News

Mayors Focus on Future in Annual Address

Mayors Focus on Future in Annual Address southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Southfield Mayor Ken Siver speaks at the State of the City address. Photo by Erin Sanchez

SOUTHFIELD/LATHRUP VILLAGE — It could have been demolished.

But it wasn’t.

During the annual State of the City address March 20 at Best Western Premier Hotel on Telegraph Road, Southfield Mayor Ken Siver reminded the elected officials and community members in attendance that the room they were sitting in could easily have been imploded if it wasn’t for a recent redevelopment effort.

“This property — we honestly thought it was going to be imploded,” Siver said. “No one is going to come here and save this property.”

Previously, the event had been held at the Westin Hotel-Southfield. The change in location highlights Southfield’s development efforts over the last few years, officials said.

In August 2015, the Southfield City Council unanimously approved a plan from a New Zealand investment group for a Commercial Exemption Certificate to rehabilitate the Best Western, formerly the Holiday Inn Hotel.

Read the full article here: http://www.candgnews.com/news/mayors-focus-future-annual-address-100350

City Launches Age Friendly Community Effort

City Launches Age Friendly Community Effort southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Southfield Mayor Ken Siver and Michele Henderson, manager of Lockwood @ McDonnell Towers Apartments stand in the background of Bernadine Miller’s 3rd floor apartment.

SOUTHFIELD — Southfield officials say they have long been focused on creating an enriched community that welcomes everyone  — young and old.

According to Karen Schrock, chair of the Southfield Commission on Senior Adults, the city has recently bumped up efforts to provide resources for its aging population.

COSA is a city-led organization whose goal is to present recommendations and information to the mayor and the City Council based on studies and investigations to help the city address the needs, concerns and problems of senior adults living in the Southfield community.

The group also works closely with city departments and local agencies that serve the senior community, monitors state and federal legislation, and serves as an educational link to services and resources, officials said.

Read the full article here: http://www.candgnews.com/news/city-launches-age-friendly-community-effort-100349

Lawrence Tech named a “Bicycle Friendly University’

Lawrence Tech named a “Bicycle Friendly University’ southfieldcc_3ik8d2

ltu_bikes_revThe League of American Bicyclists has recognized Lawrence Technological University with a bronze Bicycle Friendly University award. Lawrence Tech is the only university in the tri-county Detroit area with the designation, which is good for four years.

The league named 51 new and renewing BFUs in 25 states this week. The organization has now named a total of 164 BFUs in 44 states and Washington, D.C. “We applaud this round of BFUs for raising the standard and being innovative in making bicycling a safe, convenient and enjoyable option for students, staff and visitors alike,” said Bill Nesper, program director for the league.

In recent years, Lawrence Tech has added bike lanes, bicycle signage, and bicycle racks around campus, including at new buildings like the A Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture, and Life Sciences Complex, and at the university’s new outdoor athletic field. Lawrence Tech also provides a free bicycle repair station and bicycle pumps at its Don Ridler Field House, and offers free winter bicycle storage to students. The university’s campus safety department has also been trained in bicycle safety, and the university’s Tech Transit student transportation system is now bicycle-friendly.

“We have more and more students living on campus now, and becoming more bicycle-friendly is part of the ongoing physical transformation of a commuter campus into a residential campus,” said Philip Lucas, Lawrence Tech student engagement coordinator.

Lucas thanked Lawrence Tech alumnus Mike Darga, BSCE’85, and his wife, Nancy, for a gift that made pursuing the award possible. And Lucas said the city of Southfield has also been instrumental in the designation. He said the city’s recent street improvement projects “have tied in the campus with the Southfield City Centre area, making it easier for students and staff to use bicycles to get from campus to other areas in the city.”

Darga said he and his wife made a five-year pledge to the university to improve its bike-friendliness. “I had been involved in Tour de Troit, which holds bicycle rides all through the city, and I ran into LTU folks there, including Professor Constance Bodurow,” said Darga, a senior project manager at Giffels Webster, a Detroit-based engineering firm. “We decided to do what we could to encourage biking on LTU’s campus. It’s a way to tie the campus to the community without the need for motorized transportation.” Bodurow is associate professor of architecture at LTU and founding director of studio[Ci], a multidisciplinary research team within LTU’s College of Architecture and Design. (More at http://studio-ci.net.)

With the BFU designation, Lawrence Tech will have access to tools and technical assistance from the league to become even more bicycle-friendly.

To apply or learn more about the BFU program, visit www.bikeleague.org/university. The league also offers Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State and Bicycle Friendly Business programs.

Lawrence Tech joins Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the University of Michigan-Flint, as having the designation in Michigan.

Article from ltu.edu

Lawrence Tech named a “Bicycle Friendly University’

Lawrence Tech named a “Bicycle Friendly University’ southfieldcc_3ik8d2

ltu_bikes_revThe League of American Bicyclists has recognized Lawrence Technological University with a bronze Bicycle Friendly University award. Lawrence Tech is the only university in the tri-county Detroit area with the designation, which is good for four years.

The league named 51 new and renewing BFUs in 25 states this week. The organization has now named a total of 164 BFUs in 44 states and Washington, D.C. “We applaud this round of BFUs for raising the standard and being innovative in making bicycling a safe, convenient and enjoyable option for students, staff and visitors alike,” said Bill Nesper, program director for the league.

In recent years, Lawrence Tech has added bike lanes, bicycle signage, and bicycle racks around campus, including at new buildings like the A Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture, and Life Sciences Complex, and at the university’s new outdoor athletic field. Lawrence Tech also provides a free bicycle repair station and bicycle pumps at its Don Ridler Field House, and offers free winter bicycle storage to students. The university’s campus safety department has also been trained in bicycle safety, and the university’s Tech Transit student transportation system is now bicycle-friendly.

“We have more and more students living on campus now, and becoming more bicycle-friendly is part of the ongoing physical transformation of a commuter campus into a residential campus,” said Philip Lucas, Lawrence Tech student engagement coordinator.

Lucas thanked Lawrence Tech alumnus Mike Darga, BSCE’85, and his wife, Nancy, for a gift that made pursuing the award possible. And Lucas said the city of Southfield has also been instrumental in the designation. He said the city’s recent street improvement projects “have tied in the campus with the Southfield City Centre area, making it easier for students and staff to use bicycles to get from campus to other areas in the city.”

Darga said he and his wife made a five-year pledge to the university to improve its bike-friendliness. “I had been involved in Tour de Troit, which holds bicycle rides all through the city, and I ran into LTU folks there, including Professor Constance Bodurow,” said Darga, a senior project manager at Giffels Webster, a Detroit-based engineering firm. “We decided to do what we could to encourage biking on LTU’s campus. It’s a way to tie the campus to the community without the need for motorized transportation.” Bodurow is associate professor of architecture at LTU and founding director of studio[Ci], a multidisciplinary research team within LTU’s College of Architecture and Design. (More at http://studio-ci.net.)

With the BFU designation, Lawrence Tech will have access to tools and technical assistance from the league to become even more bicycle-friendly.

To apply or learn more about the BFU program, visit www.bikeleague.org/university. The league also offers Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State and Bicycle Friendly Business programs.

Lawrence Tech joins Aquinas College, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the University of Michigan-Flint, as having the designation in Michigan.

Article from ltu.edu

“Unique Collaborations” kicks off Series on Sept. 15

“Unique Collaborations” kicks off Series on Sept. 15 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

leaderinnovatorsLawrence Technological University’s Leaders & Innovators Series in partnership with WWJ Newsradio 950 is back with great programs for another year!

The first is Thursday, Sept. 15 on “Unique Collaborations.” It will be in LTU’s University Technology and Learning Center Gallery, 21000 W. Ten Mile Rd. in Southfield and begins with a free continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The program and Q&A are 8 to 9 a.m.

Unique collaborations are often born out of creativity or necessity. They create value that has not existed before. We’ll discuss and explore many of the unique collaborations that shed new light and opportunity. The results are a fresh new prospective on collaboration in 2016 and beyond.

The program will be hosted by WWJ Business Editor Murray Feldman. Panelists include Mike McInerney, founder and president of Deliver My Ride, and Zak Pashak, president of Detroit Bikes.

LTU’s Leaders & Innovators Series is in partnership with WWJ and is sponsored in part by AAA. Guests are welcome. Advance registration is requested. Admission is free.

To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leaders-innovators-series-unique-collaborations-91516-tickets-26906333568

Coming events for the LTU/WWJ Leaders & Innovators Series are:
Oct. 20: Women in Leadership
Nov. 17: Building and Maintaining Relationships – Networking
Feb. 16: Starting a Business – Entrepreneurism
March 16: Social Media and Small Business
April 13: Work-Life Balance

Hope to see you at all of them!

Lawrence Technological University Listed as Top Midwestern School

Lawrence Technological University Listed as Top Midwestern School southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) has again been named one of the best colleges in the Midwest, according to the Princeton Review. Only 156 colleges in 12 Midwestern states made the list for 2017.

The education services company lists LTU among the “2017 Best Colleges: Region by Region” at www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-midwestern.

“We chose Lawrence Tech and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their excellent academics,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice president and publisher. “We also give careful consideration to what students enrolled at the schools reported to us about their campus experiences on our student survey for this project.”

The Princeton Review’s list is based on 143,000 student surveys, input from college administrators and advisors, parents, and the independent company’s National College Counselor Advisory Board.

The survey’s 80-question student survey included questions that prospective applicants might ask on a campus visit. Colleges had to allow their students to be surveyed in order to be considered.

The Princeton Review survey asks students to rate their colleges on several issues – from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of their science laboratories – and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.

The Princeton Review also ranks Lawrence Tech as one of the nation’s top Green Schools for its environmental programs and focus. It’s also ranked No. 17 in the country for top undergraduate programs in game design.

The Princeton Review’s “regional best” lists constitute about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges. The 156 colleges that the Princeton Review chose for the “Best in the Midwest” list are located in 12 states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Clayton & McKervey Expands Office and Introduces State-Of-The Art Lifesize Technology

Clayton & McKervey Expands Office and Introduces State-Of-The Art Lifesize Technology southfieldcc_3ik8d2

clayton_mckerveyClayton & McKervey, an international accounting and business advisory firm servicing growth-driven middle market companies, has recently expanded its offices to accommodate the firm’s steady growth.  The firm also significantly enhanced its technology through the installation of LifeSize, a state-of-the-art communication tool.

The renovation was completed in April 2016 in the firm’s Southfield, Mich. offices, located in the 2000 tower of the Town Center.  It features enhanced meeting room and collaboration space.  Clayton & McKervey moved into its current location in 2007 after outgrowing its former suite, also located in Southfield.  The firm currently employs 65 global tax and accounting professionals.

“Our employees are already benefitting from the larger collaboration space, including a multi-purpose area which accommodates firm meetings and trainings,” said Trudy Thornsberry, vice president of operations for Clayton & McKervey.

During construction, the firm took the opportunity to equip a dozen offices and conference rooms with LifeSize technology to expand opportunities for face-to-face communication across town, or across the globe.  Featuring wall-mounted monitors and encrypted messaging, LifeSize will serve as a daily tool to augment the firm’s international travel and client meetings.

Clayton & McKervey is a metro Detroit-based accounting and business advisory firm helping growth-driven entrepreneurial companies compete in the global marketplace. The firm was established in 1953 and is headquartered in metro Detroit and services clients throughout Europe, China, North America and South America.  To learn more, visit claytonmckervey.com.

National Walking Day 2016

National Walking Day 2016 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

laceupAmericans are spending more time at work and sitting in front of a screen than ever before. We’re becoming less active, which can increase our risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases.

Being physically active is important to prevent heart disease and stroke, which are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease is the leading cause of death and stroke is the leading preventable cause of disability.

Research has shown that every hour of regular exercise can add about two hours to life expectancy, even if you don’t start until midlife. Plus, physical activity can relieve depression, improve your memory, lower your blood pressure and help prevent obesity.

April 6 is the American Heart Association’s National Walking Day, and we want people to lace up for their heart and get moving. Whether it’s walking, running, biking, playing sports or taking a yoga class, the goal is for adults to get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise (or a combination of both), while kids should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

Thirty minutes a day, five times a week, is an easy goal to remember. You’ll experience benefits even if you divide your time into two or three segments of 10 to 15 minutes per day.

So, grab your sneakers, lace up and get moving toward a healthier heart!

Calls to Action:

  • Sign up to participate in National Walking Day (as an individual, school or company), and take 30 minutes on April 6 to get up and walk. (www.heart.org/nationalwalkingday)
  • Join the national celebration on social media using #AHALaceUp.
  • Use National Walking Day to kick off a month-long focus on being more active and creating healthy habits and engaging your colleagues, friends and family members in the Saturday, May 14thMetro Detroit Heart Walk!

Physical Activity Facts:

  • Sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950, and physically active jobs now make up less than 20% of our workforce, down from 50% in 1960.
  • Our average workweek is longer. Full-time workers in the US work about 47 hours each week – that’s more than 350 extra hours worked each year.
  • Adult (and childhood) obesity/overweight level continues to increase: 69% of all adults are obese or overweight.
  • One in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963, and childhood obesity is now the top health concern among parents in the United States.
  • Half of all adults and more than 60% of children do not get daily vigorous physical activity.
  • About one in three adults report participating in no leisure time physical activity.

City of Southfield Presents Leap Year Winter Fest FeaturingFireworks Finale February 28

City of Southfield Presents Leap Year Winter Fest FeaturingFireworks Finale February 28 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

LeapYearWinterFestimg2016(SOUTHFIELD, Mich.) – The city of Southfield will host the Leap Year Winter Fest featuring a spectacular fireworks finale on Sunday, February 28 from 2-6 p.m. in the Southfield Pavilion located in the Municipal Complex at 26000 Evergreen Road.

This free community event will feature an afternoon of food, fun and fireworks for the whole family, including: children’s games and crafts, inflatable obstacle course and moonwalk, Rosco the Clown, the Southfield Fire Department’s Fire Safety House as well as ice and wood carving demonstrations. The afternoon will top off with a special winter fireworks finale at 6:30 p.m. The event will also feature food available for purchase as well as free admission and parking.

For more information, contact Southfield Parks & Recreation at (248) 796-4620 or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.

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City of Southfield Presents Leap Year Winter Fest Featuring Fireworks Finale February 28

City of Southfield Presents Leap Year Winter Fest Featuring Fireworks Finale February 28 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

leapyearwinterfestimg2016(SOUTHFIELD, Mich.) – The city of Southfield will host the Leap Year Winter Fest featuring a spectacular fireworks finale on Sunday, February 28 from 2-6 p.m. in the Southfield Pavilion located in the Municipal Complex at 26000 Evergreen Road.

This free community event will feature an afternoon of food, fun and fireworks for the whole family, including: children’s games and crafts, inflatable obstacle course and moonwalk, Rosco the Clown, the Southfield Fire Department’s Fire Safety House as well as ice and wood carving demonstrations. The afternoon will top off with a special winter fireworks finale at 6:30 p.m. The event will also feature food available for purchase as well as free admission and parking.

For more information, contact Southfield Parks & Recreation at (248) 796-4620 or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.

Download the Flyer