Retired teachers maintain friendship
Rochester Hills mayor shares goals for 2025
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Although 2024 was a tough year for the city of Rochester Hills — following the June shooting at the Brooklands Splash Pad — Mayor Bryan Barnett said it was a year that reminded him “even in the darkest of times, hope, resilience, and gratitude can shine through.”
Immediately after the June 15 shooting, Barnett shared
that the tragedy itself would not define the city, its response would.
Over the past six months, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to support the 10 people injured in the shooting and their families — through roadside lemonade stands, 5K runs, bike groups and restaurant fundraisers.
And the support doesn’t stop there. A resiliency center, a program of Common Ground, is set to open in January at the
See GOALS on page 10A
ROCHESTER LOOKS AHEAD TO MAJOR PROJECTS IN 2025
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
ROCHESTER — The year 2025 will be a busy one for the city of Rochester, according to Mayor Nancy Salvia.
At the top of the 2025 to-do list are three large projects in the city.
“These don’t happen overnight, so 2025 is really the implementation of three big projects,” Salvia said. “They are all city-owned, city-led projects.”
The modernization and expansion of The Community House is slated to start in 2025. Nestled in the Rochester Municipal Park at 816 Ludlow, the Rochester Community House is a private, nonprofit organization that has opened its doors to the public, receiving its operating revenue from donations, enrichment classes, building rentals and fundraisers since 1975.
Over 45 years later, the Community House serves thousands of residents and businesses annually through its support of local nonprofits, enrichment and education classes, and room rentals for weddings, reunions, fundraisers, business functions and other events.
“Twenty-eight nonprofits now use the building, either weekly or once or twice a year, so we just keep getting more of them, which is great,” Community House Director Alan Smith said.
The goal of The Community House’s renovation, city officials said, is to improve the appearance and
See ROCHESTER on page 4A
The city’s first dog park will be constructed in a reimagined Eugene S. Nowicki Park this year.
Photo by Mary Beth Almond
Head-on crash kills woman, injures 3 others in Oakland Township
driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee with two passengers — his 62-year-old wife and a 66-year-old woman from Livonia.
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — A Livonia woman is dead and three others injured following a head-on crash on Rochester Road in Oakland Township Dec. 27.
First responders were called to a vehicle crash on Rochester Road, near Beach Drive, at 1:53 p.m., according to a press release from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
A 19-year-old Oakland Township man was driving a 2011 Ford Edge south on Rochester Road when his vehicle crossed the centerline and hit a northbound 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said it was unclear why the 19-year-old crossed into the other lane.
A 62-year-old Clarkston man was
The Clarkston man and his wife were taken to the hospital by the Oakland Township Fire Department paramedics. At press time, the man was listed in stable condition, while his wife was listed in critical condition.
The Ford Edge driver was transported to the hospital by Airlift Flight Service and was listed in stable condition at press time.
The Livonia woman, who was in the back seat of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, was pronounced dead at the scene almost 24 hours to the minute after her 66-year-old husband fell through the ice while ice fishing with his grandson on Lake George in Addison Township Dec. 26.
Occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts, according to authorities, who said alcohol does not appear to be a factor.
Investigators believe Mary Lou Levitan, 66, of Livonia, was traveling to pick up her husband’s vehicle when the crash occurred.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy that
has befallen this family in a very short time,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a prepared statement Dec. 29. “Two tragic and unrelated incidents happen within 24 hours of each other. It’s hard to wrap your hands around it. Our prayers are with the family.”
Authorities said a quick-acting neighbor and emergency teams from the Sheriff’s Office and Addison Township Fire Department rescued the 66-year-old Livonia man and his grandson from the lake. The 15-year-old grandson, a resident of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, was treated and released after the incident. The grandfather, Scott Christopher Levitan, was removed from life support at a local hospital shortly after 1 p.m. Dec. 31, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The two were drilling a hole to go ice fishing when the ice gave way and the grandfather fell into the water. The grandson called 911 and then attempted to help his grandfather out of the water, but the ice broke and he fell into the water too. The neighbor saw the pair fall and quickly grabbed a kayak. He was able to assist the
boy out of the water and then grabbed a second kayak to assist the grandfather. The neighbor could not remove the grandfather because the ice kept breaking, but he was able to keep the grandfather’s head above the water until help arrived.
Addison Township firefighters were able to get a line around the grandfather and pull him onto safer ice, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Paramedics then performed CPR and took the grandfather to the hospital.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the car crash.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
AROUND THE WORLD WITH DOUG HILL
MAN TAKING FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVE FOR SPORTS WORLDWIDE
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Growing up a sports fan really is the luck of the draw based on where you grow up.
If you’re near a lively downtown scene with multiple teams to its name, sports will likely be more involved in your life simply by proximity.
For Macomb Township resident and Eastern Michigan University graduate Doug Hill, growing up in Decatur, Indiana, for the first 11 years of his life, before moving to St. Clair Shores, meant the Indiana Pacers, the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers were the hometown teams.
Unfortunately, the Pacers weren’t necessarily anything to write home about, nor were any of the teams close in location.
“Growing up in a tiny town in Indiana, my window in the world was through the television and seeing these different events,” Hill said.
So when Hill, 57, retired from Rochester Community Schools — where he was a teacher and union president — in
June of this year after 25 years, the freedom of retirement opened up the opportunity to make up for lost time in the sporting event world.
With a chance to start something new in his hands, Hill took inspiration from his days as a middle school English teacher by mirroring Jules Verne’s book “Around the World in Eighty Days,” but putting his own spin on it.
“As a sports fan my entire life and former sports fan in a previous career, for me it was always, ‘Well, maybe I can make something happen about seeing different sporting events,’” Hill said. “I kind of laid out this whole idea of basically spending an entire year going to all these marquee events.”
Sports has always been at the epicenter of Hill’s life whether it was his time as a sports journalist with the Ann Arbor News, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska, The Oakland Press, and the Detroit Free Press, or countless times he and his wife, Carol, took their two children, now 27 and 23 years old, to Detroit Tigers games all over the country.
“We used to follow the Tigers,” said Carol Hill, Doug’s wife of nearly 30 years. “Wherever the Tigers played, we would go there. We would go to Toronto, Baltimore, Boston. The kids loved it, and they enjoyed the sport as well.”
What marquee events made the list, you ask? Hill is well
See HILL on page 12A
Retired teachers maintain
friendship at assisted living facility
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
BIRMINGHAM/ROCHESTER HILLS
— Carol Schraeger, 81, and Carol Petersen, 92, are affectionately known as “the Carols” at American House Village of Rochester.
From working together at Pembroke Elementary School in Birmingham Public Schools in the ‘80s to living in the same assisted living facility, the two women are nearly inseparable.
“We met at the point in time when I had received a principalship at Pembroke Elementary in Birmingham Schools, and I had the pleasure of being able to hire. Carol was working elsewhere in the district, but she had been sent over for the interview, and it was sort of obvious. I mean, we just clicked right at the beginning, and I had the good fortune to be able to hire
her,” Schraeger remarked.
Petersen said, “I had five children of my own, and then I had four stepchildren, so I was used to having children around, and I have wonderful children. I’m a very lucky person and I loved the kids at school. It was just like I was plunked down in the perfect spot for me.”
Although the pair didn’t meet until the 1980s, Petersen shared that when she was new to Birmingham, she couldn’t send her children to school because the teachers were on strike. Schraeger laughed and shared that she was a new teacher that year, in 1966.
Schraeger reflected on her career in the Birmingham Public School District.
“I was in Birmingham for a total of 37 years, but going all the way back, I’m from Ohio,” she said. “I got my degree at Bowling
See TEACHERS on page 7A
Doug Hill and his father, Jerry Hill, take in a Chicago Cubs game decades after their last Cubs game together.
Photo provided by Doug Hill
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Carol Schraeger, left, and Carol Petersen, are colleagues turned lifelong friends from working together at Pembroke Elementary in Birmingham Public Schools in the 1980s. The two now reside at the same assisted living facility.
Rochester
useability, and to make the building as maintenance-free as possible for the foreseeable future. Plans call for the northern portion of the building to be removed and replaced with a much larger conference and gathering space, an improved lookout meeting room to the east, and a walk-out basement space with a second kitchen. The south end of the building would get new decking and siding, a roof, and other improvements.
“We will probably start construction in early spring — as soon as we can,” Salvia added.
The city will welcome a year-round farmers’ market with a community gathering space in 2025 via a project called Market + The Graham.
“Right now, demolition is taking place on the inside of the Graham building,” Salvia shared.
The reimagined space — which includes the existing farmers’ market lot at the corner of Third and Water and the former Animal Emergency Center Building, 265 E. Second Street — will include a performance stage, expanded indoor/outdoor market spaces, ADA accessibility, restrooms, seating and landscaping. The Graham name is a tribute to the first settlers of Rochester, the James Graham family, who settled in the city in 1817. City officials said The Graham will celebrate Rochester’s rich farming history through a display of photos, artifacts and implements inside the revamped animal hospital, which will be used for a year-round farmers market and event space. The goal is to complete the project by the summer.
The Rochester City Council also recently approved $500,000 for a skate park in its 2025 fiscal budget, which began July 1, 2024. The Greater Rochester Skate Park Leadership Advisory Team, or SPLAT, has been working to secure a skate park in the city since 2013 following the closing of the former indoor South Street Skatepark. South Street Skateshop owners Von and Linda Gallaher and former Rochester Mayor Cathy Daldin have been at the helm, urging the City Council to provide a dedicated environment for skateboarders that they say would help foster a sense of community and belonging among youth. Preliminary plans include an above-ground “plaza-style” skate park to be built in the grassy area just north of the baseball diamond at Scott Street Park, located at 580 Woodward. A community visioning session will be held via Zoom once the city hires a company to design and build the project. Construction will likely begin in early spring and city officials are hoping for a summer dedication.
city of Rochester
“This summer we’re going to have a fun place to hangout and do skateboard tricks,” Salvia said. “It’s gonna be great.”
Another large project will involve working to restore a portion of the Clinton River Trail that was wiped out by torrential rainfall in July 2024. The city closed the trailhead between Dequindre Road and Letica Drive, near mile marker 1/2, immediately after Salvia said it “washed out completely,” creating a 100-foot-long, 12-foot-deep gap that has affected trail access and impacted the nearby heron rookery.
“Right now, from a trail standpoint, we are disconnected from Macomb County, which doesn’t feel good to have that disconnection in our trail way system. We all love our trails,” Salvia said.
City officials estimate the cost to be around $4 million to repair the trail. The city of Rochester, Oakland County, Friends of the Clinton River Trail, and several other entities are working on repairs and encouraging members of the public to donate to the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester with funds designated for the “FCRT Washout.” A link is available on the trail’s website at clintonrivertrail.org.
“When the city has a $17 million annual budget, a $4 million trail washout is a big deal,” Salvia noted.
Every contribution counts toward the multi-million-dollar effort to rebuild and preserve the Clinton River Trail.
“This is going to take a village to raise this money,” Salvia said.
At press time, the area was still closed to the public. Detour maps are posted on the city of Rochester’s website.
Leaning into partnerships is another big part of 2025 for the city, according to Salvia.
“We’re a small town. We can’t do what we do without our partners, like Oakland County. Oakland University, our trails, and SEMCOG. We’re really leaning into those partners,” she added.
For more information, visit www. ci.rochester.mi.us or call the city (248) 7333700.
A year-round farmers’ market called Market + The Graham will be constructed this year. Rendering provided by the
NEWS & NOTES
6A/ ROCHESTER POST • JANUARY 9, 2025
Library presents ‘Resources
&
Library hosts concert with Boston Edison Band on Jan. 19
ROCHESTER — Rochester Hills Public Library welcomes Boston Edison Band for a concert at 2 p.m. Jan, 19. Boston Edison Band plays a mix of old and new rock, some modern country, and a little R&B. The group is influenced by revolutionary sounds coming out of Detroit and their name was derived from one of the great downtown areas, the Boston-Edison Historic District. The event is open to library cardholders. Registration is required. To register, visit calendar. rhpl.org or call (248) 656-2900. Rochester Hills Public Library is located at 500 Olde Towne Road in Rochester.
Guidance for the 2025 Tax Filing Season’
ROCHESTER — Rochester Hills Public Library presents “Resources & Guidance for the 2025 Tax Filing Season” at 7 p.m. Jan. 16. The event will provide information on changes for the 2025 federal tax year. Topics will include navigating the IRS website, taxpayer assistance centers, free tax return preparation, choosing a preparer, tax refund status, protecting against identity theft and tax scams, and more. The event is open to the public. Registration is required. To register, visit calendar.rhpl.org or call (248) 656-2900. Rochester Hills Public Library is located at 500 Olde Towne Road in Rochester.
DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER’S FROST FESTIVAL
ROCHESTER — Grab your friends and family and head to town for the Downtown Rochester Frost Festival Jan. 17-18.
The family-friendly event includes “Frozen in Time” themed ice sculptures, a live carving competition, marshmallow roasting, The Big, Bright Light Show and the return of Frost Fest BINGO, with a chance to win a $500 downtown Rochester shopping spree.
The Frost Festival runs from 5 – 9 p.m. Jan. 17 and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Jan. 18. One of the highlights of the event, organizers say, is the nearly 40 themed ice sculptures throughout town. An official ice sculpture map will be available online, or you can pick up a physical map from the Rochester DDA’s Downtown Collaboration Studio, 431 Main Street. An ice carving competition will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 on W. 4th Street. The Lions’ Club will offer a warming station on E. 3rd Street with a warm fire, marshmallow roasting, and ice corn hole from 5-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday.
Downtown Rochester is bringing back Frost Fest BINGO. Shoppers can participate by completing tasks on their bingo cards at downtown businesses, such as purchasing a sweet treat or spending $25 at a business. Businesses will have an official Frost Festival stamp to stamp bingo cards once tasks are completed. Once a bingo is achieved, participants can text their bingo card to (866) 603-4005 for a chance to win a downtown Rochester shopping spree. The drawing will take place Jan. 21. For more details and the latest updates on the Frost Festival and Frost Fest BINGO, visit downtownrochestermi.com/frost-festival.
Actress Anika Noni Rose to keynote OU’s 33rd annual Keeper of the
ROCHESTER HILLS — Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose will be the keynote speaker at Oakland University’s 33rd annual Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration.
Rose is internationally known for voicing the character Tiana, Disney’s first African American princess, in “The Princess and The Frog.” The film received three Oscar nominations and Rose became the youngest inductee to be honored as a Disney legend.
She is the author of the children’s book “Princess Tiana’s Perfect Plan” and is currently voicing the animated series that will premiere on Disney+ in 2025. She will also be starring as Afia in the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King” movie, which comes out in December 2024.
Rose won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in “Caroline, or Change.” The role also earned her the Lucille Lortel Award, Theatre World Award, Obie Award, Clarence Derwent Award and a Drama Desk nomination.
Her performance as Regina in the Netflix series “Maid” was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards.
She also starred as Kizzy in the History Channel’s adaptation of “Roots,” for which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. On the big screen, she starred as Lorell Robinson in “Dreamgirls,” earning an AFI Ensemble Award, SAG Award nomination and Grammy Award nomination.
A nine-time NAACP Image Award nominee, Rose has voiced many audiobooks, and has performed sold-out concerts all over the world, including singing at Carnegie Hall and the Vatican.
The Keeper of the Dream Awards Celebration will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, in the Oakland Center Founders Ballrooms.
Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration
Established in 1993, the Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards recognize Oakland University student leaders who have contributed to King’s legacy by breaking down cultural stereotypes and promoting interracial understanding. In the past three decades, more than 150 students have been awarded Keeper of the Dream scholarships totaling more than $750,000.
This year’s Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration is sponsored by Oakland University Credit Union, Whirlpool, Comerica, Magna, Priority Health, First State Bank, Oakland University Black Alumni Chapter, Oakland University Alumni Association, the Lynne & Lia McIntosh Scholarship and the Lynne A. McIntosh Memorial Scholarship.
For additional event information, contact the Center for Multicultural Initiatives at cmi@oakland.edu or (248) 3704404.
Green State University, crossed the border, came up here to work, and was fortunate enough to land in Birmingham. It was a great career ladder because not only was I a classroom teacher – a first grade teacher for 20 years, which was my absolute favorite – I then went into teaching the gifted and talented students. Then I worked with training of teachers, and then I went into administration in that 37 years.”
Schraeger said that she was a principal for 17 years, but added that, “I always wanted to be a teacher and always played teacher as a child.”
Petersen reflected on her time teaching at Pembroke and living in the neighborhood where many of her students also lived.
“It was Halloween, and I lived in a neighborhood of small houses, and a lot of children in the neighborhood, and a bunch of kids came to the door, banged on the door, and I opened it,” she said. “It was so quiet. They stood there, and they said, ‘She looks just like the lady that works at Pembroke.’ I said, ‘I am the lady that works at Pembroke.’”
She added that since they were new to the school, and so was she, she had an “open door” policy with her students and the parents if they saw her outside and ever wanted to talk.
Petersen retired in 1993, which was followed by Schraeger’s retirment in 2001.
“Our lives came back together in 2016 when I moved in here. I had come to visit her, and I said, ‘Oh, this place could work.’ My husband was entering into some health conditions, and it would be a good place that I could get some assistance,” Schraeger said.
Petersen has a 16-year history at American House Village of Rochester. She explained that she first moved there in 2008 with her husband, who was 10 years older than her.
“He needed to be here, and I didn’t, but he died six months after we moved, so I moved back to my house in Birmingham and lived there for five years,” she said. “I got sick and went to Mayo Clinic and couldn’t be in my house anymore at first, so I came out here again and I looked at six places before I moved back here.”
After her two daughter moved to Florida, Petersen followed suit before eventually deciding to move back to American House.
“I couldn’t breathe there, and so I moved back here,” she said.
“And I was so glad when she returned,” Schraeger exclaimed.
Schraeger added that living in assisted living has been freeing, with a range of community activities to enjoy.
Both Schraeger and Petersen have a pet to keep them company. Schraeger has a Yorkie named Toby and Petersen has a cat named Owen.
Schraeger shared that her dog is the only thing that limits her because she is still active and enjoys traveling, especially going on cruises with her family.
Petersen said that she still has a car.
“My car is as old as my cat,” she said. “That’s no joke. My husband had died, and he didn’t like cats, so I got a new car and a cat,” Petersen said.
Petersen and Schraeger are so close that they even park right next to each other in the parking lot.
“I recently said , ‘We are now seniors living in a dormitory,’” Schraeger said.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070. Teachers from page 3A
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Rochester Community Schools will be accepting bids for the following:
25.08
25.09 NETWORK ELECTRONICS
Bid Due Dates: Bids are due as noted within each bid packet. Bid documents may be obtained from the Rochester Community Schools Purchasing web page at http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/pages/356/purchasing and BidNet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com.
Bid Bond: 5% Bid Bond naming Rochester Community Schools as the obligee, or Certifed Check made payable to Rochester Community Schools, required as noted in bid documents. Bid Bonds shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in the State of Michigan.
Disclosure Statements: Each bid proposal must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationship that exists between owner or any employee of bidder and any member of Board of Education or Superintendent of Rochester Community Schools. Each bid proposal must also include a signed Iran Economic Sanctions Affdavit. The Board of Education will not accept a bid proposal that does not include this sworn and notarized familial disclosure statement and the Iran Economic Sanctions.
The Board of Education reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, either in whole or in part; to award contract to other than the low bidder; to waive any irregularities and/or informalities; and in general to make awards in any manner deemed to be in the best interests of the owner.
Signed: Jennifer Fickel, RCS Purchasing Supervisor
Published: Rochester Post 01/09/2025
CRIME WATCH
Perfume stolen from beauty store
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to a beauty store in the 2800 block of Rochester Road for a report of a retail fraud at 8:48 p.m. Nov. 2. Deputies met with the store manager and learned that two females entered the store, each carrying a large black bag. They went directly to the high-end perfume area and placed numerous containers of perfume — Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, J’Adore and Valentino — in the black bags before exiting the store without paying for the concealed items. The total amount of stolen merchandise was valued between $ 2,500 and $3,000. The suspects fled the area in an unknown vehicle. Deputies, who requested store video footage and a statement of loss, searched the area with negative results. Deputies obtained photographs of both suspects but had yet to learn their identities at press time. Deputies are continuing to investigate.
Pedestrian hit by car
ROCHESTER HILLS — A 2013 Ford Focus, driven by a 28-year-old Columbian citizen, was traveling northbound on Rochester Road when it struck a pedestrian, a 72-year-old resident of Rochester Hills, who had been walking westbound, crossing Rochester Road near Avon at 6 a.m. Nov. 3. Deputies said neither speed, alcohol, nor drug usage appears to be a factor in the crash. Paramedics from the Rochester Hills Fire Department transported the victim to a hospital for treatment. While there, his condition worsened. He was transported to a second hospital, where he was listed in grave condition.
SWAT team called to help evict man from house
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Harrison Avenue to assist a court officer with an eviction at 9:33 a.m. Nov. 4. The house was sold at a tax sale and was believed to be vacant. A deputy advised from previous contacts that the resident, a 58-year-old man from Rochester Hills, was a sovereign citizen and possibly still living in the house. When deputies knocked on the door, the resident responded at a window and stated that he was not leaving his house, and the front door was screwed shut.
Deputies were able to breach the backdoor, at which time a deputy observed the resident point what appeared to be a gun. While deputies were trying to take cover, two deputies broke through the rotting deck, but were able to take cover on the side of the house. The resident then resecured the back door. Deputies set up a perimeter around the house and the SWAT team was notified and responded to the scene. The sergeant on-scene was able to contact the resident via phone and began to negotiate. The SWAT team arrived and took over command of the scene
and set up a perimeter. After approximately two hours of negotiations, the resident exited out the back door with his hands up and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported back to the Rochester Hills substation and interviewed by detectives. He was then transported and lodged at the Oakland County Jail pending issuance of warrants. The two deputies who broke through the deck were treated for minor injuries.
Stolen car recovered in Detroit
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 2000 block of Cumberland for the report of a stolen vehicle at 10:56 p.m. Nov. 5. Deputies met with the complainant who stated that she parked her vehicle in the driveway of her mother’s home at approximately 10:56 p.m. on Nov. 5. At approximately 11:23 p.m., she noticed the vehicle, a 2024 white Buick Envista, was no longer in the driveway. The complainant stated that she checked their ring camera, but it did not show the vehicle leaving the driveway. The complainant did admit that she left her vehicle unlocked with the key fob still inside. Deputies learned that the complainant had called ONSTAR and that the stolen vehicle’s GPS indicated it was currently parked at the 14000 block of Washburn Street in Detroit. With the assistance of the Detroit Police Department, the complainant’s vehicle was recovered. The case remains under investigation.
Drunken driver involved in rollover car accident
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to east- and west-bound M-59 at John R Road on the report of a rollover accident at 11:15 p.m. Nov. 8. Both vehicles were eastbound on M-59 when vehicle one struck the rear of vehicle two. Vehicle two lost control and struck the center guardrail, ending up in oncoming traffic. Vehicle one left the roadway and struck the center guardrail crossing over/rolling over onto the westbound lanes. Deputies and the Rochester Hills Fire Department arrived on the scene and rendered aid. Upon further investigation, the driver of vehicle one, a 23-year-old man from Troy, was found to be intoxicated and transported to the hospital for medical attention and a blood draw. He was eventually admitted for observation. The driver of vehicle two was also transported to the hospital for treatment and was later discharged. The scene was photographed and both vehicles were impounded.
Multiple car crash reported
ROCHESTER HILLS — A 2020 Hyundai Elantra, driven by a 45-year-old male resident of Detroit, was stopped on South Rochester Road at the signal for Auburn Road at 8:12 p.m. Nov. 11. A 2023 Ram 1500, driven by a 20-year-old female resident of Sterling Heights, approached the intersection and struck the Hyundai Elantra from behind. The driver of the Ram 1500 exited her vehicle and crossed the intersection to check on the driver of the Hyundai Elantra. The driver of the Hyundai Elantra sustained minor injuries in the crash. Moments later, a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a 70-year-old male resident of Shelby Township, was eastbound on west
Auburn Road, approaching south Rochester Road on a green signal. The Chevrolet Silverado struck the driver of the Ram 1500 as she was crossing the intersection to return to her vehicle. The driver of the Ram 1500 sustained serious injuries in the secondary pedestrian crash. The driver of the Hyundai Elantra and the Ram 1500 were transported to the hospital for treatment. The hospital reported that both drivers were in stable condition. The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado was uninjured. During the investigation, a 2016 Ford Explorer, driven by a 52-year-old male resident of Madison Heights, drove around emergency vehicles and into the crash scene. Deputies determined that the driver of the Ford Explorer was intoxicated and placed him under arrest. All drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crashes, and there was no airbag deployment. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in either crash, which remain under investigation.
Bank manager terminated for reported embezzlement
ROCHESTER HILLS — A medical professional employed by an oral and facial surgery company reported an embezzlement that had occurred at a PNC bank branch located at 44698 Mound Road in Sterling Heights at 4 p.m. Nov. 12. The employee oversees money drops at the bank and noticed that there were irregularities with the company’s banking transactions. Cash deposits made at the bank were missing numerous deposits and that for the 2024 banking year, only three deposits had been recorded. The cash deposits were primarily handled by the PNC bank manager, according to reports.
A financial audit was completed, including all cash deposit slips since 2022, with a summary of the company’s income for each year. The audit revealed over $15,000 was unaccounted for in 2022. There was over $24,000 unaccounted for in 2023 and over $23,000. unaccounted for in 2024. A total of $60,000 dollars is reported missing over the last three years. The PNC bank manager, a 40-year-old female Warren resident, was terminated. Detectives are investigating.
Motor vehicle fraud reported
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies on patrol observed a gray Hyundai Elantra bearing a Michigan temporary license plate that looked suspicious at 12:08 p.m. Nov. 13. Upon entering the license plate in the system it came back with no record. A traffic stop was initiated at Avon Road and Driftwood.The driver, who provided a Venezuelan ID, stated that the vehicle had been purchased in Atlanta. The driver could not provide registration or title for the vehicle.
Deputies determined that the driver, a 20-yearold man from Shelby Township, did not possess a valid driver’s license, nor was the vehicle properly titled. The temporary license plate had been made and was fraudulent. Deputies impounded a 2013 Hyundai Elantra and the driver was issued multiple citations, including for driving without a valid license, having no insurance, having an unregistered motor vehicle, having an improper plate and failing to transfer registration plates.
Woman arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the area of Crooks Road and Auburn Road due to a vehicle driving northbound in the southbound lane of traffic at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 14.
Deputies observed a 2017 black BMW, driven by a 33-year-old female resident of Rochester Hills, had front-end damage and was on fire. Another vehicle, a 2015 red Jeep Cherokee driven by a 25-year-old male resident of Troy, also had front-end damage with the driver trapped in the vehicle. Deputies said the vehicles struck head-on.
The driver of the Jeep Cherokee sustained serious injuries in the crash. The driver of the BMW and the Jeep Cherokee were transported to a hospital for treatment. The hospital reported that both drivers were in stable condition. Deputies determined that the driver of the BMW was intoxicated and placed her under arrest. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
Drunken man leaves car after crashing into road sign, fire hydrant
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to a 2023 silver Lexus ES that was unoccupied off the roadway near the intersection of Crooks Road and Star Batt Drive at 1:03 a.m. Nov. 16. The vehicle had damage to the front bumper and passenger side door and the front window was smashed out. There was damage to a road sign and fire hydrant in the pathway of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. Deputies said the driver had fled the scene.
While deputies were on-scene assessing the damage, they observed a male peeking around the corner of a building near the accident scene. Deputies contacted the male, a 46-year-old from Shelby Township, who was hiding behind the building and was the owner of the vehicle. Deputies said the man smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot glossy eyes and was slurring his words. The male admitted to being the driver and admitted to drinking five to six beers at Buffalo Wild Wings earlier during the night. A preliminary breath test revealed a .167% blood alcohol content. A search warrant was obtained for the driver’s blood. The driver was arrested and lodged at the Oakland County Jail. The vehicle was impounded.
Fraud by wire
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the substation call box to meet with the victim of a fraud at 10:51 a.m. Nov. 17. The victim advised deputies that he had received an email that morning notifying him of money transfer activity on his Western Union account. He also received an email from his bank, Fifth Third Bank, which alerted him about unusual activity. The victim stated that someone had hacked his Western Union account. The victim contacted Western Union to stop the transfers but learned they were “immediate cash transfers” and that the transfers had already taken place. Five transactions of $500 had taken place, plus transaction
CRIME WATCH
Continued from page 8A
fees totaling $2,514.95. The funds were transferred to a destination listed as the Philippines. The victim was instructed to contact his bank and Western Union and report the incident. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Organized Retail Fraud
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to a luxury athletic store in the 250 block of N. Adams Road for a report of a retail fraud that occurred at 9:13 p.m. Nov. 19. The store employee stated that three females entered the store and started selecting various items of clothing and concealing them on their persons. They then went to the fitting rooms and switched back and forth between rooms. At closing time, the three females filled bags full of merchandise and ran out of the store. There was a fourth female who never entered the store and waited in a black Malibu as the getaway driver. The females exited the store, making no attempt to pay for the items. The store employee observed the three females enter the black Malibu but was only able to obtain a partial license plate. The suspect vehicle fled in an unknown direction. The total amount of stolen merchandise, according to reports, was valued at $4,000.
Deputies searched the area with negative results and requested store video footage and a statement of loss. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Potential school threat assessed
ROCHESTER HILLS — The school resource officer at Avondale Middle School was made aware of inappropriate writing by a student at 3:49 p.m. Nov. 20. The paper had the words “shots fired” and “take responsibility.”
The student was brought to the office with her belongings. The student’s belongings and her locker were searched for weapons with negative results. The student’s mother arrived at the school and was asked about weapons in the home. She advised there were no weapons and a check revealed no weapons were registered to the home. The student stated she was bored and that the words were either from a history lesson or song lyrics. A threat assessment has been scheduled and the student was given appropriate school consequences for violating the school code of conduct.
Man arrested after stealing money from car
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the 600 Block of Dorchester Drive on the report of a larceny from a vehicle at 10:42 p.m. Nov. 22. The caller, a 24-year-old man from Rochester Hills, advised he was walking his girlfriend to her vehicle, which was parked in front of his residence. The caller’s personal vehicle was also parked in front of the residence.
While walking outside, his horn sounded. The caller went to investigate and observed an unknown male inside his vehicle. The caller confronted the individual, who then became aggressive. A short struggle ensued, and the caller head-butted the individual, which caused his nose to bleed. The caller was able to recover a small portion of the stolen change that was taken from his vehicle. The responsible individual then fled the scene on a blue bicycle after the caller contacted 911. Deputies responded to the scene and canvassed the area for the responsible individual. He was located riding a bicycle at John R and Woodlane Drive, where he was taken into custody. The Rochester Hills Fire Department responded to the scene and determined that the responsible individual, a 36-yearold man from Rochester Hills, needed additional medical treatment to his injured nose. Deputies transported him to a hospital, where he was treated and released. He was arrested and lodged at the Oakland County Jail. Deputies recovered $103 in assorted bills and coins that were stolen from the victim’s vehicle.
Authorities investigate threat written in girls bathroom
ROCHESTER HILLS — The school resource officer at an elementary school in the Rochester Community Schools district was notified of a suspicious writing on a stall in the girl’s restroom at 2:05 p.m. Nov. 22. The writing, according to reports, stated, “I will kill you.” A student reported it to the school secretary earlier in the morning. The principal stated that the janitors clean the stalls daily, so she did not have a timeframe when this occurred. The principal checked the school cameras with negative results. The school resource officer walked the hallways for extra patrol of the school.
Woman scammed out of over $28,000
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Manor Way on the report of a welfare check/fraud at 2:57 p.m. Nov. 25. The caller asked deputies to check on her mother who had recently been scammed out of money. Deputies met with the victim, who stated she met an unknown man in-person and agreed to loan him money. She also stated that she had been talking to an unknown man over the phone. Deputies observed 39 gift cards purchased from CVS and Kroger that all had the access code revealed. The victim stated that she provided the codes to the unknown man on the phone. Deputies reviewed bank statements, cashier checks and gift cards and it appeared that the victim had been defrauded out of approximately $28,604.57. While at the scene, the unknown male called the victim. Deputies answered the call and identified themselves. The caller immediately ended the call. Deputies obtained the caller’s phone number. The case will be turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Package stolen from front porch
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 2000 block of Golfcrest Drive on a report of a stolen FedEx package that contained an Apple laptop
computer at 1:23 p.m. Nov. 26. The package was delivered to the caller’s residence and left on the front porch. The caller received a notification the package had been delivered. Upon checking his front porch, the caller located an empty brown box. The caller reviewed his ring camera video and observed the FedEx driver delivering the package to his front porch. Approximately 30 minutes later, an unknown male wearing an Amazon vest and face mask, switched the caller’s package with an empty box and stole the original FedEx package containing the computer. The computer is valued between $700 to $1,000. The suspect entered an unknown SUV with an unreadable temporary plate and fled in an unknown direction. The case will be turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Fraud reported
ROCHESTER HILLS — A walk-in victim met with deputies to complete a fraud/scam report that had occurred at 8 a.m. Nov. 22. The victim informed deputies that on Nov. 22, using his home computer, he opened an email and clicked on a link which he believed to be customer support for Norton AntiVirus. The victim chatted with an unknown person who
convinced him that $100,000 had been inadvertently transferred into his bank account and that the money needed to be refunded. The victim stated that he received a phone call from someone posing as an agent of the company who told him that $100,000 had been mistakenly transferred into his bank account. The victim was instructed to go to his bank to withdraw $50,000 in U.S. currency and that they would send someone from the company to pick it up. The victim withdrew the $50,000 dollars. The victim stated that an unknown Indian male driving a dark sedan came to his home and picked up the money. On Nov. 23 the victim felt something may be off, so he went to his bank and learned that the $100,000 deposit was his own money. The victim informed his bank what had occurred, at which time the bank froze his accounts to prevent any future transactions. The case will be turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Rochester Community Schools – 2020 Sinking Fund
Project: Rochester Community Schools
Description: Bid Package 44 – RHS Storm Drainage Project
Architect: Ghafari 17101 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
Construction Manager: Frank Rewold and Sons Inc. 303 E. Third St., Suite 300, Rochester, MI 48307
Estimators: Mike Gagnon (248) 618-0220 mgagnon@frankrewold.com
Questions addressed ONLY to Mike Gagnon
Bid Documents: Bid documents including bid forms may be obtained from Frank Rewold and Sons Portal at:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4jjqsagu2js35xs745t9q/ADlZcJMIAve4Ze-G5q4d_fI?rlkey=v0y32659y8wdfknpfbwpfodnb&st=1mo0ymjm&dl=0
Bid documents will be available on or after January 9, 2025
Non-Mandatory Prebid Walk-Through: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2025 - Meet at 1361 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309. Meet at the front entrance.
Bid Due Date: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2025
Bids will only be accepted on forms provided. Proposal forms must be in a sealed envelope, mailed or delivered in person prior by 2:00 p.m. EST on the due date to:
Attn: Jennifer Fickel, Rochester Community Schools
C/O Frank Rewold and Sons Inc.
303 E. Third St., Suite 300, Rochester, MI 48307
2:00 p.m. Public Bid Opening: Frank Rewold and Sons Inc.
Thursday, January 23, 2025 303 E. Third St., Suite 300, Rochester, MI 48307 4th Floor Mezzanine
Labor and Material and Performance Bond: In accordance with Michigan Compiled Laws Section 129.201, successful contractor(s) must obtain Performance and Payment Bonds for any Bid Category exceeding $50,000. The Performance and Payment Bonds shall be in an amount equal to the contract amount. The Performance and Payment Bonds shall be for the protection of Rochester Community Schools and Frank Rewold and Son Inc. and shall be executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Michigan and be listed in Federal Register or have an AM Best Rating of B+ or better. All bonds to be dual obligee bonds to Rochester Community Schools and Frank Rewold and Son Inc.
Prevailing Wage Rates: Not required
Bid Bond: 5% bid security required. Bid bonds are required, however, certifed or cashier checks are acceptable for bids under $50,000.
Nonexempt: This project is not tax exempt for state sales tax and/or use tax. All materials and supplies incorporated and used in construction and becoming a permanent part of this project will not be exempt from state sales tax and/or tax
Disclosure Statements: Each bid proposal must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationship that exists between owner or any employee of bidder and any member of board of education or superintendent of Rochester Community Schools. Each bid proposal must also include a signed Iran Economic Sanctions Affdavit. The board of education will not accept a bid proposal that does not include this sworn and notarized disclosure statement or the Iran Economic Sanctions. Published: Rochester Post 01/09/2025
— MARY BETH ALMOND
Goals
corner of Auburn and Dequindre to provide free support to the community.
“Rochester Hills has turned tragedy into triumph. Despair into optimism. Fear into hope,” Barnett said in a statement.
Looking back on 2024, there is much to celebrate, according to Barnett. Some points of pride for the city over the past year include: Innovation Hills being named the Great Lakes Park of the Year, receiving the Park Design of the Year Award, and being recognized as the Top Place to Take Kids in metro Detroit; the work of 20 artists displayed in the new Brooklands Plaza development as part of “Art on Auburn 2;” and $300,000 shared among 17 nonprofits through the city’s Nonprofit Assistance Program.
“In total, (17) nonprofits were supported through this, ranging from $14,000 to $30,000 each, and they focused on the following areas, including education, mental health, emergency housing assistance and food assistance,” said Joe Synder, the city’s finance director.
In 2024, Rochester Hills celebrated its 40th year as a city with several events throughout the year, including an 80sthemed 5K event that raised money for the victims of the splash pad shooting. Officials also opened the only pedestrian suspension bridge in metro Detroit at Innovation Hills, providing access to 48-acres of preserved green space. Barnett shared some highlights of the Rochester Hills Fire Department, including when Todd Gary, a 43-year veteran of the Rochester Hills Fire Department, was named the city’s sixth fire chief and Bill Cooke, a 31-year veteran of the department, was named deputy fire chief. Toward the end of the year, officials also recognized the heroic actions of Fire Lt. Chris Ogg, who saved the lives of two residents trapped inside their burning home, Kate and Knoll Prokop.
“Lt. Ogg is our hero. He saved our lives,” said Kate Prokop.
Looking ahead at 2025
Over the next year, Barnett plans to focus on continuing to make the community great.
One of his top goals is to retain the city’s statewide leadership, in terms of parks development and green space acquisition. Two large projects that will assist in that effort include the development of Brooklands Plaza Park and the designs for the city’s first dog park in Nowicki Park in 2025.
“Our residents love their parks and I want to double down on our investments in this area,” Barnett said.
Eugene S. Nowicki Park, which includes 35 acres of property in an area just across from Adams High School and north of the Village of Rochester Hills, is currently a blank canvas the city is hoping more residents will begin to use after it’s reimagined. The city’s first dog park is being planned there, along with boardwalks, playgrounds, and other innovative features for people of all abilities and resources.
In 2025, the city will also begin work on Brooklands Plaza Park, which is next to the city’s first splash pad at 1585 E. Auburn Road.
“We’re envisioning a city center, a place to gather, a place to come together,” Barnett shared.
Another big focus for Barnett in 2025 is making intentional infrastructure improvements with the city’s roads and water and sewer systems.
“This is kind of boring compared to parks investment, but we take great pride in making sure our roads are in great shape and that we aren’t seeing many of the infrastructure problems our neighboring communities are experiencing. This is important for one of our other goals … to host a Detroit Lions Super Bowl victory parade … so we need great roads,” he said.
As the nation, state and many cities around us struggle with burdensome debt, Barnett said he wants to be the first city of its size to be completely debt free in the state of Michigan.
“Thoughtful management of our residents’ tax dollars and prudent spending and investing has (put) us on a path to achieve this mid-year. This would be absolutely historic and almost unheard of nationally,” Barnett added.
All of the goals, Barnett said, align with the city’s stated mission — for Rochester Hills to be the preeminent place to live, work and raise your family.
“That has been my professional goal every day that I have been blessed to be the mayor of Rochester Hills,” Barnett said.
For more information, contact the city of Rochester Hills at (248) 656-4600.
Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.
IRISH TAVERN
aware there could be some bar conversations about why some events made it and some didn’t, but the list includes a MLB World Series game, the World Baseball Classic, an NBA Finals game, Army vs. Navy and Ohio State vs. Michigan in college football, the NHL Winter Classic, and many more.
The goal? Complete all 80 events in three years, when Hill turns 60, and end it with one final event in mind.
“Even though I’ve been in Detroit for the majority of my life and the (Red) Wings have certainly been successful in my lifetime, I’ve never been at an arena to see the (Stanley) Cup presented,” Hill said. “In ’27, I want to be there from whatever games forward to see it presented. I’m hoping for something not like last year where it was Florida and Edmonton in seven games because that would be a lot of back-and-forth from Edmonton to Miami. I’m secretly pulling for a Red Wings and (Chicago) Blackhawks series that I could just drive back and forth for.”
After working with his financial adviser and tweaking things here and there to make the plan logistically and financially ideal, all systems were a go.
The start of a journey
The birth of Hill’s sports fandom first took place when he went to his first-ever event — a Chicago Cubs baseball game.
It was only right the journey was kickstarted alongside the same person who brought him to his very first game, his father, Jerry Hill.
“The weekend after I retired, I was on my way to my dad’s place in Indiana,” Doug Hill said. “I picked him up and we went to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open this year. That was the first of the 10 I’ve been to so far.”
As Hill mentioned, he’s already knocked 10 off the list with the Little League World Series, the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma football, a Permian High School football game in Texas, a Dallas Cowboys game, Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State football, Auburn vs. Alabama football, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Solheim Cup, and the NASCAR Cup semifinals all checked off the list.
A few out-of-country events have already made an appearance as well with The Open Championship in Scotland and the President’s Cup in Montreal, but many more are still to follow.
Hill’s father has been on a few of the trips, but none more special than when
Doug Hill was able to take his father, a huge Cubs fan, back to Wrigley Field for the first time since the 1970s.
“They have lights now, and they have a new scoreboard,” Jerry Hill said. “When you go into Wrigley, they have what they call, ‘Gallagher Way,’ which has a bunch of statues of all the great Cubs. There were quite a few changes, yes. Back the last time we went, the bullpens were in the field of play. If a guy hit one down the line and bounced into the bullpen, the bullpen guys would have to scatter.”
The award for best atmosphere so far goes to Permian High School in Texas, which faced off against Odessa High School Oct. 11 in a 50-26 win in favor of Permian.
“The game wasn’t much to watch because it got out of hand rather rapidly, but I think it was going to see Permian High School in Odessa, Texas, where ‘Friday Night Lights’ was based out of, and seeing them play their crosstown rival Odessa High with close to 19,000 seats for a regular season high school game,” Hill said.
For Jerry Hill, stopping at the Flight 93 National Memorial, which honors the passengers of a United Airlines flight that was hijacked during 9/11, in Pennsylvania, was a memory he’ll never forget.
“I enjoyed everything else, but that really jumps out,” Jerry Hill said. “You talk about heroes, those people on that plane that commandeered those hijackers were heroes.”
Where it’s going and how far it’s come
As a sportswriter for so long, Hill admits that there becomes somewhat of a disconnect when it comes to simply being a fan of sports.
It became a job, and while he loved his job, it’s viewed differently than just someone attending a game purely as a fan.
This list has brought many things to the forefront for Hill, but for starters it rejuvenated his love for sports and brought him back into the world of fandom.
“It’s been great to be able to reconnect at a fan level because for so many years I was a sportswriter and kind of got away and hadn’t allowed myself to just be a fan,” Hill said. “Even after that, it kind of changes and skews your whole perspective of the events when you work in the business. Just to be able to get back and go and be a fan has been a lot of fun.”
Being able to travel with his wife, whom Hill calls his “biggest supporter,” and father has made it all the more special, but Hill has also been able to reconnect with old friends along the way.
“An old childhood neighbor, he and his family live in Frederick, Maryland, so on the way back from the Solheim Cup my dad and I had lunch with him,” Hill said. “Longtime family friends live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, so we were able to meet him for a meal when we were down in Pinehurst. Both of his boys actually went to the University of Alabama, so I just saw him again last weekend at the tailgate in Tuscaloosa. That’s been part of the enjoyment in (that) this is reconnecting with some of those individuals.”
Hill and his wife have also been able to add a new traveling bucket list to their already existing “50 states in 50 years” plan.
When Hill and his wife, both St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School graduates, first got married, they made a plan to visit one state a year and finish their final state on their 50th anniversary in the same state they honeymooned in — Massachusetts.
Hill’s sporting event journey has been a nice addition to their state journey as Wyoming will be making an appearance next year for the both of them when they go to the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The other special part of it is that Carol Hill probably never would’ve imagined going to a PGA event, but a trip to Scotland for The Open Championship showed her a different side of golf.
“What was truly interesting was how in love they were with their golfer,” Carol Hill said. “Rory McIlroy had this huge follow-
ing, and the people in the stands next to us were cheering him on as if he were their own son. It was quite wonderful to be around the people that were there just to hear them rally around their golfer like it was their own kid.”
There are a couple of personal ones on the list for Hill, including a trip to South Bend for a USC vs. Notre Dame football game. Hill grew up a Notre Dame fan enamored by Ara Parseghian and the Fighting Irish.
One of the more important ones will be a trip to Pasadena, California, for the NCAA’s Rose Bowl game.
“That was always our New Year’s Day whether I was in Decatur or St. Clair Shores,” Hill said. “You live in Michigan, so you know what it’s like in January. It tends to be gray and cold and kind of damp but turning on the television and seeing both the
parade and the game that day was like you were whisked away to a far-off land.”
Hill also plans to take in the Rose Bowl parade as well, which is personal in itself for him following the passing of his mother.
“I lost my mother a couple of years ago, and she was a big fan of the parade,” Hill said. “Not the game necessarily, but the parade. Going to the parade is my cap tip and honor to her because we would typically call after the parade and discuss the bands and the floats.”
Each trip is accompanied with photos and a blog summarizing the trip, and you can follow along with Hill’s journey and see a full list of events he plans to attend at thesports fanproject.com. Hill also has a podcast titled “Conversations with Sports Fans” on his website.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
JAN. 10
Financial Friday: Retirees can learn tips from accredited wealth management advisor, 10:30 a.m., OPC Social & Activity Center, 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, registration required, (248) 659-1029, opccenter.org
JAN. 11
Reptile roundup: Learn about and hold exotic reptiles and native Michigan species, time slots available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, registration required, (248) 656-4663, rochesterhills.org/ musprograms
JAN. 14
Secret Service discussion and holiday music: Hear from retired agent who served under President John F. Kennedy, also performance by Golden Belles, 3:30 p.m., OPC Social & Activity Center, 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, registration required, (248) 659-1029, opccenter.org
JAN. 17-18
Frost Festival: See nearly 40 ice sculptures from 5-9 p.m. Jan. 17 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 18 around downtown Rochester, also ice carving competition from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 18 on West Fourth Street, and marshmallow toasting and ice cornhole from 5-9 p.m. Jan. 17 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 18 on East Third Street, downtownrochestermi.com/frost-festival
JAN. 19
Frozen Paw 5K: 9 a.m., shirts, medal and ageappropriate drink at Gus O’Connor’s Public House to follow, race through downtown Rochester, all proceeds benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind, map and registration at leaderdog.org/frozen-paw-5k
Boston Edison Band: Hear old and new rock, modern country and R&B, 2-3 p.m., Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road in Rochester, rhpl.org
JAN. 24
Winter gardens presentation: Hear from head horticulturist at Oudolf Garden Detroit, presented by Meadow Brook Garden Club, 10-11:30 a.m., Meadow Brook Hall on campus of Oakland University, 350 Estate Drive in Rochester, (248) 364-6210, also held virtually, request link (and provide phone number) by
The vehicles to be auctioned is:
2017 Chevrolet 1G1ZB5ST4HF146036
2020 Lincoln 2LMPJ6J9XLBL29285
emailing mbgcmembers@gmail.com
JAN. 28
Indoor Triathlon: Swim, bike and run for 20 minutes per activity, for ages 30 and older, awards for individuals by gender and teams, first heat at 10 a.m., OPC Social & Activity Center, 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, register by Jan. 10, (248) 656-1403, opccenter.org
ONGOING
‘Footloose The Musical’: Wednedays-Sundays until Feb. 2, Meadow Brook Theatre on campus of Oakland University, 378 Meadow Brook Road in Rochester, times and number of performances vary per day, (248) 377-3300, mbtheatre.com
‘Farce of Habit’: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Jan. 10-25, Avon Players, 1185 Washington Road in Rochester, avonplayers.org
Widowed Friends Movie Club: Meets every second Tuesday of month, Emagine Rochester Hills, 200 Barkley Circle, shows and times TBD, contact Valerie at (248) 701-9567 or widowedfriends9@gmail.com
Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve activities: Story & STEAM(ages 3-5, 10-11 a.m. every second and fourth Friday of month) and Nature Tales Classic (story, snack and craft, ages 3-5, 10-11 a.m. every third Thursday of month), 333 N. Hill Circle in Rochester, dinosaurhill.org
Live entertainment: Shows include comedian Cam Rowe (8 p.m. Jan. 10), Planet of Fun (8 p.m. Jan. 11), The 1985 (’80s tribute, 8 p.m. Jan. 17), Katmandu (Bob Seger tribute, 8 p.m. Jan. 18), comedian Tim Meadows (7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 24), Atomic Radio (’80s tribute, 8 p.m. Jan. 25), and Devin Scillian & Arizona Son (8 p.m. Jan. 31), The Roxy, 401 Walton Blvd. in Rochester Hills, theroxyrochester.com/events, (248) 453-5285
• 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Fork n’ Pint, 51 N. Broadway in Lake Orion, forknpintlakeorion.com, (248) 845-4476
To view more events and to submit your own, visit candgnews.com/calendar.
In Loving Memory of Renee Elizabeth Granger
Renee Elizabeth Granger of Clarkston, Michigan passed away December 13, 2024 at 70 years of age. Loving wife of Scott Granger from Davison Michigan for 44 years, Mother of Amara (Brent) Meyer and Leah Granger. Grandmother of Mia Carles, Arianna Meyer and James Meyer. Renee was a graduate of Rochester Adams High School and attended Ferris State University/Oakland Community College. She was employed and retired from American Airlines in Dallas, Chicago and Detroit. She also was a retiree from the State of Michigan Department of Social Services.
Renee was a wonderful, loving, selfess wife, mother and grandmother. She was very proud of her Armenian heritage and culture. She passed down recipes and wisdom provided from past generations. She enjoyed travel (Europe, China and throughout the US), and the cottage that her and Scott owned for 41 years in Boyne City, Michigan on Lake Charlevoix. During her time up north, she was an avid boater and loved all water sports. She also loved cruising the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Renee was an excellent cook and loved to host family and friends for holidays and other events. She was generous and kind to everyone, family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Renee is survived by her parents, John and Ann Pilibosian of Rochester, Michigan, Daughters Amara (Brent) Meyer of St. Charles, Missouri and Leah Granger of Clarkston, Michigan. Grandchildren Mia Carles, Arianna Meyer and James Meyer. Brother Michael (Elizabeth) Pilibosian, sister Lynn (W. Daniel) Martin and brother Gary (Julie Truman) Pilibosian.
Also survived by many dear family and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Zabel Dostourian, and Kachadoor and Nevart Pilibosian. As well as her parents-in-law, Donald and Joyce Granger.
Renee’s funeral and burial has already taken place. Memorial donations to St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church 19300 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128. To send a loving message, please go to Renee’s obituary at www.ekfh.net. Arrangements entrusted to Edward Korkoian Funeral Home, Royal Oak (248) 541-8325.
Vehicle Auction
January 23, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Byer’s
If you have any questions, please contact the Rochester Police Department non emergency at 248-651-9621 and ask for Ordinance Of cer R. J. Parker. Published: 01/09/2025 Rochester Post City of Rochester Police Department
The City of Rochester Police Department will hold a Vehicle Auction on Thursday,
Wrecker Service, 399 South Street, Rochester, MI 48307.
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Suspect shoves security officer
BIRMINGHAM — On Dec. 3 at approximately 1 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Birmingham Police Department front desk for a report of assault.
The reported victim, a 41-year-old female from Ferndale, stated that on Nov. 27, while working as a security officer at a nearby hotel, she informed the suspect, an unknown male at the hotel bar, to leave an employee-only area, and he complied without incident.
However, shortly afterward, the suspect, unprovoked, allegedly shoved the victim and was subsequently escorted out of the business. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, while the victim was standing in the hotel vestibule with her back to the front door, the same suspect allegedly shoved her again while attempting to reenter the business. The incident was under investigation.
Bag reported missing from vehicle
BIRMINGHAM — On Dec. 9 at approximately 10 a.m., officers met with a 44-year-old female resident and her husband in the Birmingham Police Department lobby for a report of larceny.
The woman reported that on Dec. 8 at approximately 1 a.m., her home security system at the 400 block of Bryn Mawr alerted her to movement in the driveway.
Witnesses observed an unidentified male suspect entering her vehicle. A bag containing credit cards, medication and a key fob for the vehicle was reported stolen. The investigation was ongoing.
Stolen vehicle flees police
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 3:30 a.m. Dec. 9 on Maple Road near Radnor, officers attempted to stop a vehicle just reported as stolen by the Bloomfield Township Police Department and a second vehicle following it.
The two vehicles reportedly fled eastbound on Maple and turned south on Southfield Road, continuing past 14 Mile Road, where Beverly Hills police officers took over. Birmingham officers determined that one of the vehicles was registered to a resident in the 200 block of South Glenhurst.
The residents, a 51-year-old man and 43-yearold woman, reportedly confirmed that their vehicle was missing from their driveway, where it had been parked with the key fob inside. There were no signs of forced entry or broken glass. An investigation was ongoing.
Woman arrested for intoxicated driving
BIRMINGHAM — On Dec. 7 at approximately
tion of southbound Woodward Avenue and Redding Road to investigate several reports of a possible intoxicated driver.
Officers said they saw tire tracks in the grass along the north side of Redding, which led to a vehicle with heavy front-end tire damage stopped in the 800 block of Redding. Officers noted signs of alcohol intoxication in the driver, a 23-year-old Clinton Township woman, and conducted field sobriety evaluations.
The driver was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated and failure to report an accident.
Cryptocurrency scam reported
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Dec. 1, a resident made a report at the front desk of the West Bloomfield Police Department about being the victim of a cryptocurrency scam.
The reporting party allegedly received a phone call from an unknown male who claimed to be from the Federal Trade Commission. The call was in regard to alleged fraudulent charges to the reporting party’s account, police said.
Based on conversations with the unknown caller, the reporting party deposited several thousand dollars into a bitcoin account the caller allegedly directed the reporting party to. The reporting party later discovered that it was a scam.
No further information was provided.
Shopper arrested for stealing
$600 in merchandise from Target
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police responded to Target, 2400 S. Telegraph Road, for a retail fraud Dec. 1.
Target loss prevention staff said they watched a female suspect conceal merchandise in her purse and a tote from the store and stopped her as she was attempting to leave with the unpaid merchandise.
When officers arrived on the scene, loss prevention told them that the suspect had stolen 41 items including various home goods and makeup totaling nearly $600. The suspect was placed under arrest for second-degree retail fraud.
Wallet, cash stolen from unlocked car
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department took a report of a larceny from an automobile in the Glens of Bloomfield Apartment complex Dec. 2.
According to police, the victim reported that at approximately 6 p.m. Dec. 1 he put his wallet into the center console of his white 2018 Chevrolet Malibu so he wouldn’t forget it when he went to work the next
AND NOTES NEWS
NEWS BRIEFS TAKEN FROM AROUND OUR COVERAGE AREAS
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, BIRMINGHAM
RANK IN NATIONAL HAPPINESS STUDY
BLOOMFIELD HILLS/BIRMINGHAM — Credit card guide
website CardRates conducted a study that surveyed people living in the most expensive areas throughout the United States. By surveying 3,000 people, CardRates compiled a list of the 150 happiest cities among America’s most expensive places to live. The goal was to find out what cities were worth their highend cost. Bloomfield Hills came out on top of the Michigan rankings. Nationally, it was ranked 89th. Taking second place in Michigan was Grosse Pointe Shores, which came in 100th nationally, and third was Birmingham, which was ranked 115th nationally. The top city nationally was Palm Beach, Florida. To see more information on the survey and the full list of rankings, visit cardrates.com/studies/ where-high-cost-of-living-is-worth-it.
PRIDE HANDS OUT $35,000 IN GRANTS
next morning, he discovered his center console was open and his wallet was missing, police said. Multiple identification cards, credit/debit cards and $12.25 cash were reportedly stolen, along with a black wallet. The victim was unsure if he locked his car, police said. There were no signs of forced entry. Police were investigating.
Leaf vacuum stolen
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department responded to the 2000 block of Emerson for a larceny from grounds report Dec. 3.
The victim reportedly stated he left his Billy Goat leaf vacuum in his front yard when he went to his backyard to dispose of leaves and later discovered it had been stolen.
The Billy Goat leaf vacuum is valued at $1,400. Police were investigating.
Items stolen from pet supply store
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department took a report of a Dec. 5 retail fraud incident at Pet Supplies Plus, 2057 S. Telegraph.
The manager reported that on Dec. 4, a male suspect and a female suspect entered the store and stole grooming/bandage supplies totaling $43.92. Both suspects appeared to be 20-30 years of age, according to reports.
Police were investigating.
Retail fraud
HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, at around 2:15 a.m. Dec. 10, Hazel Park police officers were dispatched to the CVS store at 33 W. Nine Mile Road on a report of retail fraud.
Upon arrival, the store manager stated he recognized a male subject who previously had tried to access nonpublic areas of the store. The suspect had been seen again Dec. 10, this time taking several food items off a shelf and locking himself in the employees’ bathroom.
Officers located the suspect in the bathroom with some of the food items opened and in the trash can. The stolen items were valued at about $33.
The subject was arrested for retail fraud, booked and lodged. The suspect was also wanted on a Hazel Park warrant for failure to appear in court for a prior retail fraud charge.
Fraud by conversion
MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown suspect asked for change and provided the victim with counterfeit money between 1000
Renovated library branch receives award
GROSSE POINTE — Renovations on the Central Branch of the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Grosse Pointe Farms were recognized this fall with the American Institute of Architects Huron Valley Chapter 2025 Honor Award.
The firm of Quinn Evans was hired for renovations at the branch. The award was accepted by Quinn Evans Principal Ann Dilcher, who helmed the Central Branch project.
Renovations included the addition of a drive-up window, an expanded children’s area, an elevator, improved accessibility and a fire suppression system.
The mid-century modern library, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1953 and designed by Bauhaus-trained architect and designer Marcel Breuer, who died in 1981. It’s one of the few libraries designed by Breuer, who also designed the Hunter College
STUDENT HONORED AT COUNCIL MEETING FOR HEROISM IN STOPPING FIRE
SOUTHFIELD — At the Nov. 18 City Council Meeting, 10-year-old Southfield resident Eris Carter was awarded the Good Samaritan Award by Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee.
“Eris’s quick thinking and bravery are truly commendable,” commented Menifee. “Her actions not only saved her own home but also protected the lives and properties of her neighbors.”
Eris was recognized for her courage and swift action in averting a potentially devastating fire at her home earlier this year. Around 7 p.m. on Jan. 1, while using her iPad, Eris detected the smell of smoke in their Spring Haven condo. She woke her mother, Lauryne Wheeler, to report the odor.
Upon further investigation, they heard the downstairs smoke detectors sounding, although no visible signs of fire were initially present. They promptly called 911 for assistance and evacuated the premises. Upon leaving, they noticed that the neighboring condo was engulfed in flames.
The attached seven condos posed a significant fire hazard, but thanks to Eris’ alertness and quick thinking, she was able to notify the Fire Department and help residents safely evacuate the premises.
According to the Southfield Fire Department, Carter spared six units from damage, potentially saving many lives. The neighboring condo suffered $200,000 in damages, but thanks to Eris, there was no further destruction.
“Eris Carter’s presence of mind and swift response in the face of danger exemplify the best of our community values,” stated Southfield Mayor Ken Siver.
“It is a privilege to recognize her today and celebrate the difference she made. Her exemplary behavior sets a high standard for all citizens, demonstrating the impact one person can make in ensuring the safety and well-being of their community.”
FERNDALE — Ferndale Pride and the Ferndale Community Foundation announced that they will be distributing $35,113.85 in grants to 18 community organizations.
Organizations that were given grants from Pride were Affirmations, ACCESS, Gender Identity Network, Matrix Human Services, TGDetroit and Transgender Michigan.
“Each year, I get to hand checks to organizations that directly provide services to LGBTQAI folks. Because these funds are unrestricted, organizations have the flexibility to provide funds in the way that serves their clients best. We are thrilled to carry out the founding principles of this event, which includes giving back to the community,” Ferndale Pride Executive Director Julia Music said in a prepared statement.
The Community Foundation handed out 12 grants with funds from Pride and private donations to Ferndale Community Concert Band, Disability Network of Eastern Michigan, Ferndale Housing Commission, FernCare Free Clinic, Ringwald Theatre, Ferndale Middle School Swim Boosters, Renaissance Vineyard Food Pantry, Friends of the Ferndale Library, Ferndale Schools Fine Arts Boosters, Sing Out Detroit, Southeast Oakland Coalition and PlayLab.
“We keep being able to give back! 12 grants this year is more than double the number of groups that we gave to last year,” Community Foundation Chair Anatoly Askanzi said in a prepared statement. “These funds make a huge difference in our community because they improve the lives of a wide range of folks in Ferndale.”
Photo provided by Grosse Pointe Public Library
Photo provided by the city of Southfield
