Thursday, May 23, 2013
As our armed forces come home from the Middle East, the Detroit Veterans Affairs benefits office is being stretched.
Our veterans are now facing a new enemy at home--long wait times for their disability claims. The waiting times started increasing in 2010 when U.S. troops were withdrawn from Iraq causing a dramatic uptick in first-time filers, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. The data found that in most regional VA offices, not only did waiting times increase, but they vary dramatically with location: about a year and five months in Baltimore compared to four months in Fargo, ND. The national average now stands at about a year and one month, which is dramatically higher than in 2009 when it was four months. In Detroit, the current average wait time is 377 days, compared with 119 days in 2010. The backlog has also partly been blamed on…
Event will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pontiac Academy of Excellence.
A Patch blogger made the hourslong trip from Chicago to Novi to attend the comic book convention.
The drive might have taken a few hours, but two friends said they couldn't have enjoyed their recent trip to Michigan any better. John Wroblewski and Cuzz Gekas traveled to Novi from Chicago last weekend for Motor City Comic Con, Michigan’s original comic convention held at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. "(We) spent the weekend enjoying celebrities, comics and other pop culture fun," Wroblewski wrote on his blog. "I have read criticism concerning various aspects of the convention. Perhaps we were just very lucky, but the problems we encountered were minimal and the fun we had was maximum." Wroblewski, who runs JohngysBeat.com, met sports and TV celebrities, in addition to other pop culture icons during the weekend trip. To watch …
Who’s NOT planning a BBQ this weekend? If the weather holds and you’ve got propane or charcoal, chances are, you’re grilling something with your friends and family. Here, new ideas for keeping your costs down. Sponsored by Home Depot.
Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party. 1. Start with a good marinade. This means planning ahead -- say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess…
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Find out what's happening around town this weekend.
Looking for something to do this weekend in or around Clawson? Here are some ideas: Clawson Farmers Market Lido Gallery Closing Sale Bat Zone Tours Nate Fridson at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle The Rhythm Roosters & a Chick "Artful" Exhibition by Metro Detroit's Alice Frank at Lawrence Street Gallery DIA Masterpieces Did we miss your event? Tell us in the comments!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
ACO Home, Garden & Hardware plans to shut down under-performing stores in the region.
ACO Home, Garden & Hardware plans to close 14 local stores, including the one at 2965 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy. Michigan's largest independent hardware retailer announced Thursday that the plan to shut down the under-performing stores aims to "improve and strengthen the company’s financial performance." “To ensure our long term growth and sustainability, we must always strive to manage our costs and allocate resources to areas of our business that make a meaningful contribution to our financial performance," President and CEO Dick Snyder said in a news release. The company is also in the process of remodeling other stores to lure shoppers and accommodate expanded merchandise. A blow-out sale is scheduled to begin May 23 at the stores slated…
You can use this gas price widget to always find the lowest price of the moment. Pro tip: Gas up early this week to save money.
Click here for a full-screen view of the gas price map. If you don't see a map of our local area, click the magnifying glass in the upper right to enter your address. Nationwide, gas prices were predicted to be lower this summer compared to the last three years, but that won't translate into savings at the pump this Memorial Day weekend, experts said. "Motorists this year are facing rising gas prices heading into the Memorial Day holiday," said Michael Green, a AAA spokesman, adding that Memorial Day 2013 would probably be the most expensive since 2011. In past years, prices have declined heading into early summer as oil refineries produced more gasoline to meet expected summer driving demand. This year, though, Midwest refineries haven't…
In one week, Clawson Patch will have a brand new design and a whole new way to connect.
Hi, everyone! I have some exciting news to share about Patch – we’re getting a whole new look. It’s coming in next week and it’s going to make Clawson Patch easier to use, and a better place to connect and share. The best part? You’ll be able to see it all on your mobile phone! Here’s what you need to know: Our site is being rebuilt from the ground up. The news will look better and be easier to comment on. And, you’ll find more local voices to keep you in the loop with the latest know-how and opinion. We’re adding Boards to make it easier for you to connect with each other, debate an issue, or announce your garage sale, graduation, or find a lost pet. More to say? It will be easier to start your own blog, too. You’ll soon be able to …
Patch readers have requested more photos.
Patch invites residents, groups, churches, experts, city officials, businesses and more to post in our Local Voices section. Our readers have also recently requested more photos from photographers. Share your work from around town or from around the world. Part of the Patch mission is to strengthen communities and improve the lives of their residents, but we can't do it without you. Our Local Voices section allows members of the community—from cooking enthusiasts to local politicians and everyone in between—to interact and post directly to the site. These posts then appear on the homepage, in the daily newsletter and are shared by editors via Facebook and Twitter. The best thing about sharing your stuff on Patch is it's your space so it's …
bob
11:44 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
talked about delays my brother in california a Marine Corp. Viet Nam veteran goes to his appointment to see his doctor they tell him at the front desk the doctor is not in today after hes waited two weeks to see the doctor he tells me than he as to wait another to weeks to see the doctor, all the while he is in pain. Its all about God,Country and Corp until you get out and need help and then they… more ›