Community Corner

Huntington Woods-Berkley Patch 2012 Virtual Time Capsule (With Photos, Video)

Wild weather, power outages, deadly shootings, a presidential election and, of course, Gangnam Style are among the defining moments, stories and pop culture phenomena that made the year unique.

What a year 2012 was!

We've put together a collection of the defining moments, stories and pop culture phenomena – as determined by Huntington Woods-Berkley Patch readers and editor Leslie Ellis – to create a virtual time capsule that will preserve the memories for posterity.

[Upload a photo or leave a comment if you have something to add!]

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After New Year's Day, we'll bury the time capsule until the next year, when we'll dig it up to reflect and ring in 2014.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Find out what's happening in Huntington Woods-Berkleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reader submissions

(@*!#) Berkley Girls Say: "Although the title may offend, here is the quintessential 2012 video from graduating Berkley High School senior Nick Tenaglia," Patty Curtis wrote on the Huntington Woods-Berkley Patch Facebook page. Sophie Bruza directed and produced the spoof in which Tenaglia starred.

Standing up for peace: "I loved the Jessica Stilger's picture of the students at Anderson Middle School forming a human peace sign in May. A message that stands the test of time!" Penny Coyne commented on Huntington Woods-Berkley Patch. Schools throughout the area participated in the first Stand 4 Change Day, where students demonstrated their commitment to ending bullying by standing together for five minutes at noon. The Berkley School District also partnered with the city's Rotary Club to combat bullying.

[Check out the 10 most-read stories of 2012!]

Editor's choices

Warm weather devastates fruit crop: A week of 90-degree temperatures in March prompted Michigan's fruit trees to blossom too soon, leaving them vulnerable to an unusual April freeze that destroyed crops in the state. The impact hit home in grocery stores, where local apples and cherries were hard to find, and at cider mills, many of which couldn't provide their usual offerings and had to raise prices.

Fourth of July storm: Huntington Woods' annual celebration kicked off with a sweltering parade before a violent afternoon storm rolled in, knocking out power to thousands of residents and forcing the cancellation of some holiday activities. However, the annual fireworks display over Rackham Golf Course went off as planned, although with a much smaller audience than usual.

Berkley power outages: DTE offered credits to customers who were impacted by outages following a July 17 substation fire in Royal Oak. The outages continued to plague residents intermittently throughout the summer as the utility worked to make repairs, prompting DTE officials to appear before the City Council to explain what had happened.

Gun violence: Deadly shootings at , in July and a school in Newtown, MA, in December prompted passionate debate about guns and mental health in the United States. Following the Newtown shooting, in which 20 elementary school students and 6 staff members were killed, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed legislation that would have permitted concealed weapons in schools. Also closer to home, a spate of shootings along the Interstate 96 corridor had commuters on edge during the fall. In December, Raulie Casteel of Wixom pleaded not guilty to several felony charges in the case.

Berkley passes millage increase: In August, residents approved a 3-mill Headlee Override proposal in resounding fashion, with 69 percent of voters saying yes to the request. The increase will raise $1.362 million annually, beginning with 2013 summer property tax bills, to cover operating costs for the Public Safety Department, Public Library, Public Works Department, parks, sanitation and other services.

Snake salesman: Vince Urban of Cleveland, OH, added a dash of color to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in August, selling an assortment of life-like wooden snakes to spectators gathered along the historic avenue in Berkley for the annual classic car parade. "It's crazy," he said. "I go around, 'Tastes like chicken!' People think you're nuts." Urban said he has friends in Miami's South Beach who peddle photos with live snakes and other animals to tourists. "My friend makes a killing with a ring-tailed lemur on South Beach," he said. "He makes money like a guy with a degree."

One-man protest: George Stephens of Madison Heights demonstrated in September at the corner of 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway in Berkley with signs in support of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and in opposition to abortion and homosexuality. "People accuse us of hate, but it's almost a cliche of love the sinner hate the sin," he said. "It's tough love."

Gangnam Style: The song by South Korean pop star PSY was so omnipresent in 2012 that the Berkley High School marching band performed it during half time of the Homecoming game in October.

Detroit Tigers Swept in World Series: Baseball fever hit Berkley and Huntington Woods as the Tigers faced off against the San Francisco Giants. Alas, the hometown heroes couldn't clinch the title. "‏@TxKarenMcGill @JustinVerlander y'all gave us a FANtastic year! Nothing 2 hang ur heads about.Looking 4ward 2 2013!IT will b yr of the #Tigers! {;~D," Patch reader Karen McGill Tweeted in October.

President Barack Obama re-elected: The president and Vice President Joe Biden were re-elected Nov. 7, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his vice presidential running mate Rep. Paul Ryan after a long campaign season that went down to the wire. It was the most expensive presidential race ever, with both parties raising approximately $2.6 billion.

Regional transit advances: After some disappointments in 2011, plans for regional transit appeared to be back on track in 2012. In December, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that would support a Regional Transit Authority, according to the Huffington Post. Earlier in the month, a standing room-only crowd composed of officials from Berkley and Huntington Woods, public transit users and interested citizens packed an open house at the Berkley Community Center that focused on the $2 million Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments project seeks to develop a transportation plan along 27 miles of Woodward Avenue from Detroit to Pontiac.

The end of the world: Predictions that life on Earth would end Dec. 21, 2012, prompted many people to consider what they would do if they knew their time was limited and they had nothing to lose. Travel to an exotic land? Make amends with an estranged relative? Profess their love? Fortunately, the day came and went like any other – the sun rose, the sun set, the moon came up and life went on. But, the truth is, our time on Earth is limited. So, make it count in 2013!


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