NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp
JANUARY 3, 2024 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
Knitting and crocheting group gets social, donates to projects BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Mount Clemens High School varsity boys basketball coach Karlin Traylor cheers the team during a tournament in Detroit.
Local businesswoman puts Bathers basketball on the upswing
ST. CLAIR SHORES — The Senior Activity Center’s knitting and crocheting group makes projects for those in need, and also provides much needed social time for its members. Judy Wendler, a member of the group, said the group makes lap robes for two hospice groups: Grace Hospice and Compassus Hospice. They also donate hats and other items to Big Family of Michigan for the children and sell items at the Senior Activity Center. Wendler said it takes a couple weeks to make a lap robe. “But a lot of the ladies, they knit or crochet here, but then they do it at home, too,” Wendler said. The group has been active for longer than Wendler has been there. They have around 19 members right now. “There were two ladies who started it originally,” Wendler said. “But it’s way before I came here. So it’s been here a long time. They hear about the reactions of hospice patients who are receiving the robes and they are appreciative. “The feeling that somebody made it for them is the highlight,” Wendler said. She also said they have a lot of fun in the group. “For some women, it’s a real social thing,” Wendler said. “You know, older people sometimes live alone, and so for them it’s a weekly See KNITTING on page 9A
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Karlin Traylor is a woman of many hats. Around Macomb County, she’s known as one of the owners of the Slaw Dogsz food trucks and as a daycare operator. But this winter marks a big step forward in one of her other passions. Traylor is the coach of the Mount Clemens High School Battling Bathers varsity boys basketball team, the first woman to occupy the position and her first time coaching boys. “It’s a joy,” Traylor said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity. … We’re like a family and I’m honoring every opportunity to coach young men.” Traylor’s basketball career began as a player for what was at the time the Mount Clemens Middle School Bulldogs in the 7th grade and extended into her high school and college years with spots on the 2006-08 Wayne County Community College and 2008-09 Marygrove College teams. Traylor played as a primarily defensive player. For more than a decade, Traylor took a sabbatical from the world of basketball, until she received a fateful message. “I received an inbox one day on my Facebook from a New Haven coach, Erik Williams,” Traylor See TRAYLOR on page 4A
Women of the knitting and crocheting group make their projects and show them off. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes