Royal Park Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel located in Downtown Rochester, MI, has received AAA’s Best of Housekeeping award, which recognizes properties across the country that significantly surpass AAA’s high standards of cleanliness. Royal Park Hotel is among only 25% of the 27,000 hotels AAA inspects nationwide to earn this distinction. To receive the award, hotels must demonstrate excellent housekeeping on two consecutive inspections and be free of AAA member complaints. “It all … [Read more...]
A Portrait of Our Pandemic
April 30, 2020 by 4 Comments
A photographic Tour of Rochester during the Midst of Our Pandemic Photo captions by Deborah J. Larsen / Photos by Gerald Larsen … [Read more...]
Library Joins Efforts to Print Face Shields
April 5, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Rochester Hills Public Library Joins Efforts to Print Face Shields and Frames for Healthcare Workers As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact communities in the State of Michigan, the Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL) has taken steps to help protect healthcare workers by using the library’s 3D printers to create face shields. Library staff downloaded the design files from stratasys.com and are printing and assembling the face shields at home. Eureka Lab/Makerspace … [Read more...]
Rochester’s Pest House Was an Early Answer to Outbreaks of Disease
March 27, 2020 by 6 Comments
As we cope with the various levels of disruption in our daily routines made necessary by the response to the COVID-19 virus, it is interesting to look back at the way contagious disease was handled in our community in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In small communities like Rochester, there were no hospitals at the time. A village might be fortunate enough to have a physician or two in residence, but there were no cures and few effective therapies available for the primary … [Read more...]
Op-Ed: Judge Warren Calls for Fundamental School Reform in Light of Coronavirus
March 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment
The coronavirus has thrown our entire society in disarray, and no less poignant an example exists than our K-12 public schools. The closure of schools across the country has stopped the normal learning process dead in its tracks. In a valiant attempt to continue, many districts have sought to leverage long distance learning. Unfortunately, weaknesses in the law, technological infrastructure, and teacher preparation, as well as inequities among students, are barriers to success. For example, the … [Read more...]
Governor Whitmer Signs “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order
March 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Governor Directs all Non-Critical Businesses to Temporarily Close, all Michiganders to Stay Home or Six Feet Away from Others During COVID-19 Crisis Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re a part of that critical … [Read more...]
How the Coronavirus has Exposed the Need to Embrace the Information Age in K-12 Education
March 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
With the coronavirus, schools across America are scrambling to put together a hodgepodge of solutions to continue teaching for learning while their buildings are closed. Many are valiantly attempting to leverage technology to create on-line and virtual learning opportunities. Unfortunately, weaknesses in technological infrastructure, teacher preparation shortfalls, inequities among students, and ill-equipped students and parents are barriers to success. The information highway has more than one … [Read more...]
Dear Crabby, What Does it Mean to Self-Quarantine?
March 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Dear Crabby, What Does it Mean to Self-Quarantine and How Does it Work? Sincerely, Youno Touchme Dear Youno, Ah, yes, another coronavirus question. They just keep coming in. It's like all my readers are stuck inside without much to do. And since most of my readers are older like me, that's a normal day without a health crisis. Every new scare offers the world new terms. 2020 will be remembered as bringing us self-quarantine, self-monitor, and social distancing. But what's the … [Read more...]
Oakland County to Waive Online Transaction Fees for Various County Services
March 19, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Customers who use Oakland County’s online services to pay for parking tickets, dog licenses, legal documents or delinquent property taxes will not incur a credit card or electronic check fee beginning next week. Oakland County Executive David Coulter today said the county would waive fees for online transactions to encourage residents and customers to use the online services rather than visiting a county office to make a payment in-person. The initial waiver period is March 25-April 30. “I … [Read more...]
Rochester Hills Municipal Buildings Closed to Public
March 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment
The City of Rochester Hills Takes Precautionary Measures Against COVID-19 The City of Rochester Hills’ first priority is always the health, safety, and welfare of residents, businesses, visitors and its team members. Rochester Hills has proactively taken steps to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the city, including issuing a State of Emergency last week. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 the Rochester Hills City Hall, the Rochester Hills Department of Public … [Read more...]
