3/6/24 Woodward Talk

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FURNITURE BANK PUTS UNWANTED HOUSEHOLD BASICS TO GOOD USE

Downed power line causes garage fire

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

BERKLEY — A fire in Berkley almost destroyed a garage, but nearby DTE Energy workers were able to assist in preventing the blaze from spreading.

According to the Berkley Public Safety Department, it received a report of a garage fire at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the 3200 block of Kipling Avenue, near 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway.

Police were notified of a downed power line on top of a garage, and that sparking and smoke was seen at the structure.

Workers from DTE Energy also were in the area for a separate call.

“Some wind that had come through and knocked a tree down, and they were responding to the area, to that downed power line and pole,” Berkley Public Safety Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield said.

See FIRE on page 10A

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

New printmaking art fair to stroll into Ferndale in April

FERNDALE — A new art fair will be debuting in Ferndale next month centered around the printmakers of Michigan.

The first Peninsular Printmaker Art Fair will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Urbanrest Brewery, 2615 Walcott St.

The Printmaker Art Fair landed in Ferndale after a suggestion from one of the people with whom Ernest Fackler, of Southfield, is organizing the event. From his

See PRINTMAKING on page 15A

Firefighters

Feb. 28.

Photo provided by Andrew Hadfield

Ernest Fackler, of Southfield, who is an organizer of the Peninsular Printmaker Art Fair, created this print.

Photo provided by Betsy Stecker

FERNDALE MUSICAL SEES KIDS ENTER ‘PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — The next musical from the theater program at Ferndale High School and Ferndale Middle School will celebrate the world of spelling bees.

The program’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be performed March 9-10 and March 15-17 at Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive.

The musical centers around a colorful cast of kids competing in a spelling bee, and the characters will be performed by students from both the middle school and the high school.

“It’s very light, it’s family friendly, it’s very funny, it’s very character driven, which is one of the reasons I picked it,” said Kelly Komlen, the theater director at both schools. “The kids got to exercise and grow with their character-building skills and things like that. It fit the group of kids we have this year.”

Komlen felt the musical lent itself to the group of kids in the program, as it is youthful and one they’ve been trying to build back up since the COVID-19 pandemic.

See MUSICAL on page 9A

Oakland County happy with how early voting worked during presidential primary

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

OAKLAND COUNTY — For the Feb. 27 presidential primary election, Oakland County had its first real test with its early voting sites.

Back in November 2022, Michigan

voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed them to vote early and in-person. Some municipalities took part in a pilot program last November on early voting, but last week’s election was the first time every city took part.

“Early voting is different than election day voting,” Oakland County Clerk and

Register of Deeds Lisa Brown said. “This isn’t at your precinct down the street. This is something different and for a minimum of nine days.”

Early voting began on Feb. 17 and ended on Feb. 25. Oakland County had 18 regional voting sites and one central site in Waterford.

Berkley, Huntington Woods and Pleasant Ridge shared an early voting site with Oak Park at the Oak Park Community Center, while Ferndale shared one with Royal Oak Township and Hazel Park at the Hazel Park Community Center.

“We had early voting sites where we

See VOTING on page 10A

FAR LEFT: Zoe Frappier rehearses a scene for Ferndale Public Schools’ production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

NEAR LEFT: Cameron Meeseman works though a scene during a rehearsal last week for the district’s upcoming musical production.

ABOVE: Lauren Miller rehearses a song for the musical. Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

Local cities to get money through marijuana licenses

OAKLAND COUNTY — The Michigan Department of Treasury announced that more than $87 million is being distributed among 269 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act.

According to a press release, the payments come from the Marihuana Regulation Fund and, for the state of Michigan’s 2023 fiscal year, each eligible municipality and county will receive more than $59,000 for every licensed retail store and microbusiness located within its jurisdiction.

“This week, many Michigan municipalities and counties will begin seeing their share of adultuse marijuana payments appear in their banking accounts,” state Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said in a Feb. 29 press release. “Through a partnership, the dollars received from the adult-use marijuana taxes and fees are distributed to our participating communities. These dollars may be spent how our local units deem fit to their needs.”

“Revenue was collected from 737 licensees among the state’s cities, villages and townships during the 2023 fiscal year. Some of these municipalities host more than one licensed retail store and microbusiness,” the release states.

With its six licenses, Ferndale was to receive $354,518.10. With two licenses, Berkley was to receive $118,172.70, and Pleasant Ridge was to receive $59,086.35 with its one license.

FERNDALE BAND’S NEXT SHOW

FERNDALE — The Ferndale Community Concert Band’s next show, “Time Travelers,” will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest Drive.

The concert is free and open to the public. The show will open with the M-1 Jazz Collective.

“We will take you on a journey to places close by and far, far away,” a news release states. “We travel back in time to Arabia with the ‘Theme from Lawrence of Arabia.’ We visit ‘In a Persian Market’ by Albert Ketelbey. Closer to home enjoy the traditional ‘Shenandoah’ arranged by Omar Thomas. We take you back in time to France with ‘Highlights from Les Miserables’ by Claude-Michel Schönberg. And brave the long journey to Mars with a selection from ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst.”

ANTI-PFAS SCHOLARSHIP UP FOR GRABS

PROM CLOSET TOUR OFFERS FREE DRESSES

TROY/ROCHESTER — The Prom Closet will be at T-Tech Solutions, 1172 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy, from 3 to 8 p.m. March 29 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 30. The last day to sign up for these locations is March 24. It will also be at the Meadowbrook Center for Learning Differences, 811 Oakwood Drive in Rochester, from 3 to 8 p.m. April 5. The last day to sign up for this location is March 31. 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.

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.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN HUNTINGTON WOODS

HUNTINGTON WOODS — Local students now are able to apply for a scholarship from the Huntington Woods Men’s Club.

According to a news release, the “purpose of the Huntington Woods Men’s Club Scholarship Fund is to provide scholarship grants to individuals living in the City of Huntington Woods who are graduating seniors from high school, students attending colleges or universities as undergraduate or graduate students, or students attending a recognized trade school.”

Three $1,500 scholarships will be awarded, and the deadline for submission is March 29. For more information, visit hwmc.org.

Submissions sought for Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship program

STATEWIDE — Applications are being accepted for the 2024 Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship. Michigan Auto Law created the scholarship in honor of Kelsey Raffaele, 17, who died in a cellphone-related automobile crash in 2010.

Michigan students are invited to submit compelling videos, graphics or tweets that resonate with their peers and influence safe driving behavior. Driving distractions are more than just using a cellphone and/or texting, but also eating and drinking, reading, using navigational systems and changing radio stations.

The scholarship program is open to juniors and seniors attending any public or private Michigan high school. Entries will be judged on the student’s ability to persuade others to stop texting while driving, as well as showcase their personal creativity and ingenuity.

There are four scholarships: $2,000 for the overall best submission; $1,500 for the best video submission; $1,000 for the best graphic submission; and $500 for the best tweet submission. Each student is limited to one type of submission.

The scholarship funds will be applied towards tuition at any university, college, or technical school in the U.S. Applicants must be Michigan residents with a valid driver’s license. Finalists will be required to provide proof of enrollment, and if under 18 years old by April 15, 2024, a parental consent form must be signed.

Submissions will be accepted until March 31 at MichiganAu toLaw.com/Scholarships. Winners will be announced in April 2024, coinciding with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

THE ROYAL OAK ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE IS BACK

BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com

ROYAL OAK — After a hiatus lasting four years due to COVID-19, the Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day parade is back.

The parade will begin at noon March 16 at Royal Oak Middle School, travel down Washington Avenue and then turn westbound onto West Seventh Street.

Al Carter, chairperson of the parade committee, will be running a parade for the first time.

Formerly the public information officer for the Royal Oak Police Department, Carter has always been an involved member of the Royal Oak community and participated in St. Patrick’s Day parades in the past with his fellow police officers.

“I have marched for multiple years with the Royal (Oak) Honor Guard — they lead the parade with the flag — and my wife would bring the kids, and it has always been a tradition,” he said.

Carter got the position of chairperson when he ran into previous committee member Carol Hennessey.

“She was a really big part of the parade in the past and I asked her when we were going to bring the parade back,” he said.

Hennesy ended up asking Carter to be the Chairperson, and to spearhead the parade for the 2024 year.

BELOW: Lailana Walker, 11, and Kaylee Colvare,11, both of Bloomfield Hills, enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day

local branch

LEFT: Bekki Muglia, from Ferndale, passes out beads at the 2019 Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will return for the first time since 2019 on March 16.

parade in Royal Oak in 2019.

File photos by Donna Agusti

CRIME WATCH

Resident reports vehicle theft

BERKLEY — A 76-year-old Berkley man reported his vehicle stolen at 7:02 a.m. March 1 in the 1900 block of Robina Avenue, north of 11 Mile Road.

According to the police report, the vehicle, a 2008 GMC Envoy, was taken between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. March 1. The owner stated that he had both sets of keys, the vehicle had been paid off, it was locked and he didn’t give anyone permission to use it.

The report states that there were no tire marks, broken glass or disturbances of any kind where the vehicle had been parked. The report was forwarded to the detective bureau for review.

Police arrest identity theft suspect

BERKLEY — A 43-year-old woman was arrested for identity theft and possession of stolen property at 1:50 p.m. Feb. 27 in the 1800 block of Coolidge Highway, north of 11 Mile Road.

The report states that police were dispatched to the MSU Federal Credit Unit for someone using a fraudulent identification card. They met the suspect, a woman from Fall River, Massachusetts, who said she was making a payment on her auto loan and was trying to take out some cash. She showed police an ID for a New Jersey woman.

The branch manager told police that the suspect had made a payment to her auto loan and then asked to withdraw a large amount of cash using an out-of-state ID. According to the branch manager, the account had multiple flags for identity theft

Main Office: 13650 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48089 (586) 498-8000

Editor:

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and attempted out-of-state transactions. The victim had been contacted, who reportedly confirmed that she was out of the state and had a credit lock on her identity because there had been several attempts to access her account.

Police informed the suspect that they knew she was not the woman on the ID. She was placed under arrest.

Man defrauded of nearly $16,000

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

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

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

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

— Mike Koury

facebook.com/woodwardtalk @candgnews candgnews.com

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End-Of-Season SALES:*

Monday, March 18: 75% Off Entire Store

Tuesday & Wednesday, March 19&20: Fill-A-Bag Sale, $25 per bag (excluding jewelry)

Thursday - Saturday, March 21-23: CLOSED in preparation of Showcase

Monday - Sunday, March 18-24: Home Decor room CLOSED

*Council Cash and other store discounts do not apply shop - donate - benefit community | www.councilresale.net

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WILSON PARK IMPROVEMENTS TO BEGIN IN APRIL

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

FERNDALE — Wilson Park’s improvements are slated to begin in early April.

At a Feb. 26 meeting, the Ferndale City Council voted to approve a bid proposal for the construction and construction management of Wilson Park’s upcoming improvement project.

The council approved the bid proposal from Decima LLC to complete the construction for the park project for $425,521. They also accepted a proposal from Giffels Webster for construction management services for $53,250.

The original scope for the park project, which dates back to 2018, was bigger than what the city will implement. After the project was delayed a year, Parks and Recreation Director LaReina Wheeler said the city saw a 20% increase in labor and materials.

What ended up being removed from this phase of the project includes the basketball court, several walking paths and a strolling garden.

Items still included in the project’s scope are new walking paths, new playground equipment, a pavilion, a soccer field, parking lot improvements and park amenities such as a drinking fountain, benches, tables, trash and recycling bins.

“We knew that we had to phase out this project, of course, but we did not sacrifice any of the main scope items in order to do that,” Wheeler said.

A big item as part of the improvements will be a new underdrain system for Wilson Park. This is something that’s long been needed, according to city officials.

“We have flooding issues there, where after a large rain event, it could take days — if not weeks — for the rain to subside and during that time the park really can’t be used,

the majority of it can’t be used,” Wheeler said.

City Council member Donnie Johnson, who lives near Wilson Park, told the Woodward Talk that the park has “seriously” been in need of upgrades.

“A lot of it relates to the drainage,” he said. “It floods very easily when it rains, and the water just sits. It’s a clay substrate there. So water doesn’t drain easily. Chunks of the park are sort of wet or soggy for a long period of time after rain. And that kind of depresses usage of the park. And then just the amenities are a little outdated. It’s not had love in a while and we were excited to finally get the project moving.”

Ferndale secured funding for the im-

provements through a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant of $141,000, $100,000 from Oakland County, $25,000 from America In Bloom and $71,771 from the American Rescue

ABOVE: This image shows the original scope of the planned Wilson Park improvements before it was scaled back due to cost increases.

Image provided by Ferndale Parks and Recreation

LEFT: Wilson Park will be undergoing construction for improvements beginning in April. One of the big updates that Wilson Park will be receiving is new playground equipment.

File photo by Deb Jacques

Plan Act. The city also will be contributing a grant match of $141,000.

Barring any postponement, the project is slated to start April 1. The planned completion date is Aug. 1.

SPOTLIGHT ON HOMES FURNITURE BANK PUTS UNWANTED HOUSEHOLD BASICS TO GOOD USE

NONPROFIT REPORTS SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FURNISHINGS

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — 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 local family in need.

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, 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 offering 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,

See

ABOVE: Families served by the Furniture Bank are happier and healthier because they have a comfortable place to sleep and have a meal together.

LEFT: Over the last year, the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan has supplied more than 800 children in metro Detroit with beds, including Nehemiah, of Pontiac, who’s thrilled with his.

Photos provided by the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan

Musical

from page 3A

“We try, if possible, to pick something as kid-friendly as possible, because we like to do matinees for the elementary and the middle school, because it’s a fantastic way to build the program,” she said. “You know, kids sit in the audience and they watch what’s going on onstage, and they say, ‘I want to do that.’”

Cameron Meesseman, who acts in the musical as William Barfée, has been taking part in the program since he was in the sixth grade.

The 17-year-old senior from Ferndale said his favorite part about being in the plays has been the community he was introduced to and the friends he’s been able to make.

“I’m just close with a lot of people that (are) within the theater community at our school, and that’s really nice,” he said. “It’s really welcoming. I mean, I was 11 when I started, like, six years ago … and there’s all these high schoolers and there’s my sister — she’s the one who got me into it — and the high schoolers are really nice. They take you in immediately and it’s just this really welcoming and opening atmosphere that I tried to carry on myself, where I try to be close to the middle schoolers and be friends with them.”

The cast of the musical has been working hard over the last couple of months to get ready for the show’s bow on March 9.

Meesseman said he’s excited that he gets to have a big dance performance as part of one of his songs.

“My character is a very movement-focused character,” he said. “He’s basically always moving and he has a little dance solo in his song where he shows off, and all my characters in the past haven’t really had that. … A lot of my characters in the past in general have been, like, very quiet, reserved, closed-off characters, and this character is a little bit more on the mean side and it’s kind of fun to play someone that’s not like me.”

Komlen has seen firsthand the work the kids have been putting in to get ready for the first show and said they’re all “exceptionally talented, smart kids.”

“I’ve been working with kids and in theater, in the arts, for two decades now. I love it,” she said. “I’m a professional actor and director as well, but I equally enjoy doing it with kids and working with kids and teaching kids. It’s just so rewarding to watch them start at the beginning of rehearsals and watch how they grow throughout the process of rehearsals.”

Showtimes for the musical are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10; 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16; and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17.

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for students and $10 for seniors.

To purchase tickets, visit onthestage.tickets/show/ ferndale-high-school or buy them at the door.

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

Furniture

from page 8A

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) 332-1300.

Voting

from page 3A

partnered communities together,” Brown said. “If you think about Huntington Woods, Huntington Woods doesn’t have a place that could have been used for nine days straight up of early voting that would have ample parking and everything else … so we put communities together. We actually did do site visits when communities that we partnered together thought that there was more than one possibility for a site, and the Oak Park space just is a great space. It works for everybody.”

Huntington Woods City Clerk Heidi Barckholtz said the early voting went well overall at the Oak Park site. According to the County Clerk’s Office, there were 9,981 voters who showed up to the early voting sites countywide over the nine days.

“It went very smoothly. People were able to get in and out, Barckholtz said. “Our site was not quite as busy as some of the other sites, but we didn’t have a local ballot, so turnout overall wasn’t great.”

Brown said the early voting went well overall and that the workers at the sites “loved it.” Her hope is that with each election, more and more people become familiar with and utilize early voting.

She added that absentee voters can take their ballots to their early voting sites and put them in the tabulators.

“For August, I think that is the most crucial elec-

tion to do that for, because we see more spoiled ballots in an August primary than in any other election,” Brown said. “Because in an August primary, you have to, what we say, ‘Stay in your lane.’ You can only vote for one party’s candidate. And often when voters turn their ballot over, either they forget or they think it doesn’t count anymore — I don’t know what — and they cross over, and when they do that, they have now spoiled the entire partisan section of their ballots. So none of the votes in the partisan section will count.

“When you put it in the tabulator, and you’ve crossed parties in the August primary, it’s going to spit the ballot back out at you and you’ll have the opportunity to remedy that,” she continued. “If you return your absentee ballot to your local clerk’s office and have it counted on election day or whatever in an absentee voting counting board, there is no way to remedy that. So your partisan votes won’t count.”

Brown was able to visit some of the early voting sites and took notes about anything that could be improved, such as whether they needed more signage or if there was enough equipment.

“For example, the Rochester Hills/Oakland Township location is our busiest. … We’re gonna readjust the layout of everything there to make it a better flow,” she said. “But all the workers that I talked to loved it, they loved working it, they loved the process, and the voters have really enjoyed it as well.”

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

Fire

from page 1A

When officers arrived at the area and noticed that DTE was nearby, the DTE workers were able to assist police and cut the power to the downed line.

Public safety officers were able to extinguish the fire after around an hour. Hadfield stated that they were unsure of how the power line above the garage originally fell.

“They were on scene pretty quickly to be able to shut it off,” Hadfield said. “Once they shut it off, they … knocked out the fire and then just checked for any extension and made sure that it was out before cleaning up and returning.”

“There was minimal structural damage to the roofline, and most of the contents did survive, although they would have some water damage just from putting it out. But overall, (the firefighting effort) was able to save a lot just generally because of DTE’s quick response,” he continued.

Had DTE not already been in the area and responded quickly, Hadfield believes the fire could have wiped out the entire garage.

“In any fire where it’s still electrically charged, a lot of times they end up in complete losses of the structure,” he said. “By having them there so quickly, we were able to save a lot of that, and had they not been able to shut it off, unfortunately, the garage may have suffered a lot more damage due to … being unable to extinguish it while it’s still actively energized.”

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

TIME TO GET OUTDOOR SPACES READY FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Outside living spaces have grown in popularity over the years. As spring approaches, this is the time to start preparing lawns and gardens for “backyarding” fun.

“‘Backyarding,’ I think we came up with the term during COVID. It was the first time I heard it,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care of outdoor spaces from yards to parks. “It’s a verb meaning to champion the outdoors and creating the spaces for your particular needs.”

According to Kiser, lawns and backyards are no longer meant just to look pretty and provide curb appeal.

“We’ve worked with Realtors who have said, ‘Young people want outdoor living spaces,” Kiser said. These spaces are determined with a purpose in mind and tailored to the owner’s needs and desires: a Zen space, a cooking space or outdoor fun. When planning these spaces, one must factor in kids, dogs, deer and flowering plants.

Matching the right plant to the right place is the mantra of many gardeners and growers. To find the right match, homeowners must know their climate zone, Kaiser said.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently updated their plant hardiness map,” said David Lowenstein, consumer horticulture supervising extension educator at the Michigan State University Macomb County Extension Office. “Now everyone is in zone 6 in the Detroit metro area.”

“What the zone information describes is the average minimum winter temperature. Zone 6A, the average temperature is minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit,” Lowenstein said. “That means the plants can survive if temperatures get to minus 10 degrees.”

Combining the right plant with the right soil can yield thriving results. Common types of soil are clay, sand and loam, according to Lowenstein.

“We do tend to have a lot of clay soil in our area,” Lowenstein said about the soil in Macomb and Oakland counties.

The soil types can vary in this area depending on how close you are to a body of water, according to Lowenstein.

“Streams have been channeled, and they’re now underground,” Lowenstein said. “Where your house is now could have once been a wetland or had a stream nearby, and that can impact the soil type.”

The right plant for the right place is as simple as a couple of clicks of the mouse, according to Kiser. Homeowners can do research on the internet into the kind of soil they have and what plants are optimal in that environment. The MSU Extension Office also has soil testers that give the nutrient composition of the soil. The testers are available in the office or online for purchase. For more information, see homesoiltest.msu.edu.

Kiser created an outdoor office during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to enjoy it today as it draws colorful migrating birds, butterflies and a fox.

Photo by Rebecca Finneran

BELOW: “Backyarding” champions the outdoors and creates the spaces for one’s particular needs.

Outdoor

from page 12A

“The office has turned into a bit of an interaction with nature,” Kiser said. “It’s a disturbance I like.”

“Whatever you have, work with it.” Kiser said. That can include everything from a potted plant on a terrace to sprawling acres with plants, bushes, flowers, fruit trees and vegetables.

A beautiful outdoor garden can attract unwanted visitors. Deer love tender young plants and flowers. According to Lowenstein, it is difficult to keep the deer away completely unless there is a high fence or other barrier.

Deer typically avoid holly and ornamental grasses, according to Lowenstein. Catmint also deters deer with its fragrant scent and fuzzy leaves. Deer usually do not eat plants with hairy leaves like lamb’s ear.

Lowenstein suggests covering new plants and flowers with a cage to keep the deer away, at least until the new plants have been in the ground a month or two.

A lush green lawn can be a highlight of a beautiful outdoor space.

“Lawns look green when their fertility

needs are met,” Lowenstein said. “What I mean by that is, when there is a sufficient amount of nitrogen available to them.”

Fertilizer can add nitrogen to the lawn, but err on the side of caution and do not over-fertilize, Lowenstein said. Slow-release fertilizer can be used less frequently than the fast-release variety, because slow-release continues to release nutrients.

Although metro Detroit had some unseasonably warm days in February, according to Lowenstein, the time to seed and plant will be in April.

Now the lawn can be mowed and any debris cleared. In a few weeks, the lawn will be ready to aerate, which involves punching holes into the ground, and to scarify, which creates grooves in the soil for grass seed to penetrate, protecting it from birds, according to Kiser. Kiser said to order plants, hardscapes and pools and arrange for labor now, because they may be more difficult to come by later in the season.

“Meteorologically, we are still in the middle of winter. We could still have days that could bring us freezes, frosts or even snow,” Lowenstein said. “You don’t want to be fooled by Mother Nature and plant too early.”

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

LEFT: Ornamental grass absorbs rainwater and deters deer. Photo provided by David Lowenstein

Photo provided by TurfMutt Foundation

Parade

from page 5A

Running a parade has not been a walk in the park, according to Carter, and the process has been much more than he anticipated.

“We were actually looking at a budget of $11,000, and started with zero,” he said. “There are many different businesses that stepped forward and helped us out with getting our budget off the ground so that we could actually put on the parade.”

This year the parade has a sponsorship with the Royal Oak Leprechauns, and team Vice President Rocky Shattuck is excited to be involved not only as a sponsor, but as secretary of the parade’s committee.

Shattuck got involved in the parade when Steven Zanetti, the previous parade chairman, approached him at Berkley’s Irish Fest, asking him to become a part of the committee for the Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Being the vice president of the Royal Oak Leprechauns, it only made sense that the team joined in to sponsor the parade.

“Obviously, with the Royal Oak Leprechauns, a St. Patrick’s Day parade is a no-

brainer to cross promote,” he said. “So, we had the opportunity to sponsor the parade, to have those naming rights. It was a great opportunity for our program, and we are super thankful for that.”

The team will be participating in the parade, riding the team bus that has the Leprechauns logo on its side.

Being a part of bringing back this “iconic” parade is something Shattuck said everyone is looking forward to.

“It’s so cool to bring this opportunity back to the community and enjoy it every year,” he said. “We are prideful in the fact that this is a family event, and it is an opportunity for family and friends to get together and really enjoy themselves.”

Carter is grateful for the Leprechauns sponsorship and said it was one of the main reasons that bringing back the parade was possible.

This year the parade is going to be showcasing veterans and other communitydriven entities in the city of Royal Oak.

“We are going to have the (Veterans of Foreign Wars) group marching along with several other veteran groups,” Carter said.

Royal Oak Schools also is going to be featured in the parade, Carter said, and the committee has been in touch with Royal

Oak Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick to set it up.

“She is going to lead the parade with us, along with principals from other elementary schools,” he said. “Four of them have already committed, and we are going to have the principals and teachers featured that are going to be marching in the parade.”

Carter said that when creating this parade, he and the committee put an emphasis on businesses and community-based organization.

“We want the community involved. Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day in my mind, and we’re not only going to highlight heritage and pride with that, but our community that we all live in,” he said.

Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.

Spotlight on business...

Detect to Protect: Full-body MRI scans now available in South eld

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.”

“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.

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.

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.

Some longtime Royal Oak residents walk the parade route in 2019.

File photos by Donna Agusti

Printmaking

from page 1A

experience, Fackler said Ferndale is a great art-buying town.

“Every time I do an art fair in Ferndale, it’s a great response for my work, as well as some of the other printmakers who I converse with and are pals with,” he said.

The fair will bring together 18 artists for its first year to sell original printmaking art such as letterpress, woodcut, linocut, screenprinting, etching, drypoint, intaglio and collagraph art.

“I noticed that over the years, there’s all-potters fairs, there’s all-painting fairs and things like this, but there hasn’t been an allprintmaker fair,” Fackler said. “Printmaking is kind of like a large art genre. There’s different types of printmaking, and so I had this idea to put this fair together, and so I reached out to some of my fellow printmakers who I’ve met through art fairs and things like that, and we kind of got this ball rolling and we put together this fair.”

Betsy Stecker will be one of the makers bringing her art to the fair. Stecker owns

Big Mitten Linocuts, her art studio brand where she makes original handmade linocut prints, and Forested Goods, a shop inside The Rust Belt Market.

Stecker said she’s super excited about the fair and to meet the other printmakers taking part in it, as well as the customers in attendance.

“Printmaking is a unique medium because it’s handmade, but because we work in art that, I guess it’s called multiple originals, we’re able to offer it affordably. So you can find an original print for less than $100, less

than $50, whereas a painting to get at that price point is usually going to be (more expensive) … or it’s going to be a digital reproduction.

“With printmaking, we’re able to bring original art into homes for a very accessible price point, and that is one reason why I love being a printmaker,” she continued. “I really believe that art is for everybody and it’s important that art fairs carry a balance of super fine artwork that might cost thousands and original art done by printmakers that can start at $30.”

For Stecker’s art, she takes linoleum blocks and carves them with wood carving gouges and rolls ink onto the blocks and furnishes it by applying pressure.

Stecker said that customers who come to the fair will find a lot of art for a variety of prices, but most of it should be accessible.

“We’re a community of printmakers in Michigan, and that community is growing,” she said.

LEFT: Stecker will be selling a new piece, “Sleeping Fawn,” at the Printmaker Art Fair.

BELOW: This linocut print by Betsy Stecker, from Big Mitten Linocuts, will be for sale at the first Peninsular Printmaker Art Fair in Ferndale April 6.

Photos provided by Betsy Stecker

Help

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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Birmingham

Ferndale Senior Group: Meets 11 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesdays of month, Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, (248) 544-6767, ext. 503, ferndalemi.gov/resources/ senior-programs

Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, also antiques and collectibles 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 316 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, find events on Facebook

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

Photo by Brandy Joe Plambeck

From left, Cole VanAmbergm stars as Jamie and nick Easterling as Ste.