RIDGEDALE PLAYERS PRESENTS ‘KNOCK ‘EM DEAD’3A
JANUARY 23, 2025 • Vol. 41, No. 2
City of Troy considers goals for 2025
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — With a new year comes renewed aspirations, and addressing the needs of the public library, evaluating capital projects and maintaining quality public safety services are among the goals for officials in the city of Troy in 2025.
“These priorities have been identified by working closely with City Council, listening to the needs of the Troy community and regularly evaluating Citywide services and facilities,” Troy Communications Director Courtney Flynn stated in an email.
Troy Mayor Ethan Baker stated that he is eager for the city to continue to move forward in 2025.
“Core services and values will be further built upon in 2025 as we take a deeper look at our capital funding needs and investment strategies, knowing that the Troy Public Library building and road funding are amongst the top issues we must address moving forward,” Baker stated via email. “As the Troy City Council meticulously navigates these issues and executes its duties, we will be working side-by-side with City Manager Frank Nastasi to exemplify good governance and to best support the Troy community and its needs.”
The Troy Public Library originally opened at 510 W. Big Beaver Road in 1971 and has circulated more than a million items and had over 300,000 visitors.
MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENTS CAUSE LOCAL WALKING GROUP TO TAKE HIATUS
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — The Troy Historic Village walking group will be taking a break during the winter season as they explore different funding and logistical options in order to continue the group’s activities.
With the assistance of Beaumont Health, the walking group has been a part of the Troy Historic Village since the fall of 2018.
“We didn’t do any walks that winter, but picked it up again in April of 2019 when it became a regular weekly program with continued Beaumont grant support and spearheaded by our
previous Adult Program Director, Stephanie Arwady (who was a marathon runner and avid hiker),” Troy Historic Village Executive Director Jen Peters said in an email.
Participants would generally meet on every Thursday to walk together on different trails in Troy, including at locations such as the Stage Nature Center and Philip J Huber Park. The group would engage in fitness and health activities during the walking period.
The group was free and would usually take place in the evening.
Troy Historic Village Historical Interpreter Sarah Faist had assisted in leading the group on a few separate occasions
Photo provided by the Troy Historic Village
Troy Historic Village’s walking group has been on hiatus. The group is pictured at a previous outing.
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SECOND FRONT PAGE
Teens showcase Indian community through newsletter
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — Local teens are helping to explore and celebrate Michigan’s Indian-American community via the “Little India of Michigan Newsletter.”
The newsletter was founded by Saanvi Saxena and Kai Mastrangel Sood in 2023 when both of them were 15 years old.
Both are juniors in high school, with Saxena attending Troy Athens High School and Sood attending Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak.
The teens met while volunteering at the Detroit
Zoo and bonded over recognizing Saxena’s brown suede bag from Patel Brothers, which led to their current friendship.
“We just started talking about what it meant to be Indian,” Sood said.
Saxena and Sood’s pride for their Indian heritage inspired them to start the newsletter as a way to further explore the stories of the Indian-American community in Michigan and beyond.
“It started with just Kai and I and we wanted to expand to use guest writers,” Saxena said. “Giving people the platform to share their stories is most im-
Ridgedale Players presents ‘Knock ‘Em Dead’
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — The Ridgedale Players will be putting on the comedy murder mystery play “Knock ‘Em Dead” from Jan. 17-19, Jan. 2426, and Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
“Knock ‘Em Dead,” by Tom Oldendick and Will Roberson, follows the contestants of a talent show at Vinnie’s Belly Laugh Club who become murder suspects after the club’s owner is killed.
Some of the colorful characters audiences can expect to see are the owner of a lip-syncing dog, a hypnotist, a singer, a stand-up comedian, a baton twirler, a ventriloquist, and the club’s master of ceremonies. Mature language and themes can be found within this show.
murder 26, and Jan. 31-Feb. 2. lows who the median, emonies.
“We hope the audience have half as much fun as we’ve had rehearsing it,” show director Bill Hellebuyck said.
hearsing
The play allows for audience members to participate in solving
Cast members of the Ridgedale Players’ production of “Knock ‘Em Dead” rehearse for their show, which is running from Jan. 17-19, Jan. 24-26, and Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
Kai Mastrangel Sood, left, and Saanvi Saxena took the initiative to start their own newsletter. The “Little India of Michigan Newsletter” was founded in 2023.
Photo provided by Little India of Michigan Newsletter
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Troy Historic Village announces members-only meet up
TROY — A members-only meeting will be going on from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 for those associated with the Troy Historical Society.
The Troy Historic Village consists of 11 buildings and a gazebo that is designed to share Troy’s history during the 1800s settlement and 1900s growth of that area, with attendees of all ages. The Troy Historical Society is a nonprofit that operates the Troy Historic Village for the city of Troy through a renewable management agreement.
On Saturday, Troy Historical Society members are invited to gather for an informal conversation about the Niles Barnard House’s historic past and vibrant future. This event is hosted by Troy Historical Society Board of Trustees and the conversation is free to all members. Hot drinks and light snacks will be available and current members can RSVP online or by contacting the Village.
“We think these MemberOnly meet ups will be a great way for people with the same interests to get to know each other,” Jen Peters, who is the executive director of the Troy Historic Village, stated in a press release. Information about becoming a member is available on troyhistoricvillage.org.
Young adults seminar to be hosted at Salt Lutheran Church
TROY — The Salt Lutheran Church at 5475 Livernois Road in Troy will be hosting a young adults seminar called “Coping With Life Issues in the 21st Century” on Jan. 25.
From 10 a.m. to noon Mark Nimtz, the director of spiritual education and service at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Birmingham will present the seminar. Nimtz will provide information to young adults ages 18-35 on how to deal with the issues they face today and as well as tips on how to live each day for the Lord, according to information provided about the event.
Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for coffee, water, snacks and conversation before the seminar begins.
Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling (248) 879-6400. For more information, visit saltchurch.net.
CALENDAR
JAN. 27
‘Notre Dame: Twice Restored’: Learn about major efforts to repair medieval cathedral (most recently reopened in December after 2019 fire), part of Preservation Conversations program, 2-3 p.m., Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, register at (248) 524-3570
FEB. 1
Gala concert fundraiser: Benefits Orchestra Association of Troy High, hear music by all five of school’s performing groups, plus soloists from Oakland University School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Troy High graduate and Fox 2 News anchor Roop Raj to emcee, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, desserts and refreshments to follow, 6:30 p.m., Troy High School, 4777 Northfield Parkway, troyhighorchestra. seatyourself.biz
FEB. 3
Troy-area Interfaith Group: Meeting with presentation “Religious Faiths and Nuclear War Dangers: What Time Is It?” by Rev. Richard Peacock,
refreshments to follow, 7 p.m., Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, troy.interfaith@gmail.com, troyinterfaithgroup.org
FEB. 8
Road rally fundraiser: Benefits Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation, teams of 2-4 people solve puzzles around Troy, pizza party to follow, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Athens High School, 4333 John R Road in Troy, register by Feb. 6, (248) 379-9992
ONGOING
Ice skating: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays, noon-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon-9 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays until March 16, also special events from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 24 (Swift Skate), Feb. 14 (Date Skate), Feb. 28 (S’mores Skate) and March 14 (St. Paddy’s Skate), The Rink at Stine Community Park, 241 Town Center Drive in Troy, rec.troymi.gov/ therink
Heritage Concert Band of Troy: Practices for adult concert band musicians, 7 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of month, Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Road, group also performs throughout year, troyheritageband@gmail.com
Compiled by Sarah Wright & Jason Clancy
Photo provided by Troy Historic Village
Nimtz
Eastbound I-696 to
Lahser for 2 years
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
OAKLAND COUNTY — On March 1, the third and final phase of the “Restore the Reuther” project will commence, as eastbound and westbound Interstate 696 between Lahser Road and Interstate 75 will be rebuilt in 2025-2026.
In 2027, I-696 between I-75 and Dequindre Road will see improvements such as the rebuilding of the roadway, bridge work and drainage structures.
Additionally, 60 bridges will be repaired, including the rebuilding of the Church Street Plaza bridge that contains
Victoria Park. During that construction, a walkway detour will be available.
The project is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
Diane Cross, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, clarified that westbound traffic will be maintained while eastbound and westbound I-696 will be rebuilt between Lahser Road and I-75.
“We’re reconstructing all of the freeway, but one year we will reconstruct the eastbound side and one year the westbound side, but we’re going to always let westbound traffic use the freeway, and we’ll just move
See ROAD CLOSURE on page 10A
Newsletter
from page 3A
portant. We’ve accepted other students’ submissions. It’s mostly teenagers, but it’s definitely open to anyone.”
The newsletters cover a wide variety of topics based around the local Indian culture. This includes topics around cosmetics, food and confectionary businesses, student organizations, and government officials among other subjects.
“We covered a woman’s jashan chocolate business,” Saxena said. “They’re homemade chocolate with flavors like mango incorporated into the chocolate. We learned about her family and how (her) teenage son helps market the business.”
“If we can brighten someone’s day, we’re really, truly celebrating how much thought goes into what they do,” Sood said.
The newsletter is available online,
although print versions can be found at various local Hindu temples and Indian businesses.
It has currently grown to over 800 readers and has gained interest with readers outside the Indian community.
“People from school have heard of it, which means our stories are reaching other people,” Saxena said.
After high school, Saxena is interested in becoming a veterinarian and Sood wants to study business law in order to help small businesses. Both are interested in continuing the newsletter after high school.
“We hope new readers see that so much is happening and start acknowledging people and ideas,” Saxena said. “Every single story has value and has taught us a lesson and we hope they’re inspired.”
For more information, visit little india.substack.com.
Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.
Play
from page 3A
the murder and later vote on the culprit. Depending on who the audience votes on, there is a possibility for multiple endings.
“The audience becomes the jury and they can interrogate the actors,” Hellebuyck said. “The votes on the murderer can be based on the answers from the suspects.”
Dennis Moylan plays the hypnotist, “the Great Somnambulo.” This is his fourth show with the Ridgedale Players.
“There’s a level of improv in this show,” Moylan said. “We interact with the audience and they’re on deck to come up with an answer.”
Playing the stand-up comedian Roxie Barn in this production is Alexandra Lancombe. She has been involved with the Ridgedale Players since 2001and has directed a lot of children’s shows with them.
“It’s interesting what people pick up on in this show,” Lancombe said. “They can pick on things that we don’t think is important. It’s a lot of fun.”
Brooklyn Nicole plays the baton twirler Bamby Lynn, who is described as a bimbo with measurements that are higher than her IQ. This is Nicole’s fourth show with Ridgedale and she has also worked with community theatre groups in Royal Oak and Birmingham.
“Nicole said that she gets to be a “zany character that is so ridiculous and different than how I am.”
Calvin Parsell plays the “drama queen” dog trainer Ian Wayne. He has done shows with the Ridgedale Players and in Warren.
“We’ve mostly been joking around,” Parsell said. “Everyone in the cast knows exactly what they need to do and how far to push jokes. It’s difficult without an audience. I’m looking forward to having someone to bounce off of.”
The “Knock ‘Em Dead,” Friday and Saturday shows will be going on at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows will be going on at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors.
For more information, visit ridgedaleplayers. com.
Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.
2025
from page 1A
The library hired the firm Rethinking Libraries in 2023 to assess its current state and to consider potential improvement plans.
The firm’s assessment, as well as survey answers from library staff and community members revealed that more space for recreational activities and library collections is desired.
However, the size of the library, which is around 50,000 square feet, as well as the age of the building, could make major improvements challenging, according to Rethinking Libraries.
“The staff areas in particular, I think that’s one of the biggest areas where this library is really deficient and causing issues that aren’t always seen,” Robert Cullen, a representative with ReThinking Libraries, said during a Troy City Council meeting June 10.
Some of the options to address issues include improving the existing building with no expansions at an estimated cost of $10-$19 million; expanding the building to around 60 to 75,000 square feet at an estimated cost of $20-$35 million; and building a new library that is more than 90,000 square feet within the Civic Center complex, which could cost between $29-$39 million.
A building outside of the Civic Center complex could cost between $33-$43 million.
Although there is a strong push for a new building in the Civic Center complex, city officials have been exploring different possibilities to address the library’s needs.
Public safety
In terms of public safety services, during a City Council meeting Dec. 9, an EMS Feasibility Study Presentation was facilitated by Troy Fire Department Chief Peter Hullinger and Steve Knight, a representative from Fitch & Associates, LLC, a public safety consulting firm.
The presentation emphasized improving response and dispatch times. Specifically, it was noted that there is a possibility for an improvement of between four and six minutes with response times.
See 2025 on page 11A
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 Solutions 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 Larry 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.
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.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Photo provided by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union
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.
RAINBOW PRESCHOOL • CITY OF TROY
Road closure
them around. We’ll either keep them on the original west while we rebuild east, or we’ll move them to the eastbound side while we rebuild west. West will always have two lanes open,” she explained.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured via southbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway/Northwestern Highway), eastbound M-8 (Davison Highway) and northbound I-75 back to eastbound I-696.
“But of course, not everybody’s going to use that detour. So therefore, a side effect, unfortunately, for the project, is we’re going to have a lot of eastbound, heavier traffic on the mile roads,” Cross said. “If somebody’s only going to Royal Oak, they are not going to take that detour, they’re going to just jump on a mile road, whether it’s Eight Mile, anywhere up to M-59, depending on where they’re going. Eastbound is going to be the one that’s going to see heavier traffic on local roads for two years and will be detoured for two years,” Cross said.
She added that this is the first time since the highway was constructed nearly 40 years ago that it has seen a total rehab, and with the exception of Interstate 94, it will be another 20 years before this part of the
state has another major freeway reconstruction project.
“It’s a huge investment for Oakland County,” Cross said. “Yeah, it’s a pain in the neck; we totally get that. We all drive the same roads. We drive them, our families drive them, and we hear about it all the time, but what an investment to Oakland County — another $250 million into the local economy of jobs and services, and that kind of thing says what we value, I think, as a state.”
The total investment for I-696’s three phases of construction is $655 million, with this last phase totaling $250 million, which MDOT is funding through the “Rebuilding Michigan” bond program and the federal “Reconnecting Communities” grant program.
This last stretch of the project supports 2,385 jobs, directly or indirectly, according to an MDOT press release.
The communities of Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Southfield and Warren will be directly impacted by the project.
Southfield, known as the “center of it all,” drew roughly 150,000 commuters to the city before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the city’s mayor, Kenson Siver.
“It’s going to be a major inconvenience for our businesspeople and our residents, but
it’s beyond our control and some needed repairs are necessary for the highway,” Silver said. “Road construction is always inconvenient, but we have to live with the reality of it because we need safe roads, and we need roads that are in good repair.”
Siver added that as a Southfield resident for more than 50 years, he remembers using the mile roads before I-696 was constructed.
“We went east to west on mile roads, and that’s what we’ll be doing again,” he said. “And I remember after 696 opened, that the amount of traffic, particularly on 10 and 11 Mile roads, decreased significantly because people switched to the freeway. And so I
The last phase of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s “Restore the Reuther” project is slated to begin on March 1. Eastbound and westbound I-696 between Lahser Road and I-75 is set to be rebuilt in 2025-2026.
would expect that they’ll all continue to get around, and it’ll just take us longer and be less convenient.”
Pleasant Ridge City Manager James Breuckman said the closure is going to “definitely” change the regional travel patterns for the city’s residents.
“Obviously, you close down 696 eastbound and it’s going to have a major impact,” he said. “We don’t know what the exact local impact on us is going to be. … We’re going to wait and see how travel patterns change because, beforehand, we can predict but we don’t know what the actual impact on traffic
Photo by
Patricia O’Blenes
from page 7A
It was found that on average, units spent around 30.7 minutes per call on calls that didn’t result in patient transport, and 72 minutes per call for incidents that resulted in patient transport.
“Overall, what this really shows . . . is that you’re running EMS calls in all corners of the city, and it really supports what we would refer to as a commensurate risk model, which means everybody gets the same level of service across the community,” Knight said.
The total response time for all emergency calls for the public was 13.5 minutes at the 90th percentile, with travel time at 10.1 minutes. The total response time for nonemergency calls was 18.8 minutes, with travel time at 13.7 minutes.
“So the takeaway is, if you think about the total response time . . . at 13.5 minutes you know 13.5 to 10 is not the return on investment that you would get if you get closer to the five minutes,” Knight said. “So there’s good policy context around trying to navigate where you want to set your expectations and level of service.”
In order to meet a travel time of six
minutes, having two stations staffed with four ambulances was suggested.
To ensure that community needs are being addressed, five ambulances would be required during the busiest parts of each day and four ambulances would be needed overnight, seven days a week.
“The additional administrative capacity required to operate a municipal EMS service would require approximately $1.39m per year,” according to a PowerPoint presentation at the Dec. 9 meeting. “The per unit personnel costs for EMTs and Paramedics is approximately $756K.”
City officials will further consider setting policy for this at a later date.
Plans for 2025 goals were also discussed at a City Council special meeting on Jan. 11.
“During this daylong session several priority projects, including the need for a new library, improving roads and continuing to support public safety, were identified,” Flynn said in an email. “Discussions also included exploring potential strategies for addressing these priorities, which will be further developed and presented in upcoming public meetings.”
For more information, visit troymi.gov.
Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.
Walking
and admired the sense of community found in the walking group.
“One of the days I was there, about 15 people were in attendance. Most of them knew each other and I only knew a few as they had volunteered at the village for various events,” Faist said in an email. “Everyone was so friendly! I was quickly introduced by the ones that knew me and felt like I was already part of the group for years.”
According to Faist, the group walked for about 45 minutes. She described what happened during the course of the walk.
“I found myself moving to different parts of the group chatting with everyone,” Faist stated. “I got a feeling of community during the walk.”
Beaumont Health contributed an annual $3,000 grant to support the village’s healthy initiatives programs, including their monthly walking group, summer yoga, summer Saturday hikes, and various fitness challenges from 2020-2023, with the programs offered by the village to guests for free.
However, since Beaumont Health’s merger with Corewell Health, the grant program was stopped in 2024.
“Seeking new funding resources, we gratefully received $750 from the Troy Community Foundation which helped fill the gap, but it was not enough to financially support our ability to continue to provide these programs for free,” Peters stated in a letter to walking group participants. “You may have noticed that we didn’t do any Fitness Challenges or Summer Saturday hikes this past year, and that we had significantly fewer Museum Yoga sessions, too. We are sad
to not be able to offer these programs right now because we know they are well loved, but, unfortunately, we do not have the funding. This was something Stephanie and I had talked about this past summer, but we hadn’t made any official decisions until we began planning the Dec-Jan-Feb program schedule.”
Also contributing to the group’s hiatus was Arwady’s departure from the Troy Historic Village.
“Walking Group and other Healthy Initiative programs have been one of the “extra passions” that Stephanie brought with her to her job at the Village,” Peters stated in her letter. “Other staff members bring a passion for theater, science, or woodworking, but Stephanie was our health and fitness guru! While these programs haven’t completely aligned with our mission at the Troy Historic Village, we’ve been happy to have Stephanie explore them with grant support. When Stephanie decided to take another position, it made sense to take a break and wait to see if the next person would hold the same interests or different ones.”
In spite of these issues, the Troy Historic Village has been looking into efforts to continue the walking group by looking into other funding options. However, currently there hasn’t been any success with those efforts.
“Right now we are working with Troy Rec to see if they can pick up this program as it aligns with their mission much more than it aligns with ours,” Peters stated in her email. “This is the most likely move forward with the walking group.”
According to Peters, the group was particularly important during the pandemic.
“Even in weeks of bad weather, we would
See WALKING on page 15A
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Road closure
from page 10A
is going to be. And if we find that we have problems, we’ll address them and we’ll react and do all those as best we can. But it’s going to be an inconvenience to everybody.”
Aside from the traffic disruption and the inconveniences it will cause, Breuckman does see positives in the construction with the investment and improvement in infrastructure.
As for how the project will affect local businesses, Breuckman stated that Pleasant Ridge has a business mix of professional offices and services, but not many retail stores.
“I believe that our businesses will likely be OK,” he said. “They’re serving, generally, a clientele who is either already close by and won’t be coming from regional destinations, or they’re service providers whose clients may not even need to come to their offices because they can do things remotely. So, I think our business community should be relatively unaffected by this other than that baseline level of inconvenience that we’ll all be living through.”
Ryan Ringold, the chief marketing officer at Bionicc Body Screening, said that the two-year closure is going to be an inconvenience to the clients visiting the MRI clinic,
which is located at the northeast corner of Northwestern Highway and Lahser Road in Southfield.
“The thought for a lot of people of going into an MRI machine is already overwhelming and can make them feel anxious, some a lot more than others. But when they’re coming and already feeling a little anxious about having the service done, adding to that by taking longer, fighting traffic, I mean, that itself can be overwhelming for people, so I think it’s kind of a double whammy for them,” Ringold said.
Cross highlighted the importance of drivers staying alert to ensure the safety of construction workers.
“We are working on the side of the road in a hard hat, a vest, a cone, a barrel, maybe a barrier wall, trying to get home to our families the same way you’re trying to get home to your family,” she said. “You got to slow down. You can’t be distracted. Whatever it is that you think is more important is not more important than killing someone or killing yourself in order to get somewhere or read a text or something.”
MDOT is planning a public meeting for early February, with the date expected to be announced soon.
To stay updated on MDOT’s Oakland County projects, visit drivingoakland.com.
Staff Writer Mike Koury contributed to this report.
Op. Ed. With Friends Like Tese
Winston Churchill said: A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year – and to have the ability afterward to explain why it didn’t happen. Of course, our local politicians are so comfortably out of touch with their community that they no longer bother to ofer explanations of any sort.
Our state Senator Mike Webber fnally announced in 2023 the allocation of funds for the construction of sound walls along I-75 in Troy. Our neighbors vociferously complained about the ongoing noise pollution stemming from the expansion of the highway beginning in 2018. Yet to date there is no sign of the sound walls, nor can any be expected given the efcacy of our advocate in Lansing. Tat is perhaps the reason why Mr. Webber’s meetings in Troy with the community are few and far between. It is rather difcult for any politician to explain his failures in achieving the necessities of his constituents while at the same time explaining how the lobbyists that buy his votes for the cost of a free sandwich get all their wishes granted.
Of course, our community would not need handouts from the state if did not experience signifcant reductions in statutory revenue sharing payments over the years. Due to these cuts cities and towns throughout Michigan have lost their ability to maintain basic infrastructure and provide necessary services to their communities. By not addressing these challenges on our behalf Senator Webber risks far more than our neighbors’ peace and quiet, he risks this community’s health and wellbeing. It was perhaps with issues like this in mind that Mark Twain told us: Politicians are like diapers. Tey must be changed often, and for the same reason.
REN NUSHAJ – Attorney / Prosecutor
Ren@MichiganTreeInitiative.org
CRIME WATCH
Items go missing from storage unit
TROY — On Dec. 30, a resident reported that a unit that she has at Public Storage, located at 1404 E. Big Beaver Road, was broken into.
She reportedly checked her unit approximately two weeks prior to the break-in and locked it with a padlock.
When she returned, the padlock was still locked but when she opened the unit, her items had been moved and appeared to have been gone through.
Purses, shoes, financial documents, and other miscellaneous items were missing from the storage unit.
Officer apprehends driver under the influence of Xanax
TROY — At approximately 4 a.m. Jan. 1, officers were dispatched to the area W. Maple and Crooks roads area for a report of a possibly intoxicated driver who was driving on the rims of his vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse stopped in the left lane with the hazard lights on and recent damage to the front of the vehicle.
Officers spoke to the driver, a 69-yearold male from Clawson, who was unable to explain what he hit and did not know that he was missing a tire.
The driver admitted to taking two Xanax pills prior to driving.
After performing poorly on several sobriety evaluations, the driver was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs and transported to the Troy Police Department.
The case was turned over to the detective bureau, pending blood test results.
Editor: Mark Vest | (586) 498-1052 | mvest@candgnews.com
Reporter: Sarah Wright| (586) 498-1068 | swright@candgnews.com
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Traffic stop leads to arrest of inebriated driver
TROY — At 12:44 a.m. Jan. 3, officers initiated a traffic stop around Livernois and Wattles roads due to the driver of a 2023 Ford F-150 speeding and not maintaining a single lane.
Upon speaking with the driver, a 28-year-old male from Sterling Heights, officers noted he had slurred speech and that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from the inside of his vehicle.
The driver reportedly performed poorly on several sobriety evaluations.
He was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Department. He agreed to submit to a chemical breath test, with the results coming back as .174% and .181%.
The case was turned over to the detective bureau for appropriate charges.
Officers investigate check fraud at local bank
TROY — At 4:31 p.m. Dec. 17, officers responded to a report of a check fraud in progress at a bank located on W. Big Beaver Road.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with the bank manager who advised that two suspects entered the bank and that each presented checks for the same business.
The bank contacted the listed business and confirmed the checks were fraudulent.
The two female suspects, a 44-year-old and a 19-year-old, both from Detroit, were detained leaving the bank and placed into custody for uttering and publishing.
They were transferred to the Troy Police Department for processing.
Intoxicated driver apprehended on New Year’s Day
TROY — At 3:27 a.m. Jan. 1, officers initiated a traffic stop around E. Big Beaver and John R roads due to the driver of a 2018
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Jeep Compass reportedly committing multiple traffic violations.
Upon speaking with the driver, a 30-year-old male from St. Clair Shores, officers noted he had slurred speech and that there was an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The driver reportedly performed poorly on several sobriety evaluations.
He submitted to a preliminary breath test, which came back with a result of .226%.
The driver was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Department.
During an inventory search of his ve-
hicle, officers located a flask in the back seat passenger area that contained alcohol.
The driver submitted to a chemical breath test, with results of .256% and .260%.
The case was turned over to the detective bureau for appropriate charges.
Victim’s car stolen from apartment parking lot
TROY — Sometime between Dec. 16
See CRIME on page 15A
TROY SCHOOL DISTRICT
ADVERTISEMENT TO BID #2425-11
Bid Package T1
Elementary Paging and Emergency Notifcation
Troy School District is requesting proposals for elementary paging and emergency notifcation. Bid documents will be available for examination and distribution on or after January 7th, 2025. To obtain documents go to:
Link to project: http://bit.ly/BMBids
Bid proposals will be received by Troy School District through BuildingConnected.com by January 27th, 2025 at 1:00 PM local time when they will be publicly opened and streamed at https://bit.ly/TroyBPT1BidOpening. The District will not open, consider, or accept any bids received after the date and time specifed.
The Bid Proposal must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized disclosure in compliance with MCL 380.127 disclosing any familial relationship that exists between the bidder, or any employee of the bidder, and any member of the Board of Education of the school district or the Superintendent of the school district. The District will not consider a bid proposal that does not include this sworn and notarized disclosure statement.
Bidders are required to submit with their Bid Proposal a Bid Security by a qualifed surety authorized to do business in the state where the Project is located or a certifed/cashier’s check in the amount of fve (5) percent of the Base Bid amount(s). The district will not consider a bid proposal that does not include the required bid security.
An online pre-bid meeting will be held on January 10th, 2025 at 10:00 AM. The meeting can be accessed by the following link https://bit.ly/TroyBPT1PreBid. The meeting is not mandatory, but bidders are responsible for the content discussed at the meeting. Attendees will be given the opportunity to walk the buildings.
The Board of Education reserves the right to: reject any or all bid proposals, either in whole or in part; waive any informalities or irregularities in the bidding process; accept bid alternates; and to award a contract in any manner deemed by the Board of Education, in its sole discretion, to be in their best interests.
0109-2504
Published: Troy Times 01/23/2025
CITY OF TROY
THE 2025 BOARD OF REVIEW FOR THE CITY OF TROY WILL MEET AT THE CITY OFFICES IN CONFERENCE ROOM C, 500 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD ON:
TUESDAY MARCH 4TH (Organizational meeting) 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In session to hear appeals:
MONDAY MARCH 10TH 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
TUESDAY MARCH 11TH 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM WEDNESDAY MARCH 12TH 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM THURSDAY MARCH 13TH 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Be advised the City of Troy, 2025 Board of Review will be in session on the above dates and times in Conference Room C at Troy City Hall, 500 W. Big Beaver – Troy, Michigan 48084. CONTACT THE ASSESSING DEPARTMENT AT (248) 524-3311 BY MARCH 13th, NO LATER THAN 9:00AM, FOR AN APPOINTMENT. This notice is hereby posted as required by Section 4 of the Open Meetings Act (MCLA 15.261 et seq.).
Kelly Timm City Assessor
POSTED: January 23, 2025
PUBLISHED: January 23, 2025 February 6, 2025 February 20, 2025
NOTICE: Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in this meeting should contact the City Clerk at (248) 524-3316 at least two working days in advance of the meeting. An attempt will be made to make reasonable accommodations.
Crime
page 14A
and Dec. 17, a resident reported that his 2018 Volkswagen Passat was stolen from the parking lot of his apartment complex overnight by an unknown person.
The vehicle was later recovered in Detroit.
Victim loses money in investment scam
TROY — On Dec. 27, a resident reported that he was in a chat group on Telegram and received a link advertising an investment opportunity.
The victim spoke to the subject and decided to send $200 through CashApp for the investment.
The subject then sent him a screenshot of his investment return, showing $5,750.
The victim was told he needed to pay 10% to release the funds. He sent an additional transfer of $575.
Shortly after, the victim discovered it was a scam.
Instagram purchase revealed to be fraudulent
TROY — Sometime between Dec. 27 at 7:34 p.m. and Dec. 28 at 12 a.m., a resident from Troy Street reported that she
Walking
from page 12A
received an unsolicited offer via Instagram to purchase an iPhone 12 mini for $120.
The victim agreed to buy the phone from the unknown person. She provided her home address for shipping and transferred the money via Cash App.
The victim later discovered the Instagram account she was corresponding with had been reported for fraud.
Inebriated driver reportedly causes multiple-vehicle accident
TROY — At 11:07 p.m. Dec. 27, officers were dispatched to E. Big Beaver and Rochester roads for a report of a traffic crash involving three vehicles.
Upon speaking with the at-fault driver, a 22-year-old male from New Boston, officers noted he was unsteady on his feet and that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person.
When asked, the driver advised he had three beers prior to driving.
The driver refused several sobriety evaluations and refused to take a preliminary breath test.
He was arrested and transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and a blood draw.
The case was turned over to the detective bureau for appropriate warrants, pending results from the blood draw.
— Sarah Wright
have 5 or 6 die hard walkers,” she stated. “Other weeks we would have as many as 20 or 25!”
Troy Historic Village representatives have informed walking group members of the issues and offered information about continuing as a self-led group if they’re interested.
“So far no one has requested this from us,” Peters said in an email. “Should someone want to continue it, we would have our group Opt-in to a new list because we don’t just hand out personal emails from our programming lists.”
For more information, visit troyhistoricvillage.org.
Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.
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THE GRAMMYS
Vehicle crashes into courtyard
HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, around 8:13 p.m. Dec. 15, officers were sent to the Country Boy Restaurant at 821 E. Nine Mile Road on report of a vehicle crashing into the courtyard where the restaurant’s outdoor seating area is located.
Officers arrived and spoke to a witness who had observed a gray Chevrolet Trailblazer that had been traveling west on Nine Mile Road before jumping the curb and crashing through the fence around the courtyard. The witness had called 911 and remained on scene to point out the driver. No injuries were reported.
Upon speaking with the female driver of the suspect vehicle, police learned that she had been driving home from work prior to the accident. Officers allegedly smelled a heavy odor of intoxicants from the driver. She reportedly admitted to having two beers and one shot of liquor earlier that night. She failed roadside sobriety tests and was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
Vehicle stolen and recovered
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Dec. 11, an officer was dispatched to the 5400 block of South Piccadilly Circle to take a report about a stolen vehicle.
The reporting party told the officer that their unlocked vehicle was parked overnight Dec. 10-11 in front of their home with the keys in the ignition.
Once they discovered the vehicle missing, they called the police.
The vehicle was recovered in Detroit Dec. 21.
According to a report, police were investigating.
Vehicle reported stolen
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Dec. 11, an officer was dispatched to the 5500 block of Beauchamp Place to take a report about a stolen vehicle.
The reporting party informed the officer that their vehicle was parked overnight in their driveway, possibly unlocked and possibly with the key fob left in it.
Once they discovered the vehicle missing, they called the police.
The vehicle was recovered in Detroit the following day.
According to a report, police were investigating.
Physical fight breaks out after crash
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 8:30 a.m. Dec. 20, an officer was dispatched to Frank and Pierce streets for a report of two women fighting after their vehicles collided near Barnum Park.
One of the drivers, a 25-year-old Clawson resident, said that the road was icy and her vehicle slid into the back of another vehicle, driven by a
and began fighting in the street.
The 36-year-old woman said that the 25-year-old spit at her and bit her finger. The 25-year-old said the 36-year-old grabbed her hair and punched her.
Both were issued citations for disorderly conduct, with the 25-year-old receiving an additional ticket for failure to stop within an assured clear distance ahead.
Police find weapons, drugs in vehicle
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 6 a.m. Dec. 31, officers were dispatched to a gas station in the 34700 block of Woodward Avenue for a reported family dispute.
A 51-year-old Birmingham woman said that her husband took her cellphone after they bought and snorted cocaine, the remainder of which was in his vehicle.
The 56-year-old Birmingham man confirmed his wife’s statements and told police to check his trunk. There, officers found several containers of cocaine and cocaine paraphernalia.
They handcuffed the man, who repeatedly asked officers to collect his backpack from his vehicle. They did, and in it discovered a switchblade, a stun gun and pills in an unmarked prescription bottle.
The man was arrested and taken into custody.
Drunk man headbutts woman
BIRMINGHAM — Officers were dispatched to a bar in the 400 block of North Old Woodward for an assault on Dec. 20 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The suspect, a 24-year-old Birmingham man, had reportedly headbutted an acquaintance, a 44-year-old Bloomfield Hills woman, in the face. The victim had been trying to help the suspect, whom she and multiple witnesses believed to be highly intoxicated.
Officers also observed signs of extreme alcohol intoxication in the suspect, which was confirmed by a breathalyzer.
The suspect was charged with disturbing the peace and assault and battery.
Unlocked car, valuables stolen from driveway
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A woman reported that her white 2024 Jeep Wrangler Sahara was parked in the circle driveway of her home in the 5000 block of Provincial Drive when it was stolen Dec. 19.
The car was unlocked with the key fob inside. Inside of the vehicle was a white Louis Vuitton purse, work laptop and black Gucci sunglasses.
The total estimated value is $4,400. On Dec. 19, the vehicle was recovered.
Police were investigating.
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.
Car with $7,300 worth of goods inside stolen, recovered
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A white 2020 BMW X7 was stolen from a driveway in the 2800 block of Meadowwood Lane Dec. 18.
There were no signs of forced entry. Inside the vehicle were two black Nuna car seats, one black Nuna twin stroller, one black Chanel diaper bag, and one black Moncler jacket with a fur-lined hood.
The items were valued at $7300. The vehicle was recovered on Dec. 21.
Police were investigating.
Fraudulent contractor
MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect was hired by a Rochester Hills resident, 46, to transport a vehicle from California to a location in the 31000 block of Stephenson Highway in Madison Heights. The suspect, however, never brought the vehicle or answered follow-up phone calls. The arrangement was reportedly made in mid-December.
Vehicle damaged in dispute
MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect damaged a vehicle belonging to a Madison Heights resident, 68, when the two got into an argument in the 29000 block of Tawas Avenue around 7:30 a.m. Dec. 13.
Unattended firearm stolen from McDonald’s bathroom
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 8:51 a.m. Dec. 19, an unknown person stole the complainant’s firearm after leaving it unattended in the bathroom of a McDonald’s at 423 W. 11 Mile Road.
Arrest made in vandalism incidents
FERNDALE — Ferndale police arrested a suspect who allegedly committed multiple acts of vandalism in late December and New Year’s Day.
Police stated that a 54-year-old Ferndale resident was arrested for allegedly vandalizing three local businesses.
The vandalism took place at 359 Fit Gym, 918 W. Nine Mile Road, at 10 p.m. Dec. 27; Red Olive Restaurant, 750 W. Nine Mile at midnight Jan. 1; and Dairy Queen, 941 W. Nine Mile, between the evening of Dec. 31 and the morning of Jan. 1.
According to a Ferndale Police Department social media post, surveillance footage showed the suspect throwing rocks at the glass windows of the businesses.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3, a member of the Ferndale Police Department observed an individual
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.
and educators 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.
eastbound on Nine Mile near Paxton Street. Officers reportedly approached the individual, confirmed he was the person seen in the security footage and took him into custody without incident. He has been charged with malicious destruction of property.
Individual arrested after waving a gun in local business
SOUTHFIELD — A business called Southfield police after an altercation ensued at 5:06 p.m. on Dec. 16 in the 24000 block of Northwestern Highway, with one individual reportedly waving a gun in the air.
The individual responsible was located a short time later and taken into custody.
Methamphetamine found on suspect with an arrest warrant
TROY — Officers responded to a report of a suspicious person at a McDonald’s at 36895 Dequindre Road on Dec. 8 at 12:18 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers identified a 37-year-old male from Mount Clemens, and found he had a warrant for his arrest in Warren. The warrant was confirmed and the male was placed under arrest.
During a search of his person, officers located a small container in his hoodie pocket that contained a rock of suspected crystal meth. A small baggie containing additional suspected crystal meth was also found in the suspect’s wallet.
The substance in the baggie later tested positive for methamphetamine. The male was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Department, where he was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Intoxicated driver observed striking multiple curbs TROY — At 12:34 a.m. Dec. 13, officers responded to the area of Stephenson Highway and E. Maple Road after a caller reported observing a red Ford F-150 driving all over the road and striking multiple curbs before pulling into the parking
the Troy Police Department lock-up facility. She agreed to submit to a chemical breath test, with results of 0.313% and 0.342%. She was issued a citation for operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more.
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.
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
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
