent used in Michigan is a compound called sodium chloride. Sodium chloride causes severe decline in plant and tree health,” the city of Bloomfield Hills’ “Deicing Alternatives” webpage states. “Salt runoff can wash into the soil, thus increasing salt levels. As a result, the root systems grow (weak), which reduces the ability of foliage to fight disease. Salt that is applied near your home can enter streams directly from the road or from surrounding melting snow (runoff). A sudden or extreme change in salinity (or “saltiness”) can be harmful to aquatic life as well. Aquatic
SEASON
organisms require a certain amount of salt in the water. If the amount of salt is too great it will affect an organism’s ability to regulate the amount of fluids in and out of its cells.”
EGLE, when it was named the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, put out an FAQ on de-icers that described salt having negative effects on roads, plant life and bodies of water.
“Like any deicing substance, use of road salt has some negative consequences such as corrosivity related to both vehicles and building structures (i.e. bridges, overpasses and highway ramps), it is harmful to both ornamental and agricultural vegetation, and in certain areas salt runoff has potential to lead to unacceptable chloride concentrations in lakes and rivers,” the FAQ states.
“The Impact of Salts on Plants and How to Reduce Plant Injury from Winter Salt Applications,” from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, suggests that people carefully spread salt or other de-icing products to avoid plant life; place salt-tolerant plants in areas close to sidewalks and roadways; protect plants with physical barriers like burlap, plastic or wood; and reduce salt use by combining it with sand, sawdust or cinders for traction.
“De-icing materials that use salts other than sodium chloride, including calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, or calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) are more expensive but can reduce injury to plants,” the University of Massachusetts Amherst article states.
Ace Hardware has its own calcium magnesium chloride ice melt product that, according to the owner of the Trevarrow Ace Hardware store in Troy, Dennis Garbarz, performs better and doesn’t harm the concrete.
“It works better without a lot of traffic and doesn’t track inside,” Garbarz said. “It won’t damage surfaces and won’t kill the lawn or hurt the environment if used correctly.”
Garbarz also notes that sand can be useful for cars and trucks if they get stuck in other areas.
Jessie Buchholz, a sales associate at the Menards at 32501 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, said that calcium chloride is better for cement, though a lot of customers prefer salt due to it being more popular and cost effective.
“Typically, people should make sure they store products inside and some products shouldn’t be around pets,” Buchholz said.
Clawson Lions Club provides 8 Chromebooks for Senior Center OATS program
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
CLAWSON — Clawson seniors are working hard to better understand the nature of the technological world and its benefits.
With the help of the Clawson Lions Club, seniors enrolled in the AARP Older Adults Technology Services program can now learn their curriculum directly on eight brand new HP Chromebooks.
“I am just so happy,” said Lisa Ball, assistant director of recreation and senior services. “Now we can move forward and do even more classes.”
The OATS program began in December and started with a few lecture-based classes, according to Ball.
“We actually just ended our smartphone course at the Blair Memorial Library earlier this week (Dec. 17),” Ball said. “People just came in with their phones, whether that be an Android or Apple iPhone, so we
can do that kind of stuff, but without having some kind of desktop or Chromebook, we can’t do the more in-depth classes on how to work with a computer.”
Clive Brown, a member of the Clawson Lions Club, said that this donation is just another normal day for the Clawson Lions Club. He said that the group is there to help wherever it is needed in the community.
Brown said that he ran into Ball and Scott Jennex, director of recreation and senior services, at a festival over the summer.
Jennex and Ball mentioned their need for laptops, and Brown told them he could help.
“They discussed the desire to get involved with the AARP program that Lisa was working on, and they needed a few laptops,” Brown said. “With that being said, there was two of us that were standing there, we looked at each other and said, ‘Well, we can do that.’”
Following that interaction, Brown got the approval of the Clawson Lions Club and
See CHROMEBOOKS on page 8A
Editor:
David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com
Reporters:
Taylor Christensen | (586) 498-1081 | tchristensen@candgnews.com
Mike Koury | (586) 498-1077 | mkoury@candgnews.com
Sports:
Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
Chromebooks
from page 7A
began researching the best laptops to buy for a program like this.
“Lisa supplied me with what she was looking for in terms of the minimum requirements for her program that she’s conducting,” he said. “With that information, I shopped around and got some prices on new Hewlett-Packard Chromebooks.”
Brown said that he made sure to find laptops that would last, enlisting help from his granddaughter, daughter and wife, who all had knowledge of Chromebooks.
“They will be able to use these laptops, because we didn’t go out and find refurbished or the cheapest thing that we could find — that wasn’t our intent,” Brown said. “Our intent was to get them what they needed and then some, and new equipment, so that they can get some good future time out of it.”
The eight chromebooks cost around $2,500, which came out of the Clawson Lions Club’s activity fund.
Brown said that the Lions Club members delivered the laptops on Dec. 16 to make sure that the Senior Center had enough time to activate the computers with the necessary programming before classes began in January.
Ball said that the classes have been really popular since they started in December, acquiring a waiting list for most of them. Since beginning, she has taught classes on smartphones and how to use the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant.
Classes related to the computer began Jan. 7, during
the How to Choose a New Computer session at the Blair Memorial library at 416 N. Main St. Jan. 11-18 is the Online Basics Program Series, where seniors will be using the new Chromebooks to learn how to navigate the online world. The series will help students understand basic computer concepts, how to protect personal information and more.
To register for the program, and for more information, visit cityofclawson.com. Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
Photo provided by Lisa Ball
The Clawson Lions Club donated eight brand-new HP Chromebooks for the AARP Older Adults Technology Services program at the Clawson Senior Center.
3A
Haines said that the show is ultimately a love story and hopes that the audience can relate to the characters on the stage.
“Hopefully the audience will be drawn in and feel what she is feeling, feel what all of the characters are feeling, and walk away with a feeling of hope, a feeling of victory, feelings of redemption, and a feeling of love,” Haines said.
Stagecrafters actors and Haines have been working on the show since September, according to Haines, and throughout the process he said that the crew has worked together well.
“When you do a show like this, people naturally come together as a family,” he said. “There was just something special and dynamic about them (the cast), not to mention the incredible talent on stage.”
Experienced actress Terri Manning has been cast as “Shug Avery,” a bold and vivacious blues singer.
“Shug is absolutely the part I wanted. It is the main part I auditioned for,” Manning said. “This is the part I knew I could do and that I felt most comfortable with. In some ways I relate to her boldness, and her sassiness I really liked.”
Call for details. Call
Manning has a deep connection with the production of “The Color Purple” and said that she saw it on Broadway in 2016. Since she saw the production, she was hooked.
“There are so many different genres of music within the show that are covered throughout Celie’s journey in the show, and it’s just the music that pulls you in,” she said. “That’s the main reason I auditioned for the show after seeing it. I mean, I listen to the music almost daily, and I became pretty obsessed with it and I knew I wanted to be a part of it someday.”
To prepare for this role, Manning said she studied the show and actress Heather Hadley’s version of Shug Avery.
“I have loved her for years, so I watched her, I studied her. I knew for a fact that this is the part I wanted,” she said. “It’s a surreal experience. It is a show that I have worked the hardest on since doing shows with Stagecrafters. I am so excited about it.”
Manning hopes that when people come out to the show, they can experience what she did when she saw it on Broadway and feel that sense of connection to the characters.
“I hope everyone can see themselves in the story. While it focuses on an African American woman and her life and her ex-
See PURPLE on page 10A
MLK
from page 2A
terms of awesome student productions on that day, our videos that we produce, all of that makes the day more special and I’m just really proud that this has remained a strong event for Royal Oak Schools.”
Fitzpatrick stated that one of the goals the district always has had for “A Day On, Not a Day Off” is to get the students involved with helping and doing community work more than one day a year.
“I believe that’s what our students have now embraced,” she said. “They’re active on this day, and then I see our students — elementary through the high school — really working on service projects all year long to help the community.”
Francis hopes everyone who attends the event learns the power of service to others.
“During the event, we create blankets for those in the hospital, sort donations for organizations who support people in need in Metro Detroit, make lunches for the homeless population and create greeting cards for educators and first responders to lift them up for the service they provide to the public,” he stated. “As Dr. King said in 1968, ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. … You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.’”
Homanick said that the event helps bridge a gap and connect the three communities together.
“People bring their families. There’s a march this year. Last year, it was canceled because it was too cold. So there’s opportunities for our students, our staff, our community members, to come out to the march as well,” she said. “Martin Luther King Day for us used to be a professional development day that didn’t necessarily reflect on serving others. And so this partnership, this change for us allows our staff to to really experience just the selflessness of giving to others.”
For more information on the event and other avenues of donating, visit romi.gov/998/MLK-Service-Day.
Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
Library
from page 3A
user does not need to be a member of the Royal Oak Public Library, because the ROPL is a part of The Library Network, the largest library cooperative in Michigan, which connects 50 libraries through a shared system.
The mission of The Library Network is to “Create a vibrant, collaborative partnership among our libraries, driving access to shared services and resources.”
The Library Network makes it possible for people to use the LibCabinet as long as they are members of one of the 50 libraries in southeast Michigan.
“One of the biggest services we do is we run the shared catalog,” Director of TLN Steven Bowers said. “Our shared service catalog has a million titles and the public can directly request them for delivery to their local library, often overnight.”
Purple
from page 9A
periences, as well as the two other main women in the show, it is a story about growth and about change and learning about yourself,” she said.
The 125 books inside the LibCabinet are all a part of the catalog, according to Irwin, who said that the books are popular titles for children and adults, fiction and nonfiction.
To check out a book, a person must scan a library card or the barcode in their library app and open the door. The user can choose up to five books to take out, according to Irwin. Then, the person must close the door.
To return books, patrons just scan their cards, or barcodes, open the door and return the books.
“We have a collection of materials to bring over there to keep the machine filled,” Irwin said. “We get an inventory three times a day so we can keep an eye on that. It will just be a continually rotating collection.”
For more information on the LibCabinet, and the Royal Oak Public Library, visit ropl. org/1532/Library.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
“Ultimately, it’s a story about love, and I think it’s a story for everyone.”
For more information on “The Color Purple” and to purchase tickets, visit stagecrafters. org.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
CALENDAR
JAN. 11
Attic Treasures: Get verbal appraisals from DuMouchelle’s Gallery staff, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Royal Oak Woman’s Club, 404 S. Pleasant St., book 15-minute appointments for every two items at rowc.org/events
ONGOING
Ice skating: Open until Feb. 17, The Rink at Royal Oak in Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St., (248) 541-7550, info@winterblast.com, therinkatroyaloak.com
‘The Underground Railroad in Oakland County’: Traveling exhibit on display January-February, hear discussion with Birmingham Museum Director Leslie Pielack at 7 p.m. Jan. 10, also separate exhibit “A Tangled Web: Stories About African Americans in 19th Century Royal Oak,” grand opening from 2-4 p.m. Jan. 12 and runs through May, Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum, 1411 W. Webster Road, curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org, (248) 439-1501, royaloakhistoricalsociety.org
Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 316 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3276, more on Facebook
Zoo, and his confidence is quite noticeable, according to zoo staff.
“Kalu was raised in a family of lions, in a pride, so he has experience with all different ages and sexes of lions,” said Tami Brightrall, mammal curator. “He has experience with younger lions, older lions, females and males. So he is what we would call ‘savvy’ in the zoo world, and that just means that he can navigate all social situations.”
Brightrall said that he is a “wonderful” lion to have at the zoo.
“Kalu would be a very good fit to breed with our female lion, Amriah,” Brightrall said. “That’s why he was transferred to our zoo, because the cubs of these lions are not related to one another, they (the baby) will be very healthy.”
Kalu and Amirah were matched up by a group of population biologists who carefully analyze genetic data of animals in zoos around the country. That team makes recommendations for the animals who are least related to each other to breed so that the population of different species can be healthy.
“Our females are two sisters, Amriah and Asha; they are very closely bonded,”
Yates said. “They have a hard time letting anyone else into their pride. So Kalu was recommended by the Species Survival Plan, which matched him with our females based on personality and his age.”
Brightrall said that the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicated lions as a vulnerable species.
“Lions have habitat loss, there is poaching, there’s trophy hunting, there’s a decline in their prey, so lions in the wild are struggling,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that zoos are going to release lions into the wild, but at least in the zoo, we can make sure that the lions that are in captivity are healthy.”
Additionally, having a beautiful male lion at the zoo is a way to spread awareness about animal preservation, according to Brightrall.
“The lions and the zoos are ambassadors to teach people about why they should care about these animals and why they should, you know, see how beautiful and magnificent they are and how amazing their lives are,” she said. “Lions are very special, and if you see a lion up close, you will never forget it.”
Because Kalu is such a big cat, and lions can be territorial, the zoo staff has had to transition him into his new habitat. Throughout the past few weeks the zoo attendants have been introducing Kalu, Ami-
rah and Asha to make sure they are comfortable with each other before moving into the same enclosure.
As of Dec. 30, the lions are living in two separate areas but can interact through a mesh wall.
“Right now we are seeing them sleep near each other, which is a good sign that they want to be together,” Yates said. “They are also calling across to each other, which are all good signs that things are going well. When we decide if we are comfortable with moving towards the next step, that will be physical introductions.”
The process is slow, but with such dangerous animals the zoo staff must take precautions and have patience while integrating the lions.
Yates said that if given the chance, seeing Kalu in the zoo is a great experience, given Kalu’s giant and wild personality.
“He loves his toys, and he is very protective of his food. His food is the dearest thing to him,” she said. “You will see him interacting with enrichment and toys and stuff. He likes to carry stuff around in his mouth and bounce it around. He is just a fun guy to watch.”
For more information on the arrival of Kalu, visit the Detroit Zoo website at www. detroitzoo.org.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
Bianchi
from page 1A
foot triangular setback for the corner vision clearances. It was also requested to change the building height requirement from 36 feet to 48 feet, utilize 7.455% of the lot area (1,117 square feet of the 15,000 square feet available) for landscaping and require only 29 parking spaces instead of the original 48.
Dennis Cowan, of Plunkett Cooney, spoke before the City Commission on behalf of the petitioner, BNF Royal Oak Investments LLC.
Currently occupying the space at 723 N. Main St. is Bianchi Salon, which is owned by BNF Royal Oak Investments LLC. The salon will be relocated sometime in 2025 to the Jonna building on the street level at the northeast corner of 11 Mile Road and Main Street.
Cowan said that at the public hearing, it was agreed by both the petitioner and the public that this project will cut down on traffic.
“Because the Bianchi Salon as I have mentioned is successful and busy, this will cut down tremendously on the traffic to and from that building as it currently operates,” he said.
Cowan also mentioned the public concern about construction blocking traffic.
“That led to our Bianchi team to make the pledge that we will work very diligently along with the city in terms of staging that and hopefully (it) will be able to happen off of main street,” Cowan said.
Safety concerns were brought up about cars driving in and out of the parking lot below the apartments. Cars would be driving out of the lot on the first floor onto Austin Avenue.
To prevent problems, the petitioner has
added a garage arm that would be activated by the driver to raise up when they are ready to exit the building. A delay will also potentially be added with the raising of the garage arm following Commissioner Brandon Kolo’s suggestions to do so.
“I don’t see why we couldn’t have something where if you hit it, it has a delay,” Jason Krieger, of Krieger Klatt Architects said.
“I like those safety additions. A lot of middle schoolers are going up and down that street,” Commissioner Melanie Macey said.
Commissioner Amands Herzog mentioned that she likes the project and added that the accessibility around the future
apartment building is a good way to reduce energy and encourage walking among the future residents.
“I think the project is really great for the 10-minute walkability. It has a grocery store, a dental office, a dermatology (office), hardware stores, restaurants, there are a lot of amenities in this area, and so this is a perfect location for a multifamily (development),” Herzog said. “That helps us get to those sustainability goals that we are trying to achieve in the city as well.”
Mayor Michael Fournier said that he looks forward to seeing this property built and thinks the addition will be beneficial for
the Royal Oak community.
“I will just add, beautiful building. I think this is a really good story where we have long-standing successful business owners relocating their business downtown and using the property that they have to redevelop into something the community actually needs,” he said. “The community actually needs housing, I mean, the country needs housing.”
The proposal was unanimously approved and will go to a second reading at a future City Commission meeting.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
“Many foot problems in people with diabetes occur when injuries and infections go unnoticed and untreated. Healing can be delayed due to decreased feeling in the feet (neuropathy) and poor circulation. I will evaluate your feet regularly to detect any changes early, before they become a problem. Call me for an appointment and I will work with you to keep your feet healthy.”
Rendering provided by Krieger Klatt Architects
The City Commission Dec. 16 unanimously approved the rezoning of 723 N. Main St. to a planned unit development. The rezoning will allow for the construction of the Bianchi Flats.
Auctions
Legal Notices
NOTICE
TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF ROYAL OAK:
DECEMBER 2024 TAX BILLS ARE BEING SENT OUT ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 1, 2024. WINTER BILLS ARE DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025. AFTER THE DUE DATE, A 3.00% LATE FEE IS ADDED TO YOUR BILL. YOU MAY VIEW, PRINT, OR PAY YOUR BILL ONLINE AT WWW.INVOICECLOUD.COM/ROYALOAKMI. PROPERTY OWNERS WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS MAY CALL 844-627-2396 TO PAY BY PHONE. THERE IS NO SERVICE CHARGE TO PAY USING YOUR BANK ROUTING AND ACCOUNT NUMBER.
JAYNMARIE C. HUBANKS
CITY TREASURER
Published: Royal Oak Review 01/08/2025
0002-2502
Notice to Contractors:
TAMPA,FL Cozy,PrivateGuesthouseForRentIncluding Kitchenettew/Essentials, FurnishedBedroom, Bathroom,Patio,Private Entrance,FreeParking onPremisesandWi-Fi. *NoPets/PartiesPlease* Call/Text 313-461-8485
City of Royal Oak, Michigan Advertisement
2025 Concrete Pavement Replacement and Pre-paid Sidewalk Improvements Contract CAP2501
Sealed proposals will be received by the Purchasing Agent of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan, up to 12:00 pm, local time, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at which time all proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud for the 2025 Concrete Pavement Replacement and Pre-paid Sidewalk Improvements Contract CAP2501. Electronic proposals shall be submitted through the procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/romi.
Bids will be automatically opened and posted online at the bid opening time. The work shall consist of furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and incidental items for the following major items of work:
• Remove & Replace 4”-8” Concrete Walk/Approach (750 SY+/-)
• Remove & Replace 6”-10” Concrete and Composite Pavement (4650 SY+/-)
• Remove & Replace Curb & Gutter (400 LF+/-)
• HMA Patching (175 TON+/-)
The city will not consider bids that do not comply with Royal Oak Ordinance 2022-07, Responsible Contractor Ordinance.
The Plans and Specifcations under which the work is to be done may be obtained through the procurement portal on or after Monday, January 6, 2025. Plans and specifcations cannot be mailed
Each proposal must be accompanied by a certifed check or bid bond by a recognized surety company in the amount of fve percent (5%) of the bid, payable to the City of Royal Oak as security for the acceptance of the contract. No bidder may withdraw his proposal between the date set for the opening thereof and the date upon which the contract is awarded.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and the right to waive defects in proposals. By order of the commission of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan.
Melanie Halas City Clerk
Published: Royal Oak Review 01/08/2025
City of Royal Oak, Michigan Advertisement
2025 Joint Sealing Improvements Contract CAP2525
Notice to Contractors:
Sealed proposals will be received by the Purchasing Agent of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan, up to 1:00 pm, local time, Thursday, January 23, 2025 at which time all proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud for the 2025 Joint Sealing Improvements Contract CAP2525. Electronic proposals shall be submitted through the procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/romi. Bids will be automatically opened and posted online at the bid opening time. The work shall consist of furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and incidental items for the following major items of work:
• Seal local asphalt streets - 27 Lane Miles +/• Seal major asphalt roads - 19 Lane Miles +/-
• Sealant on concrete local streets - 10,000 Linear Feet +/-
The Plans and Specifcations under which the work is to be done may be obtained through the procurement portal Thursday, January 2, 2025. Plans and specifcations cannot be mailed.
Each proposal must be accompanied by a certifed check or bid bond by a recognized surety company in the amount of fve percent (5%) of the bid, payable to the City of Royal Oak as security for the acceptance of the contract. No bidder may withdraw his proposal between the date set for the opening thereof and the date upon which the contract is awarded.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and the right to waive defects in proposals.
By order of the commission of the City of Royal Oak, Michigan.
Published: Royal Oak Review 01/08/2025
Melanie Halas City Clerk
0031-2502
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