Southfield Civic Center Pool Opening and Free Swim Lesson Day June 15
Community 05-20-2013 Hits:49 
The Southfield Parks & Recreation Department invites residents to celebrate the beginning of summer with the opening of the Southfield Sports Arena Pool and Free Swim Lesson Day on Saturday, June 15. The Pool Opening Celebration will take place from 1-8 p.m. at the Southfield Sports Arena located within the Southfield Municipal Complex at 26000 Evergreen Road. The event will feature free admission and entertainment throughout the day. Free swim lessons will also be offered for children ages 2-12 who are interested in taking lessons through the summer. Lessons will be available for Parent/Tot (ages 2-4, parent works with child in water) and Preschool (ages 3-5) from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Children ages 6-12 can try either the Level 1 Sea Horses class or Level 2 Minnows class from 12-12:30 p.m. to see what level is appropriate for them. Pre-registration is required by calling (248) 796-4640. Each class is limited to the first 15 to register. For more information, call the Southfield Sports Arena at (248) 796-4640.
Read moreMichigan Vets Foundation and 313 Project are Two of 10 Aprons in Action Fin…
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The Michigan Vets Foundation and the 313 Project, each a monthly winner in The Home Depot Foundation’s year-long Facebook voting program called Aprons in Action, are competing this month against eight other finalists for the $250,000 grand prize. Voting begins May 1 and runs through May 31 at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation. The organization with the most votes at the end of the month will win the top prize of $250,000. Organizations with the second and third most votes will receive $150,000 and $100,000 from The Home Depot Foundation, respectively. Each month since the Aprons in Actions contest began in June 2012, The Home Depot Foundation’s Facebook fans helped one of the 11 finalists win $25,000 to better the communities they serve. This month, the Michigan Vets Foundation and the 313 Project are competing against the following nonprofit organizations from across the country: · June 2012 Winner: Volunteers of America Greater Ohio (Columbus, OH) · July 2012 Winner: Stiggy’s Dogs (Howell, MI) · September 2012 Winner: AMVETS Post 44 (Struthers, OH) · November 2012 Winner: Low Income Housing Institute (Seattle, WA) · December 2012 Winner: VFW Post 2777 (Burton, MI) · February 2013 Winner: Grand Rapids Home for Veterans (Grand Rapids, MI) · March 2013 Winner: Active Heroes (Louisville, KY) · April 2013 Winner: Saratoga County RPC-VETHELP (Ballston Spa, NY) “We are excited about this final round of competition to win $250,000,” said Tyrone Chatman, executive director of the Michigan Veterans Foundation. “We need all boots on the ground to win the grand prize to help us strengthen our service for veterans. So we encourage everyone to go on Facebook and vote for us!” Since receiving the $25,000 grant from winning the October competition, the Michigan Veterans Foundation revamped its resident...
Read moreDisaster Safety and Mitigation Tips Featured During Building Safety Month
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The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Bureau of Construction Codes offers important information on disaster safety and mitigation to protect you and your property from water and wind damage due to flooding, tornadoes and severe storms. Just a few inches of water from flooding can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to your home and contents. During times of heavy rainfall, the most common catastrophe in many Michigan homes is sump pump failure causing basements to flood. First, know the different types of sump pumps and purchase a pump that is best for protecting your home. Primary sump pumps, standard in most homes, pump up to several thousand gallons an hour of seepage water out of basements to prevent flooding. The two types of primary sump pumps are submersible pumps (put under water in the sump pump basin or pit); and pedestal pumps that are not submerged but rather sit above the sump pit. Battery backup pumps and generators provide added insurance. In the case of a power outage; sump pumps will be useless as they are electric powered. If the power goes out, the backup system or generator will take over to rid the sump basin of water and keep your basement dry. Water-powered backup sump pump systems that do not rely on electrical power to operate are also available. Homeowners can do regular maintenance to help avoid future sump pump problems or failure. The average lifespan of a sump pump is about 10 years and they eventually wear out. Here are a few maintenance tips: · Unplug any electrical power leading to the unit before doing any sump pump maintenance. · Clean out the sump pit and keep it free of any debris or stray items in the pit that may hinder the float mechanism causing it to fail. Test the float itself as...
Read moreSAFE'S 7th Year Anniversary Celebrating Self-Sufficiency for more survivors…
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On Friday, June 21, 2013 Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment (SAFE) will celebrate seven years of assisting victims of domestic violence become self sufficient. Tracey McCaskill, News Director/On Air Host - FM 98 WJLB & WMXD Mix 92.3 will emcee the event. "I am so honored --and just sheer excited to take part in SAFE's Annual Appreciation Event. In spearheading this organization -- Kalyn Risker has been a staunch agent for CHANGE within this community --and beyond.” - Tracey McCaskill, News Director/On Air Host - FM 98 WJLB & WMXD Mix 92.3 SAFE is dedicated to the financial empowerment of victims of domestic violence by providing training, workshops and resources to equip program participants with the tools necessary to become self-sufficient. The organization’s success is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of its volunteers and supporters. Since its inception SAFE has assisted over 730 victims of domestic violence and this event will serve as an opportunity to celebrate the growth of the organization and the strides it has made in the community. "I am so proud of SAFE and that within six years developed into an organization that is being recognized on a national and now global level for its track record of effectively helping survivors of domestic violence to be free from abuse while obtaining the skills and resources they need to obtain a new job, return to school and become entrepreneurs.” – Kalyn Risker, Founder and Executive Director, Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment (SAFE) SAFE’s 7th Annual Appreciation Event Fundraiser will be held on Friday, June 21, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the beautiful Detroit Historical Museum with a special Afterglow Event immediately following. Tickets are $45 which includes a tour of the Detroit Historical Museum, hor d’oeuvres, live entertainment, Awards Ceremony and admission into the Afterglow. For tickets visit newsafestart.org or for additional information, contact Sisters Acquiring Financial...
Read more'Star Trek's' Zoe Saldana on racism: 'I'm not going to talk about it'
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Zoe Saldana arrives at the LA premiere of "Star Trek Into Darkness" at The Dolby Theater on May 14, in LA. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (CNN) -- Zoe Saldana is one of Hollywood's leading actresses, and she's making headlines as Uhura in "Star Trek Into Darkness." She crossed barriers as the lead in "Avatar," the highest grossing movie of all time. But how does being a woman of color impact her career choices and options? The actress, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, spoke about it in an interview with Ebony magazine's Kelley L. Carter: EBONY: Speaking of color, it doesn't seem to limit you. And it almost appears seamless. Is that true? Or have there been bumps along the way because you're a woman of color? Zoe Saldana: Nothing in life is just one layer. It's one-layered (but) it's multifaceted, and there are various factors that take place into making a decision or something happening. So the one thing I will say is, what has not changed is what I feel and think of myself and how I interact with the world, how I handle myself. I feel like I'm very confident. I'm going to have my moments of weakness, but I like who I am and I don't want to be anybody else. I don't want anybody to tell me to change when I don't want to change. So that's just who I am. And when I approach something---whether I'm fighting for a role or I'm being offered a role---I'm not thinking whether or not anybody is doing me a favor or if I'm doing somebody else a favor. I'm just thinking, as an artist and as a woman, "is this something that best represents the craft that I want to be known for?" Or is this an accurate representation of...
Read moreAmber Alert Cancelled for missing 3-year-old girl from Detroit
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Update: According to Detroit Police, Stacey Anderson, the child’s father, released 3-year-old Alonna Anderson to her relatives. She is safe and was not harmed. Both suspects are still wanted for kidnapping. DETROIT — The Detroit Police Department has issued an Amber Alert for a missing 3-year-old girl who reportedly was last seen Sunday.Alonna Anderson is described as a 3-year-old black female, 3 feet tall and 48 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen in the area of Northfield Avenue and I-96 in Detroit wearing a floral shirt and skirt with white, pink, green, yellow and orange flowers on the shirt. For Full Story Click Here.
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Despite the downturn of Michigan’s economy, a national bond rating agency is shining a bright spot on Michigan’s largest community college that serves over 70,000 students. 
