Welcome Back from the Holiday! Come See What You Might Have Missed

You made it back! Whether you traipsed up north without a reliable Internet connection or reveled in being "unplugged" for the holiday, Patch provides some newsy and interesting reads that you might have missed.

Big bangs over Birmingham-Bloomfield area

Hundreds turned out for the annual Birmingham Fireworks Show on a breezy, somewhat overcast night Sunday. Sunset was followed by an explosion of color as the fireworks show kicked off at 10 p.m. and went on for about an hour without a hitch.

Facts on the Fourth

Just in time for the watercooler conversations today: We shared our fun Fourth of July facts — some of which you probably knew at some point and others that are just fun to think about. Were you among the masses who spent $3.2 million on imported American flags last year or, more likely, among those who spent $190 million on fireworks imported from China?

Feeling hot, hot, hot

Weather can have such an impact on any Fourth of July celebration, and locally, we were treated to near-perfect conditions all day Monday. Near perfect, of course, if the weekend storms didn't knock out your power or if you were still recovering from Saturday's record high of 99 degrees for the Metro Detroit area.

Hot dogs are king

Though there is always a strong market for hot dogs, Americans were poised to consume more than 150 million frankfurters during the holiday weekend, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. We took a peek at the nation's favorite barbecue fare and the toppings that make them a holiday tradition.

Library changes implemented

There was some news from the weekend that could affect how you use the Bloomfield Township and Baldwin public libraries.

As of July 1, residents of Bingham Farms and Beverly Hills are no longer be able to check out materials from the Bloomfield Township Public Library. As a result, Bloomfield Township residents are now limited to checking out eight items from the Baldwin Public Library. They also will have to pay higher fees ($2) for Hot Picks books, DVDs and video games.

McCotter Mania?

U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia), who could represent Bloomfield Hills under a GOP-designed redistricting plan, showed his patriotic spirit by declaring his bid for the nation's top job.

The five-term congressman officially announced his campaign for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination — and strummed the blues on his American flag-themed guitar — at Saturday's Freedom Festival in Whitmore Lake.