REMEMBERING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR THROUGH LOCAL TIES
Cedric Hayden Sr. speaks about the loss of his son Cedric Hayden Jr. while surrounded by Hayden Jr.’s mother, Theresa Ford; his oldest daughter, Lynnira Hayden; and attorney James Harrington.
Officer faces manslaughter charges in fatal crash
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WARREN MAYOR DISCUSSES FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WARREN — Mayor Lori M. Stone recently discussed her first year in office with the Warren Weekly. She addressed what she has learned, her proud accomplishments, the challenges and difficulties, and from what she has learned whether she would do anything differently.
Among the things she has learned as mayor that she believes will help her in the remainder of her term are the inner workings of every city department, the dynamics of local government, and the processes and procedures that make the government run more effectively and efficiently for residents.
“It is essential to have your finger on the pulse of what is happening,” Stone said.
The families of Cedric Hayden Jr. and DeJuan Pettis were joined by James Harrington, the firm’s managing partner, to address the media about the charges brought against
See CHARGES on page 18A
WARREN — Attorneys representing the families of the two men killed when their vehicle was struck by a speeding Warren police SUV discussed the charges brought against the officer at a press conference at Fieger Law Nov. 25.
The mayor likes to assess what is working well in each department, the challenges, and determine where to make improvements and grow from there.
Lori M. Stone
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
SECOND FRONT PAGE
ONE OF WARREN’S FINEST NEEDS THE COMMUNITY’S HELP
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WARREN — A Warren police officer left in critical condition after a hunting accident is now fighting for his life. His wife spoke at the department’s press conference Nov. 22 to enlist help from the community.
Officer Nick Kott, 44, broke his neck when he fell out of a tree stand while hunting Nov. 16. As of Nov. 22, according to his wife, Holli Kott, he had no feeling from the neck down. He is on a ventilator and had just begun to mouth words while in the hospital’s neurological intensive care unit.
“Nick is a passionate hunter,” Holli Kott said. “It’s his favorite thing to do.”
Kott is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hockey, and loves spending time with his best friend — their son, Jack.
“Please, I’m asking for your prayers, most of all because I know that he’s going to be a miracle man and he’s going to come out of this, but it’s going to be a very, very, very long road. And I need community help and support,” Holli Kott said.
Kott was hunting in Gladwin when he fell to the ground and landed on his back. He remained there for a few hours because his family was not expecting him back until after dark. When it was past the time they were expecting him to return, his father called a neighbor. The two of them found Kott on his back near the tree stand that he said he would be hunting in.
“I know for a fact that (by) him telling my father-in-law what tree stand (that) he was going to saved his life,” Holli Kott said.
Kott was transported to a Midland hospital and then airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor due to the severity of his condition.
“I just need the prayer that Nick can get his hands and his arms and his shoulders working so he can play with his son. That is the most specific prayer that you can pray for me and for Nick and for Jack,” Holli Kott said.
Nick and Holly met as neighbors because their dogs liked to play with each other. The Kotts still live on that street, which is among the reasons their home is so special to them.
See KOTT on page 7A
‘SHE’S SO
WARREN
ORIGINAL’
RESIDENT TO TURN 101 YEARS OLD
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — Rosalie House always did things her way.
That might be what has kept her going for over a century.
ing sibling. Her dad delivered ice and coal to support the family.
“My dad was very strict with us girls mostly,” House recalled. “We were all brought up in a Catholic school, all seven of us. My mother was the best cook in the world.”
People were always dropping by for a home-cooked meal, and dancing was at the heart of the Palazzolo household.
“We all loved to dance. My dad was a good dancer to begin with,” House recalled. “Every time we had some kind of a party or something, all my cousins would be there and say, ‘Uncle Frank, dance with me.’”
During World War II, House delivered war bonds. While attending St. Joseph Catholic High School, the teenager held down a job in the office at People’s Outfitting on Michigan Avenue in Detroit. In high school, House excelled at typing, earning certificates for her abil-
The Warren resident will turn 101 on Dec. 13. Since April 2021, she has lived at the American House Park Place, a senior living community. Last year when she turned 100 years old, the staff threw her a birthday party. Everyone at American House will gather again this year for cake to celebrate her 101st birthday. House, whose maiden name is Palazzolo, has packed a lot of living in those years. She grew up in Detroit with her dad, Frank; mom, Ninfa, both born in Italy; sisters, Frances, Carol and Joanna; and brothers Jerry, Dominic and Matthew, who was the oldest. Jerry is her only liv-
See ROSALIE on page 8A
Officer Nick Kott stands with his son, Jack.
Photo provided by the Warren Police Department
Rosalie House, a resident at American House Park Place in Warren, will turn 101 years old Dec. 13. Here she is holding up a baby picture of herself.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Two police officers receive nation’s highest civilian award
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WARREN — Officer David Chapman and Cpl. Daniel Rose of the Warren Police Department were awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism during a ceremony at City Hall Nov. 21.
The officers received the honor for their efforts in saving an 8-year-old boy who had touched a fallen live electrical wire and was rendered unconscious as the wire dangled 5 feet above the street.
“Hospital staff were very clear that the child would likely have not survived if it were not for officers Chapman and Rose’s extraordinary actions,” said Lt. John Gajewski, public information officer for the Warren Police Department.
The Carnegie Medal is the highest civilian award bestowed on an individual for lifesaving acts of bravery and heroism performed in the United States and Canada. Thousands are nominated each year for the award. This year there are 18 recipients, making Chapman and Rose the only awardees in Michigan.
“In a year when only 18 individuals in North America were deemed worthy of this prestigious honor, the Warren Police Department is home of not one but two recipients,”
Warren Mayor Lori Stone said. “Such an award places officer Chapman and Cpl. Rose in the company of history’s and Michigan’s greatest heroes.”
It started off as any other day Aug. 30, 2023. Chapman and Rose were working together in the area of McKinley Elementary School where they saw an 8-year-old boy who had received an electrical shock and lay unconscious in the street with a live wire hanging above him. According to police, the boy had grasped the wire with both hands.
A storm the night before had knocked down many electrical wires.
Rose and Chapman got on their hands and knees and crawled under the hanging wire. Each officer took one of the boy’s ankles and dragged him to a safe area about 10 feet away. The officers held on to the boy until they felt numbness or burning from the electrical current coursing through their hands and arms.
The boy was taken to the hospital in a patrol car.
“I actually had to order both officers to go to the hospital and to be checked out,” Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Charles Rushton said.
The officers went to the hospital but did not require medical treatment. Accord-
Officer David Chapman and Cpl. Daniel Rose are among only 18 recipients of the Carnegie Medal of heroism this year.
Photo Patricia O’Blenes
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 decla-
ration 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.
For his service, John was awarded the
RIGHT: 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 at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
BELOW: Sailors aboard the USS Oklahoma pose for a group photo. Photos provided by the
RELATED STORY:
See AULD on page 10A PEARL HARBOR ARTIFACTS LINK BACK TO DAY OF INFAMY 83 YEARS AGO/13A
Their two-story house will need lots of renovations if Kott is to come home, Holli Kott said.
“The No. 1 thing I want Nick to be able to do is to tuck in his best friend at night,” Holli Kott said about the special relationship the father and son have.
She has referred to this experience as a “nightmare” but is so thankful for the wonderful support she has received from the first responders, Kott’s medical team, her son’s teachers, the Warren Police Department, police departments from surrounding communities, and all those who have offered prayers and support.
When she mentioned to a Warren police officer that her son’s swing was broken, “He was over there in two hours and had it fixed.”
Another group is coming to clean the gutters for the fall clean-up, which is work that Kott would always do.
Holli Kott is a schoolteacher and proud of the fact that she and her husband are public servants. She needs the help of the public for her husband to receive the medical care needed.
A GoFundMe effort has been started on her behalf by Keith Chambers, a family member.
“We’d like to ensure Nick is able to be provided with the best possible care for as long as he will need, and that Holli and Jack do not experience hardship so that they can devote their full attention to Nick and shower him with all of the love and support he will need during his recovery,” Chambers stated on the GoFundMe page at gofund. me/6fa96708.
“If you feel inclined to help, but would feel more comfortable giving directly to Holli, her Venmo is @Holli-Kott,” Chambers said. “We thank you in advance for your love, support and most of all your prayer!”
Donations will also be accepted through the Warren Police Benevolent Fund.
Kott has been with the Warren Police Department for 13 years.
Lt. John Gajewski said Kott served as a training officer and that he is “liked by everybody.”
“As police we are really good at responding to other people’s emergencies, and it’s a gut check when it’s one of your own. And this is an emergency,” Gajewski said.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
ity. She even met the world’s best typist at the time. Her typing skills came in handy when working as a clerk first and then as an administrative secretary at the Detroit Police Department headquarters on Beaubien Street. She held the job for 25 years.
She worked in different areas including the general service bureau, special investigations bureau and armed robbery section. In 1970, House was promoted to senior clerk and transferred to the police chief’s office. She performed her duties so well that in 1979, she received the civilian award for outstanding service.
“I liked my job. It was an education for me,” she said. “When I was working for the hold-up bureau, they used to bring their prisoners in the office area. We could hear them talking to their prisoners, but we were never involved in anything.”
When she retired, House kept it a secret.
“I just left one day,” she said. “I didn’t even tell them I wasn’t coming back.”
In her leisure time, House could be found at the local bowling alley.
“I loved to bowl,” House said. “I bowled about four nights a week.”
When she was 25 years old, House met professional bowler Andy Varipapa right after she bowled her highest ever three games: 160, 171 and 212 for a total of 543. A photo of Varipapa giving her his autograph appeared in a local newspaper. The photo caption states he gave her tips about how to improve her game. “Let the ball swing freely,” he told her. “Don’t try to check it on the back swing.”
There were plenty of Palazzolo family picnics over the years, and summers were set aside to go to a dude ranch with friends.
“It was fun,” House said. “My sister Carol was funnier than all of them because
Nina Pilarski, left, will be helping her aunt Rosalie House, right, celebrate her 101st birthday on Dec. 13. “She was an aunt that would do anything for any of us,” Pilarski said.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
she was terrified of horses, and we made her get on a horse.”
House was briefly married and has a stepdaughter named Pam. The two still kept in touch.
“She’s the sweetest girl you’ve ever met in your whole life, and she loves me,” House said. “She calls me at least once to twice a week. She’s a beautiful child.”
House still keeps in contact with other family members. Her niece, Nina Pilarski, will be at the birthday celebration Dec. 13. The two have always been close.
“She was an aunt that would do anything for any of us. Very willing and giving,” Pilarski said. “Very independent. She always helped me out. She used to take me to different places when I was little.”
House stays active. She begins each day reciting the Rosary, and every Sunday she watches Mass online on the St. Malachy website, a Catholic church based in Sterling Heights. House plays bingo regularly and also is an avid reader, especially when it comes to authors Danielle Steel, Debbie Macomber and Nora Roberts.
American House Park Place Life Enrichment Director Nina Ochoa and Katelyn Clark, the business office manager, have gotten to know House in recent years. Clark, who described her as “feisty,” and Ochoa appreciate the help she provides working in The Corner Store at American House.
“She runs our resident store here. She runs it so well,” Ochoa said. “She keeps track of everything and is very organized. She’s in charge and you know it. She’s sharp as a tack.”
“She keeps track of all the money and adds up all our sales at the end of the day,” Clark said.
Those who know House best are looking forward to her birthday Dec. 13.
“She’s so original,” Ochoa said. “You’ve never met someone like Rosalie.”
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
DENTURE REPAIRS WHILE YOU WAIT! FILLINGS • CROWNS BRIDGES • ROOT CANALS
SAME DAY DENTURES AVAILABLE! HOME CARE & HOSPITAL VISITS
We accept most Healthy Michigan & Veteran A airs insurance.
24625 VAN DYKE CENTER LINE
586.756.5880
Single Crown $70000 OR LESS ROOT CANALS Single Canal $40000 OR LESS FILLINGS Single Surface 60 OR LESS DENTURES UPPER OR LOWER Starting at $19750 WITH MOST INSURANCES
Rosalie
NEWS & NOTES
Restrooms at the public parks are closed for winterization
WARREN — The unseasonably warm weather in October and November did not stop the closing of Warren’s park restrooms for winterization.
Anthony Casasanta, the city’s parks and recreation director, explained this process.
“Our bathrooms don’t have heat, so everything has to be drained and winterized, meaning that we shut the water down and all the toilets and sinks have to be drained. Then antifreeze is added. In some of the newer bathrooms, some of the systems have to be pulled out because they hold water. They get drained. It’s kind of extensive,” Casasanta said. “And then in the spring, we have to reverse the process. We turn the water back on and parts that were removed need to be put back on.”
According to Casasanta, the winterization process starts around Oct. 15 before the first freeze. The Parks and Recreation Department likes to begin the winterization process with the parks that are not as frequently used and end with Halmich Park because of the sports played there.
“It gets really ugly if they’re not winterized,” Casasanta said. “I’ve seen that happen, too, with other agencies I’ve worked at and then you have a lot of cost because of pipes (bursting). The toilets and the sinks, if there is water (left) in them, then they break, too.”
The bathrooms start to open around April 15.
“I like to have a good crew when we do open so they are continuously cleaned,” Casasanta said.
Warren improves its MEI score
WARREN — The City Council recently announced a 24-point increase in Warren’s Municipal Equality Index score, which evaluates how inclusive the city’s laws, polices and services are for the LGBTQ+ community.
Last year, Warren scored 57 out of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipal Equality Index, which evaluates cities across the country. This year, Warren scored 83 out of 100.
The City Council attributes the increase to key ordinances and enhancements to city policies and programs that prioritize LGBTQ+ inclusion.
There were five areas in which the city was judged:
Nondiscrimination laws: This evaluates if discrimination is prohibited on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations. The city scored 30 out of 30.
Municipality as employer: Are equal benefits and protections given to LGBTQ+ employees and contractors, and are LGBTQ+ employees treated equally? The city scored 26 out of 28.
Municipal services: Are LGBTQ+ individuals included in city services and programs? The city scored 0 out of 12.
Law enforcement: Are the laws equally and fairly enforced involving the LGBTQ+ community and are hate crimes reported? The city scored 12 out of 22.
Leadership on LGBTQ+ equality: This measures the leadership’s commitment to include the LGBTQ+ community and advocate for full equality. The city scored 5 out of 8.
“While we celebrate this achievement, we remain focused on continuing our efforts to ensure Warren is a place where everyone feels valued and respected,” City Council Secretary Mindy Moore said.
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.
Auld
from page 6A
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.
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 conducts an official notification to the next of kin.
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.
Under New Management!
Welcome to RON’S AUTO CARE. We are glad to be of service and appreciate the support and patronage that you have given our family. We have a new manager named Hass who brings 13 years of experience owning and managing mechanic shops. We look forward to serving you in the future with the same honest, trustworthy, and high quality work we have prided ourselves in. We are proud to say that our business is American Family owned and operated with many years of experience in the automotive field.
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 gentleman 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 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.”
See ARTIFACTS on page 16A
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Prayer books from the USS Arizona and Oklahoma, along with envelopes from the Arizona, have come into the possession of the Detroit Arsenal of Democracy Museum.
Recall petition for Warren Mayor Lori Stone denied
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — A recall effort targeting Warren Mayor Lori Stone was derailed by Macomb County elections officials last month before it had a chance to get going.
Members of the Macomb County Election Commission voted unanimously Nov. 1 to deny a petition seeking to recall Stone. The petition was filed by Warren resident Paul Kardasz after the mayor’s appointment of Wesley Arnold to the Warren Historical Commission amid allegations that Arnold engaged in anti-Islamic messaging on social media.
The commission — consisting of Senior Probate Judge Sandra Harrison, Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini and Macomb County Treasurer Larry Rocca — met in the judge’s courtroom and voted 3-0 without discussion. Kardasz was present but neither the mayor nor any of her representatives were in attendance.
“The next steps are not determined at this point,” Kardasz said. “I respect the decisions of Judge Harrison, Anthony Forlini and Larry Rocca. One thing I do wish is that they would have stated what the clarity issue was.”
The proceedings started with Molly Zappitell from the Corporation Counsel’s
office reading the legal standard applicable to the petition for the clarity hearing.
“It is not your obligation to determine if the language is truthful or not, just whether it is factual and very clear,” Zappitell said.
Harrison reminded the committee a “yes” vote means to approve the recall petition as clear and factual. A “no” vote means to deny the petition as clear and factual.
The hearing took five minutes.
According to Kardasz, the reason he filed the recall petition was because of what he deemed were anti-Islamic postings on Arnold’s Facebook page, which included statements labeling Islam as a cult. This directly conflicts with the values of inclusivity and
cultural understanding that the city of Warren seeks to uphold, Kardasz said.
Kardasz contends the mayor should have vetted Arnold more thoroughly.
“Quite frankly, that due diligence is her responsibility, not the public’s (responsibility),” he said.
The petition states:
“Despite a history of inflammatory social media posts, including statements labeling Islam as a cult, Mayor Lori Stone proceeded with the appointment of Wesley Arnold to the Warren Historical Commission, undermining the city’s values of
• Unique Children’s Toys
• Home Decor
• Sterling Silver Jewelry
• Advent Calendars (w/w/o Chocolate)
• Advent Wreaths
• Hundreds of Unique Ornaments
• Indoor/Outdoor Nativity Sets
• CANDLES Galore!
• Angels - 100’s to choose from
• Greeting Cards
• Boxed Christmas Cards
• Shipping Available
Mayor
“Having a solid understanding of what each department does and how they fit together to serve the residents of Warren was integral to my first year as mayor,” she said.
Prior to becoming mayor, Stone was serving in her third term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 28. Before that, she was a teacher in the Fitzgerald Public Schools district in Warren for more than 14 years.
As mayor, she has learned the dynamics of local government.
“Working at the local level is different than the state level,” Stone said.
Stone said it has been a learning curve in understanding the dynamics between the mayor and council, which includes new and returning council members, the courts and all the other pieces that work together in local government.
“I’m a new piece in the puzzle in the role of the executive,” Stone said.
As such, she plans to grow relationships in local government and across all levels of government.
“Having those relationships will help improve the quality of life here in Warren,”
the mayor said.
Proud accomplishments
Stone is most proud of building her team, community engagement and completing a government cycle.
According to the mayor, the teambuilding process is a dynamic one that still continues. She is pleased to have identified leaders and subject matter experts that share her vision.
“Reengaging residents in ways they were not engaged before in the previous administration, the listening tours helped to set expectations and let residents know their voices matter,” Stone said.
After entering office, the mayor began the listening tours, meeting with residents in each of the five districts, to connect with residents and listen to their concerns.
“Because the government comes in cycles, having completed my first cycle in local government helps me plan and prepare and predict as to what is going to happen in the next three years,” Stone said.
Most difficult or challenging
Of the most challenging or difficult things the mayor has faced is determining what communication methods best resonate with residents, and how to allocate finite re-
sources.
With the myriad ways of disseminating information from social media, print, online, or group meetings just to name a few, the mayor has had to determine what methods best connect with Warren residents.
“We do have a lot of different modes of communication,” Stone said. “Making sure we are integrating them and growing them, so everyone feels they have their questions answered and an understanding and explanation of the hows and whys things happen in government.”
Other challenges were how to allocate
limited resources and the fiscal impact those decisions have. In addition, there was the challenge of identifying other financial resources through grants or other methods to meet the needs of the community.
Experience equals better leadership
“Where I am is a product of all the decisions I’ve made to get to this point,” Stone said when asked if she would do anything differently, given what she has learned. “I wouldn’t undermine any of my experiences that have brought me where I am. I think everything has made me into a better leader.”
Former councilman
wants to be ‘part of the fix, not the problem’
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
WARREN — Former District 4 Warren City Councilman Garry Watts was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals by the City Council at their Nov. 26 meeting in a unanimous vote of 6-0.
Councilwoman Melody Magee had an excused absence.
“This is a great appointment,” Council Secretary Mindy Moore said.
The Zoning Board of Appeals approves or denies variances to ordinances, according to Watts. Among the most common variances requested are for buildings on residential property, fences and businesses requesting variances to operate.
Artifacts
from page 13A
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 Na-
Watts cited examples of the kind of work the board does. He recalled a Warren resident who wanted to build a four-car garage on his lot that was zoned for a 2 1/2car garage and a variance was needed for that. He lived on a corner lot and wanted the newly built garage to be higher in height than other garages in the neighborhood.
“Honestly, in my opinion, it looked like the guy might be preparing to run a lawn cutting business out of his garage,” Watts said. “That was denied based on the size because it just didn’t fit.”
The variance has to fit with the structure, style and use of buildings already in the neighborhood.
Watts has seen fences that did not “fit”
See WATTS on page 17A
tional World War II Museum in New Orleans 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.
Once I get the right diagnosis for the cause of your heel pain, I will provide you with a tailored treatment plan, which outlines exactly how we can fix your heel pain and keep you free from future foot pain. If you are ready, call me for an appointment to start your journey back to normal life, free from heel pain.
with the neighborhood, either because the materials used were old and out of date, the fence needed painting or the fence was left incomplete.
“I want to be part of the fix, not the problem,” Watts said. “I’m honored to be back serving Warren.”
Watts’ term with the ZBA starts Dec. 11 and runs through September 2026.
During his tenure, he would like to implement uniform signage throughout Warren’s businesses, update the parking lot ordinances to reflect the current retail trends and stem the tide of businesses requesting multiple variances.
“You drive all over the city and you look at all the signage, there’s a million different kinds of signs,” Watts said. “But you go to Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills, Shelby (Township), they have very strict sign ordinances.”
According to Watts, these municipalities have a model for their signage, which is a monument sign.
“We don’t have those kinds of things. We just let people hang things off the front of the buildings. Hang things in the window. You have a hundred different varieties of signposts out there,” Watts said. “As we
start updating things. We need to start making everything look good.”
There was discussion when Watts was on the City Council and even more recently that the parking lot ordinances for commercial businesses need updating, he said.
Online shopping is growing each year as brick-and-mortar stores struggle to stay afloat.
“We don’t have the retail traffic that we used to,” Watts said. “When you tell someone they’ve got to have 450 parking spots but in reality, you go by there and they only have 100 cars in the lot. Maybe we’ve overdone the parking. So they’re taking a look at things like that.”
From Watts’ experience on the City Council and as ex-officio to the Planning Commission, he saw firsthand how busi-
nesses would come in with a plan to build, modernize, or bring something different to the location and would need 10-15 variances to make their business work.
“We either have a problem with our zoning or they (the businesses) are trying to put something where it doesn’t belong,” Watts said. “To give somebody 10 variances, obviously that’s going to create problems in the neighborhood. So we really have to be careful with that.”
Watts knows there is much work to be done. He feels his experience in local government and the Citizen Planner course he completed through Michigan State University Extension has prepared him well for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
Tree Problems?
Watts
Charges
Officer James Burke.
Burke, 28, was arraigned in the 37th District Court Nov. 22. He was charged with two counts of homicide-manslaughter with a motor vehicle, a 15-year felony; one count of willful neglect of duty by a public officer, a one-year misdemeanor; and a moving violation, causing serious impairment of body function, which is a 93-day misdemeanor. The prosecutor made the announcement late Friday afternoon.
“What was announced on Friday (Nov. 22) was not good for the family,” Harrington said. “What needs to be done, the charges need to be amended to second degree murder because it is about justice.”
He continued, “It’s just called doing the right thing.”
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido was contacted after the Nov. 25 press conference at Fieger Law and asked if the charges would be amended. In a written statement, Lucido said, “After a thorough review of the Macomb County Sheriff’s full investigation, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit determined that the appropriate charges in this matter are as stated in our press release (of Nov. 22).”
The case was independently investigated by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, which found the Warren police SUV driven by Burke was traveling southbound on Schoenherr Road at a high rate of speed when it struck the white Dodge Durango
driven by Hayden as he was turning left onto Prospect from northbound Schoenherr at about 5 a.m. The men were on their way to Hayden’s Warren home. Both men worked the afternoon shift — Hayden at Stellantis, and Pettis at General Motors.
Hayden was reportedly dead at the scene. His best friend and the passenger in the Durango, Pettis, 33, died at the hospital.
According to Warren police, both Burke and the officer riding as a passenger in the police SUV suffered serious injuries. The other officer was not charged with a crime and will return to work once he is fully recovered from the injuries suffered in the accident, according to the Warren Police Department.
“My son laid there on that ground for seven hours,” Cedric Hayden Sr. said. “But there were no officers out there. They were going to the hospital. The other young man was going to the hospital. But my son was out there for seven hours and that’s not right. I’m not getting answers from (anybody) in Warren.”
Lucido’s office brought the charges against Burke at the conclusion of the investigation by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. Burke appeared via Zoom video for arraignment before Judge Michael Chupa.
Cedric Hayden Sr. said if it were him speeding and two officers were killed, he would be going to prison.
“The charges are devastating,” he said. “I feel they are weak. I feel more charges should be there and much harsher than the charges they brought.”
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Lynnira Hayden is overcome by emotion as she talks about the loss of her father, Cedric Hayden Jr., as she is surrounded by her grandparents, aunt and other family members.
Charges
He elaborated about what justice would look like to him.
“I would say at least second (degree murder) and 80 years to life, 40 years to life,” Cedric Hayden Sr. said. “I need it up there because you took away two living fathers, two sons, two brothers, uncles, cousins and friends are no longer here. Because you wanted to play in the street and do all this with a car.”
He pointed out that Burke is not in jail after the arraignment, and that he is at home.
“Why is this man (Burke) at home with his kids,” Cedric Hayden Sr. said. “If it had been me, I couldn’t go home.”
Marc Eric Curtis is Burke’s attorney, according to the court records. Curtis was not immediately available for comment on the charges.
“The problem of what we’re seeing is these charges underscore preferential treatment to the white officer — period end of story,” said Harrington.
Asked to elaborate on that claim, Harrington said, “Simple. Simple. That hap-
pened in Warren, earlier this year, where an African American man killed a woman in a car. He was charged with second-degree murder. He was given a million-dollar bond and they put a tether on his leg,” Harrington said. “And now, you have a white cop who kills two people.”
Harrington described the officer as “driving like a maniac.”
Burke received a $100,000 personal bond.
Harrington was asked if the charges were the result of Burke’s status as an officer, or a white officer.
“We deal with facts. Here’s the fact: He is a white officer,” Harrington said. “And he was treated different, in a preferential manner, than an African American of our community.”
Many at the press conference questioned the high rate of speed Burke was traveling without lights or a siren. The officers were not in pursuit, according to police.
“They disrespected their badge, the moment they drove that carelessly,” said Lakita Blakeney, Pettis’ girlfriend. “They didn’t have pride in their work. They treated Schoenherr as if it was a racetrack. We’re supposed to call you (Warren police)? You’re supposed to protect us?”
Cedric Hayden Sr. said the officer who was a passenger in the patrol vehicle should also be charged.
“He could have reached his hand in there and turned that light on himself,” he said.
Reflecting on Hayden and Pettis, Blakeney said, “Both men were experiencing the best chapter of their lives.”
“I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you,” Blakeney said, as she recalled one of her last conversations with Pettis.
Burke awaits a probable cause conference scheduled for Dec. 5 in Judge John Chmura’s courtroom in 37th District Court in Warren.
“Our thoughts remain with those whose lives were impacted by this tragic crash,” Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement after the charges were announced. “We hope the conclusion of this
investigation begins to bring a sense of closure and healing as they continue to navigate this difficult time.”
Burke has served with the Warren Police Department for nearly three years and has been on administrative leave since the incident. An internal investigation by the Warren Police Department will follow the conclusion of the probe by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
“As required by the collective bargaining agreement, he (Burke) will be given a due process hearing to determine the future of his employment with the Warren Police Department after the internal investigation is completed,” Warren police stated in a press release. “He will not return to work from his administrative leave before that hearing occurs.”
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
CANDGNEWS.COM
Officers
ing to police, the boy suffered severe burns on both hands and when last checked was in a rehabilitation facility.
“What happened was not a scenario everybody could imagine ever encountering,” Rushton said. “What happened that day is as real as it gets. Life and death, a split-second decision with a child’s life hanging in the balance.”
According to the commissioner, Rose and Chapman responded without hesitation, without thoughts of their own safety. The officers solely focused on rescuing the child. The officers did not mention what they had done and did not seek recognition. It was only after follow-up that the department became aware of the officers’ actions, Rushton said.
“It is not easy what we do,” Chapman said. “We just do it.”
He thanked the Warren Police Department for giving him the opportunity to show what he is capable of doing. He also thanked his wife, Nikita, for always having his back.
“Without them and my wife, there is no me,” Chapman said.
Rose said no one would want to be in the situation they faced that day and have to make those decisions.
“But I am glad we have, and I work with, people who can make the decisions,” Rose said.
Rose also thanked his wife, Alejandra, who was not in attendance because she had just given birth to their third daughter three days before the medal ceremony.
Chapman was hired by the Warren Police Department in December 2021, having served previously with the Detroit Police Department.
Rose has been with the Warren Police Department many years and was promoted to corporal in 2023. Prior to coming to the Warren Police Department, he worked in departments in various communities.
“Our community expresses deep pride and appreciation for their accomplishments,” Stone said.
The Carnegie Medal was established in 1904 by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to recognize outstanding acts of selfless heroism of individuals who risk death or serious physical injury while saving or attempting to save the lives of others, according to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission’s website. Carnegie was inspired by the January 1904 events of the Harwick mine disaster near Pittsburgh when an engineer and miner went into the mine and made an effort to save others.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
Recall
from page 14A
inclusivity. This appointment contradicts Warren’s commitment to fostering cultural understanding and diversity.”
“I am not anti any religion,” said Arnold, 83. “I believe in freedom of speech. When there is disagreement, it is much better for everyone if they look for common ground and they look for ways to solve problems in a way that benefits everyone.”
“Paul Kardasz has never reached out to the mayor’s office with his concerns about that appointee or any appointee,” Stone said. “I think it is pretty bold to jump to a recall petition when they haven’t offered up the opportunity to request a remedy or address a remedy.”
The mayor said during the vetting process that neither the Warren City Council nor she had any information about the social media posts. Since the appointment, the
mayor said a couple of community members and community organizations have contacted her directly.
“I very much believe in a diverse community where people can grow,” Stone said.
Rather than going immediately to punitive actions and sidelining individuals, the mayor would like to use communication and education in establishing the path forward.
According to Stone, she has spoken with the newly appointed commissioner where she clearly communicated the antidiscrimination policy of the city. She has also offered Arnold an opportunity to participate in a diversity and inclusion workshop.
The mayor hopes that by opening this dialogue and education that hearts are opened, and the community’s diversity grows.
“If at any point along the way, an individual is not willing, interested, or able to adhere to the city’s antidiscrimination policy, at that point, we would separate,” Stone said.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson (586) 498-1069.
ORDINANCE NO. 80.827
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 41 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED WATER AND SEWERS, ARTICLE II - WATER, SECTION 41-21. - CONNECTIONS; PERMIT: REQUIRED.
THE CITY OF WARREN ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 4l, Article ll, Section 41-21 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Warren, Michigan, WHICH PRESENTLY READS AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE II. - WATER
SEC. 41-21. - Connections; Permit Required.
(a) No person shall tap any water main or distribution pipe of the waterworks system, or insert therein any corporation cock, stop cock or any other fxture or appliance, or alter or disturb any service pipe, corporation stop, curb stop, gate valve, hydrant, water meter or any other attachment being a part of the waterworks system and attached thereto.
(b) Before any service connection shall be made to any part of the waterworks system or any work performed upon old or new connections, a permit shall be obtained from the department of public service. Such permit shall be issued upon written application on forms obtainable from the water division. Applicants for water service shall furnish, lay and install all that portion of the service not provided by the city at their own expense, subject, however, to the supervision and inspection of the city inspector.
IS HEREBY AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
SEC.41-2’1. - Connections; Permit Required; Authorization of Fee Schedule. (a) and (b) remain unchanged.
(c) Before any cross connection service shall be made to any part of the waterworks system, or work performed upon existing connections, a permit shall be obtained from the Water Supply Division. Such permit shall be issued upon written application on forms supplied by the Water Supply Division. Applicants for a cross connection service permit shall furnish, lay, and install all that portion of the cross connection service not provided by the city at their own expense, subject, however, to the supervision and inspection of the Water Supply Division.
(d) The fees for cross connection permits and inspections shall be collected by the Water Supply Division in accordance with the fee schedule established by resolution adopted by City Council
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect on December 16, 2024.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No. 80-827 was adopted by the Council of the City of Warren at its meeting held on November 26, 2024.
SONJA BUFFA City Clerk
Published Warren Weekly 12/11/2024
Editor: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
Reporters:
Gena Johnson | (586) 498-1069 | gjohnson@candgnews.com
Maria Allard | (586) 498-1045 | allard@candgnews.com
Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 (586) 498-8000 facebook.com/warrenweekly @candgnews candgnews.com Opinions expressed in this newspaper are the opinions of the individual sources and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of C & G Publishing Inc., its ownership or management. Copyright © 2024 C & G Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
For retail ad rates: Lisa Armitage | (586) 498-1078 | larmitage@candgnews.com Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com
Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100 Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099
Automotive Advertising: Louise Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com
| (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com
ORDINANCE NO. 80-828
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 41 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED WATER AND SEWERS, ARTICLE II- WATER, SECTION 41-33, - CROSS CONNECTIONS.
THE CITY OF WARREN ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 41, Article ll, Section 41-33 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Warren, Michigan, WHICH PRESENTLY READS AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE II. - WATER
SEC. 41-33. - Cross Connections.
(a) remains unchanged
(b) It shall be the duty of the of water supply to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water supply where cross connections with the public water supply are deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and reinspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be established by the City of Warren Water Division and as approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
(c) through (f) remain unchanged.
(g) All testable back-fow prevention assemblies shall be tested at the time of installation or relocation and after any repair. Subsequent testing of devices shall be conducted at a time interval specifed by the City of Warren Water Division and in accordance with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Only individuals holding an active ASSE 5110 certifcation shall perform such testing and test results of backfow preventers are valid only if testing was performed by such individuals. Each tester shall also be approved by the City of Warren Water Division. Individuals performing assembly testing shall certify the results of his or her testing.
(h) remains unchanged
IS HEREBY AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
SEC.41-33. - Cross Connections; Inspection; Subsequent Testing.
(a) remains unchanged.
(b) (1) It shall be the duty of the water supply Water Supply Division to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water supply where cross connections with the public water supply are deemed possible.
(2) The frequency of inspections and reinspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be established by the City of Warren Water Supply Division and as approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
(3) The City of Warren shall notify the water account holder of plumbing/piping that is not in compliance with the cross connection ordinance and/or plumbing codes.
(c) through (f) remain unchanged.
(g) (1) All testable back-fow prevention assemblies shall be tested at the time of installation or relocation and after any repair to or change in use of or change in occupancy of the building by the Water Supply Division.
(2) Subsequent testing of devices shall be conducted routinely on a testing schedule established by the Water Supply Division, based on the degree of hazard probability of back-fow.
(3) Plumbing/piping that is not in compliance with the City's cross connection ordinance and/or plumbing codes must be corrected by a State of Michigan qualifed plumber after a permit is obtained by the Water Supply Division.
(4) Subsequent testing of devices shall be conducted at a time interval specifed by the City of Warren Water Supply Division and in accordance with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Only individuals holding an active ASSE 5110 certifcation shall perform such testing and test results of backfow back-fow preventers are valid only if testing was performed by such individuals. Each tester shall also be approved by the City of Warren Water Division. Individuals performing assembly testing shall certify the results of hrs or her testing.
(h) remains unchanged
0325-2450
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect on December 16, 2024.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance No. 80-828 was adopted by the Council of the City of Warren at its meeting held on November 26, 2024.
SONJA BUFFA City Clerk
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
22A/ WARREN WEEKLY • DECEMBER 11, 2024
DEC. 11
Healthy Eating at Every Age: Free senior seminar includes vendors (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), lunch (noon), speaker (12:30-1:30 p.m.) and door prizes (1:30-2 p.m.), Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, (586) 758-1310, facebook.com/cityofwarren
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. 14
Christmas cantata: Performance by First Baptist Church Choir, refreshments after, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Warren, 31707 Seventh St., (586) 9430573
Storytime with Mrs. Claus: Also decorate cookies, for ages 4-8, Center Line Public Library, 7345 Weingartz St., free but registration required, (586) 758-8274, centerline.events.mylibrary.digital
‘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
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. 18
Town Center Community Planning Session: Two chances to attend, 10 a.m.-noon, Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, and 6-8 p.m., Warren Public Library - Burnette Branch, 23345 Van Dyke Ave., sign up at cityofwarren.org/town-center-community-planning
DEC. 29
Michigan Psychic Fair: Readings, guidance, energy healings, connections with deceased loved ones and more, noon-6 p.m., The Commonwealth Club, 30088 Dequindre Road in Warren, mipsychicfair.com/events, michiganpsychicfair@gmail.com
ONGOING
‘Miracle on 34th Street’: Performance by Warren Civic Theatre, 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 3 p.m.
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.
Sundays Dec. 13-15 and 20-22, Owen Jax Community Center, 8207 E. Nine Mile Road in Warren, warrencivic. org
Warren Tri-County Fine Arts: Meets every first Tuesday of month until June, 5:30 p.m., Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave., warrenfinearts.net, facebook. net/wtcfa
Historical Society of Center Line: Meets 10 a.m.-noon most first Fridays of month, Center Line Public Library, 7345 Weingartz St., (586) 758-8274, centerline.events.mylibrary.digital
La Leche League of Warren: Meetings for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, 6:30-7:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of month, Warren Public Library - Civic Center inside Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, lllofwarren.weebly.com
Senior activities: Cards, chair exercising, puzzles and more, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fitzgerald Recreation Center, 4355 E. Nine Mile Road in Warren, (586) 759-0920
Widowed Friends events: Book clubmeets 10:30 a.m. every second Friday of month, National Coney Island, 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, books announced at previous meetings, RSVP to Elaine at (586) 291-2471
• Brunch and short discussion about faith, 10:30 a.m. every fourth Thursday of month, National Coney Island, 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, RSVP to David at (586) 484-3148
PAWS to Read: Children can tell stories to therapy dogs Desmond and Sashi, 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Warren Public Library - Civic Center inside Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, warrenlibrary.net
Upton House Museum tours: Visit 1860s Michigan Historical Landmark, 1-4 p.m. every Wednesday and second Sunday of month, 40433 Dodge Park Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2495, sterlingheights. gov/789/upton-house-museum
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
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, shoppartridgecreek.com
Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth.digitalsignup.com
Season’s Greetings!
acquisition. Negotiate supplier contracts for business in NA and Europe. Establish commodity strategies, identify cost reduction goals. Bachelor’s in English, Business or closely related field + 2 yrs’ exp as Purchasing Supervisor or related. Must have 2 yrs’
Handyman Services
AA4DABLE HANDYMAN HomeImprovement, Tile,Hardwood-Floors, Kitchen/Bath-Remodeling, Plumbing,Electrical, Painting,Hauling,Cleanouts,AnyHomeRepairs, FreeEst.30%Disc. AllMajorCC'sAccepted. 586-822-5100
Hauling & Waste Removal
BURLYGUYS JUNKREMOVAL removesANYTHING! Appliances,furniture, basementcleanouts, hoardersallwelcome! CallorText 248-224-2188
**CLUTTERGUY'S** Removal-Experts Residential/Commercial Houses/Offices Garage/Storage-Areas EfficientCourteous Workers,ReasonableRates,Free-Estimates. NEEDCLUTTER REMOVED? LETUSDOTHEWORK! 586-258-6672
Heating & Cooling AFFORDABLE HEATING&COOLING Family-ownedBusiness Greg'sHeatingLLC Servicecalls89.00 FurnaceTuneup79.00 SeniorandVeteran Discounts 586-422-8528
Home Improvement 586-610-1209
PaintingInterior/Exterior RemodelingKitchens, Bathrooms,Finish Basement,Tiles,Drywall, Repairs,Remove Wallpaper,Repairingand StainingDecks,Power washing.Free-Estimates.
Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops
MR.BACKSPLASH ·CUSTOM BACKSPLASHES ·CUSTOMKITCHENS ·COUNTERTOPS *Granite*Quartz* ·CustomBathrooms ·TILEREPAIRS *FREEESTIMATES* 586-552-5416 mrbacksplash.com
Lawn Maintenance
586-489-9226
Donʼs LawnService -LeafClean-up -GutterCleaning -Snow Since1979!
ACORNLANDSCAPING
586-770-5030
WeeklyLawnCutting ShrubTrimming FallLeafClean-ups SNOWREMOVAL SeasonalContract FreeEstimates 586-770-5030 Painting
586-792-3117
PETE'SPAINTING HOLIDAYSPECIALS! 20%OFF Specializing inVacantHomes, Great-Rooms,Deck Staining&WoodenFence Repair,Interior/Exterior, Residential/Commercial. SeniorDiscount, Free-Estimates,Insured.
PAINTINGby-GPC
MASTERPlaster/Drywall CompleteRestoration &InsuranceProjects WallpaperRmvl/Hanging PAINTING!PAINTING! A+BBB-Rating/20yrs 30-yrs,BuilderLicense SeniorDisc/FreeEst. 586.899.3555(Cell) 248.566.6460(Office)
PEAKPAINTING
Custom-Painting, Commercial/Residential, Interior/Exterior. Drywall-Repair,Paper Removal,Carpentry. *WillBeatAnyOther ReasonableEstimate! 35yrsexp.Sen.Disc.Ins. CC-Accepted/References. 586-722-8381
(586)795-8122
SAVEON SMALLJOBS Repairs,Installations, Construction. Plumbing,Electrical, Carpentry, NoJobTooSmall. 586-838-4063
Hauling & Waste Removal
***AAA HAULING*** JUNKREMOVAL Wehaulitall!Demolition Big&Small,Residential/ Commercial,Rubber WheelDumpsters-10,15, 20-Yards,Clean-outs, ConstructionMaterial, Small-Moving,Appliances,Furniture&More! Free-Est.Sen/Mil/Disc. 586-360-0681 ucallwehauljunk.com
AAHAULING JUNKREMOVAL 40YearsExperience RubberWheelDumpsters AllSizes,EstateClean OutBigandSmall, Available24/7 586-872-0498 586-778-4417
A-1PETROLERE CONSTRUCTION Kitchen,Bath,Basement, Remodeling,Decks, Interior/ExteriorPainting AndRepairs.WeAlso OfferHandymanServices Licensed/Insured 586-954-2708
ROZE REMODELINGLLC.
•InteriorRenovations •Kitchens•Bathrooms •TileWork•Basements •Painting•VinylFloors •Fireplaces •CustomDesigns Free-Estimates Andre-586-354-7791 Home Repairs
EXTERIOR REPAIRSLLC. Since1999 Roofing,Siding, Gutters,LEAFGUARDS andMore!Reliable Ask,WeMightDoIt! FREEESTIMATES 248-242-1511
ChrisCronin Painting& StainingInc. Professionalquality. Interior-exterior. Power-washing, decksealing.Insured, References.Free-Est. MC/VI/DC/AXaccepted.
ANDERSON
Painting&Carpentry
CompleteInterior/Exterior Services.Plaster/Drywall &WaterDamageRepairs. Wood-Staining.Wallpaper Removal.Kitchen/Cabinet Refinishing,Insured/References.Free-Estimates 586-354-3032 248-974-4012
Plumbing
MASTER PLUMBER
Sewer&DrainService. Remodeling,Repairs, NewInstallations. FreeEstimates SeniorRates. 35+yrsexp.CallPaul 248-904-5822 Lic.#8109852
Plumbing
586.421.5520
586.524.6752
ANDY'SPLUMBING 25-YearsExp.Lic/Ins. CallUsToday ForAllYour PlumbingNeeds!! ServingThe Tri-County-Area 10%/Senior/Military/ Discounts Lic#-8004254
586-757-4715 AABSOLUTE PLUMBING FamilyOwned Since1990 CompletePlumbing Repairs Sewer/DrainCleaning SeniorDiscounts, Licensed/Insured Lic#-8216443
APEX
PLUMBERSCORP 586-210-0903 35-YearsExp.Seniors/ Military/Multi-TaskDisc. Free-Est.•DrainCleaning •PlumbingRepairs/ Fixtures•SumpPumps/ WaterHeaters.Lic/Ins. apexplumbers corporation.com Lic#8111771
EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN FullServicePlumbing. DrainCleaning,Sump Pumps,WaterHeaters, Leaks,Disposals, CameraInspections, BackflowTesting andMore. 586-477-7777 License#803020312
Plumbing WATERWORK Plumbing.com
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
MOUNT CLEMENS — Around 2:50 p.m. on Nov. 11, a 52-year-old woman residing in the 4000 block of Riverview 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
EISENHOWER SHOW CHOIR IS TOPS AT FESTIVAL
Choir was chosen as the top ensemble at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Musical Theatre Solo and Ensemble Festival Nov. 9.
The group received a perfect score for its performance of “Something About This Night” from “Finding Neverland” and “Louder Than Words” from “tick...tick... BOOM!”
At the end of the festival, the show choir was chosen as the group that will represent the east site at the MSVMA All-State 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 Youth Troupe and the Utica Fire Department’s “Stuff an Ambulance” to benefit Toys for Tots.
COLLECTS DONATIONS
photo by Erin Sanchez
