FAMILY ASSIST
Transfer addition, milestone win motivating Crusaders basketball
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — It was a bright moment for a Macomb L’Anse Creuse North boys basketball team with heavy goals.
As second-year coach Kurt Wilson earned his 300th career win Jan. 15 against Macomb Area Conference White rival Utica, the team celebrated his accomplishment immediately following the game.
“It felt awesome,” senior Ricky Sparks said. “He was really excited to get it, and it was awesome because his whole family was there and got to celebrate with him. Right when we won, they all came onto the court, and they had a ‘300’ sign for us to hold up.”
Among the players in the midst of the celebration was junior forward Julius Wilson, who is also coach Wilson’s grandson. He helped his grandfather secure No. 300 with a 23-point performance.
Kurt Wilson came in last season and immediately turned around a program that had been struggling to find any kind of traction in the success department, posting a 16-9 record and finishing third in the MAC Red.
Now it was Julius’ turn to give another Wilson a lasting impact, and he’s done everything and more since transferring from Warren De La Salle Collegiate before the beginning of the season.
Wilson, a 6-foot-2 guard, embodies the defensive mindset coach Wilson emphasizes, but also can facilitate and score at will when needed because of his athletic ability.
“He’s always known the guys,” Kurt Wilson said.
Sabatini becomes county board chair
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — The Macomb County Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 9 to appoint Joe Sabatini, R-District 4, as its new chair in a unanimous vote.
“I’m very thankful of my fellow commissioners and their trust and support to put me in the position,” Sabatini said. “I’m looking forward to working with all the countywide officials in a new way. We’re progressing here, we’ve had meetings all week, so it’s been a busy January to say the least.”
Originally elected to the board in 2010 for a tenure that lasted until 2016, voters in the Macomb Township District 4 elected him back to the board in November 2020. Sabatini was reelected in 2022 and 2024, and is now serving a term that will last until 2028. Sabatini has been serving as the Finance/Audit/Budget Committee chair, a role that had him managing the county budget.
Sabatini’s road to becoming chair began when former Chair Don Brown, R-District 1, resigned on Dec. 12, 2024, to work in the Macomb County Public Works Office. From there, Sabatini began working with commissioners to become the board’s leader.
“It starts with conversations with commissioners and working through what their concerns are and what they want to see from a chair,” Sa-
Photo by Erin Sanchez Macomb L’Anse Creuse North junior Julius Wilson controls the ball against Utica Jan. 15 at L’Anse Creuse North High School.
Sabatini
Jan. 8 to
up to $1
Trustees approve placemaking funds, new newsletter agreement
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 8, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees approved a plan to set aside up to $1 million to develop a Town Square at the Macomb Township Municipal Complex.
“The township is in the process of applying for a grant from the state of Michigan Economic Development Corporation for the purpose of making improvements to the Town Square, which is the lawn area right in front of the town hall between us, the recreation center, the library and old town hall,” Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet said.
At the time of the meeting the final cost of the project was yet to be estimated. The grant in question, an MEDC Revitalization and Placemaking program grant, has a required 50% match. Prior to the meeting, Drolet estimated the project cost with the match could be $750,000 and said during the meeting that $1 million would be on the “very high end” of estimated costs.
Plans for the Town Square include building restroom facilities and a fountain with interactive jet features. Funds have been set aside annually for this project and grant approval would speed up the project’s timeline. As of the 2024-25 budget, $400,000 has been committed to the project.
The unanimous voice vote cast by the six present trustees — Township Clerk Krisit Pozzi was excused from the meeting — is a formal step in the grant application process. Should the township not be awarded the grant, the project will remain in the township’s plans with funds set aside for it.
Catalog contract
Trustees awarded Drive Creative Services the contract to produce and distribute the REACH catalog, the township’s triennially-published newsletter.
REACH currently only contains content from the township and the Parks and Recreation Department, but the new contract would bring advertisers into the fold.
“As part of this agreement there will be a revenue share, where the ven-
‘The music is still alive today’
NO QUARTER IS FULLY ‘LED’ED
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — When Bryan Christiansen first heard Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” as a teen, it immediately grabbed his attention.
“This guy is the greatest guitar player,” he thought of axeman Jimmy Page. “The riff was just amazing with some killer vocals. I was just kind of baptized into Zeppelin so to speak.”
While there will never be another Led Zeppelin, Christiansen has banded together with other talented musicians to carry on the supergroup’s legacy. In 1998, he founded No Quarter, a Led Zeppelin tribute band that performs around the world.
Jay White shines like a ‘Diamond’ on stage
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@andgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Neil Diamond fans, get ready to sing along to “Sweet Caroline.”
“The Sweet Caroline Tour” starring Jay White, featuring the music of Neil Diamond, comes to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 1. White, a former Detroiter who performs as Diamond on the Las Vegas Strip, looks forward to playing for his hometown.
On stage, White takes on the role of the celebrated singer/songwriter with his music, mannerisms, fashion style and personality. Audience members will experience songs from Diamond’s 50-plus year career with “I Am…I Said,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Love on the Rocks” and “America.” It’s a night for any Neil Diamond fan.
See JAY WHITE on page 14A
The Led Zeppelin tribute band No Quarter, featuring August Young as singer Robert Plant, left, and Bryan Christiansen as Jimmy Page on guitar will play at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom on Jan. 25.
Photo provided
Las Vegas performer Jay White, who grew up on Detroit’s east side, will bring “The Sweet Caroline Tour” to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 1.
Photo provided
Photo by Dean Vaglia
The Macomb Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution on
commit
million in matching funds if awarded a placemaking grant from the state. The grant would be used to build an interactive fountain and restrooms at the Town Square outside of the Township Hall.
ABOVE: On Jan. 14, L’Anse Creuse Unified played St. Clair Shores Unified, a team they lost to 5-0 in November. Shores again defeated L’Anse Creuse, by a score of 5-3, in a close game that saw L’Anse Creuse get out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.
LEFT: The goaltender situation has been great for L’Anse Creuse Unified with Perez Silva starting in more than half of the team’s games and posting a .926 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.86 through mid-January.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
L’ANSE CREUSE UNIFIED LEADS
MAC, PROVES TURNAROUND IS REAL
BY SCOTT BENTLEY
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The new year has brought new results and expectations for L’Anse Creuse Unified hockey.
Last season, the team finished in fourth place in the MAC Red, went 2-8 to end the year, had a record under .500, and was eliminated in the first round of regionals.
So far this year, Unified is 10-4-2 and has more points than any team in either division of the MAC.
“The kids are buying in,” L’Anse Creuse Unified coach Jon Nader said. “The kids are playing really good hockey right now. They’re all on board and we’re really excited about that.”
There’s been a focus on defense this year and it’s translated extremely well, with only two regulation losses in the team’s last 10 games.
“When we talk about defense on this team … we talk about how it’s not just one. It’s not just the goalie,” Nader explained. “It’s everyone on that ice.”
Although it’s not “just the goalie,” the goaltender situation has been great for L’Anse Creuse Unified with Perez Silva starting in more than half of the team’s games and posting a .926 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.86.
“Knowing that we have that in the back end has been a huge success for us,” Nader said. “I mean, all three of them have been working hard in the offseason, getting a lot of pucks hit at them. They’ve been stellar for us this year.”
Silva is joined in net by senior Zachary Hill (3-1 record, .904 SV%) and freshman Jake Stewart (1-1, .859 SV%), with all three netminders currently posting a goals against average of under 3.00 on the year.
“The chemistry between all three of us goalies is so healthy right now,” Silva said. “We all want that playing time, so it’s healthy competition. It helps us stay competitive and translates over into the game which helps our back line… If we have a confident goalie back
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This photo shows coho salmon eggs that were collected at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery Weir from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1.
DNR nears end of egg collection for trout, salmon
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — State waters will once again be stocked with salmon and trout following efforts by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“We’re pretty much wrapped up for the season,” said Aaron Switzer, DNR Fish Production Program manager.
The efforts are done in order to “provide fishing opportunities and maintain healthy ecosystems,” according to a DNR press release. Switzer said maintaining the system to support sport fishing is an economic boon for the state.
He said collections began to offset habitat destruction throughout the years. Some of the initial need for the collections was to offset impacts of the logging industry and overfishing. Regulations that reined in these effects came about in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
“Fish or eggs were needed to be added to those to help sustain the fishery,” he said.
He also said the canal system in the Great Lakes opened the environment to invasive species that impacted the environment.
“A lot of it is managing what’s in the water as well,” Switzer said.
The DNR annually collects eggs throughout the fall and winter to stock the fish. Collecting efforts for wild Chinook and coho salmon are complete.
Eggs and milt, which is the semen of male fish, are gathered during their annual salmon run. Salmon make their way up a fish ladder and into holding ponds at the weir. They’re brought into the facility,
where eggs and milt are collected. The eggs are then fertilized.
The wild Chinook salmon eggs were collected from the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee. Switzer estimated the collection at 4 million, which is slightly lower than the previous year.
“We experienced a solid run of wild Chinook salmon this year,” Switzer said. “The run at the Little Manistee was healthy enough to provide all of Michigan’s egg needs. We were also able to provide eggs to Indiana and Illinois stateowned fish hatcheries. Once hatched, reared and stocked, all of these Chinook salmon contribute to the Lake Michigan salmon fishery.”
The wild coho salmon eggs came from Platte River State Fish Hatchery Weir in Beulah, Michigan.
“We collected nearly 6.5 million coho salmon eggs at the Platte River weir by the time the egg collection wrapped up. This includes approximately 3 million for Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. All four states work together cooperatively each year to ensure Lake Michigan continues to receive Pacific salmon to supplement the fishery,” said Switzer.
Captive broodstocks of brown, brook and lake trout have also been collected. Eggs from captive broodstocks of rainbow trout are being collected now, but Switzer said that collection should finish “shortly.”
“Captive broodstocks, fish kept at a hatchery to produce eggs and milt, will provide many of the eggs that will later become stocked fish: 378,000 brook trout eggs, 448,000 lake trout eggs, 2.6 million brown trout eggs and 1.5 million rainbow
Happy New Year!
Photo provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
NEWS & NOTES
8A/ MACOMB TOWNSHIP CHRONICLE • JANUARY 23, 2025
FEBRUARY EVENTS AT CMPL
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The shortest month is not short of activity across the Clinton-Macomb Public Library’s branches.
At the South Branch in Clinton Township, community members can create and submit miniature masterpieces for the monthlong Tiny Art Show. Teens in grades 6-12 are challenged to do their worst at Bad Art Night on Monday, Feb. 10 starting at 6 p.m. Representatives from The Detroit Zoo will visit the branch for a presentation about a program focused on native Michigan wildlife, conservation and rattlesnakes at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. Adults are invited to a Glass Etching craft on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 2:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to apply a heart stencil, etch the glass, and then add a treat.
At the North Branch in Macomb Township, middle and high schoolers are invited to an after-hours Nerf night from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Macomb County Clerk’s Office will hold a tutorial about how residents can use the county’s tools to trace your roots at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Visit http://cmpl.libnet.info/events for a full list of events and to register for events.
Friends hosting pasta dinner
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Friends of Macomb Township is hosting its annual pasta dinner fundraiser for the Glen H. Peters School.
The dinner will take place at 6 p.m. on Feb. 15 at St. John Vianney Church at 54045 Schoenherr Road in Shelby Township. Pasta is being provided by Aspen restaurant. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children under 10 and free for children under 3.
For more information call (586) 610-3511. Visit friendsofmacombtownship.org for more information about the organization.
County medical examiner receives accreditation
MACOMB COUNTY — On Jan. 9, the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office announced it received full accreditation from the National Association of Medical Examiners.
NAME is the premier accreditation organization for medical examiner and coroner offices nationwide and promotes the highest quality forensic pathology practice and medicolegal death investigation in the world. Originally accredited in 2014, the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office most recent accreditation marks 10 consecutive years of this distinction.
“By achieving and maintaining NAME accreditation, the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office continues to advance its level of service to Macomb County residents and law enforcement agencies,” County Executive Mark Hackel said in a press release. “This accomplishment is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of the Medical Examiner’s Office and the entire staff who helped earn this recognition.”
The Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office serves the residents of Macomb County and provides high quality forensic death investigation services. Staff assists local law enforcement agencies with forensic evaluation of death due to violence, accidents and those not attended by a physician.
‘KNOCKING VIOLENCE OUT OF MY SCHOOL’ VIDEO COMPETITION UNDERWAY
MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, in partnership with “A Brighter Macomb,” will hold the third annual “Knocking Violence Out of My School” student video competition. The initiative is designed to empower students to engage with their peers to create safer, more supportive school environments.
Students can create videos that address themes of anti-threats, anti-violence, anti-weapons, and anti-bullying. Videos should be no longer than two minutes and will be judged by assistant prosecutors and staff from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Unit.
Submit videos via email to: prosecutorvideocompetition@macombgov.org. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. March 31. The winners will be announced April 14. The prizes are: first place, $1,000 plus a Hero Award for the school; $750 for second place; and $500 for third place.
To view past video winners, visit macombgov.org/departments/prosecutors-office and click on the “Knocking Violence Out of My School Video Competition” link. For questions, contact Communications Director Dawn Fraylick at (586) 469-5737. Anyone interested in scheduling a free presentation at your school about preventing school threats, bullying, and weapons, can contact Heather Esposito at (586) 469-5642 or by email at heather.esposito@macombgov.org.
Out for blood
DETROIT — January is National Blood Donor Month, and it’s game on for donors.
The Red Cross and the National Football League have again partnered to invite donors to give blood. Donors who donate blood until Jan. 26 will have a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Donors of all types — especially those with type O negative blood and those giving platelets — are urged to give.
The winner of the Super Bowl LIX tickets and a guest will enjoy three-night hotel accommodations from Feb. 7-10, access to pregame activities, tickets to the Super Bowl, round-trip airfare to New Orleans, and a $1,000 gift card.
Donors can give blood at Red Cross blood drives or Red Cross blood donation centers in Michigan for a chance to win the tickets. There are three ways potential donors can make an appointment: by using the Red Cross Blood donor app on their smartphone, visiting the Red Cross website at RedCrossBlood.org, or calling the Red Cross at (800) RED CROSS, which is (800) 733-2767.
An appointment for a blood donation lasts about one hour, though the actual donation takes 8-10 minutes. Donors may donate every 56 days. An appointment for a platelet donation takes about two hours. Platelet donors can give every seven days.
CRIME WATCH
Fox trapped
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 12, a resident in the 21000 block of John Drive called the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office about a fox caught in a fence.
Upon arrival, deputies saw several residents assisting the fox and noticed a trap around one of the fox’s legs. Deputies called the Detroit Animal Wildlife Group to free the fox for treatment and rehabilitation. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources was contacted about a possible poaching operation due to the trap.
Theft from cars
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 12, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 52000 block of Matterhorn Drive for a larceny complaint.
A resident showed deputies a video of someone stealing around $70 and several items from two vehicles parked outside of the home.
One of the residents was unsure if the cars were left unlocked.
Under the influence
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 2:50 a.m. on Jan. 8, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a speeding Volkswagen GTI driving along 25 Mile Road near Wolverine Drive.
The driver, a 21-year-old Macomb Township man, said he was returning from a bar in Rochester Hills and had one beer
that evening. Deputies had the man take a breath test, which returned a 0.186 blood alcohol content level. He was arrested.
Hit-and-run
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 8 a.m. on Jan. 6, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the corner of Garfield and 22 Mile roads for a hit-and-run collision.
At a red light, a 63-year-old Macomb Township woman apparently reversed her Ford Fusion into a Dodge Ram. After stepping out of the car and interacting with the Ram’s occupants but not giving them any information, the woman drove off.
On Jan. 8, deputies contacted the woman. She reportedly claimed that she did not see any damage on her car and assumed there was no damage to the Ram.
Thief on the loose
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 3:50 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2024, a man was spotted leaving Home Depot on Hall Road with about $120 worth of string lights and tape.
The suspect, a 34-year-old Roseville man, was identified by his license plate number. A retail fraud arrest warrant was put out for him.
— Dean Vaglia
SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING
MSGCU ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The credit union will award over $130,000 in scholarships, including 43 scholarships of $2,500 each to help students and educators reach career goals, and 14 scholarships of $2,000 each to support future first responders.
According to a press release, 10 additional scholarships will be awarded in 2025, representing an increase of $25,000.
MSGCU will award scholarships in various categories to teachers and administrators.
Nonmembers are welcome to apply for an MSGCU scholarship and must become a member if selected as a scholarship recipient.
“Earning a degree or certification requires a great deal of determination and hard work, along with a significant financial investment,” said Steve Brewer, president and CEO of MSGCU, in a release announcing
the 2025 scholarship program. “MSGCU is increasing our scholarship awards this year to support more students in the communities we serve. We have provided over $1.25 million in scholarships since our program started 20 years ago, helping more than 600 recipients complete their education.”
The MSGCU High School Excellence Scholarship, formerly the Educational Solu-
ry Swantek Educational Studies Scholarship benefits high school seniors and current college students planning to become teachers.
The Milo Perreault Educator Advancement Scholarship helps certified teachers and administrators continue their education. Four $2,500 scholarships will be offered.
William Cayen Skilled Trades Scholarship supports students pursuing certification in electrical, heating/air conditioning, automotive, or other industrial and advanced technologies or skilled trades programs. Two $2,500 awards are offered to current skilled trades students or graduating high school seniors pursuing a skilled trades certificate.
tions Scholarship, helps high school seniors who attend college. There are 18 scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each.
The Rudolph Heino People Helping People Scholarship supports college-bound high school seniors with a commitment to helping others. A total of 15 scholarships of $2,500 are being offered.
With four $2,500 scholarships, the Lar-
The credit union also funds the Stephen Thomas First Responder Scholarship, which supports first responders enrolled in police and/or fire academies at local colleges with 14 scholarships of $2,000 each. Applications occur directly with Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Washtenaw Community College, and Schoolcraft College.Scholarship applications can be submitted online at msgcu.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 25.
Growing Resilience: How One Macomb Childcare Center is Redefining Early Education
Located at the corner of Romeo Plank and 23 Mile, Green Garden Child Development Center is doing more than preparing children for kindergarten—it’s equipping them with the tools they’ll need for life. By prioritizing social-emotional growth, conflict resolution, and hands-on experiences, Green Garden is changing the way we think about the earliest education.
In today’s fast-paced world, where the CDC reports that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 2 and 8 has a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, Green Garden is stepping up with a bold, research-backed approach. Their program, built on Conscious Discipline models, focuses on helping children understand and regulate their emotions while building meaningful connections.
“Our kids are growing up in a world that asks for resilience and emotional intelligence,” shares Samantha Ford, a leader at Green Garden. “We strive to teach the children in our classrooms how to handle disappointment, navigate big feelings, and work through challenges with confidence.”
The results speak for themselves. Studies show that programs like Conscious Discipline
can reduce aggression, increase cooperation, and improve emotional regulation—skills that benefit children for years to come. In their classrooms, conflicts aren’t seen as disruptions but as opportunities to teach children how to connect, set boundaries, and problem-solve. These lifelong tools prepare them to face life's curve balls.
Talking about curve balls, Green Garden teaches more than just emotional regulation. Ofering unique experiences to spark curiosity and foster growth, their Nature Explore-certified outdoor classroom invites children to dig into gardening, play with purpose, and even interact with classroom pets. These hands-on activities blend fun with foundational learning, nurturing empathy and creativity along the way.
By creating a space where children thrive socially, emotionally, and mentally, Green Garden is making waves in the Macomb community. “We’re not just caring for your children,” says Ford. “We’re helping you in teaching them how to be kind, capable, and confident individuals.” Green Garden invites families to see the diference for themselves and discover how their innovative approach is shaping the future—one little learner at a time.
MSGCU will award scholarships in various categories to teachers and administrators.
Photo provided by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union
North
from page 1A
“The guys would always come over to my house for team dinners or we’d play in the summer, and he was always around. The transition was good for him. He’s a kid that plays defense. When a kid plays defense and steals the ball, he’s an easy fit.”
On any given night, Wilson can be the top scorer for the Crusaders, but arguably the most impactful part of Wilson’s addition to the lineup was allowing senior guard Brandon Thomas to play freely as a shooting guard.
The dynamic duo of Wilson and Thomas is a relationship coach Wilson felt where they “both needed each other,” and it’s shown with how Thomas’ game has taken off this season.
The Crusaders were in desperate need of a reliable scorer with all-conference players Drew Kozel, who is part of the 1,000 career points club, and Luke Clyne both graduating, and Thomas has answered the call.
“With the addition of Julius (Wilson), that helped us with Brandon (Thomas) tremendously,” Kurt Wilson said. “We were able to move Brandon to the two-guard and Julius to the one-guard. He’s (Thomas) a born scorer. He shoots the ball well and he moves well off the ball.”
Currently averaging 59 points per game, L’Anse Creuse North, currently ranked No. 52 in the state, holds a 9-3 record with a 2-1 MAC White league record after falling to Warren Fitzgerald 44-41 Jan. 9.
Fitzgerald, ranked No. 19 in the state, are likely to be the toughest challengers for the Crusaders for the league title.
state, and it’s not the first time this season L’Anse Creuse North has done so.
How about opening the season against the reigning Division 2 state champions?
Were the Crusaders ready for Warren Lincoln, who are currently ranked No. 12 in the state, so early in the season? Probably not, but it’s all about the experience and knowledge they gained from playing the best in order to be the best.
“We would love to play Lincoln now,” Kurt Wilson said.
Especially with how other players have really come into their own as the season has progressed with Sparks, senior Aaron Koch, senior Greg Houston, senior Tyler Palmer, and junior Nehvir Njoku all stepping up.
Sparks has solidified himself as the No. 3 scoring option for the Crusaders behind Thomas and Wilson, and Sparks said he took that role seriously coming into the season.
“We came out really slow against them,” Sparks said. “We had one point at the end of the first quarter and five points at halftime. I took a few shots, Julius took a few, and Brandon took a few. They just weren’t falling. I know we’ll come out faster. We weren’t used to playing at their speed and they kind of punched us in the face.”
The Crusaders have followed every loss up with a win streak, so there’s at least a positive side to a league loss.
It’s a game that Wilson said he felt would really show where his guys stacked against one of the better teams in the
“After the season last year, I put my head down and got a trainer. I knew I needed to step up for the team. I was our sixthman last year that would come in and play good defense and pass the ball well, so right after the season last year I got myself a trainer and was in the gym at 6 a.m. three to four times a week at the end of the school year. In the summer, I was in the gym every day.”
The Crusaders have eight remaining league games with two tough out-of-league matchups against River Rouge and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
Coming off a trip to regionals, L’Anse Creuse North hopes to send its senior veterans off on a high note with a deep run in the state tournament.
“We think we can beat anyone,” Sparks said. “If you’re hot in February or March, you can beat anyone. We really want to get that state (title) and go as far as we can in the playoffs.”
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North senior Ricky Sparks goes up against a Utica defender.
from page 1A
batini said. “Making yourself available to them and listening to them and seeing what their issues are and goals are and all those types of matters to secure their vote and trust in you leading the board.”
Sabatini says commissioners wanted someone with financial experience, especially ahead of the county’s anticipated hiring of a new financial director in the near future. The ability to manage the board’s staff on a dayto-day basis was another point commissioners wished to see in the next chair.
“Our staff supports 13 commissioners, so we’ve got a limited staff, but they do a great job,” Sabatini said. “There’s a lot of moving parts with their positions, so we want to make sure that our well-oiled machine is working in that manner. I’m big on process, I’m big on procedures. We’ll have some fine-tuning to do things that I think are important that will support the commissioners and make sure they get what they need from our staff. But for what we do with the staff as large as we have, for the county the size that we are, is pretty remarkable in comparison to our neighboring communities.”
The third major point Sabatini heard from commissioners was that they wanted someone who would be available to help at any time as their new chair.
“It’s a 24/7-type scenario,” Sabatini said. “We don’t just work 9-5. It is calls on Saturdays, it’s calls on Sundays, it’s late nights. It’s whatever they need to be successful in their position, and I’m on their team to make sure they have all the tools in place to be successful and they can do what they need to support their community.”
Along with the unanimous support from trustees, Sabatini’s appointment as chair has found support from his district’s leadership as well.
Board
from page 3A
dor will be selling ad space in the catalog,” Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said. “We hope that over time we will ultimately be paying less per issue than we are paying now. We don’t believe that will be the case out of the gate. We think we will be paying a little bit more, but we will also be getting more for our value.”
The current cost to publish REACH editions is around $17,000.
Drive Creative Services works with neighboring Chesterfield Township on its
“Joe has a track record of being a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, but at the same time has shown the ability to work with people who have differing opinions,” Frank Viviano, Macomb Township supervisor, said via email. “I think he has shown he has the skills needed to keep our County Board moving in a positive direction.”
Brown, the man whose resignation cleared the way for Sabatini’s ascension, praised his successor’s appointment.
“Joe will be (an) outstanding Chairman, working with all the county commissioners and countywide officials to ensure the taxpayer interests are protected and the county remains in outstanding financial condition as they move our county forward,” Brown said.
Sabatini himself had high praise for Brown, both as his predecessor and as a mentor.
“I’ve been lucky to serve with so many experienced people that have helped me, and certainly Commissioner Brown,” Sabatini said. “(Brown) was the first person that called me when I got elected years ago. He’s mentored me over the years and I couldn’t have picked a better mentor than someone who’s been on the board for 30-plus years. We joke all the time about how Don came with the furniture, but speaking frankly, he was there before the building was even built. I’ve always had someone like that I could lean on and get good advice from … I’ve had a great pool of people that I’ve learned from and I couldn’t be any luckier.”
With a new chair selected — along with the reelections of Vice Chair Harold Haugh, D-District 10, and Sylvia Grot, R-District 3, as the board’s sergeant-at-arms — the next step is to appoint a new District 1 commissioner. The new commissioner, which Sabatini expects the board to appoint at its Thursday, Jan. 23 meeting, will serve until a special election is held next year.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
newsletter, but owner Scott Chambers told trustees the arrangement has more in common with The Clementimes newsletter in Mount Clemens.
The Clementimes publication’s costs are split between the city government and Mount Clemens Public Library, as well as about $15,000-16,000 in advertising revenue.
Circulation of REACH goes out to every household and business in the township with additional copies printed for direct distribution. The five-year contract can be terminated by the township if the arrangement does not work out as expected.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Jay White
“Jay White’s Sweet Caroline Tour was selected for our season based on several factors. Listening to the feedback from our donors and patrons, I felt Jay’s programming was an excellent fit for the Macomb Center,” William Wood, director of Cultural Affairs and Community Engagement, said in a prepared statement. “Plus, knowing Jay’s local roots and his status as an alum of Macomb Community College made this choice even more special. We’re thrilled to support a hometown talent and can’t wait for our community to experience his incredible show.”
White grew up near Seven Mile Road and Mack Avenue on Detroit’s east side. He attended St. Philomena Catholic School, Bishop Gallagher High School and in 1973 graduated from Finney High School. White also enrolled in classes at Macomb Community College in Warren and Wayne State University in Detroit, but performing was his true calling.
“I kind of gravitated towards that,” White said. “For me it felt very natural, very comfortable.”
Before his career as Neil Diamond began to shine, White had a passion for theater and was cast in several Detroit and Grosse Pointe productions, including “The Music Man,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Inherit the Wind.” He also fine-tuned his musical chops in various groups around town. Local residents may remember White singing baritone with an acapella doo-wop “The Voices.”
“People said to me a couple of times, ‘You sound like Neil Diamond when you sing,’” White recalled.
That sparked an idea and from 1983-87 White per-
Eggs
from page 6A
trout eggs,” a DNR press release states. “An additional 422,000 splake eggs (brook trout and lake trout hybrid) will also be collected from captive broodstock to support Michigan’s fisheries management objectives.”
formed as Diamond — along with Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and Olivia Newton-John impersonators — at Mr. F’s Beef & Bourbon in Sterling Heights, a supper club known for its cow statue outside.
It took time for White to master Diamond’s vocals, characteristics and style.
“It really did start with the voice first,” White said. “Then I started working on the look.”
By 1990, he was one of the headliners in the show “Legends in Concert” at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, a gig that lasted nine years and 5,014 performances. The neon lights of the Vegas strip suited White, where he has been a mainstay for more than three decades, including an 8-year stint at the Riviera Hotel & Casino.
“It’s been quite a ride,” White said.
White performs alongside a group of talented players that includes members of Diamond’s band, King Errisson on conga drums and Richard Bennett on guitar. White also recruited his son, Neil White, on bass guitar. He and his wife, Pam, named their son before White embarked on a career as Neil Diamond.
White also takes the show on the road, even traveling Down Under to Australia. When Hollywood director Ron Howard needed a Neil Diamond impressionist for a scene in his 2008 film “Frost/Nixon,” White got the job.
“It was just a tremendous experience,” White recalled. White has met Diamond twice. The first time was before a Diamond concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They also crossed musical paths again when Diamond performed at the Los Angeles Forum, where he met some of the superstar’s family, including his mom.
Oden State Fish Hatchery, located in Alanson, Michigan, is where the captive eggs are collected. Collections of rainbow trout started last month and will continue through January. These captive egg collections will happen every one-two weeks throughout the season.
Overall, Switzer said it was “another good year” for the collections.
“We had more than enough fish to
“We had a chance to chat,” White said. “She was very kind, very complimentary and very appreciative. The family was very, very kind and took me in very quickly.”
At one point in his career, Diamond gave White a couple of his costumes; they became part of the act. As another memento, Diamond autographed a picture of the two singers together with the following message: “Jay, keep singing so I can stay home and relax. Your friend in music, Neil Diamond.” In 2018, Diamond retired from touring and performing after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
White didn’t start out as a Neil Diamond fan. He changed his tune when in 1978, he attended a Neil Diamond concert with his then-girlfriend and her mother at Pine Knob in Clarkston.
“Wow, this guy is really good. By the end of the twohour show, I was hooked,” White recalled. “I really loved the songs. What a great artist. His stage persona was appealing, so fun, so interesting. His personality was so likeable.”
White also makes time for this other love: hockey. When White’s not center stage as Diamond, he can be found on the ice. He played in metro Detroit as a kid and grew up watching “Hockey Night in Canada.” As an adult, he has played goalie in several NHL and Hollywood all-star games.
White will perform “The Sweet Caroline Tour” featuring the music of Neil Diamond on Feb. 1 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, located on the Macomb Community College Center Campus at 44575 Garfield Road, at Hall Road. For tickets call (586) 286-2222, email Macom bArts@macomb.edu, or visit macombcenter.com. Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
get our egg quotas,” he said. “In my eyes, that’s a good year. We didn’t have any issues at our brood facilities. We were able to collect all the eggs we needed.”
A Jan. 8 press release gave an update to the DNR’s stocking effort, stating seven different species were dispersed in 78 locations throughout the state. Species include Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout (Eagle Lake and
steelhead strains), walleye and muskellunge. The number of stocked fish last fall totaled 590,504, according to the release. Switzer said the fall numbers, combined with spring and summer efforts, added up to 9.7 million fish in state waters for 2024.
To find out where fish have been stocked, visit michigandnr.com/fishstock. Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
My approach, using advanced treatments, personalized care, and a commitment to saving limbs and lives, offers a new horizon for those afflicted with chronic foot wounds. If you or someone you know is navigating the challenges of foot wound care, the opportunity to transform this struggle into a story of healing and hope is within reach. Call me for an appointment today.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
JAN. 26
‘Earth After Dark’: Featuring photographer Babak Tafreshi as part of National Geographic Live series, 3 p.m., includes Q&A afterward, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
JAN. 29
Chili cook-off: Taste and cast vote for best traditional, most creative, best vegetarian and people’s choice, noon-2 p.m. (doors at 11:45 a.m.), Macomb Township Senior Center, 51210 Alma Drive, registration required for contestants and attendees by Jan. 24, facebook. com/macombtwpparksandrec
JAN. 30
Daddy-daughter dance: Presented by Five Crown Elite Dance, includes child and adult buffets with desserts, DJ, selfie photo booths, hair braiding station, and appearances by princesses, 6-9 p.m., Italian American Cultural Society and Banquet Center, 43843 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, more at eventbrite. com
FEB. 5
‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus — Live’: Stage adaptation of popular book about relationships, 7:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Per-
forming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, macombcenter.com, (586) 286-2222
FEB. 14
Widowed Friends Valentine’s Day lunch: 1:30 p.m., Joe Jo’s Restaurant, 16611 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471 by Feb 11, widowedfriends.com
FEB. 15
After-hours Nerf night: For students in grades 6-12, 6-8 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, register at (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
FEB. 21
After-hours family fort night: Bring blankets/sheets and book to read, snack provided and story told by librarian, 6-7:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, register at (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet. info/events
Mother-son dance: Inaugural event presented by Macomb Township Parks & Recreation, also includes buffet dinner, DJ, crafts and photos, for ages 4 and older, 6-9 p.m., Fern Hill Golf Club, 17600 Clinton River Road in Clinton Township, macombtwp.org/3BSjnHv
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
Back to the Prom: 1980s-themed dinner-dance for ages 21 and older, also open bar, DJ, raffles, award for best dressed and more, 7 p.m.-midnight, Zuccaro’s Banquets & Catering, 46601 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, lcpsfoundation.com
ONGOING
Disney’s ‘Newsies The Broadway Musical’: Story of New York City newsboys strike of 1899 based on 1992 movie, presented by Dakota High School, 7 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 30-Feb. 8, 21051 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township, dakotachoirs.com
Macomb Motivators Toastmasters Club: Meets from 6:30-8 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of month, St. Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, 6104644.toastmastersclubs.org
Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts at 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, Dimitri’s Opa! Restaurant, 50875 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536, widowedfriends.com
• Games from 1:30-3:30 p.m. every first Thursday of month, bring snack to share, SS. John and Paul Parish, 7777 W. 28 Mile Road in Washington Township, optional dinner afterward, Romeo Family Restaurant, 66020 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, RSVP to Ellen at (586) 489-2569, widowedfriends.com
• Breakfasts at 10 a.m. every fourth Monday of month, Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536, widowedfriends.com
• Lunches at 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Sue at (586) 549-1041, widowedfriends.com
Bereaved Parents of Macomb Support Group: Also for grandparents and siblings, meets 7-9 p.m. every first Thursday of month, Washington Senior Center, 57880 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, (248) 425-2999, neilflyer@yahoo.com
Washington Art Guild: Meets 6:30-9 p.m. every first Monday of month, Romeo Community Center, 361 Morton St. in Washington Township, (586) 752-3721, bonwrite1@att.net, find group on Facebook
Ice skating: Unstaffed but open dawn to dusk, north end of Macomb Township Recreation Center, 20699 Macomb St., facebook.com/macombtwpparksandrec
Free tax preparation: For Macomb County residents with annual family income of $67,000 or less, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 7 and 21, March 7 and 21, and April 4 and 11, see locations and documents needed at macombca.itfrontdesk.com/vita, make appointments starting Jan. 23, (586) 463-2537
Shows and events kick off Anton Art Center’s 2025
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — From two shows to flurry of events, the Anton Art Center is beginning 2025 with a running start.
Beginning Saturday, Jan. 18 is the Sky & Space Exhibition. A collaboration between several Macomb County artist groups — the Lakeside Palette Club of St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens Art Association, Romeo Guild of Art, Shelby Township Fine Art Society, and the Warren Tri-County Fine Arts, Inc. — Sky & Space shows off what some of the region’s artists can do with limited prompting.
“Each year they have two shows, one in January and another in the fall,” said Stephanie Hazzard, exhibitions manager at the Anton Art Center. “The first show in January always carries a theme of some kind as a challenge for artists. This year’s theme is sky and space and any interpretation of that. Some artists interpreted that very differently from one to the next.”
Garth Glazier, an artist based in Troy, was selected to be the exhibition’s juror.
Aside from jurying Sky & Space, Glazier is one of a record-setting 45 artists with works
in the 52nd edition of the Michigan Annual. Opening on Saturday, Jan. 25, the Michigan Annual is the Anton Art Center’s tentpole fine arts competition.
“The selections are a wide variety of the best of the best across the state,” Hazzard said.
Artists are given full freedom to submit whatever works they want, opening the door for numerous kinds of art to be on display.
“We will have everything from fiber artwork to sculpture to photography, oil paintings, (and) illustrations,” Hazzard said. “There’s going to be a wide variety of different types of media, as usual.”
Determining who makes it to the show floor and who takes the top prizes is juror Jeff Cancelosi, best known for his work photographing artists.
Both the Michigan Annual LII and Sky & Space run until Saturday, Feb. 22. The Michigan Annual will be on the first floor while Sky & Space will be on the second floor. Both events will have opening receptions from 1-3 p.m. on their respective opening days.
Alongside the exhibitions, the Anton Art Center has a big weekend planned for the end of January. The Fire & Ice Chili Cook-Off will
be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, allowing people the opportunity to stop in a number of Mount Clemens establishments and find out who has the best chili in the city. Tickets are $20 and support the art center and
the Mount Clemens Goodfellows.
The cook-off kicks off the Mount Clemens Ice Show on Feb. 1-2, where numerous ice sculptures will be displayed along Cherry Street. Taking advantage of this Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority event, the art center is hosting free art making activities for the duration of the event. On Friday, Jan. 31, the art center is holding a 55th anniversary celebration from 7-9 p.m.
“We are celebrating throughout this year our emerald anniversary,” said Peggy DiMercurio, education and community engagement manager for the Anton Art Center. “We opened in 1969 and so we are taking the chance to really talk about the history of the Art Center and celebrate the impact that we had and take a look back through the years. We’re featuring a jazz artist, Kathy Kosins, and her band. They’ll be providing a jazz concert that evening and she will be painting an abstract painting during her performance. It will be a great night of music and visual art as well.”
Tickets to the anniversary can be purchased online for $25 at theartcenter.org/55.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
“Kinfolks” by Robbie Best will be on display at the Anton Art Center as part of the Michigan Annual LII exhibition.
Photo provided by the Anton Art Center
Hockey
from page 4A
there all our team has to worry about is scoring goals.”
Scoring goals has come easy to the team’s dynamic top line of Logan Jarvey (12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points), Aiden Suchocki (12 goals, 10 assists, 22 points), and Drew Halaas (10 goals, 5 assists, 15 points), who are all scoring at least a point a game and have allowed the rest of the team to focus on defense.
“Working with my linemates Aiden and Drew, we’ve been communicating more than we were last year,” Jarvey, a junior forward and the team’s point leader, explained. “We knew we had talent, but I feel like last year we were all more focused on the individual. Now we’re starting to come together as a line and as a group.”
All of this has led to a program-wide trust from coaches to players, and everyone has bought into the team.
“I definitely think it’s trusting the system,” Silva said. “Some games you have bad bounces and stuff happens… It’s trusting the system again, trusting the coaching staff, and trusting our team most importantly. Knowing that we’ll get those goals back… I strive to do
better and I’m pretty sure Logan does, too. We want to do what’s best for the team and it’s nice to have the buy-in from the rest of the guys.”
On Jan. 14, the team played St. Clair Shores Unified, which is a program that not only started off the season as the MAC title favorites but also crushed L’Anse Creuse 5-0 in November.
“We played St. Clair Shores (in November), and they gave it to us pretty good,” Nader said. “Shores was picked to win the MAC. It’s bulletin board material. We have it in the locker room all the time. We’re going to see how much better we got because we’ve been playing really good hockey.”
St. Clair Shores Unified again defeated L’Anse Creuse Unified by a score of 5-3 in a close game that saw L’Anse Creuse get out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Despite the loss, the team showed noticeable improvement from its November blowout and is still ahead of St. Clair Shores in the standings by four points.
L’Anse Creuse Unified is looking to keep the momentum going and take home a division title at the end of the year.
“I’m sure there’s going to be some more bumps in the road,” Nader said. “But we have 10 games left and we’re just trying to get better every time we step foot on that ice. Our goal is always to win the MAC, not just our division.”
No Quarter
For Led Zeppelin fans who never saw the band in its heyday, here’s your chance. No Quarter is coming to the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom Jan. 25, and they’re “gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove.” The Andiamo show is somewhat of an encore performance for No Quarter, which played a year ago at the 800-seat venue.
“The group was brought back because they were extremely popular with the audience members,” Joe Vicari Restaurant Group owner Joseph Vicari said in a prepared statement. “The music was spot on with Led Zeppelin’s.”
“We loved the place,” Christiansen said. “It had a good buzz and an excited crowd. Everyone was having a really good time.”
No Quarter, based on the West Coast, plays a full Led Zeppelin concert taking on the music, personas and look of the British quartet. Before going full throttle as Led Zeppelin, No Quarter had to get permission from the band.
On stage, Christiansen as Page — often dressed in a dragon-inspired jumpsuit — has sparks coming from his amps. Stepping into the mystique of vocalist Robert Plant is August Young hitting those high notes. Joel Pelletier recreates the talents of bassist/mandolin player John Paul Jones. The sonic booms heard on drums is Nathan Carroll echoing the force of John Bonham, who died in 1980, resulting in the band’s permanent breakup after a 12-year run.
But Led Zeppelin never really went away.
“The music is still alive today. We get on stage and we basically act out all the characters,” Christiansen said. “We walk on stage and perform the music the way they would. We do it note to note. We play it the way they played it. The music has to be there. That’s everything.”
For some rock fanatics, Led Zeppelin is the soundtrack of their lives. Whether the band was shaking the earth with its classic rock sound, bursting with a heavy blues vibe or feeling mellow with a song like “Going To California,” they lived up to their moniker “hammer of the gods.” No Quarter takes its on-stage personalities to heart. Christiansen even named the tribute band after a Led Zeppelin song, known for its haunting overtones.
“I study Jimmy Page, the look, the mannerisms. I think that’s important because that’s my character,” he said. “Fans really know their stuff and keep us on our
toes. You get a lot of people that want the deep cuts. You got the classics like ‘Stairway To Heaven,’ ‘Kashmir’ and ‘Whole Lotta Love.’ We want to play what they know and what they like. It’s really fun to play. It’s never boring.”
For part of the show, No Quarter performs a mix of studio numbers. “Dazed and Confused,” for instance, is always popular with the crowd. Lately, one of Christensan’s favorite songs to replicate is “In My Time of Dying.”
“The power of that song blows me away. The way they rocked it up,” the guitarist said. “When we brought it into our set, the crowd reaction has been phenomenal.”
“When the Levee Breaks” is another highlight for the No Quarter founder.
“John Bonham launched into that with just an incredible groove,” Christiansen said. “I knew when he passed away Led Zeppelin was done. They had a psychic connection and you can’t bring someone in fresh and jump into it.”
No Quarter also brings its audience back to 1973 when Led Zeppelin performed three concerts at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. The footage eventually became the 1976 film “The Song Remains the Same.”
“It takes you right back to the Gardens,” Christiansen said. “It’s like you’re sitting in the fifth row.”
It’s hard for Christiansen to pick a favorite Zeppelin album. He’s a fan of “Led Zeppelin II” and “Led Zeppelin IV,” but “‘Physical Graffiti’ is probably my all-time go-to album,’” he said.
Although Christiansen never saw Led Zeppelin live, he made sure to attend a Page/Plant concert when the duo toured in the 1990s. That set the wheels in motion to form No Quarter.
According to Christiansen, No Quarter has been mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine and has played shows with many players from the rock world including Peter Frampton, Eddie Money, Tesla, Nazareth and Foreigner.
One highlight for Christiansen was performing at the Whisky a Go Go on the famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. He said he stood in the same spot as Page did when the band came over from England to the U.S. in 1969.
No Quarter performs Jan. 25 at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom. Doors open at 7 p.m. Showtime is 8 p.m. For ticket information visit andiamoshowroom.com or call (586) 268-3200.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Confused by Medicare or Health Insurance?
HOMES
19A/JANUARY 23, 2025
MACOMB TOWNSHIP CHRONICLE
COLORS OF THE YEAR DESIGNED TO ADD WARMTH, LUXURY TO YOUR HOME IN 2025
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — A new year is a great time to update the spaces in your home with fresh color.
Trend forecasters from global color authorities, like Pantone, along with various major paint brands, have announced their colors of the year — which industry leaders predict will dominate interiors in 2025.
Whether you decide to add hints of trending colors in home decor or update the paint on your walls for a bolder look, experts say these are the colors to select.
Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is a warm, rich brown “infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement,” according to the company’s website.
“Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a prepared statement.
The soft brown is a versatile shade that “evokes the feeling of comfort in a home,” according to Pantone — whether on flooring, a painted wall, within home decor, or in more natural materials like wood and stone, rattan and wicker or leather and linen.
Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year is Cinnamon Slate, “a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown,” according to Arianna Barone, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore. The hue, she continued, offers “enduring style and modern sensibility.”
“Adaptable, yet distinct, it brings a soothing familiarity and balance to any design,” Barone noted. “The nuances in its undertones are what make it unique, but still versatile.”
For the past couple of years, Pantone officials said, they have seen a reach for more saturated and colorful hues.
“We also continue to notice a growing sentiment of creating unique and personalized spaces that also have a sense of ease,” Barone shared. “As people gain a better understanding and overall appreciation for color and how it’s used in design, we now see them opting for more nuanced hues that are adaptable, yet distinct. Certainly not neutral, but not quite primary, these colors encourage curiosity and invite you to think of all ends of the color spectrum.”
When designing a room with Cinnamon Slate, Pantone officials said bringing in warmer accents in golds and ambers can make the violet undertone more distinguishable. On the other hand, by using cooler colors and lighting, and plum hues, Cinnamon Slate can take on more of a neutral look.
“We love it color-drenched in a living room, especially when paired with leather, warm woods and brushed gold metallic accents for a moody vibe,” Barone said. “It is also beautiful in a bedroom with layered neutrals for a truly enveloping respite.”
Behr announced Rumors, a deep ruby red, as its Color of the Year for 2025. The color, Behr officials say, is poised to add warmth and a touch of luxury throughout the home. “Rumors is a universal color that transcends design styles and embraces self-expression,” the company’s website says, “from eye-catching curb appeal on a front door to a four-wall drench in a bedroom.”
“We’re seeing people embrace color like never before,” Erika Woelfel, vice
president of color and creative services at Behr Paint Co., said in a prepared statement. “Rumors is a modern take on the timeless red that creates an energetic appeal to make a lasting statement in a stunning way.”
After a decade and a half of annual Color of the Year announcements, Sherwin-Williams decided to celebrate color in a new way — combining its collections to curate the Sherwin-Williams 2025 Color Capsule of the Year.
“It’s very special to commemorate our 15th Color of the Year anniversary by expanding to an entire capsule that is a modern, fresh take on color, with a balanced and usable assortment of shades,” Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, said in a prepared statement. “Together — as a complete palette or in expertly picked pairings — the capsule’s alchemy creates something to be treasured in any style or setting.”
The 2025 Color Capsule of the Year, the company says, includes “a mix of forever favorites, beautiful hues of the moment and future classics that encapsulate a variety of eras and aesthetics,” comprising the following shades: Grounded, a “versatile and captivating brown”; Sunbleached, “an adaptable and airy light neutral that is somewhere deeper than white, not quite gray, and ventures beyond a basic beige or taupe”; Chartreuse, a “vibrant yellow-green”; Rain Cloud, a “stormy and deep gray-blue hue”; Clove, an “entrancing brown”; Malabar, a “sandy beige neutral”; Bosc Pear, a “cinnamon-dusted golden hue”; White Snow, a beautiful, pure white; and Mauve Finery, a “sophisticated” true mauve.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
TOP: Benjamin Moore selected Cinnamon Slate, a mix of heathered plum and velvety brown, as its 2025 Color of the Year.
Photo provided by Benjamin Moore
ABOVE: Rumors, a deep ruby red, is Behr’s Color of the Year for 2025.
Photo provided by Behr LEFT: Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse.
Photo provided by Pantone
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Jeeps stolen, recovered
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A resident in the 2100 block of Hawthorne Road reported to police that his unlocked Jeep Wagoneer was stolen from his driveway before 9:20 a.m. Jan. 2. The resident told police that the key fob had likely been left inside the vehicle. Police said they recovered the vehicle later in Harper Woods, but items that had been inside — including checks, camera equipment, a stroller, an iPad, a North Face jacket and a bracelet — were missing.
In a separate incident, a resident in the 2000 block of Lennon Street contacted police at 6 a.m. Jan. 6 after finding that one of the two Jeeps that had been parked in his driveway had been stolen. The other Jeep had been broken into and the victim told police that Jeep had contained keys to the Jeep that was stolen. Police said they recovered the missing Jeep later in Harper Woods.
Vehicle break-in attempt reported
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Two unknown suspects — possibly juveniles — are being sought by police after they reportedly tried to break the driver’s side window on a Chrysler Pacifica while the vehicle was warming up in the 1400 block of Lakepointe Street at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 2. Police said surveillance footage shows the suspects walk up to the vehicle and try to break in.
Vehicle theft under investigation
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — According to an online Nixle report, a vehicle was stolen from the Country Club of Detroit at around 1 p.m. Jan. 3. Police said three unknown people in a red Honda Civic — believed to be a 2006 to 2011 model — arrived at the club and allegedly entered three vehicles in the main parking lot and attempted to enter three other vehicles. The vehicle that was stolen was recovered a few hours later, abandoned on the east side around the Warren/Detroit border.
The case was under investigation.
Threatening suspect sought
GROSSE POINTE CITY — An unknown woman in her mid-40s is facing possible charges for issuing threats and causing a disturbance after the suspect is said to have menaced an employee at The Village Lululemon store at around 4:15 p.m. Dec. 27. According to a police report, the suspect threatened the employee after the employee asked the suspect and the group that the suspect was with about a missing skirt that was in the group’s shopping bag, but which hadn’t been paid for.
The group said they had bought the skirt.
Broken window emergency
MOUNT CLEMENS — At around 11:15 p.m. on Dec.
to the corner of Dickinson and Avery streets to speak with a 34-year-old woman about damage to her car.
The woman said her boyfriend, 36, broke the front passenger window of her Subaru Legacy after she refused to drive him home. The boyfriend walked home.
Angry diner
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Dec. 18 at around 1 p.m.,
a 52-year-old Harrison Township man entered Paco’s Restaurant on Crocker Avenue to pick up lunch. After eating in his van, the man reentered the restaurant with a bloody hand and claimed the restaurant was responsible for his injury. Paco’s staff called for Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies, but the man left before deputies arrived.
The Harrison Township man called Paco’s at least four more times, blaming the restaurant for his injury.
Lots of tires flattened
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Officers from Shelby Township were dispatched to the 40000 block of Van Dyke Avenue for a malicious destruction of property complaint at 12:11 a.m. Dec. 8. Upon officers’ arrival to the parking lot, they met with the caller. The caller advised that she noticed her vehicle had two flat tires.
The caller looked around the parking lot and noticed several other vehicles that also had flat tires.
The officers walked through the entire parking lot and found eight vehicles with flat tires. The department had no suspects and the case was turned over to the detective bureau.
Package stolen
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township officer was dispatched to the Police Department’s lobby to meet with a woman whose package had been taken from her porch Dec. 8. The woman said she had purchased Christmas gifts to be delivered to her home. The woman reviewed her doorbell camera surveillance video and observed an unknown male suspect take the items that were sitting on her porch.
Minivan stolen
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they investigated the theft of a Dodge Caravan from the 43000 block of Schoenherr Road Dec. 26.
According to police, the vehicle owner said the Caravan was stolen after it had been left running by itself for approximately 25-30 minutes. The owner reportedly said the minivan was in bad shape and was essentially junk, though it reportedly contained tools that were more valuable than the vehicle.
Police said they were seeking surveillance footage that might have captured the minivan’s theft.
Time to check hemlock trees for invasive species
METRO DETROIT — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are asking for help protecting eastern hemlock trees from an invasive species.
The pests are hemlock woolly adelgid and the best time to catch them feeding is in the winter months. Robert Miller, an MDARD invasive species prevention and response specialist, said this climate triggers feeding activity, making the adelgids easier to spot.
“As hemlock woolly adelgid feeds, it secretes a white, waxy material that creates ovisacs,” he is quoted as saying in a DNR press release. “The presence of these small, round, white masses makes it possible to identify infested trees.”
The insects, which aren’t native to Michigan, drain the nutrients out of the hemlocks. Infestations have been confirmed in Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Leelanau, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Washtenaw counties. Hemlock trees have the following characteristics: Cone- or egg-shaped trees up to 75 feet tall; drooping or feathery branches; flat needles growing individually from the sides of twigs; needles that are dark green on top with two parallel, white stripes underneath; and papery cones about three-quarters of an inch long that hang downward from branches.
You can report an infestation to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, at MISIN.MSU.edu or available as a downloadable smartphone app. Reports can also be submitted by email to MDA-Info@ Michigan.gov or by phone to MDARD at (800) 292-3939.
to leave gas station
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police went to a gas station in the 8000 block of 15 Mile Road Dec. 6 upon hearing that a man wearing a beige hoodie “with cartoons on it” was acting aggressively in the store while disturbing customers and asking for money. Police said they also heard that the man smelled of alcohol.
When police arrived, a manager reportedly said the suspect was refusing to leave, though he reportedly complied once police told him to depart.
Man accused of stealing balls from store
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police heard Dec. 7 about a shoplifting incident at Walmart, 33201 Van Dyke Ave.
Store staff said a man tried to leave the store after failing to scan a basketball and football at the self-checkout. Police said $90.94 worth of unpaid items was found with the suspect. Police said they cited the suspect for third-degree retail fraud.
Woman accused of stealing bathmat set, storage bin
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they went to Target, 2310 Metropolitan Parkway, Dec. 7, upon hearing that a woman grabbed two bathmat sets and two plastic storage bins but allegedly only scanned for purchase one bathmat set and one bin.
Police said the stolen items amounted to $44.99 in value. Although the suspect reportedly said she had scanned all the items and blamed the situation on an equipment failure, police said they cited her for third-degree retail fraud.
Electric scooter riders accused of hitting things
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police heard a Dec. 7 report of two male individuals who were allegedly refusing to leave the premises of Target, 2310 Metropolitan Parkway, despite multiple requests.
The individuals were accused of “hitting things” while riding an electric scooter, police said.
Police said one of the individuals ended up walking away, while the other one reportedly stood outside the building before leaving with his mother. Police took no further action.
Expired tags trouble
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — While patrolling around Shook and Union Lake roads at around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 18, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over a Ford Fusion with an expired license plate tag. The driver, a 24-year-old Detroit woman, told deputies she had an appointment the next day to get new tags and a new license.
GET A SLICE OF THIS
METRO DETROIT — Michigan has good taste when it comes to pizza.
Recently, the McNair Center at Northwood University partnered with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce to conduct an analysis of who serves the best pizza. According to their report released Dec. 16, Michigan is the pizza capital of the United States and maybe even the world.
The study, “Michigan: The Unlikely Pizza Capital of the United States (and the World?),” analyzed the size and scope of the U.S. and global pizza industry and the economic role Michigan plays. The study also looked at the history and economic role in growing the U.S. and global pizza markets, and what role eight entrepreneurs from Michigan had in influencing the size, scope, and quality of the growth.
“We found that across the U.S. and around the world, millions of people speaking different languages were brought together by the common pleasure of consuming pizza, whose origins emanated from entrepreneurial activity within a 60mile radius of downtown Detroit, Michigan,” stated Dr. Timothy G. Nash, one of the study’s authors who led the McNair Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood.
The study determined Michigan is home to four of the top 10 U.S. pizza chains by sales in 2023: Domino’s Pizza at No. 1; Little Caesars Pizza at No. 3; Hungry Howie’s Pizza at No. 8; and Jet’s Pizza at No. 9. Those four institutions accounted for 30.5% of the U.S. pizza sales in 2023, recording a combined $14.36 billion of the $46.98 billion industry total.
According to the results, the four Michigan pizzerias recorded nearly 15% of global pizza sales with $23.6 billion of the $159 billion total. The headquarters for the “Michigan Four” are all located within less than 60 miles of each other in southeast Michigan in Madison Heights, Detroit, Sterling Heights and Ann Arbor.
achieve their career goals and scholarships for future first responders and those seeking careers in skilled trades. The credit union plans to award a total of $130,000 in scholarships this year. “Earning a degree or certification requires a great deal of determination and hard work, along with a significant financial investment,” MSGCU President/CEO Steve Brewer said in a press release. “MSGCU is increasing our scholarship awards this year to support more students in the communities we serve. We have provided over $1.25 million in scholarships since our program started 20 years ago, helping more than 600 recipients complete their education.”
For a scholarship application or more information, visit msgcu.org/scholarships.
driver came by to drive her home.
Guard dog
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 9 p.m. on Dec. 16, a 53-year-old Harrison Township woman entered her apartment in the 36000 block of Union Lake Road to discover it was broken into.
While nothing was stolen, the woman’s dog was nowhere to be found. She told Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies she believed the dog chased off an intruder, which had appeared to access the apartment through a window. Deputies told her the dog had been found by the Clinton Township Police Department.
Condiments caper
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 6 p.m. on Dec. 17, a 45-year-old Harrison Township woman pulled into the driveway of her home in the 43000 block of E. Morgan Court with a rental GMC Terrain. About two hours later, she went outside to find the GMC covered in ketchup and mustard. She called for Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies to report the incident, who were greeted by a condiment-free crossover.
Abandoned trailer
Pups compete in annual dog show
BIRMINGHAM/BEVERLY HILLS — The Birmingham Youth Assistance’s 42nd Annual Kids’ Dog Show will take place from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2 in the Berkshire Middle School gymnasium, located at 21707 W. 14 Mile Road in Beverly Hills.
All participants are required to be checked into the show by 12:30 p.m. Registration to participate has passed. Each year, kids ages 4-14 bring their dogs to compete in a fun competition for prizes. The categories are designed to be low stress and include, Best Costume for dog and child, Best Trick, Waggiest Tail, Best Looking, and Musical Sit, which is a game similar to musical chairs.
Comfort dogs will be at the event, courtesy of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. Kids will also get a chance to learn an easy obedience command from an instructor from the Southern Michigan Obedience Training Club.
“We are thrilled that this fun event has become such a popular tradition in our community,” BYA Chair Ann Nazareth Manning stated in a press release. “The enthusiastic kids who participate each year and the generosity of our sponsors make this show possible and help further the work of Birmingham Youth Assistance.”
Visit birminghamyouthassistance.org/kids-dog-show, for more information.
COREWELL HEALTH CHILDREN’S RECEIVES $1.6 MILLION IN GRANTS
ROYAL OAK — Corewell Health Children’s has recently received $1.6 million in Children’s Miracle Network Grants.
The grants will be used to enhance pediatric programs at Corewell Health Children’s locations, and more than 60 programs received funding.
“The success of the Corewell Health’s Children’s/CMN partnership relies upon the generosity of the entire community,” Matthey Denenberg, M.D., chief of pediatrics for Corewell Health, said in a press release. “Individuals, corporate partners and hospital team members all contribute to provide our pediatric team the opportunity for ongoing advancement in medical care for our youngest patients. Together, we can give children exceptional care that positively impacts their lives.”
The grants included funding for the pediatric social work program, pediatric epilepsy research support, child life therapist program, Corewell Health’s Teen Safe Driving Initiative, more than 480 bike safety helmets for the annual Bike Day event and the purchase of neonatal intensive care unit equipment including ventilators and pediatric vision screeners. For more information on Corewell Health Children’s, visit corewellhealth.org/SEchildrens.
Photo provided by Birmingham Youth Assistance
