West Bloomfield Beacon | Published September 7, 2023
‘Family Fun Night’ scheduled at WBHS
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The West Bloomfield School District recently announced that the 12th “Family Fun Night” is set to take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at West Bloomfield High School.
According to a press release, the community is invited to the “fun-filled” event, which includes free activities, prizes and more.
“Community organizations from across West Bloomfield have provided fun games, activities and giveaways for those in attendance,” the release states. “Families are invited to enjoy the Channel 95.5 high school take-over, a bounce house, face painting, a dunk tank, photo booths, bubble soccer, a video game truck and more. Military, police and fire vehicles will be available for children to climb into and learn about.”
West Bloomfield High’s football team is scheduled to play Rochester Hills Stoney Creek at 7 p.m., following the event.
“Family Fun Night started more than 12 years ago as an opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate the start of the school year while honoring our first responders,” the release states.
‘Sensory-friendly’ carnival
FARMINGTON HILLS — Nearly 600 people with developmental disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities, along with caregivers and families, attended the JARC sensory-friendly carnival Aug. 20 in Farmington Hills, according to a press release.
JARC, a Bloomfield Hills based nonprofit for adults with developmental disabilities, created the carnival so people with developmental disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities could enjoy a carnival that, under normal circumstances, would be overcrowded and overstimulating, the release states.
The event, which was free to people with developmental disabilities and sensory sensitivities and their caregivers, included a 40-foot Ferris wheel, a ballistic swing, trackless train rides, a giant inflatable corn maze, midway games, bounce houses, music, food and more, with a unique element of the event including an indoor “sensory room” where attendees could utilize a quiet space away from the outside fun to take a break and regulate their emotions by using Play-Doh, fidget toys, coloring books and therapy dogs, the release states.
The carnival was the final event in JARC’s summer-long Ellen Labes Festival Series sponsored by the Ellen Labes Family.
To learn more about JARC, visit jarc.org.
JFS to host wellness event
WEST BLOOMFIELD — Jewish Family Service has scheduled an event that is aimed at those in the legal profession.
“Lawyers assume incredible responsibilities to ensure the best outcome for their clients,” states a press release. “These demands affect them, whether they recognize it or not. Join Jewish Family Service’s Legal Referral Service as Justice Megan K. Cavanagh and Molly Ranns, the director of the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program, State Bar of Michigan, discuss the work of the Task Force on Well-Being in the Law, the importance of the wellness movement in the legal profession, ways to effectively manage lawyer-client relationships and practical tools to thrive personally and professionally.”
The event will take place 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield.
Light refreshments will be served.
The event is free due to a grant from the Oakland County Bar Foundation.
To register, visit jlive.app/events/5074.
For more information, call (248) 592-2317 or send an email to ecroitori@jfs.org.
Hope Not Handcuffs seeks volunteers
METRO DETROIT — The Families Against Narcotics flagship program Hope Not Handcuffs is seeking volunteers.
Hope Not Handcuffs allows anyone who is struggling with a substance use disorder to go to any of the nonprofit’s 125-plus participating law enforcement agencies or community partners and ask for help, according to a release.
Families Against Narcotics then dispatches a volunteer “Angel” to meet the participant at their location, offer support, and work with the Hope Not Handcuffs call center on getting people placed into treatment, according to the release.
“If you’re a compassionate person who would like to be an Angel and make a difference in someone’s life, FAN can use you,” the release states.
For more information, call 833-202-HOPE (4673) or email hnh@familiesagainstnarcotics.org.
Alzheimer’s conference scheduled
LIVONIA — Health care professionals, caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s can learn about treatments, technology and caregiving options at a conference by the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter and the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology, according to a press release.
“A Meaningful Life with Alzheimer’s Disease” is scheduled to take place 7:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Sept. 18 at the VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College, located at 18600 Haggerty Road in Livonia.
To register, visit shop.prod.wayne.edu/iog/iog/.
For more information, call (248) 996-1033 or email jbarnas@alz.org.