Former Tigers Pitcher Leads Rochester Kids in a Singalong

North Hill teacher Andrew Good roots on the Detroit Tigers with a little help from his class.

Andrew Good knows a bit about standing on the mound under the bright lights of The Big Show. The North Hill Elementary fifth grade teacher pitched for parts of three season in the major leagues, including two games with the Tigers in 2005. He appeared in 35 major-league games, most of them with the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Read From Pop-Ups to Pop Quizes: Detroit Tiger Comes Home To Teach in Rochester Good also knows the power of a strong fan base. "There's a reason they call it 'home field advantage,'" Good said. "Those cheers give you extra energy, extra incentive to do your best." So when his home team and former team the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland A's Thursday night to advance to the ALCS, Good knew just what to do— and fortunately …

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In Joey Travolta Film Camp at OU, Kids Find Rhythm, Make Movies

The movie star uses his background in special education to teach kids with autism about the industry he loves.

Inside a bright and airy atrium on the campus of Oakland University, a Travolta is leading a group of 50 students in an early morning dance party. But this is no disco. And, to clarify, it's Joey Travolta — not his Grease-is-the-Word brother, John. And as much as you may want to make this a story about the Hollywood name and his dance moves, it's really about the kids he's teaching to love the art of film. Joey Travolta is the director of Inclusion Films, a movie-making workshop for children and adults with developmental disabilities. It's based in California, but Travolta and a staff of nine travel the country to bring two-week intensive camps to settings like the Oakland University Center for Autism Research, Education and Support (also …

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Around Town

Rochester Musician, on Tour With Anita Baker, Stops Home to Release Debut Album

You've probably seen Stephanie Hamood perform at Dessert Oasis in downtown Rochester — which is where she was discovered by the R&B star.

Do you believe in fairy tales? Local musician Stephanie Hamood's story reads like one, complete with a fairy godmother.  Hamood has been performing nearly every week at family-owned coffee shop Dessert Oasis since they opened three years ago. That's a lot of experience.  But nothing could prepare her for a Saturday this past spring when her Dessert Oasis audience included R&B legend and Grammy-winning artist Anita Baker. Baker, who lives in Grosse Pointe, often checks out the local music scene. Hamood is not certain how Baker heard about her (although she has her suspicions) but Hamood was playing to a packed house when she saw a Metro car pulled up. "Her reaction to me was incredible," Hamood said. "She just stopped and her mouth dropped …

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Desiree Davila: 'Nothing Easy About Today'

Distance runner from Rochester Hills steps off Olympics marathon course after 2 miles.

A hip injury kept distance runner Desiree Davila from finishing the Olympics marathon on Sunday in London. But Davila, who trains in Rochester Hills with the Hansons Brooks Distance Project, is still an Olympian. Davila dropped out of the race after 2.2 miles. Her condition had been questionable, and after the race, she told reporters she would undergo further diagnostic testing to determine what type of injury she has. Before the race, she told NBC in a report posted on NBCOlympics.com that the state of her hip injury was not ideal, but that she "is committed to getting to the start and seeing what I can do." After the race, she told reporters Sunday was the first day she had really tested her hip on solid ground. “I could tell on the …

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Watch Rochester Hills Olympians Davila, Vanderkaay in Olympics Starting Tonight

Here's the latest from London, where the games are set to begin.

The Summer Olympics are upon us, and two Rochester Hills athletes are expected to take to the international stage this week. Swimmer Peter Vanderkaay and marathoner Desiree Davila are among the 11 Michigan athletes on Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Davila will walk in tonight's opening ceremonies. Vanderkaay, who competes tomorrow, reportedly will not. The ceremonies will be broadcast on NBC beginning at 7:30 p.m. Davila, who trains with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, based in Rochester Hills, is in London to compete in the women's marathon. It's planned for Aug. 5. Davila  is battling an injury, though, that may keep her from competing. The Detroit Free Press reported Friday that Davila is planning a workout Saturday to see …

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Adams Grad Likely To Be Picked in Top 10 of Friday's NHL Draft

Jacob Trouba graduated from Adams High School earlier this month; this week he is in Pittsburgh awaiting his hockey future.

A month ago, Jacob Trouba was finishing up his senior year at Adams High School. This week, he is awaiting his future with the National Hockey League. Trouba, 18, of Rochester, is expected to be a Top 10 draft pick during Friday night's NHL Draft, according to various scouting reports and NHL analysts. The defenseman played most recently for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. Trouba had 18 points on four goals and 14 assists in 22 games in 2011-12. He played at the Onyx Ice Arena until age 10 and then in the Midwest Elite Hockey League at Compuware, he told Rochester Patch this week. Trouba blogs for NHL.com. Here is an excerpt from a recent post where he talks about his excitement for his trip to Pittsburgh for the …

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Stoney Creek's Alec Martinez Part of Kings' Stanley Cup Celebration

He scored a key goal in Game 3 of the series. 'I don't know if you saw my face, but I was pretty excited,' he told reporters.

Alec Martinez, who earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School, will have his name on the Stanley Cup. Martinez, 24, is a defenseman for the L.A. Kings, who won the Stanley Cup on Monday night with a 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.  In Game 3 of the six-game series, Martinez scored his first career playoff goal, helping the Kings earn a 4-0 victory.  The L.A. Times called the second-period goal a "money-moment that left the Kings tantalizingly close to making good on a 45-year-old IOU." (This is the team's first Stanley Cup championship). "I don't know if you saw my face, but I was pretty excited," Martinez told The Times. Martinez also had one assist, 10 hits and six blocks in the Stanley Cup finals. In 51 regular-…

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Awards Show Off Historic Preservation in Rochester Hills

Pat McKay accepts award for improvements to Stoney Creek Schoolhouse; Debbie Remer receives award for work on 20-year dig.

A historian and a historic building were honored recently as symbols of preserving history in the community. The Earl Borden Awards for historic preservation, named after the first mayor of Rochester Hills, were presented by the Historic Districts Commission during a recent Rochester Hills City Council meeting. Pat McKay, director of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, accepted a Historic Preservation Award for improvements, completed under his leadership, to the Stoney Creek Schoolhouse, an 1848 one-room schoolhouse owned by the museum.  Debbie Remer, a museum volunteer and supporter, accepted the Preservation Leadership Award for her work on a massive archaeological dig on the grounds of Van Hoosen Farm. The project, which …

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Keselowski, of Rochester Hills, Called 'the Real Package' After Sprint Cup Win

"I don't get paid to suck at this," said the 28-year-old driver after win in Talladega.