Around the Mitten This Week: Jack Kevorkian Dies; Graduations; Restaurants Open

Kevorkian's Life in Royal Oak

The rest of the world knew him as Dr. Death, but to residents of Royal Oak, he was  "that quirky gentleman" who was quiet and unimposing. To friends he was just "Jack." Upon learning Friday of the death of Jack Kevorkian, Royal Oak business owners and residents reacted with a sadness that was unique to .

Students in Berkley, Dexter and Royal Oak Bid Farewell to High School

It's graduation season across the region. Schools have been biding farewll to student in both graduation and honors ceremonies. For instance, the on a glorious late spring evening Thursday  inside the Baldwin Pavilion at Meadow Brook Music Festival on the grounds of Oakland University in Rochester. Pride was evident among the cheering crowd and in the fiery, touching and humorous speeches by administrators and graduates. The same night, had their commencement ceremony at Ultimate Soccer in Pontiac – a new venue for the school. Although seniors finished school in late May, many returned to the high school Thursday evening to take part in .

Clinton Township Man Allegedly Bit Wife's Eyelid

A Clinton Township man will stand trial in Macomb Circuit Court for a. He will be arraigned in Macomb County Circuit Court June 13. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

Hartland Baseball, Softball Win District Titles

The Hartland softball team (29-4) won its and stopped a streak of six straight district championships for Lakeland, the 2010 Division 1 state runner-up. On the boys side, the Hartland defeated Lakeland 8-2 in the semifinals and then downed Milford, 5-0, to win the championship.

Dearborn Group Marks 25 Years of Saving the Rouge

Dearborn-based nonprofit Saturday. The annual event rallies thousands of volunteers at 30 sites along the Rouge River to pick up trash, pull out invasive species and learn about the river.

Birmingham's Seaholm High School Mourns Death of Football Coach

The Birmingham and Troy communities mourned the loss of Seaholm head football coach Nick Deane Saturday, at a funeral held at Woodside Bible Church in Troy. Deane joined the Seaholm coaching staff in 2008. Before that, the beloved husband and father of four, was a football coach at Troy High School for 14 years. .

Handicap Kayak Launch Opens in Wyandotte

A five-year project came to an end Thursday when a handicap-accessible kayak launch was opened in Wyandotte. T on the Detroit River and is designed to enable people with disabilities to easily get into and out of a kayak in order to enjoy the Detroit River.

Teacher Contracts Approved in West Bloomfield, Clawson

Members of the West Bloomfield Education Association voted Wednesday to approve a proposed , increased health care contributions and a step freeze in the second year of the contract. And in Clawson, under a contract ratified by the Clawson Education Association (CEA) and the Board of Education.

New Restaurants in Rochester and White Lake

Rochester Patch takes you inside , The Silver Spoon, where the former manager and chefs from the legendary Il Posto Ristorante in Southfield are serving up a little bit of Italy. And in White Lake, Local Editor Brooke Meier says the long-awaited opening of .

Load of Carp Found in Oakland Township

In Oakland Township, Thursday morning near Rochester Road. Authorities still don't know where the fish – each one 2-3 feet in length – came from.

Plymouth Whalers 2011-12 Schedule Released

Once again, the Plymouth Whalers plan to open a hockey season with a , in this year's case, Owen Sound. (See story for pdf of full schedules.)

DIA Comes to Macomb Corners Park Trail

Macomb Township will host the this fall with the installation of seven reproductions from the DIA's collection along the new walking path in Macomb Corners Park.

Farmington's Art on Grand Draws a Crowd

Despite temperatures that remained in the 80s, guests at Saturday night's wine tasting dinner and wine stroll in downtown Farmington enjoyed an evening of fine food, fine wine and unique entertainment. During dinner, Empty Canvas, twin brothers Mike and Scott McMath of Midland, combined music and art, with Mike working on a painting while singing, and Scott playing the guitar and harmonizing on vocals.