3/20/24 Warren Weekly

WARREN

5 after more than 60 years of “outstanding” service in law enforcement.

What a difference a few hours make.

At 11:30 a.m., Dwyer was talking enthusiastically to a reporter about his retirement on April 19 and planning a light repast before then for him to say goodbye to the community and his fellow officers. Less than three hours later, he was terminated from his position and escorted

See DWYER on page 22A

Two cops fired, settlement paid for misconduct just revealed

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

WARREN — Two Warren police officers were charged with assault last summer for their alleged actions during a traffic stop. The officers were later fired by the Warren Police Department for misconduct, and a settlement was reportedly paid to the victim at the agreement of city attorneys with the authorization of the city’s former administration.

The details were confirmed in separate press releases from Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and Warren Mayor Lori Stone, but none of it was apparently disclosed at the time.

It all came to light after a March 7 television news report by WXYZ Channel 7 journalist Ross Jones.

“The case was resolved after the two Warren officers involved faced criminal charges and were fired from the Warren Police Department. This happened under the previous administration,” Stone said in a statement on March 8.

“The City’s lawyers also agreed to a settlement with the victim that was authorized by the previous administration. To be honest, I only found out about the incident

See OFFICERS on page 19A

Livernois announces his retirement from WCS

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

WARREN/STERLING HEIGHTS — After 36 years in education, Warren Consolidated Schools Superintendent Robert Livernois has decided to retire.

On March 7, the district issued a press release announcing his retirement, effective Aug. 30, 2024.

Livernois, 57, also sent a letter to district families informing them of his retirement.

“My journey with WCS has been incredibly fulfilling and rewarding,” he said. “As I reflect on my time here, I am filled with a deep sense of appreciation for the relationships I have formed. It has been an honor to serve as your superintendent, and I remain proud that my own children attended our schools and have grown up to be very successful adults.

“While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, I will certainly miss the camaraderie and collaboration that has defined our district,” he added. “I have no doubt that the culture of respect that we have built will continue, and I am confident that WCS will remain strong, especially since we have an extraordinary Board of Education.”

Warren Consolidated Schools Board of Education President Susan Trombley described Livernois as “an incredibly stable force in our community.”

In the news release, she commended his leadership through several challenges, in-

See LIVERNOIS on page 10A

Family says pet killed in Valentine’s Day coyote attack

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

WARREN — A beloved member of the Burton family of Warren, Lala was let out on the family’s back porch for just a few minutes when a wild coyote mauled and killed the small Shih Tzu on Valentine’s Day.

After the incident, several of their neighbors told the Burtons they have seen coyotes throughout the neighborhood.

“One (neighbor) sent me a picture of a coyote that was in the yard in the daytime,” Candace Burton said. “Other neighbors said they have reached out to the city

multiple times to see if someone would address what was going on.”

Behind the neighborhood is a newer housing development that, according to Burton, halted progress for at least two years. Burton referred to it as Heritage Pointe, near 10 Mile and Schoenherr roads. Trees and woods were once adjacent to their backyard. Now, it’s an open space with piles of tree branches and limbs. Burton believes that has contributed to the coyotes in the area.

“Coyotes don’t need woods. They need debris,” Burton said as she recounted what her colleague who also hunts coyotes for a living said.

See

File photo by Deb Jacques

“My

Livernois

Photo provided by Candace Burton

Driver charged with multiple felonies in fatal car crash

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

WARREN — A Warren man was arraigned in the 37th District Court on March 4 and charged with 15 felonies for allegedly driving while drunk, reckless driving and causing a fatal accident.

Xaiver Fuggerson, 33, of Warren was driving a silver Chevrolet Impala at approximately 1:45 a.m. on March 2, in the area of Groesbeck Highway north of Stephens Road. According to Warren police, the Impala was traveling southbound on Groesbeck racing next to a silver Chevrolet Tahoe. The drivers reportedly had been socializing at an area bar prior to the crash. Fuggerson’s Impala allegedly made contact with the Tahoe, which caused the Tahoe to roll over. The four occupants in the Tahoe were ejected, police said.

Warren police and firefighters were dispatched to the scene where the driver of the Tahoe, a 48-year-old Detroit man, was pronounced dead. The four passengers in the Tahoe were also from Detroit and transported to an area hospital where they remain in serious condition.

According to police, Fuggerson was not injured. He reportedly had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit and was arrested at the scene.

Fuggerson was charged with three felonies punishable up to 15 years: operating while intoxicated causing death, reckless driving causing death, and operating with a suspended license causing death. The other charges include four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, four counts of reckless driving causing serious injury and four counts of operating with a suspended license causing serious injury, felonies punishable up to five years.

Fuggerson entered a “not guilty” plea before Judge Suzanne Faunce, who set bond at $1 million cash or surety only. According to police, Fuggerson has previous felony convictions and has multiple open suspensions on his driver’s license for various traffic tickets.

“I do believe that the facts are going to show that he (Fuggerson) was not at all at fault for this accident,” said Fuggerson’s attorney, Robbie D. Lang. “I think it is pretty clear from what I have seen so far in terms of photographs, positions of the cars on the road, etc. It seems fairly clear to me that it was the driver of the Tahoe who caused the accident and ran into my client’s car.”

Fuggerson was in the Macomb County Jail ahead of a 9:30 a.m. March 14 probable cause conference before Judge John Chmura in the 37th District Court.

“We have one person deceased, four others seriously injured, and one person facing 15 very serious felony charges all for an incident which was completely preventable. Any time alcohol, plus excessive speeds, and racing are mixed together, the outcome is never positive,” Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said in a statement on March 2. “Our investigators are examining the events that led up to this unfortunate incident to see if there was any negligence or criminal activity on the establishment (where) this group was socializing just prior to this crash occurring.

“The fatality, serious injuries, and the serious yet appropriate charges issued in this case should serve as a reminder to all drivers to obey the speed limit and most importantly, drive sober,” Dwyer said.

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.

Fuggerson

Coyote

from page 3A

“Who is responsible for this debris? Who needs to clean this up?” Burton said. “This is absolutely absurd.”

According to Rachel Lincoln, outreach coordinator for the Wildlife Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, coyotes are a game species and can be hunted in areas where hunting is allowed by those with a hunting license. However, in urban areas like Warren, hunting with a firearm is prohibited. In this case, Lincoln recommends homeowners contact nuisance animal control companies to come in and remove those species.

“I reached out to (Warren) Animal Control. They said, ‘It was unfortunate that happened but there’s nothing we can do.”’

Burton continued about her neighbors and the city.

“The next couple days are going to be beautiful. My neighbor doesn’t want her kids to come out and play because she’s scared of the backyard, that the coyotes are going to come out because they have this debris built up,” Burton said. “My thing is this, if you don’t shovel your snow, Warren will give you a citation. If your grass is too high, they’ll say something. Why can’t we expect the same thing from you (the city) when it comes to keeping our city safe?

“Yes, you (the city) want our city to look good. And we (residents) want our city to look good. But we also want our kids to be safe. We want our pets to be safe when we buy $200,000 and $300,000 family homes. We want our family to be safe and Lala was part of our family,” Burton said.

Several efforts were made to contact Warren Mayor Lori Stone regarding this issue. An email response from her communication team stated, “The city is looking at the coyote issue and we will reach out when we have an update.”

According to Lincoln, when an animal nuisance is reported, the Michigan DNR is also made aware of it.

“Your phone call was actually the first time we heard about this situation,” said Lincoln. “I reached out to the Macomb County wildlife biologist, and they had not heard of this situation and really haven’t had any reports of aggressive coyotes this year or in the year previously.”

Coyotes are very adaptive, living and thriving in every county in Michigan, said Lincoln, who shared tips for successfully dealing with the animal.

She said January through March is the coyote breeding season. Thus, they are more mobile and moving around a lot. Males es-

Heritage

pecially are covering their territory while they’re looking for a mate. They are hunting and protecting their territories and can become more aggressive toward other canine species.

This time of year, if you are letting your pets out, experts advise that you accompany them, keep them close by, or keep them on a leash.

It is also advisable to scout your yard before letting pets out, especially during dawn and dusk hours, when coyotes are frequently moving around. “Coyotes can’t really distinguish between a small squirrel, a small rabbit, or a small dog,” Lincoln said.

She said brush piles of tree limbs, branches and wood could house a family of rabbits or rodents that coyotes feed on.

“Take action now and remove it, so you don’t have issues with coyotes on your property,” Lincoln said.

It is also advisable to remove bird feeders that drop food to the ground. This attracts small mammals like chipmunks, squirrels, foxes and coyotes.

Coyotes on the move this time of year are looking for den sites, a place to raise their pups. Sometimes, these dens are close to houses. To reduce that possibility, Lincoln recommends removing food sources that attract small mammals that the coyote would eat as part of the food chain.

If you encounter a coyote, experts say to remain calm. Pick up your pet. Make loud noises. Extend your arms over your head or spread your arms wide to make yourself look bigger. Stand your ground. Don’t walk toward or chase a coyote. Coyotes generally have a fear of humans, according to Lincoln.

“Coyotes are an extremely well-adapted animal that we have in Michigan. They’re able to adapt and thrive and live in these urban areas,” Lincoln said.

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.

Photo provided by Candace Burton Just behind residential homes, a coyote walks around the

Pointe development in daylight.

The post is hosting a Baby Shower Drive for young military families stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Items can be dropped off on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, at 25500 Sherwood in Center Line.

Diapers in all sizes, formula and clothing for infants and children up to 6, boys and girls, new or used, must be clean and in good condition. Baby wipes, shampoo, lotion and any other items that babies and small children can use are also being sought.

Books, toys and games will also be accepted, along with gift cards and cash. Any cash donations will be spent on formula or gift cards.

For more information contact Sandra Huffman, auxiliary president, at (248) 930-4135.

“Our thanks to all who step up to aid our military families,” Huffman said.

NO PRESSURE BOOK CLUB

WARREN — Come join in the fun of a no pressure book club from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, at the Warren Maybelle Burnette Branch Library, located at 23345 Van Dyke Ave.

There are no deadlines and no required reading, just a friendly atmosphere, a little coffee or tea, and a light discussion about your favorite books, magazines, short stories, blogs, or podcasts. This program will take place in the boardroom. Registration is required and space is limited.Register online at warrenlibrary.net or by calling (586) 353-0579.

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN AT AREA THRIFT STORES

METRO DETROIT — The new trend in thrift store finds are vintage and retro items, according to Erik Overpeck, director of thrift store operation at Grace Centers of Hope, a nonprofit that operates four thrift stores in Macomb and Oakland counties.

There is a demand for shoppers seeking retro concert T-shirts and timeless denim pieces. Designer handbags continue to draw the interest of thrift store shoppers. High-end brands like Coach, Prada, and Michael Kors are among the sought-after labels available at discounted prices, according to Overpeck.

Home furnishings from mid-century modern to Danish modern furnishings attract customers drawn to clean lines and minimalist designs. Solid wood furniture is also popular for its sturdy and timeless appeal. Refurbishing the wood breathes new life into the furniture and attracts many “DIY” enthusiasts, said Overpeck.

Vintage glassware from the mid-century era is also in high demand at thrift stores this year. Colorful Pyrex dishes and unique Uranium glass pieces attract collectors and home decorators alike.

All the proceeds from the Grace Centers of Hope Thrift Stores benefit their recovery programs to help people overcome homelessness and addiction.

The Warren thrift store is located at 26740 Dequindre Road. Other Grace Centers of Hope Thrift stores are located in Sterling Heights, Oak Park and Waterford.

WARREN GARDEN CLUB MEETING

WARREN — The Warren Garden Club will meet at 6 p.m. April 10 in the cafeteria of the Warren Community Center at 5460 Arden.

Becky Hetchler will be the speaker with a delightful spring slide presentation from Warren gardens. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Linda at (810) 656-6490.

Catching Up With Alumni

“Catching Up With Alumni” highlights the accomplishments of past high school graduates. In this issue, we look at 1983 Warren High School graduate Greg Trzaskoma.

The show must go on at Warren Civic Theatre

MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

WARREN — On a recent Saturday morning in the Owen Jax Community Center basement, a group of student thespians practiced their dance steps preparing for Warren Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of “Cinderella.”

In another room off to the side — known as the costume shop — parent volunteers created dresses, coats and other garments to the hum of sewing machines and intricate work of needle and thread.

In the center of it all is Warren Civic Theatre’s Director Greg Trzaskoma, who for more than 30 years has brought the bright lights of Broadway to his hometown of Warren.

Warren Civic Theatre has become a staple in the city with talented casts of all ages bringing an array of shows center stage. For three decades, players have acted, sung and danced their way across the Warren Community Center stage, performing everything from “The Little Mermaid” to “Hairspray” to “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

Its history dates back to the summer of 1990 when Trzaskoma’s dad, a Warren police officer, saw an ad that a director was needed

for a summer drama camp at the former Ridgewood Elementary School. Trzaskoma got the part.

“At that point I was getting ready to start my studies at the University of Detroit Mercy in the theater program,” said the Warren resident, who earned a bachelor in fine arts degree in theater from the college. Trzaskoma also holds a master’s degree in theater with a specialization in acting from Wayne State University.

The summer workshops grew in popularity, and by 1994 it was showtime. Instead of just having a production at the end of camp, Warren Civic Theatre took it a step further by performing its first official show, “The King and I,” on the Warren Community Center stage, followed by “Oliver!” the next year at the Warren Woods Middle School auditorium.

Warren Civic Theatre has continued to “break a leg” ever since. The troupe’s next production is the youth edition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” at the Warren Community Center auditorium, 5460 Arden Ave. Curtain time is 7 p.m. March 22; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 23; and 3 p.m. March 24. All are welcome. For tickets, visit warrencivic.org.

LEFT: Greg Trzaskoma, of Warren, has been Warren Civic Theatre’s director for three decades.

ABOVE: Performing as the lead character Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” brought much satisfaction for Trzaskoma, because it was a role he always wanted to play.

Photos provided by Greg Trzaskoma

Livernois

from page 3A

cluding the 2008 recession, declines in state funding, facility reconfigurations, curriculum and technology infrastructure upgrades, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is difficult to quantify what he has meant to our district given his steadfast devotion to the students, staff, and the community at large,” Trombley said.

Livernois didn’t plan on becoming an educator. When he graduated from South Lake High School in 1984, he enrolled in college as an economics major and took a side job as a tutor to earn money.

When a family friend noticed how well he related to the students he was tutoring, it was suggested that he consider becoming a teacher. The idea stuck, and soon Livernois switched majors to pursue education.

In 1988, he started out in the classroom as a substitute teacher. His first teaching position was at a school in which he was very familiar: his alma mater, South Lake High School, in St. Clair Shores.

At South Lake, Livernois taught English, speech and drama for 10 years. While he loved the classroom, he also had the desire to work in administration. By 1998, he was impacting students in a different way — as the assistant principal at Warren Woods Tower High School.

Livernois eventually became principal at the high school and then moved on to become the director of curriculum for Warren Woods Public Schools. In 2005, he became the district’s top administrator when he was appointed superintendent. Three years later, in 2008, the longtime educator was named superintendent of the Warren Consolidated Schools district.

Livernois said in his retirement he will pursue education consulting and continue teaching part time at the university level while spending more time with his wife, Jeanne, and their family.

“Part of the reason I want to retire and move on is I want to have the opportunity to pay it forward (with) a lot of what I’ve learned in the profession,” he said in a follow-up interview.

As a veteran superintendent, Livernois would like to share his knowledge with administrators just starting out.

He said the most challenging part of being the Warren Consolidated Schools superintendent was that “the rules for how we operate are constantly changing by the state or federal government.”

“The policymakers are constantly changing funding, what we’re supposed to be teaching in school,” he said, adding it is sometimes “a political football.”

He’s proud, however, that the district continued the learning process for students despite some of the challenges.

“On the student front, I’m so proud of how many opportunities we have been able to maintain and grow for our kids,” he said. “Despite all the obstacles, whether it’s funding, the (COVID-19) pandemic, we didn’t cut fine arts, every student has a computer.”

He is also grateful for the dedicated staff members.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented people who have carried the load of educating kids,” he said. “It’s been an extraordinary, fulfilling career.”

The Board of Education plans meet to discuss the process for hiring a new superintendent.

Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.

0306-2406

HIGHLIGHTS:

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• MUST BE 4 YEARS OLD BY 9/1/24 AND

BE TOILET TRAINED

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• LISTENING AND TELLING STORIES

• RECOGNIZING AND WRITING NUMBERS

• PHYSICAL MOVEMENT

• SINGING SONGS AND MAKING MUSIC

• COOPERATIVE PLAY

• SORTING, COUNTING AND MATCHING

• LEARNING LETTERS AND SOUNDS

• PROBLEM SOLVING

• PERSONAL CARE AND HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

• BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

• SCIENCE & SOCIAL

SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH

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 in-

creasing access to free swim lessons and lifesaving 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.

See SWIMMING on page 15A

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

Specialty Medical Center: Now accepting new patients

Specialty Medical Center, a leader in regenerative medicine, ofers innovative treatments for individuals sufering from severe injuries and chronic illnesses.

“Our board-certifed physicians and surgeons are at the forefront of using the most advanced biomedical techniques to improve patient health,” said Medical Director David Fernandez, M.D., who is also an orthopedic surgeon.

“What distinguishes us is our status as the largest regenerative clinic in Michigan, focusing on the body’s natural healing mechanisms to repair damaged tissues and enhance overall patient health and quality of life. Most importantly, our patient-frst philosophy truly sets us apart.”

Services include artifcial cervical disc replacements, lumbar disc treatments and non-surgical alternatives like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.

Dr. Fernandez and his staf prioritize non-surgical treatment when possible to facilitate recovery with less down time.

Comprehensive care oferings extend to urgent and virtual care, fu shots, vaccinations, TB screening, drug screening, orthopedic consultations, chronic pain treatment and more.

Advanced techniques like spinal cord stimulation (SCS) ofer relief for conditions such as diabetic neuropathy and

post-trauma nerve pain. This approach blocks pain signals to the brain, ensuring motor activity remains unafected.

“At the center, we’re all about tackling pain without relying too much on medications,” Dr. Fernandez explained. “We’ve got this whole team approach that really focuses on getting you back to your life, pain meds aside.”

Combining therapy services and the support of midlevel providers, like physician assistants, the center creates a personalized pain management program aimed at making a real diference in a patient’s life.

“Seeing patients overcome pain and improve is the most rewarding part of our work,” continued Dr. Fernandez, who personally benefted from the center’s treatments. “I had my own right knee injected due to meniscus issues last fall, and now my pain is completely gone.”

Underscoring Specialty Medical Center’s high standard of care and patient satisfaction, the center maintains a 4.8-star rating on Google.

One patient shared, “After a car accident in 2023, I found solace at this pain management center. The staf’s kindness and professionalism made my visits comfortable. The doctors’ expertise and care signifcantly improved my recovery journey.

I am grateful for their support in managing my pain efectively.”

Another patient highlighted the innovative treatments available: “The best pain treatment I’ve received was at Specialty Medical Center … it changed my pain level drastically!”

Yet another posted, “I did not know what regenerative medicine was until I went here for my knee pain. They ofered me stem cell therapy with PRP. I have had two treatments so far and it’s doing really well.”

With two convenient locations, Specialty Medical Center accepts most insurance plans, including TRICARE for veterans, as well as self-pay options for those not using insurance.

“We are in the unique position to ofer care to patients involved in auto accidents as well, despite the challenges those cases can present,” said Dr. Fernandez.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sterling Heights: 5456 15 Mile Rd., Suite 101, (586) 666-2407

Dearborn: 13530 Michigan Ave., Suite 110, (313) 572-0810

Visit specialtymc.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

The real estate market is always changing but it’s still a good time to be a seller, especially if you’re looking for a cash offer.

“We cater to people in any situation. It can be a property with tenants, probate issues, title issues, hoarder situations, or people who are behind on their payments. We are a unique real estate office, providing cash offers to people who need to sell their homes,” said Giovan, a Real Estate Broker with GSA Elite Realty.

With offices in Shelby Township and Warren, GSA is a full-service brokerage with more than 25 years of experience, born and raised in Macomb County.

“We know the market and work to deploy the innovative and often creative solutions necessary to get cash deals to the closing table on an expedited schedule,” Giovan said. “I believe there is no deal that can’t be done. The typical turnaround time for a cash sale is less than 10 days. We’ve done this in as little as three days before.”

from page 12A

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

TOUGH AS NAILS State placer, dominant core stamp season for Mott girls wrestling

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

WARREN — Don’t let the smell of perfume or the bright smiles fool you when you step into the gymnasium.

Whether it’s facing the boys in a coed match or going head-to-head with another girl, there’s nothing ladylike about the fierceness and competitiveness girls across the state of Michigan have displayed with their wrestling ability at the high school level.

Since the Michigan High School Athletic Association added a girls-only wrestling division for the 2021-2022 season, numbers have grown exponentially for numerous high schools across the state.

Girls have been wrestling for decades at the high school level, in small numbers, but this was the first opportunity where girls were prioritized in the sport of wrestling.

In its first year, nearly 400 girls wrestled in the regional meet, which was split into just two regions prior to the state meet.

Now holding four regions consisting of nearly 800 wrestlers, and over 1,000 that competed this year in meets across the state, there’s hopes of potentially holding district meets — like the boys side does — next year because of the increasing numbers.

“It’s (numbers) almost tripled since last year,” Birmingham Groves wrestling coach Joseph Jones said. “It’s growing really, really fast.”

Jones and Groves hosted the first tricounty all-girls wrestling meet as schools from Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County went head-to-head. Local all-girls tournaments are becoming more and more popular in the surrounding counties whereas past years saw teams traveling two or three hours in order to compete.

The majority are learning the sport in high school. Some have seen siblings compete, but the one thing they all share is the love and passion for it.

As all-girls tournaments become more common, longtime coaches such as Warren Mott’s Paul Salyers, an assistant coach on the boys side and Mott’s girls head coach this past year, are still getting used to the environment.

“You go into a wrestling gym where a boys tournament is being held, and oh, my God does it stink,” Salyers said. “There’s BO (body odor) everywhere. You go into a girls tournament and it’s a cacophony of perfume. It’s hilarious to me. The girls will get down after beating the crap out of another girl, and with boys they’ll get done and they’re strutting around like they’re the king, but the girls will get done, get their hand raised, and go over and hug the girl they just beat up on and go,

‘Honey, this is what you need to do next time because I was able to do this because you were doing this wrong.’ It’s just funny. You don’t see that with the boys.”

As more girls continue to join, local teams are wishing upon a star that the popularity of wrestling and the success of their current girl wrestlers are signs of more wrestlers to come.

Warren Mott

Warren Mott gained substantial traction on the boys side for an incredible season, but the girls showed that they’re right on par with their abilities.

Led by a veteran group of senior Aria Sayajon, junior Makayla Perdue-Daniels, and junior Megan Melnyk, Mott continued its reign of success in the girls division over the past three seasons.

It all started with Hannah Palise, a 2022 graduate who wrestled her way to a state championship in the 125-pound weight class in the first-ever girls state finals event.

Without knowing it, Palise’s historic achievement has had a trickle-down effect ever since and is a key reason why Mott girls wrestling is in its current state right now.

“Hannah’s success breeds other girls coming in, and we did what we could to encourage that,” Salyers said. “That included putting a banner of Hannah’s state finals up in the gym and we had Hannah come to all of the showcase events where the eighth graders see what they wanted to do.”

Salyers, who coached the Mott boys team for over 20 years, has had a state finals placer for the past three seasons on the girls side, and Melnyk kept the streak alive on March 2 at Ford Field. Perdue-Daniels, a Macomb County champion this year, defeated Melnyk in the third-place match at regionals,

See WRESTLING on page 20A

ABOVE: Warren Mott’s female wrestlers celebrate the wrestling team’s regional championship on Feb. 14 at Fraser High School. RIGHT: Warren Mott girls head coach Paul Salyers, left, and coach Jeff Pruitt, right, stand with Warren Mott junior Megan Melnyk, who placed eighth at the MHSAA state finals on March 2 at Ford Field.

Photos provided by Nolan McPartlin

MCC TUITION RATES TO INCREASE NEXT YEAR

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb Community College students will see a tuition increase next year.

At its regular monthly meeting Feb. 21, the Macomb Community College Board of Trustees authorized a 1.8% increase in tuition rates for the upcoming academic year, which is fall 2024 through spring/summer 2025.

The rate for residents will increase slightly from $111 per billable contact hour to $113. Even with the increase, college officials maintained that Macomb’s tuition rates are lower than average.

Board members Roseanne DiMaria, Joan Flynn, Katherine Lorenzo, Shelley Vitale and Vincent Viviano voted in favor of the increase, while Frank Cusumano voted against it. When the roll call for the vote was taken, Kristi Dean voted “present.”

Macomb President James O. Sawyer IV weighed in on the board’s decision.

“Providing accessible, affordable and high-quality educational opportunities that connect to meaningful career pathways is one of our highest priorities,” he said in a prepared statement. “This modest increase in tuition upholds our commitment to affordability while ensuring we have the resources to support our students’ success, to innovate and invest in emerging opportunities and to preserve the fiscal viability of the college.”

Tuition is one of the three primary sources of revenue for the college, comprising 35% of Macomb’s revenue, with local property taxes at 33% and state appropriations at 27%.

Here is the scope of increase per billable contact hour of the 2024-2025 rates:

• Resident rates increase from $111 to $113.

• Out-of-district rates increase from $208 to $212.

• Out-of-state/foreign rates increase from $265 to $270.

• Affiliate rates, which are students living in areas not served by a community college district, increase from $143 to $146.

• Early college/dual enrollment rates increase from $106 to $108.

According to college officials, 76% of the college’s students are Macomb County residents.

Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.

Officers

from page 1A

recently because of the media’s interest,” the mayor stated.

According to a press release from the office of Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney Peter J. Lucido dated Aug. 18, 2023, but not released on the office’s website until Feb. 28, Warren police officers Dammeon Player, 50, and Carlos Taylor, 28, conducted a traffic stop of a semi-truck on July 20, 2023, in the city of Center Line. Body cam footage obtained by Channel 7 reportedly shows Taylor pulling the victim out of the truck and Player deploying his Taser.

The officers were arraigned in 37th District Court before Judge Steve Bieda on Aug. 18. Player was charged with felonious assault, which is a four-year felony. Taylor was charged with assault and battery, which is a 93-day-misdemeanor. Both officers were also charged with willful failure to uphold the law as public officials, a one-year misdemeanor. A personal bond was set at $5,000 for both men.

“I feel confident that my client did not violate his duties under the law,” said Taylor’s attorney, James Fifelski. “At the time of the incident, Mr. Taylor was operating under the direction of and acted in accordance with proper police protocol under the circumstances. Mr. Taylor has an impeccable police record for service in the community. He maintains his innocence and we are currently working to resolve this case and clear officer Taylor’s good name through the legal system.”

Player’s attorney, Avis Hany Choulagh, could not be reached for comment.

The incident, investigation and settlement — reportedly in the amount of $400,000, paid within 33 days of the incident — came in the wake of a June 2023 investigation into the alleged actions of now-former Warren police officer Matthew Rodriguez, which received national attention. Rodriguez was seen on video in the Warren Police Department’s jail punching an inmate, throwing him to the cement floor, and beating his head against the ground. He was fired and was later indicted in federal court.

Rodriguez’s attorney, Elias Muawad, said, “He is affording himself the right to a trial.”

In a March 8 release about the July misconduct case, Stone described the incident involving Player and Taylor as “incredibly rare” and said she holds the Warren Police Department to the highest standard.

“As shocking as this incident was, I want the citizens of Warren to remember that this incident is an incredibly rare and isolated example of improper conduct by the Warren Police Department,” Stone said in the release. “This administration will continue

to take steps to ensure that the Warren Police Department, under its new leadership, stays at the forefront of recruiting and training so its employees uphold the highest expectations and integrity as they are doing their best work serving our great City.”

In the release, Stone said a supervisor in the Warren Police Department identified the July incident that prompted the dismissal of the two officers as a case of police misconduct and that the matter was turned over to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.

Lucido issued a written statement as to why the press release was just made public when the incident happened in July.

According to Lucido, he has sent out 300 releases during his tenure. The process is to post the releases on the office’s website and to distribute them by email, which are two separate steps. There have been eight press releases where police were charged with crimes, and this press release inadvertently did not follow the same process, and was only posted on the website and not emailed.

“This one should have been put on the Web page at the time and emailed but was not. Our best determination is that our Communications Director published it to the Web in February. After our initial discussion, our Communications Director found that this particular press release was published on the same page as it is now, but it was in the July 2023 section, so she moved it to the August 2023 section on the same page,” Lucido said in a written statement.

Both Player and Taylor were in 37th District Court in Center Line for a probable cause conference on March 13. Player awaits a preliminary exam at 8:45 a.m. on May 8, while Taylor has a final pretrial hearing scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on June 5.

Trzaskoma

from page 8A

‘Looking back, I liked the attention and the applause’

Theater was a large part of Trzaskoma’s childhood.

“Both my mom and dad enjoyed theater. They took me and my sister to see plays downtown,” the 1983 Warren High School graduate said. “One of my earliest memories of seeing a play is the Warren Woods High School production of ‘Oklahoma!’ directed by Mr. (James) Higginbottom, probably about 1972. I can remember seeing that and the costumes and the storytelling and the violence.”

The family’s record player was usually stacked with vinyl records of musicals, including “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Another influence was Trzaskoma’s second grade teacher at Green Acres Elementary School, Elaine Buss, who “used theater to teach and reinforce.” The youngster found his stage presence during a Christmas play, playing Santa Claus on strike.

“I think I was Santa because I was the only kid who didn’t need a microphone,” the budding actor recalled.

Trzaskoma attended the former Fuhrmann Junior High School where he played trumpet and French horn. He honed his acting chops while at Warren High School (now the Warren Community Center) with theater teacher Richard M. Wirth.

Wrestling

from page 17A

qualifying both for states.

“It (states) was nerve-wracking,” PerdueDaniels said. “I was very nervous. Even if it was my second time going, I was still nervous.”

Perdue-Daniels was no stranger to the spotlight, earning sixth at the state finals last year. This year, it was Melnyk’s turn to join the already well-established list of state placers for Mott, earning eighth.

“Honestly, I just had fun the whole time,” Melnyk said. “I wasn’t concerned with how good I was going to wrestle or if I was going to win or lose. I was just having fun.”

Sayajon, a Macomb County champion this year, and Melnyk are only three years into the sport of wrestling, but they’re already noticing an impact it has had on them.

“For me, it would definitely be confidence, especially knowing that I can do this,”

“He was a very good mentor. We did four shows a year, one or two musicals, a comedy, a drama and (William) Shakespeare,” Trzaskoma said. “Looking back, I liked the attention and the applause. It was acceptance, validation. I liked being part of the theater group.”

After high school, Trzaskoma took a few courses at Macomb Community College but “eventually dropped out for a while.” He found success working in retail sales for several years.

“It was paying the bills but wasn’t satisfying,” he said.

That’s when he reenrolled at Macomb.

“I took an English composition class, and I enjoyed the hell out of it,” he said. “Something in me had changed. I enjoyed being part of a learning community.”

Trzaskoma eventually found his niche performing in two local theaters: Warren Civic Theatre and also the Jewish Ensemble Theatre, located in downtown Walled Lake. His talent was needed for many lead roles like “Julius Caesar” and “Man of La Mancha.” With talent and his ability to connect with an audience, he was cast in other parts including Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in “Annie” and Tevye, the patriarch in “Fiddler on the Roof.” He even learned some Yiddish for the Jewish Ensemble Theatre’s production of “The Immigrant.”

The seasoned performer is building a legacy with the local community and the behind-the-scenes players that make Warren Civic Theatre a success. One such person is the group’s artist-in-residence, Andy Zulk-

Sayajon said. “When something gets tough, I think, ‘Oh, I wrestle. This is nothing.’” When I’m doing something tough that’s physically demanding, I just think about how wrestling is so much tougher than this.”

Sayajon (23-10), Perdue-Daniels (1811), and Melnyk (22-11) led the way for Mott in wins this season, but there were no shortage of contributors for a Mott team holding nine girls on the roster, the largest group in school history.

Senior Julia Karczmarczyk, junior Lindsey Ng, junior Juyoung Lee, sophomore Claira Taylor, sophomore Nanette Dawood, and freshman Chloe Nguyen all made contributions this year for the Marauders.

Even if it wasn’t on the mat, they were vital to the team’s morale, doing everything they could to make girls wrestling an enjoyable environment.

“Compared to previous years, the numbers in the sport have grown tremendously and the competition is getting tougher too,” Sayajon said. “It’s super exciting to see how big the sport is getting on the girls side.”

iewski, who first met Trzaskoma in the summer of 1998.

“He has very much been a mentor and friend over the years from selecting a university theater program to working professionally to celebrating a job well done. He has always approached theater as an inclusive and community experience, while taking the time to make each production an artistic success,” Zulkiewski said in a statement. “The Warren Civic Theater team truly feels like a family. Each production is unique and collaborating with the staff and cast is fulfilling artistically and it’s just a lot of fun. My role within the theater gives me the ability to be creative both on stage and off. I’m super excited as we plan our 2024-25 season.”

‘They hired me, and I’m loving it’

To maintain his standings as a professional actor, Trzaskoma belongs to two unions: Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild. Movie fans may have caught him in brief appearances in different acting roles that were filmed during Michigan’s film incentive years, including the 2010 film “Stone” with Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Milla Jovovich.

“The parts I shot were mostly in the old prison in Jackson,” Trzaskoma said.

Although not a smoker, the dedicated performer learned how to smoke cigarettes for a scene shot at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, in Romulus, with Sean Penn for the movie “This Must Be the Place,” released in 2011.

“He doesn’t say anything in the scene, but I do,” Trzaskoma said.

Clint Eastwood also made his day when he was cast as the bartender in the 2008 film “Gran Torino,” in which Eastwood starred and directed. Trzaskoma shot his scene at the Cpl. Richard W. Menge Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6756, in Center Line. Although his lines “ended up on the cutting room floor,” Trzaskoma is still in the scene with Eastwood, who left an impression.

“He’s extremely well established and has been doing this a long time,” Trzaskoma said. “He was very kind, personable, generous and accessible.”

Trzaskoma has not only found his calling on stage and in film, but in the classroom. Currently, he is a theater instructor at the Frederick V. Pankow Center in L’Anse Creuse Public Schools.

“They hired me, and I’m loving it,” he said.

For more information on Warren Civic Theatre, visit warrencivic.org.

Dwyer

from page 1A

out of his corner office in the Christopher M. Wouters Police Headquarters.

According to Dwyer, around 2 p.m. the same day, Warren city officials — acting Director of Human Resources Jacqueline Damron, City Controller Rick Fox and Kristina Lodovisi, the mayor’s chief of staff — came to his office with a letter from the mayor indicating he was terminated immediately and ordered him to pack up and leave the building.

“It was more like a Gestapo type of situation, ordering me out of my office for no reason,” said Dwyer. “If I had done something wrong, I could see that, but I haven’t.”

The former commissioner prides himself on a more than 60-year career with never even a written reprimand.

“I thought it was a sad day. I’ve had a great career. I thought it (the administration’s behavior) was very unprofessional,” said Dwyer. “I’ve maintained for 60 years my integrity and professionalism in serving the public.”

The mayor issued a written statement on the changes in police leadership that was sent to the media at 5 p.m. that day. Requests were made to speak with her regarding the change. A written response was given by Warren Communications Director Clarissa Cayton which stated, “At this time no further statements are available.”

Stone stated in the written release, “Effective today, Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer is separating his duties as Police Commissioner with the City of Warren.”

Dwyer served two stints as Warren’s police commissioner. The first was from 2008 to 2010 after he was hired by former Mayor Jim Fouts. The second came after Fouts requested the commissioner to return to lead the department in 2017 and continued until March 5.

“I think he has been an outstanding police commissioner. He is a well-known living legend,” Fouts said on March 6. “He took a lot of initiatives and tried to do everything he could to serve and protect the citizens of Warren by doing things no other police commissioner had ever done.”

Hiring practices may be the core issue behind Stone’s decision.

“I had written a letter to the mayor a couple of weeks ago about my concerns over the 22 budgeted openings we had that weren’t filled,” Dwyer said. “It indicated how we took over the recruitment efforts two and a half years ago and it was a successful program. I went in depth about my concerns

about losing the officers and it is very difficult to fill the positions. I met with her relative to the letter, last Thursday (Feb. 29).

“She informed me that Human Resources was going to take over the hiring. And I said, ‘OK, that’s fine,’” said Dwyer.

According to the mayor’s written statement, after “careful consideration” and “consultation and agreement” with the Warren Police Officers Association, the decision was made to return the hiring of police personnel to the Human Resources Department.

Dwyer said there was no disagreement or dispute between the mayor and himself regarding the new hiring policy.

“When we (the Warren Police Department) took it (the hiring) over, we were able to go outside of (Michigan) Act 78 and hire a lot of minority officers, and a lot of officers that lived in Warren,” Dwyer said. “She (Stone) said it was problems when it came up to negotiation time. But there were no problems. It was smooth.”

In the mayor’s written statement, she said, “It became recently apparent that our viewpoints on hiring no longer aligned. It is essential for members of my administration to have a united vision on major operational decisions going forward.”

On March 1, the commissioner confirmed his plans to retire in April.

“We had agreed upon that I would retire on April 19. She’s kind of back stepping now saying she didn’t say that. Well, it is in the news that she did say that” Dwyer said on March 6. “So I’m not sure why she did what she did yesterday (March 5).”

No mutual date was agreed upon, according to Stone in her written statement.

Regarding Dwyer’s dismissal, Warren City Council President Angela Rogensues said, “I am incredibly grateful for the commissioner’s service over the past near decade for the city of Warren. While I don’t have all of the details of his departure, I wish him well. And I look forward to whatever he has in store but also (look forward to) a new police commissioner in the city of Warren.”

On the day he confirmed his planned April retirement when asked about it by the Warren Weekly, Dwyer celebrated a Warren Police Department hiring and promotions ceremony at City Hall.

“At the ceremony last Friday (March 1), I applauded her (Stone) for supporting the men and women in blue,” Dwyer said. “Then all of sudden I get ejected from my office.”

In her release, Stone said she is appreciative of Dwyer’s service in law enforcement, specifically his tenure as the Warren police commissioner and his assistance during her administration’s transition.

Warren Police Department Deputy

Commissioner Charles Rushton will serve as acting interim police commissioner while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

Dwyer served in law enforcement in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

“I want to thank the residents of Warren for having me. I’m humbled by being able to serve as I did serve in Warren and that goes for Detroit and Farmington Hills,” Dwyer said.

The 61-year police veteran was surprised by the unexpected termination but not daunted.

“I’ve talked to you about the tragedies over the last four years, losing my son (four

years ago) and my wife (two years ago),” Dwyer said. “I’ll move on. You have ups and downs in your life, and this is kind of a downer but it’s OK. Everything will work out fine.”

Moving on is what the former commissioner will do. Recently he was elected to the Farmington Hills City Council. He is the founder and president of the Farmington Hills Police and Fire Benevolent Association, which has helped hundreds of public safety employees and their families in need.

“Whatever Bill Dwyer does, he tends to do a great job,” Fouts said.

Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.

NOTICE OF ELECTION WARREN, MICHIGAN

APRIL 16, 2024

TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF WARREN:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN WARREN ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024. THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the purpose of the election is to vote on candidates for the following offces:

STATE REPRESENTATIVE – DISTRICT 13

Full text of the ballot may be obtained at the City of Warren Clerk’s Offce, 1 City Square, Ste. 205, Warren, MI 48093, Telephone: (586) 574-4557.

Precinct Polling Location

8,

VOTING PRECINCTS/LOCATIONS

VAN DYKE SCHOOL DISTRICT

12 JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL

13 CARLSON SCHOOL 12355 MRUK NR. ROAN

EASTPOINTE SCHOOL DISTRICT

14,

20 EVE KALTZ

21

ENGLEMAN NR. ADAIR (temporarily moved for April election due to construction)

21 EVE KALTZ ACADEMY 21

22

24

25

28

ENGLEMAN NR. ADAIR

REGENCY CLUB DR. NR. FRAZHO & HAYES

Help Wanted General

General Motors Company seeks a(n) Virtual Design, Development and Validation (VDDV) Engineer, in Warren, MI to perform, research, define technical roadmaps, develop and validate General Motors future Battery Electric Vehicle high voltage Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (“RESS” or battery pack) structures. See full req’s & apply online: https://search-careers.gm.com/en/ jobs/ Job Reference: 202405484 0165-2412

General Motors Company seeks a Vehicle Systems Engineer – Performance Vehicles, in Warren, MI to plan, execute, and ensure timely and high-quality integration of GM U.S. and global Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) performance vehicles. See full req’s  & apply online: https:// search-careers.gm.com/ en/jobs/ Job Reference: 202405477 0234-2412

Help Wanted General General Motors Company seeks a Body Control Module (BCM) Software Strategist, in Warren, MI to Design, integrate, test, and release software calibrations to meet vehicle specific architecture, system, security, safety and encoding requirements. See full req’s & apply online: https://searchcareers.gm.com/en/jobs/ Job

Reference: 202405489 0236-2412

Help Wanted General

General Motors Company seeks a Development & Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer - Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), in Warren, MI to create innovative testing solutions, develop, validate, and verify automated test strategies, scripts, and tools. See full req’s & apply online: https://search-careers. gm.com/en/jobs/

Job Reference: 202404700.  0093-2412

Help Wanted General

General Motors Company seeks a(n) CAE Modeling Lead, in Warren, MI to build and execute Finite Element Analyses (FEA) models of passenger vehicles. See full req’s & apply online: https://searchcareers.gm.com/en/jobs/

Job Reference: 202404712 0091-2412

General Motors Company seeks a Design Release Engineer – Safety Electronics, in Warren, MI to engineer and release interior passive safety products. See full req’s & apply online: https://search-careers. gm.com/en/jobs/

Job Reference: 202406092

0291-2412

Help Wanted General

PARK MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL

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

Help Wanted/ Drivers DRIVERSWANTED Musthavechauffeurs license,experience drivinga24fttruck, passdrugtest,fulltime. Call586-751-2456 between9-5pm

Help Wanted General HOMECARENEEDED MustHaveDementia

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Decks/Patios 2024SPECIALS

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onomatopoeia

45. ____ the Great, king of Persia

47. Give it a go

48. Fraternity K

50. Dr Pepper, e.g.

52. *The Beach Boys: “Spring ____, good vibration”

55. Member of Nahuatl people

56. #23 Across, e.g.

57. Articulated

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60. Umbilical connection

61. Volcano in Sicily

62. Robinson or Doubtfire

63. Bajillion years

cause

12. Like repeating tunnel sound

13. Off kilter

14. *”Spring ____, fall back”

19. Spring mattress filler

22. Acronym in a bottle

23. Ceremonial staff bearer

24. Skylit lobbies

25. “Designing Women”

64. One-horse carriage

DOWN

1. What highwaymen do

2. Moonfish

3. Bangladeshi currency

4. Type of purse

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La Leche League of Warren: Meetings for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, 6:30-7:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of month, Warren Public Library - Civic Center inside Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, lllofwarren.weebly.com

Widowed Friends book club: Meets 10:30 a.m. every second Friday of month, National Coney Island, 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren, books announced at previous meetings, RSVP to Elaine at (586) 291-2471

Senior activities: Cards, chair exercising, puzzles and more, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fitzgerald Recreation Center, 4355 E. Nine Mile Road in Warren, (586) 759-0920

Historical Society of Center Line: Meets 10 a.m.-noon most first Fridays of month, Center Line Public Library, 7345 Weingartz St. St., (586) 758-8274

Meet Easter Bunny: Daily photos until March 30, also pet photos March 25, Lakeside Mall, 14000 Lakeside Circle in Sterling Heights, see times and make reservations at shop-lakesidemall.com

• Noon-6 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays until March 30, The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, reservations recommended, shoppartridgecreek.com

Health workshops: For chronic pain, high blood pressure and more, hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, www.beaumonthealth. digitalsignup.com

Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/ support-groups