Happy holidays from C & G Newspapers
‘I’M
JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER KID’
AS REGIONAL YOUTH AMBASSADOR, WOODS BOY RAISES AWARENESS AFTER OWN DIAGNOSIS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
WOODS — At 9, Salvatore “Sal” Strasz, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is a bundle of energy who loves dogs — his family has two — and sports, especially soccer. And he doesn’t let having Type 1 diabetes stand in the way of anything he wants to do.
With his positive outlook, outgoing personality and natural compassion, Sal was a perfect choice to serve as a youth ambassador for Michigan and northern Ohio for Breakthrough T1D — formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He has spent the past year educating others about Type 1 diabetes and raising money for research.
“I’m just like every other kid,” Sal said. “I play soccer. I don’t think there’s a way I’m differ-
See SAL on page 8A
Farms to create social district on the Hill
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
FARMS — Patrons of several Hill businesses will soon be able to enjoy a cocktail, beer or glass of wine outside.
The Grosse Pointe Farms City Council voted unanimously in favor of creating a social district on the Hill during a meeting Dec. 9. The district will include The Bronze Door, Luxe Bar and Grille and the Dirty Dog Jazz Café, as well as possibly the bookstore Fly Leaf, which has a bistro and bar. The boundaries of the social district would be Kercheval Avenue between McMillan and Muir roads and would include the Kercheval side-
The Dirty Dog Jazz Café on the Hill in Grosse Pointe Farms is one of the places where patrons might soon be able to enjoy a cocktail outside.
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
See SOCIAL DISTRICT on page 4A
Salvatore “Sal” Strasz, of Grosse Pointe Woods, has spent the past year serving as a youth ambassador for Breakthrough T1D — formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Photo provided by Amber Strasz
Park approves gift of license plate readers
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
PARK — It appears that license plate readers are coming to the community.
Due to a $57,300 gift from the nonprofit Grosse Pointe Public Safety Foundation, the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods are expected to get these devices in the coming months. The donation covers the cost of the equipment — which, to start, will include five cameras per city — along with annual fees and maintenance for the first year of service. As part of the donation agreement, the cities have to agree to pay for the second year of service. After that, it will be up to each city to decide whether to fund the ongoing annual costs. City Manager Nick Sizeland said the cost for software, annual fees, SIM cards and maintenance is expected to be $9,500 in calendar year 2026.
“License plate readers is something that’s been thoroughly discussed,” Sizeland said at a Dec. 9 Grosse Pointe Park City Council meeting. “They’re something that truly is of benefit to our residents.”
Park Detective Sgt. Jeremy Pittman said these devices played a key role in tracking down a suspect who had stolen a landscaping trailer from Nottingham Road in June. Although the Park didn’t have these cameras, neighboring communities — including Detroit — did, and police were able to spot the stolen trailer on those cameras.
“It’s a great investigative tool,” Pittman said. “It’s also a crime deterrent.”
POLAR POWERED
ABOVE: Rosemary Malex, 2, and Lucy Malex, 5, both of Grosse Pointe Woods, visit Santa Claus after their Polar Express ride seeing the Christmas lights in the Grosse Pointes Dec. 15. RIGHT: Owen Scherba, 3, of Grosse Pointe Park, tells Santa he wants a snow globe for Christmas. BELOW: Youngsters in Grosse Pointe Woods enjoy Polar Express tours to see the holiday decorations in the Pointes and visit with Santa at the North Pole.
Photos by Erin Sanchez
Social district
from page 1A
walk and the alley connecting St. James Place and Kercheval.
Social districts must be approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and are governed by multiple rules. Patrons can only be served alcoholic beverages by participating businesses on their premises and can only drink those alcoholic beverages within the common areas of the district. In addition, patrons can only consume alcohol from specially marked cups used by the participating businesses.
“Social districts … kind of exploded during the (COVID-19) pandemic, where people wanted to dine outside,” City Manager Shane Reeside said.
He said these districts became very popular. Many other local communities, including St. Clair Shores, have established social districts in the last few years, primarily in downtowns.
“The social districts have been used successfully in Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe City,” Reeside said. “It allows patrons of restaurants to buy a drink and take that drink outside …
within those (set) confines.”
Social districts proved to be such a hit in Michigan that in 2022, the Michigan Legislature eliminated what was slated to be
an end to them in 2024, thus allowing these districts to operate in perpetuity.
Reeside said establishing a social district would permit outdoor alcohol consumption “on a regular basis.”
Because of the rules by which these districts operate, people wouldn’t be able to bring their own alcohol to drink in the districts.
City Councilman Lev Wood said he asked Grosse Pointe City Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak if her community had experienced any problems with its social district in The Village.
“She said no,” Wood said. “As far as Grosse Pointe City is concerned, there hasn’t been any trouble.”
He added that the Farms could always revoke the social district if the city had issues with it.
“The district itself is extremely well delineated and there are some very strong regulations in there,” Wood said.
Local business owners and the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce wrote letters in support of it.
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Derrick Kozicki said one impetus for the social district came from the GPCC because the GPCC would need to get a special
license to sell alcohol during its annual art festival on the Hill. By having the social district, Kozicki said, art festival patrons would be able to purchase alcohol from participating Hill bars and restaurants and bring those beverages into the festival area with them.
“It really is a reflection on what we did as part of our master plan,” City Councilwoman Beth Konrad Wilberding said.
But she wondered why Café Nini — another longtime Hill eatery — wasn’t part of the social district.
Reeside said Café Nini, and others, could be added later, but some restaurants didn’t voice a desire to do so.
“Those are the businesses that specifically expressed an interest” in being part of a social district, Reeside explained of the ones included in the rollout.
Officials saw this as a plus for the local business community.
“I can understand where this could be a boost for development,” Konrad Wilberding said.
City Councilman Neil Sroka also voiced support for the social district.
“Overall, I’m in favor of it,” Sroka said. Hill businesses interested in participating in the social district need to fill out a permit form with the city.
YOUR ONE STOP SHOP, CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND!
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
The Hill business district in Grosse Pointe Farms is planning to create a social district.
Pickleball’s popularity prompts ordinance revision in Farms
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
FARMS — For some people, the most horrible sound in the world is nails on a chalkboard. But with chalkboards largely being a thing of the past, it seems that honor — dishonor? — might now be the sound of pickleball.
It was the increasing popularity of pickleball, and the corresponding desire to build courts in one’s yard, that led the Grosse Pointe Farms City Council to amend its tennis and other sports courts ordinance.
“Really, this was based upon the phenomenon of pickleball,” City Manager Shane Reeside said. “We have recently seen interest … (in) pickleball courts being installed in residential districts.”
The revised ordinance — which was approved unanimously by the Farms City Council Dec. 9 — doesn’t prohibit pickleball or other sports courts, but it does require site plan approval from the council.
City Attorney William Burgess said the revised ordinance would give the Farms Zoning Board of Appeals — which is also the council — “greater discretion” with regard to the placement of a court, considering issues such as whether it would pose a nuisance to neighbors. He said there might be some larger properties in the Farms where a pickleball court could be installed that wouldn’t impose on neighbors, especially if sound dampening techniques were used in its construction, but it would be up to the ZBA to make that call.
“This proposed ordinance gives us the ability to review the plan” and impose conditions, if necessary, City Councilman John Gillooly said.
Mayor Louis Theros agreed.
“This would give us oversight,” Theros said.
Burgess said if the ordinance wasn’t revised, people with enough property would be able to put up a pickleball court, as long as they followed other rules regarding fencing, lot coverage and the like.
City Councilman Lev Wood said the sound from pickleball “is distinct and different from the noise” created by tennis and other sports.
“The nuisance is not the decibel (level),” City Councilman Joe Ricci said. “It’s the continuous boom, boom, boom, boom (of pickleball).”
Tennis hasn’t generated the same level
of consternation.
“From a big-picture standpoint, there is no substantial change to the tennis court ordinance, which has been (in place) for decades,” Burgess said.
People who have already created such courts in their yards have been the source of some complaints the city has received, mostly with regard to noise and hours of operation, Reeside said.
The revised ordinance would apply to new courts, not existing ones.
Tom Johnston, who lives on Rose Terrace, said there are former handball courts behind his home that have been converted into pickleball courts. He said there’s a group of male players who show up every Sunday at around 9 a.m. and sometimes play until 2 a.m. Besides the noise — which Johnston said “really can be annoying” — this group of players also apparently blasts music and uses words Johnston isn’t comfortable with his young family members hearing.
“The language they use is outrageous. … It’s sort of awkward at times,” Johnston told the council.
The ordinance doesn’t prohibit pickleball or other courts.
“I’m not in favor of eliminating pickleball in its entirety,” Gillooly said. “I think there need to be restrictions.”
The ordinance also doesn’t prevent someone from playing pickleball, basketball or another sport in their driveway, as long as the driveway is still primarily used for vehicles and not primarily as a court.
Besides council approval, residents would need to get a building permit to construct a temporary or permanent court.
Burgess cautioned the council against placing hours when play would be allowed in the ordinance itself.
“The question is, do you handcuff the (zoning) board in making more restrictive conditions” in particular cases, Burgess asked.
In addition, Burgess said that with pickleball, it’s not the time of day that’s the problem so much as it is “the constant noise and duration” of play.
Because Farms officials wanted to have something in place immediately, they approved this ordinance at their December meeting rather than delaying approval to a future meeting, even though officials like Theros said they might end up making additional amendments to it in the next couple of months.
NEWS & NOTES
Renovated library branch receives award
Renovations on the Central Branch of the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Grosse Pointe Farms were recognized this fall with the American Institute of Architects Huron Valley Chapter 2025 Honor Award.
The firm of Quinn Evans was hired for renovations at the branch. The award was accepted by Quinn Evans Principal Ann Dilcher, who helmed the Central Branch project.
Renovations included the addition of a drive-up window, an expanded children’s area, an elevator, improved accessibility and a fire suppression system.
The mid-century modern library, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1953 and designed by Bauhaus-trained architect and designer Marcel Breuer, who died in 1981. It’s one of the few libraries designed by Breuer, who also designed the Hunter College Library in New York and the Atlanta Central Public Library in Georgia.
“This award is a huge honor,” Library Director Jessica Keyser said in a press release. “The renovation and addition were the final phase of our Library Reimagined strategic plan. We’re forever grateful to Quinn Evans and all those who made the renovation possible.”
All three branches of the GPPL will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
PURCHASING THRESHOLD INCREASED
As part of its consent agenda, the Grosse Pointe Farms City Council unanimously approved increasing the purchasing threshold for the city manager from $11,000 to $20,000 during a meeting Dec. 9.
The threshold was last updated in April 2003. Finance Director Tim Rowland said that amount was the equivalent of $18,892 in today’s dollars, when inflation was factored in.
Rowland said the increase would bring the Farms in line with the purchasing thresholds in other, similar communities. In a memo, he said raising the amount would “help streamline the purchasing process.”
Purchases above $20,000 would still require prior authorization from the council.
MEN INVITED
Gentlemen are invited to wrap up their holiday shopping during Men’s Night in The Village Dec. 19. The shop crawl will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. and will include special treats and more. Women are welcome too. For more information, visit The Village, Downtown Grosse Pointe Facebook page.
HELM TO BE CLOSED SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO HOLIDAYS
The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will be closed Dec. 24 to 27 for Christmas and Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. It will be open regular hours Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. Jan. 2 programs include bingo and treats from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at a cost of $2 per person for Helm members and $5 for nonmembers, plus 25 cents for each additional bingo card. Reservations are needed for Helm programs and can be made by visiting helmlife.org or calling (313) 882-9600. Helm membership is $60 annually.
Hospital receives top safety rating
Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital was given an “A” grade for hospital safety for fall 2024 from the national nonprofit The Leapfrog Group, which establishes standards for excellence in patient care.
The Leapfrog Group grades general hospitals around the country with an A, B, C, D or F rating twice a year. A high grade demonstrates a hospital’s commitment to protecting patients from preventable mistakes and injury.
“We are very proud that five Corewell Health hospitals received an ‘A’ Safety Grade for fall 2024 and we continue to collaborate with Leapfrog on our safety journey,” Dr. James Moses, chief quality, safety and experience officer for Corewell Health, said in a press release. “That said, there are more opportunities to ensure all our hospitals get to ‘A’ when it comes to safety. We are looking forward to the work ahead that will get us there.”
LAST CHANCE TO VISIT SANTA
Santa will be in his workshop and ready to meet with youngsters from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 21 in The Village, in the rear space of The Spice and Tea Exchange at 17037 Kercheval Ave. Little ones can also hear stories, write letters to Santa, take home a craft and more.
“It’s a good time,” Main Street Grosse Pointe Executive Director Cindy Willcock said during a Dec. 16 Grosse Pointe City Council meeting, noting that each visit from Santa has gotten busier this season. “The kids are really enjoying it.”
SEE THE LIGHTS
A self-guided tour of some of the best decorated homes in the Grosse Pointes and St. Clair Shores was scheduled to be posted on the Grosse Pointe City website — grossepointecity.org — Dec. 17. Homeowners with their own spectacular displays were invited to submit their addresses for the tour, and the list will be updated during the holidays as more addresses are added. Anyone who’d like to be added to the tour can submit their name and address via email to parks@ grossepointecity.org. Only addresses will be included on the list, not names. Residents can use the list to find homes whose displays they’d like to visit.
SCHOOL RECEIVES STATE GRANT
University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods was recently awarded a $22,650 grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council in a competitive peer review process.
The grant will fund the Liggett Shakespeare Project, visual arts equipment such as kilns, professional development for staff at the College for Creative Studies and experiential learning for eighth grade students.
“University Liggett School is committed to providing a well-rounded education that emphasizes the importance of the arts in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness among students,” Matthew VanMeter, director of the Liggett Shakespeare Project and chair of the Academic Research Program at ULS, said in a press release. “This Michigan Arts & Culture Council grant will play a crucial role in advancing these educational goals.”
MACC grant recipients are required to come up with matching funds from either public or private sources.
Photo provided by Grosse Pointe Public Library
ent from any other kid — because every kid has something medical.”
Whether he’s addressing fellow students or adults — as he did in October at a Breakthrough T1D walk on Belle Isle — Sal is happy to raise awareness and increase understanding of this complex condition.
“Diabetes doesn’t change you — it improves you,” Sal said. “I help kids almost every day with diabetes. I go to camps. I do fun things.”
The Breakthrough T1D youth ambassador program — open to those ages 5 to 18 — is for a single calendar year, so Sal’s term officially ends Dec. 31. However, he can reapply for it.
Krystal Dunlap, senior development director for Breakthrough T1D, said Sal has done a “wonderful” job during his tenure.
“Sal is a little different from most youth ambassadors,” Dunlap said. “He’s very comfortable with public speaking.”
Mom Amber Strasz, a teacher in the Grosse Pointe Public School System, said Sal came to one of her classes for Safety Town week, on a day they were talking about children who are differently abled. He talked about his insulin pump and made his condition sound less scary, his mom said.
“I tell kids about the pump and what the good things are,” Sal said.
Type 1 diabetes was formerly called juvenile diabetes because it’s most commonly diagnosed in young people, but its onset can occur at any age. It’s a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, essentially rendering the pancreas useless. Because insulin is a vital hormone — it enables the body to transform food into energy — those with Type 1 diabetes need to give themselves insulin, either via injections or a pump, in order to stay alive.
The Strasz family had no reason to suspect diabetes when Sal began exhibiting symptoms circa 2020. Amber Strasz said there’s no family history of diabetes, although they later learned that having another autoimmune disorder — Sal has eosinophilic asthma — increases the chances of being diagnosed with diabetes. Because Sal had recently started taking a new medicine for his asthma, his parents thought that was the reason he began losing weight despite an increased appetite, feeling more thirsty than usual and needing to use the bathroom more often. His parents took Sal to his pediatrician but the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him, so Sal went home. Amber said they still knew something was awry, so
they made an appointment for Sal to see his previous pediatrician.
However, although that appointment was only days away, Sal never made it. Instead, he wound up in the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis and nearly died because his blood sugar level had spiked to 780 — normal is less than 100. He was unconscious for two days as doctors worked to save him.
“I remember when they told me what I had,” Sal said. “I said, ‘dia-what-eez’? It took them a long time to explain it to me.”
He was only 5 when he was diagnosed.
Sal recently marked his “di-versary” — the anniversary of when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — on Dec. 6. His family has made it a celebration instead of a grim occasion. After all, Sal has come so far since that diagnosis four years ago.
“I went from being in a wheelchair (in 2020) to learning how to do front flips on the trampoline (a few months ago),” Sal said.
The fact that Sal has Type 1 diabetes means it’s much more likely for his younger brother, Luciano, 6, to also develop it. The chances of being diagnosed at any point with Type 1 diabetes is 1 in 400 among the general population, but for those who have a sibling who has it, the odds increase to one in 20.
The Strasz family has enrolled Luciano in a trial program to see if he’s also genetically predisposed. If he’s prediabetic, there are steps they can take to delay the onset of diabetes for about two to five years.
Despite his young age, Luciano has found a way to help his big brother.
“He’s been amazing,” Amber said. “If his brother needs a juice box, he brings (one) … It’s sweet how much he looks out for him.”
Sal’s condition is a constant challenge. His mom said he needs to take medication roughly every three hours.
It’s only been since the GPPSS got school nurses in the district that Amber has been able to return to teaching part-time.
The district has two nurses who rotate among all the schools. Amber said the nurses make sure teachers and other school personnel are trained to handle a variety of medical emergencies, including those related to diabetes.
“It was life-changing,” Amber said of the addition of the nurses.
She has also prepared information packets for all of Sal’s teachers, so they have a quick guide in their classroom that they can access.
“We have a very good community — our neighbors, our family,” Amber said. “We have a lot of support. We definitely can’t do it alone.”
Dunlap said this diagnosis is one that forces kids to mature quickly, because they need to be able to manage it on their own.
“We want kids to be involved in their
LEFT: At right, Sal Strasz enjoys a Detroit Tigers game with new friend Winston, left, of Grosse Pointe City, who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
ABOVE: Strasz is joined by the Breakthrough T1D mascot at a walk at Belle Isle in October.
Photos provided by Amber Strasz
own care and advocating for themselves, because Mom and Dad can’t always be there,” Dunlap said.
She said patients need to give themselves the right amount of insulin, so there’s a lot of math involved.
“You’re managing a disease that could kill you,” Dunlap said.
It’s also frustrating for patients.
“It’s one of those diseases where you can do everything right and your numbers are still all over the place,” Dunlap said.
That’s probably why Dunlap said parents of kids with Type 1 diabetes are frequently uncomfortable sending them to sleepovers — and even college.
Sal is trying to change those perceptions. While his diagnosis has been frightening and stressful for his parents, he has taken it in stride, determined to live life to the fullest and show others they can do this too.
He’s been a terrific advocate with state and federal officials and agencies as well, Dunlap said. That includes trying to reduce the price patients pay for insulin — which Dunlap said can be as costly as $500 for one vial — and make sure they have access to
health care equipment, such as pumps, that can make life safer and easier for patients but that aren’t always covered by health insurance.
“It’s a bipartisan issue,” Dunlap said of Type 1 diabetes. “It affects a lot of people. It doesn’t matter who you voted for.”
Their awareness about Type 1 diabetes has enabled the Strasz family to aid others. Amber recalls being in the grocery store one day when she heard the distinctive sound of someone’s insulin alarm going off. She looked around and couldn’t find the source until she headed to the parking lot, where she found a dazed woman in her vehicle. Amber immediately grabbed juice boxes from her own vehicle and brought them to the woman, staying with her until her blood sugar level returned to normal. The woman told her she had gone out to her car when her alarm sounded, planning on having a juice box, but didn’t realize she was out of them and by then, she was having trouble seeking help for herself.
Amber said that whenever Sal finds out about someone else being diagnosed, he wants to reach out and meet them. That’s how he became friends with Winston, a Grosse Pointe City boy around his age. Sal invited Winston to a Detroit Tigers game and the two hit it off immediately, discover-
ing their shared love for activities like fishing and their travel soccer teams.
“You’re not alone,” Amber said. “That’s his biggest thing. He doesn’t want kids to be scared, and he doesn’t want parents to be scared.”
Dunlap said Sal’s eagerness to talk to other kids about Type 1 diabetes is great because they’re hearing it from a peer, not an adult.
“I want everyone to know the beginning signs of diabetes — the beginning signs of going high (on the blood sugar scale) and going low,” Sal said.
What might surprise some is the fact that Dunlap said Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are very dissimilar, despite the name. She hopes more people will be willing to learn about Type 1 diabetes, so it becomes better understood by the public.
“It’s not actually caused by poor diet — the poor diet is a symptom (of diabetes),” said dad Tommy Strasz, a certified orientation and mobility specialist with Leader Dogs for the Blind.
According to Breakthrough T1D, about 9 million people worldwide have Type 1 diabetes; the condition impacts 1.45 million Americans.
Sal’s parents have become passionate advocates, too.
Amber said she wants parents of other children with diabetes “to know that there is a community out there that will support you. Other parents have gone before you. Lean on that. And take one day at a time because sometimes the days are very long. … Self-care is so important. Take breaks. Build yourself up. Rely on your friends and your family.”
Amber and Tommy said they’re willing to talk to other parents, too, and share what they’ve learned. For example, they want others to know about Children’s Special Health Care Services, a federal program administered through the state that covers costs of some of their older son’s medical needs.
“There’s a lot of questionable or bad or misinformation,” Tommy said. “Social media is not a peer-reviewed (medical) journal. But there’s an enormous amount of help and support within the community. It’s not always easily available, but it’s there.”
Whether or not Sal has a second term as a Breakthrough T1D youth ambassador in 2025, he’ll continue to educate and raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes.
“He’s just a wonderful young man,” Dunlap said. “I can’t wait to see him grow (up) and see what he becomes.”
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
Finances, fund balance in good shape, according to latest Woods audit
BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
WOODS — Grosse Pointe Woods might have new leadership in its Finance Department, but the city’s audit shows that the city remains on the same steady path.
Plante Moran Audit Partner Bill Brickey and Audit Senior Josh Dunn appeared before the Woods City Council during a council Committee of the Whole meeting Dec. 2 to deliver the results of an audit of the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year, which ended June 30.
“The city did receive an unmodified opinion,” Brickey said. “That essentially means the financial statements are in compliance with all regulations and they can be relied upon. That is often referred to as a clean opinion.”
This was the first audit with the Woods under the financial direction of Treasurer/ Comptroller Steven Schmidt, who was sworn into office June 3.
“He did a fabulous job,” Brickey said of Schmidt. “We were really appreciative of all of the work he did.”
Schmidt had previously been the assistant Woods treasurer/comptroller.
“Thank you to the auditors,” Schmidt said. “It was great working with them. I also wanted to thank all of the other departments” for providing reports and other information.
Schmidt also thanked Woods staffer Latoya Bishop for her work.
This is the 51st year the Woods has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting — of-
ten referred to as the CAFR — from the Government Finance Officers Association. The honor is given to audit reports that go above and beyond state standards, Brickey said. They tend to be more user friendly for people without a background in finance and contain useful information about the city and its projects and expenditures.
“It really just shows the city’s commitment to overall financial transparency,” Brickey said.
As the audit shows, property taxes continue to be the largest source of revenue for the Woods, followed by state-shared revenue.
The city ended the year with a fund balance in its general fund of roughly $9.2 million, of which $1.8 million was assigned — or already committed to projects or purchases — and $7.4 million unassigned. The unassigned fund balance represents approximately 46% of the budgeted expenditures for the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year. That’s well above the minimum recommended fund balance of 10% to 15%.
“Overall (these are) very positive results for the city,” Brickey said. “You’re really able to (manage) costs and retain your fund balance.”
The pension is shown in the audit to be just over 65% funded as of the end of the fiscal year June 30. Brickey said that’s up substantially from 2020, when it was about 43% funded.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Brickey told Woods officials of their efforts to increase pension funding. “It’s going to take time to get to where you need to be.”
Another legacy cost is retiree health
care. Brickey said that’s about 9% funded now. It was about 2% funded as of 2018, he said.
“The city has continued to make additional contributions to fund this,” Brickey said of retiree health care, which Michigan municipalities used to cover on a pay-asyou-go basis. “It’s a large liability. It’s going to take time to get that funded.”
Officials were pleased by the audit re-
sults and the work done by the independent auditors.
“We really appreciate your efforts,” Mayor Arthur Bryant told the auditors.
Bryant also said officials “really appreciated staff’s efforts,” which have helped them get to a good place financially.
“The staff did a tremendous job,” Bry-
Readers
from page 3A
The cameras can enable law enforcement to track a flagged vehicle as it travels past other license plate readers.
“This actually helps our ability to communicate with neighboring (law enforcement) departments,” City Councilman Max Wiener said.
Pittman said criminals know where these cameras are and avoid those areas. They also know where they aren’t — which, right now, is the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods.
As to privacy concerns — an issue raised by City Councilwoman Christine Gallagher — Pittman said there’s no expectation of privacy when it comes to license plates.
“It’s just scanning your license plate,” Pittman said. “It doesn’t scan the driver.”
The license plate is then checked to see if the vehicle is stolen or being sought in conjunction with another crime. The system also looks for Amber alerts, which could help rescue a kidnapped child by allowing police to locate and stop the vehicle. In addition, law enforcement officials say the technology can be used to find a senior with dementia who might be lost, since they
Audit
from page 10A
ant said.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting, the council voted unanimously to
can input the license plate number into the system to get an alert if a vehicle with that plate passes one of these cameras.
“When we first started talking about this, I had concerns about privacy,” City Councilman Brent Dreaver said. “But I don’t like (us) being a soft target. … I thank the (Public) Safety Foundation for putting the money up for this.”
The Grosse Pointe Public Safety Foundation decided on Motorola instead of Flock, a similar system, because the ongoing costs were lower with Motorola.
“If we decide after year two we don’t want it, we just don’t pay for it (anymore),” City Councilman Marty McMillan said, referring to calendar year 2027 and beyond.
“But I would think (that) $10,000 is the best investment we could make.”
Officials say these systems are secure — only authorized law enforcement personnel can access them — and the data is only stored temporarily.
The Park City Council voted unanimously in favor of the gift and the agreement for the city to pay for the second year of service in 2026.
The license plate readers gift was in the process of being approved by the six communities at press time.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
send the audit report to the council. The audit was accepted by a unanimous vote of the council at the council meeting that followed the COW session Dec. 2; the vote came during approval of the consent agenda.
Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Holidays bring joy and laughter to many gatherings, but it’s important to arrive safely by reducing risky driving behaviors and planning ahead.
Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Section Commander Michael Shaw said during the holidays, troopers look for “risky driving behaviors.”
“Those are the same behaviors we see constantly when people are driving around metro Detroit,” Shaw said. “That’s excessive speed, following too closely, driving impaired and also driving while distracted.”
These behaviors and crashes are seen all throughout the year. Shaw said inclement weather conditions with snow or rain makes these behaviors stand out.
“There’s a lot of people going to parties and things like that so maybe they won’t have a plan in place to get themselves back home and end up driving impaired when they shouldn’t,” Shaw said.
Shaw recommends residents have a plan in place before going to a gathering. This could be designating a driver, using ride share services such as Uber or Lyft, or other things. Designated drivers should honor their duties and not consume alcohol during parties.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
CRIME WATCH
Trespasser arrested
PARK — A 41-year-old Hamtramck man was arrested at around 4:16 a.m. Dec. 4 after he reportedly entered a vacant apartment in the 1200 block of Maryland Street without permission. Police were initially called to the area about an intoxicated person who refused a resident’s requests to leave. Police said they found the suspect passed out in an apartment near to the one belonging to the caller.
Police arrest suspected intoxicated driver at school
WOODS — Police were called to Grosse Pointe North High School at 3:05 p.m. Dec. 12 about a possibly intoxicated driver in the pickup line. When an officer arrived, the officer learned that the driver was also blocking traffic and had to be awoken. Police said in a report that the driver — a 54-year-old Grosse Pointe Shores man — “was very disoriented and showed other signs of intoxication.” Although the driver denied being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police said he failed several field sobriety tests and refused to take a preliminary breath test. The driver was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor and was issued a citation for refusing to take a PBT.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
SHORES — An officer on routine patrol in the 700 block of Lake Shore Road stopped at a house at around 4:23 p.m. Nov. 15 after seeing what was described in a report as a “large plume of smoke being produced” near the home. As the officer approached the home, he saw that the smoke was coming from a commercial bonfire pit in the front lawn. A public safety dispatcher received a call about the smoke at around the same time, and the officer was able to verify that it was just a bonfire, not a house fire. The homeowner explained to the officer that he had just lit the fire. As the officer spoke with the resident, the amount of smoke lessened.
Police help lost youth
SHORES — At around 8:31 p.m. Nov. 13, a female driver flagged down an officer at the Grosse Pointe Shores Public Safety Department because she had just seen a young teen standing on the corner of Lake Shore and Vernier roads looking disoriented. Police responded immediately to the scene, which
is adjacent to their building, and found a 13-year-old from Detroit on the corner. The teen told police he started walking home from school but got lost. Police attempted to contact the teen’s parents but were unsuccessful at first, so they decided to drive him back to his home. While en route to that address, officers were able to establish contact with the lost teen’s sister. Upon arrival at the home, police said they reached the teen’s father, who came to the house. The teen was turned over to his father.
Resident scammed
WOODS — A Grosse Pointe Woods resident filed a report with police Dec. 5 after being the victim of a con artist. According to a police report, the resident got a text telling her she owed money to PayPal. The resident told police she received another text telling her that $10,000 had been deposited into her PayPal account. When the resident called the phone number supplied in the text, she was told that a hold was being placed on her account until she sent the money back through an ATM. The victim told police she withdrew $7,000 from her bank account and, following instructions she was given by the suspect, she used an ATM to deposit the $7,000 into a specific account.
Retail fraud suspect arrested
CITY — Police said a 61-year-old Grosse Pointe City man turned himself in at the Public Safety Department Dec. 11 in conjunction with three retail frauds he allegedly committed at The Village Kroger store on Nov. 18, 21 and 23. A report states that the suspect was processed, cited and released.
Police respond to scene of fight
SHORES — Grosse Pointe Shores officers responded to a mutual aid call from the Harper Woods Public Safety Department, going to the area of Kenosha and Kelly roads at 6:06 p.m. Nov. 27 to address a large fight. According to a police report, when Shores officers arrived, people involved in the incident were leaving the area. Shores officers stood by with other officers as the remaining bystanders were cleared from the scene.
Intoxicated driver arrested
SHORES — Police pulled over a 42-year-old Armada man in the 500 block of Lake Shore Road at around 10:07 p.m. Nov. 10 after clocking him on radar as traveling 54 mph in a 35 mph speed limit zone. The driver, who presented police with a license from Arizona, told officers he was visiting his parents in Armada and had been attempting to return to Armada from Troy. Police told
the driver he was traveling in the opposite direction of his destination. While speaking with the motorist, police said they noticed that he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and had bloodshot, watery eyes. The driver failed a series of field sobriety tests but refused to take a preliminary breath test, so he was arrested on suspicion of operating under the influence of alcohol.
Once at the Public Safety Department, the driver agreed to a PBT. Results from the two tests showed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.231% and 0.232% — almost three times the legal limit. Police said they found a cup on the floor of the vehicle with ice scattered around it that smelled of alcohol and tested positive for the presence of alcohol. The driver is facing multiple possible charges, including operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more, having open intoxicants in a vehicle and refusing to take a PBT.
City police assist nearby department
CITY — Grosse Pointe City public safety officers went to Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital at around 7 p.m. Dec. 13 to detain a suspect wanted by St. Clair Shores police for domestic violence. St. Clair Shores officers then headed to the hospital and took the suspect into custody.
Motorist lacks license, insurance
SHORES — An officer checking license plates pulled over a 30-year-old Detroit woman in the area of Lake Shore and Willison roads at 9:41 a.m. Nov. 14 after
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discovering that the plate on that vehicle was expired. In addition, police said in a report that the driver didn’t have insurance and her license was suspended, and she had four prior driving with license suspended offenses against her and warrants for the same. Her vehicle was impounded, and the driver was issued a citation for DWLS, lacking insurance and operating with expired plates.
Officers help stranded driver
SHORES — Police — seeing a vehicle that was stopped with its hazard lights on at the corner of Lake Shore and Vernier roads at 8:25 p.m. Nov. 29 — checked on the driver and vehicle. The driver, a 54-year-old Grosse Pointe City man, said the vehicle belonged to his mother and he was driving it when it suddenly stopped running at the intersection. The driver said he had contacted AAA, his insurance company, but he wasn’t sure how long it was going to take for a tow truck driver to arrive. Police determined that the driver’s license was clear and valid. An officer told the driver that Official Towing is a more local company and might be able to tow the vehicle sooner. The driver contacted Official Towing and arranged a private tow, with Official Towing arriving and towing the vehicle.
Unlocked vehicle targeted
PARK — An estimated $10 in change and a cubic zirconia ring were stolen from an unlocked vehicle while it was parked in a driveway in the 1300 block of Whittier Road between the hours of 11:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 8:30 a.m. Dec. 3. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.
— K. Michelle Moran
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“Trying to figure something out like that after you’re already intoxicated is pretty tough,” Shaw said.
Adrienne Woodland, public relations program consultant for AAA - The Auto Club Group, said the company is forecasting around 3.8 million Michigan residents are going to travel 50 miles or more away from home this holiday season.
“That’s actually a record and that’s about 98,000 more travelers than the previous record high which was set last year,” Woodland said.
She said it’s going to be busy on roadways, at airports and at other transit terminals.
AAA is also expecting a new air travel record this holiday season as well. Woodland said they’re expecting nationally 7.9 million Americans to take at least one domestic flight.
She said those planning to fly should plan ahead by checking in online and confirming the flight’s status.
“You want to arrive to the airport a minimum of two to three hours before your scheduled departure time and we also suggest (to) those that are flying that you pack your medications and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case your flight is canceled or delayed,” Woodland said.
Around 3.4 million Michigan residents will take a road trip this holiday season, Woodland said. Nationally, they’re expecting that around 107 million Americans will be driving to their destinations. Woodland recommends drivers follow the posted speed limits and drive only when alert.
“Driving only on four to five hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08,” Woodland said.
She went on to say it is best to drive at times when normally awake, avoiding overnight drives and any intoxicants, and that drivers should take breaks every two hours.
“And you want to use these breaks to maybe switch drivers if possible or park at a safe location and maybe nap for about 20 to 30 minutes to recharge,” Woodland said.
Shaw recommends drivers stop every hour to stretch, grab a coffee, use the restroom and other things.
“Just to kind of keep your mind focused on the road for the rest of your trip,” Shaw said.
The last tip Woodland would give drivers is to slow down and move over for roadside workers and others stopped on the side of the road. Woodland said a roadside worker is killed every other week in the United States.
“When you see an emergency responder on the side of the road assisting a stranded driver, you want to reduce your speed. If possible, you want to change lanes to give those crews more room to do their job safely,” Woodland said.
Shaw said the MSP responds to around 10 to 20 crashes a day on Michigan roads.
“If you add weather to it and people don’t heed our advice about those risky driving behaviors, that will naturally cause an uptick in crashes,” Shaw said.
Shaw said getting snow tires wouldn’t hurt and that tire performance depends on the manufacturer.
“A lot of vehicles have all weather tires on them now, so it’s often good to just take a look at your owner’s manual and see what they suggest,” Shaw said.
Fines for driving under the influence or crashing a vehicle are up to the courts, Shaw said.
“Know that along with those fines if you have to hire an attorney, (it’s) at least $10,000 just for the attorney costs,” Shaw said.
DETROIT AUTO SHOW TO FEATURE ‘RACING DAY’
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
DETROIT — The Motor City has added a thrilling experience to the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.
The Detroit Auto Show, slated to be open to the public Jan. 11-20 at Huntington Place in Detroit, and the Detroit Grand Prix have worked in collaboration to provide auto show attendees with the return of Racing Day on Jan. 17.
The two brands that pride themselves on embodying the automotive culture of Detroit will offer an array of interactive experiences for attendees, providing two Detroit Grand Prix interactive display areas on the concourse area at Huntington Place, which is free and open to the public, and the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. The floor display area will be located “trackside.”
A brand-new feature to the show will be the addition of two indoor tracks. One track will feature signature characteristics of the Detroit Grand Prix that is set to gear up
for May 30-June 1.
The track will be accessible throughout the entirety of the Detroit Auto Show, but Jan. 17 will be dedicated to the Racing Day festivities where the Detroit Auto Show said in a press release that attendees will have the opportunity to “witness the intersection of automotive innovation and competitive motorsports.”
“The Detroit Grand Prix embodies innovation and the spirit of Detroit,” Sam Klemet, co-executive director of the Detroit Auto Show, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have a partnership with the Detroit Grand Prix and bring this amazing experience of Racing Day to the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.”
Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with some of the Detroit Grand Prix’s very own racers from NTT IndyCar Series and Indy NXT by Firestone.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden is slated to make an appearance. Several cars will also be on display as well.
“We’re excited to partner with the De-
troit Auto Show and bring together two great Detroit traditions,” Michael Montri, president of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, said in a press release. “For many years, Racing Day was a popular attraction at the Detroit Auto Show and we look forward to bringing this tradition back to the Motor City with some of the high-
powered stars and cool race cars that take center stage every summer at the Detroit Grand Prix.”
The Detroit Auto Show will make additional announcements about Racing Day as the show nears.
For more information, visit detroitau toshow.com.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
19A/ GROSSE POINTE TIMES • DECEMBER 19, 2024
DEC. 21
Santa visits: Also stories with special readers, bring cameras, 9 a.m.-noon, rear space of The Spice and Tea Exchange, 17037 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe, thevillagegrossepointe.org
Grosse Pointe North High School - 2014 class reunion: 6-10 p.m., WaterMark Bar and Grille, 24420 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, more on eventbrite. com
Celtic Christmas: Hosted by Motor City Irish Dance, 1 p.m., Marygrove Conservancy Theatre, 8425 W. McNichols Road in Detroit, motorcityirishdance.com
DEC. 22
Lions Lounge: Detroit v Chicago: Watch game on big screens in Alger House, also food and drinks for purchase, 1 p.m. (doors at 12:15 p.m.), The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, free but RSVP encouraged, warmemorial.org/ eventcalendar
Holiday concert: Performance by Motor City Chorale, 3 p.m., St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, www.motorcity chorale.com
Free museum admission: Visit Detroit Historical
Museum (5401 Woodward Ave.) and Dossin Great Lakes Museum (100 Strand Drive on Belle Isle), 1-5 p.m., detroithistorical.org
DEC. 25
Menorah in the D celebration: Includes lighting of 26-foot steel-and-glass structure, honoring of community lamplighters, strolling entertainment, soup and cider, photos with Dreidel Man and dancing dreidels, crafts, games and more, 5 p.m., Cadillac Square and Woodward Avenue in Detroit, menorahinthed.com
DEC. 28
Planet Antics: Variety show with 50-plus local artists performing music, sketch comedy, stand-up comedy and more, 8 p.m. (doors at 7:30 p.m.), Planet Ant Theatre, 2320 Caniff St. in Hamtramck, planetant. com/events
DEC. 31
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration: New Year’s Eve-themed science demonstrations and activities for all ages, Michigan Science Center, 5020 John R in Detroit, mi-sci.org
ONGOING
Student art show: Hosted by American Association of University Women, Grosse Pointe, “Listen to Women” on display 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 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.
weekends until Jan. 11, Grosse Pointe Artists Association at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, grossepointeartcenter.org
Home for the Holidays: Take 1-mile lighted walk around property and visit Santa, also explore decorations inside, plus complimentary hot cocoa, entry every half hour from 5:30-8:30 p.m. until Dec. 22, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, fordhouse.org/events
Nooks & Crannies: Guided tours of private staircases, hidden spaces and more, Tuesdays-Sundays until Dec. 31, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, fordhouse.org/events
Teen Leadership Council: Meetings for grades 9-12 every first Wednesday of month, pizza and snacks provided, 6-7 p.m., Grosse Pointe Public LibraryWoods Branch, 20680 Mack Ave., grossepointelibrary. org, (313) 640-4775
Book clubs: Nearly a dozen hosted by Grosse Pointe Public Library at various branches, restaurants and on Zoom, more at grossepointelibrary.org/book-clubs
Art classes: 10:30 a.m.-noon every first and third Tuesday of month for seniors, 6-8 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of month for veterans, The War Me-
morial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, (313) 881-3454, grossepointeartcenter.org
Ice skating: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays-Saturdays until Jan. 5, then new hours until March 2, also holiday hours noon-10 p.m. Dec. 25 and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Jan. 1, The Rink at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave., downtowndetroit.org/experience-downtown/ things-to-do/the-rink
‘The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World’: Exhibit of approximately 230 works on display until Jan. 5, Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., (313) 833-7900, dia.org
Detroit Auto Show: Public hours run 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 11-14, 1-8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 17-19 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 20, Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd. in Detroit, detroitautoshow.com
Health workshops: For ovarian cancer support, diabetes prevention, nutrition education and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, beaumonthealth. digitalsignup.com
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
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Woman reports ticket purchase rip-off
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Man cited for urinating in public
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said a complainant alerted them to a man who allegedly urinated outdoors Nov. 22 in the area of Robinnest Drive, located north of 16 1/2 Mile Road and west of Dodge Park Road. The complainant reportedly recorded the incident on his phone and was “adamant about pressing charges and following through,” police said.
Police said the suspect was “very apologetic and remorseful for his actions” and reportedly had gone into a wooded area to relieve himself. Police said they cited the suspect for urinating in public.
Humbugs at large
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 1 p.m. on Nov. 13, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 24000 block of Orchard Street for a property damage report.
The resident, a 50-year-old woman, had been setting up Christmas string lights around her home. On Nov. 11, she noticed that several bulbs had been removed and wires were cut.
No possible suspect information was relayed to deputies at the time.
Threats report leads to police arresting man for drunken driving
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 12:43 a.m. Nov. 17, officers from the Shelby Township Police Department were called to do a welfare check on a man who allegedly was making threatening statements to damage property. Officers responded to the area of Cherry Tree Lane and Tamarack Drive, which is east of Van Dyke Avenue and south of 23 Mile Road. As officers were approaching the area, the suspect exited the house and left the area in his vehicle.
Officers had reports that prior to making threatening statements, the suspect had been consuming alcohol. The vehicle was stopped, and the man was asked to conduct field sobriety tests. The man reportedly refused any test and was then placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated. A blood draw was completed by the Shelby Township Fire Department.
The woman received a phone number for an Apple Pay account and sent $500 to the account since that was the maximum. The woman grew suspicious when she received a separate phone number and account to send another $500. She reached out to the person with the other phone number and found out the Facebook account had been hacked. The woman said she planned to contact her bank to report the transaction.
Porch pirates nabbed
GROSSE POINTE WOODS/CITY — Two male suspects were arrested after police said the pair stole packages delivered to homes in Grosse Pointe City and Grosse Pointe Woods.
In the first incident, the Grosse Pointe City Public Safety Department said that one of the suspects stole an iPhone Max Pro worth $1,200 at 12:50 p.m. Nov. 20, shortly after it had been delivered to the front porch of a home in the 500 block of Washington Road. That suspect was seen leaving the area in a Chevy Blazer.
At around 9 a.m. Nov. 27, a pair of suspects in a Chevy Blazer — who police said matched the description of the driver and passenger in the City incident — are said by the Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Department to have stolen a package containing $68 worth of goods from the front porch of a home in the 1100 block of Vernier Road. The same day, a Woods officer spotted the suspects’ vehicle at a gas station in the Woods. The two occupants matched surveillance footage of the porch piracy suspects and were arrested, police said. They’re expected to face charges in the City and Woods.
Wreath thief
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 25 at around 7:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Home Depot on Hall Road by loss prevention about a man attempting to steal wreaths.
Store staff stopped a 63-year-old St. Clair man who left the store’s garden center with six wreaths, with a total value of $130, that he did not pay for. The man told deputies he planned to reenter the center to pay for the wreaths after browsing the garden center. The man was arrested and taken to the Macomb County Jail.
