PETOSKEY — After taking their first league loss of the season last week there wasn’t much time for the Petoskey girls soccer team to mope on the defeat Petoskey has jumped right back into it and added more wins late last week The Northmen (6-3) picked up a 3-2 victory late in the week over Alpena 1 team in Division 4 with a 2-0 Saturday victory over Royal Oak Shrine “We put together our most complete game of the season against a very high level opponent,” Petoskey coach Zach Jonker said “One of the greatest strengths of this group is how diverse our attack can be and that was on display the past two games with five different girls scoring our five goals.” Jonker is spot on what makes his team so tough with so many legs capable of finding the back of the net Annika Gandhi and Brynn Jonker getting the credit then Claire O’Donnell and Lily Premo scored Saturday Both goals Saturday came in the first half PHS Baseball: Petoskey baseball suddenly a triple threat, show slugging power over weekend Top Performers: Petoskey softball makes program history in Cadillac. Top performers for May 1 “We didn't convert in the second half but we continued to generate chances with Mady Smith hitting the post and Annika hitting the crossbar,” Jonker added a pair of goals did come in the second half following a 1-1 halftime but more opportunities also could have come “Alpena always plays us tough and they have the quickest player in the league,” Jonker said “She got behind us twice and converted for both their goals We hit a couple of posts and had a couple of other chances we just narrowly missed Conditions were once again pretty brutal so it was nice to get out of there with the win.” Sadie Corey earned the win in net in both games though split it Saturday with freshman Isla Scheib who had to make a diving stop on a Royal Oak PK in the second half to preserve the shutout With so many games called early in the season 4-1) has hit crunch time on the season with a host of games ahead They’ll welcome in Cadillac on Tuesday and Traverse City Central Thursday before then hosting their annual Petoskey Invite Saturday at the Click Road Soccer Complex Marquette and other regulars in attendance Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com a new software platform that provides consumers and customer service representatives with billing insights Built on a secure technology foundation designed to safeguard customer privacy is the first and only tool that offers both a consumer–facing web portal and a CSR–focused dashboard — each engineered to drive operational efficiency With utilities facing mounting pressure to reduce costs to serve while delivering an exceptional customer experience BillWise AI answers common customer inquiries like “Why is my bill so high?” by delivering a clear personalized breakdown of the customer’s utility bill “We’ve spent over a decade helping utilities innovate at the intersection of energy data analytics and customer experience,” says Rahul Prakash “BillWise AI combines that expertise with the latest in Generative AI enabling utilities to dramatically reduce operational costs through lower call volumes and reduced average handle time.” BillWise AI is improving Average Handle Time (AHT) by providing customer service representatives with insightful customized data to more effectively address customer needs Powerley reports BillWise AI has achieved impressive call deflection rates highlighting its ability to enhance the customer experience and reduce call volume “BillWise AI is a key step in our journey to further empower our customers to take control of their energy usage and manage their affordability,” says Angie Pizzuti senior vice president and chief customer officer at DTE Energy “We’ve also seen the benefits for our customer service team where we’re seeing shorter call times after deployment this technology is a win-win for our company and our customers.” Powerley designed BillWise AI to prioritize personalization and insights while ensuring customer data remains secure All AI services are services run within Powerley’s secure environment minimizing exposure to third parties and preventing unauthorized access Powerley’s approach to generative AI also reduces the risk of hallucinations so customers can trust every recommendation Powerley states it uses end-to-end encryption and integrated single sign on to ensure customers’ data is always secure BillWise AI is available now to utility customer service groups across North America For more information, visit powerley.com/billwiseAI MI (WXYZ) — The ultimate glass art experience, Glass53 at the Habatat Galleries Complex in Royal Oak (4400 Fernlee featuring the finest glass artists from across the world joining together to show their latest works featuring 400 examples of stunning studio glass art with the artists in attendance is the highlight of the year for Habatat - the oldest and largest gallery in the world It is known as the premier event in the world of contemporary glass The public is invited to attend the celebration Glass 53 is once again adding live glass blowing demonstrations - thanks to Michigan glass artist Andrew Madvin and his Axiom Studio which is just down the block from Habatat visitors will have the unique opportunity to see the art of glass blowing in Axiom’s state-of-the-art hot glass studio and will be able to visit its adjoining AXG Gallery featuring works of Michigan glass artists For more information, visit habatat.com or call 248-554-0590 Royal Oak-based Käter Wingman Water is expanding its reach through new partnerships with beverage distributors across the state Wingman Water recently partnered with several distributors The new partnerships are intended to make Wingman Water more accessible in restaurants Wingman has secured a partnership with Meijer bringing the brand to more than 50 Meijer locations The latest production run features brighter bolder branding to reinforce its position — a premium sparkling water with the look and feel of a classic beer designed to elevate the non-alcoholic drinking experience The electrolyte-enhanced sparkling water comes in three flavors: Original Packaged in a distinctive amber beer bottle all three flavors will be available across Ann Arbor and metro Detroit “We created a water that looks like a beer so you can stay in the game and still win tomorrow,” says Kyle Maurer For more information, visit katerwingman.com Deftly crafted and smoked briskets and other barbecue fare will no longer be churned out of the smoker at a Royal Oak restaurant After 15 years on Third Street in Royal Oak The popular barbecue joint announced on its Facebook page that its last day of service will be Easter Sunday The owners wrote that their lease is expiring and “renewing is just not affordable.” “We have loved every brisket and rack of ribs that we have smoked on our Oyler,” the Facebook post said Chin's Chop Suey: Long-standing tiki-themed restaurant in Livonia to close its doors Special menus and buffets: Metro Detroit restaurants welcome Easter diners While stating the closing is “with great sadness,” the owners thanked its many barbecue fans and guests for their support and Lockhart’s is a full-service spot known for its slow-smoked Texas-style barbecue meats paired with sides of creamy mac and cheese and coleslaw Its specialties include its smoked and tender beef brisket Lockhart’s was also noted for its Michigan craft beer offerings and craft cocktails the space underwent an extensive renovation on the lower level that included adding two custom bars and a space for private events to accommodate up to 80 people when its last offerings will be an Easter brunch buffet service The brunch is $35 for adults and $15 for kids and includes a brisket carving station Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press With the well-received new album The Crux released earlier this month Djo – the musical project of Joe Keery – embarked on the Back on You World Tour With the band’s sold-out run continuing in Detroit the hype was palpable: Interest in the show resulted in the Michigan stop moving up from Royal Oak Music Theatre to the Masonic Temple (roughly doubling the capacity for fans) with lines to enter the venue sprawling around the block Here are five moments that stood out from the show:  Post Animal Preview New Tunes (With Keery)  In the opening slot, Post Animal took the stage for an already-packed crowd. Keery notably played with the Chicago psych-rockers in an earlier stint, and it was recently revealed that he would be back in the fold for the band’s upcoming album Iron so it was fitting the band brought him out for their set The screams and cheers reached a fever pitch when Keery emerged and Post Animal really hit their stride by previewing new Iron track “Last Goodbye,” which was buoyed by strong vocal harmonies across the band Set closer “Dirtpicker” ended on a high note with its rollicking guitar riffs.  Listening to Djo’s discography evokes a wide-ranging set of influences – from the likes of ’60s psychedelic rock to ’70s/’80s new wave and power pop to those genres’ modern descendants This broad sonic palette provided a dynamic backdrop for the band to bounce between sounds for a shape-shifting live performance from the skittering synths of “Runner” to the scuzzy riffs of “Gloom” to Keery’s exuberant power pop vocals of “Link” to the jaunty keys of “Charlie’s Garden.”  The audience eagerly bounced and sang along to “Basic Being Basic,” swayed in a sea of illuminated cell phone lights on “Lonesome Is a State of Mind,” clapped in time with the grooving “Delete Ya,” and raucously cheered for the anthemic “Gap Tooth Smile.”  Djo expanded their track recordings to sprawl into more extensive jams The sultry “Figure You Out” featured a squiggly guitar solo and shimmering keys; “Chateau (Feel Alright” impressed with its echoey psych rock especially in its fuzzy opening riff; and “Roddy” thrilled with the massive electronic breakdown in the track’s back half.  The end of the main set was keyed by the lush acoustic guitar textures of “Potion,” with the band leading a clap/singalong the cheers once again ratcheted up to a deafening pitch The band returned with the lively riffs and strong vocal harmonies of “Back on You.”  but one more?” Keery polled the crowd after the first track of the encore jumping along once more to scuzzy garage rocker “Flash Mountain,” with the Post Animal crew sharing the stage with Djo for a rambunctious finish to the night.  Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" If you wanted any further proof that Audemars Piguet has a hit on its hands with its new 150th anniversary Royal Oak look no further than the wrists of Mayer and Brady who were both seen wearing the brand-new piece this week A couple of months ago, Audemars Piguet launched a groundbreaking new perpetual calendar movement in time for its 150th anniversary it’s controlled entirely through the crown—there are no tiny pushers in the case sides and no miniscule corrector tool to potentially misplace You pull the crown out to successive positions to adjust various calendar information it engages different functions than on its way out (We know—all this sounds fairly nerdly and unexciting it features a gold-tone Grand Tappisserie dial with black indices as well as the classic Royal Oak integrated bracelet but the indications might not update properly.) The date numbers are all perfectly spaced—a difficult feat that requires different-sized teeth for each date increment within the date wheel Five years of careful development went into the Calibre 7138 Brady has earned several other notable AP references in the past so it comes as no surprise that he’d be among the first to snag this special QP Brady parted with a pièce unique Royal Oak in white gold with a diamond-set bezel and his name spelled out in calibré-cut and baguette-cut diamonds in the indices (The watch’s winding rotor also has Brady’s signature in it.) No stranger to QPs he’s also been spotted in a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in blue ceramic as well as a Royal Oak Grande Complication The Calibre 7138 solves a problem—if you can call it that—that has long bothered serious watch heads. Its debut within three striking AP references, timed perfectly with the brand’s 150th birthday, was one of the biggest watch stories of the year, outshining many of the debuts at Watches & Wonders Where better to spot such a watch than on the wrist of one of the world’s biggest collectors (Here’s to hoping he releases a second watch using the new Calibre 7138!) this fun take on the Speedy features America’s favorite beagle in the 9 o’clock register and you’re presented with possibly the coolest non-exhibition caseback ever made Snoopy actually shoots across the scene as the chronograph is engaged and the Earth disc rotates once per minute ROYAL OAK, Mich. – In a meeting Monday night (April 28), the Royal Oak City Council passed a plan to enter licensing agreements with businesses to transform parking areas into green spaces. The affected area is on Rochester Road between 13 Mile Road and 14 Mile Road. Businesses in the area, like Green Lantern Pizza, were worried about the plan at first. They were concerned about limited parking when the shop gets busy. However, the plan passed with a unanimous vote. The city aims to work with businesses and property owners to find a solution that will work for everyone. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Hannah Music is an alumna of Oakland University and has been with Local 4 since March 2024. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more Yet one watch that often gets overlooked in this discussion is the F77 line from Nivada, now known as Nivada Grenchen Here’s everything you need to know about it Nevada Gretchen’s absence from the integrated sports watches debate cannot best be blamed on a lack of historical provenance The Swiss watch brand’s roots date back to 1879 and the original F77 was first produced in 1977 However, the brand was also one of many watch companies that fell victim to the quartz crisis and lingered largely in obscurity for decades The result was while the Nivada name remained relevant with value-focused vintage buyers throughout that time the company’s obscured role in the new watch scene undoubtedly created a blind spot for the brand among younger watch enthusiasts Then, in 2020, Guillaume Laidet, a man with a Midas touch for watch brand revival, rebooted the brand the 38mm case is made entirely from 316L stainless steel It’s also slightly thinner at 12.20mm than the first F77 reboot references launched in 2022 the watch lugs have also been reworked to provide more bend to the bracelet addressing a common shortcoming of integrated sports watches that surprises many first-time wearers The slight change allows the watch to hug the wearer’s wrist more tightly But if integrated bracelets aren’t really your thing the F77 Mark II is also available with a velcro or black rubber strap Anyone interested in a bigger statement piece that’s still affordable may gravitate more toward the new F77 Mark II Gold It combines all of the improvements of its stainless steel sibling with an 18K yellow gold-plated case that’s guaranteed to catch attention Both Nivada Grenchen F77 Mark II references are now available from the brand’s website deliveries for the new model are expected to begin in early July says his Royal Oak location has been serving customers for 20 years but proposed changes to parking in the city could force him to close which gives customers the option of take-out or delivery relies heavily on its parking lot for customer access Hear more from John Spreitzer in the video player below: "We have roughly 750 cars in and out on a Friday night alone between pickups and delivery drivers," Spreitzer said The Royal Oak City Commission met on Monday night to discuss improvements to Rochester Road planned for 2026 would affect the area from 13 Mile Road to 14 Mile Road and includes converting some parking lots to green spaces City Manager Joe Gacioch says the project addresses larger environmental concerns Detroit metro has a stormwater issue — I think we've seen that over the past decade with multiple flooding incidents we look at the big picture there," Gacioch said While the city recommends businesses use parking behind their buildings Spreitzer explained that his back lot is already dedicated to his 14 delivery drivers which would force customers to park on nearby residential streets This potential overflow has nearby residents concerned as well "I don't want anymore parking on these narrow side streets It does not make any sense whatsoever," said Tina Gammon expressed mixed feelings about the proposal "I like the idea of it being a green space but I don't like the idea from a convenience standpoint because this lot here already is very small," Perzigian said Spreitzer has placed a sign reading "Help Us Keep Our Parking Spaces" in his shop window Gacioch maintains that the city is willing to work with affected business owners and so we'll have those one-on-one conversations I certainly respect the business needs," Gacioch said Spreitzer remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached "I'm hoping the city will come to terms with us something that will allow us to keep the parking here and do business," Spreitzer said This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy EPA employees and elected officials gathered Saturday for a march and rally in Royal Oak The rally was both a celebration of the environment and a call to action from some who feel the climate is in crisis The rally began at the Farmers Market in downtown Royal Oak where several prominent activists and elected officials gave speeches Garlin Gilchrist addressed the crowd with an impassioned speech about the beauty of Michigan's natural resources and the duty Michiganders have to protect them the best place in the country to celebrate Earth Day because we are blessed with so many God-given natural resources here in the state of Michigan," Gilchrist said But with all of that blessing comes responsibility." Protests span borders: Michiganders show solidarity, rally with Canadians at major bridge crossings Gilchrist spoke about the state's environmental departments like EGLE "We are the help that we need to protect Michigan from the death and destruction that is coming at us from Washington," Gilchrist said "The last I heard was that the Trump administration is trying to cut $14 billion worth of resources and investment on clean energy solutions and environmental protections here in Michigan." That move by the Trump adminstration to cut $14 billion in environmental grants awarded by then-President Joe Biden was blocked in March by a federal judge The grants are still frozen as the case proceeds an EPA coordinator and AFGE union representative who works in Ann Arbor spoke about the pressure her agency feels under the Trump administration Your voices matter and your voices are so important to this environmental cause," Powers-Taylor said Rubin on the Riverfront: Lies and more lies as Detroit Riverfront embezzler William Smith learns fate The event in Royal Oak — which occurs yearly on the Saturday following Earth Day — was defined by that sentiment: It was a celebration of the environment but also a call to action for residents and officials to do more to protect the climate the lead organizer of Oakland County Earth Day told the Free Press that Saturday's event was split between reverie and fear that call to action is really important though." the event also featured an "Earth Fair" inside the Farmers Market after the rally and march Costello said the fair was focused on encouraging attendees to take action through volunteering and calling their elected officials Organizations like the Sierra Club and the Citizens' Climate Lobby had stations while petitioners carried thick sheets of paper and clipboards we have stations for people to call their legislators sign up to volunteer or get involved in a way that feels approachable to them," Costello said the crowd marched through downtown Royal Oak carrying signs calling for more protection of the environment before entering the fair inside the Farmers Market an indigenous member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames White Earth Ojibwe spoke to the crowd and reminded them of what he feels Earth Day is about is not just about recycling or voting," Schuyler said "It's about how we live and how we listen and how we honor our responsibilities to each other and this land." Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com Lockhart's BBQ in Royal Oak is closing at the end of the week after 15 years in metro Detroit According to a post by the restaurant last week They said that the lease in the building is expiring and renewing it is not affordable It is with great sadness that we are making this announcement We have decided to close Lockhart's BBQ and our last day serving you will be Sunday April 20th Our lease is expiring and renewing is just not affordable "We have loved every brisket and rack of ribs that we have smoked on our Oyler More importantly we have loved meeting so many BBQ fans and enthusiast over the last 15 years and we want to thank you for so many great memories we would have never had the opportunity to experience this time," the post reads they posted on Facebook that they sold out around 4:30 p.m They said they "will continue to put as much effort and love in to the last brisket we smoke until April 20th." The blue that former CEO François-Henry Bennahmias always wanted is finally here and it's really freaking good How To Wear It The Cartier Tank Cintrée In-Depth Examining Value And Price Over Time With The ‘No Date’ Rolex Submariner Watches In The Wild The Road Through America, Episode 1: A Model Of Mass Production Audemars Piguet launched their eye-catching blue ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in a shade straight from the brightest blues in a box of Crayolas and with materials done in a way that had made a name for itself it was everything that Audemars Piguet was under the helm of then-CEO François-Henry Bennahmias The first blue ceramic case from Audemars Piguet. But then 2023 rolled around and, on the way into his retirement from AP, Bennahmias dropped a nugget of information in a Talking Watches he did with our own Ben Clymer: it wasn't the blue he wanted These are the new Royal Oaks in the brand's historic "Bleu Nuit the same color made iconic by the dials of the Jumbo Royal Oak The three new models – a Royal Oak Double Balance Openworked and two versions of the Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph (in vintage and modern stylings) – launched last week in the middle of Watches and Wonders shortly after the brand's AP Social Club launches in early 2025 and during a trade show in which the brand doesn't present Chanel also dropped these curious and wild J12s with dark blue ceramic cases on the first day of Watches and Wonders but the brand says there's no link between its watch and Chanel's release and it's hard to tell if it's the same and differs only in finishing (and the finishing on AP's ceramic is far and away the best in the industry) the fact that AP and Chanel both hit the mark this year doesn't make AP's release less striking Chanel still don't hit the hype levels of Audemars Piguet by any stretch both brands have finished their cases differently Nuage 50 Royal Oaks are stone-cold stunners Since I've lead with the photos of the Double Balancier and Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph (in the more vintage styling but with the addition of the Mega-Tapisserie dial) twice I figured now is a good time to mention that the brand also released a version of the more diver-oriented modern design of Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph on strap with the same blue bezel but it follows in a line of other ceramic bezels they've done on the model in the past One of the things you'll notice about the new blue ceramic tone is that it shifts in light pretty dramatically You'll notice that shift in some photos depending on how I lit the photo (even if the color balance remained the same) it was pretty close to the image you see below but in iPhone videos or straight out of my camera (Nikon does like to punch up the colors) It's certainly not the same as the blue ceramic QP that came out in 2022 or Jean Arnault's custom blue ceramic Louis Vuitton Tambour the watch looks a bit more punchy than in reality (which might come as a relief if you've only seen iPhone images) The previous blue was so loud that it only fit a small percentage of buyers You basically had to be a rock star to own one (and even some of those would find it too loud) The new blue is reserved enough to pass for nearly black from a distance while being different enough to be special it shifts in color and goes from a rich dark blue to a more washed-out color depending on the quality and angle of the light hitting it But physics of light aside (and I can do a whole article on that if you want – I promise you don't) it'll feel much closer to the dark blue I think Bennahmias was aiming for The Double Balance Wheel Openworked (or Double Balancier) is the stand-out star – the kind of thing that I think most collectors will beg for The 41mm by 9.7mm case houses the brand's openworked self-winding caliber 3132 movement with 45 hours of power reserve The use of a second balance wheel and spring mounted on the same axis increases the mass and inertia two balance wheels present a drain on power but by tying them to the same balance staff the watch is more efficient and (theoretically) more accurate making this watch the most "traditional" color combination in ceramic currently The top surface of the bezel and the case of bracelet and case are brushed ceramic while the angled portions of the case are polished That's the common design language of the Royal Oak but I think people just easily dismiss the watches for "hype" and disregard how difficult finishing ceramic to a high degree is – let alone getting the right color you want And AP was very specific about matching the historic blue you see on their "Jumbo" Royal Oaks The watch features a titanium caseback ring and butterfly clasp for the bracelet my guess is that a ceramic caseback ring would fracture if screwed in to secure to the inner case structure (the front screw heads are just cosmetic) No matter how often I handle a ceramic watch They look like they should be heavier – a thick chunk of stone or something – but instead they're freakishly light but the weight and wearability remind me of titanium cases The new Double Balancier in blue ceramic (ref 15416CD) costs $101,100 which is a lot of money by any metric but the general concensus from the folks I talked to is that it feels like a fair price It's also in line with the black ceramic version of the watch The next version of the Royal Oak that will probably get the most attention is the Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph with the vintage-styled 6-9-12 dial layout The brand had re-released the "The Beast" (as the original using this design was known) in black ceramic in the past few years with the petite Tapisserie-dialed ref 26238CE with the "Mega Tapisserie" dial that carries over to this version You can see the two versions in the current lineup next to each other The dial layout evokes the Valjoux 7750 watches of that era even though the original "Beast" was powered by the Caliber 2126/2840 a Jaeger-LeCoultre-based movement with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module The current generation has the Audemars Piguet caliber 4404 column-wheel operated chronograph with flyback and date The movement has running seconds at 6 o'clock with a tachymeter scale on the rehaut at the edge of the dial it measures the larger 42mm by 15.3mm size with 100m of water resistance It's substantial in the way that's exactly the point for the Offshore It's substantial and noticeable just like it was when it became the coolest watch for rappers and celebrities to wear For a touch of nostalgia in a modern material The final watch bears mention because of the ceramic bezel but the second Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph fits far more in the collection for more modern newcomers to the brand who think less about history or watchmaking and more about style and wearability With a stainless steel case (43mm by 14.4mm and 100m of water resistance) and textured fabric strap (with quick change for the supplied rubber strap) instead of the ceramic bracelet the watch comes in as the least expensive option – $42,900 The movement is the caliber 4401 with 70 hours of power reserve I know I have a tendency to get excited about cool new things – I will admit to that Even after a crazy week at Watches and Wonders I think it might mean even more that the new releases struck me as much as they did – especially the new Double Balancier There are a few releases from AP that I think can outdo a "Jumbo" Royal Oak as a near-perfect watch but this watch below just might put up a fight For more information, visit Audemars Piguet. Introducing The Doxa Sub 200, Now With A Steel Bezel Introducing Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT 60th Anniversary Edition SPB519 Watch Spotting The Watches & Fashion Of Met Gala 2025 Business News Rolex Will Raise U.S. Prices In Response To Tariffs Six Of The Coolest CPO Rolex Watches I Saw In London's Old Bond Street Rolex Boutique Reference Points The Cartier Tank Louis Introducing The Christopher Ward C12 'Loco' (Live Pics) Hands-On Tudor's Black Bay Pro Gets A Surprisingly Dramatic Facelift With An Opaline Dial ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Royal Oak gave the green light for Sheetz to open a location at Coolidge and 14 Mile Road The 6-1 vote happened at Royal Oak’s Planning Commission meeting Tuesday evening The decision came after dozens of community members commented publicly expressing concerns about the gas station chain moving into town safety surrounding a 24/7 business and competition to local businesses Neighboring cities recently rejected Sheetz, including Livonia and Madison Heights On the contrary, other places like Highland Township approved Sheetz plans to open more than 50 Michigan locations over the next five years Sheetz opened its first Michigan gas station in Romulus last summer a spokesperson for Sheetz shared the following statement “­­We look forward to tonight’s Royal Oak Planning Commission hearing to showcase the benefits we’ll bring to this area We’re also eager to clarify any misconceptions shared by opposing convenience store organizations at the hearing We know our supporters outnumber the vocal opposition and look forward to sharing our vision for Royal Oak.” --> Here’s where Sheetz announced 4 new branches will be in Metro Detroit “We are grateful to the Royal Oak Planning Commission for their decisive approval of the landowner’s request to rezone the site at 3200 West 14 Mile Road. This decision underscores the Commission’s dedication to driving growth, attracting investment and creating good job opportunities that will benefit the entire community. With 13 exciting projects already approved across the Detroit region, Sheetz is energized by the overwhelming support we continue to receive in the area. As we continue our collaboration with Royal Oak officials, we are excited to bring innovative convenience offerings to this community—offerings that meet the needs and desires of local residents. We are proud to be a part of this transformative movement and are fully dedicated to investing in the future of these neighborhoods.” Jacqueline Francis is an award-winning journalist who joined the WDIV team in September 2022. Prior to Local 4, she reported for the NBC affiliate in West Michigan. When she’s not on the job, Jacqueline enjoys taking advantage of all the wonders Michigan has to offer, from ski trips up north to beach days with her dog, Ace. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCARTER COUNTY (KFVS) - Crews have the large fire at the Royal Oak charcoal plant in Ellsinore According to Carter County Emergency Management Agency Darrell Bequette firefighters got it fully contained around 3 a.m This is nearly 12 hours after it was first reported Bequette said crews remain on the scene monitoring hot spots At one point there were concerns on Wednesday about the fire spreading the Carter County Sheriff’s Office said an evacuation order was possible for residents living in and around the plant The FEMA building in Ellsinore was opened shortly after for those in need Drivers are urged to avoid the area so emergency vehicles can get through Crews from 16 departments responded to the fire Bequette said he did not have any information on a cause but said the fire started on the plant’s property no homes have been affected and no injuries have been reported slab wood from Arkansas and Missouri is used to make lump charcoal at the plant’s kiln The team behind Colombian restaurant Rosita’s Treats has had a busy year so far owners Patrick and Rosandys Henderson expanded from their Shelby Township restaurant at 48770 Van Dyke to a market with groceries and grab-and-go snacks in downtown Utica Rosita’s Treats branches into Oakland County with a second sit-down restaurant inside Café Muse “We have been looking for a second location that has more walking traffic and in a downtown area,” Patrick Henderson told The Detroit News adding that in addition Colombian dishes and a full bar the Royal Oak spot will also have Latin dance lessons and live music The Hendersons will host a soft opening in Royal Oak at 6 p.m. Friday for $50 per person with a special menu and live music. Advance tickets are available at rositastreats.com — click on “order now” for the purchase option dancing and karaoke at the Shelby Township location The space inside Cafe Muse where Rosita's Treats will operate was formerly occupied by Mexican restaurant Cafe de Olla Owner and chef Ara Sotelo tells The News she's relocating to Ferndale an immersive training platform in Royal Oak a pioneer in interactive 360° virtual training experiences is now available through the PIXO platform The integration enables organizations to access and deploy Uptale’s 360° virtual training experiences seamlessly through PIXO’s distribution and analytics platform Uptale specializes in creating interactive 360° virtual training experiences that highlight training objectives in a realistic Uptale enables organizations to digitize real-world workspaces offering trainees a lifelike experience that enhances learning retention The Uptale platform supports no-code content creation allowing users to quickly develop customized training modules using simple 360° video and mixed-reality tools “The partnership highlights PIXO’s commitment to scaling immersive training by reducing the need for organizations to work with multiple solutions,” says Sean Hurwitz “By integrating another great partner like Uptale we’ve eliminated more barriers to adoption making it easier for enterprises to develop and publish high-impact immersive training experiences “Uptale is thrilled to be a part of the PIXO platform and help expand the reach of immersive learning experiences,” says Dwayne Iserief co-founder and chief marketing officer at Uptale “This partnership ensures that businesses can easily integrate interactive VR training into their learning strategies and scale across teams with ease.” For more information, visit pixovr.com/ A fire has erupted at the Royal Oak charcoal kiln in Ellsinore, Missouri, with multiple fire departments responding. Evacuations of nearby residences are underway.Samantha TuckerMultiple departments responded to a fire at the Royal Oak Enterprises kiln in Ellsinore Photos by Jessica WoodardA fire at the Royal Oak Enterprises charcoal kiln in Ellsinore has triggered evacuations and multiple fire departments are on the scene Grandin and Van Buren fire departments are on the scene and described the kiln fire "out of hand." I don't have a specific time in front of me to be able to tell you that and I don't know how it started," she added This statement was made shortly after 7 p.m Those with family who work at the plant or have family in the area are scared "My son-in-law probably lives about between two to three miles from the plant," one person said "He said the sheriff's department had been by and said that they needed to be prepared to evacuate." The resident added she noticed the smoke on her way home and passed a fire truck She later texted a family member who works there and they confirmed there was "a pretty good-sized fire." Since she hadn't heard from the person in the hours since she believed he and other employees were assisting firefighters possibly by moving fuel sources out of the fire's way "They have (wooden) slabs that they put in the kiln to make the coal," she explained "And so their yard is full of some green and some dry slabs...and there's forest all around the backside of it." Those who remember the fire said the blaze was "huge" and lasted for days Ellsinore had a previous fire earlier Wednesday at a sawmill he wore another one with extra-special significance we appreciate the choice of the 39-mm “Jumbo,” which hews closest to the spirit of the original model so called because its 39-mm diameter was considered large for the time If you’re a musician without that type of juice at Audemars Piguet You might be interested in the Royal Oak Offshore “Music Edition,” with a dial that resembles a volume unit (VU) meter that you’d find in a recording studio That piece was a limited edition of 500 pieces which clearly wasn’t rare enough for someone like Sheeran the singer made his own piece that speaks to his passions Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesRyan Reynolds’s Omega Speedmaster PilotSeen on Ryan Reynolds’s wrist at the Time 100 Summit was the Omega Speedmaster Pilot—arguably one of the coolest Speedy executions ever made it’s a flight-qualified automatic chronograph with a combination 60-minute and 12-hour totalizer at 3 o’clock and a running-seconds indicator at 9 o’clock The “artificial horizon” motif on the 9 o’clock register and the bright pops of color on the dial all combine to hammer home the aeronautical-military theme while the steel flat-link bracelet and Master Chronometer–certified movement make it a highly wearable everyday watch Djokovic’s reference features a large 43-mm case and a black dial with a dual-register chronograph display and 4:30 date window it nevertheless boasts 100 meters of water resistance and an automatic movement providing 72 hours of power reserve making it an excellent everyday or vacation watch Djokovic may be the first to pair such a watch with a tuxedo Another longstanding barbecue destination is closing its doors Lockhart's BBQ in downtown Royal Oak will close after service on Sunday "Our lease is expiring and renewing is just not affordable We have loved every brisket and rack of ribs that we have smoked on our Oyler," reads a statement posted to Facebook Friday thanking longtime customers and staff members "More importantly we have loved meeting so many BBQ fans and enthusiast(s) over the last 15 years and we want to thank you for so many great memories." The announcement caused Lockhart's BBQ — which has a full bar and spacious dining room in downtown Royal Oak — to sell out of smoked meats early on Sunday Lockhart's will be open every day through April 20 to service its final platters of burnt ends beef brisket and other Texas-style barbecue dishes More: Lazybones Smokehouse is closing Saturday as owner says he's 'going out on top' Opened in 2010 by Texas native Drew Ciora and Michigan-born Rick Ghersi Third Street gained popularity with customers and food critics right away for its laid-back atmosphere that was barbecue-focused the hot spot earned a glowing 3-star review from The Detroit News' critic Molly Abraham but the real stars of the menu are the sliced beef brisket and burnt ends,” she wrote There was a second location for Lockhart's BBQ in Lake Orion for about four years until 2019 Lockhart's BBQ announcement is the latest in a string of April restaurant closings for barbecue restaurants a longstanding bar in Warren with a smokehouse and Lazybones Smokehouse of Macomb County both said goodbye to customers Saturday More: Slows Bar BQ to open second full-service restaurant in Berkley For its final days, Lockhart’s will be open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Call (248) 584-4227 or visit lockhartsbbq.com the popular Holiday Market on Main Street in Royal Oak The longtime independent store is well known as a full-service grocery store featuring specialty offerings hip market founded by their parents for 25 years brothers and metro Detroit grocery store owners Johnny and Matthew Shouneyia The sale includes the 60,000-square-foot Holiday Market and Holiday Market Select a 3,000-square-foot store offering many prepared items A deal was signed in mid-November; financial details were not disclosed Holiday Market celebrated 70 years in business Holiday Market and Holiday Market Select employ more than 300 full and part-time staffers and all employees will be retained with the sale "From all the options that we have and don't have we are excited that we have this option," Tom Violante told the Free Press "We look forward to going forward and working with Matthew and Johnny and continuing most of the things that we have provided to the community and that they love And our employees will continue to do the things that they love Violante and Mangold told the Free Press they are retaining the market's popular Mirepoix Cooking School but will work in conjunction with the Shouneyias running it the same as ever After being impressed with last year's ease of sale and transition of the Holiday Market Canton store to the Shouneyia brothers Violante said the sale of the Royal Oak store became an option Craig) watched closely for a year how the employees embraced Matthew and Johnny how the customers continued to enjoy what they loved about Holiday Market," Violante said Violante said as they work with Matthew and Johnny the store operations will continue as usual "Most of the things that we have provided to the community and that they love will continue on," Violante said "Our employees will continue to do the things that they love they've known a formal succession needed to happen "Nothing seemed to be a good fit," Violante said then we saw how Matthew and Johnny purchased our sister store." the Shouneyias purchased the Holiday Market Canton store at 520 S That store is a separate entity from the Holiday Market Royal Oak and was owned for 25 years by Lisa and John Pardington Violante's and Mangold's sister and brother-in-law the Shouneyias bought Johnny Pomodoro's Fresh Market on Middlebelt in Farmington Hills They also are owners of Value Center Markets in Madison Heights and Clinton Township hit the easy button and sold to a giant chain," Violante said "But our employees are always the most important and then our customers are the second most important And that wouldn't have been to our customer's benefit." Violante added that many customers pass chain stores to get to Holiday Market "reciprocate their loyalty to us all these years." "We have generational shoppers that come to us and we have people that travel two and three hours to do their Christmas or Thanksgiving shopping because that's part of their holiday meal ritual that they need," he said "When the opportunity came up and seeing how Matthew and Johnny embraced the employees in Canton how they embraced the traditions that they've built up and were successful "This was like the lock code that just finally broke open and said this and this is going to be good for all the people we care about that supported us." Gina Mangold called Holiday Market "truly a mom-and-pop store." "It's where my mom brought us to the store while she worked," Mangold said the store marked its 70th birthday celebration a neighborhood butcher shop a few blocks away A sprawling empireA full-service grocery store Holiday Market occupies nearly an entire city block on the south end of Royal Oak Holiday Market is known for its fresh meat and seafood counter the market hosts an annual Lobster Fest with special pricing on lobsters and other seafood items the market's Mirepoix Cooking School has been offering cooking classes team building events plus a space for special events since its 2008 opening Violante stressed that the transition will be seamless The market's individual department managers and employees are going to continue to do the things that they love doing," Violante said "I don't think a customer will know the minute that Gina and I and Craig stop owning the business and Matthew and Johnny start owning the business … it'll be that seamless There will not even be a minute's change in feeling … it'll be as seamless as it can be." Mangold spoke of her late father and the love he had for the store and his family "It just brought me more comfort," Mangold said I saw him sell canes for donations to the Lions Club and how active he was in the Boys and Girls Club." Violante said he will miss the day in and day out "Being the place where people just came to commune you have to be there to pick up those random conversations that otherwise you never would have." he said "So that every day will definitely be a big Violante said he will still shop at Holiday Market and check in with employees and customers Johnny Shouneyia said the opportunity to buy Holiday Market Royal Oak is one he and his family cherish."Something that's been built over 70 years to have an opportunity to step in and continue the traditions and ways of service and catering to our customers that's what we pride ourselves on," he said "It's the same line of work we've done our whole life But to be able to step into something like this is truly an honor for Matthew and I "Tom and Gina could have probably sold for more money to somebody else and I think that's how they look at all their employees Johnny and I are very family-oriented guys and we are hoping to carry on these family traditions and continue business as usual." While Matthew Shouneyia called the grocery industry more competitive than ever he said there is nothing like taking care of people "Customers come into a store because they feel warm and welcome," he said "Customers come into what they call their store are some high-value pictures," Matthew Shouneyia said MI (WXYZ) — Michigan’s first eGym is now live in Royal Oak for people ages 13 and up Think of it as a virtual personal trainer inside an app Interactive video screens are paired with traditional gym equipment that automatically adjusts to each person’s range of motion and sets the best workout weight The system also turns customized workouts into games to make exercise more engaging Here’s how it works: Participants set their goals and get a wristband that helps track their progress they just tap their band and the machines do the rest - ensuring correct form and duration along the way and more – and it’s all free of charge for members at the South Oakland YMCA (in Royal Oak) To learn more, visit South Oakland Family YMCA. Four people were arrested Monday in the death of a 5-year-old boy whose last moments were spent inside a fiery hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the Oxford Center in Troy Ben Hancock of the Troy Police Department would not release the names of the people arrested nor would he provide any other details about the charges against them because they have yet to be arraigned Their arraignment is set for Tuesday in 52-4 District Court in Troy Harrington said in a February interview with the Free Press The Oxford Center issued a statement to the Free Press late Monday calling the timing of the charges "surprising." "After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January we are disappointed to see charges filed," the statement said "The timing of these charges is surprising as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred the Attorney General’s office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers." The statement said the facility's "highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families." A call and email messages to the Michigan Department of Attorney General Dana Nessel's Office were not immediately returned Monday evening was burned as she raced from a nearby waiting area to his side She was left to watch in horror as her son burned to death inside the chamber Annie Cooper suffered third-degree burns to her arms but the psychological trauma was far worse More: Lawyer questions oversight of hyperbaric oxygen chambers after fire kills 5-year-old boy More: Boy dies in explosion of hyperbaric chamber at Troy medical facility "It's literally the worst thing that any parent could (experience)," he said his last moments of life were being engulfed in flames and perishing in front of his mother He was certainly aware of what was going on And the only reason that something like that happens is either equipment malfunction or operator user error by the staff or a combination of both "These are potentially extremely dangerous treatments Where's the regulatory board that's looking at this to make sure that these machines are being serviced according to manufacturer specs and a manufacturer has a contract to service these?" The ordinary air people breathe contains about 21% oxygen while the air inside a hyperbaric chamber is made up of 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized environment According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that increased air pressure helps a person's lungs get more oxygen to tissues throughout the body which can help it heal and fight certain infections Treatments have been shown to relieve decompression sickness for scuba divers miners and others recover from carbon monoxide poisoning to improve the success of skin grafts and to speed up the healing of infections The FDA also has authorized hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat severe anemia radiation injuries and some types of complete and sudden hearing and vision loss But the Oxford Center is among the alternative medical centers or medical spas that, in recent years, have offered hyperbaric oxygen therapy for conditions that are not FDA approved migraine headaches and as an anti-aging treatment Thomas was being treated for ADHD and sleep apnea Those treatments also are not FDA approved Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press. UPDATE: The fire at Royal Oaks Chevrolet in Paducah was under control Tuesday afternoon according to a WPSD photojournalist on the scene said the fire is believed to be electrical and started on the front porch of the business stayed calm and got everyone evacuated and the situation under control," Hills said Tuesday "We have a lot of retired military employees and we all stayed calm and put our military training and state of mind in place and got the situation under control Power will be back on soon and we will be open for business very shortly to take care of our customers buying and service needs!" PADUCAH — WPSD has received reports that Royal Oaks Chevrolet is currently on fire Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Police have arrested a 14-year-old following an investigation of several recent automobile thefts in Royal Oak. The teen was arrested on Tuesday (March 4) afternoon. Officials said they believed two auto theft reports involving stolen vehicles and later recovered within a mile of the thefts between Feb. 27 and March 2, 2025. Police said while investigating one of the reports, they located security camera footage of a masked suspect. On the morning of March 4, officials said a Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen from the 3400 block of Devon Road. A few hours later, officers located the stolen Hyundai, unoccupied and parked in the back of an apartment parking lot in the 3800 block of Devon Road. Royal Oak officers and detectives later observed the teen suspect return to the stolen vehicle around 3:15 p.m., where he was quickly taken into custody without incident. After further investigation, the 14-year-old is suspected of being responsible for a fourth reported auto theft in the 1900 block of Crooks Road in late January 2025. Police said he is currently being held at Oakland County Children’s Village and has been charged with one count of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and three counts of unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is arguably the most iconic sports watch ever made it’s the merging of several unique details — the hexagonal bezel the tapisserie dial — that make the Royal Oak so memorable Watches and Wonders Geneva: The watch world’s biggest release party may be over but the year in horology has just begun. Catch up on all the key novelties from Rolex, Panerai, Patek Philippe and more AP’s flagship watch has come a long way since the original Gérald Genta-designed version hit the market in 1972 with countless variations on the original now existing in various sizes in honor of the brand’s 150th anniversary this year AP has rolled out a trio of new Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models that utilize one of the original model’s most notable features in a unique new way The original inspiration for the color was the night sky above the Vallée de Joux the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking and the home of Audemars Piguet “Bleu Nuit” directly translates to “Night Blue” but is more commonly understood to mean “Midnight Blue.” It took AP several years to perfectly match the ceramic’s shade to the iconic dial color While Royal Oaks are available in myriad dial colors the model will always be associated with the “Bleu Nuit that association is dialed up to 11 thanks to these new ceramic cases Whether due to its complexity or the enthusiasm surrounding the first Royal Oak model Nuage 50’ hue has since become as iconic as the timepiece itself The three watches featuring the “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50” ceramic consist of two Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronographs and one Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked is a 42mm automatic chronograph in stainless steel featuring a bezel crown and pushers in the new midnight blue ceramic 4401 movement and features a méga tapisserie dial in the same classic shade as the ceramic components The watch comes with interchangeable leather and rubber straps also color-matched to the ceramic and dial Last is the only true Royal Oak of the three: the reference 15416CD.OO.1225CD.01 Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Also boasting a case and full bracelet made of ceramic in “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50,” this 41mm Royal Oak features an openworked dial with pink gold hands and indices The skeletonized dial shows off the automatic Cal 3132 and its innovative double balance wheel setup the intricacy of the dial and the abundance of ceramic involved this model tops out the new collection at $101,100 By translating the iconic “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50” colorway to ceramic cases and bracelets Audemars Piguet has added yet another chapter to the ongoing story of the Royal Oak Here’s hoping the material eventually makes its way to the “Jumbo” Extra-Thin with a matching tapisserie dial ROYAL OAK – Residents have been concerned about a bridge over 11 Mile in Royal Oak Local 4 received tips from the Help Desk and looked into what’s being done with the bridge is required to conduct an annual engineering assessment of all of its bridges and overpasses and the city has been told on multiple occasions that this bridge is structurally sound The chipping and scaling come from cosmetic concrete that was built over the core structure The communications director of Royal Oak said that at the Royal Oak Commission meeting last September the safety of the bridge was addressed by Jeffery Price the manager of Public and Government Affairs for Canadian National “While [the 11 Mile bridge] may not look aesthetically pleasing it is structurally sound and fully capable of safely carrying trains,” said Price “The damage observed in the pedestrian area of the bridge is cosmetic rather than structural While I understand that the appearance of the bridge is important our foremost priority will always be safety.” Canadian National is planning to remove the cosmetic concrete this spring and take it down to its core structure There’s no exact date for when that work will be done Local 4 received this story through the Help Desk. If you have a question or concern in your community, visit here. You can watch Kim on the morning newscast weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m., and frequently doing reports on the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveIt’s a testament to the greatness of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak that the brand can continue to iterate on it time and time again without the model ever feeling stale We’ve seen versions of the Gérald Genta-designed icon in stainless steel It’s been augmented with simple date displays and wildly complex tourbillons Everyone from Alyx’s Matthew Williams and John Mayer to Travis Scott and KAWS has remixed the sporty timepiece the brand has just unveiled its first big batch of releases for the year—and there are a bunch of enticing new Royal Oaks in the mix The new Royal Oaks improve on its most prestigious function These weren’t the only new Royal Oaks previewed by Audemars Piguet today The last is a special “150th anniversary” openworked edition of everyone’s favorite octagonal timepiece The design of the skeletonized dial and the rich blue shade on the subdials and inner bezel are both borrowed from a pocket watch in AP’s museum The archival pocketwatch that inspired the new openworked RO The Code 11.59 is still a major priority for AP AP debuted its more conventionally shaped (i.e and the line has steadily amassed new models and fans in the half-decade-plus since the brand has lined up a few more heavy hitters including one leveled up with the new QP function Perhaps the most impressive new version comes in at a very wearable 38 mm—while still managing to fit in a tourbillon at 6 o’clock Previous iterations of the 38-mm Codes were limited to just a date function The playbook reminds me of the one Patek Philippe deployed with its Nautilus Several years after that iconic watch’s debut PP slimmed it down to 37.5 mm and started turning it out in premium materials AP is shrinking the Code while upping its prestige The other three new Codes largely play with colors The stunner is the “Tuscany blue” dial—a deep and rich navy shade that will make James Cameron jealous while he develops the next Avatar The last two are crafted in stainless steel and feature various shades of gray on the dial and bezel Ain’t no party like an AP party because an AP party always has the best ceramics The material shows up again here on a pair of Royal Oak Offshores the beefier alternative to the standard RO The first is made in a classic hunter green while the other comes in a more standard black AP first released an all-black ceramic watch in 2011: a special-edition Royal Oak Offshore made in collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger Royal Oak — A proposed Sheetz gas station and El Car Wash in Royal Oak is moving forward after the city's planning commission voted to approve the project the planning commission voted to recommend approving a rezoning request for a development that would include a Sheetz the station and convenience store on West 14 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway The request will now to go to the city commission for approval Commissioner Brian Cooper voted no on the proposal Tuesday's vote followed a heated and lengthy public comment period voiced concerns about increased traffic and congestion that the project would create Others said they were worried about pollution and noise and light pollution with the 24-hour operation the fury over this feels out of proportion to the project; it's a gas station and a car wash there's a gas station and convenience store across the street that people don't seem to object to," said Commissioner Sharlan Douglas "I think it's suitable and providing a service in our community." The developers' rezoning request will go to the Royal Oak City Commission with several conditions including requirements for a peer review of the developer's traffic study and lighting fixtures on the property to fall within the permitted height and illumination levels "We are grateful to the Royal Oak Planning Commission for their decisive approval of the landowner's request to rezone the site at 3200 West 14 Mile Road," Sheetz Public Affairs Manager Nick Ruffner said "This decision underscores the Commission’s dedication to driving growth attracting investment and creating good job opportunities that will benefit the entire community." The proposed site on 14 Mile and Coolidge is the location of a former metal fabrication facility; it now has two one-story buildings on it It is zoned for general industrial use and designated as industrial under Royal Oak's master plan meaning it is intended for manufacturing; warehousing; and research and design use requested that the property be split into three parcels and that two be rezoned from the general industrial classification to general business The rezoned properties would have two tenants a Sheetz gas station containing eight double-sided fuel pumps a convenience store that sells packaged alcoholic beverages Broder Sachse Real Estate's vice president of acquisition and development The third parcel would keep its current zoning and Broder Sachse would remodel and expand a maintenance building on the property to be used by the neighboring Clover Hill Park Cemetery The planning commission's decision comes as several Metro Detroit communities have turned down proposed Sheetz stores. Livonia and Farmington Hills recently voted against Sheetz sites saying they didn't fit in with surrounding neighborhoods and the 24-hour nature of the business "With 13 exciting projects already approved across the Detroit region Sheetz is energized by the overwhelming support we continue to receive in the area," Ruffner said "As we continue our collaboration with Royal Oak officials we are excited to bring innovative convenience offerings to this community — offerings that meet the needs and desires of local residents." said he lives a "stone's throw" from the site of the proposed development in Royal Oak "I think it'd be better to be rezoned as multi-family or mixed-use," Sebring said but I think it can be more productive than this." While he agrees that housing would work on the site Commissioner Woody Gontina said the city can't dictate what projects are proposed "It'd be a great site to put some housing on The reality is that's not what they brought in front of us," Gontina said "Would I like to see something different there but I think it's a site that works just fine for what's being proposed Mayor Michael Fournier said the city can't direct business competition "We can't go in and limit competition," he said and probably against the law," Fournier said said the development would worsen traffic at the already busy intersection "We don't want this monstrosity on this corner," said Buzynski of Royal Oak lives in the neighborhood adjacent to the proposed development She said she would move if the development is approved She fears a drop in property values and suggested Sheetz open at a location closer to a freeway traffic turns down side streets because they're tired of waiting through the light cycle," said Thomas "A development of this size does not belong in this neighborhood." A traffic study commissioned by Broder Sachse found that the redeveloped property would not cause traffic at the intersection to rise above an acceptable level during peak travel times but recommended that a right-turn lane be installed on the north side of West 14 Mile at the development's east driveway and a right-turn taper at the site's west driveway The city's engineering division had concerns about crash history at the intersection and the effects the study's recommended traffic signal timings may have elsewhere on 14 Mile Road The Planning Commission's recommendation was contingent on a peer review of the traffic study "I think there are some issues that are identified It's a very confusing intersection as it sits right now," said Commissioner Gary Quesada I do appreciate the solutions that they're offering vice president of acquisition and development for Broder Sachse said the company would pay for traffic alterations at the intersection and there would be no accessibility for semitractor-trailer parking at the Sheetz gas station and we want to be respectful to the comments that we've heard tonight and we want to make sure that we look at this community to incorporate whatever is appropriate to make this the most safest location it can be," Robinson said Resident Brian Szliter spoke out in support of the gas station and car wash have been made that there's already enough gas stations around there's already enough car washes around — great That'll reduce the traffic at the location because there's already options for other people to go to," said Szliter Several people worried the gas station's 24-hour operation would increase crime an engineering and entitlement manager for Sheetz Sheetz is not an attractor of crime," Siwicki said "The characterization that a Sheetz coming in is going to automatically increase crime is not accurate." If the plan is approved by the Royal Oak City Commission the city will reimburse the developer with over $1.2 million in costs associated with redevelopment and contaminated soil transport and disposal Six Metro Detroit high school students have been recognized for their filmmaking including two Royal Oak High School students who received awards for their documentaries in the 21st annual C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition This year's theme was “Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community?” The competition included 1,700 submissions from 3,500 students Ani Ceccacci, a Royal Oak High senior, won second place in the Central Division with the documentary "Gender-Affirming Care: It Saves More Lives Than You Would Think." Ceccacci also won the National Fan Favorite Award which Ceccacci's teacher called "a testament to the powerful message and widespread support of the work." The award was based on verified votes recorded during a nationwide week-long period The film explores the backlash from President Donald Trump and some congressional Republicans against gender-affirming care which provides medical care such as hormone-related treatments that delay puberty or promote development of masculine or feminine sex characteristics for students seeking to change their what they refer to as gender assigned at birth Lawmakers in 15 states have either passed laws or are considering approving legislation to ban certain procedures that they view as medically sound or child abuse according to the Association of American Medical Colleges Ceccacci's documentary makes the case through interviews with advocates that gender-affirming care saves lives The AAMC says gender-affirming care can range from counseling to surgery including to reduce a person’s Adam’s Apple or to align their chest or genitalia with their gender identity Ceccacci's documentary will air on CSPAN at 6:50 a.m His second-place win comes with $1,500 in prize money and the national fan favorite win awards $500 Wyatt Martin, a Royal Oak high school senior, earned third place in the Central Division for "Saving The Workforce’s Backbone," a documentary on the importance of career and technical education The documentary explored the dismantling of the U.S Department of Education and what that would mean to career and technical education funding Ceccacci and Martin worked on their documentaries for three months and made sure they were solid and compelling before submitting them to the competition "The amount of research and planning they put in really paid off," said Conrad I was proud of their work and knew that it would resonate." The students dug deep into the theme of the competition and submitted them on Election Day "They knew based on all the digging what was on the horizon and now we are here today and these projects are incredibly topical," he said Local students also were awarded honorable mentions Levi Citron and Eleanor Dewald, students at International Academy OKMA in Bloomfield Township, are honorable mention prize winners and will receive $250 for the video “Healthcare Not Wealthcare,” about anti-trust and private equity in hospitals Otto Massie, Kerith Short and Anna Gray, students at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, are honorable mention prize winners and will receive $250 for the video, “The State of Social Security in the U.S.” The 150 winning videos can be viewed at studentcam.org C-SPAN’s Director of Education Relations Craig McAndrew congratulated the winners "Through in-depth research and interviews with an array of topical and technical experts you have crafted impactful short stories that capture issues of wide public interest and importance,” McAndrew said in a press statement “Your documentaries set a very high bar for future StudentCam filmmakers and you should be proud knowing your work will inspire your peers and foster thoughtful consideration from all audiences Winter Blast is returning this weekend with an exciting lineup of winter activities 2 in and around the Royal Oak City Center and Centennial Commons the festival will feature plenty of family-friendly music This year’s Winter Blast musical headliners include a variety of local musicians including Jasmine Terrell the DTE Energy Kids ‘Stage will also offer entertainment like Juggler Tim Salisbury and special presentations by the Michigan Science Center the festival has put together a food truck rally Marshmallow roasting stations will also be located throughout the festival 34-foot-high zip line that offers panoramic views of the Winter Blast Tickets are $15 per ride or two rides for $25 Additionally, the festival will offer free ice skating at The Rink at Royal Oak as well as a climbing wall Finally, Winter Blast is bringing back its Medieval Village, which features everything from jousting and axe throwing to archery and fire art And there will be the “Rock the Mic” karaoke competition that offers more than $2,000 in cash and prizes along with the “Winter Whisker War,” a facial hair competition that offers prizes over a $100 value For more information, visit winterblast.com. Plus, discover more things to do in Metro Detroit and beyond at HourDetroit.com (WXYZ) — The iconic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race that brings in competitors from all around the world and this year Royal Oak’s very own Dane Baker is participating for the very first time Baker graduated from Royal Oak High School in 2018 and with time found his love of dog mushing in what has now become his passion and you're running on some snow," Baker said "I just wanted to do something a little different before I went off to college and just kept getting good opportunities and stuck with it We wound up in Alaska and call it home here now." Baker now works at Alaskan Husky Adventures where he trains and races with Alaskan Huskies He credits the company for helping him get the opportunity to race in the world-renowned race He had to qualify and has been hard at work training every single day racing and camping give them a snack and then head out again and do another 40 miles in quick succession," he said "I will be (racing) about a hundred miles in 24 hours you have to get them used to doing multiple runs in quick succession." The winning mushers typically finish the race in about nine days safe race his first go around and doesn’t have too many expectations The one thing he is hoping for is to make his hometown of Royal Oak proud "When I'm out there and I'm cold and I'm like man I think of all the support and all the people that are cheering me on back at home and it does mean the world to me," he said "It does keep me going when I have a moment of doubt or something like that I definitely don't want to let anyone down." If you want to follow Baker on his nearly 1,000-mile journey, his sled and all the participating sleds will have GPS trackers on them and you can see his trip in real-time on the Iditarod website come race day on March 2. The search for Michigan votes continues Tuesday with former President Barack Obama coming to Detroit to rally support for Harris Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney joined Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in Royal Oak Monday to push conservatives to cross party lines in this year’s presidential election The event was billed as “a way forward” for the country as Harris hopes to attract moderates in her campaign for president Both Harris and Cheney criticized former President Donald Trump for his threats to go after political adversaries and his approach to foreign policy Trump is running against Harris as the Republican presidential nominee And the fact that I believe so strongly that this election we need to elect the person who is a responsible adult,” Cheney said Monday’s stop in Michigan was the last in a string of moderated conversations Harris and Cheney were hosting in key swing states the pair stopped in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin Cheney famously lost her reelection campaign for Wyoming’s lone Congressional seat in 2022 after voting to impeach Trump for his alleged role in the Jan House committee that investigated the incident Cheney took aim at Trump’s proposals to step back from the NATO alliance Trump has previously cast doubt on whether he would defend allies who are not spending 2% of their GDP on defense, as the organization expects of its members America will find our very freedom and security challenged and threatened,” Cheney said Both campaigns are trying to reach populations that haven’t typically supported their party in the past While Harris and Cheney are messaging to conservatives the Trump campaign is reaching out to Arab American voters critical of Harris’s support of Israel’s war on Hamas his campaign held a press call with the Arab American mayors of Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck we want peace,” Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi said mentioning that a home his grandparents built in southern Lebanon was recently destroyed The topic of Israel’s military engagements did not come up during the Harris event Hashmi has been working with the Uncommitted National Movement to push the Harris administration to adopt a tougher stance toward Israel as the death toll in Gaza has climbed over 40,000 He said Monday was a missed chance to win over undecided voters like himself “She has been saying in words and lip service you will not have our blessing.’ Something like that,” Hashmi said referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu WDET is a community service of Wayne State University CONTACT Membership Sponsorship Studio Rentals Technical Support Pitch Us a Story Help/FAQ Other Inquiries Shows Podcasts Schedule Listen Live Contests & Giveaways SUPPORT WDET Membership Leadership Circle Car Donations Business Sponsorship Broadcast Partners Program More » INSIDE WDET About Staff Jobs & Internships Public File FCC Applications