Detroit sailor killed at Pearl Harbor laid to rest/6A Pearl Harbor artifacts link back to day of infamy 83 years ago/6A
NEW MEMBERS
JOIN TWP. BOARD
Deputy supervisor retained under new leadership
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Three new members of the Clinton Township Board of Trustees sat in for their first meeting on Nov. 25. Township Treasurer Mike Aiello, Trustee Shannon King and Trustee Bruce Wade joined the board in a ceremony on Nov. 20. The November election shifted the board to a Republican majority with victories by Wade, Aiello, Township Clerk Kim Meltzer and Trustee Dan Kress. King is joined on the board by two fellow Democrats: Trustee Julie Matuzak and Supervisor Paul Gieleghem.
While longtime Township Supervisor Bob Cannon was replaced by Gieleghem, one familiar name stayed in the supervisor’s office. Dan O’Leary was retained as the deputy supervisor.
O’Leary stays on
O’Leary has served in the deputy position since 2021 and was previously Washington
See MEMBERS on page 18A DECEMBER 11, 2024 • Vol. 36, No. 26
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Lots of coins get dropped in the Salvation Army’s red kettles, but for 12 years one donation has stood out. On Dec. 2, a mysterious deep-pocketed donor dropped off a final gold Krugerrand coin at a Kroger in St. Clair Shores. This year’s coin came with a note: “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! I am sorry to say — this is my last (Krugerrand). Hoping there are others who have (Krugerrands) that can help keep up this tradition in the future to help so many in need during the holidays. God Bless!”
Photos by Nick Powers
LEFT: Newly elected Trustee Shannon King listens to a speaker during public comment at the Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25. RIGHT: Clinton Township Treasurer Mike Aiello listens to Township Clerk Kim Meltzer speak at his first Board of Trustees meeting.
LEFT: Newly elected Trustee Bruce Wade asks Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar a question about road funding. RIGHT: Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem listens to a colleague. Gieleghem was formerly the township’s treasurer.
See KETTLE on page 16A
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On the evening of Dec. 4, leaders and luminaries from throughout the region gathered inside the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to address the State of Macomb County in 2024.
Democratic Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel began the bulk of the address with the theme of partnership being the No. 1 tool to get things done.
“Now that (the election) is over, can we just set aside the Blue vs. Red and the Rs and
Butterfly Collective holds
Adopt-a-Family benefit
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
Cooperation key to ‘State of Macomb’
Ds?” Hackel said. “I’ve said this many times before and I think it’s starting to catch on in light of what I’ve been hearing recently: It’s time to stop reaching across the aisle. Let’s forget reaching across the aisle. It’s time to get in the aisle and get things done on behalf of the people. And the way we get things done in Macomb County is not through partisanship, it’s through partnership.”
Examples of partnerships between the county and its stakeholders were discussed in relation to six categories: economic development, quality of life, roads and infrastructure, health and community services, public safety and education.
METRO DETROIT — Providing for kids at Christmas is already difficult, especially in the wake of leaving an abusive situation. The Butterfly Collective aims to lighten some of that burden with its Adopt-a-Family program.
Butterfly Collective President Heidi McQuade said the program has been running for five years, predating the organization’s official nonprofit
Macomb County Planning and Economic Development showcased various projects throughout the county that were receiving country support: the redevelopment of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, the overhaul of downtown Mount Clemens and the creation of General Sports and Entertainment’s new headquarters in Utica. Related to economic development is the
Photo provided by Gugel Photography of Auburn Hills
RIGHT: Kids from a previous Adopt-a-Family brunch, put on by the Butterfly Collective, pose for a photo with Santa.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
RIGHT: Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel delivers the 2024 State of Macomb County address at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on the evening of Dec. 4.
BUTTERFLY on page 17A
See MACOMB on page 14A
NEWS & NOTES
Clinton Township physician honored
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians named Kathleen Rollinger as its 2024 National Family Physician of the Year.
Rollinger practices out of Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital in Grosse Pointe City. A little over a year ago the practice moved from St. Clair Shores. She said she’s been practicing medicine for about 30 years, attending Wayne State University and eventually Michigan State University for medical school.
According to a press release, the organization honors those who make standout contributions to osteopathic medicine. Rollinger and others were recognized in April at the ACOFP’s annual convention in New Orleans.
Rollinger said she was “incredibly humbled” by the award.
“This has been my hometown and my community where I’ve practiced,” Rollinger said. “It’s just quite an honor.”
Rollinger said that she has lived in the township for over 25 years. She grew up in the area and graduated from Roseville High School. Rollinger said she draws patients from Eastpointe, Roseville, Fraser, Clinton Township and Harrison Township to her practice.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
NORTH POLE — The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will again track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve Dec. 24. The program, based in Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, is in its 69th year.
NORAD monitors and defends North American airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. On Dec. 24, NORAD takes on an additional mission of tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way across the globe.
The NORAD Tracks Santa website, noradsanta.org, launched on Dec. 1. It features Santa’s North Pole Village, a holiday countdown, games, a movie theater, holiday music, web store and more.
The website is available in nine languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. Children awaiting Santa can count the days on mobile devices with the official NORAD Tracks Santa app, via social media and on Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and OnStar.
Township’s emergency management coordinator retires
Paul Brouwer spent 50 years working for Clinton Township
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After half a century working for Clinton Township, Paul Brouwer is ready to retire.
Brouwer has been the township’s emergency management coordinator for the past 33 years. His last day will be Dec. 20, excluding a few lingering reports he’ll finish up on his way out. The longer transition period will allow newly elected Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem a chance to find a replacement, according to Bob Cannon, the township’s outgoing supervisor.
“I never thought I was going to be here this long,” Brouwer said. “It’s been a great, great run.”
Brouwer got his start with the township as a probationary firefighter in 1974. He worked his way up to deputy chief, a post he retired from in 2004. In 1991, he was appointed as the township’s first emergency management coordinator, which is a part-time gig.
“When I started in 1991, I didn’t know what an emergency manager was,” Brouwer said. “I was interested in the disaster planning part of it.”
When this happened, he was relieved of his duties at the Fire Department for 10 months while he put together the township’s first emergency management plan.
“I did that and then went back to
the Fire Department,” Bouwer said. “They asked me to stay on on my days off at the Fire Department to maintain it and keep it up to date.”
Brouwer has lived in the area his entire life. He was born in Utica near where Jimmy John’s Field currently sits. When he was 3 years old, he moved into a house his father and grandfather built near the intersection of Harrington Road and Gratiot Avenue. He graduated from Mount Clemens High School in 1967.
Rollinger
Shutterstock image
Photo provided by Jim Perpich
Paul Brouwer will retire as Clinton Township’s emergency management coordinator on Dec. 20. Brouwer has worked for the township in different roles for 50 years.
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
Detroit sailor killed at Pearl Harbor laid to rest
John Cuthbert Auld’s remains identified through DNA
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
DETROIT — While growing up, Richard Auld remembers his grandmother, Lillian, and his dad, Edwin, sharing memories about a family member named Jack.
But he wasn’t sure who Jack was, until one day he realized the stories were about his uncle, John Cuthbert Auld, who was nicknamed Jack. The U.S. Navy man, who grew up in Detroit, was killed during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
This year marks the 83rd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, which killed approximately 2,400 American service members and civilians.
In time, Auld learned more about his uncle, a 23-year-old seaman 2nd class who was aboard the USS Oklahoma when naval and air forces of the Japanese empire attacked the American base on Hawaii’s island of Oahu. On the following day, Dec. 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress and asked for a declaration
at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. See SAILOR on page 8A
Pearl Harbor artifacts link back to day of infamy 83 years ago
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The belongings, material and personal, of Michiganders who were at Pearl Harbor on and around that infamous day continue to make their way home.
John Lind, director of the Detroit Arsenal of Democracy Museum, has been able to secure several items from the USS Oklahoma and USS Arizona: a prayer book from either ship and four envelopes from the Arizona postdated Dec. 7, 1941.
The Arizona items come from the estate of a Michigan man, who Lind did not name, who was on his way out of the Navy on Dec. 6.
“This person went to the mail section on the ship and got these envelopes in advance,” Lind said. “The story is this gentle-
man here was transferred on Dec. 6, the Saturday before, because they conducted no business on Sunday. … He was going back stateside. He was done, his hitch was over, and he reached California and he said, ‘You know what? I’m going back in.’”
The unnamed Arizona sailor joined over 300,000 Americans who showed up to recruitment offices on Dec. 8, 1941. Lind says about 30,000 people volunteered at the Detroit office.
The Oklahoma prayer book, which is in a more fragile state than the Arizona book, was acquired from a separate sailor who reached out to Lind.
“He was on (the USS) Oklahoma,” Lind said. “He came back to the United States, was retrained and then he got on other ships throughout the war.”
Prayer books were commonly taken
See ARTIFACTS on page 11A
Photo provided by Public Affairs Office, Navy Personnel Command
While serving in the U.S. Navy, John Cuthbert Auld, of Detroit, was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. At press time, he was expected to be laid to rest on Dec. 6 with full military honors
Sailor
of war with Japan, which drove the United States into World War II.
“They rescued several sailors that day after the attack,” Auld said. “Everyone else was presumed dead. They didn’t have much hope. They always told me he died on the Oklahoma.”
While the family knew John didn’t survive, his remains were only officially identified after Auld provided a DNA sample in 2017. At press time, John was set to be laid to rest at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 with full military honors at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Auld, who resides in Albuquerque, said the cemetery was chosen because that is where Lillian and Edwin are buried.
“It will be an honor to have him with his mom and his brother,” Auld said.
Family members and friends were expected to attend the burial. John also was expected to receive military honors at the airport when his remains arrived.
Retire
from page 4A
When he and his wife Diane got married in 1969, they moved to a house near the intersection of 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Avenue. The family moved to their current home near the intersection of Canal Road and Clinton River Road in 1994.
He was initially interested in the medical field. This took him to a job at a private ambulance company where he also volunteered as a Harrison Township firefighter. Working an ambulance meant long hours and low pay so, when he married Diane, Brouwer tried working in construction and had a stint as a claims adjuster for AAA. After a while, he decided he didn’t want to sit behind a desk and searched for something else.
“I applied to the Fire Department. For-
tunately, they had some openings,” Brouwer said. “I got in and, as they say, the rest is history.”
Brouwer said the department will often look at potential threats and then examine what the township is able to respond to.
Training for the Department of Public Services, the Fire Department and Police Department works to make the township ready for the unexpected. This preparedness came in handy when the Goo Smoke Shop explosion occurred in March.
“That was a classic case of a multiagency response, and it went quite well considering the magnitude of the incident,” Brouwer said.
Brouwer acts as the liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency when there is a presidential declaration of an emergency. He estimates there have been five during his three decades with the township. The
most recent of these came in 2014 when there was massive flooding in portions of the township.
Brouwer praised the outgoing supervisor’s management style. Cannon’s last day, after serving on the board for 40 years, was Nov. 20.
“He was really a hands-off guy,” Brouwer said.
“Paul Brouwer has been a staple in the community for many, many years in many different occupations,” Cannon said at the Nov. 12 meeting of the Clinton Township Board of Trustees.
Cannon said Brouwer leaving would be a “big loss” for the township, saying events like the Goo Smoke Shop explosion have shown why the position is essential.
“It’s a part-time position, but it’s not part-time to Paul,” Cannon said. “Paul works all the time.”
“You have left big shoes to fill,” Clinton Township Clerk Kim Meltzer said at the meeting.
Township Attorney Jack Dolan said Brouwer played a key role in shaping the position.
“He is, in some respects, Mr. Emergency Manager in the state of Michigan,” Dolan added at the meeting.
Paul and Diane have two children and nine grandchildren. He has a son, Paul, and a granddaughter, Ashley, who also became firefighters.
In retirement, Brouwer wants to focus on hobbies like woodworking, coin collecting and hunting.
“I got stuff to keep me busy,” he said.
While he’ll turn off the emergency scanner on his last day, he won’t stop listening.
“I’m going to buy another one so I can still listen,” Brouwer said.
See SAILOR on page 9A
Photo provided by Public Affairs Office, Navy Personnel Command Sailors aboard the USS Oklahoma pose for a group photo.
Sailor
from page 8A
For his service, John was awarded the following medals and decorations: Purple Heart medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze star, World War II Victory Medal, and American Campaign Medal.
‘It’s definitely a huge loss’
John was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on June 15, 1918. The family moved to the U.S. and settled in Detroit. On Nov. 6, 1940, John enlisted in the Navy and underwent basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, in Illinois.
John’s seaman duties included painting, cleaning and polishing the vessel’s brightwork, equipment repair, storing and securing items, and assisting with cargo. The young man also stood watches as a lookout, telephone talker and messenger, and he was a member of a gun crew.
Richard Auld’s dad, Edwin, four years younger than John, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-46.
“They were normal kids in a good family. It’s definitely a huge loss. I never got to meet him,” said Auld, who was born in 1960. “Every Dec. 7, we talked about him. I feel like I know him now after the Navy’s recovery efforts.”
Auld’s dad moved the family, including wife, Esther, to New Mexico to work in the grocery business. Auld has some photos of his uncle and has been told there is a family resemblance.
A few years ago, Auld and his wife Karen traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii for a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to pay tribute to the 33 unaccounted for sailors from the USS Oklahoma buried with full military honors.
“Very emotional,” Auld said. “It was very moving.”
According to the Navy, since the ceremony, one more sailor, radioman 3rd class Frank Hoag Jr., has been identified.
Project Oklahoma
On Dec. 2, the Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs Office issued a press release that included information about Project Oklahoma, a disinterment and identification project through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
See SAILOR on page 17A
Apply by December 20, 2024 Classes start January 6, 2025
Macomb County
HOLIDAY EXTRA
WHEN SHOPPING AT HOME, BE ALERT FOR GRINCHES TRYING TO STEAL GIFTS AND INFO
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
The holiday season, while very much a joyous time of year, also is a time when criminals try to take advantage of others. As many people will look to be charitable or purchase Christmas gifts for loved ones, a local bank and local police departments are offering advice to avoid package thefts and fraud.
Brian Dowgiallo, vice president of risk management at Genisys Credit Union, said the holidays tend to be their busiest time, as reports of fraud usually ramp up.
According to the banking institution, financial fraud can come in a variety of forms including identity theft, phone call and text scams, phishing scams, and fraudulent investment schemes.
People should be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls or text messages requesting personal or financial information. They should also verify the legitimacy of any organization or person before making financial transactions.
Dowgiallo has been aware of scammers who use Facebook groups or community pages to take advantage of others looking for deals.
Detective Lt. James Breuckman, of the St. Clair Shores Police Department, has seen this too, specifically with people trying to buy Detroit Lions tickets.
“People trying to buy tickets and it’s somebody’s Facebook account that’s been hacked, and then the hacked Facebook account
is saying they got four tickets for sale or six tickets for $1,000 or $1,200,” he said. “They don’t find out until after they’ve already paid.”
Breuckman said common scams his office has been seeing target older people by stating that they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service. The scam artists convince their victims to pay through bitcoin or financial cards so they can’t be traced.
Breuckman also said there have been issues with people stealing delivery packages.
“People somehow or some way, they’re finding out deliveries of iPhone products and different stuff like that, and people are pretty much waiting to come steal them off the porch as soon as they get delivered,” he said. “They know where they’re going somehow or another. That’s been a scam in the last, like, two weeks that’s been going on.”
On the subject of package delivery, Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi said people should take measures to make sure that porch pirates don’t have easy access to the delivered goods. He suggested networking with neighbors or installing doorbell cameras and other security cameras to help, or having packages delivered to one’s place of work.
“There’s a lot of things you can do as we enter the holiday season, but if you do find yourself a victim of package theft or the victim of a porch pirate, make sure you report it to the police department so we can follow up on it,” he said. “There may be an people of sure
Artifacts
page 6A
from ships while the envelopes were postdated sometime before Dec. 7.
The attack on Pearl Harbor is as much a story of what was not lost as it is about what was. While the battleships USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Utah were scrapped and the aircraft carriers assigned to the base were saved by virtue of being out of port, the lightly attacked support facilities — dry docks, maintenance shops and oil yards — allowed for the other damaged ships to be repaired and returned to service. Lind says that Michiganders were sought out to repair and retrofit the fleet.
“The Navy came to Detroit and took as many skilled trades (as possible) to go to Pearl Harbor to get Pearl Harbor back in shape,” Lind said. “If the Japanese would have concentrated on the rebuilding centers, the fuel farms, the maintenance shops, Pearl Harbor would have come back but it would have been years later. Instead, within six weeks basically, all the dry docks and maintenance shops at Pearl Harbor were back online.”
It is hard to determine how many Pearl Harbor veterans are still alive for the 83rd anniversary, though the number is certainly not many. Anyone serving in the U.S. military at the time would be a centenarian by now.
An Associated Press article about the 2023 commemoration mentions five survivors were in attendance with a sixth unable to make it due to health concerns. The Los Angeles Times reported nine Pearl Harbor survivors attended a ceremony at the National World War II Museum in New Or-
leans in January 2023. Lou Conter, the last surviving sailor from the USS Arizona, died in April 2024 at 102 years old.
According to NBC’s KNHL local news in Hawaii, at least one survivor was expected to attend this year’s commemoration of the 83rd anniversary of the attack at 104 years old.
The National World War II Museum in New Orleans says that of the 16.4 million Americans who served during World War II, around 66,140 were alive as of 2024. Of that number, 2,520 were Michiganders. Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
An envelope from the USS Arizona postdated for Dec. 7, 1941, leans against prayer books from the Arizona and USS Oklahoma.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
12A/ FRASER-CLINTON CHRONICLE • DECEMBER 11, 2024
DEC. 11 & 18
Powerful Tools for Caregivers: Virtual workshop hosted by AgeWays, learn to communicate with family and healthcare providers, reduce stress, guilt, anger and depression, and make difficult decisions, 6-7:30 p.m., free but donations accepted, (833) 262-2200, wellnessprograms@ageways.org, tinyurl.com/ageways workshops
DEC. 12
Santa visit: Also crafts and other activities, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5072, cmpl.libnet.info/events
DEC. 13
Holiday concert: Performance by Motor City Chorale, 7:30 p.m., Cross Lutheran Church, 35851 Utica Road in Clinton Township, motorcitychorale.com
DEC. 14
Family game afternoon: Free pizza and snacks while playing board games, noon-4 p.m., Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile Road, (586) 293-2055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
National Wreaths Across America Day: Local ceremony followed by laying of wreaths on graves of veterans, noon, Resurrection Cemetery, 18201 Clinton
River Road in Clinton Township, kcstraffon@comcast. net
‘Christmas in the Air’: Broadway-style song and dance revue featuring festive storylines and holiday classics, 7:30 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
Christmas concert: Performance by Metropolitan Detroit Chorale, 3 p.m., Fraser High School, 34270 Garfield Road, metropolitandetroitchorale.org
DEC. 15
‘Bach to the Holiday Movies’: Performance by Macomb Symphony Orchestra, 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
DEC. 17
Medicare/Medicaid counseling sessions: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, appointments required, (800) 803-7174
DEC. 19
PAWS to Read: Children can tell stories to therapy dog, 5-6 p.m.,Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile
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.
Road, register for 15-minute time slot, (586) 2932055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
DEC. 21
Bluey Party: For ages 2-7, 3-4 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 2265072, cmpl.libnet.info/events
‘Holiday Hits Then & Now’: Performance by PRISM Chorus, 8 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 2862222, macombcenter.com
DEC. 22
Christmas concert: Performance by Detroit Concert Choir, 3-4:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 2862222, macombcenter.com
DEC. 23
Teen craft night: Make mandala mug, 6-7:30 p.m., Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile Road, registration required, (586) 293-2055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
ONGOING
Santa photos: Select dates and times until Dec. 24,
Cabin at the Creek at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, reservations encouraged for people and required for pets, www. shoppartridgecreek.com
Book clubs: Find meetups about historic American figures (Presidential Book Club), solving cases (Mysteries & Munchies), quiet reading for adults and kids (Silent Book Club and Silent Book Club Jr), and recipes and sharing dishes (Cookbook Club), Fraser Public Library, 15260 15 Mile Road, (586) 293-2055, fraserpubliclibrary.org
Minecraft Club: Ages 10-18 can play virtually, 5-8 p.m. every Friday until Dec. 20, register at www. fraserpubliclibrary.org
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10:30 a.m. every second Monday of month, Big Boy, 16880 Hall Road in Clinton Township, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471
Holiday Market: Featuring nearly 100 Michigan artisans, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays until Dec. 22, Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place in Mount Clemens, (586) 4698666, theartcenter.org/holiday-market
Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth.digitalsignup.com
Macomb
from page 3A
country’s financial position, which Hackel touted as strong due to the 14th consecutive year of a balanced budget and the recent increase in the county’s bond rating by Moody’s to “Aa1 with a positive outlook.”
“To quote the release, ‘The outlook is positive because the county will maintain robust finances and it benefits from prudent budget management,’” Hackel said.
Republican Don Brown, chair of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, believed this economic performance showed off the best examples of how the board and county executive have been able to partner on various matters.
“My board has a saying, ‘one team, one mission,’ and Mark Hackel is part of that team and understands that,” Brown said. “He’s worked together with everybody to raise everyone’s boats … We don’t agree on everything but when we don’t, we sit down to figure it out and talk about it. We’re working very well together. The financial picture he highlighted shows the result.”
Hackel’s next segment, quality of life, focused on the ways the county was supporting plans and programs to make Macomb County a desirable place to be. The Green Macomb and Blue Economy initiatives were highlighted as prime examples. Green Macomb’s goal is to expand the county’s tree canopy. The Blue Economy initiative is focused on developing and protecting Lake St. Clair, with its original mission of removing logjams in the Clinton River and eliminating Lake St. Clair beach closures.
Providing Harrison Township with a $1 million grant to build the Digger Odell Me-
morial Bridge over the Clinton River Spillway was Hackel’s biggest example, in terms of expense, of a community-led quality-oflife project receiving county support.
Roads and infrastructure were the next point of discussion. Much of the information about road projects was reviewed from the country’s “state of the roads” address, with Innovate Mound serving as a key example of a project that required partnerships between county and local — as well as state and federal — governments to be completed.
With the county owning the primary roads in townships, Republican Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet made it clear that county-municipality partnerships on road projects were not just important but required.
“The township doesn’t run its own roads, but we’re required to pay for a good chunk, usually about half, of road projects,” Drolet said. “Coordinating with the county and roads is not an option — it’s a necessity. We’ve had a great relationship with the county.”
Macomb Township’s work with the county and state, notably state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, has allowed for the funding of various road projects in the township.
South of Macomb Township is Clinton Township, where newly elected Democratic Supervisor Paul Gieleghem, the township’s former treasurer, has long been adamant that the mechanism for road funding needs to be changed. Gieleghem was no less spirited about the issue as he stepped into the Lorenzo Cultural Center for the Taste of Macomb reception after the address. It’s an issue Hackel would also like Lansing to address.
“Mark is absolutely correct that we need a lot more dollars from the state and a fair (funding) formula to meet the needs of
our population,” Gieleghem said. Health and community services focused on the various programs and initiatives the county operates to aid senior citizens. Examples included the Meals on Wheels program and the newly established Macomb County Elder Justice Alliance, which involves 80 organizations working together to combat elder abuse. A new community impact fund in the 2025 budget will see the county work with Advancing Macomb to target grants and philanthropic dollars for nonprofit development, parks and public spaces, small business innovation, senior citizen advocacy and childhood achievement.
Public safety showcased the central intake and assessment center project at the Macomb County Jail, as well as a mention of the Department of Justice L. Anthony Sutin Award, given this year to Hackel and Ma-
Getting it right
comb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham for their community policing efforts.
Finally, a focus on education highlighted the county’s work with the Macomb Intermediate School District, local districts and Macomb Community College to advance educational programs throughout the county.
“Our way of doing things (in Macomb County) is just sometimes different,” Hackel said. “We believe in doing things together, not alone. We believe in bringing people in, not shutting them out. We believe in lending a hand, not pointing a finger. We also believe in giving credit where credit is due and not assigning blame. As I hope that I have shown you, we truly believe in the power of partnership.”
Call Staff Writer Dan Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
C & G Newspapers strives for accuracy and fairness to its readers. If you think we got it wrong, please let us know. Call Gregg Demers at (586) 498-1042, email gdemers@candgnews.com or write us at 13650 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089.
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free from heel pain.
Shopping
from page 10A
opportunity for us to actually catch the offenders, because they’re not just doing it to one person, they’re doing it to several. So it’ll help us track these incidents and maybe help us build a case and hopefully lead to an arrest.”
Emmi said fraudulent charities can pop up during the holiday to take advantage of people in the giving spirit.
“Just make sure that you vet the source,” he said. “If someone is reaching out to you, this could be a flag. I would be the one to initiate it if you do truly want to donate to a worthy cause. As a donor, I would initiate that contact and not go with a blind text or blind email. A lot of these emails, they look very similar to the official email of a charity, and they can be just a little bit off and you’re donating to a scam or a criminal.”
Dowgiallo also has seen scams where people have received calls from a number that showed it was a bank or credit union calling, but then the callers use scare tactics to get personal information.
“The member thinks that they’re talking to the credit union, and they think it’s a trusted source, and they start giving away all the information, and then just giving it to the scammer,” he said. “That turns into the scammer going in and taking over an account through an online account takeover, or they’ll just end up giving their debit card information and then they just start making a fake debit card or they potentially could try to use an Apple wallet or Android wallet to create a card on their phone. And then they start using their card and money without their knowledge.”
Dowgiallo’s biggest recommendation is that people set up alerts with their financial institution to notify them if someone is logging into their account or if there is a transaction with their card.
“If you have those alerts, and you’re a little bit more on top of your account, you’re going to quickly know when something’s not right,” he said. “Have those alerts in place so that when you feel confident or you think that maybe you clicked on something that you weren’t sure of, that you’re at least in the know on your accounts at all times.”
“No financial institution, including Genisys, will ever ask for your personal information,” he added. “They have that information, but we try to educate our members all the time. You know, you send these onetime codes, and it’ll say do not give this out, and Genisys would never ask for this information, but even if you think it’s a trusted source, just know that they shouldn’t be asking for that. They should have that information and to never give it out to anybody.”
Breuckman stated people need to be diligent and double check what they think they know.
“Don’t just immediately trust everybody,” he said. “You have to actually do your own diligence and figure out if you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. Never be ashamed to actually ask another person if they think it’s OK or not before you buy something.”
Emmi stated that many of these crimes go unreported, and that’s the message he wants to send people: They need to report to police when these thefts or frauds occur. Many of the culprits reside outside the United States.
“So they originate from outside the country or from another side of the country, and really it’s near impossible to track down the suspects in a lot of these cases, but if you report it, at least we can share the means in which they are committing their crimes, and maybe we could … through (public service announcements), we can inform the residents to what to look for going forward,” he said.
Call Staff Writer Mik Koury at (586) 498-1077.
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Kettle
The donor’s identity has been kept secret throughout the years. The coin has been dropped at the Kroger near the intersection of Marter Road and Jefferson Avenue each year. According to Monex last week, the value of the coin is $2,642. Last year’s coin was valued at $2,031 when it was donated.
“(It was) very generous that someone was able to do that every year,” said Salvation Army Maj. Charlotte Hall, who oversees the organization’s Great Lakes Division.
When a coin is received by the organization, it is cashed in, and funds are distributed back to the unit that received the coin, according to Hall.
Hall said she has been stationed at Salvation Army locations throughout the country during her career and has seen gold Krugerrands donated.
“It’s amazing,” Hall said. “I was in Aurora, Illinois, and we had one donated while I was there.”
The donation came a day before Giving Tuesday, when all statewide donations to the Salvation Army Great Lakes Division, up to $25,000, were doubled. This match also comes from an anonymous donor, according to a press release.
The Krugerrand started being produced in South Africa in 1967. It’s named after Paul Kruger, who was the president of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900.
According to a Los Angeles Times article, President Ronald Reagan banned imports of the currency in 1985 following pressure from Democrats to crack down on South Africa’s apartheid government. The article states that $600 million worth of Krugerrands were marketed in the United States in 1984. A Seattle Times article states that the ban on importing the coins into the U.S. was lifted in 1991.
How are people giving?
This year, the Salvation Army is pushing its “Tap to Give” option. This allows donations to be made with a cash app, credit card and debit card at locations throughout metro Detroit. When giving, donors will be prompted with different amounts they can contribute.
“You can use your phone or any of your chipped cards,” Hall said.
Donations are down nationwide 40%, according to Hall, though she said the Detroit area holds its own in comparison to the rest of the country.
“Detroiters are known for supporting the Army,” Hall said. “They always come through for us and we really appreciate that.”
Galina Roehl, who does public relations for the Salvation Army, said donations are up from last year. Though, she said, donations to the red kettles themselves are down.
“They’re getting more money from mail and social media,” Roehl said, who added that these alternative sources include the
“Tap to Give” option.
Hall said volunteer hours have been down this year. The organization is looking for those who can help to meet its goal.
“It really just takes an army of volunteers to raise $7 million,” Hall said.
Those interested in volunteering can sign up at registertoring.com.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
From left, Warren Woods Christian School students Fisher McLeigh, 12, and Leo Duncan, 9, volunteer as bell ringers for the Salvation Army. The pair are joined by Leo’s mom, Suzi, to get donations at the Kroger near the intersection of 13 Mile and Schoenherr roads.
status in 2020. The aim of the program is to provide Christmas gifts and essentials for families that have been impacted by abuse.
Survivors who work with the nonprofit go through an application process, which asks them to for things they want, things they need and useful household items. Those who sponsor a family will provide the items for the family based on the list.
“That way they’re actually getting things they want and need versus just general items,” McQuade said.
Sponsors are able to select how large of a family they’re able to sponsor. Family sponsors must be able to attend the Dec. 22 brunch event. McQuade said the program is unique because of the personal connection it can foster.
“We offer more than just the gift-giving portion,” she said. “The sponsors and families are brought together for a brunch the Sunday before Christmas where they actually exchange the gifts and get to know one another while they’re at the event.”
This will be the first year kids will have an area set up so they can do some Christmas shopping for their guardians.
McQuade said that oftentimes those leaving abusive situations leave all their possessions behind and don’t have the money to replace these items. The organization will work to provide essential items, through programs like Adopt-a-Family, but will also assist with things like making a security deposit for an apartment, funding for utilities, minor car repairs, transportation for appointments, legal aid, counseling and funding for a hotel room in extreme cases.
“Most of them walk away from their abuser with nothing,” she said.
McQuade said the organization likes to potentially see an increase in families served. Last year, there were 10 families. This year, the goal is 12 families. Sponsors often come back to the program.
“Most of the time our sponsors are recurring every year,” McQuade said. Items provided for families in the past have included clothing items, toiletries and small appliances. She provided one example of a mom who didn’t have a bed to sleep on.
“We had a mom last year who was sleeping on an air mattress in her living room because she didn’t have enough space or money to afford a bed,” McQuade said. “Our sponsor went and bought her a bed. We took it to her and set it up.”
Kids can also put in their requests for Santa on the list. The man in the red suit does make an appearance at the brunch event.
Volunteers are key to the event going off without a hitch, according to McQuade. Those interested, who aren’t able to sponsor a family, can still help out at the brunch event. Monetary donations for the brunch and assistance with the brunch centerpieces are accepted. There’s also an Amazon wish list with items available to purchase for kids activities at the event. Businesses are able to contribute to the program.
The brunch will be held at the Mirage Banquet Hall, 16980 18 Mile Road, in Clinton Township. The nonprofit is seeking sponsors right up until the brunch. To sign up, email sponsorships@thebutterflycollec tive.org or contact office@thebutterflycol lective.org for more information.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
The USS Oklahoma was commissioned in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 1916. Its history includes sailing in August 1918 with her sister ship, the USS Nevada, to protect and escort allied convoys in European waters during World War I. In December 1918, the vessel escorted then-President Woodrow Wilson to France to negotiate the Treaty of Versailles. In June 1919, it returned to France to escort him home.
conducts an official notification to the next of kin.
from page 9A
During Project Oklahoma, the Navy’s POW/MIA Office contacted family members to ask for their participation in the Family Reference Sample Program. That is where surviving family members of a veteran killed on duty offer DNA samples that are used to determine if there is a match.
That is exactly what Auld did to confirm his uncle’s remains.
Through the process, 356 of the 388 service members from the USS Oklahoma who were originally unaccounted for have now been identified, according to Capt. Jeff Draude, director, Navy Casualty Office.
Scientists with the DPAA, in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, are responsible for identifying unaccounted for service members by matching the DNA reference samples from surviving family members. Other documents, including available medical and dental records, are also used.
The Navy Casualty Office’s policy for notification is to work directly with the primary next of kin with matters involving their loved one’s remains. Once the DPAA makes a positive identification, the Navy’s Casualty Office
Once the identification brief has concluded, the family can decide to have the remains interred in a local national or state cemetery, a private cemetery, reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, or Arlington National Cemetery. Families may also choose to have the remains cremated and retained with the family.
“When briefing families, we often hear things like, ‘My family did not believe he was dead,’ or, ‘He probably was not on board the ship,’ or, ‘Maybe one day he would walk through the door,’” Draude said. “Being able to recover and identify the remains of these sailors aids in the closure to these families.
“It is especially important to the Navy to honor our sailors and Marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for our country,” Draude said. “Often the notification and identification briefing can be emotional, overwhelming and relieving for the families. Most families we speak with cannot believe their loved one has actually been recovered and/or identified after so many years.”
The Navy covers all primary mortuary expenses: preparation of the remains, casket of choice, all transportation of remains from the lab to final resting place, and family travel and lodging for up to three family members.
Photo provided by Public Affairs Office, Navy Personnel Command
1A
Township’s supervisor for 12 years. Prior to that, he held a director-level position at DTE Energy.
“I’m looking forward to continuing progress and to new adventures,” O’Leary said after the announcement. “We have a new board, new perspective, fresh minds and it’ll be interesting to see where they take us.”
O’Leary said he’s worked at the township level with Gieleghem for three years but has known him for about 10-15 years.
“I think we’ll work well together and get a lot of things done,” O’Leary said.
In a statement, Gieleghem said O’Leary will help keep the township fiscally responsible and help make improvements as it transitions from an “outer-ring suburb to an inner-ring suburb.”
“Leadership is about finding people who might not always agree with you and challenge you to look at problems and issues in different ways and hopefully end up with better solutions,” Gieleghem said.
In an interview following the release, he added that keeping O’Leary on will help bring some continuity to the office.
“Helping people embrace change is a good thing and can be made better with some consistent voices,” Gieleghem said.
Trustees dig in
The meeting itself wasn’t a marathon three-hour affair like the last one. Most of the items sailed by without much debate.
Trustees approved the township’s part in a road improvement project with Macomb County. The county will cover 75% of repairs with the remainder being picked up by the township.
Roads in three areas will get improvements: Ingleside Farms connector roads and Rudgate Way; Fierz Place from Harper Avenue to King Drive; and Hilldale, Prevost, Sargent, Emery and Hampton streets.
Matuzak said the project would benefit those in large subdivisions, providing improvements to roads that feed into larger roads.
“I think this is an incredibly important project,” Matuzak said.
Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar noted that the roads were selected for the program based on their Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating score. The township also took into consideration the difficulty of creating a Special Assessment District for improvements to certain roads.
“This program is not a complete rehab program of roads,” Bednar said. “This is
literally just a capping of roads themselves. They’ll do some basic maintenance on it and cap it. Typically, it lasts five years, plus or minus.”
A portion of Moravian Drive, from Cass to Harrington, could be in line for federal funding. Kress asked if a stretch of Moravian Drive between Harrington Street and 16 Mile Road was in line to get funding for improvements. Bednar said it was not but said it could be in the next round of submissions. The township is able to submit three roads every three years for the funding.
Resident Paul Schorsch has commented at multiple township meetings about the condition of Moravian Drive between Harrington Street and 16 Mile Road.
“I’ve got some good news. (County Commissioner) Jim Perna said Moravian is scheduled to be fixed,” Schorsch said. “When, I don’t know, but I guess that’s how politicians talk.”
Following the meeting, Perna, R-District 7, said he’s aware of Schorsch’s concern.
“It is being addressed,” Perna said. “I can’t give him a certain date, but I will be talking with our (Macomb County) Director of Roads Brian Santo and try to encourage him to do some temporary repairs, so there are no accidents and no hazards.”
Resident Dana Dugger advocated for improvements on Union Lake Road and said improvements beyond capping were needed for Wendell Street.
King recommended a town hall meeting to explain the PASER ratings for which roads are selected. Gieleghem pointed to the township’s website for this information. It can be found by hovering over the “community” tab at the top of the page and selecting “about roads.”
Other business
Trustees at the meeting also unanimously voted to make a correctly filed application for a Class C liquor license transferrable.
In this scenario, if the township denied an applicant one of their licenses allocated by the state, they could seek out a new one on the open market. This would be available for applicants for a year and would save them $1,850 if they were made to reapply, according to Meltzer. All the information on the application must be similar to the original.
“This is a very business-friendly policy,” Meltzer said.
Also on Nov. 25, the International Transmission Company’s proposed 80-acre overhead powerline project along 19 Mile Road, which was tabled at the Nov. 12 meeting, was deleted from the Nov. 25 agenda. The item did not appear on the board’s Dec. 2 meeting agenda.
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Circle received a notification that her yard gnome was being stolen.
Camera footage showed a man taking a garden gnome and antique lantern off her porch. The woman told Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she believed her 30-year-old neighbor was the culprit and she was just interested in getting the decor back.
Deputies spoke with the neighbor’s dad, who recovered the items, before summoning the 30-year-old himself to the screen door. He told deputies that the items were found in the garbage but, once confronted with video footage, said he did not remember everything due to the medication he was taking.
Man steals dog food
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, a suspect entered the Dollar General in the area of Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 17 and loaded a shopping cart with numerous large bags of dog food before fleeing the location on foot without paying. He was last seen in the city of Detroit before the caller lost sight of him. Police were investigating.
Laundry detergent taken
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the Family Dollar in the area of 10 Mile Road and Schroeder Avenue at around 1:15 p.m. Nov. 17 on a report of retail fraud in which two men allegedly entered the store and left with six containers of laundry detergent, fleeing in a black sedan of unknown make or model.
In a similar incident at around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at the Dollar General in the area of Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, an older man reportedly entered the store and stole about $100 worth of laundry detergent before fleeing without paying. The suspect was said to have driven away in a gray GMC Sierra. Investigations were ongoing.
Accident happens in front of public safety building
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A 38-year-old Detroit man is said to have rear-ended another vehicle in front of the Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Department at around noon Nov. 17, an incident witnessed by one of the department’s officers. The suspect is alleged to have tried to flee the scene but hit a light pole instead, which is when police said the suspect took off on foot. The victim of the accident is said in a police report to have chased after the suspect, who was caught by police just blocks away.
but refused to take a preliminary breath test, so they sought a warrant to have his blood tested to determine his blood alcohol level. The suspect was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor, police said.
Retail fraud suspect arrested
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police were called to a store in the 18000 block of Mack Avenue at around 7:26 p.m. Nov. 6 after a 35-year-old Detroit man allegedly tried to steal $119.92 worth of shrimp. Employees are said to have stopped the suspect after they said they saw the suspect walk to the deli area and try to leave with merchandise under his coat. One of the workers said he demanded that the suspect open his coat, and when he did, four packages of shrimp tumbled to the floor. The suspect, who was reportedly caught on the store’s surveillance cameras, is said by police to be facing third-degree retail fraud charges. Police said he was also wanted on a warrant out of Grosse Pointe Woods. The suspect was told not to return to the store or he would be charged with trespassing.
Seasonal décor used in vandalism
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Sometime between the hours of 10 p.m. Nov. 1 and 11:50 a.m. Nov. 2, an unknown suspect is said to have shattered the windshield of a 2020 Jeep Compass while it was parked in the 1100 block of Kensington Road. Police said they found chunks of broken pumpkin around the vehicle, leading them to believe that the pumpkin was tossed at the Jeep’s window.
Hacker intimidation
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In September, a 68-yearold Macomb Township woman purchased a new laptop. She turned the laptop on for the first time on Nov. 8 at her home in the 51000 block Battonwood Drive and quickly encountered a pop-up window.
The pop-up encouraged her to call a “Microsoft Support” phone number, which was answered by a man who claimed the computer contained child porn downloaded onto it. After the woman denied this due to not downloading anything yet, the man ordered her to open her online banking accounts. She refused to do so, and the man began moving her cursor, turned on the computer’s camera and brought up a pornography website, prompting the woman to close the laptop.
Scammed out of cash
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 8, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were summoned to
speak with residents about a fraud report.
An 85-year-old male resident reportedly received an email stating a fraudulent PayPal account was made in his name. Upon calling a number in the email, a man claimed $20,000 was wrongly placed in the account and, after hours of conversation, the resident agreed to give $20,000 in cash to a man at a gas station on the corner of Romeo Plank and 22 Mile Road. The man also deposited $9,700 in a bitcoin machine at a gas station on 22 Mile Road and Van Dyke.
Woman finds tracker on vehicle
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer from Shelby Township responded to the 50000 block of Scotland Boulevard, near 26 Mile and Mound roads, for a suspicious situation at 2:30 a.m. Nov. 6. The officer met with the caller, who advised that she had found a tracker on her vehicle.
The woman stated that she is in a relationship that is ending and believes it was placed on her vehicle by her soon-to-be ex. The caller stated that this is the second tracking device she has found on her vehicle in two months. This case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Fraud reported
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 12:33 p.m. on Nov. 14, a case of fraud was reported in the 32000 block of Harper Avenue.
A skimming device was found on an ATM at a business. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the owner, a 59-year-old man, and a machine technician, a 27-year-old man. The technician stated he came to the business and found the device attached to the ATM in the store. The device had two parts: a plate that covered the ATM insert card hole and a “Y” shaped device inserted in the card slot.
Both men had handled the devices prior to the officer’s arrival. Evidence was collected and photos were taken. The officer asked the owner to have employees take notice of suspicious behavior near the machine.
Suspect cited for attempt to steal groceries
STERLING HEIGHTS — On the night of Nov. 7, a man allegedly tried to steal a “large amount of groceries” collectively valued at $188.76 from Walmart, 33201 Van Dyke Ave.
Police said store staff witnessed the suspect not scanning multiple items before trying to leave with the unpaid merchandise. The report added that the suspect had multiple carts filled with over 100-150
been paid for using an EBT card, other items were reportedly unpaid.
Police said they cited the suspect for third-degree retail fraud.
Police investigate report of woman causing disturbance
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they received a complaint about an elderly woman allegedly yelling and urinating on trash the night of Nov. 7 along Orleans Avenue, located near Van Dyke Avenue and 19 Mile Road. The woman was also accused of twice trying to enter the complainant’s vehicle.
Police said they found the woman, who seemed to be “mildly intoxicated but able to care for herself.” The woman reportedly told police she would return home. Police said the complainant’s car was undamaged.
Violent driver
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 5:20 a.m. on Nov. 11, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Shook Road area to locate a white 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe that at least two 911 callers said was driving erratically along Interstate 94. Deputies found the Tahoe on Shook Road and approached the driver, a 42-year-old Detroit woman — who presented them with a fake ID — who reportedly showed signs of intoxication. Deputies had the driver perform
EISENHOWER SHOW CHOIR IS TOPS AT FESTIVAL
in May. The group will sing at the Gala Concert at 7 p.m. May 8 at Fairchild Theatre on the campus of Michigan State University.
DOWNTOWN UTICA TO HOLD CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING UTICA — The city of Utica will host its 2024 Downtown Utica Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Utica’s Memorial Park. The event will include Lori Barczyk, from the Reptarium and LegaSea Aquarium, as the special guest. There will be visits and photos with Santa Claus, Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a fireworks spectacular, Vanessa Carr performing Christmas songs, the Utica High School Marching Band, a performance by The Dance Class
BIRMINGHAM COLLECTS
File photo by Erin Sanchez
