Summer in Review: Outages, Elections, CruiseFest, Fireworks and More (With Photos)

We shared a lot of good information this summer and want to make sure you didn't miss a thing, so here are some highlights:

•  Judge sends case to trial after Brent Smetana, 20, waives his right to have a preliminary examination.
•  The rare occurrence corresponds with a private memorial ceremony for astronaut Neil Armstrong, who died Aug. 25 in Ohio at age 82.
•  Berkley native Laura Uhlianuk will sell fruits and vegetables grown at her family's farm in North Branch during September and October at the site next to Clark's Ice Cream and Yogurt.

[Have your own summer photos to share? Upload them to the gallery!]

•  Approximately 70 people turned out to hear the U.S. representative and a handful of Democratic candidates for Oakland County offices during the invitation-only event at Jaycee Park.
•  Residents are urged to educate themselves about how the disease is spread – the LaSalle Boulevard fountain is not a mosquito breeding ground, for example – and take protective measures such as wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants.
•  The ice cream and yogurt shop in Berkley will add new offerings when the weather turns colder that could include coffee, hot cocoa and spiced cider.
•  "I feel lucky to be here. It's a great place. We've got great community support, we've got great staff and we've got great kids," says the aspiring author and fan of Southern literature, who lives in Auburn Hills with his wife and two dogs.
• : Crawlers visited seven bars and restaurants during the annual Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce event.
• : "I have no regrets at all. I enjoyed it immensely," said Tom Dzendzel of his 25-year career with the city, which was recognized in a resolution.
• : The new rule bans personal fireworks use on all days except those protected by a new state law.
• : The Berkley Public Safety Department will continue to handle 911 calls from both cities; a fire agreement with Pleasant Ridge will be terminated.
• : Denise Tomlinson, a former Berkley High School special education teacher, will replace Sarah Fairman, who has left the district to take a position at the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills.
• : We're here to catch you up on stories and photos from the classic car parade that you might have missed!
• : Hundreds of classic cars parade along 12 Mile Road before an evening of festivities downtown.
• : Residents and business owners who are fed up with the event and the activity that precedes it sound off on Facebook.
• : The northbound lanes were reopened more than a month ahead of schedule.
• : According to news reports, L. Brooks Patterson suffered broken bones as a passenger in an Auburn Hills crash but is expected to make a full recovery.
• : The state agency has mandated that Title I schools with significant achievement gaps – such as Norup International School – must allow some students to transfer within the district beginning in the 2012-13 school year.
• : "At the end of the day, the community spoke. Now we've got to work together," resident Marc Herron says of the Municipal Operating, Police and Fire Millage Proposal that received 69 percent approval at the polls.
• : The Detroit Institute of Arts millage passed in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
• : "Everything really went well," Berkley Department of Public Works Director Derrick Schueller said.
• : No one was seriously injured in the blaze that occurred in the 2200 block of Cummings, the Public Safety Department says.
• : But, because Adequate Yearly Progress now has more stringent requirements, the Berkley School District failed to meet the mark, even though a majority of its schools did.
• : Arcadia Publishing will produce a Berkley edition of its series on Metro Detroit history.
• : The kosher food pantry in Berkley introduces the option, which may be the first of its kind in Michigan, to help preserve clients' dignity.
• : Erandy Pacheco of Ferndale claims she was singled out by bank employees because of her race and wrongfully arrested by Berkley Public Safety officers. She has filed a lawsuit against the bank, the city of Berkley and the Berkley Public Safety Department.
• : The state's top court will decide whether to take up the city's long legal fight against engineering firm Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. over work done on Coolidge Highway.
• : DTE attributes the outages to record-high temperatures and a substation fire.
• : The accident occurred in Oak Park and prompted the closure of the 11 Mile and Greenfield Roads intersection, as well as some evacuations in Berkley.
• Family Sues Berkley Public Safety Department in Lockup Death: "Yes, we had a death two years ago in the lockup and we haven't had any problems since," BPS Chief Richard Eshman says.
• : The suspect impersonated a law enforcement officer near the Community Center as he approached two 12-year-olds.
• : Huntington Woods is the only Michigan city picked to compete in the national Recyclebank and SC Johnson Green Choices Recycling Challenge, which hinges on residents' participation. Individuals also could win water bill discounts or gift cards.
• : The city makes "lemonade out of lemons" after a severe thunderstorm forced the cancellation of Scotia Park festivities including a Sun Messengers concert and the Men's Club fireworks raffle drawing, which has been rescheduled.
• : A severe thunderstorm that struck the area left hail, downed wires and fallen trees in its wake and forced the cancellation of some Fourth of July events in the city.
• : "It's like a sauna," resident Beth Schryburt said of the heat during the event. "You just sit and you drip."
• : Even a downpour couldn't douse the fun at Scotia Park in Huntington Woods.
• : Neighbors reach out to help after one person, two dogs and two cats escaped the blaze on Columbia.
• : "I did not enjoy driving in it on Monday of Fourth of July week," says commuter who got stuck in the traffic jam, which began at Lincoln and stretched north to 13 Mile Road, affecting Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Berkley.
• : Hundred of participants hit the streets in Huntington Woods to help raise funds for the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks display over Rackham Golf Course.
• : A family-friendly grand opening event was held at 2769 Coolidge Highway.
• : Test results show students made gains in math, reading, science and writing, but performed worse this year in social studies, as did students statewide.
• : Dennis Flessland, a Sons of Norway member and honorary consul to Michigan, selected to receive The King’s Knight First Class of the Order of Merit.

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