When planning to move, streamline to save money and reduce strain >> 12A
‘I’VE
Macomb
Dakota senior Brady Hamby dives into the endzone for one of his four touchdowns as Dakota defeated Utica Eisenhower 41-14 Nov. 8 at Dakota High School.
NEVER HAD A GAME LIKE THIS’
Unsung defensive hero seals district title for Dakota in 41-14 win over Eisenhower
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Dakota defense has been highly discussed throughout the course of the season, and for good reason.
Dakota has guys like senior defensive lineman Logan Criteser, who just broke the single-season school sack record with 14.5, and a host of other talented athletes like seniors Aiden Lindsay (DL), Tyler Torey (DL), Brady Hamby (LB), Di’Mari Malone (LB) and Jacob Bajis (DB) leading the way.
There’s no shortage of leadership and talent, but sometimes it’s the player who doesn’t make the weekly headlines who ignites the defense.
As Dakota (10-1) exacted its revenge Nov. 8 at Dakota High School for a regular season loss to Utica Eisenhower (8-3), who beat Dakota 21-14 Oct. 11 for a share of the Macomb Area Conference Red title, it was junior defensive back Dominic Vanvliet who had his moment in the spotlight, tallying two interceptions, including a would-be game-sealing interception late in the third quarter.
See DAKOTA on page 14A
Incumbents prevail in top Macomb offices
MACOMB COUNTY — In an election year defined by a polarized electorate, Macomb County residents opted to stick with the government they have.
The county’s prosecutor, clerk, sheriff, treasurer and public works commissioner — all incumbent officeholders — were each elected to another term on Nov. 5, with statewide Election Day trends favoring Republican candidates in all but one of the races among Macomb County’s top administrative officials.
Republican Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney Peter Lucido said he was honored and humbled that the election results showed a lot of good things had happened since he took office.
Photo by Alyssa Ochss
Photo by Erin Sanchez
SEAFOOD
FLOUR
Macomb County road projects announced for 2025
Executive and deputies call for funding changes
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — As the Macomb County Department of Roads begins to fill its trucks with winter salt, department and county leadership announced a slate of construction projects for the coming year.
Unveiled at the roads department’s Mount Clemens headquarters on Nov. 7 were 34 projects totaling nearly $90 million pending approval by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.
Projects noted by Macomb County Department of Roads Director Bryan Santo include the over $15 million reconstruction and rehabilitation of 10 Mile Road between Ryan Road and Lorraine Avenue in Center Line and Warren, the $8.3 million reconstruction of Garfield Road between
Authenticity key to Pankow Center’s ‘Mean Girls’
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — There is always a challenge to be had between balancing authenticity and heightened reality when approaching musical theater. In the Frederick V. Pankow Center’s upcoming production of “Mean Girls: High School Version,” cast and crew alike aim to strike that balance in flying color — the color, of course, being pink.
One of the most iconic media properties of the 21st century, “Mean Girls” claimed its spot in the zeitgeist as a 2004 Lindsay Lohan movie directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey. After 20 years, “Mean Girls” and its story of Cady Heron running up against the notorious Regina George and the Plastics clique has yet to exit cultural discussions. It returned to movie theaters this year as a musical based on a 2017 stage adaption that ran for over 800 performances on Broadway.
In a unique move for high-school-focused productions, Pankow Center theater
teacher Greg Trzaskoma received an unedited version of the Broadway script alongside a slate of Fey-endorsed edits schools could use at will. Trzaskoma opted to use some of Fey’s suggestions and believes the changed script will not detract from a story that hits close to home for many high schoolers.
“It’s about one special junior year at a suburban high school, and the themes, the ideas that it is about — it’s about bullying, it’s about relational aggression, it’s about families and parenting and high school and teenage substance abuse — (are) a lot of things that kids in our program are dealing with in their lives,” Trzaskoma said. “The theater for much of its existence has been a place for us to publicly discuss difficult things in a safe way. This musical is no exception. It’s a lot of fun but there’s a lot of really serious, honest, truthful, real stuff being dealt with in the fantasy of a musical.”
Supported by students from the moment it was suggested, “Mean Girls” has seen stu-
See ‘MEAN GIRLS’ on page 10A
14 and 15 Mile roads in Fraser and the $16.5 million reconstruction and widening of Romeo Plank Road between 21-and-a-half and 23 Mile roads in Macomb Township.
Santo gave special notice to the department’s bridge program, which is planned to tackle 10 projects next year.
“Through strategic investments capitalizing on state funding programs, we’ve made significant progress on our bridges,” Santo said. “As of today, out of the 225 bridges we
See ROADS on page 10A
Junior Rowan Westermann, left, receives advice from senior August Rau and sophomore Sean Barkley about surviving high school as they rehearse a scene between the characters Cady Heron, Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard from the musical “Mean Girls: High School Version” on Halloween in the Frederick V. Pankow Center backstage rehearsal room. “Mean Girls: High School Version” will play at the John R. Armstrong Performing Arts Center on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
POETRY A SLAM DUNK FOR ART CENTER
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — It has featured sculptures, paintings, fiber and photographs and, as of late October, spoken word poetry has found a home at the Anton Art Center.
The art center hosted its first poetry slam on Oct. 30, filling the second-floor gallery with over 30 interested members of the public and nine poets vying to be the sultan of the slam.
“Several were poets, several were community members who came to see the show,” Anton Art Center Executive Director Matt Matthews said. “There was some wider pull from outside (Mount Clemens.) There was an Oakland University student who came and competed in the slam. A young woman from Ray Township came and competed in the slam and finished in second place.”
Slam poetry combines a poetry reading with the thrill of competition, turning audience members into judges of a battle of both the strength of a poet’s work and their stage presence.
“The idea of a poetry slam is that it’s a
way to make it into a very lighthearted competition to, I guess, tweak a people’s love of competition in general,” event organizer Harry Campion said. “The idea that you can put a numerical score on poetry in the first place is a little bit ridiculous. But on the other hand, it can also feel extremely validating when it goes your way.”
Campion had been a high school educator for 30 years, turning his experience teaching creative writing into a retirement career of running poetry workshops and organizing poetry slams. Campion’s classes and events lead to him being a founder of the poetry slam tournament at the Grand Hotel’s speech tournament. Matthews approached Campion at the Shelby Township Library in the spring of 2023 about running some workshops and hosting a slam at the Anton Art Center.
Both Matthews and Campion were happy with the turnout and have begun discussions about holding a second slam at the Anton Center around Valentine’s Day 2025. Details on the second date are to come.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
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RIGHT: Harry Campion speaks with judges at the Oct. 30 Anton Art Center poetry slam. Judges were pulled from the audience and provided scores for each poet’s performance.
Audience member judges hold up scores following a poetry reading at the Oct. 30 Anton Art Center poetry slam. Harry Campion tallies up the scores for each round.
CRIME WATCH
Vacuum invader
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, a man of unknown age or residence entered the home of a 31-yearold Macomb Township woman in the 21000 block of Chevalier Drive.
The man forced open a locked screen door and, when confronted by the resident, said he was there to pick up a vacuum cleaner. The woman informed him he was in the wrong home and the man left without taking anything.
Gift Card Scam
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On the afternoon of Oct. 25, a 75-year-old Macomb Township woman was contacted by someone claiming to be an Amazon worker. The caller said there were “serious charges” on her account and had the call transferred over to an “FBI agent Dan Murphy.”
“Murphy” told the woman her account was being used for money laundering and instructed her to purchase $4,400 in gift cards and ship $14,800 via UPS to a California ad-
dress.
When the woman was speaking with Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies at her home in the 46000 block of Breckenridge Drive, “Murphy” called her back. Deputies answered the phone, leading to “Murphy” quickly hanging up.
Damaged Dodge
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 2 a.m. on Oct. 26, 22-year-old Macomb Township man parked his Dodge Challenger on the street outside of his home in the 16000 block of Sassafras Lane. When he went to drive to work around 6 a.m. that same day, he discovered damage to the car alongside the driver’s side frame and on several windows.
According to the report by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, the damage appeared to be caused by pellets. The 22-yearold was unsure who would shoot pellets at his car.
Halloween hooliganism
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In the days leading up to Halloween, several instances of damage to decorations were reported to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
See CRIME on page 11A
‘One stop shop’ softball facility a ‘safe space’ for local athletes
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Walk through the doors of Advanced Sports Performance on any given night during the week, and there are three things you’re guaranteed to notice: smiles on numerous faces, softball players perfecting their craft and owner Leslie Heisler’s vibrant personality.
“It’s nice having that personal touch of hers, and you sense it when you’re there,” said Bob Hall, Utica Eisnehower’s varsity softball coach and an Advanced Sports Performance team member. “You see her around the place because she has a lot of pride in her facility and what we’re doing in her facility. It’s nice to have that personal contact with not only the facility, but the owner of the facility. It’s a win-win situation to be honest with you.”
Located in Shelby Township at 47959 Van Dyke Ave. between 21 Mile and 22 Mile roads, Advanced Sports Performance has become a haven for softball players in the surrounding area since its grand opening on Aug. 17.
It’s a place where softball is the focal point for obvious reasons, but it’s so much more than just a field and a couple of cage rentals.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” Heisler said. “I always say that I want the girls to come in and kind of get whatever they need. Do you need a referral for a sports performance coach? What do you need and let’s try and get that for you. It’s not just physical with how we can help them — it can be emotionally, spiritually and mentally.”
Services range from cage and field rentals to hitting and fielding and pitching lessons, but ASP also offers massage therapy, integrated manual therapy that focuses on specific injuries or dysfunctions, speed and agility training, and mental performance.
While the field and cage are primarily catered toward softball, massage and integrated manual therapy cater to anyone. Training is for all ages.
“It started to develop as I watched her with the inconsistencies of what a boy’s experience is in athletics versus a girl’s experience in athletics is, and I started to see that so clearly that the girls needed a spot,” Heisler said. “They needed a place to play.”
Heisler, a Shelby Township police officer for 25 years and former military police officer, is somewhat of a local celebrity in Shelby Township for her 10 years as a D.A.R.E officer in the local elementary schools and a school resource officer at local schools as well.
Because of her familiarity with the area, Heisler, who lives in Armada, said she wanted somewhere that would provide a close-knit feel, and she felt Shelby Township was the perfect fit.
ASP has quickly morphed into the idea that Heisler first brainstormed while watching her daughter, Sam Heisler, a freshman next year at Armada High School, play travel softball at 8 years old.
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Sure, Heisler isn’t up-to-date on the newest rap songs the girls play or a fan of the Christmas music that gets blasted at times, but it’s all part of the dream she envisioned coming to life. Although if anyone remembers, the Shelby Township Police Department did a carpool karaoke video back in 2018 featuring Heisler, who sang some rap and rock.
For the incoming softball players, ASP has surrounded itself with knowledgeable trainers, from high school and travel coaches to collegiate softball players.
Aside from their experience and what they can bring to the table from a technical perspective, they’ve walked a similar path as the players walking through ASP’s doors.
“Everywhere that I went when I was younger was a baseball facility that could also be used for softball,” trainer Eryn VanderVlucht, the varsity softball coach
See ADVANCED on page 15A
“I didn’t want it to be flashy or bougie — I wanted it to be comfortable,” Heisler said. “I want the girls to come in here and feel like this is comfortable. Sometimes after speed and agility, the girls will stay after and just pepper the volleyball. I’ll sit in here doing paperwork and I can just hear them giggling, and then they take control of my spotify.”
NEWS & NOTES
GOP wins township uncontested
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — As Republicans took wins across the country on the evening of Nov. 5, the results of Macomb Township’s elections were decided long before the first absentee ballots were printed.
GOP candidates held onto the three full-time elected positions and all four Board of Trustees seats in an uncontested election. Frank Viviano enters his second term as township supervisor on the back of 42,878 votes. Krisit Pozzi continues her tenure in the clerk’s office with 42,901 votes. Leon Drolet remains treasurer with 42,018 votes.
A single personnel change occurred on the Macomb Township Board of Trustees with Ronald Papa Jr. replacing the outgoing Trustee Nancy Nevers, making the swap on the back of 35,248 votes. Incumbents Charlie Oliver, Frank Cusumano and Peter Lucido III retained their positions on the board with 35,420, 37,344 and 38,019 votes respectively.
CALENDAR COMMUNITY
NOV. 15-16
‘Mean Girls’: 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 3 p.m. Nov. 16, John R. Armstrong Performing Arts Center, 24600 Frederick Pankow Blvd. in Clinton Township, showpass.com/ mean-girls-6
NOV. 17
Macomb Symphony Orchestra: Celebrate ensemble’s 50th season, 3 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
NOV. 21
Rough Seas: The Edmund Fitzgerald: Explore famous Great Lakes shipwreck, 10 a.m.-noon, Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, lorenzoculturalcenter.com
CMPL employee wins state-level award
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Oct. 16, the Michigan Library Association held its annual awards banquet to honor the work of library professionals across the state.
The Clinton-Macomb Public Library’s own Katie LeBlanc, head of customer CARE and system administrator, was honored with the Support Staff of the Year award. According to the MLA, this award recognizes a support staff professional who goes above and beyond to provide support at their library and who has advanced and strengthened the image of support staff.
LeBlanc was nominated by CMPL Director Larry Neal.
NOV. 23
Mount Clemens Santa Parade: 10 a.m., Main Street from Church to Clinton streets, www.mountclemens santaparade.com
NOV. 25
Tween Advisory Board: Fourth and fifth graders can meet to plan programs, 4:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, registration required, (586) 2265083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
NOV. 29
Family jigsaw puzzle contest: Teams can be 2-6 members (only one needs to register), prize for first place, 1 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
ONGOING
Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, Dimitri’s Opa! Restaurant, 50875 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096
• Breakfasts 10 a.m. every fourth Monday of month,
Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096
• Lunches 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Joanna at (586) 777-4651
Free medicare help: Hosted by Michigan Medicare Assistance Program and AgeWays, meet with trained counselor by appointment, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 15, Chesterfield Community Center, 48400 Sugarbush Road in Chesterfield Township, also Dec. 6, Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (800) 803-7174
Macomb Motivators Toastmasters Club: Meets 6:308 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of month, St. Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, www.6104644.toastmastersclubs.org
Washington Art Guild: Learn about art, listen to demonstrators and speakers, practice art in workshops, and exchange ideas, meets 6:30-9 p.m. every first Monday of month, Romeo Community Center, 361 Morton St. in Washington Township, washington-artguild.homestead.com
“I truly believe that this Katie exemplifies the best in our profession and is most deserving of this honor,” Neal said in a press release. “She is an excellent example of a ‘home grown’ success. She was first hired as a page, promoted to library assistant, promoted to manager and then four years ago promoted again as a key, highly valued department head.”
LeBlanc leads the Customer CARE department, which handles library-user-facing tasks such as checkouts and holds. She tasked staff to come up with the department’s name, with CARE standing for Courtesy, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Polling booths set up in the Macomb Township Hall allowed residents to cast their ballots on election day.
Photo provided by the Clinton-Macomb Public Library
Katie LeBlanc is the Michigan Library Association’s 2024 Support Staff of the Year award winner.
from page 1A
In the Macomb County clerk and register of deeds race, with all precincts reporting now, Republican Anthony G. Forlini led with about 57.8% of the vote. Democrat David Adams had about 41.7%.
In an email, Forlini credited his victory to Macomb County residents’ confidence in the job that he has already been doing as clerk. He also reflected on his campaign.
“From the very beginning when I ran and won for (Harrison Township) township supervisor through my current term as County Clerk I have always ran a positive campaign, respecting the people that I ran against,” Forlini said.
Anthony Wickersham retained the Macomb County Sheriff’s badge, the lone Democrat to win among the county’s five top seats. Vote counting in the race for sheriff ran well into election night and the morning after, and the race was not called in Wickersham’s favor until 10:53 a.m. on Nov. 6. At press time, Wickersham garnered 255,475 votes (52.02%) over Republican challenger Terence Mekoski’s 233,539 votes (47.55%).
“Each year it gets closer and closer, and I’m honored that the residents of Macomb County elected me to be their sheriff for the next four years,” Wickersham said.
The close nature of the race tracked with a state and county that furthered its reputation as a Republican stronghold, but Wickersham was quick to downplay the idea of his approach to the office as partisan.
“For the last four years it’s been this way, starting in 2016, and to be honest with you I try to stay out of the political arena,” Wickersham said. “I’m a law enforcement (and) corrections professional and that’s the job I want to do. Obviously, I know the sheriff’s position is political and partisan, so you’ve got to pick a side. I just want the people of Macomb County to know that as Sheriff, I put the roles and responsibilities first before the politics.”
Wickersham plans to continue the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office’s focus on completing the central intake and assessment center at the Macomb County Jail, hiring deputies for contracted policing areas, the office’s focus on proactive policing and, ultimately, reducing crime.
“I’ve been the sheriff for 14 years and now I have another four to complete my projects, my missions and to do the job that I love.”
In the prosecutor race, Republican Peter Lucido received 279,131 votes (56.91%) at press time, besting Democrat
Christina Hines, who received 209,233 votes (42.66%).
Lucido said he was honored and humbled that the election results showed a lot of good things had happened since he took office that allowed him to clean the office up.
“And to move forward now and show the people with hard work, determination you can succeed at anything you do,” Lucido said. “And that’s what we’ve done. We’ve done a great job. The entire office is now motivated to do the things that needed to be done.”
Hines said in a text she thanks those who supported her and that the experience was incredible.
“The people I met, the conversations we had, the organizing we did — this is the actual work of democracy, and I am so grateful for this experience and for the remarkable work that so many people did every day for this campaign,” Hines said in the text. “It is not the outcome we hoped for, but I believe that we made a difference in our community, and I am looking forward to doing absolutely everything I can to continue to strengthen our community and fight for what is right.”
In the treasurer race, Republican Larry Rocca received 277,780 votes (57.97%) and Democrat Matthew Churchwell received 198,930 votes (41.52%).
Rocca said he is humbled to have the support of Macomb County residents.
“I continue to do a good job for the citizens of Macomb County and make this county the greatest county in Michigan,” Rocca said.
Churchwell said he thinks his campaign ran a great race.
“We have, just the rest of the party, a whole lot to learn,” Churchwell said. “I give my best to Larry. I think he’ll serve faithfully and serve the constituents in Macomb County and we’ll look to the next one.”
In the public works commissioner race, Republican Candice Miller received 301,853 votes (51.06%), Democrat Kevin Higgins received 170,011 votes (44.29%) and Libertarian Jim Fulner received 12,274 votes (3.81%).
Miller said she is honored the people of Macomb County gave her another four years to continue as public works commissioner.
“I ran this race basically on my record over the last eight years, previous eight years,” Miller said. “And really that focus has been and will continue to be how we can improve on water quality because water quality equals quality of life. And then also how our department can be a critical component of economic prosperity for the county.”
Higgins had no comment on the race.
e holiday season is upon us, a busy time for us all. A time for re ection of the year gone by and a time for hope for the coming year. is past year has been a challenge for our country and in Michigan, a struggle for many. I want to thank all of my patients for the privilege of serv- ing you. e opportunity to make a positive di erence in the lives of others is a gift. Your loyalty, support and friendship allows me to follow my passion in dentistry. Please accept my very special holiday thank you from me and my devoted sta .
Yours for Better Dental Health, Dr. Berman
Roads
from page 3A
have, we have 201, or 89%, that are in ‘good’ and ‘fair’ condition. We have 13, or 6%, that are in ‘poor’ condition. We have 11, or 5%, that are in ‘critical’ or ‘serious’ condition. Of the 11 ‘critical’ or ‘serious’ bridges under our jurisdiction, we have secured funding to replace five of those within the next two years. As far as the 13 ‘poor’ rated bridges, we have funding to replace or rehabilitate five of those within the next two years, also.”
Serving as both an update on the state of the township’s roads and an announcement of the 2025 projects, Santo’s remarks highlighted 2024 projects like the completion of the Innovate Mound reconstruction through Sterling Heights and Warren and the Garfield Road extension between 23 and
‘Mean Girls’
from page 3A
dents putting in the work both on stage and behind the scenes to bring North Shore High School to L’Anse Ceruse. Projections of hallways from the district’s North and Harrison Township high schools will serve as backdrops for a number of scenes while cafeteria tables from the district’s storage have been drafted to serve as set pieces.
“There’s a level of authenticity throughout the thing,” Trzaskoma said. “The original film was mostly folks somewhere north of age 18. We’re telling a story about younger people and kids that are living it every day are telling their story. Almost every rehearsal there’s
25 Mile roads in Macomb Township.
Deputy Macomb County Executive John Paul Rea addressed how the county decides which road projects it will take on.
“Our team is programming hundreds of millions of dollars annually in every corner of Macomb County, and this is not done in a bubble,” Rea said. “This is done in a dynamic ecosystem which engages our community leaders, local neighborhood associations, road builders, state transportation experts and what it has yielded is seven-dozen primary local road projects that are currently being facilitated right now.”
Where county officials spent much of their focus, particularly in the beginning of the conference, was to call upon Michigan legislators to revise the state’s roadway funding mechanisms.
“Right now, the biggest challenge we are having is with funding and it will continue to be the challenge,” Macomb County
some comment, some reflection, somebody opens up and says, ‘That happened to me,’ or, ‘I know somebody who went through that,’ or, ‘I understand that because of my sister, my brother, my best friend, etc.’”
Student actors’ experiences with bullying and navigating the cutthroat world of schoolage social scenes inform their approach to the material. August Rau, a 17-year-old L’Anse Creuse High School North senior playing George’s ex-friend Janis Sarkisian, faced bullying after having a tooth shaved down. London Baffield, a 17-year-old L’Anse Creuse High School North senior playing the Plastic clique’s second in command Gretchen Wieners, had dealt with bullies throughout middle school before transferring into the L’Anse Creuse district.
Executive Mark Hackel said. “There isn’t a road or a bridge we can’t fix if we have the funding. I’ve always said this, and I continue to say it: It’s not about fixing the damn roads or fixing the damn bridges, it’s about fixing the damn funding.”
Hackel’s complaints over road funding point at Public Act 51, which established the formula of allocating funds collected by the state through registration fees and fuel taxes to county road departments, as well as the limited funding sources for roads. A list of possible ways to generate more funds — such as creating an electric vehicle-specific tax, establishing toll roads or implementing road usage charges — was included in Hackel’s segment of the presentation, but the county executive noted the issue could only be handled by the Michigan Legislature.
“Until such time where the Legislature picks one of these (funding solutions) or multiple or a combination of them, we’re go-
“When I was in middle school, I actually got bullied a lot for just being weird, for not having friends, for having acne, just little things like that,” said Payton Houle, a 17-year-old L’Anse Ceruse High School North senior playing George. “Middle school kids at that time, I guess, couldn’t fathom that it’s actually mean. You’re going to be with these people for a few more years of your life and then you’ll not be around them, and you might regret not the things that you’ve said. That bothered me coming into high school. That made me not want to be on stage and not even think about doing a show. And then I joined theater, and I met so many nice people … I really appreciate the community that we have in this theater program with Pankow performing arts theater class
ing to be stuck with this deficiency in funding and we’ll get further and further behind when it comes to our roads,” Hackel said.
The county is pursuing federal funding for projects alongside using its state allocations. Several projects targeted for potential federal funds include Mound Road south of Interstate 696 and the bridge along 16 Mile Road that crosses railways between Van Dyke Avenue and Mound Road.
Rea claimed that with the current funding, it would take 30 years to fix roads in their current state and that there is a $2.5 billion deficiency between what the county is getting and what it would need to address countywide road projects.
For more information about Macomb County roads, visit macombgov.org/departments/department-roads.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043
and with this cast as a whole. I wouldn’t have met London. I wouldn’t have met so many people that aren’t in the program. I wouldn’t have met Autumn Santos because I wouldn’t have done ‘Footloose.’ Bullying can lead to horrible things, but it can also really change your life for the best.”
Bonding between cast members over their shared negative experiences, as well as their time in the theater, has been essential to the production process. The “Mean Girls” cast and crew is larger than prior Pankow Center productions — Rau says around 45 students are involved on either side of the curtain while prior productions had casts of around 10 students — and Trzaskoma is getting to grips in his second year as a Pankow Center teacher.
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‘Mean Girls’
from page 10A
“The first year’s goals were to survive,” Trzaskoma said. “The second year’s teaching goals are to thrive.”
Baffield gave Trzaskoma a ringing endorsement.
“I have never worked with a director that was not for the LCHS choir, so this is my first production ever outside of my high school and I just have to congratulate Trzaskoma,” Baffield said. “Trzaskoma is one of the best directors I’ve ever had. He gives so many good ideas and I feel better about my acting any time I work with him.”
As students and staff prepare to tell a story that rings close to home, their goal is
Crime
from page 5A
On Oct. 26, a 34-year-old Macomb Township woman reported damage to the 10-foot-tall skeleton outside of her home in the 46000 block of Ridgepointe Drive. It was observed standing around 11 p.m. the prior night and the woman believed it was pulled
to leave audiences with a simple message: It is easy to be nice.
“I really think that this will teach the audience that it doesn’t take a lot to be nice to someone, but also it’s really easy to be mean to someone,” Houle said. “There’s a big difference between the two but sometimes they come so close that it’s hard to tell the difference.”
“Mean Girls: High School Version” will play at the John R. Armstrong Performing Arts Center on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. General admission is $14 and $10 for seniors, students, and L’Anse Creuse Public Schools faculty and staff. A talkback with the cast will be held after both performances.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
down overnight.
Later that evening, online reports were made of juveniles damaging decorations throughout the township. A 36-year-old woman in the 49000 block of Mustang Drive called deputies to her home to document damage done to her inflatable ghost decoration. Video footage showed several youths attempting to steal the decoration but damaging it in the process.
— Dean Vaglia
November 28, 2024 Seating Times: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
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HOMES
When planning to move, streamline to save money and reduce strain
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Packing up your belongings and shipping them to a new home can feel like a Herculean task, but the process needn’t be stressful.
Professionals in the moving industry say there are many ways to “move smarter, not harder,” reducing the strain not only on yourself and the movers, but your wallet, as well.
Shayna Dwojakowski is the sales manager of the Fraser location for Two Men and a Truck. True to its name, the family-owned business started in Lansing nearly 40 years ago with just two men and a pickup truck. The Fraser franchise has been open for 33 years. Today, the business uses semis and spans more than 380 locations worldwide.
With all that experience, the business has seen just about every kind of moving arrangement and devised many ways to streamline the process.
“Just take it in steps and call us as early as possible so we can help walk you through things — what the timeline looks like and when you should start packing,” Dwojakowski said.
She recommends that clients begin their “purging efforts” about one or two months prior to the day of the move, cleaning out anything they don’t want to bring along to their new home.
She said an excellent rule of thumb for packing is, “The heavier the item, the smaller the box.” Dishes, books, small knickknacks and silverware should all be packed into small boxes. Items like clothes, pots and pans, Tupperware and shoes work well in medium boxes. The lightest and bulkiest items should go in large boxes — things like comforters, pillows and lamp shades.
“You want to make sure you pack all boxes to the top to avoid the boxes caving in when they are stacked,” Dwojakowski said. “Be sure to use plenty of packing paper or bubble wrap to secure the heavier and fragile items, which will help filling boxes to the top without adding any weight.”
The typical moving crew at Two Men and a Truck is — you guessed it — just two men, but they can call for backup as needed. One of the larger moves in the company’s
history was about 12 men moving items at a courthouse. The employees are all background checked and drug tested, and the company provides insurance coverage for any damage, but also takes great care to avoid damage in the first place.
“If we accidentally scratch a wall or break anything, we’ll fix it up,” said Jackie Kelley, sales lead at Two Men and a Truck. “Our management is always just a call away if they need an extra set of hands for anything. And every truck is properly equipped with different types of dollies, and stretch wrap for keeping things compact, secure, dry in the rain and safe if it brushes a wall. The blankets are laundered, too, so they’re all clean.”
Before a date and time is locked down and the crew arrives, Two Men and a Truck firms up details with the client, confirming the inventory of items. Moves on Mondays through Thursdays typically have the lowest rates, but it depends on how booked the company is, with summer being the busiest season, and the busiest weeks being the start and end of each month when many apartment moves take place.
The cost of local moves — under 40 miles from pickup to drop-off — is calculated hourly, with separate flat fees for travel time. Thus, clients can reduce the cost of their move by cleaning out what they can ahead of time, and having most items already packed for the crew.
Many clients like to save money by moving lamps, plants, rugs, and oddly shaped or lighter items themselves. One can also save time by having boxes and bins already taped and closed, dresser drawers already emptied, and beds already stripped down.
But the movers can handle everything themselves, if needed.
“I always tell customers that we can do as much or as little as you’d like,” Dwojakowski said. “We can come into your house with zero prep and pack every box, disassemble and wrap furniture, move it into the new home, and even unpack the boxes we packed. We offer junk removal services to fully dispose of any leftover items that aren’t going to the new home, as well.”
As for their approach, “The men typically do not load the truck with boxes first or furniture first, rather loading both together
to maximize the space in the truck, like Tetris,” she said. “It’s best to have boxes stacked and have clear pathways for the men to move around.”
Some homes make for more challenging moves than others, with the biggest obstacles being stairs, elevators, long walks and general disorganization.
“Most of the time, if we are dealing with freight elevators, the customer is able to reserve the time so that we do not have to share the elevator with others, which helps speed up things significantly,” Dwojakowski said. “The best thing you can do to ensure your move goes smoothly is to be ready.”
She added that while the movers accept tips, they never expect them.
“Anything the customer is comfortable with is very appreciated,” Dwojakowski said. “The guys, of course, are all specially hired and trained. Something that may seem over-
whelming or stressful for you is just routine for them. They know what to do, and they know how to do it safely. And all of our guys are incredibly kind. They know moving can be stressful, so more than anything, they’re trained to make people feel comfortable. And our move consultants, they really take their time getting all of the information from the customer so that there are no surprises on either end on moving day.”
Added Kelley: “Some of the hardest things in life are death, divorce and moving. They’re some of the most frustrating things people go through. So, we try to make at least the moving part easier.”
The Fraser franchise of Two Men and a Truck is located at 34113 Doreka Drive. To learn more, call (586) 359-0167 or visit online at twomenandatruck.com.
Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.
LEFT: Marcus Jennison, operations manager of Two Men and a Truck in Fraser, demonstrates the padded wrapping that movers will use to protect furniture during a move. A blanket is used to wrap the furniture and then secured with shrink wrap.
ABOVE: Mark Van Houw, general manager of Two Men and a Truck in Fraser, uses a ramp to load boxes on a truck.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Macomb man arraigned for drug transportation, child porn
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — A 36-yearold Macomb Township man is facing cases in the 41A and 41B district courts after his arrest on Oct. 29.
According to a release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Ronald Hill is alleged to have sold drugs to a 30-year-old woman in 2023. The woman was found dead on Nov. 17, 2023, and after a nearly year-long investigation, the Clinton Township Police Department arrested Hill in late October 2024. As the department carried out its arrest, officers reportedly found cocaine on Hill and further investigation of his phone revealed the alleged discovery of child sexually abusive material.
Hill was arraigned in the 41B Clinton Township District Court on Oct. 31 on charges of delivery of a controlled substance causing death, a life felony, and delivery of fentanyl less than 50 grams, a 20-year felony. On Nov. 1, he was ar-
raigned in the 41A Shelby Township District Court on three counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, a 10-year felony, and delivery of a controlled substance less than 50 grams, a 20-year felony. Hill’s total bond, set by Magistrate Ryan Zemke in the 41B court and Magistrate James VerPloeg in the 41A court, is $550,000.
“The defendant’s alleged actions reflect a deeply disturbing disregard for both human life and the welfare of our most vulnerable,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release. “We remain resolute in our commitment to justice for all affected by his actions and to safeguarding the community from such dangers.”
Hill was scheduled for probable cause hearings in the 41B court on Nov. 12 and in the 41A court on Nov. 13, after the Chronicle went to press. His attorney, Mariell Lehman, did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Dakota
from page 1A
“I’ve never had a game like this,” Vanvliet said. “Hopefully I keep it up and my team keeps it up and we just keep going in the playoffs.”
Vanvliet’s first interception of the night came late in the third quarter as Dakota held onto a 27-14 lead. The Eagles defense had just forced a punt following a defensive stop on the Cougars offensive unit, and Vanvliet came up big on the ensuing play.
Eisenhower senior quarterback Jack Bullock looked for a deep post toward the middle of the field, and Vanvliet was waiting as he played under the route and leaped up for the interception.
The Dakota offense, courtesy of senior running back and MAC Red Co-MVP Brady Hamby, marched down the field, and Hamby punched in a 1-yard touchdown, giving Dakota a 34-14 lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to watch a Dakota football game yet this season, Hamby on his own makes it worth the trip. He’s the Cougars’ bell cow, and he has no problem carrying the ball 30 times if it means a win for his squad.
“He’s a player of the year candidate in my
opinion,” Dakota head coach Greg Baur said. “I know there’s a lot of guys out there with five stars and a lot of offers, but if you want to win a football game, you want that kid on your team.”
Hamby finished the night with 32 carries for 175 yards and four touchdowns while also leading the Dakota defense in total tackles with seven.
Criteser led the team in sacks with 2.5, and erupted the Dakota crowd with a 10-yard touchdown on a scoop-and-score off an errant option pitch from Bullock to senior running back Mason Korn.
Eisenhower struck first when junior Braylon Burnside read a bubble screen to perfection and jumped the route, catching Dakota senior Jadon Ford’s pass in stride and taking it in for the 15-yard pick-six.
Bullock would bring the Eagles back to within a score on a 2-yard touchdown run seconds before halftime to trail 20-14, but it was the Hamby show from there.
Malone also had a 5-yard touchdown run for Dakota in the win.
It was a night-and-day difference from the regular season matchup between both squads, where a costly fumble ultimately played the difference maker in Eisenhower’s win. This time, Dakota made the costly turnover mistake early and won the turnover battle as a whole, allowing one and forcing three.
“If you get turnovers, you’re going to win a lot of games, especially playoff games,” Baur said. “We’ve been preaching to not turn it over, and we did that in the first play, but we’ve also been preaching to take it away.”
For Eisenhower, it’s a crushing end to a rather incredible season — one that entered with question marks and soon held state title aspirations.
Similar to last season, the Eagles will graduate another star-studded class, especially with players who have been mainstays over the course of their high school careers.
“All the four years I’ve been on the team, this is probably one of the closest teams I’ve been on,” Eisenhower senior Conner Temple said. “We all bonded well and we all had fun, but when it was time to lock in and play, we did that. It was just an awesome experience to play with these guys.”
“They (Eisenhower) took me in at a young age, and I learned from a lot of older guys,” Temple added. “Eisenhower football means family to me, and it means going out there and playing for the guy next to you.”
Dakota will now open regionals against Detroit Cass Tech, who is 4-0 against the Cougars in the playoffs since 2010, including a 35-21 win in 2022.
The Cougars now have 14 district championships along with two state titles to their name (2006 & 2007).
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Utica Eisenhower junior Braylon Burnside does a lap around the endzone after returning an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
at Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, said. “It was run by baseball guys, and it was just different. When I was growing up, the softball teams that were coming in were just extra money for them. They didn’t really care.”
Dr. Savvy Ferstle, owner of Savvy Performance Consulting, parlayed her collegiate softball career at University of Detroit Mercy into a career of performance consulting with
athletes of all ages, focusing on the mental aspect of their games.
Mental performance coaching has seen a massive uptick the past several years at both the high school and college level for athletics, and Heisler made sure her girls had the same opportunities at their disposal.
“Leslie is amazing, and I think what really drew me to working with her and to help her build what she is trying to achieve at ASP is that she is really focused on building the culture first,” Ferstle said. “As someone who comes from an organizational psychology background, I know how important building a really healthy and supportive culture is in any
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On weekends and weekdays, ASP has become a second home for softball players at both the travel and high school level, but the ASP family will only grow as time goes on.
It’s just getting started, but the foundation Heisler and her team have laid is strong and looking to last a very long time.
“It was so obvious that she had a passion
for helping the kids and wanting to have this safe space for the girls coming into her facility,” VanderVlucht said. “As a female in coaching, I can really respect that. It’s so obvious that she has such a big heart.”
For more information on ASP, visit www. advancedsportsmacomb.com.
Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — A couple in the first block of Christ Church Lane contacted police at 8:38 p.m. Oct. 13 after seeing an unknown man prowling around their home and trying to open the front door.
One of the homeowners told police the suspect came to the front door and knocked, and when the homeowner answered, the suspect said there were two men hiding in the couple’s bushes. The homeowner allowed the suspect to enter his home.
Police said the suspect — a 59-year-old Shelby Township man — told officers several times he was running away from two men who had been shooting at him and there were bullet holes in his vehicle, which he claimed to have parked on the next block. Police said the suspect, for whom the department already had a warrant, has been arrested before for breaking and entering homes. He was also wanted on two felony warrants out of Macomb County for shoplifting.
The suspect, who was arrested for prowling and on the warrants, reportedly refused to cooperate for booking photos or fingerprinting, telling police he knew he could be charged for refusing and police could just add his refusal to the list of charges against him. Police said the suspect told them he intended to return to the Farms, slash the tires of every vehicle in the City Hall parking lot, break whatever he could and break into homes and steal items from residents of the city.
Police said there were no reports of anyone firing weapons in the city, contrary to the suspect’s allegation that he was being shot at by a pair of men in a white vehicle. Police told the couple that the suspect was someone known to them and they needed to be more careful about letting strangers into their home.
Scam under investigation
GROSSE POINTE CITY — A Grosse Pointe City resident contacted police Oct. 24 after receiving a call from someone claiming to be a Wayne County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant. According to a police report, the suspect asked the resident to report to the Sheriff’s Office about a subpoena in a juvenile case. The incident was under investigation.
Young suspects arrested in larceny attempt
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Two young male suspects from Detroit — one of whom was 12 and one of whom was 13 — were arrested after police said they were seen entering an unlocked vehicle while it was parked in the area of Buckingham Road and Mack Avenue at around 1:27 a.m. Oct. 26. The juvenile suspects, who police said were accompanied
and for attempted larceny and were turned over to their parents.
Missing mower reported
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 19000 block of Lakeland Drive for a missing push lawn mower.
A 41-year-old male resident was reportedly mowing his front lawn when he decided to stop around 1:40 p.m. for a 15– to 20-minute break. Upon returning from his break, the mower was not on the driveway where he placed it.
Sweets reportedly stolen
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Target, on Hall Road, after loss prevention caught an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old girl trying to leave with unpaid merchandise.
The two suspects, both from Macomb Township, were caught after failing to scan about $24 worth of candy, chips and drinks. The activity was reportedly caught on security cameras. The 18-year-old reportedly told deputies he was scanning too quickly, but then said he did not have the money for the merchandise after being told the video footage appeared to show him not scanning the items at all.
Deputies arrested the 18-year-old for third-degree retail fraud, while the 17-year-old was released at the scene after her mom was informed of the incident.
Copper wire theft reported
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In the late morning of Oct. 21, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the Mistwood Estates housing development by an electrical contractor about a theft of electrical wire.
The contractor’s company installed 6-foot sections of copper wire in the newly built homes around the development on Oct. 18. When an electrician arrived for work on Oct. 21, they discovered copper wires were stolen in 17 of the development’s homes. The estimated value of the stolen wire sections is $340.
Road rage assault reported
MACOMB TOWNSHIP— At around 2:10 p.m. on Oct. 20, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the corner of Chateau Thierry and La Grande boulevards for a road rage incident.
According to witnesses, a 25-year-old Richmond woman was angry that another driver “would not let
and getting out to confront them. The other driver, a 38-year-old Macomb Township woman with her 13-year-old son, exited her car and began getting pushed by the Richmond woman. The 13-year-old then got out of the car to break up the fight, getting pushed and punched in the face by the Richmond woman. The 13-year-old, in turn, punched the Richmond woman, sending her to the ground; the woman initially claimed the Macomb Township residents assaulted her when deputies arrived.
Medical assistance was provided and neither party pursued charges.
Attempted break-in reported
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 19, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home of a 46-year-old man in the 17000 block of Kensington Drive after someone attempted to break in.
At around 9:10 p.m. the prior night, a doorbell camera caught footage of a man in dark clothes, gloves and a mask trying to pry and kick his front door open. The man gave up around 9:17 p.m., just before the resident arrived home from work. The damage was not discovered until the next morning.
Drunken driver blames police
MOUNT CLEMENS — At around 2 a.m. on Oct. 13, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies performed a traffic stop just over the Harrison Township/ Mount Clemens border. An erratically driving Jeep Grand Cherokee was pulled over near the intersection of Rathbone Avenue and Avery Street.
The driver, a 23-year-old Harrison Township woman, was upset with the deputies and blamed them for driving too close, thus pressuring her into swerving. She told deputies she had two drinks before leaving the bar she worked at.
Deputies performed field sobriety tests, and a breath test registered a 0.11 blood alcohol content. The woman was arrested.
Drugs and gun found in vehicle
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township police officer observed a vehicle parked and running at a gas station for a significant amount of time at 4:32 a.m. Oct. 8. The officer went to check on the driver and found him slumped over the wheel.
The officer made contact with him and asked for identification. The driver attempted to locate his ID and accidentally pulled out a bag containing unknown pills, according to the report. The driver exited the vehicle, and police conducted a search of his vehicle. The officer located a loaded gun tucked next
driver was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of dangerous drugs.
Exhausts totaling $35,000 stolen from vehicles ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:19 p.m.
Taquito theft HARRISON
STERLING HEIGHTS NAMED NO. 1
U.S. CITY FOR KEEPING SKIN YOUTHFUL
STERLING HEIGHTS — The online beauty shop LOOKFANTASTIC recently revealed a study that says Sterling Heights is the No. 1 U.S. city for slowing down skin aging. Sterling Heights’ overall rating was 81.15 out of 100, just 0.1 ahead of second-place Anchorage, Alaska.
“Sterling Heights has an extremely high quiet area score, which means residents can get lots of beauty sleep, helping to slow down signs of aging,” LOOKFANTASTIC said in a press release.
“The city has 1901 sunlight hours and a low average UV index of 2.92 throughout the year, which means residents can enjoy the sun without the harsh effects of UV radiation.”
Ann Arbor also made the study’s top 10 list, at ninth place. Learn more about the study by visiting lookfantastic.com/c/health-beauty/face/best-cities-to-keepskin-youthful.
Museum remembers U.S. Navy pilot on 100th birthday
FERNDALE — On his 100th birthday, the Ferndale Historical Museum remembered the life of Ferndale resident Judson Neff Berger, a U.S. Navy pilot who died in an airplane crash. Berger, born Oct. 14, 1924, grew up in Ferndale, having lived on West Oakridge Street, and graduated from Ferndale Schools. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943.
On March 17, 1946, Berger and four other pilots were at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile to sign out three aircraft, SNJ5 advanced trainers. That afternoon, Berger’s aircraft spun out of control and crashed in what is known today as Geary Park, then known as Catalpa Park. According to the Historical Museum, the aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour when it
and came to rest behind
DETROIT AUTO SHOW TICKETS ON SALE
Industry Days, which features “exclusive industry access,” according to the release,
and Jan. 16. Tickets are $40. For more information, visit detroitautoshow.com.
