Royal Oak's switch to ParkMobile at the start of the year is getting positive reviews from residents and business owners who say it's simpler and more user-friendly than the previous system.

"I thought it was really easy. Everything is spelled out for how to do it," Suzanne Abbott of Harrison Township said.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Are Royal Oak's parking changes making a difference

Kelly Dobson of Livonia agreed, noting the familiarity of the system.

"They have similar machines in Ann Arbor, which I go to a lot, so it was not that hard to figure it out," Dobson said.

However, some residents acknowledge there's a learning curve for less tech-savvy users.

"You know, I'm pretty tech savvy, but there's people in places right here, they couldn't," Phillip Stephens of Royal Oak said.

The new ParkMobile system eliminated the city's controversial back-in parking spaces and camera technology, providing relief for many businesses, especially those on South Washington Avenue, who felt the old system drove customers away.

"It used to be daily, weekly complaints about not being able to back in, not understanding the system, the app not working, and now it's the exact opposite," said Julia Manzella, who works at Rail & Anchor gift shop.

Manzella has worked at the gift shop for six years and has noticed increased foot traffic since the switch.

"The anxiety is gone about parking here now. It's way more welcoming to come back to the city," Manzella said.

City officials say creating a welcoming environment was exactly their goal.

"The hardest part should be deciding where you want to go for dinner, not how to park," City Commissioner Brandon Kolo said.

Previous report: Royal Oak shares exclusive sneak peek of new downtown parking meters ahead of January 2026 launch Royal Oak shares exclusive sneak peek of new downtown parking meters ahead of January 2026 launch

Kolo and fellow City Commissioner Rebecca Cheezum wanted a parking system already used in other communities. The ParkMobile system is also used in Ferndale and Birmingham.

"So it's really familiar to people and I think people are really enjoying the ease of our on-street parking," Cheezum said.

The new system eliminates back-in parking spaces but still requires payment even when meters are bagged. Users should look for orange signs and kiosks, then follow the listed steps including entering the zone number and license plate number.

Other payment options include downloading the ParkMobile app, paying online or texting "PARK" to 77223.

"Our downtown is really important to us. We want people to come downtown. We want visitors in our community. That's really important to us, to our business owners, to our residents... and so it was really essential that we get it right," Cheezum said.

Previous report: Royal Oak returns to pull-in parking, ending controversial back-in spaces City of Royal Oak begins parking changes

The city has already started removing the old meters, with the process expected to be completed by April.

This story was reported on-air 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.

More than 7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, including over 200,000 people in Michigan, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

Watch Jolie's report in the video player below

Local program supports families facing dementia and their caregivers

For families facing this devastating diagnosis, finding support can make all the difference in managing the challenges ahead.

Janet Schwamb knows this reality all too well. Her husband, Freddie, was diagnosed with dementia three years ago, though warning signs appeared much earlier.

"It really goes back about 8 years. He had balance problems about 8 years ago, and he had some ambulatory problems, walking," Schwamb said.

Freddie Schwamb spent decades as a teacher and assistant principal in New York. Even after retiring in Michigan to be closer to family, he returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher until his condition made it impossible to continue.

"It's always a challenge, and it limits your mobility. You know, getting your wheelchair in and out of the car," Freddie Schwamb said.

The couple of 50 years describes dementia as one of the biggest challenges they've faced.

"So as a caregiver to Freddie, it's all encompassing as the symptoms progress and increase, I do more for him. I do more for the care of the house, the finances, all of the things that life requires us to do on a daily basis," Janet Schwamb said.

In 2024, Mr. and Mrs. Schwamb found support through the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program, known as the Brown Center, which operates locations in West Bloomfield and Southfield. The program works in partnership with Gesher Human Services and Jewish Senior Life.

"We do cognitively stimulating activities, we do physical activities, things that just treat the whole person," said Sharilyn Rowe, a social worker at the center.

The Brown Center has been serving people living with dementia and their caregivers for nearly 30 years, providing both structured activities and crucial respite for families.

"So, [caregivers] get that chance to drop that person off and know that they're safe and cared for, and they can go and do what it is that they need to do whether that's running errands, taking a nap, having some me time, whatever it is," Rowe said.

Beyond daily programming, the center connects families to critical resources.

On Thursday, January 29, the Brown Center is hosting a free webinar from 2-4 p.m. on the latest advances in Alzheimer's care, where experts will discuss new FDA-approved treatments and how to access them.

Families must register by Tuesday, January 27, by emailing jdorfman@jslmi.org or calling the center at (248)661-6390. Participants will receive a link and can tune in from home.

For the Schwamb family, this type of support has been life-changing, providing both practical help and emotional comfort in knowing they're not facing this journey alone.

"The help is super. They're very empathetic...and fun to be with, and that's a big part of getting through the day," Freddie Schwamb said.

"The longer that we can keep him mobile and the longer we keep him actively engaged, the slower the progression," Janet Schwamb said.

The Brown Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

This story was reported on-air 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.

The Birmingham Family YMCA will permanently close at the end of April after 25 years of serving the community, leaving longtime members searching for alternatives.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Birmingham Family YMCA losing in April

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit announced the difficult decision to shutter the Birmingham location, saying it was "shaped by rising building maintenance needs and the lasting financial impacts of COVID-19."

Terry Anthony, a 25-year member of the Birmingham Family YMCA, said the facility means more than just fitness to its community.

"This is more than just a gym for us. The members here care about each other. The friendships extend beyond the workout times. My closest friends go here," Anthony said.

Steve Grant has been coming to the YMCA since the mid-1970s and expressed disappointment about losing a cornerstone of his community.

"It's disappointing because not only did I grow up here, but my business is here, so I've been here all my life," Grant said.

The city of Birmingham purchased the building in 2023. The YMCA could no longer afford stay, but the deal gave the Y three years to remain as a tenant.

Birmingham City Commissioner Brad Host said at the time of the sale, the city also entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NEXT, a senior nonprofit organization, giving them 75% of the YMCA space.

The YMCA explored developing a new shared facility with the city and NEXT, but could only offer to cover operational costs, not capital improvements.

"Since the YMCA had no money to contribute to the capital improvements necessary, the city would have borne the full burden of capital costs. The commission ultimately decided that we could not afford to do that," Birmingham Mayor Clinton Baller said in a statement.

Programs and services will continue as scheduled through March 31. The pool and wellness center will remain open through April, and the facility will close permanently on April 30. The YMCA will still hold summer day camp this year.

Baller emphasized that the city is not evicting the YMCA, noting that the Y chose to close the location given the financial circumstances.

Claire Dion, a newer member from Southfield, said the closure hits particularly hard for those who recently discovered the community.

"It was really tough news to hear, especially because I'm a new member. I fell in love with the gym and the community really quickly, really fast," Dion said.

For longtime members like Anthony, the closure represents the loss of something irreplaceable.

"We're all heartbroken. It seemed like a long way off, and now that it's coming up, it makes it even worse. We feel a bit powerless, and we don't really have a way forward," Anthony said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

Hazel Park's food scene is expanding with a new pizza restaurant that has quite the origin story.

Amelia Street Pizza Co owner, Matt Arb, transformed his passion into a pop-up operation and then secured a permanent storefront in less than 12 months, discovering a way to turn his love for pizza into a thriving business venture.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Amelia Street Pizza Co. to open in Hazel Park following viral pop-ups

"I was doing it for fun, for me, and then I made an Instagram account so I wouldn't annoy my friends with just constant pizza stuff. Some friends asked to try and posted about it, and it turned into this online thing," Arb said.

Arb took to social media this time last year, posting pictures of pepperoni pizza creations. A couple months later, he started getting customers and became busy running a home-based pop-up shop. In June, the banker of seven years quit his job to pursue his pepperoni pizzas full time.

"I guess I believed in what I was doing even before there was really any proof of it, and I just wanted to see where it went. I figured I'm OK with mistakes, but I regret not going for it. And I just wanted to see what happens," Arb said.

Hear more from Matt Arb in the video player below: Web extra: Amelia Street Pizza Co owner talks about his new brick-and-mortar restaurant

Arb isn't doing this alone. He's partnering with James Rigato, acclaimed chef and owner of Mabel Gray, a Hazel Park restaurant that has served customers for more than a decade.

Rigato, Arb's investor and mentor, helped turn Arb's pop-up into a permanent brick-and-mortar location.

He provided a statement saying:

"When I first met Matt, I was impressed by his love of pizza and the process of making it. He has a real dedication to the craft and approaches it with curiosity and discipline. He's not from a culinary background, but he's a natural. I was able to open Mabel Gray because of sweat equity. My business partner, Ed Mamou, took a chance on me. Im inspired to do the same for others."

Local resident David Justice appreciates the entrepreneurial journey.

"It's pretty cool that someone can start from that small it shows dedication. Dedication for sure," Justice said.

Arb plans to open Amelia Street Pizza Co in the spring, located on 951 E. 9 Mile Road in Hazel Park. The restaurant is named after his home street the place where it all started.

"This whole thing has just been a big surprise," Arb said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

Detroit celebrated a historic milestone Friday night as Mayor Mary Sheffield hosted the city's first inaugural ball in more than five decades, bringing together hundreds of community members for an elegant evening of music, joy and celebration at Icon in downtown Detroit.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield hosts first inaugural ball in over 50 years

The last inaugural ball was held in 1974 with Detroit Mayor Coleman Young. Sheffield, Detroit's 76th mayor and first female mayor, brought the tradition back as part of her historic inauguration.

"It's such an honor to have our first inaugural ball in quite some time," Sheffield said. "It is so exciting to come together and celebrate such a historic election. Again, I thank every single Detroiter who showed up and supported me to lead this great city."

Related video: Mary Sheffield officially sworn in as next Detroit mayor Mary Sheffield officially sworn in as next Detroit mayor

All proceeds from ticket sales benefited the Homeless Action Network of Detroit, an organization that aims to end homelessness in Detroit one of Sheffield's top priorities as mayor.

"With the money from tonight, what we're going to be doing is working to prevent homelessness for about 500 households who are on the verge of homelessness," said Tasha Gray of the Homeless Action Network of Detroit.

The celebration drew business owners, church leaders and community members who know Sheffield personally. Many expressed excitement about witnessing this historic moment.

"I'm super excited for many reasons. First and foremost, it's history the first female mayor of Detroit. I mean, I'm actually witnessing it in my lifetime, and that's extremely exciting for me," said Crisette Ellis, first lady of Greater Grace Temple.

Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple has watched Sheffield grow up in the community.

"I watched Mary grow up. She lived right across the street from us. So, we've seen her as a little girl riding her bike and all of that. She's paid her dues," Charles Ellis said.

Detroit resident Delonda Little shared the community's optimism about Sheffield's leadership.

"I'm super excited about her new journey and becoming mayor of the city of Detroit. I think she's going to be great," Little said.

Watch Mary Sheffield speak with Alicia Smith ahead of the inaugural ball below: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks ahead of inaugural ball & investiture

Community member Herb Strather offered his congratulations and expressed hope for the year ahead.

"Mary, Congratulations! Congratulations. I look forward to a fabulous year," Strather said.

In her remarks, Sheffield mentioned an announcement coming Monday about the creation of an office that aims to address the issue of poverty and homelessness in the city.

This story was reported on-air 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.

A Kroger store in Orion Township remains closed after a state inspection found mouse droppings on store shelves, prompting officials to temporarily shut down the location.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or MDARD, received a complaint on Dec. 8 and conducted an inspection the following day. Inspectors discovered mouse droppings in multiple aisles, including the pet food aisle, bread aisle and other sections of the store.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Kroger store in Orion Township closes temporarily after mice droppings found on shelves

The state agency had given the store until Dec. 30 to address the rodent problem, but the store failed to meet that deadline, resulting in the temporary closure this week.

"MDARD is in touch with the store following an inspection that resulted in a voluntary closure by Kroger," the department said in a statement. "We're unable to share anything more at this time due to it being an ongoing investigation."

Signs posted outside the store read: "Sorry for the inconvenience. Our store is temporarily closed until further notice."

Shoppers expressed surprise and concern about the closure.

"Probably not going to be shopping here for a while. It's kind of gross," Gaines said. "This is the first time this has happened, so I'm kind of surprised. I thought they took better care of this establishment."

One customer reported seeing a mouse in the bread and chip aisle and warned other shoppers not to purchase items from those areas. The customer provided photos that appear to show rodent droppings throughout the store.

David Griffin of Auburn Hills took a more understanding approach to the situation.

"I've worked in retail, I've worked in restaurants. Things happen. They're on it. Hopefully, they get it taken care of. Hopefully, nobody got sick," Griffin said.

Kroger responded to the situation in a statement, saying the company took immediate action once aware of the problem. The statement reads:

"We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously. As soon as we were made aware of the incident, we took immediate action to voluntarily close. Our professional pest control company conducted an immediate inspection to ensure any activity is removed from our store. Additionally, we have implemented strict sanitation protocols, initiated a thorough deep cleaning and will maintain ongoing inspections. With these additional steps taken, we anticipate reopening the store as soon as possible."

A state inspector confirmed the store is working with pest control company Eco Lab and has installed equipment to prevent pests from entering the building.

The store hopes to reopen as soon as possible, though no specific timeline has been announced.

This story was reported on-air 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.

The Professional Women's Hockey League is making its return to Little Caesars Arena this Saturday for the Takeover Tour game between the Boston Fleet and Vancouver Goldeneyes, bringing special meaning to local players and young fans alike.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: PWHL returns to Little Caesars Arena

With only eight teams in the PWHL and hopes that Detroit will one day have its own franchise, the league's visits to the Motor City have become particularly significant events.

The last two years have seen record attendance at Little Caesars Arena, with more than 14,000 fans packing the venue in March 2025.

"My favorite team in the NHL is the Detroit Red Wings, so I would want there to be a Detroit women's team," said Kimber Burnis from Manistique.

For families like the Burnis family, who traveled over six hours from the Upper Peninsula to watch practice ahead of Saturday's matchup, the PWHL represents new opportunities for young female athletes.

"So now with the PWHL, it's giving, you know, girls her age, above and below, something to work for and look forward to, so for me, that's really what it's all about, and it's exciting to see," Steve Burnis said.

The game holds special significance for several players returning to their home state. Megan Keller, a Farmington Hills native and captain of the Boston Fleet, was recently named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team for what will be her third Olympics.

"Excited to be back home in front of friends and family, and we got the opportunity to play here a couple years ago. It was an amazing crowd, families packed, and you look up in the stands, and you see all these young girls in the crowd, so it's a super special game to be a part of," Keller said.

"It's a huge honor, and it's something that's always been a dream of mine, so looking forward to getting over to Italy," she said about her Olympic selection.

Vancouver's Mellissa Channell-Watkins, who grew up in Plymouth and Canton, echoed the sentiment about inspiring the next generation of female hockey players.

"It's super cool to see people wearing the jersey that you used to wear growing up in the stands, and now those girls have something to look forward to, something to dream for, strive for," Channell-Watkins said.

Young fans like Piper Kincher from Clinton Township are taking notice of the role models these professional athletes provide.

"I feel like we can grow from them. What they do can help us improve skating for us," Kincher said.

The PWHL Takeover Tour game is scheduled for Saturday at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m. You can watch the PWHL Takeover Tour in Detroit at 7 p.m. Saturday on TV20 Detroit.

This story was reported on-air 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.