NOVI — The Suburban Collection Showplace is gearing up for the annual Michigan State Fair, which will take place Sept. 1-5.   

West Bloomfield remains at top, Bloomfield Hills battles new conference

OAKLAND COUNTY — On Aug. 10, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted to put a measure on the November ballot for all Oakland County residents to decide whether they wish to approve a new millage and opt into an agreement with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation as a county instead of on a community-by-community basis.

NOVI — A roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Taft and Nine Mile roads beginning Aug. 13. The Novi City Council approved the construction agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation during its July 11 meeting.

NOVI — Local youth were able to learn leadership skills from various police officers and firefighters during the weeklong Police and Fire Youth Leadership Academy held at the Novi Police Department Training Center July 25-29.

NOVI — Chuck E. Cheese Novi recognized the variety of challenges that children who have autism encounter, including social interaction, so the newly renovated restaurant known for its Fun Centers gave children with autism and other developmental disabilities the opportunity to be “first to play” ahead of the establishment’s grand reopening celebration July 28.

NOVI — After nearly two years without a playground, children at Village Oaks Elementary School, 23333 Willowbrook Drive in Novi, will have a playground to use sometime this fall, according to an announcement from Novi Community School District Superintendent Ben Mainka.

OAKLAND COUNTY — Voters across Oakland County hit the polls on to decide races in the Aug. 2 primary election.

OAKLAND COUNTY — Ronald Dwyer bested Al Gui in the Republican primary Aug. 2 for the 3rd District of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

OAKLAND COUNTY/WAYNE COUNTY — In the primary election Aug. 2, Mike McFall, the mayor pro tem of Hazel Park, secured the Democratic nomination for the newly redrawn 8th District of the State House of Representatives. He defeated Madison Heights City Councilman David Soltis, Durrel Douglas, Ernest Little and Ryan Nelson.

NOVI — The Novi Community School District Board of Education approved a contract with Ben Mainka to serve as district superintendent during the board’s regular meeting July 14.

NOVI — An 11-year-old entrepreneur is working to rebuild his business after his mobile gaming bus was broken into at a Wixom storage facility in early June.

OAKLAND COUNTY — A new Oakland County Land Bank was approved by the county’s Board of Commissioners at its June 23 meeting.

NOVI — Thousands of people attended the Festival of Chariots, an Indian spiritual and cultural festival also known as the Rathyatra, held in Novi July 17, according to event spokesman Madhu Mahadevan.

NOVI — Strange things are on the horizon at the Suburban Collection Showplace, as it will host the 2022 Oddities & Curiosities Expo on Saturday.

NOVI — The 37th annual Festival of Chariots, a 1,000 year-old spiritual festival from India, which is celebrated around the world, will take place in Novi July 17.

NOVI — After a lengthy interview process, the Novi Community School District Board of Education voted unanimously to select Benjamin Mainka as its next superintendent during a meeting June 30.

NOVI — A crash on Novi Road on Wednesday morning resulted in the death of a 54-year-old Waterford woman.

NOVI — A Rochester Hills man was sentenced in Oakland County Circuit Court June 14 for attempting to have sex with a minor, following the actions of the Indianapolis-based nonprofit, Predator Catchers.

NOVI — Dominating on both the mound and at the plate, Novi varsity softball junior Reganne Bennett was a consistent contributor for the District 14 champions and was named first team all-state by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.