Residents protest plan to destroy tree older than United States
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — As the fate of a very special tree hangs in the balance, residents of Sterling Heights are speaking up.
A rare chinquapin oak stands in the flood plain on the east side of Van Dyke Avenue, south of Canal Road and north of Riverland Drive. The tree is the seventh largest of its kind in Michigan, according to certifiers with the Michigan Botanical Society. Its age is estimated at nearly 270 years — older than the United States as a nation.
The city of Sterling Heights sold the property to a local nonprofit, which plans to tear down the chinquapin and other trees to build an apartment complex. It would require a cut-and-fill operation, digging up wetlands so the apartments can be raised above the flood plain.
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — It takes a long time for stars to burn out, but they all will eventually. With its own trademark red star, Macy’s at Lakeside Mall now marches toward its own final end.
On Jan. 9, the New York City-based retail titan Macy’s Inc. announced its intention to close 66 locations across the county including the anchor store at the now-dead Lakeside. The retailer expects it and the 65 other stores to be shuttered by the end of the first quarter 2025.
“Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macy’s stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments in our go-forward stores, where customers are already responding positively to better product offerings and elevated service,” Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc., said in a press release.
Macy’s closure came as no shock to Out of the Box Ventures — the mall’s owner since 2019 — and the city of Sterling Heights.
MACY’S on page 6A
Photo provided by Mark Graf
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Sterling Heights
SECOND FRONT PAGE
‘A 50-YEAR
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
MR. GILLESPIE, TAKE YOUR BOW
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
DREAM’
STERLING HEIGHTS RESIDENTS SHOW CARS AT AUTORAMA
STERLING HEIGHTS — For Sterling Heights resident Erick Rudaitis, having his car featured at this year’s Autorama is a 50-year dream come true.
“I first went to Autorama in 1975 with some friends and I said, ‘Boy, I’d love to have a car in Autorama,’” he said.
His plan was to enter his 1974 Chevy Nova in Autorama a few years later, but the summer before he planned to show it, he was involved in a crash and the car was totaled.
Over the years, Rudaitis owned several other cars, but in Spring 2022, he came across a 1964 Buick Riviera. He bought it, did some work to it and at the encouragement of his friends and family decided to enter it with his car club, Twisted Axle, this year.
“I’m excited,” he said. “Am I expecting to win any real awards? No, because it’s a driver. But just being there, I won enough. I won because I’m finally there.”
He calls the black and sand two-toned car “Second Chance” because it fulfills his 50-year dream of having a car to enter into Autorama, he said.
Raymond Emmonds, another Sterling Heights resident, will have two vehicles on display at this year’s show — a 2001 Chevy S10 and a 1979 Chevy Camaro — both built to be used on the dragstrip.
While this isn’t Emmonds’ first time showing a vehicle at Autorama, he said he’s still excited
STERLING HEIGHTS — For yearly 25 years, Jonathan Gillespie brought his love for the theater to students enrolled in the Warren Consolidated Schools Performing Arts Program at Sterling Heights High School.
In honor of his years with WCSPA, school officials recently renamed the program’s “Little Theatre” to the Jonathan Gillespie Studio Theatre. A ceremony was held Jan. 31 with Gillespie and alumni in attendance.
“Jonathan Gillespie was the heartbeat of the WCSPA program,” Superintendent John Bernia said in a prepared statement. “Mr. Gillespie always put his students and the program first. He continuously shared his passion for education and the theater with all the students whose lives he touched throughout the years.”
In an email from current WCSPA Artistic Director Erik Hart, the newly named Jonathan Gillespie Studio Theatre will continue to be used as a training theater for WCSPA students.
“It is primarily used as a full-time classroom to teach acting and design but is also used to present smaller scale shows to the public as well,” Hart said via email. “The theater seating was expanded in 2021 from 75 seats to 175 seats to accommodate the growth of the WCSPA program.”
According to a district press release, Gillespie graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in English and theater. In 1978 he became the artistic director of the Dillard School of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he redeveloped the program, curriculum, and directed more than 50 productions.
In 1987, he returned to Michigan where he was educational outreach coordinator at the Boarshead Michigan Public Theatre. Gillespie became the WCSPA artistic director 1995. He retired in 2019. In 2008, Gillespie was inducted into the National Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame.
Following the renaming ceremony, WCSPA students presented Ag-
See GILLESPIE on page 15A
ABOVE: Erik Rudaitis, of Sterling Heights, said he calls the black and sand two-toned 1964 Buick Riviera “Second Chance” because it fulfills his 50-year dream of having a car to enter into Autorama.
Photo provided by Erik Rudaitis
LEFT: Raymond Emmonds, of Sterling Heights, will take two vehicles to Autorama this year: a 2001 Chevy S10 and 1979 Chevy Camaro. Photo provided by Raymond Emmonds
ABOVE: Jonathan Gillespie, left, was greeted by alumni and parents of the program, including Sandy and Steve Rinke. Their daughter Erin Rinke VanGemert, a graduate from 2000, went through the WCSPA program. LEFT: The talented cast gets ready for showtime.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
NEWS & NOTES
4A/ STERLING HEIGHTS SENTRY • FEBRUARY 19, 2025
Cultural Exchange will highlight food, dance and more
STERLING HEIGHTS — The city’s 27th annual Cultural Exchange will be held from 6-10 p.m. March 7 at the Sterling Heights Community Center, 40250 Dodge Park Road.
Residents can join along with the Sterling Heights Ethnic Community Committee for an evening of diversity and culture. The evening will include a variety of ethnic music, dance, and educational cultural displays from area groups and organizations, and desserts, breads and dips.
Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor, restauranteurs who would like to donate food samples, and dance troupes or entertainment groups interested in performing can apply online at sterlingheights.gov. Click on the “Community” link and then “Cultural Exchange” under the Signature Events link.
LOCAL PANEL WILL DISCUSS MACOMB’S ECONOMIC FORECAST
WARREN — The 2025 Macomb Economic Forecast will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the South Campus of Macomb Community College, 14500 E. 12 Mile Road. The event will be in room 301 of the K Building.
Thomas Alongi, a partner with the UHY; Vicky Rowinski, director of Macomb County’s Department of Planning & Economic Development; and Brian Parthum, an economist with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, are among the panelists. Also scheduled to speak is Quentin L. Messer, Jr., of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Michigan Strategic Fund.
The cost to attend is $45 for Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce members and $55 for nonmembers. Email events@erchamber.com or call (586) 776-5520 to attend.
‘COWABUNGA’
WARREN — The Great Lakes Comic-Con is coming to the Macomb Community College Expo Center from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 21; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 22; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 23. The Expo Center is located at South Campus, 14500 E. 12 Mile Road. The event is designed for comic lovers, toy collectors, and cosplay enthusiasts. There will be gaming, attractions and guest appearances from Sam J. Jones, known as Flash Gordon, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman. For ticket information and a list of events, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com.
CPC PROGRAM SHOWCASE FEB. 27
STERLING HEIGHTS — Warren Consolidated Schools invites the public to the district’s Career Prep Center program showcase from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 27. The school is located at 12200 15 Mile Road. Those who attend will learn about the CPC’s programs, including pre-engineering, health sciences, graphic design, computer information systems and teacher cadets. For more information, visit cpc.wcskids.com.
Wanted: blood donors
DETROIT — The American Red Cross is urging donors to give blood or platelets in February to help build up the blood supply after thousands of donations went uncollected last month due to severe winter weather, the California wildfires and seasonal illnesses. All blood types are needed — especially type O negative blood — and donors are encouraged to make and keep their donation appointments so hospitals can continue to ensure critical care for patients this winter. To book a time to give blood or platelets, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank you, all who come to give by Feb. 28 will receive a $15 electronic gift card to a merchant of their choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.
After an 11-day run that included ride-alongs, celebrity appearances and visits from some of the greatest cars to grace the silver screen — including the Ferrari from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” — the Detroit Auto Show drew in 275,000 visitors.
2025 AUTO SHOW HAS ESTIMATED $370 MILLION IMPACT
DETROIT — After an 11-day run in January, organizers of the Detroit Auto Show announced on Feb. 5 the show drew in 275,000 visitors with an estimated $370 million financial impact on the region.
“The impact the Detroit Auto Show has had on our remarkable region cannot be overstated — with hundreds of thousands of Detroiters and visitors experiencing the best we have to offer, supporting our economy and dining in our amazing restaurants,” Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit, said via press release. “Every year the Detroit Auto Show is one of the most important and influential mobility events in the world, shining a light on the city and creating experiential opportunities with the brands and technologies that define us as the Motor City.”
The show’s black-tie Charity Preview drew 7,000 attendees and raised $1.7 million for six children’s charities in the region, while bringing the total funds generated since 1976 to over $125 million.
ECU keeps others warm
MACOMB COUNTY — A large number of Macomb County students the Macomb Intermediate School District identified as homeless are staying warmer this winter thanks to the members and employees of Extra Credit Union.
ECU, headquartered in Warren, held a drive recently in which members and employees donated hats, coats, gloves and money for students in need. ECU also collected personal hygiene products and school supplies. The donations totaled $1,967 in monetary contributions and a total of 537 in items.
“We have seen a significant increase in requests for basic needs items such as food and hygiene items,” MISD Student Health Education and Homeless Consultant Sara Orris said in a prepared statement. “The appreciation of support from Extra Credit Union cannot be overstated. The donations help students experiencing homelessness the opportunity to attend school feeling prepared to learn without worry about basic needs or school supplies. We appreciate the continued support.”
Orris said the funds from Extra Credit Union’s donation will be used to purchase hats, gloves, socks, and hygiene items. All the tangible items will be sent immediately to homeless students in need. Anyone interested in learning more about the project or supporting its efforts can visit misd.net/Homeless.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Man facing murder charge in hotel shooting
BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — A Center Line man is facing a murder charge after a shooting that resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man at a Sterling Heights hotel on Feb. 1.
Luke Svacha, 51, allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Jajuan Marls at the Extended Stay America hotel in Sterling Heights, according to a press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
After the shooting, Svacha fled to his home in Center Line, which he refused to exit when police arrived, the press release stated. After several hours of negotiations, he exited the house unarmed and was taken into custody.
Svacha was arraigned Feb. 4 in the 41A District Court in Sterling Heights. He was charged with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, punishable by life in prison; felony weapons charges, punishable by up to five years in prison; and resisting and obstructing a police officer, a two-year felony.
“This was a senseless and tragic act of violence that took the life of an individual. Our office is committed to ensuring that justice is served,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a statement.
Svacha was scheduled for a probable cause conference on Feb. 12 that was adjourned until 8:30 a.m. on March 10 before Judge Kimberly Wiegand.
His attorney, Kenneth Vernier, according to court records, could not be reached for comment at press time.
Svacha
on.
“It was anticipated,” said Luke Bonner, CEO of the Bonner Advisory Group and a senior economic development adviser for the city of Sterling Heights. “We saw a lot of the national headlines last summer and last fall that Macy’s was closing hundreds of stores across the county. We hadn’t been notified of it yet, but we were assuming it was going to happen.”
Bonner says Out of the Box Ventures acquired the mall’s northern Macy’s property in late 2024 in anticipation of the retailer moving out. Out of the Box already owned the southern Macy’s anchor and leased it to the retailer. News of the north Macy’s closure means Out of the Box is tasked with incorporating the land into its plans for the
Lakeside site.
“The Macy’s will likely be demolished with the rest of the mall,” Bonner said.
From the rubble of Lakeside Mall are the plans for the Lakeside City Center, a mixed-use project aiming to turn the concrete oval into 2,359 multifamily residential units, over 700,000 square feet of retail space, 70,000 square feet of offices, a 20,000-square-foot community center and a hotel with 80-100 rooms.
Progress on the site’s future continues with Out of the Box focusing on planning and engineering work, as well as preparing tax incentive documents to be submitted to the state.
Bonner expects demolition to begin in the fall.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
& G Special Edition (Oakland Co.) C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:
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Photo by Dean Vaglia
As the sun sets on the Macy’s at Lakeside Mall, demolition and redevelopment plans for the site continue to be advertised and worked
Autorama
from page 3A
to be there this year.
“I’ve been going since I was a little kid. I’m 57 now, and it’s just been, always Autorama,” he said. “Growing up in the late ’70s and ’80s, muscle cars were the thing and that was the show to go to.”
Emmonds first applied to show at Autorama in 2020, but the show was canceled due to COVID-19. He’s shown every year the show has been held since.
While his vehicles are built for drag
racing, Emmonds said he’s excited for the change of pace of being able to meet the spectators at Autorama.
“It feels kind of great because I get to meet the people as they come by and answer their questions,” he said. “At the track you don’t get a lot of people that come by … there’s 10,000 to 15,000 people in the grandstands, you can see them, but you don’t really get to interact with them.”
The 72nd Detroit Autorama will be held Feb. 28 to March 2 at Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd., in Detroit. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit autorama.com/attend/detroit.
“I think it’s very important to have that work/family life balance but at the same time I would tell all women entrepreneurs to just don’t give up,” said Shivani Sharma, owner of Right Food Choice in Troy. “Start wherever you can and if it requires you to work only part time, don’t give up hope, don’t give up on your dreams.”
LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS OFFER INSIGHT INTO SUCCESS AND STRUGGLES
ABY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
ccording to a report from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy citing business ownership statistics for 2024, more than 12 million small businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, with a total of $2.1 trillion in sales.
The metro Detroit area is home to a wide variety of women-owned businesses offering a diverse array of merchandise and services.
At the request of C & G Newspapers, a group of owners recently reflected on their achievements and stresses and also provided insight for other potential entrepreneurs.
Follow the dream
Terri Cooper owns the Village Boutique at 6457 Inkster Road, which was recently moved from its previous location in Franklin to Bloomfield Hills. Cooper took over ownership of the business in June 2015
“I walked into a little shop in Franklin to return something my sister had bought me, and I looked around and I thought, ‘Oh, I’d love to have this,’ and I somehow got around to asking the nice ladies who owned it if they were interested in selling and they were eventually,” Cooper said.
The boutique sells different contemporary fashions, accessories and gifts for shop-
pers of all ages.
“When we first got it, it was in Franklin,” Cooper said. “It was maybe geared toward a slightly older crowd, much more conservative crowd, and we slowly started changing things so that it could appeal to a broader mass of people.”
“We switched it all around. It’s nothing like when the ladies had it, and they’ve been in support of our changes, too,” she added.
Lissa Pietrykowski owns Peak Physique Fitness Training at 1071 E. Long Lake Road in Troy with her husband Nick. They currently have around 140 clients.
“My husband bought Peak Physique Fitness in 2008 and then I came on board in 2014, and in June of this year I started kind of a sister business called Peak Women,” Pietrykowski said. “We’re a personal training studio only.”
The studios provide a wide range of personal training services online and in their studio space that can be open for one-on-one and shared training sessions. This includes prenatal and postpartum training, sport-specific training, corporate training, and senior training among other services with personal trainers.
“I think that women suffer from mental health (issues) as men do. However, I think sometimes women are a little bit more intimidated to go to a gym, and exercise is good for mental health in so many different ways,”
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Women
Pietrykowski said. “Just getting out of the house, releasing endorphins or just accomplishing something, all those different things. But sometimes I think that when you’re in that state or even for other reasons, you just feel intimidated going to the gym.”
“Our gym is very welcoming and loving. If you were there, you would never feel (intimidated) that way. However, just getting some people to walk through the door is the first step. So I wanted to open up an opportunity for people to benefit from exercise that wouldn’t normally do something like that,” Pietrykowski added.
On top of being a nutritionist, a registered dietitian and certified Lifestyle Eating and Performance therapist, Shivani Sharma is the owner of Right Food Choice at 1380 Coolidge Hwy. in Troy.
Right Food Choice provides patients with one-on-one nutrition consultation, group coaching and nutrition-related courses.
“I had been practicing dietetics for over two decades now,” Sharma said. “I studied here in Wayne State and then I moved to Texas for some time and that’s where I started the company Right Food Choice.”
“Right Food Choice is nutrition and wellness consulting for kids and adults where we provide nutritional counseling or medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, high cholesterol,” Sharma said. “So we serve wherever the nutritional need is, and we are a team of three dietitians right now.”
Weight management, gut health treatment, food allergies and gluten free options, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, sports nutrition, nutritional options for female-related health concerns, and meal and diet plans are among the services offered.
“We have a weight loss program running right now which is a 12-week transformation program,” Sharma said.
She said the program focuses on “improving gut health, reducing inflammation and feeding your gut microbiome good bacteria really while balancing your blood sugar, balancing your hormones, focusing on how to improve your stress and sleep and how to conquer your sugar cravings, and how to have a total behavior modification.”
“We provide ongoing coaching calls for medication, exercise, and behavior modification,” Sharma said.
Living the dream
All three women discussed their personal and professional struggles as business owners.
“I’m one of those people who prefer to work 24 hours a day and when you have your own business that’s exactly what you do,” Cooper said. “This is not my first business. I owned a cheerleading camp for 20 years and I was a teacher and a coach and a counsellor before this, so I knew what I was in for, and I make the sacrifices really happily.”
She added, “I have one son, and he is graduated from school and is off to Chicago, so I don’t have those responsibilities like I once did. I have five animals at home, so that’s the only thing, and my husband’s really helpful. So it’s a balance but it’s a really fun balance and I’m in the age group I can do this.”
Pietrykowski said running a business, and a household, is both rewarding and a lot of work.
“I think that if you don’t own a business or work for yourself that sometimes people don’t understand we work every day,” Pietrykowski said. “I train during the day. I’ve got four kids as well and then I get home, pick everybody up and make dinner, and then usually sit down and work for another couple hours. Then I take one day on the weekend, work for a couple hours but I love it. It’s not necessarily a hard thing to do but it does require some sacrifice.”
Sharma said she never worked full time until she started her own business.
“This is the first time that I am like all in right now,” Sharma said. “I have two kids. I have one son who is working, and I have a daughter who will be going to college this year. So right now, I feel now is the right time for me to go full in because I personally never worked full time before for the last 20 years.”
She said the biggest struggle she has encountered professionally is the lack of dietician credentialing in Michigan.
“Michigan is one of the only states that does not credential dieticians,” Sharma said. “So it is very hard for me to accept insurance in Michigan and because you have to pay for the service out of pocket. I think sometimes it becomes less reachable for people who just want to go through their insurance, who don’t want to pay up front.”
She said that Right Food Choice does accept Medicare, which covers nutrition counseling for diabetes and chronic kidney disease but not for weight loss.
Growing the dream
All of these local business owners are considering their goals as their work continues.
“We’re always looking to grow it,” Cooper said. “It was hard to grow it in such a little village like Franklin where a lot wasn’t going
Women
on, so we’re just looking to grow it as much as we can, and I think our customers are hoping to help us in that process.”
“Our goal right now is to make Peak Women have its own space near Peak Physique and have that running separately,” Pietrykowski said. “We also are hoping, longterm, to be able to start our own certification process and train trainers to do our type of training.”
“I think what I see as a practice, because now we have three dietitians, I really want to be able to see more and more people who we can help change their life with food, especially diabetes and chronic kidney disease and high cholesterol because those are the things that can be easily fixed by a diet,” Sharma said. “Also (to) see if we can reach more kids and moms who are stressed out if the child cannot have gluten for some reason, if (the child) cannot have dairy, or what if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, if you need help with a high protein diet. So we would like to cater to a big area of (the) population with nutrition and the best thing is we are in house as much as we are virtual.”
Advice for other entrepreneurs
Cooper, Pietrykowski and Sharma also shared a few tips for potential entrepreneurs looking to pursue their own endeavors
“My first thing is I don’t consider myself a woman business owner. I’m just a business owner,” Cooper said. “I don’t take stock in any of that stuff. I want to be successful as anyone could be in this business and I would say if you are willing to think about it and work for it 24/7, then it’s for you. If that doesn’t appeal to you, being an entrepreneur probably isn’t your thing.
“I would say just do it, I mean absolutely give it a shot,” Pietrykowski said. “I had this idea for a while but kind of went back and forth about even bringing it up because I was scared, I didn’t want it not to work and then it got to the point where the worst thing that can happen is that it doesn’t work and if it doesn’t work, that’s okay.”
“I think it’s very important to have that work/family life balance but at the same time I would tell all women entrepreneurs to just don’t give up,” Sharma said. “Start wherever you can and if it requires you to work only part time, don’t give up hope, don’t give up on your dreams.”
Call Staff Writer Sarah Wright at (586) 498-1068.
The development would offer affordable living options amid the housing crisis, and the city has programs replacing cutdown trees with new ones. But residents say an alternative approach should be found — one that allows the chinquapin and apartments to coexist.
Residents recently started a website at sterling-oak.org, which features a petition to save the tree. Updates will be posted there, with details about how to get involved.
After reporting on the tree Jan. 22, the Sterling Heights Sentry was contacted by residents sharing their concern.
“I would like to save it,” said Kathryn Hill. “The new trees that the city is planting don’t make up for what this ancient, massive tree already does for us. It’s good for the animals and cleans our air. And when that tree is gone, it’s gone forever — you can’t bring it back.”
Sylvia Biernacki agreed.
“The city says it’s all about goals, like reaching certain (tree) canopies by certain years. But this tree has been here longer than all of us. It has every right to be here,” Biernacki said. “I could understand if it were falling, cracked or about to damage something. But this? Don’t be fooled — the developers can do things a different way.”
‘They don’t worry about Mother Earth’
The property is 10.5 acres at 43934 Van Dyke Ave., on the east side next to Henriksen’s Golf and down the street from Zap Zone. The city originally purchased the property for $640,000 using federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.
In August 2024, the Sterling Heights City Council voted 5-2 to sell the property to the Chaldean Community Foundation for $60,000, so that the CCF can redevelop the front 2 acres into 82 apartments, a project costing $30 million. Tenants would qualify based on income.
As for the 8 undeveloped acres, they will be deeded back to the city. Those acres back up to the Clinton River, and it’s currently unclear whether they can be developed.
The chinquapin oak is located right where the apartments would be built. The tree was certified by the nonprofit Michigan Botanical Society as part of its Michigan Big Tree Survey. The chinquapin measures 88 feet tall and 14 feet around at breast height, with a crown spread of 84.5 feet, making it the seventh largest tree of its kind in the state.
A formula by the International Society of Arboriculture estimates its age at nearly 270 years, but it could be as old as 300 years.
Several long-time residents said that history is all the more reason to keep the tree.
“I’m 94 years old. I’ve been around a
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS
Planning Commission
Meeting Date, Time, and Location: Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. City of Sterling Heights – City Council Chambers 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Under Consideration: PPCM-1348 – Saj Alreef Request for an amendment to a special approval land use, originally approved under PPCM-1287, which if granted would permit a restaurant to expand their restaurant area in a C-1 Local Convenience Business District.
Property Address: 4050 and 4100 Metropolitan Parkway
Location: South side of Metropolitan Parkway, east of Ryan Road
Current Zoning: C-1 Local Convenience Business District
PPCM-1349 – Mound HY Top Wash
Request for a special approval land use for single structure containing an automobile wash establishment with fve bays and an automobile service center with two bays for oil change service in a C-3 General Business District and Mound Road Innovation Support District.
Property Address: 34265 Mound Road
Location: West side of Mound Road, south of Fifteen Mile Road
Current Zoning: C-3 General Business District and Mound Road Innovation Support District
PSP23-0026 – Warner Meadows
Request for a preliminary site plan approval for a single-family site condominium consisting of thirty-eight one-family residential lots in a R-60 One Family Residential District.
Property Address: 2791 Koper Drive, 34601 Viceroy Drive and 2850 Fifteen Mile Road
Location: South of Fifteen Mile Road in between Dequindre Road and Ryan Road
Current Zoning: R-60 One Family Residential District
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any interested person may appear and comment upon the requests in person, or by agent or attorney during the public hearing to be held on the date and time, and at the location set forth above. Pertinent information related to the application may be reviewed at the Sterling Heights Offce of Planning, during regular business hours. Questions regarding the application can be directed to the Offce of Planning at 586-446-2360. Written comments may be submitted to the Sterling Heights Offce of Planning, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313, or to the City Planner at shplanning@sterlingheights.gov up to 4:30 p.m. of the meeting date.
Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the City’s Community Relations Offce at 586-446-2370, seven days prior to the meeting date. Staff will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.
Published: Sterling Heights Sentry 02/19/2025
Photo provided by Mark Graf
An aerial view of the seventh largest chinquapin oak in Michigan, located at 43934 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, as seen last summer. The tree is nearly 270 years old and is endangered by plans to build new apartments.
long time. And in that time, it feels like there’s no green land left in Sterling Heights. They’re taking it away,” said Ella Holloway. “Why not build around the tree or leave it alone? It’s ridiculous, all these sticks they’re putting up around town, taking the old trees. This tree should be living, standing. It should not be touched.”
Henry Ziarko — no relation to Barbara Ziarko on the City Council — just turned 80. He has lived in the city for nearly 60 years.
“Unless it’s an act of nature like a lightning strike or strong wind, I want to see it preserved, especially a special tree like this one,” he said. “Can’t they (the developer) alter their plans, and turn things a bit this way or that way so the tree can be spared?”
Gerry Parratto also wants to see the chinquapin saved.
“I’m 85 years old. I’m sick and tired of seeing beautiful trees and shrubbery destroyed. Why do they want to build apartments over it? Why not build around it so it’s preserved, and you can have a beautiful centerpiece for the people who live there? Destroying the tree would just be disrespectful, not only to our country but the Native Americans who lived here first,” she said. “Sterling Heights is just out for all the tax money they can get. They don’t worry about Mother Earth. Let’s start worrying about the next generation, and what they will inherit from us.”
The city’s perspective
Voting in favor of the development were Mayor Michael Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski, and fellow council members Barbara Ziarko, Michael Radtke and Henry Yanez. Voting against it were council members Deanna Koski and Maria Schmidt. They were reached for comment, as was Martin Manna, the CCF board president. At press time Feb. 13, only Yanez and Radtke replied.
“I wish local newspapers paid as much attention to the housing crisis and the need for housing and planning reform as they did to this single tree,” Radtke said in an email. “People need attainable housing, and Sterling Heights is committed to making itself a greener, more affordable city with a high quality of life. In the coming years, Sterling Heights will plant 15,000 new trees, improve streetscapes, preserve green space, and add tremendous walkability. That bottom line, rather than one tree, is how residents should judge their city government.”
Yanez said that the project appears to
have stalled as the CCF seeks approval from the state and federal government.
“Like everyone else, I am waiting to see how this situation progresses,” Yanez said in an email. “I appreciate the passion people have expressed regarding this majestic oak tree, our parkland and our natural spaces. This issue is equally important to me, as are all of the quality-of-life issues we face in Sterling Heights.”
In January, Manna said that the project was still under site plan review, with no timeline set. He previously said that the CCF “are good neighbors,” and that “if we can save (the tree), we will.”
Melanie Davis, spokesperson for the city, said that a study related to the North Van Dyke Avenue Master Plan confirmed a shortage of affordable living options in the area. The report defined “affordable housing” as a home that can be bought or rented for 30% or less of one’s income.
“The lack of affordable and attainable housing can be detrimental to the growth of the city,” read the report. “As the average household shrinks in Sterling Heights, it means more people may be looking for smaller housing units. Even those with large families may be looking to transition to smaller units when their children become adults and move to their own homes.”
Davis also highlighted the city’s longstanding eco-friendly policies. These include a citywide tree inventory, with plans to create green microforests and reforest the city with 18,000 new trees, paid for with grants and dedicated millage funding.
The city also has a tree preservation ordinance that applies to all city development projects. Whenever a “landmark tree” is removed for new construction, the city requires the developer to replace it with new trees, inch for inch. Such efforts have earned Sterling Heights a “Tree City USA” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for nearly 40 consecutive years.
Rose Pikor is a Sterling Heights resident who feels that preserving a historic tree and providing affordable housing don’t have to be mutually exclusive concepts.
“Sterling Heights wants to be known for saving green space. This is a wonderful opportunity for the city to show that we indeed know how valuable even one tree can be,” Pikor said. “I’m hoping the developer can incorporate this tree into their plans. We can work on both things at the same time — both the housing crisis, and helping people appreciate the beauty and history of this tree.”
Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.
HOMES
14A/FEBRUARY 19, 2025
STERLING HEIGHTS SENTRY
MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Most of us have been there.
Snuggled in bed under a favorite blanket, yet unable to fall asleep.
When counting sheep doesn’t work, we lie awake all night long. Then it’s morning. Exhaustion sets in, and you wonder how you’ll make it through the day.
For some people, a sleepless night happens on occasion. However, for others, chronic insomnia, sleep apnea and other disorders make it impossible to ever have sweet dreams.
Brenna Wyffels, a family medicine physician assistant, certified, for McLaren Macomb — Sterling Heights Pediatrics & Family Medicine, has helped many patients with sleep disorders.
“Sleep is the first priority,” Wyffels said. “If not, everything else is going to suffer.”
Sleep apnea, which causes snoring and people to sometimes wake in the middle of the night gasping for air, is the main culprit for wakefulness.
“When you have pauses in breathing and impaired breathing, the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen,” Wyffels said. “People wake up with fatigue even after eight hours of sleep.”
For patients having sleeping issues, Wyffels recommends they make an appointment with a sleep clinic “to be tested and monitored and to see what treatment would be the best.” Sleep studies also can be done at home. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines are often recommended for sleep apnea. The machine contains a motor and a filter that turns room air into pressurized air and delivers it through a mask to help the nose and mouth keep the airway open.
“They get a bad rap as loud machines with giant hoses that (will) keep (your) partner awake,” Wyffels said, adding that the machines are now easier to handle. “Technology has come very far.”
Wyffels has witnessed patients with CPAP machines overcome their sleep issues.
“They have better mental clarity, can focus and feel rested,” she said.
Along with sleep disorders, people are always on the go and don’t give themselves a chance to wind down to transition from the stress of the day.
“Unplug at the end of the day,” Wyffels
said. “Have some sort of routine. Settle into bed with a book or podcast. Sleepytime tea, magnesium supplements and calming diffusers can get them ready for bed. People also tend to sleep better if it’s cool out.”
Therefore, turning down the thermostat could help. White noise, blackout curtains and weighted blankets in the bedroom can be used as sleep aids, too. The right pillow and mattress that support you also might make a difference between tossing and turning all night or sleeping soundly.
“Some pillows and mattresses are better for side sleepers, back sleepers or stomach sleepers,” Wyffels said.
Scandia Home, located in Birmingham, carries a large selection of fine linens, comforters, pillows, duvet sets and mattress pads that provide a cozy environment for a good night’s sleep.
“We specialize in European bedding from various European linen companies,” Danielle Schindler said of the family-owned business. “I help people solve their bedroom quandaries and do it in a way that makes the home beautiful.”
Staff at Scandia Home, which also sells specialty gifts, is always available to help customers looking for bedding that is not only stylish, but comfortable.
“We help you figure out your stature, what sleep position you prefer and if you want a firmer mattress to keep the spine straight,” Schindler said. “Comforters and pillows are really important to get a good night’s sleep. Get the right pillow that provides support. Nice linens will last a very long time, up to 25 years.”
Clients also may opt for a mattress with temperature control that can automatically adjust how cold or hot it feels.
“That’s very important for sleeping,” Schindler said. “It keeps you at a comfortable heat.”
Fibers also should be taken into consideration. Cotton percale bedsheets, for instance, are cool to the touch due to the lightweight, breathable weave that provides good airflow. Cotton sateen material is warmer.
‘Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults ages 18-60 get at least seven hours of sleep per night; adults 61–64 get seven to nine hours of sleep; adults 65 and older get seven to eight hours of sleep. The American Academy
ABOVE: Having a nighttime routine, turning off electronics, settling into bed with a book and staying away from caffeine in the later part of the day can help you get a good night’s sleep. LEFT: “Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury,” Dr. Nader Mina, medical director, Sleep Center, Corewell Health, said. “Chronic sleep disorders cause problems long term. It has consequences on the heart, increases risks of asthma and is strongly linked to iron deficiency.”
of Pediatrics recommends more sleep for children from infancy to age 18 depending on the age. Yet many people aren’t getting enough shut-eye.
According to Dr. Nader Mina, medical director, Sleep Center, Corewell Health, sleep deprivation can increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases, strokes and diabetes. Lack of sleep affects mental health, job performance, academics and can lower your immune system. Sleep deficiency also can contribute to car crashes because of driver fatigue.
“Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder. When your breathing is closed and narrowed, there’s a drop in the oxygen level,” Mina said. “Chronic sleep disorders cause problems long term. It has consequences on the heart, increases risks of asthma and is strongly linked to iron deficiency.”
One reason for sleeplessness could be what Mina described as “bad routine habits we do every night.” That includes being on cellphones and other electronic devices, or watching television just before bed.
Exposure to blue light in those devices disrupts sleep patterns because it impacts when bodies create melatonin. Mina recommends shutting down electronic devices 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Also, if something is bothering you that could be keep-
ing you up, journaling before bedtime could solve that issue.
“Once you engage your mind, it becomes very difficult for our brains to shut down and go to sleep,” Mina said. “It’s very essential to relax before going to bed. Our brains are not able to fall asleep very quickly.”
He also advised to stop drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages six hours before bedtime. Another tip: make sure the bedroom is quiet, dark and cool. Taking certain medicines at nighttime also could be the reason for sleeplessness. Mina encourages people to speak to their physicians about possibly taking their medications during the daytime rather than in the evening.
“This is very important to discuss with a health care provider,” Mina said.
Daylight saving time also can be an issue for some, and might take two to three weeks before the body adjusts. Mina also treats patients who sleep excessively, including those with narcolepsy.
“There are certain disorders we look for in the brain,” Mina said.
Mina and staff devise an individualized plan for each patient with pretesting and analysis to get them on a better sleep pattern.
“It’s a gradual process,” he said. “It’s going to take some time, but there is always hope.”
from page 3A
atha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” in the high school’s Performing Arts Center, an auditorium that has a capacity of 775 people. A second performance was held Feb. 1.
All WCSPA classes are offered as part of the regular high school curriculum and are open to students from all three district high
ABOVE: Retired WSCPA artistic director Jonathan Gillespie addresses the crowd that attended the ceremony Jan. 31 for the renaming of the Little Theatre to the Jonathan Gillespie Studio Theatre. LEFT: The Warren Consolidated Schools Performing Arts students perform “Murder on the Orient Express” at Sterling Heights High School Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The train and set were built by student production crew.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
schools: Sterling Heights, Warren Mott and Cousino, and school of choice students.
The Performing Arts Center is a shared theater that is used for large performances by the WCSPA program in addition to many other district events including band performances, guest speakers, large meetings, and community gatherings. The PAC is also rented year-round to outside groups for various entertainment events.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
State set to send teens to
Macomb juvenile center
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Teenagers incarcerated at a state juvenile center in Grayling are moving south in the coming months.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on Jan. 24 that the 17 male youths lodged at the Shawono Center will be relocated to the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center.
“While the decision to relocate the services provided by the Shawono Center was difficult, transferring to Macomb County will allow us to serve more youths and help them become healthy and productive citizens,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a press release. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the staff at the Shawono Center, and we will work to find positions for all staff who would like to remain with MDHHS.”
The state’s inmates, who range from 12-21 years old, will move into the justice center’s west wing. The wing was previously occupied by Rite of Passage — a “national youth services provider” according to the MDHHS — with around $360,000 in renovations made for that program. The state intends to further renovate the wing for the purposes of housing the teens formerly lodged in Grayling, as well as renaming the
wing the Michigan Youth Treatment Center.
“The state is looking to use about 4060 beds,” Macomb County Deputy Executive Andy McKinnon said.
McKinnon said details about the move, such as how much money will be spent on further renovations and operations, remained in flux as of early February. Some services at the justice center like dining may be shared, though it is unlikely the state and county prisoners will mix together.
Housing prisoners from outside of the county is not new for the justice center. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the center takes in convicted youths from neighboring counties.
“They (the state) reached out to us knowing we’re a regional facility, and I say that because we house juveniles from the thumb area,” Hackel said. “We have contractional relationships with them depending on their needs. St. Clair, Sanilac, Lapeer (counties) … A lot of these counties don’t really need their own facility. They don’t really have a lot of juveniles that they are sending to detention. But if they do, they notice that we have some space available to accommodate that on a per-bed, per-day price, so we do that.”
McKinnon estimated the existing youth detainees at Grayling would all be moved down by the end of spring.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
State-level juvenile inmates are expected to be relocated to a wing of the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center by the end of spring 2025.
Winter weather brings unique birds — if you can find them
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As the air chills and days get shorter, it’s common for snowbirds to take their flights south.
But while our senior set heads for the Florida coast, some of nature’s feathered fellows find their way to Michigan from the Arctic.
These seasonal guests from the high north, along with being interesting company, make the winter a fascinating time for dedicated birders.
“A lot of people don’t necessarily think of a lot of birds being around in the winter,” said Stephanie Beilke, senior manager of conservation science at Audubon Great Lakes. “You hear more birds singing in the spring and summer and there’s more obviously around, but in the winter there’s still a lot of bird activity in Michigan.”
Winter birders keep their eyes out for a number of unique birds. Raptors, notably the snowy owl and various hawks, are some of the most famous winter birds. Another unique winter sight is the arrival of “weird ducks” with striking feather and beak patterns. Notable winter ducks include the bufflehead, northern pintail, common goldeneye and the ruddy duck.
“They’re looking for anywhere that just has open water because that’s all they need to find food,” Beilke said. “They’re looking for fish or plants that are underwater.”
Small birds, too, make southerly journeys for the warmer weather of frigid Michigan. Those birds, like the dark-eyed junco, can be best spotted at properly-equipped bird feeders — one of the least chilly ways of winter birding. Finches also may make an irruptive migration south due to what
See BIRDS on page 19A
TOP LEFT: A snowy owl, spotted in St. Clair County, is a raptor that migrates to Michigan during the winter.
Photo by Barb Baldinger
BOTTOM LEFT: Female, left, and male redhead ducks are one species of waterfowl that migrates to Michigan during the winter.
Photo by Lynette Spence, provided by Audubon Great Lakes
ABOVE RIGHT: A dark-eyed junco, spotted around 26 Mile Road, is a songbird that migrates to Michigan during the winter.
Photo by Barb Baldinger
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
18A/
FEB. 21
Charity Vegas Night: Presented by Shelby Township Lions Club, includes roulette, craps, blackjack, 3-card poker, Texas hold ’em, money wheel, horse bet table and 50-plus slots, raffle prizes, open bar and hors d’oeuvres, and live entertainment, doors at 6:30 p.m. and final bets at 10:30 p.m., The Palazzo Grande, 54660 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, shelbylionsclub.org
FEB. 24
Black History Month Dinner: Presented by Sterling Heights African American Coalition, includes remarks by Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor, keynote by UAW Local 6000 President Kelly Barnett and recognition of winners from BHM art contest coordinated through Utica Academy for International Studies, 6-8 p.m., Sterling Heights Community Center, 40250 Dodge Park Road, bit.ly/3C5We4i
FEB. 25
Widowed Friends lunch: 1:30 p.m., Kabob Hut, 37867 Mound Road in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Gerry at (586) 556-9471 by Feb. 21, widowedfriends.com
FEB. 28
‘Magic & Illusion’: Featuring magician-comedian Mike Super (winner of NBC show “Phenomenon” and finalist on “America’s Got Talent”), 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
MARCH 1
Mom-to-mom sale: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sterling Heights Community Center, 40250 Dodge Park Road, (586) 446-2700
MARCH 2
Macomb Symphony Orchestra: Concert featuring Nielsen’s “Flute Concerto” with Amanda Blaikie and Brahms’ “A German Requiem” with singers Jennifer Cresswell and Rolfe Dauz, 3 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, macombcenter.com, (586) 286-2222
MARCH 6
Clinton/Macomb Senior Expo: Connect with dozens of organizations specializing in assistance and care, also free admission, health screenings, prizes, giveaways and refreshments, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Italian American Cultural Society Banquet & Conference Center, 43843 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, (248) 524-4868, seniorexpousa.com
MARCH 8
‘Butterfly Gardens and Prairie Restoration’: Program presented by expert John Blair and hosted by Southern Michigan Daylily Society, 10 a.m., BurgessShadbush Nature Center, 4101 River Bends Drive in Shelby Township, free but registration required, marietta.crabtree@gmail.com, (586) 612-1848, midaylilysociety.com
MARCH 15
Lucky Leprechaun Race: Costume contest at 10:15 a.m., 5K and 1-mile runs/walks at 10:30 a.m., and awards at 11:15 a.m., starts at Shamrock Irish Pub (7715 Auburn Road in Utica) and ends at Host Utica (7759 Auburn Road), luckyleprechaunrace.com, (586) 344-7977
MARCH 20 & 22
‘Clue’ auditions: Presented by St. Clair Shores Players, open casting for ages 16 and older, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 20 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 22, Anita’s Elite Dance, 37360 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, shows scheduled for June 6-8, facebook.com/groups/ scsplayers
ONGOING
Ice skating: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays, noon-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, noon-10 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, Dodge Park Farmers Market Pavilion, 40620 Utica Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 446-2711 (weather hotline), sterlingheights. gov/1650/dodge-park-ice-rink
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.
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.
gov/789/upton-house-museum
Widowed Friends dancing: Doors at 6 p.m. and music from 7-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays, American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights, RSVP to Victoria at (586) 566-7936, widowedfriends.com
Fish fries: Dine in and carryout, 4-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday (March 5) and Fridays during Lent (March 7-April 18), St. Malachy Catholic Church, 14115 E. 14 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 481-6833 or (586) 264-1220
Line dancing and contra dancing: Sponsored by Oakland County Traditional Dance Society, line dancing from 7:30-9:30 p.m. every second Saturday of month and contra dancing from 7:30-10 p.m. every fourth Saturday of month, also lessons for beginners at 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Troy, 6363 Livernois Road, (248) 642-3306, info@octds.org, facebook.com/octds
Book clubs: Meetups for teens, early birds, those who want to snack and chat, others who want to discuss books they own, and new book and movie discussions, Sterling Heights Public Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, (586) 446-2665, sterlingheights. gov/2136/library
FEB. 28-MARCH 2
Detroit Autorama: 72nd annual event includes more than 800 customs, trucks and motorcycles, Megamorph Transforming Robot Car, Barbie Pink Cadillac Convertible, appearances by Danny Koker and Kevin Mack from “Counting Cars,” Miss Autorama Pinup Girl contest, and more, noon-10 p.m. Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. March 1 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 2, Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd. in Detroit, autorama.com, read about local gearheads at candgnews.com/news/auto
Northern Toastmasters: Meets 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Monday of month, Leo’s Coney Island, 33577 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights, (248) 828-7481, samcrowl@comcast.net
Health workshops: For hypertension, diabetes, pre-diabetes and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
Birds
page 17A
kind of seed crops have grown over the year.
“True sparrows … like the dark-eyed junco like to feed on platforms, so getting a tray feeder or a larger hopper feeder where you’ve got an edge to it that they feel comfortable sitting on,” said Rosann Kovalcik, owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Some bird feeders are enjoyed by being directly watched, while others use technology to catch visiting birds with camera feeders.
“What’s good about them is that you can be in your house, you can have the camera set to be transmitting to your laptop or your phone and you can take pictures from that to help identify (birds),” Kovalcik said. “The camera feeder that we sell actually has identification built in it. There’s a huge surge of that going on. There’s still probably a much larger group of people that go out and they just want to look with their binoculars and they’re just getting into the hobby.”
For those looking to get more outdoors but still close to heat, car caravans organized by Audubon and Bird Alliance groups are a great way to seek birds out.
“What’s fun is just the discovery,” Kovalcik said. “What could I possibly see as I’m driving through this area of Macomb County near Algonac, and that day (Dec. 20, 2024) my partner and I had a screech owl, we had a bald eagle, we had a red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier. We had so many raptors that we could see that were out during the day or you could play tapes of and they’d call back. It’s such a treat to come across that and to see it and to know that I’m only going to get this (experience) this time of year.”
Locations close to water — such as Lake St. Clair Metropark, Belle Isle and almost anywhere along the Detroit River/ Lake St. Clair coast — offer a wide variety of
bird-sighting opportunities due to optimal plants and prey. Wooded areas like the noncoastal Metroparks offer great opportunities to view birds. Kovalcik says not to discount open fields, such as in northern Macomb County, when planning your winter bird watch; songbirds like snow buntings will take to open fields to scour about for seeds and insects.
“And flying over them would be shortreared owls, which are also out because they are looking for voles and mice in the same fields,” Kovalcik said.
Those with technology on their side can stay up to date on the latest bird sightings throughout the region.
“(The website) eBird is a great resource for finding birding locations called eBird Hotspots, which provide up-to-the-minute information on the very best locations and what has been seen there,” Barb Baldinger, long-time birder and former vice-president of the Macomb Audubon Society, said via email. “Another place to check is the St. Clair-Macomb Birding Trail website, which has information about 38 bird viewing sites in St. Clair and Macomb counties.”
While coming across an exotic bird can be a cool experience, it is best for the birds to keep your distance.
“One of the best things to remember is to use good birding ethics to keep your distance from any owl or other sensitive species,” Baldinger said via email. “Using your vehicle as a photo blind, if possible, is much less intrusive than walking too close to an owl and perhaps causing it to fly, when it needs to conserve energy.”
The largest birding event of the winter is the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which runs from Dec. 14-Jan. 5 every year. Groups like the Detroit Bird Alliance, the Oakland Bird Alliance and the Macomb Audubon Society organize field trips throughout the season.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
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drove at a slow pace. The woman followed the BMW to track the license plate number until it stopped in a turning lane at the 21 Mile Road and North Avenue intersection. The BMW driver, a 54-year-old Macomb Township man, reportedly exited the X5 and approached the woman’s car screaming. He allegedly kicked her door, smashed a window and fled when the woman said she was calling the police.
When Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the man’s house in the 22000 block of Case Court, he admitted to everything and was arrested. Man bought stolen Jeep
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 17, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home of a 28-year-old Macomb Township man to investigate his Jeep Cherokee.
The man purchased the Jeep in November 2024 through an online auction out of the Chicago area. When he attempted registering the Jeep with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, he was told the car was reported stolen in Illinois. Macomb County deputies ran the Jeep’s vehicle identification number and found it was indeed registered as stolen, and the Chicago Police Department confirmed the vehicle’s status.
The Jeep was towed away from the Macomb Township home.
Wrong number
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Jan. 15, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to an apartment complex in the 26000 block of South River Road after a 911 caller disconnected.
Deputies located the caller, a 51-year-old Cheboygan man, who denied calling 911 and sent the deputies away. Deputies then learned the man had an outstanding narcotics warrant and arrested him, discovering a bag of what appeared to be meth while searching him.
Fraudulent investing
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Jan. 15, a 69-year-old Mount Clemens man deposited $100 into a cryptocurrency investment account after an ad on Facebook promised high returns in a short amount of time. The ad connected him with an “investment agent” who helped him set up and manage the account via Facebook Messenger.
Several days passed and he noticed around $4,500 in the account. He attempted to withdraw
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He finally realized the scam and reported it to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
Resident reports fraud
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 6:24 p.m. Jan. 6, a complainant came into the Shelby Township Police Department to make a fraud report. The complainant stated that she had received emails from Venmo asking to verify the account. The complainant advised that she did not verify the account and knew it was a fraudulent attempt to access the account. The complainant did the right thing and did not verify the account, meaning she was not out any money. The case was turned over to the department’s detective bureau for follow-up.
Larceny reported ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 8:32 p.m. on Jan. 26, an act of larceny was reported at a store in the 25000 block of Little Mack Avenue.
The clerk, a 27-year-old woman, stated the suspect entered the store and requested scratch-off lottery tickets. As she was fulfilling the request, the man took six $50 lottery tickets while she wasn’t looking. He attempted to pay but his card was declined. He said he’d come back with the money, but he never did.
Surveillance footage inside shows the events as they played out. Outside footage shows the man returning to an apartment building where he was last seen walking into the darkness of the parking lot.
Help sought for suicidal man
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — At around 10:46 a.m. Jan. 18, the Public Safety Department’s crisis intervention team responded to a gas station at Mack Avenue and Moross Road because of a report about a man who might want to end his life. Police said the man — a 37-year-old from Detroit — said he was looking for help because he was suicidal and suffering from alcohol withdrawal. He told officers he had gone to Ascension St. John Hospital the night before but had been released from the hospital that morning. Police asked if the man would be willing to go to a crisis intervention center and he agreed, so officers took him there to get additional medical attention.
Vehicle stolen
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A 2024 Dodge
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