3/20/24 Woodward Talk

Ferndale school board chooses new superintendent

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — A new superintendent has been selected for Ferndale Public Schools.

The Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously for Camille Hibbler to become the superintendent at its March 5 meeting. She succeeds Bobbie Hayes Goodrum, who resigned from the position at the end of last year.

Hibbler was hired in the district in August 2022. Before becoming the interim superintendent following Goodrum’s departure, Hibbler was the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Hibbler said she is excited to take on the new role, one that she had to take into serious consideration before she officially applied. A mother of two children, Hibbler said she thought long and hard before deciding she wanted to become the district’s next superintendent.

“Of course there was interest, but you know my family is first, my kids are first, my husband. So I needed to make sure that that was OK,” she said. “With the support in my village, I was able to see that it was possible, that I wouldn’t miss a step with any of my, you know, gymnastics for my daughter, swim for my son — all of the things that we had in place, I could keep going with the support in my village. So once I realized that, it was full steam ahead.”

See HIBBLER on page 14A

LONGTIME PLEASANT RIDGE OFFICER TAKES ON NEW ROLE OF CHIEF

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

PLEASANT RIDGE — Pleasant Ridge officially has sworn in its new chief of police.

At a March 12 City Commission meeting, Robert Ried took his oath of office to become the newest police chief of Pleasant Ridge. He succeeds Kevin Nowak, who retired last October.

Ried has been with the department since 2000, when he was hired as a dispatcher and then became a police officer the next year. He has been a sergeant for

the last 10 years.

Ried said becoming chief is something that he has strived for since entering the police force.

“When you initially get interviewed for the job of a police officer, one of the questions they would ask is, ‘Where do you see yourself in 25 years?’ One of the answers that they were looking for is police chief,” he said. “Whether I knew it or not at that time, that’s what I said, and as the years have progressed, I’ve absolutely wanted to be in this position. So, I’m excited for the opportunity.”

See RIED on page 13A

Robert Ried takes the oath of office from City Clerk Kersten Emsley to become the next police chief in Pleasant Ridge at the March 12 City Commission meeting.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

Men’s Club Auction proceeds to benefit community pool improvements

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The biggest fundraiser in Huntington Woods will make its return to the city next month.

The 43rd annual Huntington Woods Men’s Club Auction will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Gillham Recreation Center, 26363 Scotia Road.

The auction will feature more than 200 items for people to bid on, as well as the return of its beer garden, which made its debut last year.

“We are looking forward to hosting another terrific event,” President of the Huntington Woods Men’s Club Bob Parmann said in a press release. “The service auction, year in and year out, is the social event of the year in our city, and this one is shaping up to be among the best yet.”

In addition to in-person bidding, there also will be an online auction as well for those who can’t be in attendance. The online auction opens at 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, and continues until Saturday, April 20, at the start of the live auction.

James Jahnke, a member of the Men’s Club, said they like offering the online bidding, which was added during the pandemic, to help make the process of bidding easier.

“Maybe in the past when it was kind of done in person, you kind of always had to hover over the item that you were trying to get right before the table closed to make sure nobody beats you out,” he said. “Here, you can kind of be a little bit more passive and enjoy your night from a social standpoint and bid on your phone and set

See AUCTION on page 10A

St. Patrick’s Day parade returns

ABOVE: Maddie Tripp, the 2024 Queen of Detroit United Irish Societies, rides in the Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 16, and waves to the crowd. The parade returned for the first time since 2019.

TOP RIGHT: Paddy O’Dinger, the Royal Oak Leprechauns baseball team mascot, greets the crowd during the parade.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Jeeps drive down the parade route decked out in St. Patrick’s Day decorations.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

JUST KEEP SWIMMING: A SPORT FOR ALL AGES

BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Jumping into a pool or lake for a swim isn’t only fun, it offers many health benefits and is great for people of all ages.

With so many opportunities for water recreation in Michigan, the most important step is learning how to swim.

“Swim and water safety are really important topics because we all live in Michigan, so we all live really close to water recreation opportunities — whether that be pools or lakes or rivers. There’s lots of opportunities for residents to get in the water and recreate, but for a lot of people, if they don’t know how to swim, that can be a dangerous situation,” said Danielle Mauter, the chief of marketing and communications for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.

Although formal swim lessons may reduce the likelihood of drowning by 88%, studies show one of the biggest barriers to more people in the region learning to swim is the fees.

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks is working with partners to save lives by increasing access to free swim lessons and life-

saving water skills in underserved communities through the expansion of its Everyone in the Pool swim initiative. Through this fiveyear plan, the metroparks have committed to providing 6,000 free swim lessons each year for adults and children with support from existing and future partners and expand opportunities for lifeguard certification and staffing infrastructure. A fundraising goal of $1.5 million has been set to make this expansion possible.

Over the past three years, the metroparks have partnered with public and nonprofit organizations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties to collaborate on free water safety and swim lessons for more than 4,600 students at various recreation centers and facilities. Most lessons start in early June, and registration is already open for some, with additional registration opportunities continuing to open over the next few weeks on the metroparks website, www.metroparks.com.

After learning how to swim, it’s important to keep practicing your skills in the water as you grow.

Michigan is known for its Great Lakes, but our state is also home to over 11,000

See SWIMMING on page 6A

Huron-Clinton Metroparks is working with multiple partners throughout the year to offer free swim lessons at locations throughout southeast Michigan.

Photo provided by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Guitar workshop and concert

FERNDALE — Pursell Lutherie, 23430 Woodward Ave., will host a workshop with guitarist Kyran Daniel on March 26.

The guitar workshop will take place 7-8 p.m. and cost $55 per person, or $45 with proof of purchase of a concert ticket at one of Daniel’s five local performances. There also will be an in-store concert from 8 to 9 p.m. for which tickets cost $15 per person. The workshop is limited to 10 people and the concert is limited to 30 people.

The workshop will be held in partnership with the Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society, a nonprofit organization that has promoted more than 150 local guitar performances and workshops since 2001, a news release states.

Daniel’s workshop will “discuss the technical and creative aspects of his work; from identifying and sourcing authentic inspiration, to translating that into melody, harmony, rhythm, articulation and then building arrangements that reinforce those artistic choices,” the release states.

PAINT THE PLOW

METRO DETROIT — The Michigan Department of Transportation is accepting applications for the 2024-25 Paint the Plow program.

“This program offers a unique opportunity for MDOT to partner with area schools, using students’ creativity to communicate safe winter driving practices for all Michigan residents,” a news release states.

The program is open to all Michigan high schools, including technical and vocational programs. Students are invited to submit a creative and original design that promotes a selected safety theme. This year’s theme is “Go hands-free. Just drive. It’s the law.”

“The safety theme serves as a reminder to motorists that new legislation has made it illegal to hold and use an electronic device while driving in Michigan,” the release states. “While the legislation has been in place since June 2023, drivers across the state continue to engage in unsafe driving practices using electronic devices.”

Applications will be accepted through Friday, May 17. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/PaintThePlow.

HUNTINGTON WOODS TO HAVE CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE

HUNTINGTON WOODS — Huntington Woods’ citywide garage sale will take place in May, and residents can sign up now to take part.

The garage sale will run May 17-19. If residents want to participate, they must obtain a permit through the Public Safety or Parks and Recreation departments for $5. The permit includes two garage sale signs, as no homemade signs are permitted. The city website also will have a list of participating homes for the public. For further information, call the non-emergency line for the Public Safety Department at (248) 541-1180 or visit hwmi.org.

Art show concentrates on 1 artist

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The Lawrence Street Gallery is hosting a one-woman show from Laura Whitesides Host. The exhibit, featuring mixed water media paintings and monoprints, runs through March 29.

“I have always been attracted to patterns, be they man-made or occurring in nature — geometric v. organic. I also like to use both of them to achieve contrasts,” the artist states in a news release. “My work can be abstract with suggestions of natural landscapes or nature items. I get excited with new products and love to experiment with different methods of creating. Just seeing telephone lines breaking up the sky gets me creating and talking about man getting along in nature.

“I also love incorporating collage items and layering prints by cutting through one print to expose another underneath,” she continued. “My monotype prints are one of a kind original prints — not duplications or printed editions. My water media paintings consist of watercolors as well as acrylic and gouache paint — anything that mixes with water.”

The gallery is located at 22620 Woodward Ave. It is open from Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; noon to 9 p.m. Fridays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Scholarships available

HUNTINGTON WOODS — The Friends of the Huntington Woods Library is giving away two $1,000 scholarships for students who volunteer with the organization. A news release states that those eligible for the scholarship are high school seniors who have volunteered with the Friends of the Huntington Woods Library who are graduating from public, private or home-schooling in June 2024 and will continue their educations as full-time college students in the fall. Each applicant must write a 350-word essay, which will get the most weight when the Friends make the scholarship determinations, and must have volunteered with the Friends in 2023 or 2024. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. April 18. For more information, visit hwmi.org.

Swimming

from page 4A

small inland lakes — and a host of private and public pools.

The Troy Community Center provides many opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the water year round — with both indoor and seasonal outdoor pools — including parent and tot classes, kiddie swim, swim lessons, open swim for all ages, water slides, lap swimming, water aerobics, a therapy pool and more.

From boosted heart health to muscle toning, experts say swimming and other water workouts offer many health benefits for children and adults.

“Research shows that swimming is good for your lungs,” said Troy Community Center Recreation Supervisor Morgan Thrasher. “You can swim, you can walk, you can move — there’s a bunch of different things that the water provides that you wouldn’t necessarily get on land.”

Swimming requires you to control your breathing, so it can strengthen your respiratory muscles, improve lung capacity and help build breath endurance. In fact, it’s often recommended that people with asthma pursue swimming to build their lung strength.

Swimming can also alleviate stress, boost your mood, improve flexibility, and even improve coordination, balance and posture.

The low-impact exercise offers resistance, providing muscle strengthening and toning to keep you strong and fit as you age.

The OPC Social and Activity Center in Rochester allows its members, ages 50 and older, to use a therapy pool for water exercise classes, relaxing and massaging achy muscles and joints, and a lap pool for water exercise and lap swimming.

Mandy Mullins, the fitness and aquatics manager at the OPC Social and Activity

Center, said a wide range of seniors use the aquatic facility, including the center’s oldest active swimmer, age 92.

“Some are just coming out of a therapy or a surgery and they are using the therapy pool to continue their rehab, all the way up to our folks who are still practicing for swim competitions,” she said.

Competitive senior swimmers — including one who is 79 year old — use the OPC’s lap pool to train for Michigan Senior Olympics and U.S. Masters swim meets.

“Some have been swimming all their lives and have continued on with all their competitions, and some of them are just getting into it now as seniors — they found swimming and found a group of people who were athletes in some capacity before, and this has been a way for them to compete that’s not as hard on their bodies,” said Mullins.

“For the competitive swimmers, it’s kind of like having a club,” added Delaney Zaloga, a fitness and aquatics supervisor. “They all like swimming, and they all like pushing

Children learn the beginner steps on how to dive by starting on their knees during a swim lesson provided free of charge by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks’ Everyone in the Pool initiative, a five-year action plan to support free water safety and swim lessons for thousands of students and adults annually.

each other at their swim practice and getting better and better at all the meets.”

But not everybody has to swim to get the benefits of the water, Mullins explained.

“There are some doctors that will recommend the therapy and warm water pool type of class to just get started, especially if there are any balance issues involved. It’s a lot harder to fall over in the pool, so it’s a really

great starting point,” she said. “We also have Aqua Zumba or other types of cardio classes that are in the pool where they aren’t necessarily swimming, but they are using that water resistance and the buoyancy and really getting their heart rate going in there without really having to do traditional swimming.”

Call Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at (586) 498-1060.

Olga

Photo provided by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Personalize your outdoor space in a creative way

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — As winter comes to a close, outdoor spaces are open, and people are starting to enjoy the warmer weather.

Decorating a home to fit the personality of the occupant is a common practice, and outdoor spaces are just as important.

Backyard decorating began after World War II, according to the Smithsonian website, si.edu. Following World War II, people began to move to suburban developments that had their own private backyards.

People began working 40-hour work weeks and secured an increase of disposable income. The average family now had the ability to start creating their own do-it-yourself creations, resulting in personalized backyard spaces, according to the Smithsonian.

In the years following, people were looking to be different from their neighbors, and in an effort to bring more personality and comfortability to the space, many homeowners started to change up their outdoor decorating.

English Gardens Vice President of Store Operations and Merchandising Manager Dean Darin said that in the recent past, outdoor decorating included a table, chairs and an umbrella.

“Twenty years ago, a popular set was a wrought-iron metal set that wasn’t very comfortable,” he said. “Yeah, it was OK to dine on, but if you wanted to sit there for three or four hours to relax, it was not very comfortable.”

“Around 10 years ago, people started to transform their patio into more of an outdoor room rather than just a patio with a table on it,” he said.

Darin said that with new technology and furniture innovation, what once would be seen as indoor seating can now be put outside and survive the elements. All-weather wicker is a very popular look, he said, and ensures the longevity of outdoor furniture.

Around 12 years ago, Darin said, fairy gardens or miniature gardens started to

Outdoor

from page 8A

become a trend to bring more whimsy to outdoor spaces.

The first fairy garden or miniature garden was created by famous British engineer, author and gardener Annette Ashberry.

Ashberry began designing “out of the ordinary” window boxes, according to the Loughborough History and Heritage Network website, lboro-history-heritage.org.uk.

Soon finding out that these tiny landscapes were a hot commodity, she began her own commercial venture in 1938.

People have been creating their own take on miniature gardens ever since.

Waterford resident Pam McCoy found that creating a fairy garden not only brought whimsy into her backyard space, but also provided a sense of peace to her as well.

“I wanted to get out of my own little head, so I slowly started purchasing a couple of items and creating my fairy garden,” she said.

Retrieving most of her items from Dollar Tree, and some from Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, McCoy was able to escape into her own ideally created town of fairies.

“It allowed me to create and design

something that was cute and whimsical,” she said. “Like I said, I have always wanted a fairy garden, and it allowed me to get into my creative side.”

English Gardens has miniature garden supplies, according to Darin, but he has noticed a downward trend in popularity over the past few years.

“Most of the miniature gardening we do today and the supplies we have is for doing it indoors,” he said.

Fairy gardens are just one way to bring creativity to the outdoor space, according to Darin. There are plenty of other types of outdoor decor that bring just as much personality.

Pottery seems to be the most popular choice Darin has seen.

“People plant annuals, or sometimes even colorful plants, palm plants, in with annuals for color,” he said. “There are also different kinds of garden stakes, accents, wind chimes and wind spinners that come in a lot of different styles.”

Incorporating fountains into a backyard space for the sound of running water, or wind chimes for that soft tinkling sound, is also popular and promotes a calm environment.

“It’s all about sight, sound and feel,” he said.

Statues are another well-liked decora-

tive choice for homeowners. According to Darin, utilizing statues in the garden and around the patio can help accomplish a specific theme or look.

English Gardens has year-round DIY outdoor decorating programs to assist people in creating their outdoor spaces. Darin also said that the business has a landscape com-

pany that can do all the work for you.

“Many people are investing in their backyards and landscape in their front yards because it adds value to the home,” he said. “We will do a design pretty much any time of the year. We have various different levels of a do-it-yourself program to get people started on their landscaping.”

CRIME WATCH

Police arrest motorist for resisting arrest

BERKLEY — A 23-year-old Southfield man was arrested for allegedly resisting an officer at 10 a.m. March 13 near Wiltshire Boulevard and Glasgow Street.

The police report states that police observed a red Mercedes sedan traveling northbound on Greenfield Road change lanes without signaling. Police ran the plate of the vehicle, which showed the registered owner had a felony warrant for carrying a concealed weapon.

While police attempted to pull over the vehicle, the sedan reportedly increased its speed. The driver also reportedly disobeyed two stop signs as the squad car activated its emergency lights.

The sedan turned north on Glasgow and failed to yield for lights and sirens, according to police. It slowed but continued until it pulled into a driveway in Southfield. The driver exited the vehicle.

Police placed the man under arrest. During the arrest, the man allegedly tensed his body at times while the officer attempted to put him into handcuffs.

— Mike Koury

Auction

from page 3A

maximum bids so that it automatically goes up if somebody bids over you.”

Proceeds from the auction will go toward improvements to the city’s community pool. Jahnke said the pool was a good choice, as the updates will affect a large swath of the community.

“Whether you have somebody on the swim team or you’re a lap swimmer, exercise, your children go there … all kinds of people use the pool,” he said. “So it’s kind of something that has a lot of visibility and the improvements will affect the most people.”

City Manager Chris Wilson said the city will be using much of the money raised this

year to update the deck chairs at the pool.

“We have over 100 that we keep around there all the time,” he said. “You know, people like to lay out around the pool. They’re (the chairs are) old; they’ve been used a lot … so that’s gonna be a big upgrade.”

Wilson said there also could be updates to the pool’s locker room facilities but, overall, the actual pool itself is in good shape.

“We’ll have some upgrades over the next few years for the filtration system, some things that will make it more energy efficient and just make it easier for us to operate, but all in all the pool is in good shape,” he said.

Tickets to the in-person event cost $50. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit hwmc.org.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

SAFETY PROTECTION KEY TO VIEWING SOLAR ECLIPSE

BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — A near total solar eclipse doesn’t occur often, but when it does happen there are safety precautions people must take to prevent eye damage and behold its true beauty.

Bob Trembley, president of the Warren Astronomical Society, said a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun.

“There can be a partial eclipse. You’ll just see a bite taken out of it and it’ll look like a crescent, a crescent moon almost, but crescent sun,” Trembley said. “But if you’re in the right spot at the right time, the moon can cover the entire face of the sun.”

A solar eclipse will occur in parts of the continental United States on April 8. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s website, a partial eclipse will start in Cleveland, Ohio at around 1:59 p.m. EDT. Totality will begin at around 3:13 p.m. and totality will end at around 3:16 p.m.

What does that mean for Michigan?

Micheal Narlock, head of astronomy at Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, said that people here in the metro area of Michigan will experience a 98% solar eclipse.

“If you stay in the metro area, you’re going to be in for quite a treat,” Narlock said. “Because the sun is going to be covered by the moon, not totally, but about as close to total you can get without it actually being total.”

The last total solar eclipse in Michigan was in 1954 and there won’t be another total eclipse in the area until 2099. The last total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. was in 2017.

Jon Blum, a member of the Warren Astronomical Society, said if a person would like to see a full eclipse, they would have to travel to a place along the eclipse path.

“There’s a line that goes across the country from Texas through a couple of other states and goes through Indiana and Ohio out to Maine,” Blum said. “If you Google eclipse path online, you’ll see what the line is.”

Blum said a total eclipse hits the continental U.S. every 10 or 20 years. Blum said there is no set number of years, however, and that when a solar eclipse occurs varies from time to time.

A NASA frequently asked questions post from 2017 states that solar eclipses of all kinds occur two to three times a year with two total eclipses occurring every three years.

During a total solar eclipse, Trembley said people can experience a temperature drop, the sounds of a few night time animals as well as the Belt of Venus, an atmospheric phenomenon visible shortly before sunrise or sunset.

“You’ll see that 360 degrees around you, not just in the direction of the sun,” Trembley said. “It’s very strange.”

Narlock said if you look at the sun unprotected, permanent eye damage can occur. People should use filtered glasses that cut down the intensity of the sun’s rays.

ABOVE: Ken Bertin poses with his telescope he uses to view solar eclipses. He is 77 years old and has loved astronomy since he was 6.

LEFT: This image of a solar eclipse was taken by Bertin.

Photos provided by Ken Bertin

Ferndale to take on more sewer work starting in spring

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Projects relating to pipe and sewer work in Ferndale were approved by the City Council at its last meeting.

At its March 11 meeting, the council approved a cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation project and a sewer cleaning and televising project in Ferndale.

The cured-in-place pipe project was awarded to SAK Construction LLC for the cost of $452,098. The sewer cleaning and televising project was awarded to Taplin Group LLC for the cost of $265,681.85

“Sewers that are in place already are lined,” Director of Public Works James Jameson told the council regarding curedin-place pipe. “It’s almost like a sock; they fill it up with air and heat that hardens, and it becomes a plastic pipe on the inside of a clay pipe. It’s much cheaper than excavating, because you can go through manhole segments.”

Construction is expected to begin April 30. Most of the work is estimated to be done by the end of June.

“The unlined sewers that are being addressed are mostly 80 to 100 years old,” Jameson said. “At this point, the useful life of clay sewer pipe is roughly 50 years. So we’re on borrowed time with the rest of these.”

Because of the amount of sewer work that’s been done over the years, Council member Greg Pawlica asked Jameson if the city is getting close to being done with this type of work.

“During the last 10 years that I’ve been on council, we’ve approved a lot of these projects,” he said. “So we’ve been doing this cured-in-place lining for quite some time. … It feels like we’re getting to a point where

The map seen here shows the entirety of Ferndale’s

there can’t be a lot of uncured pipeline. I feel like every couple of years we’re doing a threeyear project.”

Jameson told the Woodward Talk that this year’s project will cover 10,700 linear feet of sewer lines. Over the years, 143,000 linear feet has been completed, which is 33.9% of the work on the city’s sewers. After this year’s project is done, more than 36% will be completed.

The televising and cleaning program is conducted by the city every four to five years. It was last done around 2019.

This project also is scheduled to start April 30, with most of the work estimated to be done by July 10. The work includes cleaning, televising and condition assessments of sewer mains.

of sewer main. Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Image provided by the city of Ferndale and Giffels Webster

2024 construction projects. The streets lined in purple are ones that will have cured-in-place pipe work done.

Ried

from page 1A

Ried was appointed as interim police chief after Nowak retired and has served in both that role and as sergeant of the department.

The new chief stated that the workload has been a bit busier, but the help from other police officers has been key.

“The sergeant’s position isn’t your typical, normal sergeant position. In a bigger department, they’re more of a first-line supervisor for the officers. Here, you have a lot more responsibilities; you’re in charge of all of the investigative duties, in charge of backgrounds. There’s just a lot more responsibility,” he said. “So getting that, plus all the administrative duties of chief, it’s been OK. We’ve made it through. … It’s been a learning process, but we’re doing just fine.”

Mayor Bret Scott, who took part in the hiring process, stated that, as the city reviewed the candidates, it was clear that Ried was the best candidate for the job.

“His experience in the community has been phenomenal, and he’s an excellent police officer,” Scott said.

“In our most recent community survey,

99% of people in Pleasant Ridge feel safe and 97% of residents are satisfied with our Police Department,” Scott continued. “That is in large part due to the excellent police staff that we have, and I’m sure that Robert will put his stamp on the department and continue that tradition.”

As the new chief, Ried said there are some benchmarks he wants to hit as he begins his tenure. One of those is retaining the officers in the department. He also noted that Pleasant Ridge will take part in the accreditation process with the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

“All our officers … they’ve made this environment phenomenal, and I want to make sure that in this environment of where police are in short supply, that we retain them and we keep moving forward,” he said. “This department is a great department. I think our officers here see that, but I want to make sure that I hold on to them.”

“This department runs very well. It has the entire time that I’ve been here. I think that that is a testament to our officers and their knowledge and experience, and everybody tends to help each other out here, which makes my job a lot easier,” he continued.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

Pictured with his family, Ried has been with the Pleasant Ridge Police Department for 24 years. Since October, he has served as the department’s interim chief.

DRAG RACING ON BERKLEY STREETS LEADS TO ARREST

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

BERKLEY — A 19-year-old Detroit man was arrested in connection to a drag racing incident at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, near Woodward Avenue and 12 Mile Road.

Berkley police arrested Aaron Bryant for allegedly taking part in drag racing.

According to the Berkley Public Safety Department, officers observed traffic on southbound Woodward and noticed numerous vehicles that appeared to be drag racing.

“This group of cars was about five or six cars all leaving that area and started accelerating from 13 Mile (Road) southbound,” Berkley Public Safety Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield said. “At the point that they passed the officer was when this guy was leading the pack of cars.”

The lead vehicle, a black Honda, was seen traveling 81 miles per hour and when police attempted to pull it over, it instead fled the scene, Hadfield said.

“The driver began to flee, going through two red lights at 12 Mile and almost causing

Hibbler

from page 1A

Hibbler also stated that it was important for her to take on the superintendent’s role when there aren’t a lot of Black women serving in superintendent roles.

“I just am very, very clear that, as a Black woman in this position, that we are few and far between across the country. So I think that as a Black woman leader, that’s huge for me,” she said. “I’m very clear that, like, a lot of people that are looking at me or I’m like a mirror for some of our students, so I don’t take that for granted. I know that they are watching and I’m extremely focused on ensuring that I make them proud and make decisions that are positively impacting them. So that means a lot.”

Board President Sandra Dukhie said Hibbler has shown strong leadership as interim superintendent and that she’s been very collaborative with all aspects of the district.

The board also received feedback from staff and the community to look internally at Hibbler to become the permanent superintendent before taking on a big search process.

“She really expressed and demonstrated that she has a serious and strong commitment to the Ferndale Schools and all the

Bryant

a collision with a vehicle,” he said.

Hadfield stated that the pursuit made its way to Brookline Street, where the vehicle struck the curb of the median. The suspect, Bryant, was not injured in the chase, police said.

“(This) partially disabled the car to the point the subject stopped and officers placed him under arrest,” Hadfield said.

Drag racing, according to Hadfield, tends to be an issue during the summer months, but it seems to be starting a little bit earlier this year.

Hadfield said the last couple of warm days in March led to a higher traffic volume and more incidents of drag racing.

“We’re just trying to educate drivers before something serious happens; one, it’s illegal, and then two, the extra enforcement that’s going to be out there due to noise problems and the drag racing and speeding that continues to occur,” Hadfield said.

Bryant was charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony that is punish-

able by up to five years in prison, and drag racing, a 90-day misdemeanor. He was arraigned March 14 in the 44th District Court and given a $50,000 personal bond.

Bryant’s next court date is a probable cause conference set for 10:16 a.m. Friday,

students,” Dukhie said. “She is data driven, so her decisions are data driven and she uses those to make the best decisions for all students to ensure that they have the best educational experiences that prepare them for

whatever their futures are.”

Hibbler stated that support from the community was a big surprise and one that humbled her.

Hibbler still is serving in the interim ca-

March 22, at the 44th District Court. An attorney for Bryant, who requested a courtappointed attorney, was not listed on the court’s website before press time.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

pacity as superintendent as the district works on a contract, which Dukhie said the district is aiming to get done around spring break at the end of March.

“My confidence in Camille is really strong,” Dukhie said. “She’s very humble, and she has a level of humility about her in her day-to-day interactions. She’s eager to learn and she’s always seeking thought partners, whether it be internal or external. She leverages all kinds of educational community partners in our work. And for me, that’s a huge asset because our world is ever changing and no one person knows everything, and to be able to leverage a thought partner on some big move that may be coming that may impact us in Ferndale and we’re not aware of is going to be a benefit.

Going forward, Hibbler said she’s excited to get to work on the district’s strategic plan. She wants to convert it to a dynamic plan, which would allow the district to review its goals, look at data and make realtime adjustments to the plan. She said that equity must be at the forefront of Ferndale’s plans, as well as a data-driven culture.

“We want to make sure that we’re adjusting and reflecting our goals with our students in mind. And I believe a dynamic plan will allow for us to do that,” she said.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Photo provided by Ferndale Public Schools

Camille Hibbler, seen here, fourth from the right, with the Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education, was selected to be the new superintendent of the district. Hibbler has served as interim superintendent since the beginning of the year.

Image provided by the Berkley Public Safety Department

The Berkley Public Safety Department arrested a 19-year-old man for drag racing on March 13. The teen surrendered to police, seen here on police dashcam footage, after his vehicle hit the curb of a median and came to a stop.

Eclipse

from page 11A

“You’ll still be able to see the sun, it will look like a yellow white disk through your glasses, but you won’t be able to see much of anything else. That’s how much we have to cut down the light,” Narlock said.

He also said there are special filters for telescopes that can see only one wavelength of light.

During an eclipse people are more likely to stare at the sun, Blum said. It’s also easier to stare at the sun because the moon covers it, making it dimmer.

“On a normal day, on a sunny day, if you try to stare at the sun you’d say, ‘Oh, that’s awful bright,’ and you’d look away,” Blum said. “But on an eclipse the sun is partly covered by the moon so it’s not so bright. So it doesn’t bother you to look at the sun if you think, ‘Well, OK, I can just stare at the sun.’”

Holding a colander up to the sun to see the shadow of the eclipse is a way to indirectly view it, Narlock said.

“The little holes in the colander will create essentially a little projection of the eclipse as it happens,” Narlock said. “People have also gone under a big tree and looked at the sunlight that comes through the leaves.”

Eye damage can still occur even when the sun is 98% covered like it will be in the metro area.

“Even if there is 1% of the sun showing, it’s still as bright as the entire sun, so you can blind yourself, so you have to have either solar glasses or telescopes or binoculars, or whatever, with appropriate solar filtering,” Trembley said.

Regular sunglasses will not do when viewing an eclipse and they will damage the

eyes significantly, Narlock said.

Trembley said NASA’s “Solar System Ambassadors” have been shipping out solar glasses. Both Trembley and his wife are ambassadors. Libraries are also good places to check as well. Narlock said Cranbrook is selling the glasses and he also saw his optometrist selling them.

Both Trembley and Narlock warned people to be wary of solar glasses sold online. These glasses could not have the right lenses or the lenses could already have damage such as scratches.

Narlock said solar eclipses are not something to goof around with.

“If you have children that are going to be looking directly at it, make sure that they’re wearing approved solar eclipse glasses that aren’t scratched. Make sure they don’t take them off their face while they’re looking at the sun,” Narlock said. “Because it just takes a moment and they could really damage their eyes.”

Solar eclipse viewing events are occurring all over at local parks and other venues.

Cranbrook is also holding an eclipse viewing event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Trembley said to find an event near you, visit the NASA Night Sky Network at nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov.

“It’s a NASA program where they join up with astronomy clubs across the country and they post information on the clubs and events that the clubs are holding,” Trembley said.

He also said NASA Solar System Ambassadors will be hosting or attending events.

A full directory of ambassadors can be found online by searching NASA Solar System Ambassadors.

You can check your local library’s website as well as city websites for further events.

0022-2412

C & G Newspapers publishes 21 papers in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties:

Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle • Farmington Press • Fraser-Clinton Township Chronicle • Grosse Pointe Times • Macomb Township Chronicle Madison-Park News • Mount Clemens-Clinton-Harrison Township Journal • Novi Note • Rochester Post Roseville-Eastpointe Eastsider Royal Oak Review • Shelby-Utica News • Southfield Sun • St. Clair Shores Sentinel • Sterling Heights Sentry Troy Times • Warren Weekly West Bloomfield Beacon • Woodward Talk • C & G Special Edition (Grosse Pointe/Macomb Co.) • C & G Special Edition (Oakland Co.)

Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 (586) 498-8000 facebook.com/woodwardtalk @candgnews candgnews.com

Editor:

David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com

Reporter:

Mike Koury | (586) 498-1077 | mkoury@candgnews.com

Sports:

Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com

Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com

For retail ad rates: Mark Reitenga | (586) 498-1050 | mreitenga@candgnews.com

Karen Bozimowski | (586) 498-1032 | kboz@candgnews.com

Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100

Legals and Obits: (586) 498-1099

Automotive Advertising: Louise Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com

Real Estate Advertising: Paula Kaspor | (586) 498-1055 | pkaspor@candgnews.com

Permanent part-time Park Maintenance Personnel position, $17.66 - $22.92 hourly (32 hours per week) includes benefit package. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination(s) is required, and applicants must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance, as well as possession of a valid Michigan driver’s license and a good driving record. Pre-employment background investigation and substance abuse testing is required. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Twp., MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Monday, April 1, 2024. The Charter Township of Clinton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability. For further information pertaining to this position or to download employment application please refer to www.clintontownship.com, click on employment.

0295-2412

Home Repairs

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Landscaping & Water Gardens

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Lawn Maintenance 2024SPRING 586-260-5218

Commercial/Residential *Landscaping *Decks *SpringClean-Ups *LawnCutting *LicensedFertilization *Aerating&Thatching VisitFacebook:

SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE FlatRoofSpecialist $225•MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial •GutterRepairs Residential/Commercial InsuranceWork 30-yrsexp/Family-Owned WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 248-707-4851

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MARCH 22 & 29

Fish fries: 5-8 p.m., dine in and carryout, proceeds go to veterans and veteran programs, Berkley American Legion Post 374, 2079 W. 12 Mile Road, berkleypost374.org, (248) 591-9220

MARCH 23

Egg hunts: Ages 4 and younger at 1 p.m. at Wilson Park, ages 1-11 at 1:30 p.m. at Geary Park, and ages 1-11 at 2 p.m. at Martin Road Park, Easter Bunny at last location, (248) 544-6767, facebook.com/ ferndaleparksandrec

MARCH 24

Purim A – X: Reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther) at 5:30 p.m., dinner and concert to follow, also fine Judaica art sale, Jewish Ferndale, 1725 Pinecrest Drive, (248) 798-5082

Ferndale Community Concert Band: Music from around the world, also featuring M-1 Jazz Collective, 3 p.m., Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive, fcconcertband.org

APRIL 6

Erotic Poetry & Music Festival: 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), for ages 18 and older, The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale, (248) 820-5596, ticketweb.com

Spring Fling Dance: Also pizza, dessert, drinks, DJ, photo booth and craft, for ages 14 and younger, noon-2 p.m., Clawson Senior Center inside Hunter Community Center, 509 Fisher Court, (248) 589-0334

APRIL 8

Musicals trivia: 7-8:30 p.m., 215 West, 215 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, fadl.org/trivia

APRIL 9

Film club: Watch and discuss clips from “Minari” (2020) starring Steven Yeun, 7 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, fadl.org/film-club

APRIL 14

Audra Kubat concert: Hear Detroit Music Awards-winning singer/

songwriter, 2-3:15 p.m., Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, fadl.org/audra

APRIL 27

A Walk at the Zoo: Fundraiser for Shades of Pink Foundation, helps with living expenses for local people undergoing breast cancer treatment, 7 a.m.-noon, Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, shadesofpinkfoundation.org

ONGOING

‘Beautiful Thing’: 30th anniversary of “seminal gay British drama,” 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays and 3 p.m. Sundays (except March 31) until April 1, Ringwald Theatre at Affirmations LGBTQIA+ Community Center, 290 W. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, theringwald. com

Art exhibits: Solo show by mixed-media fiber artist Boisali Biswas, work on display until April 6, Ferndale Area District Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, fadl.org/art

• “Patterns Patterns Everywhere”: Solo show by Birmingham resident and co-founding member of Lawrence Street Gallery Laura Whitesides Host, work on display 1-5 p.m. Sundays and noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays until March 29, Lawrence Street Gallery, 22620 Woodward Ave., Suite A, in Ferndale, lawrencestreetgallery.com

• “Faces in Nature” photography exhibit, work on display daily (except March 31) until April 27, Woods Gallery inside

APRIL 6

Peninsular Printmaker Art Fair: Featuring 18 artists, noon-8 p.m., Urbanrest Brewery, 2615 Walcott St. in Ferndale, (248) 854-0492

a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/ support-groups

Man escapes gunmen by jumping from balcony

SOUTHFIELD — At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21, a man went back to his apartment in the 23000 block of Riverside Drive after a night out.

When he entered the apartment, he discovered individuals he had met the night before inside his home. The suspects held him at gunpoint and began arguing with one another.

The man was able to escape by running out the back door and jumping from his balcony.

The suspects left and were apprehended soon after with the help of identification through video footage.

Women take off in man’s car

SOUTHFIELD — A man told police that he met two women and invited them back to his place around 1:51 a.m. Feb. 14.

He left the women unattended in his 2019 Ford Escape while he ran back into an establishment in the 20000 block of Sherman Avenue to retrieve his coat.

When he went back outside, the women and the car were gone.

Walmart customer pays for only part of his bill NOVI — At 1:01 p.m. Feb. 17, a Walmart customer was caught at the U-Scan self-checkout machine attempting to pay for only half the items in his grocery cart.

The man was seen paying for nine items that cost a total of $128.76 and trying to walk away without paying for 16 additional items in his cart that were valued at $80.52 When confronted by police and the store’s asset protection staff, the man said he had paid for the items in a previous transaction. However, after viewing the CCTV footage, it was discovered that the items never left the man’s cart and there was no previous transaction.

The officer noted that one of the plush toys the man stole did not have a price tag and asked him how he supposedly paid for that item. He said he just moved the items over the scanner and assumed they were rung up. He said he didn’t listen for the “beep,” according to the report.

One item, a roll of paper towels, was unpaid for and was added to the cart by the man’s female companion. However, his story was contradicted by the footage of him scanning the items he did pay for, which shows him meticulously scanning each item to make sure the scanner beeped. Police had the store check to see if any of the items the man stole had indeed been purchased that day. Only one of the items, a popular bottle of Clorox spray, had been purchased at all that day. This confirmed that the man had stolen the items, according to the report. The man was then arrested for

citation to appear in court.

Minnesota food stamps used fraudulently at Novi Sam’s Club

NOVI — A Minnesota woman contacted Novi police Feb. 16 after her food stamp purchases kept getting declined and she was unable to purchase her groceries. She discovered upon reading her statement that her card had been used at Sam’s Club in Novi. A person used her $659.82 worth of food stamps and also took out $10 cash, as the card doubles as a debit card. The person had previously attempted to take out $1,253.76 from the account but was declined due to insufficient funds.

The Minnesota woman was given a case number and was advised to report the fraud in her jurisdiction of Minnesota. Novi police told her to contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and that she would likely be reimbursed for the fraudulent charges made on her account. The case was closed in Novi.

Dirt bike reportedly causes lawn damage

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On Feb. 9, a West Bloomfield police officer was dispatched to a location on Walnut Lake Road for a malicious destruction of property report.

It was reported that on multiple occasions, an unknown person has ridden a dirt bike across a lawn and caused damage.

No further information was provided.

Man threatens Kroger employees during robbery

BIRMINGHAM — On Feb. 24 at 9:47 p.m., a Kroger employee called police about an armed robbery at their Maple and Woodward location. It was reported that a 35-year-old male suspect had stolen a prepaid cellphone and pulled a pistol from his waistband, threatening to harm employees when he was confronted.

According to a press release, he exited the store and walked toward Woodward through the rear parking lot.

A Birmingham sergeant, who was already on foot patrol, saw the suspect and shared his path of travel with other officers. Officers found the suspect in the bushes along the brick wall on the east side of the Flagstar Bank parking lot. After obstructing and resisting officers, he was taken into custody.

An airsoft pistol and the stolen cellphone were found in the bushes where he had been hiding. He was to remain in custody until his arraignment.

Woman accused of threatening man with boxcutter in road rage incident

FARMINGTON — Around 11 a.m. Feb. 13, officers

Halsted Road for a fight in progress.

Officers arrived and found a man and a woman in a verbal argument that had stemmed from a road rage argument on M-5. Officers learned that the 29-year-old woman had obtained a box cutter and swung it at the man in an attempt to injure him. She was arrested for felonious assault and was lodged for arraignment. The man did not suffer any injuries. The case was forwarded on to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Officer for a warrant request.

Drunken driver crashes

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, a 50-year-old Warren man drove a gray 2013 Chevy Traverse off the roadway at John R and Sonoma roads at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 27, striking a building.

The driver had a blood alcohol content level of 0.157. He was taken to a hospital and issued citations for operating while intoxicated.

The investigation was ongoing.

Man defrauded of nearly $16,000

BERKLEY — A 69-year-old Berkley man was the victim of thousands of dollars of fraud.

In an incident reported to police at 12:20 p.m. Feb. 28, the man told police that on Feb. 26, a screen appeared on his computer that said he had a virus and to contact Microsoft at the number listed. A representative on the phone asked for the man’s credit union information and said that Microsoft would contact the fraud department for the man because the man’s computer and bank information had been breached.

The man said a person who claimed to work with Vibe Credit Union said his account was showing fraudulent activity and that he needed to work with federal marshals to find the scammers. He was advised to take out $15,900 from the credit union and deposit it into two different bitcoin machines. The man did so and the person who claimed to work for the credit union asked that he remain quiet about the matter for the time being.

The suspect called again the next day and asked the Berkley man to buy a $100 Apple gift card so he could clean his phones of any viruses. It was at this point where the victim realized that he was being scammed. The fraud was reported to both the credit union and police.

Attempted Jeep theft caught on camera

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Deputies responded to the 100 block of Birchhill Drive in reference to an attempted auto theft in progress at 6:25 a.m. Feb. 15.

A 63-year-old man from Oakland Township said there was someone visible on a security camera

The suspect, a man, fled prior to the deputies arriving.

Deputies met with the complainant, who stated his daughter saw a man on their cameras with the hood up on the Jeep in the driveway, attempting to start the vehicle.

The man fled down the driveway while the complainant was still on the line with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

There was a rear side window broken out that appears to be how the suspect gained entry to the vehicle.

The owner of the Jeep had a sophisticated security system on the vehicle that thwarted the attempts to start the Jeep, according to reports. Police were investigating.

Man’s boss arrested after reportedly breaking into employee’s home, assaulting him

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the 100 block of Fontainbleau Court for an assault and home invasion at 7:47 a.m. Feb. 4. A man told police he had texted his boss, who pays a portion of his rent directly out of his landscaping paycheck, to let the boss know there was a text about owing the rent. The boss then allegedly went to the man’s home, kicked in the front door and assaulted him.