Berkley has been recognized for its efforts to promote entrepreneurial growth and economic development.

Researchers at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Office of Engagement and Impact, recognized Berkley as a five-star community in its annual eCities study.

“Berkley’s staff members pride themselves on excellent customer service and a willingness to work with existing and potential businesses to find solutions that help them achieve their goals,” the city said in a release.

“The city’s robust Downtown Development Authority supports businesses with grants for façade improvements and to expand its successful mural program. This commitment to supporting a diverse business community has helped create a vibrant city where residents can find everything they need close to home.”

The eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 counties in Michigan. Researchers focused on five-year changes in property values, community assets and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments, and cost of doing business within the community.

Over the five-year period of 2019-2023, these communities increased their capital assets, such as new buildings, roads, bike paths and library renovations, by an average of 3.7% per year.

Although accounting for less than 20 percent of the state’s cities and townships, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 71% of Michigan’s population and 87% of the state’s commercial property.

Communities that have seen the strongest growth in business development over the past five years, while controlling the costs of doing business, received five- and four-star honors.

Almost 100 communities statewide received the five-star designation.

Christmas gifts, decorations and other holiday-related items often come in large cardboard boxes.

Recognizing there is more cardboard discarded this time of year, the city of Troy is providing recycling dumpsters at several locations through the end of January.

Dumpsters will be located in the parking lots at these locations:

– Boulan Park, 3671 Crooks Road

– Firefighters Park, 1800 W. Square Lake Road

– Raintree Park, 3775 John R Road

– Department of Public Works, 4693 Rochester Road (available year round).

Break down cardboard boxes as best as possible and only dispose of cardboard; no trash or other materials are accepted.

Troy residents may also place cardboard in their curbside recycling receptacles.

Call the Department of Public Works at 248-524-3392 with any questions or visit troymi.gov/refuse.

Residents of 12 south Oakland County member communities may also recycle cardboard and other materials at SOCRRA, 995 Coolidge Highway in Troy. Appointments are required; go to socrra.org/.

Member cities are Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household garbage in the United States can increase by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Two national retailers, Big Lots and Party City, are closing all of their stores, creating liquidation sales at locations in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Big Lots, a discount store, has 32 locations in Michigan.

Here are the Detroit-area locations:

MACOMB

50630 Gratiot, Chesterfield Township.

35603 S. Gratiot, Clinton Township

16100 E. 10 Mile, Eastpointe

7651 23 Mile, Shelby Township

33100 Schoenherr, Sterling Heights

OAKLAND

30120 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills

300 N. Telegraph, Pontiac

29712 Southfield Road, Southfield

5640 Dixie Highway, Waterford

WAYNE

5600 Mercury Drive, Dearborn

14333 Eureka Road, Southgate

30000 Plymouth Road, Livonia

35507 Ford Road, Westland

For more information, visit https://biglots.com.

Meanwhile, Party City recently posted on its website that it had been “operating in an immensely challenging environment with inflationary pressures on both costs and consumer spending.”

The party supply store has the following Detroit-area locations.

MACOMB

32469 Gratiot, Roseville

12220 Hall Road, Sterling Heights

OAKLAND

30750 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills

32351 John R, Madison Heights

43741 Oaks Drive, Novi

29800 Southfield Road, Southfield

1316 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills

4846 Baldwin Road, Lake Orion

WAYNE

23195 Outer Drive, Allen Park

13477 Middlebelt Road, Livonia

35655 Warren Road, Westland

23269 Eureka Road, Taylor

For more information, go to https://www.partycity.com.

Sheetz has proposed a second location in Farmington Hills.

At a meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19, the gas station/convenience store/restaurant chain will ask the Planning Commission to approve a site plan for a location at 29403/29455 Grand River Ave. at Middlebelt Road.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 31555 W. 11 Mile Road.

Sheetz is proposing to demolish a vacant auto repair shop and build a new facility.

Last month, the commission voted 4-1 to recommend approval of a Sheetz store at 12 Mile and Middlebelt roads, on the site of the former Ginopolis restaurant. The City Council will have the final say, and will likely consider the proposal at a meeting in January.

Sheetz plans drive-through food service at the 12 Mile-Middlebelt location, but not at the Grand River store.

Opponents packed the last meeting, addressing the commission about the potential of increased traffic, crime and loitering, as Sheetz will be open 24 hours.

A Sheetz spokesman said at a previous meeting that all of its locations are open 24 hours.

Other opponents cited the possibility of forcing at least one of the two other gas stations at the 12 Mile-Middlebelt intersection out of business. Representatives of several business organizations said they feared an over-saturation of gas stations in the area.

Sheetz opened its first Michigan location in late August near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus.

The company plans to open 50-60 stores in the Detroit area in the next five to six years.

Sheetz officials have said each store will employ about 35 people; most will be full time and eligible for a wide range of benefits,

The Sheetz family owns all locations; they do not have franchisees.

Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee recently presented the Good Samaritan Award to 10-year-old Eris Carter, recognizing her bravery and quick thinking that prevented a potentially catastrophic fire at her home earlier this year.

On Jan. 1, while using her iPad around 7 p.m., Eris smelled smoke in their Spring Haven condo.

Without hesitation, she woke her mother, Lauryne Wheeler. Upon further investigation, they heard the downstairs smoke detectors sounding, although no visible signs of fire were initially present.

They called 911 and evacuated the condo. Then they noticed the neighboring condo was engulfed in flames.

The attached series of seven condos posed a significant fire hazard, but thanks to Eris’ swift actions, she not only alerted her mother, but also ensured the timely evacuation and notification of the fire department.

Her awareness and prompt response were instrumental in preventing the fire from spreading further, sparing six units from damage and potentially saving many lives.

The neighboring condo sustained $200,000 in damages.

Menifee presented the award at a recent City Council meeting.

Eris is a fifth-grader at Thompson International Academy in Southfield.

A Michigan State Police trooper sustained minor injuries and two others jumped a median wall on I-75 to avoid being struck as they responded to a crash in Royal Oak early Thursday, Dec. 12.

As troopers were investigating a multi-car crash on southbound I-75 near the 11 Mile Road ramp just after midnight, they parked their vehicles on the left shoulder and left lane with emergency lights flashing.

Two troopers were on the left shoulder speaking with the drivers involved in the crash and one trooper was in a patrol car writing the report, according to a release from MSP.

The driver of a tractor-trailer attempted to pass slowing and exiting traffic in the left lane. The driver of the semi saw the patrol cars blocking the lanes and applied both the tractor’s and trailer’s brakes. The driver lost control of the vehicle, steering toward the left shoulder, the release said.

The semi struck a patrol car, sending it over 100 yards into the rear of the occupied patrol car.

The semi continued on the left shoulder toward the two troopers who were standing on the shoulder. The troopers avoided the semi by jumping the median wall.

The semi continued, striking an unoccupied vehicle from the previous crash.

The trooper who was in the vehicle that was struck was transported to a local hospital. The trooper was treated for minor injuries and released. No one else was hurt.

The semi driver was arrested for reckless driving. The freeway was closed for both crash investigations and has since reopened.

Snow began falling in metro Detroit late Wednesday night, continuing into Thursday morning.

“This incident had everything we have been talking about this last month,” said State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw. “First, a crash caused by risky driving behavior. Second, a driver going too fast, failing to move over for emergency vehicles and striking the patrol cars and people on the scene.

“Finally, responding troopers had to remove pedestrians from the freeway ramps who were trying to take photos for their favorite social media platform. We are continuing to ask drivers to slow down, move over, drive safe and please do not walk on the freeway.”