FARMINGTON — Ten graduates of the Farmington Public Schools Visions program walked across the stage at the Hawk Center June 13 — a vision for the parents and teachers for these special needs students that was 26 years in the making.

NOVI — Residents filled the Novi City Council chamber to its 140-person seating capacity, and still more filed in for standing room along the walls, into the media seating area, and into the Civic Center lobby during a Planning Commission hearing June 7 to voice their opposition to and concerns about the construction of a new apartment complex.

NOVI — A district court judge recused himself from a case July 12 as a result of the defendant allegedly making threats against him and his family.

NOVI — In order to avoid a financial shortfall in the 2023-24 school year, the Novi Community School District is having a special election Aug. 8. On the ballot are both the district’s operating millage and its recreational millage.

NOVI — After a six-month, nationwide search and a lengthy executive session, the Novi City Council voted unanimously June 5 to offer the city manager position to Victor Cardenas, who had been serving as the interim city manager.

NOVI — After a 48-hour multistate search, police apprehended a New Hudson man July 7 who allegedly threatened on social media to kill his court-appointed attorney and a Novi district court judge.

FARMINGTON — An art teacher who has devoted her entire career to the Farmington Public School District was recently surprised to be named the Judy-White Ora teacher of the year.

NOVI — After 12 years as principal of Novi Woods Elementary School and 28 years with the Novi Community School District, David Ascher officially entered retirement, or as he prefers to think of it, “repurposement,”  June 28.

NOVI — Matt Heslop, one of the first students to enter the Novi Adult Transition Center program, which teaches life and employment skills to people ages 18-26 who have various cognitive disabilities, graduated June 8 with a part-time job offer from Chartwells School Dining Services.

NOVI — A sea of purple shirts flooded the trail near Rose Senior Living Providence Park at 2 p.m. June 21 as residents, staff and members of the community kicked off the long, hot days of summer with a walk to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

NOVI — The Novi Police Department has been able to increase its speed and efficiency in cases where time is of the essence over the last year, thanks to Lt. Keith Wuotinen and his idea to implement drones.

NOVI — State Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, is working alongside Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, a Republican, to weed out the wrongful use of the animal tranquilizer xylazine, which is sometimes called “tranq.”

METRO DETROIT — Karyn Curro, the CEO of Interfaith Volunteer Services, said she first noticed the need while working with people in nursing homes over 31 years ago.

FARMINGTON/FARMINGTON HILLS — On June 11, 633 students filed into the USA Hockey arena to receive their diplomas during graduation ceremonies for Farmington and North Farmington high schools.

News & Notes from the 6/8/23 Novi Note