By: Kathryn Pentiuk | Southfield Sun | Published June 10, 2023
Oak Park pool welcomes Southfield residents this summer
SOUTHFIELD — Oak Park and Southfield have renewed their intergovernmental agreement allowing Southfield residents to beat the heat this summer and use the Oak Park pool throughout the summer at resident rates.
Children ages 3 and under enter for free, ages 4-54 enter for $4 per day, and ages 55 and up enter for $3 per day.
The 2023 season will run from Saturday, June 10, through Saturday, Aug. 19.
Open Swim hours are 2-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1-8 p.m. Fridays, and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.
In addition to the resident rates, Oak Park is holding six “Southfield Days at the Oak Park Pool,” when Southfield residents will receive free admission, which includes swimming, activities and refreshments. Southfield Days take place 6:30-8:30 p.m. and are scheduled for June 25; July 1, 16 and 29; and Aug. 5 and 13.
The Oak Park pool is located at 14300 Oak Park Blvd. and features zero-depth entry and a splash zone for the kids to enjoy.
For more information, call (248) 691-7555.
Library offers laptop loans for residents
SOUTHFIELD — Thanks to funding from the Friends of Southfield Public Library, the library now allows Southfield and Lathrup Village residents to check out Chromebooks, which are complete with a mouse, a charger and a case.
Residents with valid library cards in good standing who are looking to check out the laptops can reserve a Chromebook by calling the library’s technology help line at (248) 796-4358 or visiting a computer assistant on the first or third floor of the library. After reserving the Chromebook, people can pick them up and complete the checkout process at the circulation desk in the lobby.
The library also offers Wi-Fi hotspots for patrons who need internet access.
For more information, contact the library at (248) 796-4200.
Southfield native serves aboard U.S. Navy amphibious warship in Japan
SOUTHFIELD — Seaman Antoine Burks is a Southfield native who is currently serving in Japan abroad on the USS Green Bay U.S. Navy warship. Burks graduated from Canton High School in 2021 and joined the Navy one year ago.
Burks serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
The USS Green Bay is an amphibious warship, which embarks, transports and lands U.S. Marines for a variety of warfare missions, such as supporting humanitarian and various contingency missions on short notice.
“The Navy is about maturing, learning how to work with people, having camaraderie and working smarter, not harder,” Burks stated in a press release. Burks said he takes his role very seriously and views it as an opportunity to be a positive role model for his siblings. He thanked his father for making his Navy career possible.
Southfield seeks nominations for 2023 Community Pride Awards
SOUTHFIELD — The city of Southfield is accepting nominations for residents who have gone above and beyond to enhance the city’s beauty with the 2023 Community Pride Awards.
Residents may nominate individual homeowners, neighborhoods, condominiums, apartments, businesses and even themselves. Residents are also encouraged to nominate public buildings such as schools, churches and synagogues. The Community Pride Awards are coordinated by Southfield’s Neighborhood and Information Center and the Southfield Parks and Garden Club to encourage community beautification efforts.
In the past few years, the awards were expanded to include categories for small and large businesses, and “Well-Manicured/Maintained Residential Properties” for homeowners who maintain curb appeal on a budget.
All nominations must include at least one photograph for the virtual voting process.
The city’s Total Living Commission and members of the Southfield Parks and Garden Club will review and vote on all nominations to select the 2023 winners, who will be honored by the mayor and the City Council at an awards ceremony in late August.
Hard copy nomination forms are available at the City’s Neighborhood and Information Center inside City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road, or they can be downloaded from the city’s website.
Pictures of properties are required, a maximum of three, and the condition of the entire property will be considered for judging.
All nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, June 30.
Nominations and photos may be emailed to communityrelations@cityofsouthfield.com.
For more information, visit cityofsouthfield.com.
LTU joins $4.8M Oakland County grant program
SOUTHFIELD — Lawrence Technological University announced May 4 that they are joining United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Pontiac Parks and Recreation and the YMCA of Oakland County in the use of $4.8 million American Rescue Plan Act funds to help children and youth catch up in educational gaps caused by the coronavirus pandemic through a program called “Out of School Time Grants.”
The program will serve more than 11,000 Oakland County youth through activities such as tutoring, college readiness, support for neurodiversity students, youth sports, and specialty academic programs in areas such as coding, music, reading and mathematics.
LTU’s part of the grant includes 100 high school students from 10 Oakland County communities — Hazel Park, Holly Township, Keego Harbor, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Wixom, Royal Oak Township and Walled Lake — in the university’s summer science and technology camps, a value of up to $950 per student.
Students can apply for the grant by using the code “Oakland” at checkout.
The application deadline is June 10. For more information, visit https://www.ltu.edu/summer-camps/.
Greenfield/Normandy/Beverly roundabout construction set to begin June 12
SOUTHFIELD — Starting June 12, the Road Commission for Oakland County, in partnership with Royal Oak and the village of Beverly Hills, will close the Greenfield Road/Normandy Road/Beverly Road intersection for roundabout construction. The project is estimated to reach completion in early September.
Detours are posted for the Greenfield/Normandy/Beverly Road intersection, which carries roughly 16,000 vehicles daily:
• The Greenfield Road traffic detour will be 13 Mile Road to Woodward Avenue to 14 Mile Road, back to Greenfield Road, and vice versa.
• Westbound traffic will take Normandy Road to Woodward Avenue to 14 Mile Road to Southfield Road to Beverly Road.
• Eastbound traffic will follow Beverly Road to Pierce Street to 14 Mile Road to Woodward Avenue to Normandy Road.
For more information, see candgnews.com/news/roundabout-construction-to-begin-early-summer-2121 or visit www.rcocweb.org.