Berkley City Council selects VanVleck as next city manager
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
BERKLEY — The city of Berkley has found its next city manager.
After a search process that took most of the year, the Berkley City Council formally selected Crystal VanVleck to be the next city manager at a special meeting Oct. 7.
“I’m honored to have been selected to serve the City of Berkley as the next City Manager and am excited to join the Berkley team to help continue the City’s forward momentum,” VanVleck said in a press release.
VanVleck comes to Berkley from Oak Park, where she recently served as the deputy city manager of community services. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University.
The city of Berkley held candidate interviews with three finalists for the open city manager position on Oct. 1: VanVleck; M. Jon Dean, chief of human resources at Veterinary United; and
HAY DAY IN
HUNTINGTON WOODS
VanVleck
A friendly donkey greets 10-year-old Addison Rickard at the petting zoo.
Attendees at Hay Day hop on a hayride at Huntington Woods’ Hay Day Oct. 5 at the Gillham Recreation Center. LEFT: Six-year-old Huntington Woods resident Simon Black plays a game at the city’s Hay Day event. Photos by Liz Carnegie
Berkley to use AI service to review, count parking system
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
BERKLEY — Berkley will be looking to monitor and analyze its parking system for potential improvements.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Berkley City Council approved a contract with ParkNav to “develop a parking portal to monitor parking occupancy rates and analyze the impacts of potential adjustments to municipal parking supply and policy throughout and near the Downtown Development Authority’s boundaries,” city documents state.
The city approved a parking study in August 2023. The recommendations from that study included “measuring on-street parking occupancy on a quarterly basis, identifying parcels for expansion of municipal parking, identifying opportunities for public/private parking partnerships and conducting municipal and private parking lot counts on a monthly or quarterly basis.”
The city brought on ParkNav for this project, which is an artificial intelligence-enabled software provider that can estimate parking counts with 80% accuracy. The data is collected via cellphones and cameras, said Berkley Community Development Director Kristen Kapelanski.
“We tried to think creatively in terms of how can we get this done in a way that maybe doesn’t get us to, ‘We’re
going to go out and count cars every month,’ but does get us to, ‘We need to have some data to base our parking zoning decisions on,’” she said. “I know that that’s come up quite often. Parking is a hot topic, and also to see how redevelopment and development of different parcels in the downtown impacts our parking supply. Where do we need more parking? Making sure that when we’re looking at publicprivate leases that we’re locating in places that make sense.”
According to Kapelanski, the proposal not only would monitor parking occupancy counts in public and private lots 24/7, but it would also allow Berkley to play around with the numbers and see how the addition of a parking lot with a set amount of spaces would affect on-street occupancy counts or in other public and private spaces.
“It will also allow us to change parking restrictions if we wanted to do that and see how that would change some of our parking patterns,” she said. “All in all, it’s going to allow me to get the counts that we needed to get as part of this parking study and also to make better-informed decisions when we’re trying to target some of these public-private leases and also ultimately looking to expand municipal parking when our parking fund reaches an amount where we can pay for some of that expansion.”
The total cost of the service is $13,400 and runs through September 2025. Kapelanski said that, since this is
a one-year commitment, if the city doesn’t like the service, it can opt out.
Kapelanski also stated that if there are any discrepancies in the data, she will personally check the counts provided by the service.
The council unanimously approved the contract, though Council member Dennis Hennen was skeptical of the service and its ability to work for Berkley. He felt the cities in North Carolina and Texas that have used ParkNav that were cited by Kapelanski are different from Berkley’s layout.
“They have compact downtowns and we have a very linear one completely surrounded by residential,” he said. “It’s hard to differentiate, you know, if someone parked in their driveway or parked on the street and that sort of thing. I am going to vote yes. I think it’s low-cost enough to try it. The caution I’d have is that if it ends up not being very accurate that we don’t waste a lot of time on it. It’s a sunk cost. Write it off. You know, we’re doing this to try and eliminate staff burden and you know if it doesn’t work out, let’s just move on and see what else we can find. So that would be my caution with it. I’m skeptical, very skeptical, but hopeful that it works out.”
Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
Huntington Woods to get $250,000 for road improvement
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
HUNTINGTON WOODS — The city of Huntington Woods has secured a grant to repair one of its roads.
Huntington Woods was one of 28 cities and villages picked to receive grant funding from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Community Service Infrastructure Fund Category B program.
“These grants will help 28 communities across Michigan fix their local roads faster to save drivers time and money,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release. “Since I took office, Michigan has fixed 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges while supporting over 89,000 jobs, and today’s funding will build on that total.”
The 28 cities, all of which have a population of less than 10,000, will get a total of $5.1 million. For its part, Huntington Woods will receive $250,000. The grants that were awarded went to projects for road resurfacing, culvert replacement, pavement crack sealing and other preservative measures.
According to a press release, the CSIF Category B program helps fund road projects in small communities and the projects were selected because they’re paired with “planned infrastructure work, coordinated with other road agencies, fo-
Berkley, Clawson, Royal Oak high schools partner to hold Future Fair
BY MIKE KOURY AND TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN mkoury@candgnews.com, tchristensen@candgnews.com
BERKLEY/CLAWSON/ROYAL OAK —
High schools in Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak are co-hosting a fair to help students plan out their futures.
The Fall Future Fair will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Royal Oak High School cafeteria, 1500 Lexington Blvd.
The fair will feature approximately 100 representatives from universities, colleges, businesses and trade schools.
While Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak have separately held fairs like this for their students, this will be the first time that the high schools have partnered together for an event like this.
“What I like about this fair compared to other fairs that are just four-year university-focused is that this really does present students and families with many options beyond just a four-year college degree,” said Christina Belsky, college and career counselor at Berkley High School.
“In the several years that we’ve done this, we have gotten really good feedback from families just appreciating and acknowledging that there is more than just a four-year university and being able to have their students see and for them to learn about … other programs and career trainings and trades, being able to see that there are all of these wonderful paths to reaching success after high school,” she said. “So, just showing options
Newport Boulevard will undergo construction next year during Huntington Woods’ summer construction season.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
See ROADWORK on page 11A
VanVleck
Khalfani Stephens, deputy mayor of the city of Pontiac.
During the Oct. 1 meeting, VanVleck said that working in a neighboring city like Oak Park has given her a perspective on Berkley, as both cities have shared some of the same obstacles and challenges over the years.
VanVleck stated that she’s excited for the opportunity to take the baton as Berkley’s next city manager and help continue the community’s momentum.
“I’m excited to learn about what each department is working on to gain a better understanding of what the community needs, to hear the ideas that staff and council have to meet those needs, and to see where my initial ideas fit into all of that,” she said. “Berkley is already a wonderful place to live, work and play. I know that there have been a few bumps in the road, but nothing that I’ve seen that (it) is not able to overcome.
“Berkley is just full of people who are passionate about the place that they live and work,” she continued. “I’d be honored to lead the ship and picking up the revision of the strategic plan and help pave the path that allows us to all row in the same direction to meet the goals that you set and continue to ensure that Berkley is known for its incredible services, strong community feel and unmatched quality of life factors.”
When asked about what she thinks are some of the challenges that Berkley faces right now, VanVleck said that infrastructure is one of the issues.
“I wish we all had a magic wand that we could wave and figure that one out, but we’re all dealing with some long-term main-
tenance issues, and so I don’t think that’s unique to Berkley. I think that’s mostly in (the) metro Detroit area, especially,” she said. “In addition to that, I know there are some challenges around the lead service lines here and being able to fund that.”
VanVleck also felt there were challenges in building trust with the community and that they need to gain an understanding of what the community as a whole really wants in the future.
“I also think there’s an opportunity there,” she added. “An opportunity to gain the trust of the community members and … making sure that everyone’s on the same page and we understand what the majority of the community members would like to see. I’d like to think there’s an opportunity in finding unique funding mechanisms. I think that it will have to be done with the assistance of our state and federal government officials, so hopefully they’re listening, but I’m prepared and excited to tackle all of those things.”
After the candidate interviews were completed, council members took the week to contemplate whom to offer the city manager position.
The decision was unanimous, as every council member recommended VanVleck for the position.
“She’s a great communicator,” Council member Dennis Hennen said at the meeting. “She’s been involved in several aspects of city management and, while she doesn’t have the title of city manager, she’s worked side by side with a city manager her entire career and is, I believe, ready to hit the ground running. And she’s clearly a rising star demonstrated by the size and scope of diversity of projects she’s successfully executed, and with a city our size, we aren’t going to attract city managers with decades of experience, and sometimes when someone is on the rise like
Ms. VanVleck, I think that’s the best time to pull them in.”
All members of council agreed that every candidate was qualified for the job. While the decision was not easy for Council member Clarence Black, his recommendation of VanVleck came down to two qualities: leadership and management.
“One is leadership,” he said. “We need
someone that can work with us, but in many ways lead us, because we have to go about the business of our day-to-day jobs. And then manage our team, and that’s probably the most important thing, is they need to have that ability to lead and manage that team.”
VanVleck’s hiring will be contingent on a background check and contract approval between herself and the city.
Vote for These Hazel Park School Board Candidates
ELECT Ryan Bischof
HAZEL PARK SCHOOL BOARD
I am a small business owner whose company won the prestigious 2014 Restaurant Neighbor Award. I’ve connected resources to organizations like Forgotten Harvest, Feed the Need, and more. In my professional life, I've worked with school lunch contracts, organized fundraising events and pizza parties while employing parents and students. While becoming very involved in the bond election this year, I met a lot of community members who know the district can do better for us.
Top Priorities
• Behavior Management
ELECT
Darrin Fox
HAZEL PARK SCHOOL BOARD
The people of Hazel Park Schools hold a special place in my heart. I am a life-long resident, student, employee, volunteer, and committed supporter. Throughout my career, I have always prioritized the needs of students and parents, striving to go above and beyond.
Top Priorities
RE-ELECT
Heidi Fortress
HAZEL PARK SCHOOL BOARD
I am a 3rd generation HP resident and was raised in a single parent home. I received a BBA in Accounting/Finance. I have volunteered in Hazel Park Schools with PTA, dance teams, and band programs. I have also mentored for HP Promise Zone for two years and I am a current volunteer of the HP Athletic Boosters.
Top Priorities
• Collaboration
• Transparency
• Profciencies Improvement
• Facility Review
• Leadership Oversight
• Academic Excellence
• Accountability
• Safe Learning Environment
• Expand Curriculum
• Collaborate with Board on Financial Responsibility
• Improve Test Scores and Graduation Rate
• Retain Staff and Students
Your Vote Counts on November 5th!
Arts, Beats & Eats raises more than $335,000 for local organizations
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — For its 27th year running, the Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats festival has raised a significant amount of funds for local charities and cultural organizations.
Organizers of the event announced at an Oct. 9 press conference in Troy that the festival raised $335,103.53 and attracted approximately 345,000 people to downtown Royal Oak. The number of people who attended made the 2024 event one of the top 10 most-attended Arts, Beats & Eats in the festival’s history.
“This year’s Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats not only delivered an unforgettable experience with its blend of art, music, and food, but also made a lasting impact on the community,” Jon Witz, producer of Arts, Beats & Eats, said in a press release. “The support we have seen from attendees, partners, and volunteers has been incredible — raising significant funds that will directly benefit dozens of local charities and organizations that will make a real difference in the lives of those in need.”
Including the 2024 funds, the festival has donated more than $7.7 million to charitable organizations since 1998, according to the press release.
The release stated that this year’s donations to Royal Oakbased charities reached $117,289.54, bringing the total generated since 2010 to more than $1.7 million for the city of Royal Oak.
Funds were generated through gate admission fees, beverage proceeds, festival-sponsored community initiatives and more, according to the press release.
The press release listed all the charities to receive funds from the event starting with the core charities, who shared donation funds totaling $79,075.
The core charities included Children’s Center of Wayne County, Children’s Miracle Network, COTS, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Dutton Farm, Forgotten Harvest, Lighthouse of Oakland County, Metro Detroit Youth Clubs, Soldiers’ Angels, Stagecrafters, The Rainbow Connection, and Volunteers of America.
Proceeds from beverage sales totaled $136,374.54 and went to 22 charitable and community groups.
An amount of $11,560 was donated to First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Royal Oak First United Methodist Church and St. Mary Catholic Church for parking lots.
Cultural entertainment organizations received $6,750, and donations to Open Hands Pantry in Royal Oak totaled $4,000.
More than two dozen charitable organizations and community groups also received contributions totaling $97,343.99.
At the press conference Oct. 9, organizers of the event spoke on the impact that Arts, Beats & Eats has had on the organizations and the city of Royal Oak.
“It’s a collaboration with the county and with the city, but the way he (Jon Witz) brings the nonprofit community together to benefit from this is so important to me,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said. “This is the largest and most exciting event that we do in Oakland County, which is why we (Oakland County) are proud to support it.”
Mayor Michael Fournier spoke at the event and expressed his gratitude to the nonprofits, the organizers of Arts, Beats & Eats, and the safety and security personnel who were on hand to protect the people at the event.
“Royal Oak continues to be a proud sponsor and host of Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats, and it has been a destination in Royal Oak for 13 years now. It’s an amazing run,” he said. “More than 300,000 people attended the event this year, and for the most part there were no major incidents, and that’s not designed by luck. That is really a testament to so many people working together, especially our (Department of Public Services) teams and our police and firefighters.”
Witz closed out the ceremony mentioning that he looks forward to next year to continue the tradition of Arts, Beats & Eats providing money for charities, and hosting an iconic event.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
CRIME WATCH
Police make cocaine possession arrest
BERKLEY — A 32-year-old Livonia man was arrested for cocaine possession at 10:59 p.m. Oct. 5 near Woodward Avenue and Dorothea Road.
According to the police report, police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had an expired Michigan license plate. The officer asked the driver to step out of the vehicle. When the Livonia man did, according to the police report, the officer noticed a bloody tissue in the driver’s door cargo pouch next to a clear plastic bag.
The officer noticed this as something commonly found in connection with people getting nosebleeds from snorting narcotics. A search by a K-9 found a bag that contained suspected cocaine between the front passenger’s seat and the center console, the report said.
Police investigate stolen baseball cards
BERKLEY — A business reported a retail fraud to police at 4:53 p.m. Oct. 5 at 3277 W. 12 Mile Road.
According to the report, Time Travelers called police to report a case of retail fraud that had occurred the day prior, Oct. 4.
Police learned that two men in their 40s or 50s came into the store Oct. 4 and reportedly used conversational distractions to steal three boxes of baseball cards. Each box was valued at $280.
— Mike Koury
NEWS & NOTES
7A/ WOODWARD TALK • OCTOBER 16, 2024
Police departments announce partnership
FERNDALE — The police departments in Ferndale, Royal Oak, Madison Heights and Hazel Park announced a partnership with the Oakland Community Health Network Co-Response Outreach Program.
According to a press release, the initiative will provide two contracted mental-health clinicians to work with the police departments to provide “direct assistance and support to people impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. The program aims to supplement police response with specialized approaches, offering support before, during, and after a crisis.”
The release further states that the program focuses on connecting individuals with essential services and, when possible, diverting them from the criminal justice system.
Each department will have its own team consisting of a team coordinator, liaison officers and mental health clinician who will be embedded within the law enforcement setting to offer case consultations, coordinate services and provide referrals for individuals in need. They also will assist teams with training and coordination, including reviewing policies and procedures, ride-alongs with police officers, and safety training with law enforcement.
“Having a mental health clinician available to deploy alongside our officers in the field is a tremendous asset to our community,” Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi said in a prepared statement. “This partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to public safety with integrity, professionalism, and honor.”
“We’re excited about this new approach to serve our community, and we’re optimistic about the growth of this partnership over time,” he continued.
VOTER GUIDES ONLINE
METRO DETROIT — The candidate profiles from all 19 C & G Newspapers are available online at candgnews.com/news/elections. The Woodward Talk’s candidate profiles ran in print in the Oct. 9 issue.
Ferndale’s Parks and Recreation originally scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 13 for its new equipment at Wilson Park, but the event was canceled due to inclement weather.
Wilson Park ribbon-cutting rescheduled
FERNDALE — A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Wilson Park was postponed this past weekend.
The city of Ferndale originally scheduled a ribbon-cutting Oct. 13 to spotlight the improvements made at Wilson Park. Because of inclement weather, the ceremony has been moved to 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27.The upgrades at Wilson park include a new playground, a walking path, trash and recycling bins, an accessible water fountain, picnic tables with wheelchair access, a parking lot, and landscaping. Light refreshments and activities will be available at the ribbon-cutting.
The city said in a news release that the park will be partially open for the time being and that a swing set and pavilion will be installed in the coming weeks.
For more information on the event, visit facebook.com/FerndaleParksandRec and ferndalemi.gov.
Student heart screenings available in Ferndale
FERNDALE — Ferndale High School is partnering with the Corewell Children’s Student Heart Check program to offer heart screenings for the community.
The free heart screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, in the high school’s gymnasium, 881 Pinecrest Drive. Students ages 13 to 18 are eligible to participate in the screenings.
Registration for this event is open first to students in Ferndale Public Schools until Oct. 18. After that date, registration will open to the public. Any remaining appointments are expected to fill quickly, the district stated in a news release.
For more information and how to register, visit ferndaleschools.org.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
Photo provided by Ferndale Schools
SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH
CLEARING THE AIR ON VAPING RISKS
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — While vaping was originally marketed to replace cigarettes and some teens say it helps them with stress, health officials say the opposite is true.
Alliance for Coalitions for Community Health Prevention Outreach Specialist Justen Daniels said a lot of health complications come with vaping, including damage to the lungs, heart problems, gastrointestinal issues and more.
He said vape cartridges are filled with hundreds of cancer-causing chemicals.
“The majority of vape pens or vape products are going to contain nicotine, and they’re going to contain a lot of it — a lot of potency,” Daniels said.
He said Stanford’s Reach Lab shared a study that one type of vape pen, which has around 5,000 puffs, has the nicotine equivalent of around 590 cigarettes.
“I don’t think folks are realizing how much nicotine is in there and how addictive that nicotine is,” Daniels said.
Youth are more susceptible to nicotine or THC — a cannabinoid found in marijuana — dependence because their bodies and brains are still developing, Daniels said. The youngest he’s seen or heard of a person having a vape pen is around 8-years-old.
He said that though he doesn’t have a definitive answer of whether cigarettes or vape pens are more harmful, they are both very addictive.
Megan Phillips, Oakland Community Health Network’s director of substance use and disorder services, gathered information about the dangers of vaping.
A document from the organization states that nicotine addiction can cause harm to a person’s mental health, but more research is needed to understand the connection between vaping and mental health. It also states that studies show those who quit smoking experience lower anxiety, stress and depression, and experience a better mood and quality of life.
Veterans Ride Free
Frank Withers’ world has opened up a bit with the help of a transportation program for veterans o ered by Oakland County in partnership with the state and local public transit providers.
“I use this for all my traveling,” Withers, a retired Army Sergeant from Waterford, said during a recent trip to the Waterford Senior Center. “It brings me to places like this here and makes my problems non-existent for a little while.”
e “ is Ride’s on Us” program, which offers Oakland County military veterans and their caregivers free, door-to-door public transportation rides for medical appointments, chores like grocery shopping and visits to senior centers, began in June and has provided more than 2,750 rides.
Administered by the Oakland County Veterans Services o ce through a grant from the Michigan Veterans A airs Agency, the free ride service was supposed to end on Sept. 30, but a $530,000 additional grant from the state will allow the program to continue through September of 2025.
“ is has already helped so many Oakland County veterans and I’m thrilled that we can continue this vital service,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “Our goal is to eliminate any barriers to transportation for our veterans who have sacri ced so much in service to us all.”
e Veterans o ce had o ered free rides to county o ces for several years so that former service members could meet with counselors about the bene ts they earned through their active duty. However, they consistently heard that transportation for day-to-day tasks was a challenge for many of the 53,000 veterans in the county, more than half of whom are older than 65 and many of them with disabilities. at was the genesis of the “Veterans Ride Free” concept and the pilot project was o the ground.
“ ey’re not so stuck in their house anymore.
“This Ride’s on Us” program
ey can get out and socialize. ey can go to a senior center and interact with other seniors,” said Garth Wooten, Division Manager of the county Veterans Services o ce. “ is is a quality-of-life program not only for the veteran but also for their family, who may have had to take time o from work to take their loved one to appointments.”
All the local public transit providers in Oakland County – North Oakland Transportation and Western Oakland Transportation authorities, People’s Express and OPC Social and Activ-
ity Center along with the SMART system – participate in the Veterans Ride Free initiative.
“Our veterans don’t have to rely on other individuals to get them around anymore,” Wooten said. “It allows them to be more independent.”
And that’s priceless, said Withers.
“I can come here and relax with my friends,” he said. “And that’s good for my mental health.”
To book a ride, veterans can call 248-4197984 and provide proof of their military service through their DD214 discharge papers.
FREE TRANSPORTATION
Between now and September 30, 2025, veterans residing in
Rides must be scheduled 72 hours in advance. When scheduling your trip, ensure you have on of the following documents verifying your veteran status ready:
Rides must be scheduled 72 hours in advance. Oakland County Veterans: This Ride’s On Us. When scheduling your trip, ensure you have one of the following documents verifying your veteran status ready: •DD Form 214 (or equivalent)
Frank Withers (retired veteran)
Vaping
“Oakland Community Health Network, alongside our prevention partners, The Alliance, and Oakland County Health Division, work tirelessly to educate community members on the dangers of vaping,” Phillips said in email.
Vaping products can affect brain development, memory, attention, learning, mood and mental health, the Health Division states.
“Additionally, vaping devices may produce vapor containing lead, which can cause brain damage,” the Health Division states.
The age to purchase vape products is 21 years old in both Michigan and nationally, though kids still manage to get these products by employees not age checking IDs, connections with older friends and sharing or by fake IDs Daniels said.
“Because technology has gotten so sophisticated, so a lot of times it’s easy to pick up on a fake ID, so a lot of times they will take an older sibling’s ID,” Daniels said.
“The most common reason middle and high school students give for currently using e-cigarettes is, ‘I am feeling anxious, stressed,
or depressed,’” the document from OCHN said.
The document went on to say, though, that vaping can actually increase these feelings.
Daniels said that if an underage person looks enough like their older sibling, a quick glance will not give away that they are underage. These IDs will not trip the scanners because they are legal IDs.
Underage people who are caught with vaping can face consequences.
Daniels said in the worst case scenario underage people could face a misdemeanor. They can also face detention, suspension and expulsion at school.
“We are seeing so many of our schools take an interest in restorative programming and alternatives to suspension programming,” Daniels said.
He went on to say that if a child is kicked out of school for vaping, they are going to go home and vape.
“It defeats the purpose,” Daniels said. “And so we have a lot of folks who are doing friends of the court programs.”
Vaping products like Juul became popular around the late 2010s, and Daniels said he still considers it very new.
“Especially within the grand scheme of,
you know, how long it took the cigarette and everything to come out,” Daneils said. “It took around 100 years for a lot of that information about cigarettes and some of its potential impacts, some of its potential harmful health implications to come out.”
Vape products were originally marketed as a product to help adults stop smoking tobacco, and they were marketed for adults. Daniels said now it’s really hard to identify vape products due to their evolution and how they are made to blend in as electronic cigarettes. Daniels said there are vapes that
look like smart watches, key fobs, straws and more.
Parents should educate themselves through education programs and presentations so they can recognize vape products.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know,” Daniels said. “And that’s one of the good things about our organizations with the alliance.”
He went on to say they have programs to educate parents and community members about what vapes look like, the health implications and much more.
Roadwork
cused on extending the useful life of the road and had limited funding sources.”
The $250,000 that Huntington Woods will get will improve Newport Boulevard. City Manager Chris Wilson said this funding is critical for the city’s upcoming construction work.
“State funding for local roads has often not kept up with our needs,” he said. “So, the state’s been making these additional grant allocations, and they’re very helpful to help us
Hun-
tington Woods has received a $250,000 grant from the state to help improve Newport Boulevard.
Photo by Liz Carnegie
get our local roads back in the condition they need to be.”
Newport’s construction will be a part of Huntington Woods’ road construction next summer, along with many other roads that the city will improve. Wilson said this grant funding will go specifically toward the Newport project.
“We’ve been very aggressive the last three years,” he said. “We’ve been allocating bond funding that the voters approved previously for road, water and sewer repairs. So, we’ve been making aggressive use of that. Our roads are probably … above average, and we’re working on getting them in good condition.”
HOMES
EASY HALLOWEEN DECORATING TIPS CAN HELP YOU STICK TO YOUR BUDGET
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Whether your idea of decorating for Halloween is putting a pumpkin on the porch or having an elaborate electronic light show with props taller than the houses in the neighborhood, here are some decorating tips for any budget.
Plants and flowers brighten the space of any location. Putting them in a decorative planter makes them transitory in a couple of ways. The plants can be moved easily from one place to another, and the plants can transition from one season to another.
“What you really want to do is have (the
“What you really want to do is have (the plants and flowers) last past Halloween,” said Matthew Colonius, the owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township. “The goal is to have it look good for Halloween, but when you make your choices, consider having it look nice all the way through Thanksgiving.”
RIGHT: Known as the Skeleton House in Madison Heights, Holly Hayter displays skeletons all year by changing the props and the outfits they wear.
Photo provided by Holly Hayter
BELOW: People come from all over to see the Bostick Family Light Show in Garden City.
Photo provided by Kyle Bostick
Future Fair
from page 3A
that this isn’t just for one type of student — it’s for all students — I think that’s been really meaningful.”
Cristina Karaszewski, career development and testing coordinator at Royal Oak High School and Royal Oak Middle School, said this is her first time working on one of the Future Fair events.
Karaszewski said this is a great opportunity to bring the community together and show students the path to a promising future.
“This is the first year we are bringing other schools together,” Karaszewski said. “It’s going to be Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak High School. In the past we have all kind of hosted our own (future fair), and now we are bringing it together as more of a community event.”
Karaszewski said that the goal of the Future Fair is to focus on all potential pathways that students can explore following high school.
“College isn’t necessarily for everybody, so we have trade schools there, communitybased organizations that provide scholar-
ships and volunteer opportunities, along with military and then your traditional colleges,” she said. “I would say it is a vast range of opportunities for students, that no matter what their plan is after high school, we just want them to have a plan, so it is important to give them exposure to different options.”
Clawson High School counselor Rebecca Rice believes that a lot of kids just need exposure at an event like this to find their paths, and she’s seen from past experiences how effective the event can be for the students.
In terms of bringing the schools together for the fair, Rice said the bigger event allows them to invite more schools and businesses to attend, because they won’t be stretched thin.
“You’re able to learn so much more from other counselors and the way they do things and the things we’ve done in the past,” Rice said. “I know that both of the Christinas have said things that I didn’t even think of, and hopefully vice versa, and just bring some ideas and things that our kids didn’t have access to before.”
Rice also advised that any student can come to the fair, not just seniors on the verge of graduating.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman
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or a senior, it’s a great opportunity to learn about things and kind of prepare for what your future might look like,” she said. “Even if you do think you know what you want to do in the future, it’s always good to kind of have other people to talk to and look at options.”
Students looking to register for the fair can do so by signing up at app.strivescan. com/registration. Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
Photo provided by Clawson Public Schools
Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak high schools are partnering to host a fair to help students chart their futures.
The fair will include representatives from universities, colleges, businesses and trade schools. The schools previously held their fairs separately, as seen here at Clawson last year.
IT’S LEAF PICKUP SEASON IN HUNTINGTON WOODS
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
HUNTINGTON WOODS — Leaf pickup season has begun in Huntington Woods. Huntington Woods stated that its Department of Public Works would begin vacuuming leaves from the street on Oct. 14, after press time. Leaf pickup will continue until Friday, Nov. 29.
The city advised residents to avoid parking on the street between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the scheduled day of pickup. If forced to go around vehicles, the city might not be able to return until the next week.
“The only acceptable material in the leaf pile is leaves,” city officials stated in a news release. “We cannot vacuum sticks or branches, pumpkins, potted plants, vines, cornstalks, straw bales, grass clippings, ornamental grasses, etc. Those items are fine for Tuesday Yard Waste pickup in bags or cans with stickers.”
Decorating
from page 12A
Colonius suggests using purple and white colors in plants such as ornamental kale or hardy mums as opposed to the burnt colors such as yellow, orange and red. The hardy mums will still be around after Halloween and the colors mix well with the late fall colors even when it starts to snow.
“The ornamental grasses like purple fountain grass are a really great one; even when it starts to turn brown, it is still pretty in the pot with your other flowers,” Colonius said.
Decorating with pumpkins and gourds sets the stage for an autumnal or Halloween scene. Heirloom gourds come in a variety of shapes and blend with a variety of hues.
The biggest mistake people make with their fall plants is not watering them enough.
“With the dry weather we’ve had this fall, plants should be watered at least two or three times a week. It also keeps them from blowing away in a strong wind,” Colonius said.
To elevate one’s plant display and give it that designer custom touch, Colonius suggests adding items that everybody does not have.
“The kale and the ornamental grasses and purple fountain grass can give it that custom look that sets it apart from other people’s planters,” he said.
Straw bales and regular cornstalks can be added to broom cornstalks, which are very ornamental because of their fancy tassels with red, burgundy and brown.
After Halloween and Thanksgiving,
adding birch logs or birch sticks with evergreens will give the planters a winter or Christmas look.
Lights
Whether you hang a single strand of lights around the doorframe or blanket the house with lights on every side, lights add illumination and cheer to any environment.
The Bostick Family Light Show Inc uses thousands of lights in their light show incorporating Christmas lights, strobe lights and spotlights that flash on their home in Garden City to the delight of their neighbors and all who come to see it.
“If people are doing normal decorations, then outlining your house (with lights) is a nice way to decorate without spending a lot of money,” said Kyle Bostick, of the Bostick Family Light Show Inc. “But if you are trying to do a synchronized show like ours, you can start off with some basic props like the tombstones, bats, spiders and grow the show from there.”
Skeletons
Starting small and growing from there is what Holly Hayter did at her house, which is now known as “the skeleton house” in Madison Heights.
“Currently I have seven skeletons and four (skeleton) dogs,” Hayter said.
Skeletons are not just for Halloween. The Hayters’ house displays skeletons yearround. Hayter has dressed her skeletons up as the Easter Bunny and carrots, a giant leprechaun, and other characters. Her current display is ready for Halloween, which she changes every few days.
For those who don’t want to spend a
lot of money on Halloween decorations, timing is important.
“My suggestion is to buy it when it goes on clearance for the next year. You always have to look for the deals, so you’ve got to shop around,” Hayter said. “I know some of the major retailers like Spirit will
do it after Halloween. One of the big retailers that’s in the game now is Home Depot, and they have already marked their stuff down.”
If your tastes gravitate to the big and bold or the sweet and small, there is a Halloween decoration for you.
Image provided by Huntington Woods
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OF THE WEEK • CRIME OF THE WEEK • CRIME OF THE WEEK
to random assault
TROY — Officers were dispatched to Crooks Road for a report of an assault that just occurred at 11:01
a.m. Sept. 27.
Upon arrival, officers spoke to a man who said he was walking his dog when an unknown male suspect came up to him, yelled in his face, punched the top of his head, and ripped his shirt.
Officers located the suspect in the area of Crooks and Wattles, and he was taken into custody. The suspect stated he had just quit his job and had gotten into an argument with his family, so he walked up to the first person he saw and assaulted them.
The suspect, a 27-year-old man from Troy, was arrested and was issued a citation for assault and battery and a petition for a mental health evaluation.
Break-in occurs at cleaners
TROY — Officers were dispatched to Golden Gate Cleaners, at 2997 E. Big Beaver Road, for a possible break-in Sept. 23.
Upon arrival, officers saw heavy damage to the front of the business caused by a vehicle driving through the front entry to gain access. Officers contacted the business owner, who said the only thing stolen was the cash register.
Child left in vehicle
HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, Hazel Park police officers were dispatched to the 22000 block of South Chrysler Drive on Sept. 19 to investigate a report about a child left unattended in a vehicle.
Officers found a 3-year-old child in the back of a gold Buick. The windows were rolled down and the vehicle was left running. The temperature exceeded 81 degrees.
Officers located the child’s father inside the business. He allegedly admitted he had been in the business for 10 minutes in order to purchase marijuana.
The father reportedly stated that the car’s air conditioner did not work, and he believed it was a safe area to leave the child in the car alone.
The child’s grandmother was contacted, and she was given custody of the child. The father was issued a violation: abandonment of children — failure to supervise, a 90-day misdemeanor.
Child Protective Services was also notified.
Police arrest cellphone theft suspect
FARMINGTON — On Sept. 24 at approximately 5 a.m., Farmington Public Safety officers were dispatched to the area of Grand River and Drake for a man in his mid 20s who stole a cellphone from a convenience
they saw the man walking on Drake Road. The subject ran from the officers but was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody. The case was presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for warrant consideration.
Woman loses more than $9K to scammer
FARMINGTON — A 74-year-old woman told police Sept. 20 that she had been contacted by a suspect who claimed to work for her bank. The suspect was able to convince the woman to withdraw $9,500 from her bank account and place it onto a credit card provided by the suspect. The woman was working with her bank, and the case was forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation.
Cash register taken from cleaners
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Sept. 19, an unknown person stole a cash register from the Best Cleaners at 32974 Woodward Ave.
Bar fight suspect arrested after fleeing
BIRMINGHAM — On Sept. 28 at approximately 11 p.m., officers were dispatched to a bar near the 200 block of South Old Woodward Avenue for a report of assault. The bar’s security staff stated that multiple individuals involved in the incident had fled the scene on foot.
Officers were able to identify one of the suspects, a 25-year-old Washington Township man. While fleeing, the suspect repeatedly ignored the officer’s request to stop, and upon being caught he was placed under arrest for obstruction of police.
A 32-year-old Clarkston man and a 33-year-old Birmingham man stated that while at the bar, they got into a physical altercation with the suspect and that they were both punched multiple times in the face by the suspect. An investigation was ongoing.
Former family friend attempts to light empty gasoline cans on porch
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 7 p.m. Sept. 25, officers were dispatched to Oak Street after a 56-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man reported that a man was attempting to light two gasoline cans on fire on their porch. Shortly after, it was discovered that the gasoline cans were empty and that the suspect, a 27-year-old Troy man, is a former family friend. Charges against the suspect were being sought. An investigation was ongoing.
Speeding motorcyclist arrested BERKLEY — A 20-year-old Waterford man was
11:29 p.m. Sept. 21 near Woodward and West Lincoln avenues. According to the report, police observed two motorcycles, one red and one black, moving at speeds of around 100 miles per hour on Woodward. Police attempted a traffic stop, but both bikes sped off, leaving the officer to terminate the pursuit. Police did keep following the motorcyclists at a safe distance.
An officer was able to follow the black motorcycle, overtake the driver and position the patrol car to force the motorcyclist to slow down.
Police were able to get the driver to stop and handcuffed him.
Wanted man arrested by police
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the area of Adams Road and Auburn Road for a Flock camera hit that identified a gray Ford Edge wanted by the Fraser Police Department for fleeing and eluding at 6:23 a.m. Sept. 3.
The vehicle was in the Walmart parking lot and was unoccupied. Deputies established a perimeter, and the man was observed loading items into the vehicle. Deputies conducted a felony stop, and the vehicle and the suspect, a 43-year-old man from Lexington, was taken into custody without incident. The man had several felony warrants from Macomb County.
During the inventory search of the vehicle, a Glock 19 BB gun and drug paraphernalia were located inside the vehicle.
The man was transported and lodged at the Oakland County Jail, to be picked up by Macomb County on the outstanding warrants. While at the jail, possible drugs were located on him during a search.
Police investigate incident at school
ROCHESTER HILLS — A female student at Avondale Middle School reportedly had a previous incident involving a male student texting her late at night. The school resource officer spoke to the male student during a follow-up interview and advised him not to have contact with her. Both students were in the same class Sept. 10, and she said he kept looking at her.
She told her mother about the incident, and her mother later filed a complaint with the school. The female student wrote out a statement and mentioned a text message that was concerning, which was a previous text that he’d sent late at night. He reportedly stated he thinks about killing people. The male student’s parents were requested to come to the school for an interview along with their child. The father advised there is a firearm in the home due to his occupation, adding that it’s locked in a safe when he returns home. Both parents were aware of their son’s
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
OCT. 17
Book signings: Meet and hear passages from Ferndale author Donald Levin and Bloomfield Hills-based author Rick Bailey during release of new novels, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Color | Ink Studio & Gallery, 20919 John R Road in Hazel Park, donaldlevin.com, rick-bailey.com
OCT. 19
Clawson Comic Book and Toy Show: Also meet horror artist Steve Bejma, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Knights of Columbus Father Lynch Council 4188, 870 N. Main St.
OCT. 20
Ferndale Community Concert Band: Free fall performance titled “The Changing Seasons” marks first concert of 2024-2025 season, 3 p.m., Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive, fcconcertband.org
OCT. 21
Pumpkin painting: Decorate a mini gourd and enjoy treats, 6:30-7 p.m., Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, www.berkleymich.org/ libraryevents
OCT. 22
Royal Oak/Ferndale Senior Expo: Connect with dozens of organizations specializing in assistance and care, also free health screenings, prizes, giveaways and refreshments, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, seniorexpousa.com
Medicare changes webinar: Hosted by Michigan Medicare Assistance Program and AgeWays, live on facebook.com/agewaysmi from 10-11:30 a.m., call (800) 803-7147 for free year round
OCT. 25
Spooky Fun at Suburban Ford of Ferndale: Indoor trick-or-treating, snacks, balloons and glitter tattoos with Tootsee The Clown, 4-6 p.m., 21600 Woodward Ave., (313) 644-4532
OCT. 28
Vexillology: Grades 3-5 can learn about flags around world, also design own, 6 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, fadl.org/ flags
ONGOING
‘The Grown-Ups’: 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays and 3 p.m. Sundays until Nov. 4, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQIA+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, theringwald.com
‘The Woman in Black’: Performance by Stagecrafters, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Oct. 18-27, Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak, stagecrafters.org
‘Puffs’: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Oct. 18-20 and 25-26, St. Dunstan’s Theatre, 400 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills, www. stdunstanstheatre.com
‘Next to Normal’: Performance by Birmingham Village Players, 8-10:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2-4:30 p.m. Sundays Oct. 25-27, Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 7-10, 34660 Woodward Ave., birminghamvillageplayers.com Downtown BOO!kley: Fall-themed events include Ghost Chase (Oct. 18), Trick-or-Treat Stroll & Monster Mash (Oct. 26) and Vampire Blood Drive (Oct. 29), various locations in Berkley, (248) 658-3300, facebook.com/ DowntownBerkley
Fall Fest at Detroit Zoo: Includes Zoo Boo (treat stations, 5-9 p.m. Fridays and 2-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Oct. 18-20) and Jack O’Lantern Journey (illuminated pumpkin displays, live entertainment and more, 5-10 p.m. Oct. 25-27), 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, detroitzoo.org
Art exhibits: “Center,” fiber art by Rachel Brunhild, on display 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays until Oct. 26,
Input the details, upload a photo and select “Review Changes,” then “Submit and Finish.” Events should appear online within 2 hours, and will appear in print as space permits. There’s no limit as to how many you can submit.
school threat assessment was completed.
Business footage catches
garden tools recovered after attempted car theft
Woods Gallery at Huntington Woods Public Library, 26415 Scotia Road, woodsgallery.org
• “Fiber Fest,” on display until Oct. 25 with reception from 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 20, Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Woodward Ave. (Suite A) in Ferndale, (248) 544-0394, lawrencestreetgallery.com
Farmers markets: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays until Oct. 31, South Robina Avenue at 12 Mile Road in Berkley, (248) 658-3353, berkleyfarmersmarket. com
• 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 316 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, (248) 246-3276, more on Facebook
Encore Men’s Chorus: Meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany St. in Ferndale, holiday concert scheduled for Dec. 14, info@ encoremenschorus.org, facebook.com/encoremenschorus
Monthly book clubs: Find meetups for kids, science fiction, graphic novels and more, virtual and in person, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, also groups which meet off site, see full list at www.fadl.org/ upcoming-events
• Meets 3 p.m. every second Saturday, Roseland Cemetery, 29001 N. Woodward Ave. in Berkley, roselandparkmi.com, (248) 541-1154 (ext. 2520) Birmingham & Ferndale Stamp Club: Meets 6-8 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of month, fellowship at 5:30 p.m., NEXT Senior Center, 2121 Midvale St. in Birmingham, birminghamstamp.club
Ferndale Senior Group: Meets 11 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesday of month, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, (248) 506-7389
