NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S
OCTOBER 18, 2023 candgnews.com Oakland County papers
Family thanks resident who helped man in car crash
Wealthy Oakland County neighborhoods are being targeted by an international crime ring, according the the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Shutterstock image
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
SHERIFF ADDRESSES CRIME RING FOCUSING ON WEALTHY OC SUBURBS BY MARY GENSON mgenson@cansgnews.com
OAKLAND COUNTY — The county’s affluent neighborhoods have been targeted in what is called a transnational crime ring. Organized and trained thieves have been targeting certain areas of the United States and breaking into homes in search of cash, jewelry, high-end clothing, purses and products. On Sept. 29, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard shared information and updates on the crime ring at a news conference. According to Bouchard, these transnational crime groups are made up of individuals from South American countries. “They are here to exploit a variety of things, and in our situation as relates to the burglaries, it’s high in homes with high net value within those homes,” Bouchard said. Oakland County is now on their radar; however, they are traveling throughout the United States to carry out their crimes. “We estimate there are crews and operations all across the country in a pretty substantial number,” Bouchard said. Bouchard said they are believed to have entered the country in one of two ways, either illegally across the southern border or through the Visa Waiver Program. He said they purchase fake identification and often
overstay their visa and cancel their return date. They also are known to establish residency in the areas they are targeting. They do this through fraudulent housing applications or Airbnb. Bouchard said that in Oakland County, they typically break in around 5-9 p.m. He added that preferred targets are homes that are isolated and back up to wooded areas, trails and golf courses. According to Bouchard, Oakland County has seen between eight and 11 related cases over a year. “Oftentimes, they make their entry via an upstairs balcony or windows, or, oftentimes, in the back. If they are going to do windows, they do windows in the back,” Bouchard said. Bouchard encouraged residents to invest in their home security and make sure security measures are on and tested. He suggests good quality cameras and layered systems throughout the house. He also urges residents to secure all of their valuables in a heavy-duty safe that is anchored. If anyone sees something suspicious happening in their neighborhood, they are encouraged to reach out to law enforcement. “We’d all like to check out suspicious activity 100 times in case one of those could be something that is valuable and actually something in progress,” Bouchard said. “So don’t feel like you are troubling us. That’s what we do.” Call Staff Writer Mary Genson at (586) 498-1095.
MADISON HEIGHTS — A local woman is thanking the stranger who rushed to her husband’s aid after the 81-year-old man got in a car accident that left him hospitalized with a brain injury from which he’s still recovering. “We really want to show our appreciation,” said the man’s wife, Maria Fields. “She really went above and beyond.” The incident happened at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11. Maria’s husband of 55 years, Fredrick Fields, was driving by himself on Wolverine Street, between Lincoln and Greig avenues. He was scheduled for a doctor’s appointment for his arthritis, a simple routine where they massage different muscles. That’s when he plowed into a utility truck for a treetrimming service, one of two that had been parked on the side of the road where vehicles can’t normally park — a temporary measure while they cut down branches. Maria said it’s unclear how Fredrick crashed into the vehicle. She said her husband is an exceedingly careful driver, always traveling below the speed limit. See THANKS on page 12A
Deborah Monroe, center, visits Maria Fields, left, and Maria’s daughter Ronni Majewski at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital Oct. 1. Monroe helped Maria’s husband Fredrick when he got in a car crash outside her Madison Heights home. He is now recovering at the hospital. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
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3A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
Employees speak about their paranormal experiences at Dragon’s Landing while Jessica Krutell, center, and Michael Miller, to the right of Krutell, listen in.
On assignment at Dragon’s Landing with Mystic Mitten Paranormal
Photo by Erin Sanchez
‘Making the paranormal more normal’ BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
A
lot goes into a paranormal investigation, including capturing evidence and listening to recordings. For Jessica Krutell, founder and lead investigator of Mystic Mitten Paranormal, it’s all about “making the paranormal more normal.” Before an investigation, Krutell chats with the residents or business owners to get background information about what’s going on there. “Sometimes, there’s natural causes and explanations as to why they might be feeling or experiencing certain things, too,” Krutell said. “So we try to get all of that sorted out first before actually
doing the investigation.” As soon as she and the others get to the house, they turn on the recorder to capture “electronic voice phenomenon.” Krutell later explained in an email that EVPs are any voices that are captured with an electronic device. “Electronic voice phenomenons, or EVPS, are something that do happen somewhat often, not like constantly. But the second that we get into a place, we want to have something recording at all times,” Krutell said. A device Krutell also talked about is the KII meter that detects electromagnetic fields, which is an important part of the process. She said her brother’s aquarium was emitting high amounts of
I’ve always believed in the paranormal. Living in a state like Michigan where the lakes are treacherous and ships go missing in the night, it’s hard not to. Ghost stories were passed around by volunteers at lighthouses, sprinkled in with the long history of the guiding lights. Some of them chilled me to the bone and some of them stick with me today. Going into this investigation, I was nervous and a little bit scared. Questions skated around Ochss in my mind about what we would actually see and hear that night. What if something comes through that we don’t want to meet? What if something personal comes through speaking to me? It’s also interesting going into an investigation as a person who doesn’t have any connection to the location and who doesn’t have the knowledge a paranormal investigator would have. I wasn’t someone who experienced paranormal activity daily nor did I have the expertise to tell someone why they were See ASSIGNMENT on page 14A
See PARANORMAL on page 6A
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
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Professor, students weigh in on SAG-AFTRA strike BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — With the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on strike, young future media professionals have had a lot to think about. Students at Oakland University were generally supportive of the strike. Brendan Kredell, an Oakland University professor and the director of the university’s film studies and production program, said the SAG-AFTRA strike was brought up on the first day of class in a course about the history of silent film. “So you might think, we’re looking at a time period that took place a hundred-plus years ago and that seems (as) far from relevant as possible,” Kredell said. He went on to say that when film was invented there was a lot that was unsettled and that many things needed to be invented so they could have the film and media industry they have today. “A large part of that was trying to understand what the relationship between capital and labor was,” Kredell said. “And that was a long and sometimes very conflictdriven relationship.” According to their website, SAG-AFTRA “represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voice over artists and other media professionals.” “SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world,” their mission states. According to their website, the strike was ordered by SAG-AFTRA on July 13 and started at 12:01 a.m. on July 14. At press time Oct. 5, they were still on strike. As of press time, negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers were ongoing and were expected to proceed on Friday, Oct. 9. According to the Writer’s Guild of America West, both the WGAW and the Writer’s Guild of America East went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on May 2 of this year. That strike ended on Sept. 27. Kredell said he thinks the film and media industry is facing a similar upheaval that the inventors of cinema were facing. “Which is the challenges and the opportunities presented by generative AI,” Kre-
dell said. “And in the face of that, it should be hardly surprising that labor is responding the same that labor did during the silent era. Which is to organize and to try to assert its own power against capital in an effort to try and ensure it can carve out a living.” The students in the class, Kredell said, came to see the historical significance as well. In his classes, the students have been generally supportive. “I’m teaching today the students that will have those union jobs in a couple of years, ideally,” Kredell said. “And those are the very people who should be the most concerned whether or not the adoption of artificial intelligence and other various efficiency generating technologies is going to make it such that the total number of opportunities available in the media industries are lower in the future.” In his film programming class, the students gave their opinions about the SAGAFTRA strikes. The students in the class were from all different fields of study. Zach Andrew, an acting major, said he’s excited the strikes are happening now rather than when he’s entered the industry. “I support them because if I talk to some people that don’t know as much and they take that these are millionaires complaining that they don’t get an extra five, ten million (dollars),” Andrew said. “But these are average people who are just like us, who are just trying to make a living doing what they love.” Shane Strong, a film production major, said that he hopes the VFX artists go on strike next. He recalled later on a video essay that stated if the AI precedent set up by the higher ups at the studios goes through, the higher ups are next because there would be programs that know what movies to greenlight. “I feel like if I was on a board and I’m paying millions, $20 million a year to some guy to greenlight movies and such, you know, I’m either going to get rid of him or pay less,” Strong said. Falon Harris, a social work major, said she likes the fact that they are on strike. She said those that support the strike have to understand the confusion when it comes to people who might not understand that the actors on strike aren’t celebrities, and they feel strongly about the opposite. “I like that they’re on strike,” Harris said. “But also, I do understand the converSee STRIKE on page 12A
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5A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
AEW wrestler Danhausen added to fall comic con roster NOVI — The Motor City Comic Con has announced that AEW wrestler Danhausen will be a celebrity guest at its fall show Nov. 10-12 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Other guests added to the lineup include “What We Do in the Shadows” actors Harvey Guillen and Natasia Demetriou, and Pokemon voice actor Veronica Taylor. Comic writer and artist Tony Daniel and comic artist Rose Besch also have been added to the guest list. Motor City Comic Con is also announcing iCon Tournaments. The tournaments will offer guests a gaming lounge area where they can “meet friends and challenge new rivals.” They will be available every day of the convention, and prizes will be given out to winners of every tournament, according to a press release. “It’s all about competitive action and friendly combat,” the release states.
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ROCHESTER — Downtown Rochester held its 11th annual Rochester Posed event Oct. 5. During the event, 20 participating businesses turned their storefront windows into live mannequin displays. This year’s theme for Rochester Posed was Heroes vs. Villains. Event attendees were able to cast a vote for their favorite live mannequin displays through phone polling. There was also a selected panel of judges that scored each window for the Judge’s Choice winner. The top three windows with the most texts for the People’s Choice are, in first place, “Local Heroes”/At Home Furniture; second place, “Mario vs. Bowser”/The Spice & Tea Exchange; and third place, “Mean Girls”/Kimi K Salon & Spa. The top three windows with the most votes from the panel of judges are, in first place, “The Witches of Wizard of Oz”/South Street Skateshop; second place, “Ariel vs. Ursula”/Rochester Bike Shop; and third place, “Alice vs. The Queen of Hearts”/Haig’s of Rochester. For more information, call the DDA at (248) 656-0060.
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BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Cranbrook Institute of Science’s Halloween Science event will take place noon-4 p.m. Oct. 21-22. This experience includes Pumpkin launching with a 3-ton trebuchet, a spooky selfie station, creepy critters, Halloween themed hands-on activities, electrifying stage shows and more. All activities are free at the event with the purchase of general museum admission. While they do take walk-ins, they are not guaranteed. Therefore, pre-registration is recommended. Find more information at science.cranbrook.edu/explore/programs/events.
C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
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Paranormal from page 3A
electromagnetic fields at one point. “If you’re around that constantly, it can cause paranoia. It can cause you to feel uncomfortable and, in some extreme cases, can cause hallucinations,” Krutell said. Once they arrive, the investigators get to tour locations and find any hot spots. The amount of activity experienced varies from house to house, Krutell said. Sometimes, activity starts as soon as they start the investigation; other times, nothing happens. “I would like to think that the spirits just don’t know us, you know what I mean? They’re not familiar,” Krutell said. “It would be like somebody just walks into your house and starts asking you all sorts of questions. You don’t know who they are. You’re not going to want to talk to that person.” She added she’s a firm believer in being approachable and friendly during investigations instead of yelling orders. “I wouldn’t listen or respect that,” Krutell said about being aggressive. “But if I see people that are having fun and it’s a good conversation and people are enjoying themselves on that experience, and it’s comfortable and it’s an inviting environment, I would want to be a part of it.” Michael Miller is a Mystic Mitten Paranormal investigator and technician. He is also Krutell’s husband. Miller said you can’t say for certain whether a haunting is residual or intelligent. He said residual hauntings tend to have spirits who don’t respond when asked and the people who live and work in a space have repetitive experiences with the paranormal. “Where you can go to a place and there’s reports of someone walking down a hallway,” Miller said. “You go down there (and ask), ‘Can you walk down this hallway for us?’ And it never happens. But then, they call us a week later and they go, ‘Yeah, it happened again and it’s the same exact thing every single time.’ That could be a sign of a residual haunting.” Miller has been accompanying Krutell on investigations for approximately a year. He said he got into the paranormal by watching paranormal shows and because of Krutell. “It was something I didn’t plan on but the more you’re around it, the more you think about it, the more you learn and experience and talk to people who have experiences,” Miller said. “It’s definitely an interesting thing to follow.” Krutell offers her services for free and a lot of times the residents or business owners join her on an investigation. She said she
thinks it works better that way because the spirits are more comfortable with the people Krutell helps. People can also feel more comfortable in their own space by participating in the investigation as well. “My slogan is ‘making the paranormal more normal’ because I want people to feel comfortable with these spirits and kind of live side by side with them rather than just assuming that it’s something maleficent and evil, dark and scary. Because usually, like 9.99 times out of 10, it’s not scary,” Krutell said. Krutell tries not to research any history about a location before going into an investigation. If they get any paranormal activity, they start to find the history tied to the location. “I try to do the research after the fact just because I don’t want to go in anticipating to hear from ‘Sandra, Sally’ or whoever,” Krutell said. Miller said he and Krutell have never had any experiences that made them feel they were in danger. “Never been in danger,” Miller said. “Never felt like I was in danger.” Krutell said a person doesn’t have to be of a certain religion to be a paranormal investigator. Sometimes, people involved in the paranormal field are religious and use various religious practices and tools to bless the house or pray over the area they are investigating. Krutell said she doesn’t associate with any religion and doesn’t see anything wrong with it either way. “I don’t think that you have to have, you know, some sort of belief in a higher power to understand that energy is still energy,” Krutell said. “There’s definitely science behind it all.” She went on to explain that people have their physical forms, and they also have personalities, opinions and other things that are a part of the spirit and soul. “Your spirit and your soul is the energy behind our body which is just a vessel,” Krutell said. “So when our bodies pass, our bodies just, you know, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Our bodies are just empty vessels at that point, but energy never dies. It just transfers.” When it comes to TV shows, Krutell said for the investigators to get enough material to fill a full run time, it would take multiple nights of investigating. “A lot of times, (on) the TV shows, they’re actually going to be wearing the same clothes and they’re going to be pretending like it’s the same day when it actually isn’t,” Krutell said. She also said it depends on the show See PARANORMAL on page 7A
Michael Miller watches the cameras during a paranormal investigation at Dragon’s Landing. Photo by Erin Sanchez
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
Paranormal from page 6A
how dramatized it is for TV. Krutell has met some TV investigators in person and she said it’s easy to tell whether they’re an honest person or not just by talking with them. “I would say there’s a good portion that’s dramatized,” Krutell said. “Sometimes, they just have to make it entertaining. Sometimes, they just have to capture the audience.” The network running the TV show often has full say, Krutell said. “The network has control and sometimes that leads to a lot of disruptions in paranormal TV because it goes against what that paranormal investigator feels is right,” Krutell said. It’s important to go into an investigation with a good, clean headspace, Krutell said. She added that if you’re negative, it’s going to be easier for something to latch onto you. “You attract more flies with honey if you’re sweeter and you’re kinder,” Krutell said. “And if you have, you know, a better head on your shoulders, I think you’re going to be safer going into those investigations.” Miller said it’s important for those who are afraid of their residence or business being haunted to remember that whatever else is
there is probably also afraid. “Sometimes it’s just best to speak to it with an open mind and be welcoming and sometimes you might feel a change and a change in that environment,” Miller said. For those wishing to venture into the paranormal field, Miller said to find a professional and get information and advice from them on how to start. “Every single person in this field wants nothing more than to have other people have a better understanding of it and acceptance of it,” Miller said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. If you ask them for help into understanding how to go about doing things and how to get started, every paranormal investigator will always be 100% (supportive) in helping that person understand and get started.” Miller said you don’t need anything special but a cellphone and a free voice recording app. “You just need to have the willingness to go out and be open to what you’re feeling, hearing and seeing and to experience it and know that whatever you’re experiencing is true to whatever you feel,” Miller said. “Not to whatever anyone says you might have seen or heard or felt.” Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
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ABOVE: A KII meter and a REM pod sit on the bar with a glass of beer at Dragon’s Landing during a paranormal investigation. LEFT: Zoey Wright, an employee at Dragon’s Landing, uses dowsing rods to capture paranormal activity. Photos by Erin Sanchez
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8A/ OCTOBER 18, 2023
C & G NEWSPAPERS GROSSE POINTE/MACOMB COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION
Activist Jodee Blanco shares her story with the community at Brother Rice High School Photo provided by Brother Rice High School
HANDLING BULLIES AT SCHOOL AS A PARENT ‘THE WEAPONRY TO PERPETRATE BULLYING CUTS A WIDER AND DEEPER SWATH’
BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — When parents find out that their kid is being bullied, or that their kid is the bully, it can be a shock. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five high schoolers have reported being bullied at school. There are signs victims may show that parents should look out for, as well as strategies to help rebuild their self-confidence. Jodee Blanco is a survivor-turned activist and the author of the New York Times bestseller “Please stop laughing at me: One woman’s inspirational story.” She recently spoke at Brother Rice High School, and while she was there, she observed the challenging yet nurturing culture that the school has achieved. “It was one of the most powerful experiences at a school I’ve ever had,” she said. Blanco shared that while bullying has not changed since she was in school, bullies now have new ways to carry out this behavior against their victims. With social media, kids no longer have to spread rumors in person. Now, they can do the damage hiding behind a screen. “The weaponry to perpetrate bullying cuts a wider and deeper swath, but the impulse of what creates that kind of cruelty remains the same,” Blanco said.
Parenting a victim
Lisa Khoury is a school psychologist in the Grosse Pointe Public School System and
is in private practice at Associated Psychologists in St. Clair Shores. Khoury said that sometimes the first sign parents may notice in their child who is being bullied is social isolation. Changes in friends or social activity may be due to a child wanting to avoid the bullies, or it could be because they were not invited. Blanco said that it is important to understand that sometimes the more subtle kind of bullying can be the most hurtful. “Bullying isn’t just the mean things we do. It’s all the kinds of things we never do,” Blanco said. She explains that bullies can attack in more ways than physical. “The moment a child starts asking themselves what’s wrong with me is the moment that potential long-term damage from bullying has taken root,” Blanco said. “If you are a parent, you have to be aware that, if your child is lonely or feeling isolated or left out, the potential damage of that can be severe.” Blanco said the first thing a parent should do to help their child is help them find a brand-new social outlet separate from school. She suggests looking into programs offered by park districts, museums, camps and libraries. “While you want to work with the school institutionally on the bullying itself, the first thing you need is to perform triage on your lonely child and give them hope that if they are not fitting in at school, there are still other places where they will fit in and can make friends,” Blanco said. Khoury said a parent should sit down with their child and talk to them about what
Jodee Blanco and Brother Rice High School Principal Ed Okuniewski participated in a seminar on bullying. Photo provided by Brother Rice High School
is happening. She suggested parents ask their child how they think they can solve this problem, helping them along the way. “The concept behind that is to empower the students to take charge of the situation,” Khoury said. Blanco added that working in partnership with the school is essential. She said one of the most common mistakes people tend to make is focusing solely on punishing the bully.
Punishing the bully
When parents find out their child is a bully, Khoury said, they should treat it like a “teachable moment” and practice “restorative justice approaches.” For example, she suggests asking a child who is a bully to write an apology letter to the student they are bullying. “The most effective way to diminish bullying in a school is to treat the bullies
with compassion and engage in restorative practices when it comes to discipline and to help their target to become more socially confident and also to deepen their ability to forgive,” Blanco said. Blanco said that parents should engage in compassionate forms of discipline if they find out their child is the bully. For example, a bully may benefit from doing random acts of kindness for a different person each day and recording how that person responded to that act and how that response made them feel. “If you have a kid who’s mean at school, your child is crying out for help,” Blanco said. “Do everything you can to find out what’s causing this hunger and what is causing this cry for help, and work backward from there.” For more information on Blanco’s story and insights, visit her website at jodeeblanco. com.
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
BLOOD DONORS NEEDED AS SHORTAGE CONTINUES AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFERS INCENTIVES TO RECRUIT DONORS METRO DETROIT — On Oct. 4, the American Red Cross issued a news release stating there is a national blood shortage, and donors are urgently needed. According to Red Cross officials, in order for the blood supply to recover, the nonprofit organization must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet the needs of hospitals and patients in Michigan and across the country. Barry Siegfried, M.D., medical director of the Red Cross Michigan Region, said donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially platelet donors and Type O blood donors. “When blood and platelet supplies drop to critical levels, it makes hospitals and their patients vulnerable, especially if there is a major accident or an emergency medical procedure that requires large quantities of blood,” Siegfried said in a prepared statement. “We’re asking donors across Michigan to help us keep hospital shelves stocked with blood products and help ensure patients
have access to the timely care they deserve.” To encourage members of the public to donate blood, incentives are being offered. Those who donate by Oct. 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together. Donors who give blood between Oct. 21 and Nov. 9 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a restaurant merchant of their choice. They also will be entered to win a $5,000 gift card in which three winners will be chosen. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/lunch. The Red Cross offers three ways to make an appointment to donate. Donors can download the Red Cross blood donor app on their cellphones, apply at RedCrossBlood.org, or call 800-RED CROSS, which in numeral form is 800-733-2767. According to the news release, the Red Cross national blood supply dropped by approximately 25% “on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons and the beginning of back-to-school activities.” Another challenge for the Red Cross is that See BLOOD on page 12A
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
10A/ C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
OCT. 19
Chili Cookoff & Fall Festival: Country music, square dancing and vendors featuring chili, 3-5 p.m., Anthology of Novi, 42400 W. 12 Mile Road, RSVP at (248) 513-8526
OCT. 20-22
‘Angels of Bataan’: Story of female Army and Navy nurses who were prisoners during WWII, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Oct. 22, Mercy High School, 29300 W. 11 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, (248) 893-3513
OCT. 21
Trail Rally: Teams search for answers to puzzles, followed by pizza dinner, for ages 18 and older, Johnson Nature Center, 3325 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Hills, (248) 341-6485
OCT. 22
PurpleLight: Honors survivors and those who died from pancreatic cancer, 6:30 p.m., Gilda’s Club, 3517 Rochester Road in Royal Oak, (248) 635-4625 Walk Against Hate: Hosted by Anti-Defamation League, 1 p.m., 2-mile event begins at Southfield City Centre, 26000 Evergreen Road, register at www.walkagainsthate. org/michigan
OCT. 25
OCT. 19
Haunted Library: Visit from Ghostbusters Detroit, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Madison Heights Public Library, 240 W. 13 Mile Road in Madison Heights, (248) 588-7763
OCT. 20-21
Hoot N’ Howl Hayride: Search for nocturnal animal activity, also campfire, cider and doughnuts, 7:30 p.m., Thelma Spencer Park, 3701 John R Road in Rochester, more at eventbrite.com Trick or treat: Also games and crafts, Fairy Tales and Folklore theme for friendly (not scary) event, 4-8 p.m. Oct. 20 and noon-3 p.m. Oct. 21, Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, registration ends at noon Oct. 19, troyhistoricvillage.org
Zoo Boo: 2-6 p.m., Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, zooboo.detroitzoo.org
‘ A Chorus Line’: Performed by Nicely Theatre Group, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 27 and 28, and 2 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29, Berman Center for the Performing Arts, 6600 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield, nicelytheatregroup.org ‘Jersey Boys’: Performed by Birmingham Village Players, select dates Oct. 27-Nov. 12, 34660 Woodward Ave., birminghamvillageplayers.com Play ‘Pokémon Go’: Meetups at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 (Martin Road Park, 1615 E. Lewiston Ave. in Ferndale) and Nov. 2 (Green Acres Park, 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd. in Hazel Park), (248) 546-4095
OCT. 27-28
Spooktacular: Trick-or-treating from 1-4 p.m. in downtown Royal Oak, also magic show, lawn games, face painting, balloon animals and costume contests from 2-5 p.m. in Centennial Commons, royaloakchamber.com
Group hayrides: Time slots starting at 5:30 p.m., Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road in West Bloomfield, register at wbparks.org
ONGOING
‘Candy Corn, Christ, and the Convoluted Creation of Golf’: Select dates until Oct. 29, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQIA+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, theringwald.com
OCT. 22
OCT. 19-20
OCT. 20-22
‘Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure’: Select dates until Oct. 29, Meadow Brook Theatre on campus of Oakland University, 378 Meadow Brook Road in Rochester, mbtheatre.com
OCT. 27
Autumn Nature Walk: Guided tour, 2-3 p.m., Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary, 4700 Pontiac Trail, gwbhs.org/events
Creating transformative schools conference: Includes breakfast and lunch, and speeches by experts, advocates and thought leaders, hosted by Michigan Center for Youth Justice, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Sheraton Detroit in Novi, miyouthjustice.org/events. ‘Ripcord’: Presented by Rosedale Community Players, 8 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 27-28, and Nov. 3-4, and 2 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29, and Nov. 4, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road in Southfield, rosedalecommunityplayers.com
encouraged, noon-4 p.m., Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Hills, science.cranbrook.edu
Halloween Hoot: Enjoy spooky family fun on the nature trails, 5:40-9:10 p.m., Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, 333 North Hill Circle in Rochester, register at dinosaurhill.org/hoot
OCT. 21
Halloween activities: Trick-or-treating from 3:30-5 p.m., costume parade from 5:15-5:25 p.m. and Halloween Fest from 5-6:30 p.m., Main Street and Farmers Market lot in downtown Rochester, www.downtownrochestermi.com/trick-or-treatdowntown Halloween Masquerade Ball: Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live music by Sonic Freeway, dancing, tarot card reading and more, for ages 21 and older, 7-11 p.m., Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, facebook. com/CityOfRochesterHills Trail of Treats: Previously known as Pumpkin Walk, 6-9 p.m., Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road in Madison Heights, rain date Oct. 22
OCT. 21-22
Halloween Science 2023: Pumpkin launching with three-ton trebuchet, spooky selfie station, speedy cockroaches, scavenger hunt and more, costumes
Trick-or-Treat Trail: Also doughnuts, cider and music, 6-7.30 p.m., Clawson City Park, 935 N. Custer Ave. Hall-oween: Trick-or-treating, seasonal crafts, cider and doughnuts, stories of Halloween past and more, 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive in Rochester, www. meadowbrookhall.org/halloween Ghoulish Grooves: Live Halloween music, costume contest and parade, bake sale, prizes, treats and more, 3 p.m., Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest, facebook.com/ferndalecommunity concertband Frightful 5K: Run/walk at 8:30 a.m., also 1K Family Pumpkin Fun Run at 9:30 a.m., Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Road, rec.troymi.gov
Halloween Art Show: 6-8 p.m., Articipate, 3833 12 Mile Road in Berkley, articipate.us/gallery Teen Halloween: Includes sword swallower, food and more, 6 p.m. Oct. 27 to 8 a.m. Oct. 28, Hazel Park District Library, 123 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-4095
OCT. 28
Howl-O-Ween: Bring dogs to play and show off costumes, also photo opportunities and treats, noon-2 p.m., Daisy Knight Dog Park, 3410 Livernois Road in Troy, register by Oct. 27, troymi.gov Trunk or treat: Also hayride and hot cocoa, 1-3 p.m., Scout Park, 901 E. Otis in Hazel Park, (248) 252-2395 Trick or treats: 2-5 p.m., meet at Bar Louie at Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk, 44375 W. 12 Mile Road in Novi, (248) 348-8762 • Noon-2 p.m., participating businesses in downtown Farmington, downtownfarmington.org Boo Bash: Crafts, games, trick-or-treating, hayrides, cider and doughnuts, and singing and dancing with Friendly Dracula, for ages 2-12, costumes encouraged, 1-4 p.m., Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, (248) 796-4620
OCT. 29
OCT. 24
Trunk or treats: 2-4 p.m., Unity of Royal Oak Church, 2500 Crooks Road, (248) 288-3550
OCT. 25
• Get candy from police vehicles, also games, crafts and giveaways, 1-4 p.m., Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, (248) 796-5441
Trick or treat: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Hazel Park District Library, 123 E. Nine Mile Road, (248) 546-4095 Trick or treat: Also crafts, games, activities and more, 4:30-6:30 p.m., then food truck rally 4-8 p.m., Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road, btpl.org
OCT. 26
Paranormal investigations: Photos, audio and video presented by Southeast Michigan Ghost Hunters Society, 6-7 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, free but registration required, wblib.org Fall walk: Includes trick-or-treating, 6 p.m., Boulan Park, 3671 Crooks Road in Troy, (248) 524-3570
ONGOING
Victorian walks: 6:30 p.m. every Thursday in October, meet at Farmington Community Library, 23500 Liberty St. in Farmington, www.downtown farmington.org Fall walks: 2 p.m. Oct. 21 at Cummingston Park and Oct. 29 at Tenhave Woods, all free and in Royal Oak, romi.gov/411/Nature-Walks Downtown BOO!kley: Ghost Chase from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 20, and Trick or Treat Stroll from noon-3 p.m. and Monster Mash from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 28, various locations in Berkley, www.downtownn bookley.com
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
The Royal Oak Shrine Catholic varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams take a picture to celebrate the school’s annual Pink Out game Oct. 3 at Shrine Fieldhouse. Photo provided by Jennifer Gallagher
Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale focus on Woodward construction as end nears BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
breast cancer financial assistance organization. Shrine was able to raise funds during the game by selling T-shirts, baked goods and holding a 50/50 raffle. The Pink Fund strives to help women who are undergoing breast cancer treatment by paying up to $3,000 over the course of three months for nonmedical bills, which includes car payments, rent, electricity and more. “It makes a difference for people, and the Pink Fund basically supports people with the other part of the
FERNDALE/PLEASANT RIDGE — In an update from the Michigan Department of Transportation, construction work on Woodward Avenue is expected to be completed by late November. MDOT stated in an Oct. 2 press release that the construction work, taking place on Woodward Avenue between Eight Mile Road and Interstate 696, has continued with the building of bike lanes in the right lane of both northbound and southbound Woodward. Other construction work as part of the project includes sidewalk upgrades, drainage improvements, resurfacing and signal work. “Currently, half of the lanes of northbound and southbound M-1 (Woodward Avenue) between M-102 (8 Mile Road) and I-696 have been resurfaced,” the release states. “Once the bike lanes are completed, the remaining lanes of M-1 will be resurfaced and final pavement markings will be installed.” The construction work on Woodward runs through the cities of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge, which have had to deal with increased traffic and detours for a year. Ferndale City Manager Joe Gacioch said he doesn’t think the city is looking ahead to a post-construction mindset yet, but instead is focusing on the construction that’s currently ongoing. “I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves for the reopening quite yet,” he said. “(MDOT is) focusing on installing all of the new bus islands and the buffers for the new bike lane, and
See PINK OUT on page 13A
See WOODWARD on page 13A
Shrine Catholic volleyball holds annual Pink Out event BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The sea of pink returned to the Royal Oak Shrine Catholic High School gymnasium as the volleyball team held its annual Pink Out game on Oct. 3 at Shrine Fieldhouse. While Shrine Catholic volleyball picked up the clean sweep 3-0 against Jackson Lumen Christi, the school raised nearly $4,000 toward the Pink Fund, a
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
12A
Thanks from page 1A
They know the area well, too, having lived in Madison Heights over two stretches of time, including at least 20 years since moving back. “He must have blacked out and hit the accelerator, which threw him into the truck,” Maria said. However it happened, the violent collision caused Fredrick’s Jeep Compass to spin around, facing the opposite direction in the roadway. A woman with the tree-cutting service was first at the scene and called 911. She was followed by Deborah Monroe, a resident across the street who has lived in Madison Heights since 2011. “I was sitting at my desk, which faces the window on that side of the house. I was working when I heard a loud boom,” Mon-
Strike
from page 4A
sation about why it’s interesting to have and why people might not get the point because it is really hard to understand unless you (are), like, in it or you understand it.” Kredell is worried about the strikes for a few different reasons. One of those worries has to do with “what this means for the longterm sustainability of the industry.” He also said it’s a different kind of worry than it has been in the past. “Because the players around the table are not the same,” Kredell said.
roe recalled. “I looked out the window, and at first, I didn’t realize what I was looking at, since the truck was there but the car was sideways, and it looked like it was coming out of a driveway. Then it registered that something had happened.” She said she went outside and helped pull Fredrick out of the vehicle, carrying him to the curb where another neighbor had arrived with a chair from her porch. Monroe began asking Fredrick questions while he rested in the chair. “When we sat him down, he started vomiting. He had road rash-like burns on his arms from the airbag. He kept saying he knew he wasn’t speeding, and that he didn’t know what happened. And he tried to give me his daughter’s number, but he couldn’t remember due to the impact. He was pretty shook up,” Monroe said. “The paneling on his car was gone, exposing the frame and tire.” Monroe deduced he had been traveling to the doctor. She was able to find out He went on to say that the players were the same in the 1920s as they were in the 2000s. “What’s different today is that it’s not only Paramount and Warner’s (Warner Bros.) and Universal, but it’s also Apple and Amazon and Netflix,” Kredell said. “They weren’t even a part of this conversation really the last time that this happened.” This creates further uncertainty about the outcome of the strikes. “We don’t know, I think, what to expect because the business models of those companies are completely different than those of the mainline entertainment companies,” Kredell said.
which doctor and contacted the office. Putting Fredrick on speakerphone, he gave the office permission to share his family’s contact information with Monroe. She then called Fredrick’s daughter, Ronni Majewski, and informed her of the crash. “I just kept thinking that if he was my parent, I’d want to know right away what happened,” Monroe said. “I just wanted to let someone know. It was important for me to get ahold of the family, who could take it from there.” At press time, Fredrick was still recovering at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. “He’s on a feeding tube, refusing to eat. He cannot communicate coherently,” Maria said. “He’s basically bedridden. They’re just trying to get him now into physical therapy.” Maria, her daughter Ronni and her son Rod have been taking turns keeping Fredrick company throughout the day. Maria said they’re so thankful to Monroe’s efforts to look out for Fredrick, and to help connect
him with his family. Monroe is no stranger to helping people. She started a nonprofit respite called Hope 365, “like a bed and breakfast for mental health,” she said, with activities and a peer support group. “We’re there to just be able to listen, and if they need resources, we work with agencies in the community to make those connections,” Monroe said. “We’re trying to break the recidivism of going from crisis to hospital and back again. Everyone’s needs are different.” Hope 365’s website is hope365wellness. org. Coincidentally, Monroe has been visiting the same hospital as Fredrick, since her mom was there for a procedure. This provided an opportunity for Fredrick’s family to meet Monroe Oct. 1. “I just find it so unreal these days, to see someone act so selflessly,” Maria said. “She just did such a wonderful job, helping us with Freddy.”
Blood from page 9A
since many employees continue to work from home or in a hybrid capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic, that reduces the number of opportunities to give blood at businesssponsored blood drives. “These factors, coupled with an active disaster season, are creating a perfect ‘storm’ and challenging the organization’s ability to collect a sufficient amount of blood products to meet the needs of hospitals and patients,” the news release states. There are eligibility requirements to donate blood. Donors must be at least 16 years old in most states, must be in good health and feeling well, and must weigh at least 110 pounds. Blood can be donated every 56 days. The donated blood is used in a variety of ways, including for accident and burn victims, and for trauma, heart surgery, organ transplant and cancer patients. Patients with chronic diseases also receive blood when needed.
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
Woodward
Pink Out
that’s taking some time. It’s caused significant detours that have had to be put in place, which is constraining traffic.” Gacioch believes the detours will be done by Oct 23, and once those are completed, MDOT can shift to lane resurfacing. That being said, he is aware of how frustrating this period has been for residents and commuters and appreciates their patience. “The difference with these detours in a city that’s dense like ours, where our downtown is so dense and we have a state highway running through it, is those detours have to plan for truck traffic,” he said. “We don’t want truck traffic to be navigating around our side streets. So the detours have to be kind of elongated because of that, because we want the truck to be detoured before they get downtown. “That’s what’s different about this, is this is what comes with having the state highway, and it’s actually a good illustration of why we want to slow the state highway system down anyways,” he continued. “Because our detours are forcing truck traffic … to use other major streets like Livernois (and) Pinecrest, as opposed to coming down and using a smaller street like Allen. So we have to make the detours longer” Pleasant Ridge City Manager James Breuckman agreed, stating that everyone is looking forward to construction being done. “It’s been a definite disruption to the area, and I know everyone’s patience is starting to wear a little bit thin with it all, and I completely get that,” he said. “It doesn’t look like a lot of progress is being made while they’re doing all of the foundation and underground work and all that stuff, but then I think in the next week or two people are gonna see a lot of progress because they’re starting to pour concrete and they’re starting to do a lot of the above-ground work. So it’ll be good. We’re looking forward to getting that part of it done and getting the project ramped up.” Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
battle,” Shrine Pink Out coordinator Jennifer Gallagher said. “There’s a financial battle, a huge financial battle that accompanies breast cancer, and any illness really.” Since being founded in 2006, the Pink Fund has given nearly $7.4 million to women in need, and Shrine continues to lend a helping hand with the fund’s efforts. Last year, Shrine put together a massive Pink Out event that carried through not just
from page 11A
from page 11A
the volleyball team, but the soccer and football teams as well. Shrine was able to raise nearly $5,000 through the weeklong event that brought a trio of their sports together, so don’t be surprised if Shrine has something up its sleeve for 2024. “We’re gonna turn it up again next year,” Gallagher said. “I think next year will be an even bigger event.” For more information on the Pink Fund, how to donate, or how to apply, visit pink fund.org. Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.
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C & G NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION • OCTOBER 18, 2023
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from page 3A
experiencing these phenomena. I was just an observer. The air in Dragon’s Landing brew pub was hot as I walked in the back door of the kitchen and into the main dining room area. Employees as well as the owner greeted me, welcoming me to the place where they work every day. Jessica Krutell, founder and lead investigator of Mystic Mitten Paranormal, and Mystic Mitten Paranormal investigator and technician Michael Miller arrived shortly afterward. The investigation and the interviews officially started when she placed her recorder in the center of a chair in the middle of our circle. The owner, Spencer Channel, told a little bit about the history of the building and how it used to be an old social club. A lot of people died here, he said. Maybe the folks that used to enjoy the building back when it was a social club still enjoy it to this day? The employees shared their experiences, with some overall similar experiences between those that were there and others that seemed specific to a couple of people. One of the shared experiences was seeing a tall, dark, shadowy figure somewhere near the back storage rooms. When I first got a look at the storage room, it felt a little eerie, but I didn’t know whether it was because my nerves were kicking in or if it really was as creepy as it sounded. The most shocking thing was when a bartender and manager, Gary Elson, said he and another employee heard Elson’s name called in the restaurant. He dubbed the spirit that he thinks follows him from job to job “Frank.” I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in a mostly empty building and hear my name called by someone who was not there. What would I do? Words would come out of my mouth not suitable for publication, that’s for sure. I have had haunted experiences before and all I did was give the area I saw something in a blank stare and stand there frozen to my spot; a deer in the headlights, if you will. I would definitely die first in a horror film. Cortez Sealie, a cook, said he’s been dealing with the paranormal throughout his whole life. He said he can see the spirits and hear the disembodied voices. He also said he knew there was the presence of a little girl and a woman in the building. Multiple employees said they’ve never tried to call out the spirits or have conversations with them for fear of opening “Pan-
dora’s Box.” That’s what we were going to do that night. The first part of the investigation was held at the bar using a device called a KII meter. This device detects electromagnetic fields, according to an email by Krutell. It lights up whenever it detects a change in fields. The recorder was still going and Krutell asked multiple questions as we went. Long periods of silence passed after each question to allow any spirits to speak if they wanted to. With every passing moment, I was getting more comfortable in the space we were in. I stopped breathing so hard, and I felt more relaxed than I did when we started. We moved into the main dining room, being careful not to trip over any of the wiring set up for the cameras. Krutell moved the KII meter and another device, a REM pod, closer to us. A REM pod, Krutell said in an email, was invented for paranormal investigations. The device emits an energy field and will alert if anything enters that space. It also detects temperature changes. Again, Krutell asked questions and we waited patiently for responses. Then Krutell brought out a device called a spirit box. This device sweeps rapidly through multiple different radio stations, Krutell said in an email, and it’s believed spirits can control these devices to put together audible responses. Words came through the spirit box, including some names like “Dylan.” But the one we held onto and the one that seemed to garner the most responses from the spirits was “Emily.” I didn’t know if Emily was a person who partook in the social club or from somewhere else. Was the little girl spoken about earlier Emily? Krutell then asked Emily to speak to us through the recorder and to touch the areas around the KII meter and REM pod. Something did happen to the KII meter where it lit up, but I had my head turned when it happened, and I couldn’t quite find the device in the darkness. The gasps from the rest of those with me alerted me to what was going on and I finally found where the device was. The green light on the device was slowly blinking and Krutell asked the spirit to activate the red light on it with little to no response. One of the funnier responses we thought we heard from the spirit box was “pound it.” Was there something residual at the restaurant of previous patrons and guests drinking merrily with each other? It was interesting and felt like we were getting a small glimpse of a conversation from decades ago. Before we left the area, Krutell told the spirits multiple times that we were leaving. They seemed to encourage us to move to another area by saying “go for it” through the spirit box.
We then moved to the back storage rooms. It was as creepy as some of the employees said, especially in the dark. A red light in one of the rooms gave it an eerie vibe and the pitch blackness made things such as a blinking soap dispenser seem creepier. Krutell set the REM pod down in the back room where Elson and Sealie stood in the far back in the darkness. The rest of us stood in the conjoining hallway in front of another one of the storage rooms. There was one thing I was certain of: It was hot in that back area. Multiple times, the REM pod went off, indicating temperature fluctuations. Krutell used a thermometer to read the temperatures in real time. The people in that small hallway could see as it went from 82 degrees Fahrenheit to 79 degrees and back up again. It was amazing and kind of thrilling to see the evidence right before my eyes. Some of the employees standing around me as well as myself felt small cold spots around us and rushes of cold air pass by as if someone was walking in and out of the area. A couple employees sat in a chair in the far back room, saying it felt heavier while sitting in that chair. In this area, I remembered that the building might have been an old German club, so I suggested we speak to the spirits in German. After a while, we left the area to go back
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to the front by the bar. So far, I thought the investigation was going well and my nerves had completely left my body. I was enjoying seeing all the evidence we were documenting. In the bar area, one of the employees poured a beer to see if that would encourage the spirits to speak to us or move something. The last investigation device Krutell pulled out were dowsing rods. In her email, she said these items have a deep-rooted history where people would use a Y shaped tree branch to search for water. Modern day dowsing rods are made of copper and often have free-floating handles so they can’t be controlled unconsciously by the user, the email said. The person holding them also has to stay as still as possible and really concentrate. Krutell said in the email these are best used for yes and no questions. Three different people used the dowsing rods and each time the rods moved in response to questions or commands issued by the user or Krutell. At the end of the investigation, we filed into the dining room to talk about our findings. I went home tired and very hungry, but also excited for more. It left me wondering when I can do this again. Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
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02234-2338
$69
Free Labor & Install Free Whole Home Air Purification System Up to 36 months no interest