NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S
FEBRUARY 12, 2025 candgnews.com Oakland County papers
WEST BLOOMFIELD WELCOMES MARVIN’S MARVELOUS MECHANICAL MUSEUM BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WEST BLOOMFIELD/FARMINGTON HILLS — Amid community support for Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, the West Bloomfield Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to grant two variances for the long-time Oakland County establishment to operate in West Bloomfield Township at a meeting Jan. 21. Variances allow a business to deviate from established ordinances if doing so will not be a detriment to the community or impose a burden on the neighbors and in cases when a business cannot operate without a variance. It can be a useful tool to bring new businesses to properties that are operating under decades-old ordinances, allowing modern businesses to operate in a manner in keeping with the times. Marvin’s is an arcade and museum that has been a “destination” for fun in Farmington Hills since opening in 1980 in Tally Hall, which was originally a food court located at 31005 Orchard Lake Road. After the ownership of the shopping center where Marvin’s is located opted to bring in Meijer as an anchor store, along with some other reportedly mixed-use buildings, the museum began to search for a new location. The museum’s new home is set to be located at 6427 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. It is located in the Orchard Mall, approximately one mile from its former location. Its owner, Jeremy Yagoda, is looking forward to the new space. See MARVIN’S on page 4A File photo by Patricia O’Blenes
There are multiple options for entertainment at Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. The museum is set to be relocated from Farmington Hills to West Bloomfield.
Legislators work to alter wage and sick leave changes BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Drastic changes to Michigan’s paid sick leave and minimum wage will go into effect Feb. 21. Both of Michigan’s major political parties are currently trying to rein in these efforts in the Legislature. Republicans hold a majority in the state House of Representatives, and Democrats hold a majority in the state Senate. This month Republicans passed a pair of bills in the House, and Democrats in the Senate have an alternate plan
in its early stages. The whole issue began in 2018, when two petitions for increased wages and paid sick time received enough signatures to get on the ballot. To block this, the petitions were adopted and amended by Republicans in the state Legislature, dramatically changing what would’ve appeared on the ballot. In the Michigan Court of Claims, it was determined on July 19, 2022, that the adopted and altered acts were unconstitutional. This was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals but was ultimately upheld by a 4-3 Michigan Supreme
Court ruling July 31, 2024. The current minimum wage is $10.33, or $3.93 for tipped workers.
If nothing happens
If the revisions by Republicans or Democrats are not made, the court’s ruling will go into effect as planned in February. All workers will receive a pay bump to $12.48 an hour this year, with tipped workers gradually reaching $12 in See WORKERS on page 8A