3/6/24 Farmington Press

Residents address Planning Commission about potential development on wetlands

mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — A development proposal that has caused concern among some residents was addressed at a Farmington Hills Planning Commission meeting Feb. 15.

Forest at Riverwalk Development LLC is proposing 16 parcels for construction of single-family homes, with a onefamily cluster option.

The location for the proposed development is on the south side of Folsom Road, between Parker Avenue and Lundy Drive.

Folsom is a service drive for the M-5 highway, and it runs from Farmington Road to Orchard Lake Road, said Michelle Gala, who is a resident in the area.

More than 15 residents expressed a variety of concerns at the meeting, including the impact to wetlands and wildlife, increased traffic, and the possibility of water runoff.

The size of the land is 16.29 acres. The developer wants to build more than 35 cluster homes.

Giffels Webster is a civil engineering company with locations in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. One of

IN SEARCH OF A ‘MARVELOUS’ HOME

NEW LOCATION FOR MARVIN’S MARVELOUS MECHANICAL MUSEUM YET TO BE DETERMINED

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — For more than four decades, Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum has been synonymous with good times and a place to gather with friends and family for many local residents.

While that isn’t expected to change anytime soon, the

location likely will.

Marvin’s is an arcade and museum that is currently located at 31005 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills.

It is located at the Hunter’s Square Shopping Center, at 14 Mile and Orchard Lake roads.

At a Feb. 12 Farmington Hills City Council meeting, consideration of approval for the partial redevelopment of

According to Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum owner Jeremy Yagoda, pictured with his son, Jonathan, more than 50,000 people have signed a petition in protest of a development that will likely force the business to move.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Farmington wrestling finds footing, carries confident mindset into next season

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON — Farmington boys wrestling may have lost themselves in the shuffle of a brutal Oakland Activities Association White league, but they quietly put together a season that should have them on everyone’s radar next year.

Picking up two district wins over league opponents Birmingham Groves and Birmingham Seaholm, Farmington earned a district title to put a stamp on an impressive 2023-2024 campaign.

The Falcons leaned heavily on their senior veterans in Vitaliy Koponen (126) and Emmett Kenyon (165), who carried the load in their respective weight classes both on and off the mat.

“It was very different having a lot of guys look up to me, but I enjoyed it,” Kenyon said. “I think the most important thing I did was just being consistent and hitting every single practice that I could, hitting the gym as often as I could, and just being there.”

Koponen dominated the opposition to the tune of a 32-9 record, while Kenyon improved on his 12-win junior season with a 19-10 record.

In only his second season in the program, Kenyon said he never thought wrestling would be in the cards for him, but it was his passion for jiu-jitsu that swayed him to join the wrestling team, unlocking his love for the sport in the blink of an eye.

Now two years later, with a runner-up finish at the Oakland County Championships meet Feb. 12 at Rochester High School and just finishing up a wrestling visit with Rochester University, Kenyon said it’s surreal to see where his journey has led.

See WRESTLING on page 12A

RIGHT: Farmington captains celebrate their city championship win over North Farmington. Pictured, from the left, are junior Malachi Loewen, senior Vitaliy Koponen, junior Jacob McKimmons and senior Emmett Kenyon.

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Our comprehensive hearing evaluation is always no charge.

LEFT: Senior Emmett Kenyon celebrates a win over a Berkley wrestler to advance to the finals in the 165-pound weight class at the Oakland County Championships meet Feb. 12 at Rochester High School. BELOW: Farmington junior Jacob McKimmons returns a Birmingham Groves wrestler in the opening round of districts Feb. 7 at Birmingham Seaholm High School.

Photos provided by Farmington Wrestling

CRIME WATCH

Woman accused of threatening man with boxcutter in road rage incident

FARMINGTON — Around 11 a.m. Feb. 13, officers were dispatched to the area of Grand River Avenue and 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-yearold 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.

Computer fraudster gains credit card info

FARMINGTON — A man told police Feb. 17 that he had received a notification from Microsoft indicating that immediate

action needed to be taken. The victim called the number provided from the notification, and the person supposedly from Microsoft took control of his computer and demanded money. The victim provided his credit card and debit card information over the phone, but he became suspicious and terminated the call.

The suspect is unknown currently. The victim reported the incident to his financial institutions. The case has been forwarded on to the detective bureau for investigation.

Unlocked truck stolen from Lamar Street

FARMINGTON — A Farmington resident told police Feb. 25 that his pickup truck had been stolen. He explained that he lived on the 31000 block of Lamar Street, and his truck had been parked in the street in front of his house. A neighbor’s security camera shows the truck being taken at 3 a.m. Feb. 23. The camera did not show any suspect identity.

The truck was described as a black 2008 Dodge Dakota. The resident said the truck had been unlocked, with the keys in the center console, at the time of the theft. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.

Cyclist on lime-green bike linked to graffiti

FARMINGTON — Police were alerted to vandalism in progress at a business in the area of Farmington Road and State Street around 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22.

Police were already aware of two previous incidents of similar vandalism — graffiti on an exterior wall — to the same business. The subject was described as male with long

hair, wearing a jacket and headphones, and riding a lime green bicycle.

Officers canvassed the area but were unable to locate the subject. A postal worker reported seeing the subject enter a business next to the one that was vandalized. That business was checked, but the subject was not located. The owner of the building agreed to provide security footage, and the investigation is ongoing.

According to a press release, compensation ranges from $11-$20 per hour.

“Our team is excited to meet job seekers of all backgrounds to share with them how they can have an impact on the Farmington Hills community,” Lori Brown, the city’s director of human resources, stated via the release.

Aquatics, cultural arts, facilities, golf, parks, recreation and senior programming are among the open areas for the Special Services Department. The city is also looking to hire staff members for its summer camp program, which provides activities and education for youth in the areas of sports, art, music, dance and more. Landscaping, cemetery maintenance, traffic control, pavement repair, roadside cleanup and forestry are among the seasonal DPW jobs.

Compensation for available DPW positions starts at $15 per hour for 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, the release states. Staff receive work shirts, and training and support.

Those interested are asked to arrive at 5 p.m. March 12 in Harrison Hall at The Hawk, located at 29995 W. 12 Mile Road. For more information, visit fhgov.com/employment.

OPTIMIST CLUB ESSAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

FARMINGTON/FARMINGTON HILLS — The Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club announced the winners of an essay contest held for middle and high school students Feb. 14.

The topic for this year’s essay contest was “Optimism: How It Connects Us.”

Students and their families were invited to a breakfast where the students read their essays for the club.

Winners were awarded a medal and a cash prize for their efforts, according to a press release. All of the middle school winners are part of the Farmington STEAM Academy. Taking first place was Umar Ahmed, followed by Richa Chava and Chaitrika Reddy Battu. The high school winners are all students at Farmington High. Finishing in first was Amrita Renduchintala, followed by Mariam Dukhan and Zainab Ahmed. The contest chairperson, Anna Durham, complimented the students.

“This is one of the highlights of the Club each year,” Durham stated in the release.

Farmington Concert Band set to perform

FARMINGTON HILLS — The Farmington Concert Band is scheduled to perform “Pure Michigan, a Musical Postcard” at 3 p.m. March 17 at the Hawk - Farmington Hills Community Center, located at 29995 W. 12 Mile Road.

According to a release, the event has been dubbed as a tribute concert featuring music from four composers with Michigan ties.

“The Light Fantastic,” by Leonard B. Smith, who was the founder and conductor of the Detroit Concert Band, was composed as a tribute to Detroit Edison; “Golden Jubilee,” by Kris Johnson, a jazz trumpeter and composer, was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DSO Civic Youth program; “Until the Night Collapses,” by Grammy-nominated composer Andrew David Perkins, who studied at two Michigan universities, is dedicated to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; and “Lincolnshire Posy,” by composer Percy Grainger, who served on the faculty at Interlochen, is another piece that is set to be performed.

The band is also scheduled to perform “Sanctuary,” by Frank Ticheli. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The price for students is $5.

Wetlands

from page 1A

the company’s consultants, Joe Tangari, spoke at the meeting.

“What the cluster option does is, it sets aside some of the land on a lot and it puts the units into a smaller area of the lot,” Tangari said.

Tangari explained that the process for a cluster development is to have three public hearings.

The Feb. 15 meeting was what he called the “qualification stage.”

It is the stage when a determination is made as to whether or not a plan meets the qualification criteria for cluster development.

“Conditions for qualification are basically twotier, and (the) first tier allows certain density, and the second tier allows additional density,” Tangari said. “They (the developer) are requesting density that is lower than what’s permitted in the first tier, so we’re not going to address the second tier tonight because it’s not in question. The density that’s permitted is 2.6 units per acre under that first tier.

“What they’re showing on their plan is 38 units; the number of units that would be permitted at the maximum under that tier is 42,” he said. “We’ve noted, as they did, that (the department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) will be required to weigh in on this before anything happens. … Under our master plan, this property’s designated (as) single-family residential.”

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, Planning Commission members unanimously approved the first stage of the developer’s proposal.

The second stage of the process involves the developer going back to the Planning Commission to try to get approval for a site plan. At press time, it was not known when that might occur.

If a site plan is approved, the next step would be for the developer’s plan to go to City Council for approval.

Tangari described the site as undeveloped and

heavily wooded, with several areas of wetland.

One of the residents who spoke during the public comments section of the meeting was former Farmington Hills Councilwoman Mary Newlin.

Aside from the voices of the residents being heard, she said that they want to be “the voices for our 100-plus-year-old trees in the woods (and) all the wildlife.”

“The plan leaves a lot of questions,” Newlin said.

Paul Rusinowski is one of the residents who spoke at the meeting. He said that the woods are what enticed him to the neighborhood.

“We enjoy our life there. You guys are kinda trying to destroy that for us,” Rusinowski said. “My thing is, it looks like you’re trying to pack in as many houses as you can, in short space.”

Aside from a potential loss in property value, Rusinowski also expressed concern for what the development would mean for wildlife in the area.

“When you got something like natural woodlands like this, we’re running out of it in Farmington,” he said. “Where are all these animals going to go? I understand we’re growing as a population and you got to make accommodations, but we’ve got to think about the other side, too. … Put yourself in our shoes.”

Rusinowski also brought up the potential for water runoff at the site and asked, “Where’s that all going to go?”

Another speaker, Steve Hall, asked a similar question.

“I think we as homeowners have a right to know whatever plans are in place for that, if there are any,” Hall said. “Also sewage — where is that going to go? Right now we have septic systems … and groundwater can affect our septic systems. … We would like to know if the city is going to have a long-range plan to protect us as property owners when the developers are done with this and have left, and if we start having issues. Who’s going to be responsible for this?”

Representatives from the development com-

See WETLANDS on page 8A

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

TOP: Farmington Hills Planning Commission members listen as a resident speaks about a development proposal for a property that contains wetlands Feb. 15. ABOVE: Former Farmington Hills Councilwoman Mary Newlin was among the residents who expressed concern about a development proposal at a Planning Commission meeting Feb. 15. Residents are concerned about a potential impact on wetlands and wildlife.

Wetlands

from page 6A

pany also had the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Stuart Michaelson is a partner with Forest at Riverwalk Development LLC.

“The parcel contains natural assets which would be preserved through the use of cluster development; such assets may include large trees,” Michaelson said. “The land reserves the natural habitat for wildlife … and other natural assets which should be preserved.”

George Mager is also a partner with Forest at Riverwalk Development LLC.

“I know people here that are concerned about wetland preservation, (and) preservation of the trees,” Mager said. “We modified the plan to try to minimize impact on the wetlands and the trees.”

Michaelson also addressed concerns about water runoff.

“The water concerns — when we develop a new subdivision, we have to go through your engineering department,” he said. “We put in separate storm sewers; we drain. … We’re not going to add anything.”

Michaelson said that there is a “very thorough review of the sanitary and storm sewer system, and it’s all verified that this system is going to work.”

“We’ve been doing this for over 40 years,

Forest at Riverwalk Development LLC brought forth a development proposal at a Farmington Hills Planning Commission meeting Feb. 15. One of its partners, George Nager, addressed residents’ concerns at the meeting.

and I have personally never seen a failure at any of our systems,” Michaelson said.

From the perspective of local resident Denise Hall, there are other locations in the area that are more conducive for development.

She said that the area being considered for development is a beautiful piece of property with wildlife, such as deer, owls and hawks.

“I just hope you guys think twice about tearing down more woods just to build more houses,” Hall said. “There’s a lot of other places in the community that already have abandoned … strip malls. Take their spots — put in some houses. Put in some condominiums. … Don’t take down all these trees.”

Although Planning Commission member Steven Stimson stated that “there’s a lot on this I don’t like,” he also said, “I’m supporting this.”

“I’d like to give (the developer) a chance to come back, address the water concerns, work with engineering on it, work with EGLE on it, and let’s see what the plan is,” Stimson said. “Personally, I think the lot width’s way too narrow, and the homes are going to be right on top of each other, which I think is a little out-of-character for this area. But let’s see what you can come back with in a plan. … Also, I’d like to encourage you to work with neighbors and consult with them. … Try to work with them as much as possible.”

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Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Marvin’s

from page 1A

the center was unanimously approved. According to the city, the portion of Hunter’s Square that was approved for redevelopment is 186,634 square feet.

The shopping center property was recently acquired by Kimco Realty, which is North America’s largest publicly traded real estate investment trust, specializing in grocery-anchored, open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets, according to its website.

At the City Council meeting, a 70,000-square-foot Meijer grocery store was

discussed as one of the new tenants that will be moving into that location.

“Meijer is one of the big tenants that are moving in, but I am not being displaced for Meijer’s,” said Jeremy Yagoda, who owns Marvin’s. “Meijer’s is just going to be a small grocery store format — it’s not one of the huge Meijer stores. … What exactly is going to replace me, I am not sure, as of yet. … I don’t know the exact specifics, but from what I have understood, it’s supposed to be a Meijer’s (and) a couple stand-alone buildings for mixed use — be it doctors’ offices, retail — I am not exactly sure.”

At the City Council meeting, an unspecified drive-thru-style type of restaurant was

also discussed as a possibility.

Other tenants at Hunter’s Square listed on Kimco’s website include Ulta Beauty, Five Below and DSW Shoe Warehouse.

Yagoda said that there has been very little communication between him and Kimco, with the communication that has taken place being “very un-definitive and ambiguous.”

“The latest is that I’m going to have to be out of here by the end of the year. At least that is what is presented to me so far,” he said. “I know I am here till the end of the year; whether they’re going to give me any more

time beyond that, I don’t know. They’ve been very ambiguous in everything.”

Yagoda said that his reaction to the development was shock and disappointment.

“It was definitely not something that I was expecting to happen and definitely not something I was expecting to happen as quick as it is,” he said.

Yagoda took over the business after his father, Marvin, died in 2017.

He said that the business has been at its current location since 1980.

Wrestling

from page 3A

“Every now and then, it just surprises me to see where I’m at, because I just had a college visit for wrestling just yesterday,” Kenyon said. “I was with my mom in the care like, ‘Who would have thought two years ago we’d be here?’”

Kenyon and Koponen will be difficult voids to fill, but second year head coach Ben Jozwiak was encouraged by what he saw from his junior class.

It always helps having quality seniors leaders, but the junior class also went through the trials and tribulations of last season that have seemingly paid off in their progression.

“We had a lot of sophomores start last year, and now they’re juniors,” Jozwiak said. “I saw some really, really big leaps in a lot of those guys.”

Junior Jacob McKimmons headlines the group as an OAA White league champion in the 120-pound weight class, and also finished second on the team in regular season wins with a 31-10 record.

McKimmons is no stranger to getting the better of his opponents on the mat, post-

ing 30 wins last year as a sophomore, but McKimmons said he elevated his game in a different area.

“I matured a lot,” McKimmons said. “I was a captain this year, and I think that leveled up my maturity level and just my mindset towards the sport.”

McKimmons will undoubtedly lead the Falcons as a veteran, but he has plenty of wrestlers behind him looking to take their next jump.

Junior Malachi Loewen picked up 15 wins, juniors Ian Ledermann and Philip Bowden added 11, and junior Keith Steinard had 10.

And with the confidence Jozwiak has been instilling in his guys, it would be no surprise to anyone if everyone takes a significant leap forward.

“Coach Joz, he really put it into us to want to win and win these big matches,” McKimmons said. “We went into districts against (Birmingham) Groves and (Birmingham) Seaholm with full confidence because we knew we could beat them. Even though we lost to them earlier in the year, we all had the energy in believing in ourselves.”

A loaded senior core and fresh off a district championship will have the Falcons hungry to enter next season with a list of

goals they’re eager to accomplish.

The juniors took a massive step forward, so it’s exciting to think about where the Falcons can be if they all come back even stronger as seniors.

“With only graduating three seniors and everyone just getting better and better,

I really hope next year we just continue to make these leaps we’ve been making,” Jozwiak said. “Our goals for next year are city champions, district champions, and top three in leagues in dual and the individual tournaments.”

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It was originally a part of Tally Hall, which Yagoda described as “like the first big food court in metro Detroit.”

After Tally Hall closed in 1988, Marvin’s ceased operations until around 1990, according to Yagoda.

He described the Marvin’s experience.

“It’s a sensory overload,” Yagoda said. “It’s one man’s passion gone wild. My father built this, not about a business. Not everything was about, ‘will this pay for itself?’ It was about him buying things that he loved and sharing them with other people.”

Marvin’s is over 5,000 square feet and has features such as coin-operated machines, model airplanes, movie posters, collector’s items and antique memorabilia.

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich said that she has had a number of conversations with Yagoda.

“What I’ve made very clear from the get-go is my hope that this very iconic business chooses to stay in Farmington Hills,” Rich said. “We’ve always thought that it’s a great draw for the city and it helps make Farmington Hills a destination. They’ve been a good partner with us in the city, and we hope they continue to be so.”

Yagoda expressed no ill-will toward the city of Farmington Hills for approving the partial redevelopment.

“The city’s been phenomenal to me,” he said. “This is something that the city has no control over. As long as the property owner meets the zoning and the licensing requirements, a city can’t tell a property owner who they can lease to or things like that.”

Yagoda’s hope is to remain in the same shopping center, but in a space that is approximately 10,000 square feet, with the extra space allowing for perks such as dedicated party rooms.

If things don’t work out for Marvin’s to remain in Farmington Hills, Yagoda may not have to worry about having other suitors, as, according to him, multiple municipalities have reached out to him about moving the business to their community.

“It’s really nice to be wanted,” he said. “I’d love to stay in Farmington Hills. They’ve been phenomenal to us for years, but I have

to go where I’m going to find the best option for me, and where that is, I do not know right now.”

However things end up playing out, Yagoda has thought about the issue from perspectives other than his own, and he understands the business side of things.

“They say progress is good, and progress is good, but it’s not always good for everyone, and I’m the unfortunate victim here,” he said. “I’m not blaming my landlord. I’m not blaming the city. … Do I agree with it from a business standpoint, separating myself from the picture? Absolutely. I get it.”

Yagoda did say, however, that it hurts. He is not the only one who is dealing with the disappointment of having to relocate the business.

He pointed out that more than 50,000 people from all over the country and the world have signed a petition in protest of the development.

“It’s unbelievable to see how many people are touched by my father’s passion and what he started,” Yagoda said. “I’m flattered by the response and that the people started that, but at the same time I’m realistic and I understand how business works, and that wasn’t going to, unfortunately, change anything. But still, to see that many people supporting us is unbelievable, and it shows me that I don’t (want to) close. … If they were going to be dislocating a Meijer’s, a Kroger or a McDonald’s, you’re not going to get 50,000 people that sign a petition to try and stop it.”

West Bloomfield resident Emily Meretsky is one of the people who signed a petition.

“I cried out of anger and out of being upset, and I was not very happy about it,” Meretsky said. “And then I looked immediately, ‘What can I do to fix it? What can I do to help?’”

Meretsky attended Marvin’s as a child and continues to now as an adult.

“That is a historic landmark of a sort from when my parents were my age, and even younger,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to move.”

Another resident of West Bloomfield, Miriam Leary, has frequented Marvin’s during various stages of her life.

“I have memories from, basically, all

Feb. 21 issue of the Farmington Press should have reported that there was a 44% turnout in Farmington Hills for the 2020 presidential primary election. The turnout for the presidential election that year was reported to be 76%.

Spotlight on business...

Early detection is crucial when it comes to cancer because screening for early signs of disease not only creates opportunities for e ective treatment but also signi cantly improves survival odds. Yet many individuals only discover they have cancer after symptoms develop, and that often means it has already progressed to Stage 3 or 4, or possibly metastasized to other parts of the body.

at’s exactly what unfolded for the late Warren Ringold, M.D., founder of Bionicc Body Screening — and the reason why he became passionate about helping others avoid the su ering he faced due to his own late-stage cancer diagnosis.

“My father was a family physician for over 40 years, and he started a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinic that focused on imaging for sports and auto accident injuries,” said Ryan Ringold, who joined the company as director last September with a mission to carry on his father’s legacy. “He became short of breath while he was at work one day in 2018, left for the hospital, and was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. It required aggressive treatment, which led to cruel side e ects but, thankfully, put the disease in remission for a year. en it resurfaced as a brain tumor, and he faced another brutal battle that resulted in a second remission. My father was a ghter, and we were blessed to have had a lot of extra moments to cherish with him, but he contracted pneumonia and passed away last summer.”

Back around the time of his cancer treatment, Dr. Ringold started hearing about companies in Canada that were performing full-body MRI screenings. Ryan recalled that this piqued his father’s interest, and he wondered what his outcome might have been had he gotten into his own MRI machine a year earlier and discovered his cancer in the early stages when it was much more treatable.

at realization compelled Dr. Ringold to convert his MRI clinic into a place where people could get preventive full-body MRI screenings.

“Full-body MRIs screen from the top of the head to about mid-thigh,” Ryan explained. “ e technology is capable of detecting tumors as small as a pea, or from 1 to 1.5 centimeters. It also detects early signs of multiple sclerosis, aneurysms, kidney stones, degenerative disc disease of the spine, liver disease — literally hundreds of di erent abnormalities. e hope is to detect early so that the prognosis is better.”

It is crucial, however, to understand that MRIs are

an additional tool and not a replacement for routine screenings like colonoscopies and mammograms. Even with the advancements in full-body scans, the screenings ordered annually by a patient’s physician remain irreplaceable for comprehensive health monitoring.

“People tell us they’ve been waiting for something like this and cannot believe full-body MRIs are nally available right here in Michigan,” Ryan said. “My father was determined to make this service available to anyone who wants it. He was a very beloved man, and his spirit is de nitely still with us.”

Call before March 31 and get a $200 discount on a full-body MRI screening.

Bionicc Body Screening is located at 26550 Northwestern Hwy. in South eld. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call (833) 246-6422 or visit bioniccbodyscreening.com.

See

on page

Marvin’s

from page 14A

parts of my life — single person, married person; now I take my kids there,” Leary said. “I hope they can stay in the Farmington or West Bloomfield area … but if they move a little farther, we’ll probably still go.”

Leary has taken notice of the community support for Marvin’s.

“I belong to several Facebook groups in the general metropolitan Detroit area, and when they originally announced right before Farmington was going to vote on whether or not to approve the plans for Meijer’s, my groups blew up,” she said. “I would say hundreds of people were commenting about how upsetting it was they were moving, and the petitions were flying around to tell the city how much they didn’t want them to approve the plans.”

Rich said that the council worked together to make sure the development is something that is going to be “very positive for all and very welcoming as a destination.”

“The overall project is a fantastic thing for the city,” she said. “When you think about that intersection where we have 14 Mile, Orchard Lake and Northwestern all coming together, we are seeing some major

BUSINESS CLIP

Perfect Pairing Celebrates Grand Opening

Perfect Pairing, a specialty cheese and wine marketplace, has announced the grand opening of the store at 38215 W. 10 Mile Road.

Owner Yolla Awad is thrilled to have her business in the Farmington Hills community, offering a wide range of hand-picked local and specialty cheese along with a vast selection of wine from around the world.

Yolla explains, “To us, cheese is more than just food, it’s an experience unique to each individual.”

development coming in very, very soon, and so, starting with the Hunter’s Square development, we’re going to see very much an upgraded … gateway to the city. … So, when I look at what’s coming in that gateway to the city, it will really make the city stand out as looking very modern.”

Rich provided details about what people can expect to see.

“One of the things we’re excited about with the Hunter’s Square development is, it’s going to very much uplift Farmington Hills, and that area in particular, as a destination,” she said. “We’re going to see more common areas for people to get together; we’re going to see some outdoor dining; we’re going to see some outbuildings; we’re going to see more public art. I think our residents will be very happy to see what goes in.”

Although it is still possible that Marvin’s could lease a space within the center, Yagoda said that the building is being demolished, and that there’s no changing that.

However, he also shared some words of encouragement for fans of Marvin’s.

“I am looking at other locations,” Yagoda said. “We are not going to close. That’s not an option at all. … Where we will reopen, I do not know yet.”

A representative from Kimco Realty declined to comment.

Perfect Pairing also offers grab-and-go charcuterie, handmade sandwiches, plus other tasty snacks and treats. Visit Perfect Pairing or call (248) 536-2107. Find them on Instagram and Facebook @Perfectpairingmarket.

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BUSINESS CLIP

ShiangMi Restaurant celebrates first anniversary

ShiangMi celebrated its first anniversary Jan. 20. Owner Lian Chen said she is excited to have her business in the Farmington Hills community, at 31519 12 Mile Road, just west of Orchard Lake Road. ShiangMi is a fine dining, authentic Chinese-Hunan restaurant specializing in Hunan fusion cuisine. The restaurant’s food is prepared by an award-winning chef, and the atmosphere is comfortable and cozy, according to the business.

ShiangMi offers private rooms for special events, dinners and business meetings. For more information, call (248) 579-9898, visit www.ShiangMi.com, or find them on Facebook, Instagram, Google, TikTok and Yelp.

0300-2410

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES SEASONAL EMPLOYEES

Seasonal general laborer positions, $15.00 - $16.00 hourly, no benefits. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination is required, and applicants must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance. Pre-employment background investigation is required. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Friday, April 12, 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.

0384-2410

Help Wanted General

Position: Quality Manager

Employer: RAMPF Group, Inc.

Location: Wixom, MI (On-Site)

Duties: Developing and coordinating procedures to assure QMS compliance; managing Quality training; overseeing corrective action; evaluating current and propose future state goals and objectives, managing projects involving design and procurement of new equipment, and recommending new technologies, strategies and methods; among other duties.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering; or Related Field.

Starting salary: $141,000.00 (increases commensurate with experience) To apply please send a cover letter and resume to haley.hilt@rampf-group.com

0126-2410

Help Wanted General

Embedded Systems Engineer I; TEK Labs, Inc. -  Jobs loc in Farmington Hills, MI & var unanticpt locs t/o U.S. Resp for capturing reqs; Devel contrl algrithms using Matlab/ Simulink/Stateflow. Design & sim of Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controls using Matlab/Simulink/ Stateflow & auto code gen into C lang using Simulink coder. Trav/relo to var unanticpt locs t/o U.S. for l/t & s/t assigns at client sites. Reqs Master’s or frgn equivt in Electrcl, or Electronics Engng, Engng (any), or rel. Email res w/ cvr letter to recruiter@teklabsinc. com; Job 23TEK02; EOE 0057-2408

• DESIGN ENGINEER- Design automotive components using Catia V5.

• Designer Primary - Design exterior lighting systems. Use Catia V5 and IDEAS NX.

• CAE Specialist - Use ANSA, NASTRAN,

Help Wanted General ENGINEERS (multiple positions): 0148-2410

Home Repairs

EXTERIOR REPAIRSLLC. Since1999

Roofing,Siding, GuttersandMore! Reliable Ask,WeMightDoIt! FREEESTIMATES 248-242-1511

Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops MR.BACKSPLASH ·CUSTOM BACKSPLASHES ·CUSTOM KITCHENS ·COUNTERTOPS *Granite*Quartz* ·CustomBathrooms ·TILEREPAIRS *FREEESTIMATES* 586-552-5416 mrbacksplash.com

Landscaping & Water Gardens

ALLTIMATE

OUTDOOR SERVICES DrainageSystem Professionals New-Construction, Yard-Drainage,Grading, Sod/Seed,Retaining Walls/Walkways/Patios, Senior/Military-Discounts Credit-Cards-Accepted Free-Estimates 586-719-1202

DOLL'S

The suspect allegedly tried to use a Social Security number, address, phone number and email for a name that was not his own. The man was arrested for identity theft, identity fraud, and resisting and obstructing police.

Drunken driver blames police car’s lights for swerving

NOVI — A Novi police officer on patrol pulled over a driver after his Honda Accord was swerving on Nine Mile Road, near Mill Road, at 12:37 a.m. Feb. 2.

The officer pulled over the vehicle on Haggerty Road, near 10 Mile Road. As the officer was attempting to stop the car, it swerved several more times, according to the report. When the officer asked the driver why he was swerving, the driver said that the lights of the patrol car were so bright that he was swerving to attempt to get the lights off his mirrors.

The officer said he noticed the driver swerving prior to initiating the stop and engaging the emergency lights. The driver said that the headlights from the patrol vehicle were what caused him to swerve.

The customer was advised that she could not return to the restaurant or she would be arrested for trespassing. She agreed and left the scene.

Drunken driver hits parked car

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, on Feb. 14 at 3:30 a.m., a 25-year-old man from Hazel Park drove his vehicle into a parked car in the area of East Harry and Merrill avenues. The driver reportedly failed field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol content of 0.198. Police said he also had a gun. The man was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a high blood alcohol content and carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated. Police were investigating.

Police arrest man for allegedly trying to open fraudulent account

BERKLEY — A 22-year-old Detroit man was arrested for fraud at 2:20 p.m. Feb. 15 on Coolidge Highway.

According to the police report, Berkley public safety officers were dispatched to the MSU Federal Credit Union for a report of a man attempting to open an account using fraudulent identification. An employee met with police to give them a license that was thin and smooth, unlike a valid driver’s license, and there was no watermark. The suspect exited the business while police were speaking to the employee. An officer asked to speak to the man, who then fled the scene, according to the report. The man was able to get away on foot, police said, but with assistance from Huntington Woods and Oak Park police, he was found and apprehended.

Police noted a strong smell of intoxicants on the driver’s breath and wrote in the police report that he had glassy eyes, and slow and lethargic movements, as well as slurred speech. The driver claimed to have had two beers, the last one an hour prior to taking the wheel.

During field sobriety tests, the driver was asked to rank his level of intoxication from zero to 10, with zero being sober and 10 being thoroughly intoxicated. The driver reportedly gave himself a four. The man was arrested and taken to the Novi Police Department, where he was given an Intoxilyzer test that measured his blood alcohol content at 0.122%. He was held until he was sober and then released with a court date, according to police.

Woman

swindled out of $53,500

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 1200 block of Morley Avenue for a reported fraud at 7:05 p.m. Jan. 24.

A 74-year-old woman from Rochester Hills reported that she had received a pop-up on her computer indicating that her computer was being hacked. The pop-up provided a phone number to call for her to fix the problem. She called the number and was instructed to enter different IP addresses, and the scammers convinced her that her computer was being used in Russia to buy and sell pornography.

She then received a phone call stating the caller was from the “FDC task force” and that she needed to remove money from her bank and convert it to bitcoin to protect the money. The victim ultimately converted $53,500 to bitcoin.

The money that was converted to bitcoin was ultimately transferred to a different bitcoin exchange and is unrecoverable. Police were investigating.

MARCH 8

Celebrate Farmington’s bicentennial: Taste custom-brewed “1824” Farmhouse Ale and Farmhouse Cider at Farmington Brewing Company, hear live music outside Farmington Civic Theater, shop for “1824” pints glasses and other merchandise at participating businesses, and more, 5-9 p.m., downtownfarmington.org

MARCH 10

Michigan Psychic Fair: Readings and guidance by psychics and mediums, energy healing, crystals, handmade jewelry, and metaphysical and spiritual products, noon-6 p.m., Farmington Hills Comfort Inn, 30715 W. 12 Mile Road, mipsychicfair.com

MARCH 17

‘Pure Michigan, a Musical Postcard’: Farmington Concert Band pays tribute to four composers who have ties to state, 3 p.m., The Hawk - Farmington Hills Community Center, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, fcbmusic.org

MARCH 20

College Apps Toolkit: Saving for College: Presented by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, 6 p.m., Zoom and in person at Farmington Community Library, 23500 Liberty St. in Farmington,

MARCH 22 & 29

Adult egg hunts after dark: Start with appetizers, snacks, games and prizes, then search for eggs by flashlight, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Longacre House, 24705 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, mifarmingtonhillsweb.myvscloud.com, (248) 477-8404

MARCH 23

Egg hunts: Also treat stations and photos with Easter Bunny, six 30-minute time slots starting at 10 a.m., Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, mifarmingtonhillsweb.myvscloud.com, (248) 231-8471

Farmington Hills Community Center, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, (248) 699-6700

Young Explorers: Drop-off program for ages 3-5, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays until May 24 (no class March 29), Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, registration required, facebook. com/fhspecialservices

Food pantries: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every third Saturday of month, Tawheed Center of Farmington Hills/Muslim Family Services, 29707 W. 10 Mile Road, (248) 252-6962

• 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment, CARES in Farmington Hills, 27835 Shiawassee Road, (248) 474-8231, caresfh.org

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

Rock Around the Hawk: Free mini music festivals for ages 18 months to 5 years, 10-11:30 a.m. April 5, May 10 and June 7, The Hawk -

convention’s website.

The show will be hosting a live recording of Katee Sackhoff’s podcast, “Blah Blah Blah,” on May 18 and will feature a surprise guest. Sackhoff, who is known for her roles in “Battlestar Galactica” and “The Mandalorian,” as well as voicing characters in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels,” will also be a celebrity guest at the convention. Tickets to attend the podcast cost between $30 and $60, depending on the ticket level, and are in addition to the cost of general show admission.

Registration for the MC3 Adult Cosplay contest is now open. The contest is to be held at 6 p.m. May 18, and advance registration is required to participate. Prizes include MC3 fall show passes, autographed photos, cash prizes, and other exclusive MC3 merchandise. MC3 is seeking people interested in presenting a panel discussion focusing on interesting, creative topics in the world of pop culture. Those interested can apply online at motorcitycomiccon.com.

Tickets for the show are available for purchase online and range in price from $30 to $50 for an adult day pass, depending on which day and how the ticket is purchased. Tickets for children ages 6-12 and older cost $10 online or $20 at the door. Weekend and VIP ticket packages are also available for both age groups. Children 5 and under attend for free all weekend. Children ages 6-12 will be free on Sunday, May 19, for Kids Day. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to motorcitycomicon.com.

• For high blood pressure (6-7:30 p.m. Mondays until March 11), diabetes (6-8 p.m. Mondays until March 11) and kidney disease (1-3 p.m. Wednesdays until March 20), free and virtual, nkfm.org/PATH, mihealthyprograms.org

PAWS AND LAWS

St. Clair Shores City Councilman David Rubello, center, with his beagle, Teddy, joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her Lansing office on Feb. 6 for a ceremonial bill signing for “Teddy’s Law.” The package of bills, sponsored by state

Sen. Kevin Hertel, second from left, D-St. Clair Shores, and state Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, to the right of the governor, requires research facilities to offerdogs or cats that would otherwise be euthanized to an animal shelter for adoption, and itestablishes penalties for failing to do that.

Photo provided by Executive Office of Gov. Gretchen