How to join Ferndale's comeback

Ferndale is fast gaining a reputation as a comeback community in metro Detoit, honored with one of five national Great American Main Street Awards for the downtown streetscape that has been established.

But all of those spring and summer festivals and community improvements don't happen just out of the blue. Action requires the efforts of informed and involved residents.

Here is a simple sampling of meetings a Ferndale resident may consider for participation in September. All sessions are at City Hall unless otherwise noted:

- 4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8. Housing Commission. Although Ferndale is progressing, about half of the community's families qualify for public housing. This is the group that oversees matters.

- 9 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9. Downtown Development Authority. Ferndale's tremendous downtown improvements and steps toward eco-friendly local policies and activities would not have happened without the DDA.

- 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, Beautification Committee (meeting at Kulick Center). This is the group responsible for all of those flower pots that bring Ferndale to life. Do you have any other ideas?

- 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13, City Council. This is where everything takes root, and you may be interested in seeing candidates you support in action at least once.

- 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 15. Parks and Recreation Board. Ferndale has taken many steps toward downtown aesthetic improvements and events, but not so many in terms of parks and recreation.

- 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16, Planning Commission. This is your chance to consider Ferndale's long-term future, not just the here and now.

At virtually any of these meetings, citizens are allowed to speak at the start. You even may learn that one of these boards has a vacancy for which you may apply.

Source:

http://www.ferndale-mi.com/community/Calendar.htm