3/6/24 Fraser-Clinton Chronicle

Board of Trustees shorts bill for State of the Township

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The last meeting of a politically deadlocked group brought one final flash-up on Feb. 26 as the Clinton Township Board of Trustees voted

3-3 on paying the bills for the State of Clinton Township address.

Originally part of the procedural payment of bills, Trustee Mike Keys had the bills for the annual event removed from the consent agenda for a separate vote. Keys’ dispute with the bills is the use of township

funds for the event, which is a fundraiser for the Macomb County Chamber.

“I was just shocked and appalled to see again the number of tickets bought by each department, but then even our own cable and community relations and media services department — the department that pro-

motes the event and then records the event, is working at the event — each of their staff members have to pay a $30 ticket to attend that same event,” Keys said. “I think that it’s wrong that we’re using township resources and staff time to host a fundraiser for a

See BILL on page 14A

CVHS spring musical brings smaller cast, bigger challenges

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — If testing one’s abilities is the path to improving one’s craft, Chippewa Valley Musical Productions is preparing itself for Broadway.

Taking on an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s seminal novel “Little Women,” the Clinton Township high school is setting a new bar for itself in its first-ever spring production.

“This is something new that we’re trying this year,” said Braeden Haggarty, director. “We were very lucky to

See MUSICAL on page 10A

from Thursday, March 21, through Saturday, March 23.

Photo by Erin Sanchez Chippewa Valley High School students rehearse “Little Women.” Chippewa Valley’s first-ever spring musical will run

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Fraser names 2024 Teachers of the Year

BY BRENDAN LOSINSKI blosinski@candgnews.com

FRASER — Fraser Public Schools selected its three Teachers of the Year this February, each of whom will be considered for the county’s Teacher of the Year awards for the elementary, middle and high school levels.

One teacher was selected from each grade level based on their performance and impact on students.

“The high school allows any teacher to nominate someone. Then the nominees are voted on by the entire faculty. The Elementary Teacher of the Year rotates through our six elementary schools. So this year, it was Emerson’s turn to have it. … At Emerson, teachers are selected using many factors (including) positive attitude and passion, experience, leadership, community involvement (and more),” Kristin Sommer, the district’s Director of Community Relations, explained in an email. “At Richards Middle School, teachers can nominate a colleague. The previous teachers

See TEACHERS on page 6A

Chief Duncan hangs up his helmet this May

BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After 25 with the department, Clinton Township’s fire chief is calling it quits.

“It seems like it’s been a long time coming, but

now that it’s approaching in another 13 weeks or so, it’s starting to become real,” said Tim Duncan. “Things get so busy that you cruise along and don’t really anticipate that it’s happening, and now you start seeing the motions get in place for the replacement of my position and it starts to become real. It’s exciting

See RETIRE on page 13A

Tim Duncan will retire from his position as chief of the Clinton Township Fire Department this spring.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Kress wins partial-term trustee seat

Kress

Republican Dan Kress won the Feb. 27 election for the open Clinton Township Board of Trustees seat for a partial term which will be up for election again this November.

Kress won with a 51.9% majority and 9,906 votes, besting Democratic candidate Iona Means’ 8,267 votes and Libertarian candidate Mike Saliba’s 913 votes.

Kress’ term lasts until Nov. 20, meaning he will have to run again in order to serve a full term on the board.

The trustee seat Kress won was originally held by Democrat Joie West, whose resignation in August 2023 kicked off a six-month political battle. Board Democrats were able to pass a rules amendment outlining the process to appoint a replacement board member, but a failure to reach a quorum among the remaining trustees before the appointment deadline left it to be decided by special election.

Anti-PFAS scholarship up for grabs

LANSING — Michigan college students with an eye for science can win a $3,000 scholarship to support a PFAS research project.

PFAS are a collection of chemicals known to cause cancers, liver disease and cardiovascular problems. The Michigan Environmental Council established the AJ Birkbeck Scholarship Fund to continue Birkbeck’s fight against PFAS contamination, in particular his work in forcing Wolverine Worldwide to clean up the PFAS contamination from its tannery in Rockford, Michigan.

Students interested in the scholarship can apply at www.environmentalcouncil.org/aj_birkbeck_scholarship until April 1. Research projects can vary in their nature but must “embody the essence of Birkbeck himself — a collaborator, a strategist, a protector and a mentor,” according to the council’s website.

Green Macomb plant sale comes to Clinton Twp., Armada

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb County residents looking to add a tree can find a variety available at the Green Macomb tree and plant sale.

Running until April 5 in partnership with the Blue Water Conservation District, residents are able to order shrubs and trees including arbor vitae, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, paper birch, redbud and red osier through bluewatercd.org while supplies last. Items can be picked up at the Armada Fairgrounds on April 22-23 and the Clinton Township Civic Center on April 25-26. A limited number of trees can be purchased on site.

“Our goal is to increase the tree canopy in Macomb County and the Green Macomb Tree and Plant sale helps us do just that,” said Gerard Santoro, program director for Macomb County Parks and Natural Resources, in a press release. “We created the sale seven years ago and so far the response from residents has been amazing. It’s a privilege to be able to provide homeowners the affordable means to spruce up their gardens this year, as well.”

Macomb Foster Closet receives $500K grant

MOUNT CLEMENS — The Macomb Foster Closet has been awarded a $500,000 capital grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the Michigan Community Service Commission.

The grant gives the organization the funds needed to make facility improvements and will be used to complete a renovation project to the organization’s Mount Clemens building including extensive electrical, lighting, painting and flooring improvements. Funds will also be used to purchase the rest of the building.

“The community center will support children with clothing and other essential items,” said Kevin McAlpine, volunteer and board chair of the Macomb Foster Closet, in a statement from the organization. “We will improve the outcomes of kids who need direct services by giving families that care for them the tools they need to be successful and to thrive. We will become a communal space for other youth-serving organizations to provide parent training, children’s activities, adoption events, direct social services and more.”

PROM CLOSET TOUR OFFERS FREE DRESSES

ROSEVILLE — The nonprofit charity Sparkle Network is holding its ninth annual Prom Closet Tour for 2024. The organization offers a chance for high school students to receive a free dress and accessories for prom night. The Prom Closet Tour is open for seniors graduating in 2024 and for juniors graduating in 2025.

All participants must make an appointment ahead of time. To request an appointment, send an email to sparkle.network3@gmail.com. Students will receive a form, which must be completed. The Prom Closet will be at Macomb Mall from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13, and noon to 5 p.m. April 15. Macomb Mall is located at 32233 Gratiot Ave.

Panelists discuss Macomb County’s economic future

BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com

WARREN — Although inflation has decreased in recent months, “I don’t know if we’re out of the woods,” said Thomas Alongi, a partner with the UHY accounting firm in Sterling Heights.

“Everything you touch, everywhere you go, prices are up 10% or 20% on everything,” Alongi said. “It’s come down, but maybe the damage has been done. We’ll see if we are able to keep that in check with fiscal spending.”

According to the website usinflationcalculator.com, inflation was at 6.5% in 2022 and 3.4% in 2023.

Alongi was among the panelists who spoke to business leaders, manufacturing employees and school officials at the 2024 Macomb County Economic Forecast, held Feb. 23 on the South Campus of Macomb Community College.

The panel also included Ahmad Ezzeddine, vice president for Academic Student Affairs and Global Engagement at Wayne State University; Brian Parthum, an econo-

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“I want to see more collaboration of industry with the schools and you’re seeing some of it,” said Thomas Alongi, a partner with the UHY accounting firm, right. “The skills that are needed today will be different than the skills of tomorrow. When I look at 2024, we have more job openings than individuals.” Also pictured are Vicky Rowinski, director of Macomb County’s Department of Planning & Economic Development, left, and Brian Parthum, an economist with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments,

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center.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Teachers

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of the year form a committee and select the winner from the nominees.”

Robin Jenkins, the second-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary, was selected at the elementary level. Principal Sam Argiri nominated her.

“There’s several aspects of teaching that we look for when choosing Teacher of the Year: rapport with students and parents, taking part in the community, leadership within the building and so forth. Robin Jenkins is an amazing teacher and hits all those marks,” said Argiri. “She is great at working with her colleagues and building positive relationships with students, families and staff. She treats the kids like they’re her own. I’ve worked with her for 13 years, and she’s taught kindergarten, third, sixth and now second grade and she’s done all of this at each level.”

Jenkins said teaching is very rewarding in and of itself, so the extra recognition is very touching.

“We work in our classrooms and teaching is a very rewarding profession in itself, and you get to watch students learn and push through challenges,” she said. “Seeing children learn is great, but when others recognize you, it really is a great feeling. They see how hard you are working and how dedicated you are.”

She stresses commitment and passion in her teaching style.

“To be a good teacher, you really have to have a passion for learning and really commit yourself to being a lifelong learner yourself,” said Jenkins. “Everything is always

challenging. You have to keep it engaging and be passionate for having a positive impact on your community. It’s a tough job but it’s very rewarding.”

Sheldon Santamaria, the seventh and eighth grade instrumental music teacher at Richards Middle School, was selected for Middle School Teacher of the Year. He was nominated by social studies teacher Tara Fugate.

“He does an incredible job engaging his students through the band program,” said Fugate. “The sense of community in his classroom is long lasting, it’s very meaningful and it lasts long beyond their time in middle school. I find that really inspiring. That’s why I nominated him. All of the kids I spoke to about him mentioned how welcoming he is and how he is always positive and there for them. He helps them through problems and fosters a love of music that a lot of them really connect to.”

Santamaria said there are so many good teachers at Richards that it couldn’t have been an easy decision.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “It was a little surreal because there are so many great teachers at the middle school. I was surprised but honored. It’s all kind of been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks.”

He focuses on connections with his students and creating a comfortable environment.

“I think what’s most important is making connections with kids,” said Santamaria. “If they are comfortable in the classroom, comfortable making mistakes and comfortable coming to you, they can come to you

See TEACHERS on page 11A

LEFT: Robin Jenkins, the second grade teacher at Emerson Elementary, was selected as the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2024.

Photo provided by Robin Jenkins

RIGHT: Sheldon Santamaria, the seventh and eighth grade instrumental music teacher at Richards Middle School, was named Fraser Public Schools’ Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Photo provided by Sheldon Santamaria

Economy

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mist with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments; and Vicky Rowinski, director of Macomb County’s Department of Planning & Economic Development.

Through PowerPoint presentations displayed on two large screens, the panelists shared their knowledge and research. Much of the discussion centered on Macomb County. The Macomb County Chamber Alliance hosted the event.

“Despite all the news we get every year, some of it is not that rosy, there are always great things happening. Things are happening in the county, in the region, they’re happening in the state,” Ezzeddine said. “This is an opportunity for us to see how we can all work together and move on.”

Ezzeddine, who moderated the event, would like to see WSU and MCC collaborate more with local businesses.

“We have great programs that start at Macomb Community College and finish with us,” Ezzeddine said. “Both institutions are very open and interested in partnering with all of you in the room here.”

As a member of UHY’s audit and as-

surance department, Alongi advises public and private clients regarding their finances and operations. Alongi specified the economy’s success rests on growing and attracting knowledge. Last year, Alongi predicted the economy would be like a rollercoaster, but it ended up more like a merry-go-round.

“The data that we presented showed a mixed bag,” he said. “It shows how resilient our economy is. We’re really excited we were able to drive through that. How did we make our way through that? The reality is that consumers were resilient. Demand could not be broken. It ties into a strong fiscal spending.

“We have some excess inventories to work off. When I look at ’24 and from what I have seen with our clients, backlogs are strong, releases are strong. We have more job openings than we have individuals,” Alongi said. “The data is showing a kind of return to normalcy this year. Manufacturing, every report I see is that employment is up and opportunities are up.”

Alongi indicated colleges and businesses owners need to come together.

“I want to see more collaboration of industry with the schools and you’re seeing some of it,” Alongi said. “The skills that are needed today will be different than the skills of tomorrow. When I look at 2024, we have

more job openings than individuals.”

Parthum, who has studied economic trends in southeast Michigan since 1999, talked about electric vehicles. He said auto manufacturing is “critically important” and advised a dual growth strategy.

“It’s important that we, as economic developers, continue to help the automotive manufacturing in our region. It’s critically important to help them to continue the rapid change that is happening in the industry,” Parthum said. “At the same time, continue to diversify your economy and leverage those knowledge-based jobs. Professional and technical services, financial activities, management of companies and information. These are jobs that mostly require a bachelor degree or more.”

He also said the county gained 24,000 jobs in the last three years.

“I’m not saying that’s going to continue three years into the future, but it’s really encouraging,” Parthum said. “When I looked at those numbers, what was actually growing were the knowledge-based jobs, information, financial activities, professional services and management of companies all combined added 15,000 to 16,000 jobs of those 24,000 jobs.”

With “some funding through the state of Michigan,” Rowinski said she and her

team have been conducting a “talent attraction” campaign in an effort to attract people from out of state to Macomb County.

“We’ve looked at top engineering colleges throughout the country and which of those colleges are actually producing more engineers, more professional severe degree individuals than there are jobs available in that area,” Rowinski said. “We also pulled together a roundtable with some of our business leaders that represent the aerospace industry.”

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who provided the welcoming remarks, shared his thoughts on Macomb County’s manufacturing future. He said there are 1,600 manufacturing facilities in the county.

“I think our biggest challenge is making sure that we’re providing the talent for these facilities,” Hackel said. “That seems to be the void right now. How do we find people for the jobs that are available in manufacturing.”

“We knew the ‘silver tsunami’ was happening. This is looking at the number of seniors that are hitting retirement age,” Rowinski said. “Our youth, our Gen Xs, our millennials do not meet the number of retirees that are hitting 55 and up age.”

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

Spring — the season of renewal — is a popular time for people to remodel or redecorate their homes.

But what many may not realize is the old dresser or couch they no longer want could make life substantially better for a

The nonprofit Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan, which provides household basics like beds, dining tables and chairs to vulnerable metro Detroiters who are rebuilding their lives, is facing a serious shortage of furnishings at a time when demand for these items is spiking.

“Donations are down,” said Furniture Bank Board President Wanda Van Haitsma,

The show is for all ages. The cast will have a meet and greet after all four performances. The show is approximately two hours with one 15-minute intermission. Tickets are available online at macombcenter.com, in person at the box office or by phone at (586) 286-2222.

The Macomb Ballet Company is a nonprofit and is subsidized through fundraising, grants, ticket sales, sponsors and donations. Those interested in being a sponsor or making a donation can email info@macombballet.org.

— Maria Allard

have such a rich amount of talent at the school that we were able to put this together. (Without) that talent, we wouldn’t be able to do a production like this, so we’re very grateful to the students who are putting in the hard work to do a production like this, to do yet another musical this year.”

The story focusing on the March sisters and their growth from adolescence to adulthood was selected due to its deeper themes and greater technical demands than prior productions. Alcott’s novel serves as a showcase of the best acting talent Chippewa Valley High School has to offer. Where most shows feature casts reaching 100 students, only 30 were chosen for “Little Women.”

“In the past, we’ve had that everybody that auditions automatically gets in,” Haggarty said. “With ‘Little Women,’ we unfortunately were not able to do that just because the ensemble roles are much smaller (and) a larger cast would take away from the intimate storytelling of the show and how we’re able to convey that to the audience.”

Scenes in “Little Women” require much fewer actors on stage than in prior productions, but this puts more demand from those

actors to make those scenes shine — especially in the vocals.

“I actually am very excited about the vocalism of this show because there are many different types of singing involved,” said Olivia Ferguson, vocal coach. “There is your traditional musical theater ‘belting’ you would expect to hear from Jo March, but there’s also some very classical style you’re going to hear from her older sister, from Aunt March. … There’s a lot of interesting different types of techniques that get to be used in the vocalism for this show. It is quite demanding, but the students that are cast have all been very good about working independently.”

Taylor Pozzi’s role of Jo March is one of the most vocally demanding according to Ferguson, requiring her to be in almost every number and shift between belting to light signing, tackling shifts between serious and playful tones throughout the show.

“It is very hard for a young singer to stay in tune and have the stamina to sing all those things and to change gears when she needs to,” Ferguson said. “That’s an extremely demanding role and Taylor Pozzi, who is a senior, is doing an excellent job.”

Another role Ferguson cites as putting unique demands on its actor is Meg March, played by senior Julia Clark.

“This is probably the most different role vocally from any others in the show because she is singing really high as a soprano and she has to sing a really romantic and gushy love duet,” Ferguson said. “The reason I love this show is the variety and she really provides in the quartets that the sisters sing.”

For her part, Clark has managed well

with the smaller cast and other challenges of the show.

“It’s definitely a different experience because I’m used to a bigger cast of like 80 people, so being in a cast of 30 is definitely a different environment,” Clark said. “I think I’ve really enjoyed the smaller cast because

Photo by Erin Sanchez Julia Clark, left, Gavin Mace, Mackenzie Martin, Julia Johnson and Taylor Pozzi rehearse “Little Women,” Chippewa Valley High School’s spring musical.

Teachers

from page 6A

and trust you and they will enjoy their time in class and put in the work to learn anything.”

Tyler Westerhof, from Fraser High School, was the High School Teacher of the Year and is in the social studies department.

He was nominated by social studies teacher and department head Jim Socha.

“His preparation is great. He is prepared for a year in advance in most things. He’s already working on next year’s lesson plans,” said Socha. “He loves history. He is always willing to help others out, whether it is technology or with lesson plans or just picking up some bagels for the staff. The kids love him. He’s a great all-around guy.”

He’s only about 10 years in but I consider him a veteran. Some of the younger teachers would do well to look up to him and model their habits after him. He arrives early, he leaves late, he loves being in school helping kids every single day.”

Westerhof covers a variety of subjects for students throughout the school.

“I teach American history, AP American history, sociology and civil rights,” he said. “It’s obviously an honor to know that this award came from my colleagues. I think that the most impactful part is that they recognize and appreciate me. They help me grow as a teacher. I have only been teach-

ing nine years, but they have been here since the beginning and I have leaned on them throughout my career.”

He also stressed forming a connection with his students in his teaching style.

“I think a good teacher is someone who can connect with the kids, personable and enthusiastic and form relationships and make connections,” said Westerhof. “Thank you to the parents who support us and put in the effort to work with us. It’s a group effort to put in this investment in these students’ lives.”

Call Staff Writer Brendan Losinski at (586) 498-1068.

your local branch

Photo provided by Tyler Westerhof Tyler Westerhof, a social studies teacher from Fraser High School, was the district’s High School Teacher of the Year.

Musical

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it seems like it’s more fast paced. A lot gets done. I’ve been able to connect to my castmates at an even deeper level than I have in the other (shows.) It’s just been a really great experience.”

While a number of the lead actors are seniors, the cast of 30 and the crew are made up of students across all CVHS grade levels. A few major roles are held by freshmen and two juniors are choreographing the show.

“It’s really good to see the camaraderie between the students and that students at every grade level are able to participate and grow and bring excellence to the production,” Ferguson said.

With cast, crew and supporting staff doing their best to meet the challenges and demands of the show, Haggarty believes audiences will be impressed and surprised by “Little Women” compared to everything the school’s put on before.

“We just did ‘SpongeBob,’ and that’s a very campy and very ridiculous musical; ridiculous in the best sense,” Haggarty said. “With ‘Little Women,’ I think people will find the story a little bit more meaningful, a little bit more relatable. You can see some

real-world obstacles that people are overcoming or have to go through each day, so I think they’ll be able to relate to that on a personal level.”

“Little Women” will run at Chippewa Valley High School from Thursday, March 21, through Saturday, March 23, with 7 p.m. shows every night and a 1 p.m. matinee

on March 23. Tickets are available through cvhsmusicals.org.

Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.

Photo by Erin Sanchez

Retire

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and a little melancholy at times, leaving a lot of my life behind here.”

Originally from Fraser, Duncan did not start out as a firefighter. He attended Michigan State University and spent around a decade in the business world with GMAC (now Ally Bank), but began to have a change of heart about halfway through.

“I wanted to change. I wanted to do something that I felt was more beneficial to the communities that I lived in and decided to start pursuing some of the public service type things,” Duncan said. “Initially, I thought I wanted to go the police officer route and ended up deciding against that pretty much in my mid-to-late 20s. Then, I decided to pursue the firefighting side of things. A little more difficult at that time in my life because I was working a 40-hour job with two children, so luckily there was an ability to go (to classes) at night and on the weekends.”

After completing firefighting, EMT and paramedic courses, Duncan was able to get his first firefighting job with the Fraser Fire Department. But even at that early point Duncan knew he wanted to be a Clinton Township firefighter.

“They just seemed to be one of the departments on the upswing,” Duncan said. “I don’t know if, at the time I hired in, they were the most populated township in the state, but certainly now they are. I just felt they had the tools in place to promote a really good career.”

His dream became a reality in May 1999 as he was hired by the Clinton Township Fire Department, entering at the same time as fellow outgoing Deputy Chief Aaron Schmid. Duncan spent 18 years with the department before becoming chief. Of those pre-chief years, 16 were spent working with the union, giving Duncan experience with the political aspect of fire leadership.

Duncan’s time with the department began at the start of the very upswing he predicted for it. The department was a lowrated “firefighting medical first response department” — the lowest medical provider tier — but quickly ramped up to become an EMT department and, within a few years, a top-level paramedic department. This sudden improvement in medical capabilities paired with the department’s “aggressive” firefighting approach to build the department into a solid system for the 2000s and 2010s. The department’s demands grew in that time as well, going from handing 2,000 runs a year to over 15,000 runs while maintaining a similar level of staff.

“It speaks testament to the people on the street that are able to do this job and do it in a proper fashion, in a professional fashion,” Duncan said.

Duncan’s tenure as chief began in 2018. Just over a year later he and his department faced its biggest challenge yet: COVID-19.

“A very much trying time period for a couple years trying to get through that here with the department,” Duncan said. “A lot of decisions had to be made; you’re always looking to make them from a safety standpoint. Not everyone agrees with them all the time, but you’ve got to be quick to make decisions and stand by them.”

Duncan’s time as the chief saw a number of positive changes as well. Dispatching was switched over from the township to the county’s COMTEC center, integrating the department’s communication network with the township. He also noticed a large shift in the way emergency professions handle their mental health and well-being.

“We’ve always seen bad things, traumatic things and we react to them in a different way sometimes,” Duncan said. “Some people may have a challenge sometimes, but it’s really just a defense mechanism to handle some of the horror that you see.”

Working with the Clinton Township Board of Trustees, contentious as it has been, was largely positive in Duncan’s eyes.

“They’re pretty good and aggressive,” Duncan said. “They ask the tough questions but usually we’ve gotten overwhelming support for them for things we wanted to do in the areas of apparatus purchases, (and) building improvements. Our big goal here was to basically take care of all of the infrastructure issues that face the fire department, and I think we’ve achieved 90-plus percent of that in the last six years to put our department in the best state going forward for the next administration to come on and be able to focus on the personnel side, the running of the department.”

After having worked in the fire service for the better part of his life, Duncan has noticed that the service redefines itself about every five years and that the next fire administration will be the one handling that shift.

“We’re at the cusp right now of what is the service model that each individual community is looking for,” Duncan said. “I think it’s going to take the powers that be to sit at the table and ask, ‘Where is the fire service going to go in the future?’ We’re supposed to be an emergency service provider, but the world has changed to where we’re providing a lot more than just emergency services. We’re (providing) nonemergency services, basic services (and) health and well-being services right now. There’s a tip-

Retire

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ping point of how much can any particular department handle at times because 15,000 runs is kind of putting us towards our max. You’re exhausting your personnel, you’re exhausting your apparatus. You start getting things breaking down when you’re running as much as we do.”

As Clinton Township assembles a committee to find a new chief, Duncan has his

Bill

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nonprofit or an organization. I don’t know any other organization that gets that type of treatment from Clinton Township, but I also think it’s wrong to funnel township taxpayer money from our departments directly to the chamber.”

Keys voiced opposition to this use of township funds to the Fraser-Clinton Township Chronicle after the 2024 address, criticizing the chamber’s use of a political action committee and comparing funding the chamber to former Warren Mayor Jim Fouts using the State of the City address to do PAC fundraising in 2016. Keys skipped the Jan. 26 address at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library’s main branch and hosted a food drive at the CMPL’s South Branch.

Keys was joined by two more board Democrats, Trustee Julie Matuzak and Treasurer Paul Gieleghem. Fellow Democrat Tammy Patton joined the board Republicans, Township Supervisor Bob Cannon and Township Clerk Kim Meltzer, in voting to pay the chamber. A tied vote means the motion failed, leaving at least $1,230 unpaid to the chamber based on the bills schedule.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Cannon said to Gieleghem after the vote finished. “You have got to be kidding me. I’m

Let me show

sights set for his post-department life starting mid-May. The Harrison Township resident serves on the township’s Planning Commission and was recently appointed to serve on its Civil Service Commission, and Duncan plans to maintain his connections to the fire world by getting involved with a fire department promotions agency and possibly getting into fire education.

“I just look at it as I’m retiring from this portion of my career and we’re looking to move on to whatever opportunities present themselves down the line,” Duncan said.

laughing because you are such a con artist. I’m laughing, and I’m trying to be nice. You get to vote no, the chamber doesn’t get their money, so let’s see where we go from here.”

Cannon continued voicing his disbelief and opposition to vote into the next item, questioning Keys on whether he attends St. Thecla Catholic Church’s fall festival. The supervisor spoke further toward the end of the meeting.

“Are we going to cut out the Red Cross?” Cannon said. “Are we going to cut out the inclusive playground? Mr. Gieleghem, I’m throwing that out to you because we spent a lot of money on the Red Cross, which I like. … But we spent a lot of money and you’re a part of that, and you voted against (the chamber).”

Keys attempted to give Gieleghem a chance to respond to Cannon during the open meeting, voting against a motion to enter closed session. Gieleghem voted to enter the closed session.

2024-2025 budget

Trustees approved the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year on Feb. 26. Originally presented at the Feb. 12 meeting, changes made included adding the inclusive playground to the budget and updating the Bonior Trail and Spillway Trail Rehabilitation Project line items to show expected grant funding.

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Furniture Bank

from page 8A

of Redford. “We have about 180 families waiting for beds and other furniture, and that’s a big number.”

Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan Executive Director Robert Boyle, of Grosse Pointe Woods, said that’s three times the number of families waiting for furniture at this time in 2021. At the same time, furniture donations have dropped; Boyle said that in 2022, they went on 4,600 pickups, but in 2023, there were only 3,800 pickups.

“At a time of high inflation, it would seem people would rather sit on their current couch than buy a new one,” Boyle said.

That same high inflation disproportionately hurts people on the lower end of the income spectrum. More than 80% of the people the Furniture Bank serves have incomes of $20,000 or less, and most are families with children.

“Now it’s even more difficult to cover basics like a bed for a child or a dining table to share a meal at,” Boyle said.

The Furniture Bank will collect essential items in good condition from homes across metro Detroit at no charge, if these items can be placed in a garage or on a porch, or they’ll charge a flat fee of $75 to collect any number of essentials from inside the home. Essential items include mattresses, box springs, dressers, end tables, nightstands, coffee tables, sofas/loveseats (excluding reclining sofas and sofa beds), dining/kitchen tables (excluding glass or heavy marble), dining/kitchen chairs (in sets of at least two) and living room chairs. The Furniture Bank will also collect as essentials up to five bags or boxes of smaller housewares, such as towels, pots, pans, silverware, lamps, bedding and other basics; they cannot accept clothing.

Because there’s such a serious need for mattresses and box springs in good condition, the Furniture Bank is currently offer-

ing to pick up these items for free, whether they’re inside or outside the house.

For essential items that are structurally damaged, stained, torn or badly worn, they will haul these items away for $100 per item, whether they’re inside or outside of the home.

For fees ranging from $100 to $125 per item, the Furniture Bank will also pick up nonessential items from inside or outside of homes, including desks, bookshelves, armoires, china cabinets, buffets, sofa beds, reclining sofas, entertainment centers and treadmills. Proceeds from fees support the work of the Furniture Bank and enable them to hire professional movers to safely remove furniture.

“It’s such a great nonprofit,” Van Haitsma said. “We’re providing furniture and beds for people who are trying to get back on their feet.”

In some cases, the people helped by the Furniture Bank are individuals who are moving from a homeless shelter into their own apartment or home. In other cases, they’re people starting over after escaping from an abusive relationship.

Boyle said their clients are excited to leave shelters for their own dwelling — until they realize they were more comfortable in the shelter because, at least there, they had a bed.

“It’s stressful,” Boyle said of sleeping on the floor. “It’s not comfortable. It’s not good for your mental or physical health.”

Boyle said they’re trying to provide people with a stable, dignified life. Studies show there are higher rates of attention deficit disorder and obesity in children who don’t get adequate sleep.

“It’s really important that families get what they need when they need it and they don’t go through any more distress,” Boyle said.

To donate or for more information, visit www.furniture-bank.org or call (248) 3321300.

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 498-1047.

0061-2408

Photo provided by the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan Janith Bryson — one of the 2,000 local individuals and families helped last year by the Furniture Bank — can now have visitors because she has furniture.

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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.

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Men overcoming loss of partner/spouse: Meetings 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514

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

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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

men were identified as scam artists known to law enforcement in the metro Detroit area. Shelby Township police said that typically while one distracts a homeowner, another suspect enters the home and steals money and valuables. Shelby Township police said that they often target senior citizens.

reporting that a car hit a sign near the freeway at that location. The caller stated that when they were about to exit onto 11 Mile Road, the vehicle lost a tire. There was also a report that Eastpointe had similar circumstances with a recent stolen vehicle in that city.

mushrooms, with about 1 pound of mushrooms seized. Investigations were ongoing

Cars stolen from repair shop

EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, a vehicle repair shop in the area of Eight Mile and

Surveillance video was obtained. The stolen vehicles are a gray 2018 Dodge Durango and a gray 2017 Chrysler 300. Police were investigating.

Police say they stopped 2 scams at the same time

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — While investigating a possible scam in progress Jan. 21, officers with the Shelby Township Police Department believe they prevented a second scam from also being successful. Police said they were aware of a suspected scam in which a person planned to come to an 88-year-old Shelby Township resident’s home to pick up $8,400 in cash. Detectives set up surveillance of the resident’s home and soon observed a woman driving for the ridesharing company Lyft pull into the resident’s driveway. Police detained the woman and then released her when they were sure that an unknown person was using the woman, who had no knowledge of the scam, to pick up the money.

Police said that they were continuing to investigate who was responsible for the attempted scam against the resident.

While the detectives were guarding against the $8,400 scam, they saw a suspicious Ram pickup truck slowly driving in the area. Police said that they saw the truck park in a driveway down the street and a man in his 30s talk to the homeowner, 84, in the driveway.

The two talked for a half-hour before they went in the home. Detectives went to the home and spoke to the homeowner to ask what was going on. The homeowner reportedly said that the man in his 30s randomly approached him and talked about doing cement repairs. Police said two more men were in the pickup truck.

Police arrested two of the suspects, one for a valid felony warrant and the other for soliciting without a permit, police said. One of the suspects, police said, had recently pleaded guilty to defrauding a senior citizen of more than $50,000, but the suspect was not sentenced to jail time.

Break-in reported ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:18 a.m. on Feb. 4, a report was made about a forced entry of a dealership that occurred at 2:50 a.m. on the same day in the 22000 block of Nine Mile Road.

Upon arrival, an officer observed a red vehicle in the middle of Lakeview Street. The garage door at the north entrance of the business was damaged.

The red vehicle was reported stolen out of Detroit, per dispatch. The officer then made contact with a 66-year-old man who stated he received a call from an alarm company. He initially thought it was just related to staff cleaning the location but checked out the scene anyway. The man observed the red vehicle blocking Lakeview Street with the engine still on once he arrived. The brother of the man arrived at the dealership and provided the officers with security footage showing the red vehicle traveling eastbound toward the north entrance garage. It then reversed and four suspects exited the vehicle.

They reportedly made entry into the business and attempted to steal one of the showroom vehicles. One of the suspects reportedly ripped the alarm system off the wall. The suspects then allegedly ran through the business rummaging through the offices before gaining entry to three vehicles that already had keys inside near the service entrance/exit. All three vehicles were driven toward the north entrance of the garage as one of the suspects held up the damaged garage door to let the others out of the business.

Inside the red vehicle were 34 stolen key fobs that were taken for evidence. An evidence technician processed the scene and the investigation was ongoing.

Police investigate fleeing and eluding, stolen vehicle ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 1:18 a.m. on Feb. 3, a report was made about a fleeing and eluding case and a stolen vehicle investigation near 11 Mile Road and Interstate 94.

Once on scene, officers didn’t see any property damage, but they did find a loose tire near the flower bed by the “Welcome to St. Clair Shores” sign. When they headed westbound on 11 Mile from Little Mack, they found a vehicle with its hazard lights on driving eastbound.

The vehicle was gold in color and was missing a tire. As the officers got closer, the vehicle proceeded to turn to enter an eastbound entrance ramp. The officers checked the license plate and it was indeed the stolen vehicle from Eastpointe. An officer activated the lights and aired the location on the radio. The vehicle initially pulled to the shoulder but when the two officers stepped out of their vehicle, the driver took off.

After a pursuit on the highway, the vehicle crashed behind a business at 12 Mile and Congress Street. The driver, a 22-year-old man, and two passengers, a 22-year-old man and a 28-year-old man, exited the vehicle and fled the scene. After a pursuit on foot, two of the men were found in two different backyards and one was found in a truck bed with the help of residents. There were two other passengers in the vehicle who stated they didn’t know the vehicle was stolen.

Leaf raker is possible suspect in breaking and entering GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Jewelry and other items were reported stolen from a home in the 500 block of North Brys Drive at around 2:15 p.m. Feb. 8. The victim discovered that someone had broken into the home through a back door and made off with the items. According to a police report, an unknown male was seen at the home raking leaves the afternoon of this incident, but no one at the home had hired anyone to do any yardwork.

Home invasion under investigation

GROSSE POINTE PARK — An unknown suspect is said to have tried to break into a home in the 600 block of Middlesex Road at around 8:55 p.m. Feb. 6. The victim, who discovered damage to the back door, told police that nothing appeared to have been stolen. Police said the homeowner might have startled the intruder upon returning to the residence. Police said a surveillance camera caught what might be the suspect lurking around the back of the house

ongoing.

Woman sought for using counterfeit cash

GROSSE POINTE CITY — An unknown woman is being sought by police after she reportedly used counterfeit money to make three separate purchases from a Village store in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue at around 11:10 a.m. Feb. 9. A police report states that the suspect made her purchases with fake $100 bills.

Driver found with gun, crack

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police pulled over a 54-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man in the area of Mack Avenue and Broadstone Road at around 12:03 p.m. Feb. 10 after a check of his license plate showed that his registration was expired. Police asked the driver if there was anything in the vehicle they should be aware of and the driver said no, and when asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, he also said no.

However, when police inventoried the contents of his vehicle before impounding it, they found what appeared to be crack cocaine, a burnt glass pipe, a handgun and ammunition. The driver was arrested and is facing possible charges including possession of crack and driving a vehicle without registration or insurance. Police said the driver’s gun was registered to him, but he didn’t have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Tequila swiped from liquor store STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they investigated a potential shoplifting case at a liquor store in the 35000 block of Mound Road, near 15 Mile Road.

According to the store manager, on Feb. 2 two women