NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
Centenarian Southfield resident reflects on her ‘Wish of
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
Born on April 18, 1922, Catherine Davis is a 102-yearold Southfield resident whose lifetime wish of going to Washington, D.C. to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture was granted for her birthday last April by “Wish of a Lifetime” from AARP.
FERNDALE TO CELEBRATE ART WITH MONTHLONG CELEBRATION
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
FERNDALE — Downtown Ferndale is about to get very artsy in the month of March.
The Ferndale Downtown Development Authority, along with the Downtown Ferndale Public Art Program and the Ferndale Arts & Beautification Commission, will be hosting a monthlong celebration of art called Art March.
Art March will feature dozens of events centered around and highlighting art in the community, from receptions for local artists to celebrating public art that was installed in the downtown last year.
“We are celebrating the creativity and artistic expression that really brings people together in Ferndale,” DDA Executive Director Jennie Beeker said. “When people think
The side of Syndicate Ferndale features a large mural that was painted last year.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Photo provided by Darlene Trujillo Catherine Davis said that she was most impacted by seeing President Barack Obama and the death of George Floyd displayed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
Local students help raise funds during ‘Charity Week’
BY SARAH WRIGHT swright@candgnews.com
TROY — During February, students from Troy High School (THS) and Athens High School (AHS) helped facilitate a wide variety of events to promote and raise money for different charities during Charity Week.
THS events took place from Feb. 2-Feb. 10. Many AHS events were planned for Feb. 10-14, but due to winter storms that occurred during that week, some events were rescheduled for the week of Feb. 17-21.
Students of THS chose to rally around the Lichykaki Family, who came to the United States in 2022 after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Their sons, Dmytro “Dima” and Denys both have ties to theTroy School District.
Denys is a sixth grade student at Smith Middle School. Dima attended school at THS and graduated in 2024.
Dima has been involved with football, rugby, wrestling, and student government/ leadership.
“This summer, the Lichykakis were able to get one set of grandparents to move from the Ukraine to the U.S. and moved in with them,” Melissa Nita, a Troy High School teacher and co-advisor for student govern-
See CHARITY on page 7A
ABOVE: Troy Athens students helped raise money for the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation. The students were acknowledged for their efforts at a recent Charity Week event.
RIGHT: Troy Athens students celebrate the $100,501.93 that they helped raise for the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation.
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills into law that headed off automatic changes to the state’s paid sick time and minimum wage on Feb. 21.
“Michigan workers deserve fair wages and benefits so they can pay the bills and take care of their family, and small businesses (need) our support to keep creating good jobs in Michigan,” Whitmer said in a press release. “I’m proud to sign these two bipartisan bills into law that will raise wages, ensure workers can take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, and continue growing our economy. This commonsense
compromise was made possible by the Republicans and Democrats who worked together to forge a fair, bipartisan deal. I hope we can build on this momentum to keep passing commonsense, bipartisan legislation that makes a real difference in people’s lives. I’ll keep working with anyone to protect working families and make sure our economy is competitive.”
Whitmer’s action closes the door on an issue that dates back to 2018. Two petitions for increased wages and paid sick time received the necessary number of signatures to appear on the ballot in Michigan. Republican legislators, in a move to keep them off the ballot, adopted the two petitions. Once adopted, the measures were significantly altered.
Governor approves bills for sick time, minimum wage
In the Michigan Court of Claims, it was determined on July 19, 2022, that the adopted and altered acts were unconstitutional. This was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals but was ultimately upheld by a 4-3 Michigan Supreme Court ruling July 31, 2024.
The Supreme Court outlined changes that would have been true to the petitioners’ original intent. This included changes to paid sick time and the state’s minimum wage for tipped and nontipped workers.
Legislators in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate scrambled to pass legislation that would alter the changes set to take effect Feb. 21. House Bill 4002, introduced by Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, and Senate Bill 8, introduced by
Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, were the bills ultimately signed by the governor.
What the adopted bills do
SB 8, which became Public Act 1 of 2025, raised the minimum wage to $12.48 from $10.56, which mirrors the automatic changes due to take effect after the Supreme Court’s ruling. Each year on Jan. 1, the wage will rise until it hits $15 in 2027. After 2027, the state’s treasurer will determine the wage. PA 1 gives tipped workers 38% of the $12.48 minimum wage. This will raise the wage from $4.01 to $4.74. The wage will rise in 2% increments each Jan. 1 until hitting 50% in 2031.
HB 4002, which became Public Act
See BILLS on page 10A
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
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NEW PICKLEBALL CLUB TO OPEN IN BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Pickleball players will soon have a new place to volley, dink, and rally in Bloomfield Township.
Pickleball has been named America’s fastest growing sport, with nearly 50 million players and a projected 4.4 billion market size by 2033.
Ace Pickleball Club is helping to satisfy the demand for more courts by taking over flex and retail big box spaces across the country to provide indoor courts for yearround play. In 2024, the national pickleball franchise opened 11 new locations across the country in just its second year of operation. The company plans to open an additional 25-30 clubs in 2025.
Locally, the pickleball franchise plans to open its second facility in the state — in Bloomfield Township — this fall. Ace Pickleball Club’s first Michigan location is slated to open in Grand Rapids in April.
Real estate developer Matthew Sosin is bringing the latest pickleball franchise to the township, with plans to repurpose an existing building located at 2285 Franklin Road, off Hulett Drive.
“We’re really excited,” Sosin said.
“I would anticipate being open in September.”
The new 32,250-square-foot pickleball club will occupy the eastern portion of the building and will include 11 indoor courts, an 1,800 square foot mezzanine, as well as a snack and seating area.
Ace members can always find a fun, competitive game at the club thanks to open
play, which developers say will always be available on courts for all skill levels.
“By designating courts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players, APC’s clubs foster a more inclusive environment,” Conor Hawks, vice president of franchise growth at APC, said in a statement. “Members don’t need reservations or a set roster of friends to play. Instead, they drop in whenever it suits them, rotating into matches quickly and easily.”
The club will offer memberships — which include everything from unlimited open play and court reservations to social mixers, tournaments, clinics and more, at no extra cost. Each club location also offers a variety of programs and events for members and guests — including clinics, tournaments, social mixers, round robins, glow-inthe-dark nights and private events.
Nonalcoholic beverages, like water and Gatorade, and snacks, like energy bars, will be available for purchase inside the building. No alcohol will be served.
“We try to focus on pickleball — that’s it,” Sosin said of the food and beverage offerings. “If people have birthday parties or corporate events, they’ll bring in pizza or wings from an outside party.”
Bloomfield Township Deputy Director of Planning, Building and Ordnance Andrea Bibby presented the site plan and special land use permit to the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees Feb. 24.
The property is zoned “Research Park,” and Bibby said recreational use is allowed. Sports facilities, she noted, are considered special land uses in the Research Park District and require approval from the Board of Trustees.
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Ace Pickleball Club will open a new location in Bloomfield Township.
Photo courtesy of Ace Pickleball Club
of Ferndale, they think of our creative spirit. They look at our murals that are outside in downtown. They look at the artisans in the Rust Belt. They look at just sort of this maker spirit that flows throughout Ferndale, and we have a legacy of that going back to 2012, and so this is just a time for us to really come together and celebrate that in the month of March.”
From painting classes to musical exhibitions, art of all kinds will be celebrated this month. For more information on Art March and a list of events, visit downtownferndale. com/publicart.
“The concept sort of comes from, if you think of a gallery crawl that might be just a one-time thing, this is a way for people to explore art and creativity throughout Ferndale and throughout the month of March,” Beeker said.
Leah Sweeting, a painter and subcontractor at Painting with a Twist, will be taking part in Art March with a reception on March 22 where she will walk people through how to make an upcycled art piece, along with her journey in art.
A number of downtown Ferndale businesses received new murals last year that will be celebrated during Art March, including this mural at Western Market.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Sweeting said she loved the idea of Art March when she first heard of it, as it was something art groups had been looking to make to help cultivate the art community in the slow winter months.
“We were kind of planning things, we had suggested filling in the slower months of the year, the colder months of the year, with more art activities in relation to the month,” she said. “We had suggested Valentine’s Day events or St Patrick’s Day events, and then I believe that … kind of snowballed that into an entire month of celebration in March.”
Sweeting said art is at the core of what Ferndale is and stands for, and of just having a creative mindset.
“To be there, you kind of have to appreciate that, want to be part of it,” she said. “I think it is Ferndale. It’s a very artsy community and I don’t think it would be even close to the same city without it.”
The Art March website will be continuously updated with more events as the month progresses.
Davis
from page 1A
Davis was born to sharecroppers in Benson, Alabama and started working at the age of 7 years old to help make ends meet. She moved to Detroit in 1955, and when she arrived, she was shocked that things weren’t all that different from the treatment she received living in the south as a Black woman.
“I was shocked because when I got here, it was still the same; it wasn’t any different,” Davis said. “They didn’t have signs up, but there was certain places you couldn’t go,” she said.
As an advocate for civil rights, Davis marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Detroit’s 1963 Walk to Freedom March. She reflected on that memory.
“It was a beautiful day in Detroit, and it was so many people,” Davis said. “We were shoulder to shoulder. It was a joyful, joyful day. It was the treat of my life to march with Martin Luther King and to shake his hand.”
Davis is also a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 94.
Davis was nominated for Wish of a Lifetime after being interviewed by another wish recipient, Roohee Marshall, whose wish was to go on a writer’s retreat and write a book about inspirational people in her community. Davis is mentioned in Marshall’s book, “A Generation Found: Pearls of Wisdom.”
After she heard about the National Museum of African American History and Culture, she dreamt of going but thought her age would be an obstacle.
“It was a wish that really came true for me,” Davis said.
She shared the experience with her granddaughter, Deana, and great-granddaughter, Mia.
“You made this 102-year-old lady happy,” Davis said of the trip. “The red carpet was rolled out for me, and I am so grateful.”
Wish of a Lifetime was founded in 2008 in Denver, Colorado, after the founder, Jeremy Bloom, a member of the United States ski team and two-time Olympian and 11-time World Cup gold medalist, was visiting Japan for a World Cup competition.
While riding the bus, he witnessed the kindness and respect demonstrated towards elderly people in Japan, which he thought was somewhat of a foreign concept in the U.S. When an elderly woman got on the bus, everyone got up, helped her onto the bus, bowed to her and made sure she was seated comfortably before the bus started moving.
Through his travels to other parts of the world, Bloom witnessed more acts of kindness and respect to senior citizens and became inspired to bring that culture back home
be fulfilled. The final step of the process is storytelling.
Hartsfield added that regardless of the participant’s conditions, the team will try to accommodate them so that their wish can be granted. She shared an example of a woman on dialysis who wanted to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, so their team coordinated with dialysis clinics along the west coast so that she could receive her treatments while fulfilling her wish.
“The beautiful thing about Catherine’s wish is it really hits two key points of why we find the storytelling piece so important in honoring and sharing these stories, and that’s legacy, and then also that intergenerational connection,” Hartsfield said.
Hartsfield said that she was choked up when she heard Davis’s story.
with him. Wish of a Lifetime is dedicated to Bloom’s grandmother, Donna Wheeler, who was born in Port Huron, Michigan. The nonprofit aims to spread joy by granting the wishes of adults 65 and up.
“We affiliated with the AARP in 2020, and we’ve grown quite a bit. In fact, this last year, we hit our 3,000 wish milestone, which is pretty amazing,” said Natasha Hartsfield, the field manager at Wish of a Lifetime. “Wish of a Lifetime’s mission is to spark hope and joy in the hearts of older adults by fulfilling dreams through personalized experiences that promote healthy aging, and there’s a long list of factors that get in the way of people being able to age with hope and joy, as you can imagine.”
Hartsfield shared that financial constraints, health issues and societal inequality are just a few factors that impact happiness in the lives of older adults. She explained that loneliness impacts older adults, which is what makes their mission more impactful.
“We know that one in three older adults are in isolation, and that is a problem,” Hartsfield said. “It’s a compounding problem, because there are all these other effects from it — you know, health issues, mental health issues. … It doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t feel good to feel alone,” she said.
The four types of wishes, according to Hartsfield, are, honoring service, lifelong dreams, reuniting with loved ones and rekindling old passions.
She shared that she’s seen everything from someone taking piano lessons and then having a recital, to people who have never seen the ocean getting to travel to go saltwater fishing, to people reuniting with grandchildren that they haven’t seen in years.
Hartsfield explained that the only re-
quirement is that the participant must be at least 65 years old. The process begins with an application for nomination.
Individuals can nominate themselves or a senior. Through funding from donations, partnerships and volunteer fundraising, the wishes are able to move to the next step and
“Her wish shares the legacy of her life and her firsthand accounts of the struggles and achievements, so that we can better understand history,” Hartsfield said. “And then also the fact that she shared it with her granddaughter and great-granddaughter. That’s pretty powerful. So we really work to tell the stories, to bridge the gap between the generations and spark hope and joy.”
For more information on Wish of a Lifetime, visit wishofalifetime.org.
Catherine Davis’s Wish of a Lifetime was granted last April when she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Photo provided by Darlene Trujillo
Charity
from page 3A
ment and the Student 2 Student Club, said in an email. “Unfortunately, in the very beginning of 2025, the father unexpectedly passed away in a tragic accident. We wanted to support one of our own! We love the Lichykaki family and know how hard the past few years have been for them - leaving everything behind to start a new life in Troy.”
During Charity Week, THS students planned a “Restaurant Week,” with participating businesses donating a portion of their proceeds towards their cause. Other activities included a talent show, a coin collection, a powderpuff game, and a Snowcoming dance.
Around $78,591 was raised during Troy High’s Charity Week.
AHS students raised awareness and funds to support the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2017, with the intention of providing financial assistance for low-income seniors in need of proper housing, food, healthcare, and supportive services.
The Athens Student Council chose the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation in the
The late Dr. Ringold founded Bionicc Body Screening in 2022 after battling cancer twice. He believed MRI full body screenings could empower individuals to take control of their health.
Softball Size Tumors Silently Grew
Dr. Ringold discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs silently growing inside his body after experiencing shortness of breath. His treatment was brutal. He su ered cruel side e ects. After his cancer went into remission, it returned a year later as a brain tumor. Dr. Ringold believed there had to be a better way. He envisioned a future where individuals could take control of their
hopes of raising awareness about an underserved demographic.
“We are incredibly honored to be the selected beneficiary of Troy Athens Charity Week 2025,” Natalia Petraszczuk, who is the executive director for the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation, said in an email. “This partnership allows us to raise awareness for our mission and provide vital support to local seniors in need. The dedication of the students, parents, and faculty is inspiring, and we are thrilled to engage the community in meaningful ways, including bringing seniors into the events. Together, we’re making a real impact on the lives of those who need it most.”
During these weeks, AHS held events like a “comfy” spirit day, a pancake breakfast prepared by parent volunteers, a “Jail ‘n Bail” day, where students can pay to have friends “arrested” during class and head to a “jail,” where they can take part in various games, a carnival night, a belly flop contest, a volleyball tournament, a hypnosis show, a film festival, a parent cook-off, and the Mr. Athens Pageant.
In total, the events raised $100,501.93 for the Next Steps 4 Seniors Foundation.
For more information, visit troy.k12. mi.us.
A Father’s Legacy, A Son’s Mission: Full Body MRI Scans Without a Doctor’s Referral
(South eld, MI) e late Dr. Warren Ringold knew rsthand the devastating impact of late-stage cancer diagnoses. As a respected family physician, he witnessed countless patients battling illnesses that could have been detected earlier. His own grueling battle with late-stage cancer ignited a passion, leading him to create Michigan’s rst MRI full body screening center called Bionicc Body Screening.
health and detect potential problems before they escalated. In his nal days, Dr. Ringold passionately advocated for MRI full body screenings, a proactive approach he believed could empower individuals to take control of their health.
Raising Awareness
Today, his son Ryan carries on this mission. ough not a medical professional himself, Ryan’s dedication to his father’s legacy drives him to raising awareness of this service for families of Michigan. “Every week I learn of another person who felt perfectly ne, only to wake up with an unexplained symptom and discover they have stage four cancer. Once symptoms manifest cancer is usually advanced,” says his son Ryan. “My father never wanted another family to su er the emotional and physical hardships that our family and he endured. He wanted to save lives.”
Full Body MRI Scans Without a Doctor’s Order
Bionicc Body Screening o ers elective, full-body MRI screenings that provide a comprehensive picture of your internal health, going beyond what traditional checkups often reveal. State-of-the-art technology can detect tumors as small as a pea, aneurysms, risk of stroke and a multitude of other conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Screenings include scans of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, hips, shoulders and spine.
A Life Saved
Mark B. and his younger brother decided to visit Bionicc Body Screening last spring for a proactive screening because cancer ran in their family. Mark was skeptical until his results returned a 3-centimeter mass on his lung, which tested positive for cancer. He had three-fourths of his lung removed. He credits the scan for saving his life. Meanwhile, his brother’s results were clean.
Scans are safe, non-invasive, emit no radiation and are available without a doctor’s referral.
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Advertorial
PUSH PLAY ON A MICHIGAN SOUNDTRACK TO JUMP-START SPRING CLEANING
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Recording artists in Michigan know cold weather. Maybe that’s why it’s easy to feature them on a playlist designed to start spring cleaning and chase away the winter blues.
Former Record Time owner Mike Himes said the best bet is to steer clear of mellower or depressing music when you’re cleaning.
“You want something that’s upbeat,” he said. “You want something that’s familiar to you, so you can sing along, make the chores a little more enjoyable to where you’re distracted enough so you’re not thinking, ‘Oh, I don’t want to clean this bathroom.’”
Amber Teunis, a clinical therapist trained in music therapy at Reset Brain and Body, said familiar music can help when trying to complete tasks like cleaning. Teunis has been involved in music therapy for nearly 16 years. She said that there is science and studies behind the idea that music has the
ability to affect a person’s brain.
“If you make a playlist of your songs, stuff you can sing and dance to, that’s going to be more effective,” Teunis said. “If you play things that are more upbeat, you may complete tasks faster, for example. If you pick things with more interesting drums and melody, you might be more concentrated on the task. Music is part of our primitive culture. All cultures have always had it; everyone has a little bit of musician in them.”
Ultimately, Teunis said a playlist should make you feel good. This can vary from person to person.
“If you hate classical music and you want to get stuff done, it’s probably going to have a negative effect,” Teunis said.
Cleaning can seem like drudgery, but with the right soundtrack, it’ll fly by in no time. These songs are all widely
Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” a single from his 1973 album “Innervisions,” is sure to pick up your
available on streaming sites. Put them in order or pick and choose what works for your own playlist.
1.
The Marvelettes, “Twistin’ the Night Away”: This 1962 song from the Inkster group is the epitome of warmth. The Mickey Stevenson production gives this Sam Cooke cover the classic Motown sound. While Cooke’s version is an undeniable classic, the Marvelettes add something that’s sure to get you moving as you spruce things up.
2.
Honey Ltd., “Silk N’ Honey”: This unheralded Detroitbased group released this dreamy song in 1968. The song was produced by frequent Nancy Sinatra collaborator Lee
spirits.
Photo by Nick Powers
Soundtrack
from page 8A
Hazelwood. Unlike Sinatra, who hit it big with “These Boots are Made for Walkin’,” this group remained relatively obscure until Light in the Attic Records put its material back in print.
3.
Question Mark and the Mysterians, “Up Side”: Though known more for the hit “96 Tears,” the mid-Michigan band also had some worthwhile deep cuts. This groovy organ-driven track matches Question Mark’s quintessential garage rock vocals.
4. White Stripes, “Hotel Yorba”: This ode to falling in love from the group’s breakout 2001 album “White Blood Cells” is almost guaranteed to put you in a good mood. No playlist using Detroit artists is complete without the White Stripes; there’s a reason for that.
5. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”: This 1967 clas-
sic from the duo is sure to keep you moving. The song makes Terrell’s “winter’s cold/ can’t stop me, baby” sound like a fact.
6. Majesty Crush, “Penny for Love”: The single from the group’s 1993 album is a dreamy, wistful song with enough of a driving beat to keep you dusting. This overlooked Detroit band’s material was rereleased in 2024 by the Numero Group, making it easier to find on streaming sites.
7. Rodriguez, “Can’t Get Away”: Sixto Rodriguez gained more widespread fame with the 2012 documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” This song from his 1971 sophomore album provides a strong groove to propel Rodriguez’s poetic lyrics.
8. The Bob Seger System, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”: This song by Bob Seger comes from his major label debut released in 1969. A signature song for Seger, it also appeared on his five-times-platinum “Live Bullet” concert album released in 1976. The hardrocking song is sure to get you through washing the dishes stacked in the sink.
9.
J Dilla, “Nothing Like This”: Released on the late producer’s 2003 “Ruff Draft” EP, this dreamy cut was unique. It’s wistful and romantic yet driving, inhabiting a space all its own in Dilla’s legendary catalog.
10.
Aretha Franklin, “Respect”: Sometimes cleaning can feel a bit thankless. This iconic 1967 cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” by the Queen of Soul is sure to hit home.
11.
The Gories, “Feral”: The opener from the Detroit garage rock legends’ 1989 album “House Rockin’” lives up to its name. This group paved the way for bands like the White Stripes years later.
12.
The Stooges, “No Fun”: A definite high-
light from the legendary Ann Arbor group’s 1969 self-titled debut album, this song betrays its name.
13.
Shadow Show, “On A Cloud”: This Detroit-based psychedelic rock group put out its debut album in 2024. “On A Cloud” closes the album on an uplifting note.
14.
Stevie Wonder, “Higher Ground”: The single from Wonder’s 1973 album “Innervisions” is sure to pick up your spirits. This song has an additional Michigan connection: It was covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1989 for the band’s “Mother’s Milk” album. Typically known as a California band, the group featured Michiganders Chad Smith and Anthony Kiedis at this stage.
Bills
2 of 2025, deals with paid sick time. Employees at small businesses, those with 10 or fewer employees, earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. This is capped at 40 hours a year. For larger businesses, employees also earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked with a cap at 72 hours.
Those working for small businesses can carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick time. At larger companies, employees can carry over up to 72 hours of unused sick time.
The changes for small businesses go into effect Oct. 1. For larger companies, the changes took effect Feb. 21. For both large and small businesses, employees hired after the acts go into effect can start accruing time immediately. However, an employer can require an employee to wait 120 days before taking any time.
Reasons to take paid sick time in Michigan for employees or an employee’s family member include mental or physical illness; injury or medical treatment; and domestic or sexual violence. For employees, meetings regarding a child’s health or abuse, and closure of a business due to a public health emergency, also qualify.
Reactions
Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Asso-
Pickleball
from page 4A
“There are other similar indoor park facilities that are located north of Square Lake Road off Franklin. We’ve got the Detroit Skate Club and we’ve got the Bloomfield Tennis, (so) this would just be another indoor sports facility in that location,” she explained.
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the site plan and special land use permit for the club Feb. 24.
“It seems like it’s in a great location up in that research park area with other similar athletic-type functions, (so) it looks great to me,” Trustee Valerie Murray said.
ciation, praised the legislation.
“With Governor Whitmer’s signature today, thousands of community restaurants and tens of thousands of servers and bartenders can exhale, knowing their voice was heard,” Winslow said in the same press release that included the governor’s comments. “They can now begin the work of planning for their collective future with the knowledge that a tip credit has once again been preserved. We’re especially grateful to all those who took the time to truly understand what was at stake — the servers who showed up in Lansing to share their stories, the legislators who visited countless restaurants to learn firsthand how the tip credit works and the many small business owners who opened their books to show the real numbers.”
Not everyone was thrilled with the outcome. Progress Michigan Executive Director Sam Inglot criticised legislators for deviating from the original intent of the petitions.
“It is disappointing that the Michigan Legislature caved to a spin campaign pushed by corporate lobbyists and voted to roll back a well-deserved raise and paid sick leave for working families in Michigan,” Inglot said in a press release. “Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders took action to sign petitions and demand that we give workers a raise, eliminate the subminimum tipped wage, and implement paid sick leave in 2018. Advocates fought back against the Republican adopt-and-amend scheme and won, only to face the same betrayal in 2025 — this time in a bipartisan fashion.”
“With pickleball there’s always a concern about the noise, but it’s all enclosed, so it looks good.”
Trustee Neal Barnett thanked Sosin for bringing the pickleball club to the township.
“I think it’s an outstanding use of the facilities and a great location. It’s certainly going to bring a lot more recreational opportunities to our residents and the surrounding communities,” he said.
“I think it will do very well.”
Ace Pickleball Club, 2285 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Township, will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit acepick leballclub.com or email bloomfieldmi@ace pickleballclub.com.
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Professional trust services for members and their families.
Establishing a trust and picking the right trustee is essential for protecting your fnances and controlling asset distribution. While it’s common to consider a family member, professional advisors ofer a neutral resource that takes the burden of your loved ones during what is often an emotional process.
At Community Choice, our members have access to personalized trust services through Credit Union Trust – an experienced team dedicated to creating, protecting, and preserving wealth for you and your family. To schedule a virtual or in-person meeting with an advisor, call 877.730.6109 or email info@credituniontrust.com .
