First Thing Farmington-Farmington Hills

Charity Contra Dance in Farmington Raises $410 for Family in Need

Former Miss Farmington Elise Newcomer hosts monthly dances at the American Legion Groves-Walker Post.

Video from a recent charity contra dance hosted by 2011 Miss Farmington Elise Newcomer made its way to the YouTube.com social media website this week.  YouTube user John Newsome posted the video of a dance held at the American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346 to raise funds for charitable causes. The event featured in the video collected $410 for a family in northwest Detroit whose home is in foreclosure.  When she started holding the events in 2011, Newcomer told Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch that contra dancing is an activity that can be enjoyed by anyone, with or without a partner. Lessons are provided a half-hour before each dance. "It's similar to square dancing," she said, "with a little more of a swing tinge to it." Take a look at…

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February Spaghetti Dinner Benefits Farmington High School Marching Band

A charity contra dance held before the dinner supports local charities.

Groves-Walker American Legion Post 346 will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner on Feb. 10, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., to help raise funds for the Farmington High School marching band. Students will perform during dinner; they will also help serve and clean up. The dinner has been organized by the Farmington High School Music Patrons, and the menu consists of spaghetti with meat sauce or vegetarian sauce, garlic bread, tossed salad, assorted desserts (donated by Music Patron members), coffee, tea and soft drinks. A cash bar will also be available.   Raffles, including a themed basket raffle, and door prize drawings will be happening all night. Advance tickets are $9, $7 for seniors, and $5 for children under 13. There will also be a family rate …

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American Legion, Scouts Pay Tribute at Farmington War Memorial

Mayor Tom Buck and Miss Farmington's court were also among those laying wreaths Saturday in Memorial Park.

Lottie Hanus had a good idea why she and other members of Girl Scout Troop 72578 stood out in the cold at Farmington's War Memorial in Memorial Park Saturday morning.  "To lay down wreaths to honor all the veterans who served in the Air Force and the military to serve our country," she said after the brief ceremony. When asked why that was important, she added, "We have our freedom and our rights."  The Girl Scouts, along with Cub Scout Pack 263, Farmington Mayor Tom Buck and Miss Farmington 1st Runner-Up Kristina Franchi and 2nd Runner-Up Grace Newlin, joined members of the Groves-Walker American Legion Post #346 for the annual ceremony. Troop leader Tiphany Vietor said the girls spent an entire meeting going over the reasons for the …

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Honor Veterans at Farmington, Farmington Hills Events

The Groves-Walker American Legion Post and City of Farmington Hills both host Veterans Day celebrations.

Local military veterans and their families are invited to two November events held in honor of Veterans Day, Nov. 11.  The City of Farmington Hills Senior Division recognizes and honors community veterans with its 16th annual Stars and Stripes Forever celebration for adults 50 and older, held this year on Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Costick Center.  An honor guard ceremony conducted by the VFW and American Legion, and a roll call of all veterans in attendance, will be followed by lunch, dancing to a live band, raffles and prizes, and a special sweets table. Tickets are $8 until Nov. 1 or $10 afterwards and at the door. Complimentary admission is offered to veterans who live in Farmington or Farmington Hills and pre-register by Nov. 1…

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Weekend Watch: Sept. 28-30, 2012

Harvest Moon activities, garage sales, concerts, a craft show and more are on tap in Farmington and Farmington Hills this weekend.

Celebrate the start of autumn this weekend with Harvest Moon events in downtown Farmington. "Need to Know: Downtown Farmington's Harvest Moon Celebration" shares information about those events.  Plenty of other activities and events are happening this weekend. Browse through the photo gallery above for basic information, then click on these links to learn more: Do you know about an event that's not on our calendar? You can add it at http://farmington-mi.patch.com/events/new.

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Patriot Day Ceremony Honors Military, Police and Fire Personnel

The American Legion will recognize citizens who have served in the Armed Forces and police officers and firefighters of the year.

A 9/11 Patriot Day Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11 starting at 6 p.m. at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion and Riley Park in downtown Farmington. The American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346 of Farmington, along with the Cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington, will present the annual event to honor those who currently serve our country or have served in the past.  In the U.S., Patriot Day is designated in memory of the nearly three thousand people who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Event organizer Joel Storchan, Second Vice Commander from the American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346, encourages community members to attend and show their support. During the event, the American Legion will recognize local citizens who …

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Weekend Watch: Aug. 3-5, 2012

Free concerts, outdoor events and hockey activities are on tap this weekend in Farmington and Farmington Hills.

A weekend packed with activities in Farmington and Farmington Hills starts today, with temperatures back in the 90s and a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.   To round out your calendar for the next three days, browse through the gallery to learn about events listed in our calendar, then click on the links below for more information: If you know about an event that's not on our calendar, add it by visiting our Events home page and clicking the Add an Event button.

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Weekend Watch: July 6-8, 2012

HandGrenades, bingo, ballroom dancing, a hike under the full moon and more are on tap this weekend in Farmington and Farmington Hills.

What's ahead for this hot, humid weekend? Our calendar includes everything from a hike in the moonlight to a shoe drive that benefits a local cat rescue.  Browse through the photo gallery above, then click any of these links for more information: Friday Saturday Do you know about an event that's not on our list? You can add it to our calendar. Sign in with your email address and password, then visit our Events home page and click on "Add an Event". 

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Weekend Watch: June 29-July 1, 2012

From bingo tonight to big band memories on Sunday, the weekend is filled with activities in Farmington and Farmington Hills.

This weekend should be a scorcher, with temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s, but there's plenty of cool stuff to do in Farmington and Farmington Hills.  Click through our gallery above to see what's happening, then click on the links below if you need more details. Know about an event that you don't see on our calendar? You can add it yourself, by following the simple steps outlined here. Friday Bingo at the American Legion Rhythmz in Riley Park Saturday Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market Sunday Governor Warner Mansion open Big Band Memories at the Library

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Farmington American Legion Hosts Solemn Flag Disposal Ceremony

The post burns unserviceable flags once a year, on Flag Day.

Members of American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346, with assistance from two Farmington Boy Scouts, disposed of old, worn flags during a Thursday evening ceremony. Matt Allmayer, 16, and Sean McLoughlin, 15, both members of Troop 45, carried flags as Post members certified they were no longer serviceable. The two flags were then hung on a rack over a metal bin that contained another flag, which was doused with fuel and set on fire. As Legion members held a salute, the hanging flags caught fire, fell in and were consumed.  Post Commander Ralph Philp said the remainder of the unserviceable flags would be taken to Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington, where they will be burned as well. 

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