Around the Mitten This Week: Teachers Get Pink Slips, Money Raised for Japan, 'Scream 4' Opens and More

Here's a roundup of some of the news and features throughout southeast Michigan in the past week:

Michigan Teachers May Lose Jobs

School districts in Michigan are struggling to balance budgets as they face fewer dollars from the state and, in some cases, dwindling enrollment and increases health care costs for employees. One solution being proposed is cutting teachers. Here are some of the districts discussing that option:

• , citing a loss in federal and state funding as the key reason for district cuts. The district expects to lose about $900,000 in federal funding and $700 per pupil in state funding. Superintendent Cheryl Rogers said the cuts are "across the board," meaning teachers from the elementary, middle and high school levels will be laid off.

• In Trenton, are to receive pink slips.

• In Brighton, face layoffs.

Superintendent Finalists in Royal Oak Schools

After two nights of interviews this week, the Royal Oak school board . M. Jon Dean of Birmingham and Shawn Lewis-Lakin of Manchester will have their second interviews Wednesday. The chosen candidate will replace Superintendent Thomas Moline, who will retire in June after five years with the district.

Fenton Dad Helps Raise Awareness of Teen Drug Use

Sam Jawhari often breaks down in tears while discussing his 17-year-old daughter's heroin overdose death, but that doesn't stop him from helping . The group formed after the to “provide the community resources to educate and ensure the safety for all children.”

Plymouth High School Teacher Charged after Arrest

Plymouth High School teacher Raymond Charles Schepansky, 52, was arraigned Saturday in 34th District Court in Romulus on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon on school property and felony firearm.

EPA Begins Soil Testing in St. Clair Shores

The next phase in the began this week with contractors taking soil samples and analyzing them in an on-site lab. The hope is to find the source of the toxic chemicals.

West Bloomfield Concert for Japan Raises Money

From great tragedy can come opportunities for learning and growth, as proved Friday night. The high school’s Japanese Club teamed with the Rotary Club’s Interact group to host a benefit concert featuring students and community members at Orchard Lake Middle School. About 200 people attending the concert enjoyed 12 music and dance performances, which included traditional Japanese songs and styles. Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Brighton Photographer Captures Winning Shots

Nature photographer Jim Ridley is racking up for his wildlife and outdoor photography, much of which is captured at local parks. Last week, he was awarded first prize in the Huron-Clinton Metroparks/West Oakland Camera Club’s 2010 Nature Photography Contest.

Scream 4 Opening a Big Deal in Northville

With Wes Craven’s new movie, Scream 4, finally hitting the big screen, . For Dan and Kathy Comaianni, owners of The Next Chapter Bookstore & Bistro, where scenes from the movie were shot, it was an exciting time to host an event for fans. They gave away 100 tickets to an exclusive midnight movie preview Friday and showed off many of the props that were used in scenes from the bookstore.

Baby Lambs in Dearborn's Greenfield Village

The Henry Ford's Greenfield Village opened for the season Friday. Days before it went open to the public, to learn what to expect this season (baby lambs!), and how staff were preparing for the busy months ahead.

From Paris to Wyandotte — French Artist Set to Perform

French artist Etienne Yver is in Wyandotte. Members of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra will perform at the gallery during a free artist's reception April 23.

Berkley-Huntington Woods Patch Columnist Writes about Passover, Gluten-Free Fair

Cooking for Special Diets columnist , when leavened foods are removed from the diet. "What is interesting to me is that on Passover, deprivation is not the focus, although a major food group is forbidden during the holiday. The tone of Passover is celebratory – a time to rejoice in freedom. In fact, there is a word I am particularly fond of within the haggadah, dahyenu, which means “it would have been enough for us.”

Hartland High School Senior Now Michigan's Homecoming Queen

Raime Lamb, 18, was crowned the at a competiton in Lansing. The win propels her to national finals in July at Disneyland. She also was selected from among the 25 finalists as Michigan's favorite homecoming queen in an online fundraiser, in which people voted with their donations. She is the only statewide winner so far to capture both titles.

Farmington Hills Student Gets Opportunity of a Lifetime

Dunckel Middle School eighth-grader April 10 as part of a small youth ensemble that performed at a Detroit Tigers baseball game. Six members of the Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus, who are part of the cast of The Magic Flute at the Detroit Opera House, performed the national anthem and "God Bless America."

Chocolatier Opens Whimsical Candy Store in Shelby Township

Still got a few things to put in those Easter baskets? Do we have the place for you! Located on the corner of 25 Mile and Shelby roads in Shelby Township, opens just in time for the holiday and the most popular candy season.

Rochester-Based Mind Body & Spirits Won't Reopen This Spring

, the downtown Rochester restaurant that has been called the greenest building in Michigan, will close after two years of serving mostly local, organic fare. Owners say they will focus instead on other business opportunities.