The city of Troy will feature the grand opening of the AirTime Trampoline and Game Park this June.

The park will be a large, 15,000 square-foot indoor facility with most of the space being dedicated to interlocked trampolines and foam pits. The park in Troy will be the first of its kind in Michigan.

Bringing the park to Michigan

Pam Wannemacher, co-founder of AirTime, described the idea of the trampoline park as coming from others she has seen around the country.

“I believe the idea started with a company called Sky Zone, who went on to turn their parks into a franchise,” Wannemacher said. “Instead of doing a franchise, we wanted to it a little bit differently.”

AirTime looked at dozens of cities around the country for areas without a trampoline park and settled on the Detroit market due to demographics and population size in the area.

“We thought it was a great opportunity, especially seeing that the Detroit economy is bouncing back,” Wannemacher said. “We wanted to be a part of that.”

Features of the park

The trampoline park will be located in the Troy Market Place on East Big Beaver Road in a 31,000 square-foot facility. The park will feature about 12,000 square-feet of open trampoline areas and more room for foam pits.

“Essentially, it’s going to be wall-to-wall trampolines,” Wannemacher said.

Areas of the park will be divided by age, such as seven and under, eight to 13 and 14 and up. The purpose is for the area to be safe so younger children can have their own areas to play.

Other features of the park will include two different dodgeball courts, one featuring trampoline play and the other being a traditional gymnasium style court. Gymnastics instructors will also be at the park to teach willing learners how to do tumbling, which is the purpose of the foam pits.

“The trampoline dodgeball court will probably be one of the more popular features of the park,” Wannemacher said. “It’s something other parks have done and it’s a big attraction.”

The overall cost of the project is over $1 million, with much of the cost coming from the construction of the trampolines themselves.

While the facility in Troy already exists, AirTime has to remodel the building.

Some of the things they need to build in the facility are restrooms, reception areas and offices.

Reaching out

Participants will pay by the hour to use the park, with $10 during the week and $12 during the weekends after the park opens.

Wannemacher also hopes to reach out to the surrounding colleges, to help with fundraisers for student and Greek organizations at area colleges, such as Oakland University.

Elizabeth Gretkierewicz, a health science major, said the idea is a great one, but doesn’t see much potential for those her age.

“It seems as if the business is targeting a very small customer market, which pretty much includes athletes interested in trampoline training and young kids to have fun,” Gretkierewicz said.

The park is schedule to open in June and is using social media to promote itself in the area.

“We cannot wait for Michigan to experience our trampoline (park),” Wannemacher said.

For more information about the trampoline park and updates, visit www.airtimetrampoline.com

Contact Staff Reporter Damien Dennis via email at djdennis@oakland.edu or follow him on Twitter @djdennisOU

Spring collectables show

The Rochester Community House will host a Spring Collectibles Show at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 21.

Beginning at 10 a.m., visitors can see a display including dolls, stamps, sports memorabilia, trading cards and Frank Sinatra memorabilia, among others items. There will also be items for sale.

Admission costs $3 for adults and children get in for free. For more information visit www.rochestercommhouse.org

Barnes and Noble to host book fair to benefit Troy library

The Troy Public Library will hold a book fair at Barnes and Noble Booksellers April 21-22.

For each sale made using a book fair voucher, a percentage will go toward the Troy Public Library.

There will also be face painting, earth day crafts, origami crafts and author signings from Carol McCloud and Dr. Steven Craig.

For more information contact Phillip Kwik at 248-619-7577 Vouchers are available at www.troylibrary.info

Used book sale and fundraiser

The South Oakland YMCA in Royal Oak will host a used book sale and scholarship fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m on Thursday, April 19.

This event is free and money raised will benefit the Strong Kids Scholarship, which provides scholarships towards memberships, children and adult sports programs and the YMCA’s summer day camp.

Mufflers and more car care fair

The Mufflers and More auto maintenance shop will host the Mufflers and More Car Care Fair. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

The event is free and will include food, classic cars on display, a tour of the auto shop during open house and free vehicle inspections with evaluations.

For more information, call 248-668-1200

Compiled by Natalie Popovski, Staff Intern

Men and women across the state are uniting for a protest rally on April 28 at the state capitol in Lansing.

The rally, which was organized by an organization called ‘Unite Women,’ aims to raise awareness for women’s rights and particularly reproductive rights and include both genders in the process.

The mission is born

The organization was born in the middle of February, after two women, Karen Teegarden from Michigan and Desiree Jordan from New York, discussed women’s issues and wondered why women weren’t “taking to the streets.”

According to Unite Women’s first press release, some of the largest issues facing women are “state voter registration laws that suppress voter turnout especially among poor women, seniors and minorities” and Texas Governor, Rick Perry’s Texas Women’s Health Program, which ends funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Virginia Shidler is a senior history major who is concerned with the decisions current legilatures are making in regard to birth control aond insurance.

“I think it’s ridiculous that they’re trying to pull a legitimate health tool away from women who actually need it,” she said. “Birth control is also used to prevent hormonal imbalances and in some case actually aid in prevention of certain cancers.”

Expanding the organization

After quickly gaining popularity through social media, the movement organized this rally. The protest rally will take place on a national scale, meaning marches will be going on in every state capitol except for Springfield, Ill. Illinois’s march will be in Chicago.

Caleb Files is a regional campus organizer for Unite Women and is a self-identified raging feminist. He believes equality is for everybody and reached out to the organization after becoming involved with an all male panel discussion on birth control.  He currently attends the University of Missouri Kansas City and works full-time for Unite Women.

Files explained the rally’s mission is to prove to legislatures that there are women who are interested in these issues.

“The end goal is that awareness is brought to the issues and to show that there are plenty of women in the US who do care about themselves, their bodies, and how they take care of them,” he said.

He will be participating in Chicago’s April 28 rally.

“I believe those who attend the rallies will see a sense of solidarity a coming together of like minded individuals and they will make those connections to continue this fight, we aren’t going away,” Files said. “This is only the beginning. These marches, all across the nation, are just the beginning to this continuing this conversation.”

Many national organizations are endorsing this event including, Planned Parenthood, the National Organization of Women, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and the Feminist Peace Network.

For more information visit http://unitewomen.org/unite/

Art exhibition and sale
The Level One Bank in Ferndale will host a free art exhibition and sale from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 13.

Painters and printmakers Claudia Hershman and Janis Walker will be at the event to display their work.

Both Hershman’s and Walker’s works have been sold in the U.S. and other countries.

Italian language class at Troy Public Library

The Troy Public Library will host a free class on the Italian language on Thursday, April 12.

The Flower of Life Italian Class welcomes all levels of speakers.

For more information, visit www.meetup.com/floweroflife

Ceramic workshop at Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio

The Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio in Rochester will host a free ceramic workshop on Friday, April 20.

From 1 to 4 p.m., ceramic artist Donna Williams will demonstrate techniques she uses to create “Tulipiere” flower vases.

Participants will work using wheel heads and slabs to learn how to create a finished piece.

For more information, visit firebrickgalleryandpotterystudio.com

Titanic dining experience

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the voyage of the Titanic, Stagecrafters Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak will host a strolling reception. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will include samples from the ship’s original first class 11-course menu.

There will also be a presentation from a Titanic enthusiast and collector, and a final dress rehearsal of “Titanic.”

Ticket prices range from $30 to $65 and must be purchased in advance.

For more information, visit www.stagecrafters.org 

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Compiled by Natalie Popovski, Staff Intern

For the fifth consecutive year, the Italian Film Festival USA will bring contemporary Italian films to the metro Detroit area.

The IFF USA is a non-profit organization that is currently in its eighth year of operation. The festival offers free movie screenings in 11 cities throughout the U.S.

The first stop in this year’s festival was at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Wednesday, April 4 with the screening of the film, “A Quiet Life.” The event will continue screenings at the University of Michigan April 6-7, Wayne State University April 13-14, Macomb Community College April 20-21 and Henry Ford Community College April 27-28.

This year’s lineup includes 13 films showing at these four venues. The films are in their original versions with English subtitles.

Bringing the festival to Detroit

The festival was first brought to Metro Detroit by Wayne State University Assistant Professor, Elena Past, according to Pietro Sarcina. Sarcina is one of six volunteers helping to bring the IFF USA to Metro Detroit.

“(The organization) started at Wayne State and over time it expanded,” Sarcina said.“ Little by little it expanded and more volunteers came on board.”

According to Sarcina, Past, who works in the Italian program at WSU, wanted to bring something new to her students’ learning experience.

Past joined the organization five years ago as part of an academic project, Sarcina said.

“I am deeply convinced that watching films helps students grow in the knowledge of Italian language and culture,” Grzegorz Tokarski said. “Movies reflect the real life and there is no better way to be exposed to it.”

Tokarski, who is a professor in the Italian program at OU, currently shows Italian films in class and finds it is a successful way to educate students.

“Visual learning is much more efficient, and students enjoy it,” Tokarski said. “Obviously, I am talking about good movies, and Italy produced a great quantity of masterpieces.”

Appreciating the culture

Sarcina hopes that event goers will not only find enjoyment in the films, but will  find an appreciation and understanding for the Italian culture.

“The Italian cinema is well and alive and it provides wonderful storytelling,” Sarcina said. “It’s an opportunity to discover things in an entertaining environment.”

Many of the films featured in this year’s festival have won or have been nominated for a variety of awards which range from Best Screenplay to Best Director.

Paola Randi directed one of this year’s featured films titled “Into Paradiso.” Randi was nominated for Best New Director of 2011 and will be visiting the Italian American Cultural Center in Clinton Township at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 22.

The film festival will end its run in metro Detroit on Sunday, April 29 at the Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak.

For more information, visit www.italianfilmfests.org/detroit

Contact Staff Intern Natalie Popovski via email at npopovsk@oakland.edu

Business owners are gearing up for a long summer as construction begins in Downtown Rochester.

The $7.6 million project, which broke ground on April 2, is scheduled to take place from April until November, according the Michigan Department of Transportation, with the full closure of Main Street from University Drive to Second Street happening from May until July.

With such a long period of closure, business owners are preparing for the possibility of decreased business as access to buildings is hampered by the construction, as well as delays caused by a Native American burial ground located under Home Bakery.

Lydia Bates, manager at The Bean and Leaf Cafe, said she’s looking on the bright side.

“We are hopeful and trying to stay positive,”  Bates said. “But it should be (a) very good investment.”

Nichole Schulte-Franey, one of the owners of Holy Cannoli and an OU alumn, agrees that it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

“We’re not worried at all,” she said. “Our hours are long-term hours so that way people can find us, and we’re open late night so that way foot-traffic can find us.”

Along with cosmetic changes, the Rochester Downtown Development Authority has also budgeted for changes and upgrades to infrastructure. According to a DDA flyer distributed to residents and available online, there are plans to upgrade utility service along the street, making a lot of business owners happy.

“It’s going to be so beautiful,” said Megan Stitzel, co-owner of Rusted Roots Salon. “And maybe we’ll have better water pressure, too.”

However the construction still poses an inconvenience to business owners, mostly in regards to parking and access.

According to the DDA, “All parking lots will remain open during the project. The only parking spots not available will be the 94 spaces on Main Street.”

But some business owners are still concerned.

“Parking is going to be a problem, that is one thing that they’re kind of … you know … looking at,” Schulte-Franey said.

The owners of the small bakery are putting their heads together to come up with a solution as to how people can access their business without walking through their small kitchen.

“We’re thinking of doing a curb-side service,” Schulte-Franey said. “So (customers) can call ahead, drive through the alley, pull up to our back door and we’ll take out whatever it is they are looking for.”

Yet, when asked about the long-term gains for Downtown Rochester, business owners were unanimous in voicing their support for the project.

“I think the potential development of how the setting is going to look will be beneficial for sure,” Franey-Schulte said. “The DDA and the (Chamber of Commerce) does a great job of bringing people downtown.

For more information on the
businesses mentioned in this story, store closing and updates on construction, visit www.downtownrochestermi.com

Contact Staff Intern Stefan Pelak via email at sspelak@oakland.edu

During the past decade, some Michigan businesses have closed their doors, but Moosejaw has avoided the descent and continued to climb.

Moosejaw Mountaineering, an outdoor gear and apparel store, opened in Keego Harbor with a different approach to business.

Since its inception, Moosejaw has maintained a consumer-friendly atmosphere that includes activities such as tossing a football in the store and tossing the names of customers on its jackets.

Gary Wohlfeill, creative director for Moosejaw, said the company’s founders had no retail experience when they started the company in 1992. The result was an approach to the outdoor gear industry that “was different to the rest of the pack.”

“I like shopping there because my boyfriend and I are really outdoorsy people,” said  Deena Borza, a student at Oakland University. “We really like the different hiking and camping gear that (Moosejaw) has.”

The employees of the original location often would take breaks to play touch football with customers, activities that still are practiced 20 years later in most stores.

“Without knowing it, we created a customer-engaged, brand-forward shop where we treated customers like friends,” Wohlfeill said. “Out of that, we had success with (the idea of) not taking ourselves seriously.”

The company isn’t shy about branding the “land in the shape of the hand” in its clothing.

The owners believe showing their love of Michigan in items from T-shirts to water bottles is important to their overall business philosophy.

“We think it’s really important to know where you’re from,” Wohlfeill said. “We’re from Michigan and Detroit area. There’s a lot of pride that goes into that.”

Along with love for Michigan, Moosejaw’s owners also are making an effort for a national focus by printing all their T-shirts in the U.S.

Offering products that get customers out in the wilderness isn’t the only thing Moosejaw cares about.

The company also partnered with Art Road, a nonprofit organization that strives to get art classes into Metro Detroit schools and had employees volunteer time with them as part of their spring campaign.

It also offered a special T-shirt through the World Clothes Line, a local company that gives a shirt, for every one sold, to people of need around the world.

According to Wohlfeill, these types of community involvement projects have played a crucial role in the company’s growing success.

“(Moosejaw has) had a lot of support in the community here. We wouldn’t be where we’re at without it,” Wohlfeill said. “It’s incredibly important to remember where we grew up and came from.”

Outside the corporate level, the employees who directly interact with the public see the local appreciation.

“Especially in our Michigan stores, it makes a real big difference that we are a local company,” said Randy Allen, employee of the Rochester location. “Even when you talk to customers about it, they seem to really appreciate that fact.”

Even though Wohlfeill didn’t release overall revenue, he said Moosejaw’s locations remain profitable even though the economy isn’t good.

Since the original store opened in 1992, Moosejaw has added locations in Ann Arbor, Birmingham, East Lansing, Grosse Pointe, Partridge Creek and Rochester. It has expanded outside of Michigan to Chicago and Natick, Mass.

With a growing, customer-first, business model, Moosejaw hopes that it hasn’t reached the top of the mountain yet.

The current Michigan Catastrophic Claim Association charge is $145, but will be raised to $175 until June 30, 2013, when a new premium has to be set.

The raise is aimed at reducing a $2 billion deficit in the person injury protection fund, which is used to reimburse insurance companies for clients who are facing catastrophic injuries.

According to a MCCA press release, the current $2 billion deficit is equal to $310.78 deficit per insured car in the state of Michigan.

Vice President of Alliant brokerage firms Michigan office Patricia Cosman said, the new law doesn’t affect insurance companies because they didn’t get to keep the money in the first place. She went on to explain all money that is collected from the $175 fee has to get sent to the PIP fund.

All auto insurance companies in Michigan are required to be members of the MCCA and build into their insurance premiums the MCCA charge for the PIP fund.

Cosman said, “Don’t get mad at your insurance companies because they don’t event get to keep the money.”

The MCCA uses the PIP funds to pay insurance companies back for claims that exceed $480,000.

In 2011, the MCCA paid out $927 million to insurance companies compared to $811 million in 2009.

The PIP was created in 1978 by the MCCA to pay back insurance companies because of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance policy. Michigan is the only state in the U.S. to have such a policy.

The no-fault policy provides unlimited medical, rehabilitation and pay benefits, to people involved in accident regardless of fault.

Since 1979, there have been over 24,500 claims reported to the MCCA, which cost an estimated $71 billion, according to a MCCA press release.

OU student Kevin Brady explained he has the lowest cost insurance plan because that is what he can afford, so adding additional fees for the same coverage is stupid. “I don’t wanna pay more for the same coverage,” he said.

Just outside of downtown Rochester, former Oakland University student Eric Van Hulle accomplished his long-time goal of opening up his own physical therapy practice with the help of his partner and brother-in-law Tim Ames.

Van Hulle graduated from OU in 2001 with his Master’s degree in physical therapy, but stills stays connected to the university and the program he says is “fantastic.’’

“I truly believe OU has one of the best (physical therapy programs) in the state and in this country,” Van Hulle said.

Van Hulle began his time at OU as an engineering major, but switched into the physical therapy program because he wanted to work more closely with the people his job would have an effect on.

“I went into physical therapy to help people,” Van Hulle said. He went on to add that it is rewarding to be able to take people from a low point, to a point they can function just as they used to before their injury.

Brandon Miklja, intern and OU pre-med student, explained  his love for the field. “The most rewarding thing about working here is the feeling you get when you treat a patient and they feel better,” he said.

For OU students who are considering going into the physical therapy field, Van Hulle said you have to love working with people.

“You have to have empathy with people and realize that they may not be in the best mood because they are in pain.” Van Hulle said.

Ames and Van Hulle opened “Performance Therapy” in March of 2011 and started treating patients in June of that year.

The practice currently has six different pieces of equipment, with more on the way.

The walls of “Performance Therapy” are littered with Detroit Red Wings pictures and memorabilia. Van Hulle said it is a dream of every physical therapist to work with a professional athlete.

He went on to say that to him, any patient that is driven and willing to work hard is his perfect patient.

Van Hulle said they are still developing relationships with the community and word of mouth referrals have accounted for most of their business.

According to Van Hulle, the practice is looking to be a very active member of the community.

Hulle explained they are thrilled to be connected with OU, as well as the Rochester Hills community.

For more information on “Performance Therapy” visit www.performancetherapy-rhills.com

Contact Senior Reporter Christopher Lauritsen via email at cklaurit@oakland.edu or follow him on Twitter @ChrisLaurtsen

Women’s organization hosts mentoring seminar at Troy Community Center

At 6:30 p.m. on April 12, the Oakland/Macomb Chapter of the National Organization for Women will present “Mentor a Girl, Change Your World” at the Troy Community Center.

Topics to be discussed include how to fit mentoring in with a busy lifestyle.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted. All attendees must register by Friday, April 6 by sending an email to oaklandcountynow@gmail.com

Investor education event at Royal Oak Library

At 7 p.m. on April 9, the Royal Oak Library will host its fourth event in the “Investor Education In Your Community” series.

The event is free for all.

For more information, send an email to investoreducationinfo@gmail.com

Paint Creek Cider Mill set to have spring grand opening

The Paint Creek Cider Mill in Oakland Township will have its “Spring Grand Opening” at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 12.

Admission is $1 and guests can purchase ice cream and donuts, among other items.

For more information, visit www.paintcreekcidermill.org

Civic center hosts 21st annual egg hunt, bonnet contest

On April 7, the Civic Center Park in Auburn Hills will host the 21st Annual “Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet” contest.

Children of all ages can participate in a hunt for Easter treats, a bonnet contest and take a picture with the Easter Bunny. Adults can participate in an egg toss.

The event begins at noon and costs $2 per child and $5 per photo.

Teen Titantic program at the Royal Oak Library

Middle and high school students will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 12.

Registration is limited to 25. Visit ropl.org to sign up for this free program.

Compiled by Natalie Popovski, Staff Intern