3/7/24 Grosse Pointe Times

Obit bandit arrested after multi-department investigation

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

GROSSE POINTES — A suspect who has reportedly confessed to 12 home invasions throughout metro Detroit in recent weeks — including several in the Grosse Pointes — has been arrested.

Jerry Ashley, 44, was apprehended at his Detroit home Feb. 27 by the Eastern Wayne County Special Response Team, or SRT, which is similar to a SWAT team and consists of officers from the five Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. Police said Ashley was finding homes to break into by reading death notices.

“It looks like he was targeting obituaries and estate sales,” Grosse Pointe City Public Safety Director John Alcorn said.

Ashley was arraigned on three counts of breaking and entering into a building March 1 in Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Court, where he was given a cash or surety bond of $700,000. He was slated, at press time, to be arraigned on additional charges March 7 in Grosse Pointe City Municipal Court, and he is expected to face charges in other cities as well, including Grosse Pointe Farms. Ashley remained in custody at press time at the Andrew C. Baird Detention Facility in Detroit.

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

SHORES — Capturing speed on a still surface isn’t easy, but that’s what artist Nicolas Rousselet did in his poster for the 2024 EyesOn Design show, which will take place on Father’s Day, June 16, at the Edsel and

Eleanor

From left, EyesOn Design Chief Judge Glen Durmisevich and artist Nicolas Rousselet unveil Rousselet’s painting of the McLaren F1, which is being used for the 2024 EyesOn Design poster.

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

State grant will improve outdoor Village amenities

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

CITY — State funding is coming soon for improvements to The Village that should enhance the experience for visitors of the Grosse Pointe City business district.

On Feb. 29, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced that Main Street Grosse Pointe — aka The Village — was one of nine downtown business districts in Michigan that would be receiving a Main Street Vibrancy Grant of $25,000.

“It’s a great opportunity that we wouldn’t have if we weren’t a Michigan Main Street community,” Main Street Grosse Pointe Executive Di-

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

One-woman exhibition by nonagenarian commemorates ‘A Life in Art’

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

FARMS — The work of artist Bette Prudden, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is part of a number of people’s art collections, but it’s also a piece of family history for many others.

Prudden spent four decades painting portraits, eventually capturing images of the children of people she’d painted earlier. She’s known as well for her striking landscapes, still lifes and more. At 95, vision problems keep her from doing as much painting as she once did, but the awardwinning, nationally recognized artist continues to teach and create new work.

Prudden’s work will be the subject of the exhibition, “People, Places and Things: A Life in Art” March 10 to May 12 in the gallery at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church in Grosse Pointe Farms. A public opening reception will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. March 10. The show

See PRUDDEN on page 6A

File photo by K. Michelle Moran

The Village in Grosse Pointe City — seen here in December 2022 — will be getting some new or improved amenities and signs this year due largely to a state grant.

Grosse Pointe Woods artist Bette Prudden stands next to one of her moving water paintings, “Maine View.”

PARK PRESENTS PROCLAMATION TO LONGTIME CITY VET

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

PARK — For generations, pet parents have been entrusting the medical care of their ill or injured animals to Dr. Lawrence Herzog, of Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic in Grosse Pointe Park.

And, until last year, Herzog also opened the doors of his practice to care for pets that were found running loose in several of the Grosse Pointes, including Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Farms and the Park. For serving as the Park’s city veterinarian from 1982 to 2023, the city presented Herzog with a proclamation in his honor at a meeting Jan. 8.

“We’re so glad to have the two-legged person who helps our four-legged residents stay healthy,” Mayor Michele Hodges said.

Herzog, who graduated from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975, thanked officials for the proclamation, which was approved by a unanimous vote of the Park City Council.

“It’s been just a pleasure to work in Grosse Pointe Park,” said Herzog.

Herzog said he’s proud to have lived and worked in the Park for the last four decades and to have raised

his children there. He’s been a Park resident since 1983.

The proclamation recognized Herzog for his “generous, selfless service and actions over the last 40 years” and the “positive and everlasting impact on the quality of life for pets and pet owners” he and his clinic have given the community.

“When I think of you, Dr. Herzog, the word ‘honor’ comes to mind,” Hodges said. “We very much appreciate your (work) over the years. … Thank you again to the Herzog family for being such an important part of our community.”

Herzog may no longer be providing regular housing for lost pets and strays — he concluded that part of his career in 2023 — but that doesn’t mean he’s no longer caring for the community’s sick animals.

“For the record, I’m not retiring,” Herzog said with a smile.

City Councilman Martin McMillan shared some additional insight into the doctor by noting that Herzog is “not only a great veterinarian,” but he’s also “one of the best fly fishermen you’ve ever seen.”

Call Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at (586) 4981047.

Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise

SOUTHFIELD- Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Tanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.

As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only

cover about 29% of cancers with 71% occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the genitals and can detect it very early.

For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive fights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a clinic opened in Southfeld, making these scans available to Metro Detroit residents.

“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difcult

treatments. We can also identify conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfeld clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.

Te primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, ofering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. Te ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. Tis approach ofers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.

Robert B., age 50, opted for a full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor

MRI machines use magnets and emit no radiation.

was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Teir MRI found a kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.”

Take the first step to learn more about full body scans by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening.com and request a free, no obligation Information Kit. Request it today and you’re also guaranteed a copy of their FREE eBook, Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late! (Tis is a limited time ofer.)

Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC

0330-2349

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

Longtime Grosse Pointe Park veterinarian Dr. Lawrence Herzog is presented with a proclamation from the city by Public Safety Director James Bostock.

WORK APPROVED FOR LAKE FRONT PARK POOL

BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com

WOODS — It might seem like it’s too early to think about swimming, but Grosse Pointe Woods officials are already planning on repairs to the main pool at Lake Front Park.

The main pool liner is “going to need to be replaced,” Director of Public Services James Kowalski said during a Woods City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Jan. 22. He said a pool liner typically lasts about 10 to 12 years and theirs is 16 years old.

“It’s starting to peel away from the walls a little bit,” Kowalski told the council. “We’re getting some water leakage” because of the age of the liner.

The Woods City Council unanimously approved a quote from Linden, Michiganbased K Construction during a meeting Feb. 5 to do the work for $328,098; approval came as part of a vote in favor of the consent agenda. In a memo to City Administrator Frank Schulte, Kowalski wrote that K Con-

struction is “the only known installer in the State of Michigan to install commercial liners of the magnitude and scope of the main pool,” which is why the project wasn’t bid out.

“I don’t have a problem with it,” Mayor Arthur Bryant said Jan. 22 of the proposal. “It does seem expensive.”

This expenditure isn’t in the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year budget, so it will need to be paid for by transferring money from reserve fund balance, officials said.

“The lead time is six months,” Schulte said Jan. 22. This means that the city needed to order the liner now in order to be able to get it and install it after the pool closes for the summer on Labor Day weekend. There’s also a nationwide shortage of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which is used to make the liner.

Kowalski said the new liner means the lights under the water will be gone.

“They hadn’t worked in years,” said Schulte, adding that they will probably put plates over them.

Brian J. Hunt D.D.S.

Prudden

from page 3A

is expected to have about 28 works spanning the various media in which Prudden has worked, including watercolor, pastel and oil.

“You’re going to see diverse media handled expertly,” said artist Lori Zurvalec, of Grosse Pointe City, chair of the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church Arts Ministry.

Prudden studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and took oil portrait workshops in Kansas City, Missouri, which is where she grew up. She’s lived in Grosse Pointe Woods since her husband was transferred to Michigan for work in 1963.

“I just really never wanted to do anything else,” Prudden said of art, recounting a story her father told her: When she was 3 years old, he said, she used her mother’s lipstick and powder to draw a picture on the rug.

Her early art forays sometimes got her in trouble.

“That was just always my favorite thing to do. … In arithmetic, I drew on the pages. In history, I drew on the pages,” Prudden recalled in a 2006 interview for the Grosse Pointe Times. “You soon figure out this is more fun. I scribbled on everything. I remember the worst thing I got a licking for was my mother’s high school album — I decorated everything, all the pages.”

She has never been one to shy away from a challenge.

“I needed money for a new washing machine, so I answered (a help wanted) ad for the Michigan State Fair to do portraits,” recalled Prudden, who had never done portraits before — something she left out during her interview. “I jumped in and started working in a crowd, and I got used to it. … It was very educational to get a likeness quickly. And you had to make it look like them, or they wouldn’t pay you for it.”

She proved to be a quick study and ended up working or showing art at the Michigan State Fair for roughly 30 years. Prudden said joining the Portrait Society of America helped her to hone her skills in portraiture.

“Kids were my thing to do for years,” said Prudden, who favored pastels for portraits of children. “I have a lot of fond memories. It’s so much fun to paint kids.”

Prudden has been teaching art in metro Detroit since 1965. She formerly had a studio on Mack Avenue in Detroit — across the street from Grosse Pointe City — where she and fellow artists worked and taught,

including Julie Strabel, Roselyn Rhodes and the late Nancy Profitt. Today, Prudden teaches from a home studio in her basement.

“I’m happy with my two students,” Prudden said. “They’ve become my friends.”

Prudden is one of the early members of the Pointe Studio Ten, an art critique group made up of female artists that started in the early 1960s. Zurvalec has been a fellow Pointe Studio Ten member since the 1990s.

“Bette always brought beautiful things (to the critique sessions), usually landscapes and still lifes,” said Zurvalec, who said Prudden’s subject matter “is often very compelling and unusual,” such as a mask series.

A more recent Pointe Studio Ten member is Kathleen “Katy” McNamee, of Grosse Pointe Farms.

McNamee recalls first meeting Prudden in 2011. McNamee had work chosen for the “Our Town” show in Birmingham, but the day that artists were supposed to drop off their work, McNamee was going to be in another state attending an awards dinner for her husband. No other artists that McNamee knew nearby had work in the show, but an artist and mutual friend told McNamee that Prudden had also been selected for “Our Town.” McNamee called Prudden to see if she could bring her art to Prudden’s home so she could drop if off when she turned in her own, and Prudden agreed. McNamee, in turn, offered to drive Prudden to the “Our Town” opening reception.

“We went to the party together and we just stuck together, and she started introducing me as her new best friend,” McNamee said. “And I loved it.”

That same evening, McNamee said, Prudden told her about the Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors — of

which Prudden had already been a member for years — and urged McNamee to join as well.

“I never looked back,” said McNamee, noting that she met “wonderful artists,” mentors and friends through DSWPS. “That evening was my baptism into the Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors.”

Prudden has an ability to shift among different media and subject matter and make it look effortless, McNamee said.

“She takes on one subject and she takes on a drastically different subject … and she just masters it,” McNamee said.

McNamee said Prudden can also complete a work from a mixture of memory and invention, not needing to rely on a photo or the subject itself for reference. Her quick wit is another quality that has endeared Prudden to so many, including McNamee.

“I’ve had a long and happy life in painting,” Prudden said. “It has been so

much fun. You can get lost in it, so you have absolutely no other worries at all. And that’s what I like about it.”

Prudden, whose husband died in 2011, has three adult children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The works she selected for this show are among her favorite pieces.

“We’re honoring a lifetime dedicated to art,” Zurvalec said. “We think this is an important thing to acknowledge — the contributions, the beauty created by artists.”

Grosse Pointe Congregational Church is located at 240 Chalfonte Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms. The gallery is open to the public during the reception and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or when there are other activities at the church. For additional hours or to schedule an appointment to see the show, call (313) 884-3075 or email arts@gpcong.org.

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

Photo provided by Bette Prudden “Windy,” a pastel by Bette Prudden, shows her gift for capturing personality in a portrait.

rector Cindy Willcock said. “We’re incredibly honored and blessed that they believed in our vision.”

The Village funds will be used toward a “Get to the Pointes” place-making effort that includes public art, outdoor games, new signs for the Loop social district, street pole banners with Main Street branding, and more seating in the three plaza areas — Kressbach Place, an area by Trader Joe’s and an area by SideStreet Diner and T N Thai Bistro.

“A lot of the things in this project are things that people have asked for,” Willcock said.

Willcock said it’s all designed to encourage visitors to walk around the district and spend more time there, which she hopes will lead to visitors spotting and patronizing stores and other businesses.

“Thriving, attractive downtowns are vital to creating unique places where people want to live, work, visit, and play,” Whitmer said in a press release. “Today’s grants for 9 downtowns across Michigan will help these communities grow their economies, support local small businesses, and improve quality of life. Together, we will continue our comprehensive economic development strategy of investing in people, places, and projects. Let’s get this done so anyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

Refurbishing existing tables for chess and checkers was part of this project. Willcock said they will also be bringing back the giant Jenga set — courtesy of Apple Blossom Baby — and a giant Connect 4 game that

Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle

used to be inside Moosejaw Mountaineering. Willcock said Moosejaw gifted the game to The Village when they were closing.

“It’s a fun way to remember them,” Willcock said of the Village retailer. “They were a good community partner.”

Work won’t interrupt the forthcoming Music on the Plaza summer concert series.

“It should have a positive impact but no negative or logistical impact,” Willcock said.

She said they hope to add more sturdy outdoor games that can be enjoyed by individuals or small groups, such as cornhole, possibly.

Willcock said work will start “as soon as we can.” She said they’re finalizing planning now so they can get going when they receive the funds.

“We want to get this done this year,” Willcock said. “We’ve had these projects lined up in the queue, just waiting for funding.”

Ideally, she said, they’d like to be done this summer, but if not, at least by September.

The total project cost wasn’t finalized at press time because Willcock said the grant application included the first in a multiphase public art initiative, but she said the work is likely to be about $30,000 to $50,000. There will also be ongoing maintenance costs in the future, as well as the cost of new banners. As with most grants, local matching funds were required.

“The work is never done,” Willcock said.

For more information about upcoming Village events, visit The Village Grosse Pointe Facebook page or thevillagegrossep ointe.org.

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

Fraser-Clinton Township

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

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

During its annual awards ceremony Feb. 29 at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms, the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce recognized local businesses and students.

Students receiving youth entrepreneur scholarship awards, pictured above left, consisted of Grosse Pointe North High School student Aakash Nagori for the business Employ Connect, University Liggett School student Avery Slanec for the businesses Home Base Real Estate and Hunters Service Society, North student Troy Lipscomb for the business Lipscomb Landscaping, and ULS student Helen Wujek for the business Butter & Stuff.

Sofia Kirkman, owner of Part of Your World Princess Co., pictured above right, received first place in the small business grant division. Building Better Learners owner Nia Omowale received second place in the small business grant awards, Back to You owner Dr. John Putnam received third place, Grosse Pointe Moving and Storage — represented by Gretchen White — received fourth place, and LaLonde Jewelers owner Dan LaLonde received fifth place.

MEALS TO BE PACKED

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Grosse Pointe Farms and its next-door neighbor, The War Memorial, are teaming up again to prepare meal packages for Kids Coalition Against Hunger. The goal is to package about 50,000 meals. Meal packaging will take place in The War Memorial’s Fred M. Alger Center.

“The War Memorial is proud to serve again this year as a packaging site for Kids Coalition Against Hunger,” War Memorial President and CEO Maria Miller said in a press release. “The church outgrew their space and asked if we would partner last year. We’re looking forward to seeing the community come together for this worthy cause.”

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church has held this event since 2014, when volunteers assembled 10,000 meal packages. Last year, they put together 75,000 meal packages. The page on signupgenius.com for the event showed that all volunteer slots had been filled as of March 5.

VETERANS TO MEET

CATCH A ‘BIG FISH’

The University Liggett School Players will present the musical “Big Fish” March 7-10 on the school’s main stage. The show stars Gio Thams and Olivia Johnson, and also features Mark Saigh, Madison Reeves, Alexa Kalyvas and Jordan Stefanides-Cartenga. The show, set in the American South, is a fantasy about a son’s journey to find out who his fanciful, tall tale-telling father really was. Mallory Childs is providing leadership backstage for this student-led production, which has involved the participation of almost 80 students in front of and behind the curtains. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased at uls. seatyourself.biz.

Art exhibition to open

“Reminiscence,” an exhibition of art by Ashley Menth and Debbie La Pratt, is on display through March 30 at Posterity Art & Framing Gallery, 17005 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe City. A public opening reception with the artists will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. March 14.

According to a press release, the theme of the show comes from “a shared soulful lightness that comes from connecting to places of historical importance in our communities.” Menth is a contemporary impressionist and La Pratt is a bas-relief sculptor trying to preserve local architectural gems.

For more information, visit posterityartgallery.com or call (313) 884-8105.

BLOOD DONORS NEEDED

The Southeast Michigan American Red Cross is holding a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29 in the gym of the Assumption Cultural Center, 21800 Marter Road in St. Clair Shores. Those who’d like to schedule an appointment can call Tony Lipinski at (586) 634-0228 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code Assumption. Walk-ins are welcome also. Local blood supplies are said to be low.

The Grosse Pointe War Memorial Veterans Club Inc. will meet at 2 p.m. March 14 at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The topic is “Super Fighters, Weapons of War.” Admission is free and guests are welcome. For more information, call Grosse Pointe War Memorial Veterans Club President John Bates at (313) 881-4125.

Book bans are subject of talk

The League of Women Voters of Grosse Pointe will present the program, “The Battle for Ideas: Inside Schools and Libraries’ Response to Book Bans” at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Wayne County Community College District Mary Ellen Stempfle Center, 19305 Vernier Road in Harper Woods. The panel of speakers includes Harper Woods Public Library Director Kristen Valyi-Hax, Grosse Pointe Public Library Director Jessica Keyser and Harper Woods Public Schools Superintendent Steven McGhee. To register, visit  LWV-Prgm-Book_Bans.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Dawn Drozd at lwvgrossepointe@gmail.com.

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

See FURNITURE BANK on page 11A

Neighborhood Masonry Specialists: Building a legacy, brick

As a single mother, Nichole Shier was eager to build a family business that she could be proud of and eventually pass down to her sons.

In April 2014 her dream came true when she launched Neighborhood Masonry Specialists. “I discovered my passion for restoring historical homes while working for another masonry company for seven years, and I take pride in being a woman who now owns a construction company where both of my sons work with me,” Nichole said. Her eldest son, Jamie Shier, serves as the head mason and her younger son, Julian Shier, is the sales manager. “Both of my sons went through advanced training so they could contribute their own expertise to the business,” she said.

From age 17, Jamie spent his summers working alongside the company’s master masons. To perfect his craft, he completed a union apprenticeship and achieved both journeyman and master mason status on his own.

Julian decided at age 11 to pursue a career in sales and went on to study construction management and business. “My daughter-in-law, Carlie Shier, plays a crucial role on our team too,” Nichole added. “She is our office manager and handles bookkeeping, payroll and administrative duties. Our team also includes a tightknit group of dedicated masons who each have 30 years of experience and still choose to work with me.”

As a result of their expert craftsmanship and unparalleled customer service, the company has earned a reputation throughout all five of the Grosse Pointes and St. Clair Shores as a sought-after leader in residential masonry restoration. “We do chimney

repairs and rebuilds, tuckpointing, porch repairs and rebuilds, paver patios, aggregate driveways, sidewalks and patios, foundation work and comprehensive solutions from rebricking to waterproofing,” Nichole said, adding that, while her team also does roofing projects and gutters, their primary focus is on masonry. “The fact that we put quality before quantity and take our time with each project has given us the opportunity to work on some amazing historical homes.”

Their meticulous restoration of 50 Moross, originally designed by renowned

architect Louis Kamper in 1914, earned them a feature in Grosse Pointe Magazine. And last year they restored a historic porch at 1324 Buckingham consisting of 2,700 bricks, eight columns — and three separate entrances, each with custom limestone-tread steps.

Nichole added: “As a small family-owned business, it’s rewarding when past clients call years later, and I immediately recognize them because I’m involved in every project. It’s also a testament to our work when they insist on using nobody but us.”

In

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

Furniture Bank

from page 10A

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, 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 dis-

order 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.

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

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.

Photo provided by the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan

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, Kiser said.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently updated their plant hardiness map,”

TOP: Ornamental grass absorbs rainwater and deters deer.

Photo provided by David Lowenstein

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

Photo provided by TurfMutt Foundation See OUTDOOR on page 13A

Arrest

from page 1A

“So far, we have connected him to incidents in Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Woods, Novi, Farmington Hills, Ann Arbor, Shelby Township and possibly Canton,” Alcorn said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Ashley’s defense attorney, Mark Magidson, had only been appointed to the case about an hour before he was reached for comment the afternoon of March 4. Magidson was unable to offer any remarks on the case because he hadn’t yet seen any of the police reports or met with Ashley.

“He’s presumed not guilty until proven guilty without a reasonable doubt,” Magidson said.

The case aroused suspicion immediately in the City when the home of retired Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court Judge

James Callahan was struck just before his funeral in mid-January.

“(In) Grosse Pointe City, if we have a B&E, it’s unusual,” Alcorn said. “That drew attention right away — and the fact that it was right after Judge Callahan died.”

Also unusual was the fact that Grosse Pointe Woods had three breaking and entering cases in a two-week span in February, Woods Public Safety Director John Kosanke said. Alcorn and Kosanke began comparing notes and recognized there were striking similarities between their cases.

The primary investigators on the case were Grosse Pointe City’s Detective Michael Narduzzi and Detective Sgt. Joseph Adams, and Grosse Pointe Woods’ Detectives Miles Adams and Keith Waszak. But, Alcorn said, they soon realized they needed additional manpower and contacted the public safety departments in Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Shores, both of which lent personnel to the case.

“I feel really fortunate about working

in the Grosse Pointes,” Alcorn said. “It was truly a team effort. Initially, it was just the City and the Woods, but when we needed more help, they jumped in right away.”

Kosanke agreed, saying the public safety departments “did an excellent job in the capture of this individual. There was a lot of teamwork.”

For six days, Alcorn said, multiple officers and detectives were investigating these crimes 24 hours a day.

“Stuff like this really bothers me because you have families dealing with a tragedy, and then a lowlife takes advantage of the situation,” Alcorn said. “We were all very motivated to put him in jail.”

Alcorn said it’s possible there could be additional victims who don’t realize it yet.

“If you’re not intimately familiar with what’s in a home, it could be months down the line (before you discover) something’s missing,” Alcorn said.

Jewelry, silverware and other valuables were reportedly stolen from homes allegedly

by Ashley. Kosanke said at press time that investigators haven’t been able to determine — or even estimate — the total value of the items allegedly taken by Ashley because police were still trying to collect what they could from pawn shops around the area.

Alcorn said people who have a loved one who has died can contact their public safety or police department to let them know, so that officers can try to keep a closer eye on that address. In addition, he recommended that people use as many security measures as they can, including deadbolt locks, motion-detection lights and cameras.

“The bad guys are looking to get quick, easy entry, so anything that slows them down helps,” Alcorn said.

While not typical, Alcorn said other suspects have used death notices before to find potential homes to target.

Ashley, said Alcorn, is “not the original mastermind behind this.”

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

from page 12A

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 Of-

fice 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.

“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.

“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.”

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.

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

North wrestling snaps decadelong drought, wins district title

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

WOODS — There’s a different type of connection when a high school coach has walked the same school hallways as a student.

Coaches at their alma maters often navigated the same school parking lot each morning, ate in the same cafeteria, and possibly even had the same teachers as their athletes.

The coaches know the athletic and academic expectations at the school, and they also know what it’s like to be a high school student-athlete.

For Grosse Pointe North boys wrestling head coach Jaron Nelson and his assistant coaches, Joey Lawnicki and Mike Bouldin, they know exactly what it’s like to be Norsemen.

“It’s a good connection for us because they can relate to us more, especially with them going to the school,” senior captain

Junior wrestler writes his name in history books for Grosse Pointe South

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

FARMS — Last year was a historymaking season for Grosse Pointe South junior Wyatt Hepner as he competed in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 wrestling state championship in the 126-pound weight class, but it wasn’t good enough for him.

The then-sophomore sensation was the first Blue Devil to ever reach the state finals stage for wrestling, but a 12-2 loss to Davison’s Caden Horwath wrote the ending to Hepner’s impressive storybook season.

Horwath now wrestles for the University of Michigan, so it was a difficult bout from the start for Hepner, who was only in his second year on varsity, but he said there was a major takeaway from the matchup.

“I kind of took being at the state finals as a huge, huge thing, but in the end it’s just another match,” Hepner said. “I think just going into that match like it was any other match was my biggest takeaway from that.”

On March 2 at Ford Field, Hepner became the first South wrestler to ever win a state title, as a 1-0 win over Utica Eisenhower’s Sam Agnello earned Hepner the MHSAA Division 1 individual state championship in the 138-pound weight class.

Hepner and Agnello battled it out just two weeks prior at regionals on Feb. 17 with Hepner earning the win in a 3-0 decision, so it wasn’t a surprise to anyone when an escape by Hepner in the second period would be the deciding factor in the match. An escape is when a wrestler gets out of the bottom position and faces the opposing wrestler.

From there, it was celebration time for the three-time state qualifier as a slew of supporting fans cheered him on.

“It was awesome,” Hepner said. “Just all the support was pretty amazing. It was just an awesome environment to be in.”

Also representing South at the state finals were Josh Lemanski, who placed eighth in the 165-pound weight class; Paul Wilson, who placed fourth in the 175-pound weight class; and Milania Rodriguez in the girls di-

vision. Four state finals qualifiers and three state placers were the most in school history for South, and Rodriguez was the first female

Photo provided by Andrew Rishmawi

Grosse Pointe South junior Wyatt Hepner stands at the top of the MHSAA podium after winning the MHSAA Division 1 individual state championship in the 138-pound weight class on March 2 at Ford Field.

Photos provided by Grosse Pointe North wrestling

LEFT: Grosse Pointe North senior captain Preston Auld controls an opponent. RIGHT: Head coach Jaron Nelson (top left), assistant coach Joey Lawnicki (top right), alumni volunteer coach Mike Bouldin (bottom left), and assistant coach Jacob Girard (bottom right) lead the Grosse Pointe North wrestlers. See WRESTLING on page 18A

GROSSE POINTE ALUMNI TAKE OVER COLLEGE BASEBALL’S FIRST WEEK

WOODS — Grosse Pointe University Liggett and Grosse Pointe North High School were well represented during the opening week of college baseball. Liggett graduates Jarren Purify and Oliver Service, both state champions in 2021 for the Knights, made their Division I debuts.

Purify made his debut for No. 10 ranked Clemson University (9-1) in a 14-3 win over Xavier on Feb. 16, but he reintroduced himself on Feb. 20 against Presbyterian with his first collegiate hit — a grand slam over the left field wall.

Purify is hitting .375 this year in eight at-bats for the Tigers, while his high school teammate, Oliver Service, picked up his first collegiate hit for the University of Texas with a chopper to the third base side on Feb. 20 against Houston Christian.

Service also scored on the base paths for the No. 24 ranked Longhorns (7-4).

North graduate Drew Hill is quickly becoming one of the most reliable batters in Wayne State University’s lineup, hitting .393 in eight games with 11 hits and a home run.

The Warriors (7-1) look to be a force in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic

and Hill’s offensive firepower

— Jonathan Szczepaniak

Conference this season,

will be a focal point of the team’s success.

File photo above and bottom left by Patricia O’Blenes

ABOVE: Grosse Pointe University Liggett graduate Jarren Purify slides into second during the MHSAA Division 2 state finals on June 17 at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University.

LEFT: Grosse Pointe University Liggett graduate Oliver Service collects a base hit during the MHSAA Division 2 state finals on June 17 at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University.

RIGHT: Grosse Pointe North graduate Drew Hill already is off to a hot start for Wayne State University, hitting .393 in eight games with 11 hits and a home run.

Above right photo provided by Grosse Pointe North Baseball

CRIME WATCH

Vehicle stolen

PARK — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen a silver 2021 Hyundai Accent from the 700 block of Harcourt Road during the late-night hours of Feb. 21 or early morning hours of Feb. 22. Police said the vehicle, which was parked on the street in front of a home, was taken without the keys. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Stolen vehicle recovered

WOODS — A Chevy Tahoe that was stolen from a driveway in the 1000 block of South Renaud Road Feb. 28 was recovered by police undamaged in Detroit. According to a report, the victim had left his jacket in the vehicle and a key fob for the vehicle was in the jacket pocket. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

Armed robbery suspect arrested in Farms

FARMS — A 22-year-old Highland Park man was arrested in the area of Moross Road and Chalfonte Avenue at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 21 after he was reportedly involved in an armed robbery and vehicle theft in Highland Park.

The Detroit Police Department said the suspect was fleeing in a black Chevrolet Equinox— he was said to have been driving more than 60 mph on Moross — when police tried to pull him over. After the suspect continued to speed away from police, officers deployed stop sticks on Lake Shore Road when the suspect headed west. The stop sticks failed to halt the suspect, but turning onto Dodge Place in Grosse Pointe City — which is a dead-end — seemed to do the trick.

Police said the suspect hopped out of the Equinox on Dodge Place and fled on foot, and he was arrested while resting on the exterior stair landing of a residence. The suspect was turned over to the Highland Park Police Department. Police said no use of force was required, no property was damaged and there were no injuries resulting from this incident.

Detergent thieves make clean getaways

WOODS/CITY — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen at least four containers of Tide Pods — valued at a total of $133 — from a CVS store in the 20400 block of Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods at around 1:17 p.m. March 3.

A police report states that the suspect, a

woman about 50 years old, was confronted by an employee and asked to show a receipt, which caused the suspect to rapidly exit the business. She’s facing possible retail fraud charges, police said. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

In a separate incident, a male suspect was spotted stealing about six to eight packages of Tide Pods — valued at $13.49 apiece — from The Village CVS store at around 4:22 p.m. Feb. 29. Anyone with more information can call (313) 886-3200.

Cash taken from vehicle

PARK — Roughly $10 was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle while it was parked in the 1000 block of Nottingham Road. The incident — which was discovered and reported to police by the victim at around 4:21 p.m. Feb. 22 — is believed to have happened overnight. Anyone with more information can call (313) 822-7400.

Senior is victim of fraud

FARMS — A 74-year-old Grosse Pointe Farms man filed a report with police March 1 after he received an email Feb. 29 from his bank that an unknown suspect had tried to transfer or withdraw $5,000 from his account.

The bank denied the transaction and closed the account, so the victim went to a local bank branch the following day to open a new account. However, while going through his transactions with a teller, the victim discovered 62 unauthorized transactions for $100 and five transactions for $200, for a total loss of $7,200. The bank was only able to look up transactions over the last 50 days, so it wasn’t clear if additional fraudulent transactions had been made earlier. A police report states that while the victim was at the bank, he received a call from someone claiming they had his IP address and he needed to pay them. The bank teller blocked the number from the victim’s phone.

Man arrested for retail fraud

FARMS — A 36-year-old Detroit man is alleged to have stolen a bottle of Campari Negroni valued at $21.99 and a bottle of Watershed Distillery Nochino valued at $34.97 from a store in the 18300 block of Mack Avenue at around 9:41 a.m. Feb. 29.

The suspect, who a witness described as intoxicated, was found inside a neighboring restaurant. Police gave the suspect — who said he was homeless — a preliminary breath test for his safety and found that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.24%. The suspect, who is facing possible third-degree retail fraud charges, agreed to be taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for intoxication. Police said in a report the suspect was “visibly in-

toxicated” and smelled strongly of liquor.

Not so ‘SMART’ escape

CITY — A 27-year-old Detroit man was arrested after he reportedly assaulted a Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe, employee who was trying to process the suspect into the hospital at around 1:50 p.m. March 1. After the attack, police said the suspect fled the scene and tried to leave the area by hopping aboard a Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation — or SMART — bus at Kercheval Avenue and Notre Dame Street. The suspect was arrested within moments and charged through the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office with assault, police said.

Disorderly person arrested

PARK — Police were called to the area of Windmill Pointe Drive and Trombley Road at around 1 p.m. Feb. 22 about a person who, according to a report, was “using vulgar language and threatening people.” A 57-year-old Grosse Pointe Park man was arrested for being a disorderly person. Police said the suspect was “cited for multiple offenses.”

Vehicle struck in parking lot

WOODS — An unknown person is said to have struck a vehicle while it was parked in the Ascension St. John Hospital parking lot in the 19200 block of Mack Avenue sometime before 8 a.m. March 4. Police said the vehicle appeared to have been hit and had something dragged against it. Anyone with more information can call (313) 343-2400.

Retaining wall damaged

FARMS — An unknown motorist — possibly a delivery person in a Penske truck — is said to have damaged a wooden retaining wall in the area of Beaupre Lane and Cambridge Street during the morning of Feb. 23. Police found tire marks on the con-

crete leading up to the portion of the wall where the damage occurred. Anyone with more information can call (313) 885-2100.

Intoxicated driver arrested

FARMS — Police pulled over a 48-yearold Grosse Pointe Woods woman in the area of Mack Avenue and Moross Road at around 12:30 a.m. Feb. 21 after she was spotted driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone. Police soon also suspected that the driver might be intoxicated, despite her claim that she had consumed no alcohol that evening.

Police said in a report that the driver “appeared stupefied and displayed slurred speech during her interview,” and she failed several field sobriety tests. The driver initially refused to take a preliminary breath test but eventually consented, at which point she was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.17% to 0.18%, which is more than twice the legal limit.  She was arrested for operating while intoxicated and cited for speeding.

— K. Michelle Moran

Wrestling

from page 14A

Preston Auld said. “We know where they came from and where they’re at now, and it makes our connection stronger between players and coaches.”

When Nelson thinks about expectations for North wrestling, he remembers 12 years ago when North won its last district championship with Lawnicki, Bouldin and himself all on the team under head coach Eric Julien, who is now the wrestling head coach at St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School.

Nelson remembers the excitement and pride that surrounded Norsemen wrestling. Now entering his fourth year as head coach, Nelson said the program is finally turning a corner.

“Under the previous coach, Derek Davison, who was a phenomenal coach, I just learned a lot from him,” Nelson said. “I saw his vision before he took off. He really helped mold most of the older guys that were on the team. When I stepped in, we just hit the ground running with wrestling. We made the guys love the sport and fall in love with building a team. The older guys just keep passing it down to the younger guys and building that cycle.”

North’s young corps of wrestlers had a strong group of veteran leaders with senior captains Preston Auld, a Division 2 state qualifier in the 144-pound weight class this year, and Ian DuVernay alongside senior Andrew Persyn, junior Blake DiCicco, and junior Barrett Nelson.

Auld led the team in wins with 35, and North earned its first district championship since Nelson and his coaching staff wrestled for the Norsemen, beating Harper Woods 46-24 Feb. 7 at Grosse Pointe North High School.

Nelson said his primary focus when taking over the job was putting North wrestling back on the map, and a district title is a great start toward that direction.

“It’s been an exciting one,” Nelson said. “We’ve got a younger team, and those boys showed up and were willing to learn a lot. We had to hit the basics, and we’re looking to hit the ground running next year with some consistency as far as the district title we won. In years past, North hasn’t had a big team as far as wrestling goes. I’m just trying to build that culture in Grosse Pointe and continue getting kids out.”

North would fall to Warren Woods Tower High School in its next matchup at regionals, but would see Auld, Persyn and sophomore Derand Sako all qualify for individual regionals on Feb. 11 at Lake Shore Fieldhouse.

Auld would earn district runner-up while Sako would wrestle his way through the consolation bracket, finishing fourth.

Sako, only in his second year ever wrestling, has been a breakout sophomore for the Norsemen in the 157-pound weight class, and said he felt comfortable in the sport because of his grandfather, who wrestled collegiately in Albania.

“I have a family background (in wrestling), and I just loved it when I first saw it,” Sako said. “It was natural for me.”

Alongside Sako, sophomore Dwayne Howell, who tallied 15 wins this year, sophomore Aaron Rabaut, freshman Mason Tapling, freshman Carlos Jackson and freshman Dominic Smolarek all made contributions for North this year on the mat as underclassmen.

Rabaut had an unconventional offseason after suffering a broken arm early into his freshman campaign, and had to work on retooling his craft while battling the mental part of returning to the mat.

Going 14-2 in junior varsity competition, Rabaut said he regained some confidence in his ability and expects to be an impact wrestler next season.

“I feel like I made a lot of progress and caught back up again,” Rabaut said. “Going into the offseason, I’m going to keep wrestling and hope to make it to regionals and states next year.”

From having 13 wrestlers his first year to 28 to end this season, Nelson and his staff have done an impressive job building the program and increasing numbers each year.

District hardware will only help promote the program more, and Auld said he already notices the change in outlook of

Norsemen wrestling.

“I feel like in the past, wrestling was an overlooked sport and you kind of had to be in it to try out for the high school team,”

Auld said. “Now, anyone can walk on, have a good time and compete.”

Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.

Photo provided by Grosse Pointe North wrestling

Grosse Pointe North celebrates its district championship win after beating Harper Woods 46-24 Feb. 7 at Grosse Pointe North High School.

Poster

from page 1A

“I put a lot of motion and speed into the painting to represent what the car was,” Rousselet said of a vehicle that he captured with his abstract style, using colors and paint splashes to convey movement and feeling.

“We’re always looking for someone who can elicit the character and emotion of the car,” said Glen Durmisevich, chief judge for EyesOn Design. “We wanted somebody who had a more emotive painterly quality. I saw some of Nico’s work and I thought he would be perfect.”

Rousselet’s painting — and the poster that features it — were unveiled during an EyesOn Design event Feb. 13 at the Ford House. The Lifetime Design Achievement Award will be presented to Gordon Murray, the executive chair of Gordon Murray Design and a renowned vehicle designer and engineer whose work includes the McLaren F1.

Durmisevich was wowed by Rousselet’s painting from the moment he first saw it.

“I was amazed (by) just the impact of the finished artwork,” Durmisevich said. “It was just what we were looking for. We think it’s going to be one of our better posters.”

the Order of the British Empire, or CBE — a ranking just below knighthood/damehood — for his contributions to the automotive world.

EyesOn Design Grand Marshal Tim

McGrane — the CEO of the M1 Concourse — said Murray “grew up with a passion for motorsports.” He said the McLaren F1 is “one of the greatest sports cars out there” and felt Murray was a fitting person to honor at this year’s event.

“Gordon’s designs are exceptional,” McGrane said. “I think his lifetime achievement award is well deserved.”

The theme of this year’s show is “Design Masters: A Lifetime of Design Achievement.”

“We are honoring the very best designers — chosen by the designers themselves — throughout the history of the auto industry,” said Glenn Abbott, chair of the EyesOn Design Vehicle Selection Committee.

“We have a good time putting it together,” Durmisevich said of EyesOn Design. “And the best thing is, it benefits a great charity.”

The EyesOn Design car show and related events are fundraisers for the nonprofit Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, which is based in Grosse Pointe Park and provides programs and services for blind and visually impaired individuals in the region. The DIO is also the research arm of Henry Ford Health.

The man behind the McLaren F1 has been held in high regard by the automotive industry for decades. Murray’s alma mater, Durban University of Technology in South Africa, named him an honorary professor in 2002 and gave him an honorary doctorate in 2011. Murray was named a Commander of

Highlights will include a 1919 car designed by a young Harley Earl for the silent movie star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, the Plymouth XNR concept car designed by Virgil Exner and a Chrysler Diablo convertible that Abbott said Exner’s wife used to drive in the Grosse Pointes. Abbott said it should be “one of the most spectacular fields of cars” that can be seen anywhere.

In addition, EyesOn Design is a critical fundraiser for the DIO’s biennial research congresses — The Eye and the Chip, about artificial vision, and The Eye, the Brain and the Auto — which take place on alternate years. The congresses have been taking place for more than 20 years. Bringing these international researchers together has enabled them to share their findings and collaborate, something that has led to important breakthroughs and findings.

“EyesOn Design is a lot more than a really great car show,” said Dr. David Goldman, director of the DIO and a senior staff ophthalmologist with Henry Ford Health. “It’s an opportunity to advance medicine to find a cure for blindness.”

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

Photo by K. Michelle Moran

From left, during an event Feb. 13 at the Ford House, Dr. David Goldman, director of the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and a senior staff ophthalmologist with Henry Ford Health, shakes hands with Dr. Philip Hessburg, who retired in 2023 as the DIO’s medical director and became the director emeritus.

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MARCH 22

One for the Foxes in concert: Hear Irish and American folk music trio, 7:30-9 p.m., The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, warmemorial.org/eventcalendar

Teen Leadership Council: Meetings for grades 9-12 every first Wednesday of month, pizza and snacks provided, 6-7 p.m., Grosse Pointe Public Library - Woods Branch, 20680 Mack Ave., (313) 6404775, grossepointelibrary.org

Yarn Up Knitting and Crochet Club: Meets 1-2 p.m. every second Thursday of month through June, Grosse Pointe Public Library - Ewald Branch, 15175 E. Jefferson Ave. in Grosse Pointe Park, (313) 6404775, grossepointelibrary.org

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

Library hosted at various branches, restaurants and on Zoom, more at www. grossepointelibrary.org/book-clubs

‘Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971’: Exhibition looking at films, filmmakers, actors and studios, on display until June 23, Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, dia.org

• 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

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

Fire leads to discovery of mushroom grow operation

EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, the Eastpointe police assisted the Eastpointe Fire Department on a structure fire Feb. 5 at a location in the 23000 block of Schroeder Avenue, south of Stephens Road, during which officers observed a mushroom grow operation in the basement. The Eastpointe Special Investigations Unit then conducted a search warrant and arrested one person for the manufacturing of psilocybin 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 Kelly roads was broken into overnight Feb. 10. Two vehicles that were left for service were driven through repair doors and stolen. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 entered the business, and one asked for Don Julio tequila. While the manager was preoccupied, the other woman allegedly stole a $32 bottle of Teremana Small Batch Tequila.

The manager said the same two women returned to the store around a half hour later, and the manager reportedly locked the premises and confronted the women about the alleged theft. Police said one of the women handed over a $100 bill to the manager and didn’t seek change. Then the women drove off in a white Chevrolet SUV, police said. Police regarded the case as a civil matter after the manager reportedly did not want to press charges. The manager reportedly still wanted police to know about what had transpired so that the women can be evicted should they ever return.