Farmington Hills Resident Featured in Kresge Foundation Film

Ara Topouzian in 2012 received a prestigious Kresge fellowship and $25,000 to help him advance his musical career.

Farmington Hills resident Ara Topouzian shares his passion for Armenian music in a new YouTube video produced by the Kresge Foundation. In 2012, Topouzian received a prestigious fellowship and $25,000 to help him advance his musical career. A songwriter and performer, he plays the kanun, a Middle Eastern harp, and aims to preserve and promote Armenian music, which reflects his heritage.  "As an Armenian, I want to be able to educate to the outside the history of the Armenian culture," he said in the video. "In part, I can do that with music."  Watch the video profile on YouTube.com.

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First Thing Farmington-Farmington Hills

See Life Remodeled Build, Beginning to End on YouTube

The August project in Farmington Hills' Olde Towne neighborhood provided a home for a young family.

Remember last summer's "Life Remodeled" home build in the Olde Towne neighborhood of Farmington Hills?  Over the past week, organizers posted a video on the YouTube.com social media website that includes a look at the complete project, from the repairs and clean-up done on homes throughout the neighborhood, to time-lapse video of the build and comments from the new homeowners. Take four minutes to view the inspiring video posted above.  To see what's happening in Farmington and Farmington Hills today, check the list of events posted on our calendar. We've also included events later in the week for which you'll have to RSVP or buy tickets.  Check our calendar for more activities, classes and events happening today and throughout the week. …

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First Thing Farmington-Farmington Hills

'Sled Cam' Gives Unique View of Shiawassee Sledding Hill in Farmington

Take a ride down one of the area's more popular winter fun spots in this 28-second video posted at YouTube.com.

A 28-second video posted on a social media sharing site shows what it's like to speed down the sledding hill on Shiawassee and Farmington Road. YouTube.com user mommynetworkofmi posted the video on Feb. 8. The user's channel also includes a review of the new Sky Ropes course, which opened last year at the Farmington Tennis Club.  Once you've taken a virtual ride down the sledding hill, take a look at the events on today's calendar, along with those later in the week for which you'll have to RSVP or purchase tickets: Check our calendar for more activities, classes and events happening today and throughout the week. If your event isn't listed, here's how to add it: How to Post an Event on Patch.

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School of Rock Farmington Motown Concert Featured on YouTube

The students performed at John Cowley & Sons in Farmington on Jan. 27.

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for the students at School of Rock in Farmington, who performed Motown classics on Jan. 27 at John Cowley & Sons. YouTube.com user SchoolofRock Farmington posted videos of the student performances on the social media sharing site this week. They also covered artists like Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5 and Barrett Strong. Learn more about the school by reading Get Ready to Rock: Music School Opens in Farmington.  Then check out the list of big events on the Patch calendar today, along with events for which you'll need to register or buy tickets later in the week: Check our calendar for more activities, classes and events happening today and throughout the week. If your event isn't listed, here's how to add it: …

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Who's Ready for Founders Festival?

The Farmington Downtown Development Authority puts out a call for crafters and food vendors to participate in the July event.

The weather may be blustery, but the Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) staff is already well into planning for the 2013 Founders Festival, held July 19-20.  Applications are being accepted from crafters, commercial businesses, food vendors and nonprofits for the event. In addition, Memorial Park on Grand River west of Farmington Road will be home to Wags-n-Whiskers, reserved for dog-related vendors. All applications can be downloaded from the Farmington DDA website. To get you in the mood for this year's festival, take a look at the 2012 parade, featured in today's Youtube.com video, posted on the social media sharing site by SWOCC Studios (swoccstudios1). Then check out the big events posted on today's calendar:  Check our …

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Take Virtual Tours of Farmington Area Homes for Sale

These YouTube.com videos were uploaded by local real estate agents over the past week.

Real estate agents representing Farmington area properties have shared a number of virtual tours on the video social media site YouTube.com.  The following homes for sale are profiled in videos uploaded over the past week:      

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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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Family Shares Farmington Area Snow Day Memories

Today's YouTube video features children enjoying the first big snowfall of the year on the Shiawassee sledding hill and an area park.

A local family's day of fun in Farmington after a late December snowstorm is captured in today's YouTube.com video. A user on the video sharing site, dbljin, records a father and his sons enjoying a day spent at the Shiawassee sledding hill and in a local park. The family also shares photos on Shutterfly.com. Did you take photos or videos of your family's day in the snow? Share them by clicking on the "Upload Photos and Videos" link above. Below, we've listed events happening today, as well as those for which you'll need to register later in the week: Check our calendar for more activities, classes and events happening today and throughout the week. If your event isn't listed, feel free to add it.

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Local Videographer Takes Viewers Through Dane's World on YouTube

Dane Gussin advises everyone to value the natural beauty to be found in Farmington Hills.

A Farmington Hills resident who captures images in and around Farmington and Farmington Hills has a message for those who think natural beauty is reserved for northern Michigan.  "People travel for hours and hours to go up north to Charlevoix, Traverse City when we've got the same beautiful parks and nature in Farmington Hills," Dane Gussin says in today's video, posted on the YouTube.com video sharing site.  Gussin's "Dane's World" YouTube channel is filled with scenes of local nature, particularly in Farmington Hills parks. He even documents his encounter with a woman who was walking her dog in Heritage Park – where dogs are not allowed.  Once you've browsed through Dane's World videos, take a look at the events posted on today's …

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Canine College Delivers Gifts to Homeless Pets in Westland Today

Friends of the Farmington Hills dog day care, grooming and boarding facility donated items for cats and dogs living in a Westland facility.

Late last month, we told you about the Canine College Giving Tree, a benefit for homeless pets placed at the Westland Berman Center of the Michigan Humane Society.  A video posted to Youtube.com, a video sharing site, announces that all donations received will be delivered today. It shows Canine College's Christmas tree surrounded by heaps of gifts, donated for cats and dogs that are waiting for permanent homes.  After you've spent a little over a minute watching the video, check out the events posted on today's calendar, plus events for which you'll have to register or buy tickets later in the week.  Check our calendar for more activities, classes and events happening today and throughout the week. If your event isn't listed, feel free to…

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