10/23/24 C & G Special Edition — Oakland by C & G Newspapers

OAKLAND COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST ‘NEURO-INCLUSIVE’ HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Oakland County’s first “neuro-inclusive” neighborhood, Walton Oaks, is coming to Rochester Hills.

On Sept. 25, officials broke ground on the $10 million project, which is a partnership between Oakland County; Rochester Housing Solutions, a nonprofit founded by families to create homeownership opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Three Oaks Communities, a developer that specializes in homes for neurotypical homebuyers as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

“Walton Oaks is a groundbreaking project that embodies the spirit of inclusion and community that we strive for in Oakland County,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “By creating spaces where people of all abilities can live together, we are building more than homes — we are fostering opportunities for independence, belonging and growth.”

Walton Oaks is the first housing development of its kind in the county and the second in Michigan. The first was launched by Three Oaks Communities in Saline, Michigan, in 2022.

Walton Oaks, located on Walton Boulevard, across from Oakland University, will include 11 ranch homes on one-third acre lots — including three that have been reserved for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Walton Oaks has been designed with a very, very specific purpose: to be a place where adults that face the challenge of disability can thrive, in the same community that many of them went to school, work, volunteer,

See HOUSING on page 9A

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 Oak-based charities reached $117,289.54, bringing the total generated

See AB&E on page 5A

Matt Cooney sits inside an excavator to break ground on the site of Walton Oaks, a “neuro-inclusive” neighborhood Sept. 25. Once the homes are completed, Cooney is planning on moving into a home with four friends, including Carly Guy. Joining him on the ground are Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, center, and David Woodward, chair of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

Photo by Liz Carnegie

Local chefs, Wildlife Council, DNR serve Harvest to Table Gala

BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com

SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan Wildlife Council hosted its first-ever Harvest to Table Gala Oct. 1 at the Great Lakes Culinary Center, 24101 West Nine Mile Road, showcasing the hunting, fishing and foraging heritage in Michigan and the role these natural resources play in addressing hunger statewide.

“The mission of the Wildlife Council is to promote all the benefits of hunting and fishing, that it’s a management tool to ensure that we have sustainable wildlife populations now and in the future, that hunters and anglers provide conservation funding, not only for game species like turkey and deer, but also nongame species like butterflies and salamanders, and it’s something that generates a lot of money and jobs around the state,” said Nick Buggia, the chairman for the Michigan Wildlife Council. “This is the first time we’ve done an event like this, where we’ve invited people to come in. We tried to get a group of hunters and anglers and nonhunters and anglers to bring those two groups together over food and highlight all the natural resources that Michigan has to offer from things like wild game, like venison and fish. A lot of the sides and things today were foraged within an hour and a half of here. So they’re all things that are local. We wanted to

See GALA on page 8A

TROY TRANSIT CENTER REACHES 10TH

BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com

TROY — Since opening in 2014, the Troy Transit Center has served thousands of riders not only through Amtrak trips but also through its bus and taxi access.

The 2,000-square-foot transit building, located at 1201 Doyle Drive, officially opened Oct. 14, 2014, and provides commuters, who could be interested in traveling by train as far as Chicago, with an indoor waiting area and free parking.

“It’s really a night and day difference and really speaks to Troy stepping up,” Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari said. “A lot has happened in the last 10 years, and more is coming.”

The project initially saw some difficulties with its land use issues during the development stage. Previously, the city had partnered with Birmingham, though they backed out later.

Real estate developer Grand Sakwa Properties LLC donated 2.7 acres of the total 77acre mixed-use commercial and residential property at Maple and Coolidge for the project under the condition that funding for the transit center be secured by 2010. While Troy

Paul Grosz, the owner and executive chef of Cuisine Restaurant and a Schoolcraft College Culinary Arts instructor, prepares a roasted venison loin for the third course of the Harvest to Table Gala Oct. 1 at the Great Lakes Culinary Center.

Photo by Kathryn Pentiuk

The Troy Transit Center is turning 10 years old this month.

Photo by Liz Carnegie

COWABUNGA!

FALL MOTOR CITY COMIC CON TO BE A FRIGHTFULLY FUN EVENT

BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com

The Motor City Comic Con, which is set to take over the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Nov. 8-10, has a reputation for bringing in phenomenal celebrity guests, and the lineup for the third annual fall convention does not cease to amaze.

This year’s lineup includes: Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund; Wayne Knight, better known as Newman from the TV sitcom “Seinfeld”; Priscilla Presley; the voice actors behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, Barry Gordon and Rob Paulsen; Star Trek’s George Takei; and Alan Ruck, who is known for his role as Cameron Frye in the cult classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

“A lot of the times we will try and look at anniversaries that are happening,” Sam Yankee, show manager of MC3, said of the guest selection process. “We have Ray Park, and it’s the 25th anniversary, I believe, of (‘Star Wars: Episode I — The) Phantom Menace’ coming up, and then, I believe, we also have the anniversary of the Ninja Turtles. But that is a really good indicator. … Yeah, people like to celebrate those big events.”

Yankee said that original actors for the various fandoms are always going to be popular because they started it all.

“I also think that with some of the

original actors and the original voice actors from movies, you are hitting different generations,” said Beth Burland, MC3 show manager. “So, maybe you watched it with your parents and now you’re showing that to your children. So it just carries on.”

Yankee said they also like to ‘gear a little bit more towards horror” for the fall show and bring in guests who are known for their roles in horror films, such as Englund.

“Horror icons are what we try to get as well,” she said.

This year the show will be presenting two off-site movie events at the Emagine Theatre in Novi with celebrity guest Q&A sessions. Knight will host a screening of “Jurassic Park” on Nov. 8, and Englund will host a presentation of “Nightmare on Elm Street” on Nov. 9. Tickets for Englund’s presentation have already sold out, but there are still some seats available for Knight’s. Tickets run $40, which is in addition to the cost of MC3 admission. Both tickets must be purchased to attend the screening.

There is also a lot of crossover between the various fandoms and other fields, such as with the multiplatinum rapper Logic, who will also be a celebrity guest this fall. The rapper’s music has been featured in several comic movies and he has recently worked on a movie with cult favorite director Kevin Smith.

“I don’t think we want to limit ourselves

See COMIC CON on page 7A

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Pop culture fans browse tables at the Motor City Comic Con in May 2023. The next event will return to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Nov. 8-10.

AB&E

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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.

Photo provided by Arts, Beats & Eats

Organizers of Arts, Beats & Eats attend a press conference Oct. 9 at Flagstar Bank’s regional headquarters in Troy to announce the funds raised from the festival. From left are Jon Witz, producer of Arts, Beats & Eats; Kristin Shaoni, branch manager, Flagstar Bank; Raul Venegas, executive director of marketing, entertainment & sales from Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort; Dave Coulter, Oakland County executive; Dave Woodward, chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners; Mike Fournier, Royal Oak mayor; and Mike DiLaura, COO and general counsel from House of Dank.

For the Love of Louie helps families find beloved pets

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — The Facebook page “For the Love of Louie” helps find lost pets and returns them to their families in happy and sometimes sad reunions.

Cathy Ludwig, an administrator for the page, said it was started around 2010 by Leah Doslea. She lost her dog, Louie, and requested help on social media.

“And there was such an overwhelming amount of responses and care in the community that she decided to start up the page,” Ludwig said.

She said that since 2010 they’ve started using spreadsheets and adopted a process to keep everything as organized and consistent as they can. Using capital letters helps the posts on the site stand out, Ludwig said. They crop photos and post the relevant information.

The page is not affiliated with anyone outside of Michigan. When they started cataloging the posted pets around 2013, they found out they reunite around 10,000 animals a year. The longest time she’s seen an animal lost was 10 years.

“We have 306,000 followers on the page,” Ludwig said. “It’s the largest displaced pets page for Michigan out there.”

The page runs from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. all year-round including holidays. Ludwig said they have around 18 volunteers who run the page and take shifts during the day. Volunteers reside all over the state. Ludwig has a home in Michigan and also has a home

on the East Coast.

“We all take time slots and keep the page going,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig personally has been involved since 2018. She’s always followed the page and at one point she became obsessed with trying to help find a dog.

“Unfortunately, it never got found,” Ludwig said. “But that’s what really prompted me to get involved and become a volunteer.”

Melissa Hurn, another admin for the page, said the farthest she’s seen a pet go is across state lines into Ohio. She found the For the Love of Louie group around 10 or 11 years ago when she lost her cat.

“Back then they only did like a brief paragraph to tell people to keep a lookout,” Hurn said. “I never found my cat, but the amount of resources I guess, like, positive help that she gave me made me want to give back.”

She said even that though she never found her cat, helping others find their pets motivates her to check out the page every day.

Hurn said the general public loves the page.

“Because we’re such a small group, we would be much better off if we had more help,” Hurn said.

Not all on the page are “happy tails” and smiles. Sometimes, Hurn said, they have the hard task of notifying a family that their pet has died. Hurn said she will personally call the family when that occurs.

“It’s heart wrenching to tell somebody that their pet’s dead and where to find it,”

Hurn said. “And some people can’t handle that, either. Everybody assumes it’s just all happy tails. It’s not. It’s people, very emotionally like, begging you to help find their pet.”

She said she comes across deceased pets every day.

“Luckily, we’re matching up more peo-

ple (to) alive pets,” Hurn said. “So the good definitely outweighs the sad.”

Most of the animals posted are usually let out by accident. A gate could be left open, a car accident could frighten a pet, or there could be a slew of other explanations.

“It’s usually something (that) happened,

Louie, the namesake of the Facebook group For the Love of Louie, is featured in this photo. Photo taken with permission from the For the Love of Louie Facebook page

Comic Con

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in any way,” said Burland. “If we can get a different or interesting celebrity in, then we’re going to do it.”

“A lot of people think comic cons are just comics, and while that is definitely where we started and where the heart of our show is, our slogan is, ‘Pop culture, it’s what we do!’ and we really cover anything that falls into pop culture,” said Yankee.

Aside from the celebrities there are numerous other activities for guests to partake in.

“One of the things we are doing different this year is that we are having a tabletop gaming room,” Burland said. “Throughout the whole entire show, every hour you can go and learn how to play a different game, or you and your friends can just go in and pick a different game. There are over 75 different games to choose from.”

A schedule for the games, and slots to sign up is posted on the show’s website. The games include Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Catan and more.

There will also be a Magic: The Gathering tournament from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The cost to participate in the

tournament is $5, and prizes will be given to the winners. Guests will also have the opportunity to paint figurines from games and make friendship bracelets for no additional cost.

There will also be traditions such as adult and kids cosplay contests, numerous celebrity panels, an escape room, and iCon tournaments featuring Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Cosplay groups Ghostbusters Detroit and the 501st Legion from “Star Wars” will once again be in attendance, along with many other activities.

“When people come, they don’t just stay for an hour or two. They come and they stay the whole day,” said Burland. “A lot of people buy a whole weekend pass because it’s just a fun place to be.”

MC3 will be held from noon to 7 pm. Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10.

Tickets for the event, movie screenings and celebrity autographs can be purchased online at motorcitycomiccon.com. Admission prices range depending on where and when tickets are purchased, as well as the day of the event, and the age of the person. Adult tickets cost $30-$45 or $90 for a weekend pass. Tickets for kids ages 6-12 cost $10 per day or $20 for the weekend pass. Children 5 and under are free. All kids 12 and under are free on Sunday.

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Gala

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highlight that and then educate everybody on the Wildlife Council and everything that hunters and anglers do as far as funding conservation.”

The gala’s menu featured a four-course meal inspired by Michigan’s natural resources and created by local chefs.

Chef de partie Danny Pesja, of Sylvan Table, located in Keego Harbor, prepared a wild mushroom salad for the first course, which displayed his love of foraging for wild mushrooms. He said he got into mushroom foraging around six years ago while he was working in the restaurant industry.

“Learning more about wild food and how it was what we originally had to eat back in the day was really exciting for me, on top of the flavors,” he said. “The flavors are unmatched compared to anything you can cultivate or farm. Not to mention that the nutrient value being so high makes that flavor come through so much more and so better for you, too — on top of getting outside a little more, which we don’t often do in today’s society.”

The second course was a kombu steamed walleye prepared by Mike Ransom, the owner and chef of Ima Noodles in De-

Pets

from page 6A

an incident happened, and the animal is afraid, bolted, (the) door left open, garage left open,” Ludwig said.

troit and Madison Heights.

“This event resonated with me because I grew up fishing, and it’s one of my hobbies,” Ransom said of the enjoyment he found combining his love of fishing and outdoor recreation with cuisine. “I think it’s kind of getting back to us understanding where our food comes from and how the nutrient base can be much richer for us, and definitely getting away from too much

The page helps families reunite with their beloved pets throughout the state including the Upper Peninsula. It’s not just limited to dogs and cats, either. The page helps find lost cows, goats, horses and, in one instance, an alligator.

The quickest way Michigan residents

processed foods. And I think if we get kids into hunting and fishing and foraging, then kids will probably understand how they can base their diets on things that are going to be more nourishing for themselves and also find themselves more connected to the world around us.”

Paul Grosz, the owner and executive chef of Cuisine Restaurant, a Schoolcraft College Culinary Arts instructor and the

can get in contact with the page is through Facebook Messenger. To find the page, just search for “For the Love of Louie” on Facebook.

Ludwig said the public usually directs worried pet owners to the page when they post elsewhere.

honorary “meat cutter” of the night, prepared a roasted venison loin.

The fourth and final course was an apple crostada prepared by Abigail Tull, a pastry chef at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon.

“Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger is supported by the DNR. It is a collaborative effort of Michigan hunters, processors and charities aimed at reducing hunger across our state,” Joe Presgrove, a Michigan DNR Sportsmen Against Hunger representative, said. “Our mission is simple but impactful: to connect hunters and anglers with local processors and food banks to ensure that our wild game harvests can benefit those most in need.”

He said that this effort is a sustainable way to address food insecurity throughout the state, noting that of the 1.3 million Michigan residents experiencing hunger, 300,000 are children. He added that through Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, Michigan hunters can donate all of their legally hunted game or just part of it, which will then be processed before being delivered to local food banks and shelters.

For more information on the Michigan Wildlife Council, visit hereformioutdoors. org. To learn more about Sportsmen Against Hunger, visit www.sportsmenagainsthunger. org.

“We have quite a few regular people in the public that will just look at our photos and try to make matches,” Ludwig said. She said residents can post a picture of their animal on the page along with the pertinent information such as breed, name and other features.

Photo by Kathryn Pentiuk

Schoolcraft College Culinary Arts students Barley Guadagnini, left, and Lainey Woodman plate the roasted venison loin with a potato cake, maple butternut squash and wild blueberry sauce.

Housing

attend RARA, Dutton Farm, Paint a Miracle and much, much more that this community has to offer,” said David Mingle, the chairman of Rochester Housing Solutions. “They want to be surrounded by friends and neighbors that accept them, services that enable their independence, access to the community at large and the ongoing support of RHS, so that every parent can have the peace of mind that when they can no longer take care of their loved one, their child will be safe and able to live a rich and full life.”

Oakland Township resident Maureen Guy’s 36-year-old daughter Carly will be among the first residents of Walton Oaks, living in one of three designated homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Since she was very young, anyone who knows her knows that she has always told us, ‘I want to live in my own house with my friends and no parents,’” said Maureen Guy. “Walton Oaks represents the most natural step in Carly’s journey. She will live with friends of her own choosing in her forever home, one that is being designed with care

and consideration of all the stages of her life that are to come so that she can just continue to live a full and wonderful life long after Rob and I are no longer able to facilitate that,” Maureen Guy said.

Debra Branham’s 36-year-old daughter Abigail will be among three friends living with Carly.

“Abigail is non-verbal, so she writes out things she has to say, but when she’s with her friends, she doesn’t always whip out her phone to text something to them. They just know what she is trying to convey. That is something you can never replicate by moving into some place with a bunch of people that she didn’t know. The community is valuable for the comfort level of the parents and the residents themselves,” Debra Branham said.

Abigail said she feels “excited” to live with her friends and no parents, and can’t wait to do her own cooking.

If all goes well, officials said, Walton Oaks residents could be moving in toward the end of next year.

The project has both public and private support from the Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund, First State Bank, and private equity partners. The Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund has invested $500,000

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into the project.

This collaboration on building neuroinclusive neighborhoods will continue with Auburn Oaks, located on Auburn Road, near Crooks Road, in Rochester Hills. The community will include 60 townhomes, condominiums and single-family homes, with up to 24 units designated for adults with intellectual and developmental dis-

abilities. A groundbreaking is anticipated in the spring of 2025. The Oakland Together Housing Trust Fund has also invested $1.5 million into the Auburn Oaks development.

“I’m just thrilled to be a small part of giving our residents more freedom, more independence in the community where they can contribute and live their best lives,” Coulter said.

The land is cleared and ready for construction crews to begin building a “neuro-inclusive” neighborhood called Walton Oaks.

Photo by Liz Carnegie

did secure a $8.4 million federal grant, the money wasn’t acquired before the deadline, meaning the property ownership reverted to the company.

This led to legal issues between the city and the developer where eventually the city was ordered to pay $1.05 million to Grand Sakwa to gain title of the land, as well as $3.1 million to cover all of the other costs, including attorney fees.

“Ten years later, the Troy Transit Center has left behind the controversy it caused during construction and has become part of our City’s core infrastructure,” Mayor Ethan Baker said in an email.

In their 2023 fiscal year, the Troy Transit Center saw their annual station ridership at over 30,000, with annual ticket revenue reaching $1.6 million, according to The Great American Stations.

“While I still believe the Transit Center is underutilized, I do know many Troy residents consistently use it to travel on Amtrak to and from Chicago,” Baker said in an email. “I’d like to see the next 10 years include an increase in use and have it evolve to what it was supposed to be — more of a transportation hub. I encourage SMART to look at ways to incorporate the Transit Center into its mass transit plans; wouldn’t it be great to park at the Troy Transit Center and take a direct FAST bus to Detroit Metro? Our residents and businesses could greatly benefit from such a service. In the meantime, we continue to maintain the Troy Transit Center, as we do all City facilities, and continue to look for partners in the region to expand services.”

Police said they have not seen any concerning rise in crime for the area in the 10 years the center has been there, which was a

fear expressed by some who were opposed to the development.

“The Troy Police Department has responded to calls for service over the 10 years with the majority being Citizen Assists, Requests for Ambulances (Medical calls), and alleged Suspicious Vehicles or Persons in the area,” Troy Police Department Community Services Sgt. Ben Hancock said in an email. “All were carefully investigated and handled by our professionals here at Troy PD. The area is very safe for travelers along with an ideal location for Troy and surrounding residents to catch a train to places such as Chicago. Troy PD continues to provide extra patrols from on duty Officers in their unassigned time to ensure the safety of those utilizing the Troy Transit Center.”

There are plans to upgrade the travel time systems so it’s more accurate to encourage a growth in ridership.

“We’d love to have more service by doubling the ridership by 2040,” Magliari said.

The terms of a 20-year lease agreement with Amtrak stipulate that the city perform all necessary maintenance on the center and cover operating expenses, for which Amtrak will reimburse the city 100%.

The building has a waiting area and public restrooms, an elevator, a 90-foot pedestrian bridge from the building to the tracks, a crash wall, platform enhancements, designated parking on the Troy side, and slips for taxis and buses.

The transit center is not staffed and does not have a ticket counter or kiosk, and riders must purchase tickets directly from Amtrak. The center is open for about an hour before each train departure, and police dispatch monitors video at the center 24/7. There is also a call button to directly alert police.

For more information, visit www.am trak.com/stations/trm or troymi.gov/com munity/troy_transit_center.php.

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