Chamber of Commerce to Host Coffee Talk in New Location!

Hills man rescued from Clinton River

A driver was rescued from the chilly Clinton River early Thursday morning after a car skidded off the road.

Rochester Hills Fire Chief Ron Crowell said that shortly after midnight, his department and Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report that  a car had skidded into the river with a Rochester Hills man inside.

Fire crews using specialist suits to protect them from the frigid water entered the river and were able to safely rescue the man through the back window and bring him to shore. The man was transported to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital for possible hypothermia.

Dear Crabby, Should Men Dye Their Hair?

Dear Crabby,

As a man in my 30′s who is graying prematurely, I want to begin dying my hair.  I think this would be socially acceptable, but my girlfriend thinks otherwise.  Who’s right in today’s standards?  I feel odd about dying my hair. Should I feel this way, or is it alright for guys to do this?

Sincerely, Ned NoGray

Dear Mr. NoGray,

I guess if you can still look your buddies in the eye after getting your hair dyed, then you are doing ok.  I started turning gray pretty early on too, but I was just happy that I still had hair. Plenty of my buddies lost their hair before they turned thirty. One of my friend’s daughter is a hair dresser. For years, she added a little dye when she rinsed his hair without him knowing. For years, we all accused him of dying his hair, but he firmly denied it!  Finally, when we were all in our 50′s and he still had his jet black hair, we were not buying it any longer.  Next thing we knew, his daughter met a guy and moved out of state. Ironically, about a month later we started seeing all this gray creep right in. After six months, he had more than just a silver lining up there! Personally, I only tried tampering with my hair one time.  We were in our twenties and went to Florida for a week. A bunch of people suggested we put this product called “Sun In” in our hair to make it look sun bleached.  Well, all the guys with light-colored hair looked pretty cool, but my dark hair turned bright orange!  People started calling me carrot top! It must have been a catchy name because I think some comedian kid stole it from me years later, somehow I didn’t mind. The guys never seemed to let that one go – they still call me that every once in a while.  But, I guess if your pretty secure in yourself, then you will be perfectly fine. Just make sure it looks natural; the pumpkin orange wasn’t as subtle as you might think. Anyway, good luck and let me know how it turns out.

Sincerely, Dear Crabby

Stuck in a rut? Need some biased advice from a crabby old baby-boomer? Ask DearCrabby@RochesterMedia.com

Rochester Hills Public Library February Cyber Events and More

Residents of Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township, don’t miss these exciting events at Rochester Hills Public Library. All youth programs are funded by the Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library. Registration is online. Each child who registers for library programs must have his or her own library card and be a resident of Rochester, Rochester Hills, or Oakland Township. Confirmation numbers are required at the door. See the Schedule of Events on our website at www.rhpl.org or contact Youth Services at (248) 650-7140.
CYBER-SESSIONS
All Ages
7-8 p.m., Multipurpose Room
RHPL and Rochester Area Youth Assistance have teamed up to bring you this three-part session about children and online safety. Register both children and adults for each session using the Events Calendar. You do not need to register for all of them-join us for the one(s) that most interest you. Online registration begins one week prior to the event.

Cybersafety
Tuesday, January 31
This session will focus on how to keep you, your information and reputation safe and secure!

Cyberbullying
Wednesday, February 8
This session will discuss both the bullies and the victims and what to do if your child becomes either.

Cybersmarts
Thursday, February 16
This session will discuss internet resources cardholders have at their disposal as well as responsible computer use at the library.

PRESCHOOL FAIR
Parents only
Saturday, February 11, 2-4 p.m.
Multipurpose Room
Parents are invited to drop in and visit with representatives of local preschools and daycare centers. Ask questions, get details, and find out how to schedule a visit. Adults only, please. No registration is required.

After School S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
Tuesday February 14
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Story Room
Students in grades 4-6 are invited to participate in ”Series Publications Encouraging Creativity in a Library”. Activities will be based on popular series titles, but you do not need to be familiar with the series to join in the fun! See the Events Calendar for details on the series of the month and to register each child attending. Online registration begins Tuesday, February 7.

Family Program
A Very Special Opportunity!
Celebrate Presidents’ Day at the Opera
Monday, February 20
11-11:45 a.m., Multipurpose Room
Register all children and adults attending the Michigan Opera Theatre’s presentation of the familiar Grimm fairy tale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a delightful musical adaptation with music and libretto by the dean of children’s opera, Seymour Barab. The piper is hired by the mayor to rid the town of its rats. He does what he’s asked but is denied the payment promised him; in revenge, he lures all of Hamelin’s children out of town until the mayor “pays the piper.” After the piper is paid the children are returned home. This story allows children to learn the consequences of breaking promises. It also gives your child a chance to volunteer as a non-speaking actor! Confirmation numbers required at the door.

Multitasking Mom on the Move

I admit, I tweeze my eyebrows and put my makeup on in the car. Call me crazy, but for a busy mom, it’s about the only time I have to stare at myself close up in a mirror. In my defense, I only do it when stopped at a light. Not to mention that I sit for at least five minutes at the Avon and Livernois intersection, shuttling the kids to and from school everyday. Quite honestly, I am writing this article on my iPhone at that exact location.

I know I’m not alone in my inability to “single task” though. Life continues to become more and more fast paced everyday — to the point that time has undoubtedly become our society’s most precious commodity. Years ago, we assumed technology was going to help us get things done so much faster, that we wouldn’t even know what to do with our ample free-time.  Instead, if you are like me, you simply are trying to cram even more into your day than before. You try to answer emails during your children’s sports practice, or you listen to audio books while driving to maximize your commute. It seems we cannot waste a single second of our day or we’ll end up falling behind on our demands.

I had always been so proud of my multitasking prowess, and thought it was one of my greatest personality advantages. Now though, as I grow older, I find that intentionally taking moments to just stop and focus on one thing or person, are more important than before. I’m learning to become proficient in putting the phone down, letting the laundry pile up, and embracing baseball cap hair. By making peace with the quantity of my accomplishments, I’m gaining richer moments with the people that matter.

I used to joke with my husband and say, “No hugging in the kitchen,” because I was always in the middle of something, and would get agitated that I had to pause for a moment. I’m slowly learning now to be okay with those great interruptions. As I become more conscious of where my focus is, I still seem to need a daily reminder to slow down. A good friend blessed me today with scones and with the encouragement to just relax and enjoy a rare afternoon off. At first I mentioned that I’d have to do at least something, but I think I’ll take her wise advice. Who knows, maybe today I’ll even drop the laundry basket and dance in the hallway!

Avon bridge closing Feb. 1

Rochester Hills drivers have been waiting, and waiting, for the Avon bridge over the Clinton River just east of Livernois to be fixed so lane restrictions could be lifted. The time has finally arrived, but be prepared to avoid the area for the next several months.

“For months and months and probably years, the Avon bridge has seemed like a mirage,” Mayor Bryan Barnett said Monday as he announced that work to replace the bridge is scheduled to start Feb. 1. Because the bridge is coming down, that section of roadway will be closed through approximately June 15.

“There will be some considerable traffic changes,” Barnett said.

The Road Commission for Oakland County will remove the old bridge and replace it with a pre-stressed concrete bridge of the same five lanes as the existing bridge. The project will include repaving the approaches to the bridge, placement of new guardrails and relocation of a water main.

The budget is $2.6 million. A Michigan Local Bridge Program grant will cover $2.5 million; the road commission will cover the balance. The city will kick in $32,000 for the installation of decorative lighting, handrails and pathway. The new bridge is expected to open by June 15, with the project completed by mid-July.

Several other projects will probably complicate driving around greater Rochester this summer. A major repaving of Main Street (Rochester Road) through downtown Rochester is scheduled to begin in April. Crooks Road is scheduled to be widened to five lanes from Starr-Batt Drive to Hamlin, including a center left-turn lane, curbs, storm sewers and filling pathway gaps.

The Crooks project is scheduled to start this summer and finish in the fall. The road will close during portions of the project, but the road commission said that won’t happen until Avon is reopened.

Click on the link to see a map of the detour: AVON ROAD BRIDGE DETOUR