1/15/25 C & G Special Edition — Oakland by C & G Newspapers

NEWSPAPERS Special Edition

THERE IS A NEW KING IN TOWN AT THE DETROIT ZOO

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — The Detroit Zoo has a giant addition who is sure to turn some heads.

In all his glory, Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo.

Kalu is bringing the fire, as he is described as a playful and exciting addition to the lion enclosure. But, he is here for a specific reason: to breed and create new lion babies.

Kalu was born on Sept. 10, 2015, in Denver, according to mammal supervisor Flo Yates. Kalu was then relocated to Oklahoma, where he grew up with a variety of different lions, females and males, of all ages.

This upbringing makes Kalu a special addition to the Detroit Zoo, and his confidence is quite noticeable, according to zoo staff.

“Kalu was raised in a family of lions, in a pride, so he has experience with all different ages and sex-

Novi makes school history while Bloomfield Hills repeats at esports state finals

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

NOVI/BLOOMFIELD HILLS — It was a day of state title contenders continuing to add to the trophy room while newcomers are still looking for a place to build one, and it all went down at the Michigan High School Esports League playoffs.

On Dec. 7 at Michigan State University, hundreds of players, coaches, and spectators packed the STEM building for an electric day of esports as teams battled it out for a state championship trophy.

Teams went head-to-head with familiar faces in the finals while others were fighting deep into the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Below is a recap of how local teams in the C & G Newspapers coverage area finished:

Novi

The Wildcats are just one of those teams you expect to see in the playoffs each year, and it really doesn’t matter for which game either. Novi is nationally recognized and has been an esports powerhouse

Students from high schools across Michigan face off in the Valorant semifinals at the Michigan High School Esports League Fall 2024 Esports Championships Dec. 7 at Michigan State University.

Photo by Brian Wells

Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo.

Photo provided by the Detroit Zoo

SKI SEASON IS UNDERWAY IN MICHIGAN

BY GREG TASKER

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Nearly a year ago, despite the scarcity of snowfall in northern Michigan, I found myself gliding along a powdery, groomed trail in the woods at Forbush Corner Nordic, a cross-country ski destination outside Grayling.

And I wasn’t alone. With its state-of-the-art snowmaking system, Forbush had created a snowglobe amid an otherwise dreary, barren landscape, drawing amateurs and

polished skiers alike. As long as temperatures cooperate, Forbush can pump out enough snow to create a figure-eightloop at the 200-acre destination.

This ski season Forbush has expanded its snow-making prowess to blanket another km of trails. And that’s just one of the many improvements this winter at the dozen or so Nordic and downhill ski resorts across the northwest lower peninsula.

Nearly all of the downhill ski areas — from Thompsonville to Traverse City and beyond — have unveiled a slew of

upgrades, many of them focused on improved snow-making capabilities. But that’s not all. There are new ski lifts. New rental equipment. New trails. New ticket options. And new dining and apres-ski possibilities.

All of these resorts, of course, are looking to create optimal skiing conditions for skiers and riders as well as a better winter experience for all of their guests.

“Northwest Lower Michigan’s ski areas have undergone impressive off-season improvements, ensuring an exciting

School districts to honor MLK through annual day of service

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak schools once again are partnering to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service.

The school districts’ annual “A Day On, Not a Day Off” event will take place

from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Berkley High School, 2325 Catalpa Drive.

The event will begin with breakfast followed by speakers and choir performances. After the yearly Freedom Walk, attendees can participate in making blankets and cards and sort through donations.

“It’s a small way we can honor Dr. King’s lifetime of work with our community,” Berkley School District Superintendent Scott Francis said in a prepared statement. “All three districts are committed to keeping diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of our schools to create an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of be-

longing. The greater community can all honor Dr. King by joining us, and doing the same.”

Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said the day is about connecting with the community and helping support local charities.

“Each charity that benefits from this

See SERVICE on page 10A

LEFT: The Highlands at Harbor Springs unveiled its newest lift — the Interconnect triple.

Photo provided by The Highlands at Harbor Springs

ABOVE: Skiers of all ages enjoy the slopes at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire.

Photo provided by Shanty Creek Resort

es of lions,” said Tami Brightrall, mammal curator. “He has experience with younger lions, older lions, females and males. So he is what we would call ‘savvy’ in the zoo world, and that just means that he can navigate all social situations.”

Brightrall said that he is a “wonderful” lion to have at the zoo.

“Kalu would be a very good fit to breed with our female lion, Amriah,” Brightrall said. “That’s why he was transferred to our zoo, because the cubs of these lions are not related to one another, they (the baby) will be very healthy.”

Kalu and Amirah were matched up by a group of population biologists who carefully analyze genetic data of animals in zoos around the country. That team makes recommendations for the animals who are least related to each other to breed so that the population of different species can be healthy.

“Our females are two sisters, Amriah and Asha; they are very closely bonded,” Yates said. “They have a hard time letting anyone else into their pride. So Kalu was recommended by the Species Survival Plan, which matched him with our females based on personality and his age.”

Brightrall said that the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicated lions as a vulnerable species.

“Lions have habitat loss, there is poaching, there’s trophy hunting, there’s a decline in their prey, so lions in the wild are struggling,” she said. “That doesn’t mean that zoos are going to release lions into the wild, but at least in the zoo, we can make sure that the lions that are in captivity are healthy.”

Additionally, having a beautiful male lion at the zoo is a way to spread awareness about animal preservation, according to

Brightrall.

“The lions and the zoos are ambassadors to teach people about why they should care about these animals and why they should, you know, see how beautiful and magnificent they are and how amazing their lives are,” she said. “Lions are very special, and if you see a lion up close, you will never forget it.”

Because Kalu is such a big cat, and lions can be territorial, the zoo staff has had to transition him into his new habitat.

Throughout the past few weeks the zoo attendants have been introducing Kalu, Amirah and Asha to make sure they are comfortable with each other before moving into the same enclosure.

As of Dec. 30, the lions are living in two separate areas but can interact through a mesh wall.

“Right now we are seeing them sleep near each other, which is a good sign that they want to be together,” Yates said. “They are also calling across to each other, which are all good signs that things are going well. When we decide if we are comfortable with moving towards the next step, that will be physical introductions.”

The process is slow, but with such dangerous animals the zoo staff must take precautions and have patience while integrating the lions.

Yates said that if given the chance, seeing Kalu in the zoo is a great experience, given Kalu’s giant and wild personality.

“He loves his toys, and he is very protective of his food. His food is the dearest thing to him,” she said. “You will see him interacting with enrichment and toys and stuff. He likes to carry stuff around in his mouth and bounce it around. He is just a fun guy to watch.”

For more information on the arrival of Kalu, visit the Detroit Zoo website at www. detroitzoo.org.

County Grades K

Farmington Public Schools offers a wide variety of learning opportunities, both in the classroom and online, in a diverse community.

Farmington Public Schools, you will find: • Students who consistently score well above average on assessments • A 96% graduation rate • Numerous opportunities for students to achieve in academics • Free full-day Young 5s program providing extra time for students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally • A wide variety of experiences in award winning arts and athletics • One of the largest CTE programs in Oakland County • A diverse student body where more than 67 languages are spoken

A highly acclaimed high school International Baccalaureate Programme

No Pay to Participate fees which increases opportunities for students to be able to participate in the athletic program

Experts urge caution about home fire hazards as temps drop

BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Michigan winters bring freezing cold and long nights, and residents respond by raising the thermostat and stringing up lights. But officials say all that power and heat leads to more home fires this time of year.

Many of those fires can be avoided with a bit of care.

“So many people are using electric space heaters, and then they’re running them off an extension cord drawing too many amps, which then short circuits their panel and starts a fire. Or their pipes freeze, and they try to thaw them out themselves, starting a fire in the crawlspace. So we do get more fires in the winter months,” Hazel Park Fire Chief Thomas Walker said. “And every few years, it seems, we’ll get a case where someone heats their home with a kerosene heater and tries to refill it while it’s still running, and the fluid hits part of the device that’s red hot, starting a fire.”

Space heaters, in particular, are responsible for one in every five residential fire deaths. Thomas said that you should keep

any space heaters at least 3 feet away from any combustibles.

Electrical heaters should never be left unattended, and they should be turned off when leaving a room or going to bed. As for gas heaters, they shouldn’t be used in enclosed spaces and aren’t recommended indoors, as they can produce carbon monoxide that can be harmful and even deadly.

One should also minimize their use of extension cords, never linking together multiple cords. It’s crucial to avoid overloading circuits, Thomas said, especially in older homes that may not have been designed to handle many electrical devices. Cords also shouldn’t run under carpets, rugs or other paths of egress, since walking on them can cause them to arc and start a fire.

Residents with fireplaces should make sure the hearth is cleaned and inspected annually. There should also be a screen in place to prevent embers from escaping. Exposed pipes should also be examined and insulated to avoid freezing and bursting during cold temperatures.

Properly insulating and sealing windows and doors is also worth the time and

See FIRE on page 7A

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Lt. Brett Thompson with the Hazel Park Fire Department sits behind the wheel of a fire engine. Fire officials are reminding residents to be vigilant this winter about possible home hazards, such as improper use of space heaters and extension cords.

Skiing

winter season for all,” says Mike Panich, who is executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, the trade group for the state’s ski and snowboard industry. “From advanced snowmaking to exciting new trails and guest-focused upgrades, Michigan’s ski destinations are ready to impress this winter.”

No wonder. After last year’s forgettable winter, ski areas across the region are pumped about this season’s prospects, already benefiting from cooperative temperatues for plenty of snow making as well as frequent lake-effect snow.

“The 2024 season started with a great early blast of cold air and lake effect snow, allowing most ski areas in Michigan and the rest of the Midwest to open earlier and with more terrain than in the recent past,” Panich says.

Despite the recent warm up and rain over the holiday, ski areas “were able to take advantage of the early cold weather and build significant snow reserves and will be able to ride it out until the cold returns with the new year,” he adds.

Here are some highlights of ski area improvements this season (Note: most resorts have upgraded snow-making capabilities so they are not mentioned below):

• In mid-December, the Highlands at Harbor Springs unveiled its newest lift — the Interconnect triple. The new lift cuts the amount of time up the hill by one-third and improves access to the North Peak area. The lift includes RFID gates providing handsfree, direct-to-lift access. This is the second new lift in two years at the 4,000-acre re-

sort. Last year the Highlands introduced the Camelot 6, a six-person bubble chairlift, the fastest in the Midwest. New food options include a Brew Bar at the Day Lodge, serving a selection of craft beer, and a Ramen Bar at the Food Market.

• With more snowmaking power, Boyne Mountain is creating the Victor Glacier, a ski run being designed to offer great snow conditions earlier and later in the season. The signature blue run is reminiscent of Vermont’s legendary King of Spring, lateseason skiing at Killington Ski Resort. Additionally, Boyne has unveiled nearly 18 acres of fresh, glade terrain within its Disciples Ridge area. The new glade terrain is located between Grice’s Way and Zippie’s and features wide-open, gentle slopes for beginners and more challenging terrain for the more experienced. Other improvements include synchronized music and vibrant LED lighting displays at the resort’s Tubing Hill.

• In Thompsonville, Crystal Mountain has expanded its selection of rental

equipment, adding more than 400 new sets of rental skis and 55 snowboards. The 1,500-acre resort has also upped its apres-ski game with new rooftop igloos at the Level4 Lounge. The heated igloos offer scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Guests will also find expanded trail loops and new rental gear at the Cross-Country Learning Center. More than half the guest rooms of the Hamlet Hotel have been renovated with new furniture, flooring and accessories.

• Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire offers a new 18 km cross-country trail system through Schuss Village, one of four villages on the 5,500-acre property. Non-skiers looking for something to do can hop aboard the new Alpina Snow Glider, for a free, hour-long ride through the expansive resort. Shanty Creek has also extended private ski and snowboard lessons to include evening sessions.

• Outside Gaylord, Treetops Resort boasts two new trails. Razzle Dazzle promises “a thrilling new experience for those who love gladed slopes,” resort officials say. The

other is the Woodsplitter, providing a new route between Kathryn’s Way and Lookout at the 3,300-acre destination.

• Caberfae Peaks, one of the country’s oldest ski areas, outside Cadillac, has renovated guest rooms, which feature custommade furniture.

Back at Forbush Corner, which is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization, the addition of another km of manmade snow coverage extends that trail network to nearly 3.5 km. Overall, Forbush has more than 30 km of trails. This year snowshoe trails also have been expanded, with 8 km now dedicated to snowshoeing paths. By the way, the region’s other popular Nordic ski spot, Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Higgins Lake, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this winter. A 50th Anniversary Ribs and Blues celebration is planned for February 22. The ski center also offers free beginner lessons every Saturday.

In the meantime, don’t let the warmerthan-usual and rainy weather around the holidays deter your skiing plans. Wintry weather is around the corner.

“After the terrible winter of 23-24, we have entered a much more winter-like pattern and meteorologists are predicting a much snowier and cooler January and February than we have experienced over the last several seasons,” Panich says. “With good weather and regular snowfall, skiers should expect to have great snow covered slopes all season long, with great conditions.”

For more information about what’s new at Michigan’s ski areas visit Michigan Snowsports Industries Association at goskimichi gan.com.

Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.

Once

Boyne Mountain’s latest improvements include synchronized music and vibrant LED lighting displays at Tubing Hill.

Photo provided by Boyne Mountain Resort

effort, he said, since it can prevent drafts indoors, and reduce the need to heat the home through other means.

On that note, a range or oven should never be used as a source of heat for a home. Also be wary of any unusual smells around your furnace or gas heater — it could be natural gas or propane. Don’t try to light the appliance — instead, leave the home immediately and call for help.

Paul Biliti, the fire marshal with the Madison Heights Fire Department, said in an email that many cooking fires occur around the holidays and New Year’s, as well as fires associated with circuits overloaded with decorations and lights that are sometimes left up through the winter.

“We urge our citizens to have working smoke detectors, create an escape plan and close your doors before sleeping,” Biliti said. “Most fire deaths happen overnight, and a closed bedroom door can slow the spread of flames, reduce smoke inhalation and save your life.

“Modern homes can burn rapidly, leaving very little time to evacuate once a fire starts,” he said. “You may only have two minutes to escape a house fire once the smoke alarm sounds. You should get out and stay out.”

Thomas agreed. He said his department gives out free smoke detectors to residents of the city. A smoke detector should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and in each sleeping area. A carbon monoxide detector is also essential, he said. Sleeping with a closed door,

meanwhile, will buy you extra time during an emergency.

“I’ve seen cases where people don’t have smoke detectors and they’re killed in their sleep, inhaling smoke without realizing it,” Thomas said. “I’ve been in homes where there’s a kitchen fire and their bedroom door was shut, and you can see the difference that it makes — how the flow path and soot stains on the wall go down the hall to the door, and when you open the door, you see a bit of smoke, but the room is otherwise preserved. So we 110% recommend you sleep with your door shut.”

Both Thomas and Biliti said that families should have

a well-rehearsed escape plan with multiple ways in and out of every room. The plan should include a place to meet outside, like by the curb or at a neighbor’s house.

“It’s also good for accountability when we show up, making sure everyone is out of the home,” Thomas said. “Some people also have stickers around their home saying they have pets. I love my own like human beings. We always try to rescue them, and those stickers saying there are dogs or cats in the home help us find them.”

Thomas and Biliti also recommend taking precautions with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are now common in everything from phones, laptops and handheld game devices to power tools and even exercise bikes. They can degrade over time, swelling and leaking. Leaving them in direct sunlight or a hot car can be dangerous. They should also not be charged if there are any signs that the battery is compromised, and in general, they shouldn’t be left unattended while charging.

“Lithium-ion batteries are some of the hottest, hardest fires to put out,” Thomas said. “You want to store them in a cool, dry place. Say it’s a battery for a drill. We tell people to pull out the battery and then place non-conductive electrical tape over the metal prongs where the power goes, just in case something were to fall on it.

“And if you have a fire-protective blanket … maybe place those old electronics in there,” he said. “But the biggest thing is to store them in a cool, dry place. And if you’re using them, say in your media center, make sure the space is open and well-ventilated. And be sure to buy quality surge protectors, as well.”

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Steven Foltan, a Hazel Park firefighter, reviews equipment on a fire engine at the start of the shift. Fire departments typically see a spike in household structure fires during the winter months.

Esports

over the past few seasons, and it continued to show teams why it’s one of the top programs in the state.

Novi not only captured the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate state title by defeating Plymouth High School 3-2, but also added onto its trophy total by winning the MHSEL state championship in Overwatch 2 Dec. 12, which was held virtually. Novi’s Overwatch 2 team consisted of senior Matthew Bowles, senior Alvaro Hernandez, junior Brandon Salo, junior Noah Lee, junior Elbert Zhang, sophomore Devin Fecteau, and sophomore Srijan Kundu.

It’s the first time in school history the Wildcats have won multiple state titles in one season.

Novi’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team had key returners in senior veterans in Daniel Han and Brandon Mijal, both part of Novi’s state semifinals team last season, but also strengthened its squad with the additions of two JV players — Christopher Smith and Zac Apuada.

When it came to facing off against Brownstown Woodhaven in the semifinals this season, Novi head coach Christopher White said Apuada, whom White labels as “somewhat of a prodigy,” took charge and led Novi to a 3-0 win.

“Our team was worried about playing against Steve because we knew Woodhaven had a good Steve player, and what Zac did is (he) just learned the character and made everyone play against it with him playing it.”

The Wildcats then had to face Plymouth High School in the finals, who held one of the better Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players in the state.

“They’re just amazing as a trio and as a squad,” White said. “They were the No. 1 seed all season long for a reason. Luke Meir was the captain of their team, and we won the finals 3-2 but both of the losses were to Luke. This kid, he is absolutely talented. Our team has the utmost respect for him.”

Novi had both its varsity and JV teams make the quarterfinals, but Utica High School eliminated both in back-to-back rounds, keeping the Wildcats from reaching the finals.

The Wildcats had faced Utica earlier in the season and won, but White said he was impressed by how Utica had progressed throughout the season.

“For us, that was a shocker because we beat Utica 2-1 in the regular season,” White said. “They really improved a lot since the last time we played them and they caught us off guard a little bit. Congratulations to them for really improving as a team and playing well against us.”

Satsimer Singh, sophomore Jiyul Lee, and sophomore Mohammed Al Jomaia. The JV Valorant team consisted of senior Theodore Stroup, junior Ayush Lachhireddygari, sophomore Gaurang Valecha, sophomore Christopher Lam, sophomore Jennifer Janigian, sophomore Jackson Kilgore, and freshman Sawyer Osborne.

White said Novi’s Valorant squad also had some help from a past Player of the Year and state champion who joined the coaching staff.

“We had some continuity with both Sarthak (Tayal) and Shashank (Cheedella), but I think the other thing is that we have a student, who’s currently at Michigan State named Ravit Chandra, who won Player of the Year last year and graduated,” White said.

“He’s been helping us out in an assistant coaching kind of capacity with our team and our practices. He’s still close with some of the members on the team, and he’s part of Michigan State Esports as well.”

But if there’s any positive for Novi’s varsity Valorant squad, it’s that the squad will return everyone in efforts to get back to the top.

nior Nimona McKone, senior JoJo Curtiss, senior Evan Marshall, junior Susana Durón, and junior Andrew Van Nortwick. League of Legends had an all-senior team of Ethan Kim, Matthew Bailo, Khang Truong, Ryan Morris, Christopher Smith, Jordan Xie, Minhee Lee, and Hiro Koyama.

All-state honorees for Novi: Mohammad Mqasqas (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), Noah Lee (Overwatch 2), JoJo Curtiss (Splatoon 3), Daniel Han (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), Sarthak Tayal (Valorant).

Bloomfield Hills

The Black Hawks were ecstatic to reach the Splatoon 3 state finals Dec. 12, but even more so because they knew exactly whom they were going up against.

This past spring season, Bloomfield Hills defeated Novi High School in the Splatoon 3 state finals to become champions, and the Wildcats were looking for a rematch.

“This is a newer squad, so it’s nice to have as much success as we’ve had,” White said. “If anything, it’s probably a good thing that they have something to motivate them going forward because they don’t have a single senior on the roster right now.”

Fortunately for Bloomfield Hills, its Splatoon 3 team had a core of returning players in senior Patrick Fritz, senior Jake Desmon, and junior Derek Johnston, who were all part of the state championship team and knew exactly how Novi operated.

“Our team was worried about specifically beating this character in Smash called ‘Steve,’ and there was even a tiny bit of chat in the professional Smash community about banning the character because it seems stronger than the other characters,” White said.

Sophomore Sarthak Tayal and junior Shashank Cheedella were the lone returners from last season’s state championshipwinning squad, but White noted that Tayal improved to a whole other level this season as Novi leaned on him more.

Novi’s varsity Valorant team also consisted of senior Josh Kashima, junior

Novi also finished state runner-up in Splatoon 3 while putting on a show in the PlayVS Eastern Regional Playoffs, a league consisting of teams on EST, winning Chess and finishing runner-up in League of Legends.

The Splatoon 3 team consisted of se-

“From playing them in the past, we learned very well the general setup that they run,” head coach Aaron Strager said. “Every year, Splatoon gets a little bit of an update, so Novi tends to change up here and there. Overall, their game plan tends to stay the same.

“They’re extremely strong and extremely coordinated, but what we tend to take advantage of the most is infiltrating

from page 1A See ESPORTS on page 9A

around the sides or behind. Once one or two go down, the pack scatters.”

Bloomfield Hills, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, would successfully defend its Splatoon 3 title in a 3-1 win over Novi.

The Black Hawks were loaded with talent in Splatoon 3, especially when it comes to leadership and experience, but Strager said Fritz really came into his own this year as a leader.

“He’s absolutely taken on more of a leadership role in the team,” Stranger said. “He’s been the one who’s been primarily coaching our new students on the team, working with them constantly in practice, giving them notes, and reviewing with them. He’s been a guiding hand for the new members of the team.”

Members of the Bloomfield Hills Spla-

toon 3 team were Desmon, Fritz, Johnston, freshman Angelica Johnson, junior Logan Witherspoon, junior Anna Pniewski and junior Riley Forrester.

Bloomfield Hills also reached the quarterfinals in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe before being eliminated by Richmond High School in a 2-0 loss.

The Black Hawks are only a season removed from reaching the state finals in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so Strager said he expects his squad to make some noise in the spring season.

“We’ve now adjusted to the new players,” Strager said. “We’ve had some new strategies we’ve had to implement, but now that we’ve had that adjustment period I think we’re going to have a very promising season in the spring.”

All-State honorees for Bloomfield Hills: Canon Lucai-Sample (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), Derek Johnston (Overwatch 2), Jake Desmon (Splatoon 3).

Service

from page 3A

event relies upon donations like ours, and we’re just very happy to be able to help and help educate the community on this day of celebration and honoring service that Dr. King personified,” she said.

Clawson Public Schools Social Media Director Megan Homanick stated the event is a wonderful opportunity for the staff to come together and give back to the community.

“We’re just really glad to be part of it and we love partnering with Berkley and Royal Oak,” she said. “We’re three school districts that are all very close together, we share a lot of the same community members. It’s such a wonderful partnership, and this is just a great opportunity.”

Donations of items will go to the Redford Brightmoor Initiative; Cass Community Social Services; the Judson Center; and Royal Oak First, A United Methodist Church.

Acceptable donations at the event include nonperishable foods such as canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars and boxed food items. Other items that will be accepted include new children’s books for infants to middle schoolers, toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream and feminine products. Unopened diapers of all sizes, socks of all sizes, underwear for men and children, and adult winter hats will be acceptable as well.

“Just year after year, it’s a strong event in our community,” Fitzpatrick said. “Different people come out — depending on their availability — with generous donations from folks of their time and also of their talent, in terms of awesome student productions on that day, our videos that

we produce, all of that makes the day more special and I’m just really proud that this has remained a strong event for Royal Oak Schools.”

Fitzpatrick stated that one of the goals the district always has had for “A Day On, Not a Day Off” is to get the students involved with helping and doing community work more than one day a year.

“I believe that’s what our students have now embraced,” she said. “They’re active on this day, and then I see our students — elementary through the high school — really working on service projects all year long to help the community.”

Francis hopes everyone who attends the event learns the power of service to others.

“During the event, we create blankets for those in the hospital, sort donations for organizations who support people in need in Metro Detroit, make lunches for the homeless population and create greeting cards for educators and first responders to lift them up for the service they provide to the public,” he stated. “As Dr. King said in 1968, ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. … You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.’”

Homanick said that the event helps bridge a gap and connect the three communities together.

“People bring their families. There’s a march this year. Last year, it was canceled because it was too cold. So there’s opportunities for our students, our staff, our community members, to come out to the march as well,” she said. “Martin Luther King Day for us used to be a professional development day that didn’t necessarily reflect on serving others. And so this partnership, this change for us allows our staff to to really experience just the selflessness of giving to others.”

For more information on the event and other avenues of donating, visit romi. gov/998/MLK-Service-Day.

File photo provided by Clawson Public Schools

The Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak school districts will be holding their day of service event, “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” honoring Martin Luther King Jr. later this month.

with a home standby generator.

Make power outages a thing of the past with a home standby generator.

Trusted Protection During Unpredictable Weather

The frequency in severe weather has led to an increase in power outages. More than ever, you need to be prepared. Without power, your everyday modern essentials are rendered useless. Think about it, you’ll have no lights, heating or cooling, or refrigeration. You can’t even charge your cell phone. But when you have a Generac home standby generator, you will have power when you need it the most. It’s time to get serious about preparing your home.