Around the Mitten: Election Day, Top Tulips and Chicken Talk

Here’s a roundup of news in Patches throughout southeast Michigan this week:

Election Day

Clawson schools will receive brand-new technology this year and Blair Memorial Library will be able to continue with its regular operations after . Clawson taxpayers will fund a 0.3-mill tax increase for library operations and a 1.3-mill schools technology bond.

Meanwhile, many other communities also held school board elections on Tuesday.

• Wyandotte voters filled three Board of Education seats by returning two incumbents and electing one newcomer.
• The three open spots on the Utica Community Schools Board went to Ken Krolczyk, Gene Klida and Michelle Templeton.
• Incumbent trustees Denise Aquino and George Sobah defeated candidate Grace Caporuscio for re-election to the Chippewa Valley Board of Education.
• Voters overwhelmingly approved a nonhomestead millage renewal Tuesday in the .
• A sinking fund millage for .

Seaholm Students “Stand Up” Against Racism

In light of several incidents of racism at Seaholm High School during past weeks, administrators and Birmingham Voice, an anti-racism student group, . Students urged their peers to "stand up" against racism and bigotry. Two weeks ago, racist graffiti was found in a boys' bathroom, targeting five African-American students. A few days later, racial slurs were found in an African-American teacher's mailbox, then later stuffed in student lockers.

Budget Cut Protests in Ferndale

More than 100 people gathered in Ferndale on Friday to protest proposed cuts to public education. The state House approved a bill Thursday that would slash funding for public schools, community colleges and universities, and .

Farmington Hills Officials Urge Action

At an intergovernmental meeting Tuesday, Hills council members Ken Massey and Nancy Bates asked Farmington city and school officials to . Massey asked that the school district find a way to make learning CPR a requirement for high school graduation and Bates asked officials to support a community-wide meeting on the topic of teen suicide prevention.

Tops in Tulips

Fenton native Beth Charles' painting won first place in art competition for Holland’s upcoming .

Firearms Seized from Oakland Township Home

Oakland County Sheriff's officers from Oakland Township assisted Detroit Police in executing a search warrant for firearms at an Oakland Township home last Friday. Detroit Police seized three guns from an Oakland Township home in the Silvercreek subdivision while executing a search warrant for firearms that may have been used in a fatal shooting in Detroit.

Plymouth Teacher Has Preliminary Hearing

Three people testified in 35th District Court's preliminary hearing for Raymond Charles Schepansky, a Plymouth High School military history teacher facing three gun-related charges. Schepansky is on paid leave from the school district and free on $100,000 cash bond.

Talking Chickens in West Bloomfield

How many chickens are too many chickens? The West Bloomfield Township board debated the idea of crafting an amendment to a , which has been a topic of discussion recently as many residents make the move towards eating home-grown foods.

Hughes Named Interim Superintendent for Plymouth-Canton

Plymouth-Canton School Board, in a show of unity, voted 7-0 to offer former Dearborn schools superintendent an interim role as Plymouth-Canton superintendent.

Contract for Dearborn Teachers

After two years of working without a contract, the Dearborn Federation of Teachers–the district's largest educational union–approved a contract with the Board of Education. The contract includes pay cuts and increased health premiums for teachers and puts insurance in the hands of the union for the first time ever.

Art in Anchor Bay

The Anchor Bay Artists' Prestige Show 2011 attracted art lovers and passersby at McDonald Public Library in New Baltimore.

No Decision on Marijuana

The Huntington Woods City Commission addressed the issue of . After many months, nine meetings and lots of head scratching, the Planning Commission decided that rather than enact an ordinance in response to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act of 2008, it would be more sensible to treat primary caregivers as any other business.

Fire in Royal Oak

Royal Oak firefighters were quickly on the scene of a small ranch home in the northwest portion of the city as it quickly became late Wednesday night. According to fire officials, the cause has still not been determined although cigarette smoking has not been ruled out. No one was injured as the homeowner and her dog escaped without harm.